Merchant (Building)/1.03

High Elf
Aesthetically similar to the Shooting Range, but yet 50% tougher. The Merchant's oddities don't stop there, for it is also quite expensive but yet fast to assemble. One element seems to contradict the other - I know the Elves are meant to be a magical race, but still. Regardless, besides the cost, the merchant is a tough reliable building that massively improves the high Elves economy via the Income and Trade skills. Because of the lack of natural mine-fillers, the High Elven player would be foolish in not building the Merchant as soon as possible and obtaining those surprisingly cheap Income skills. Trade is also very useful and even more so late game with trading away all that free crystal from Ancient Wisps and Celestial Dragons.

The building may only research skills, but it is still needed around to use the Trade ability. As it's quite expensive, try building it somewhere out of the and and well guarded, as it is likely to get targeted by disgruntled enemy units, displeased at the sight of an Elven race with an income building.