Strike is the most fundamental method of attack in Age of Wonders, and is available to the large majority of units, as well as all heroes. It is the default attack option when selecting a unit and commanding it to move and attack an opposing unit, if no other specific attack abilities are selected. Elemental variations of Strike, such as Magic Strike and Fire Strike, add the respective element (as well as a secondary effect in some cases) to the attack, but still require the unit to possess the basic Strike ability in order to function.
When a unit is attacked with another unit's Strike ability, that unit will retaliate with their own Strike. Units will not retaliate with Strike when attacked with any other ability, at melee range or otherwise, nor will a unit ever retaliate with any ability other than Strike. Some units, such as level 1 archer units and siege weapons, do not posses this ability and thus cannot retaliate at all in melee combat.
