Dungeon Defense Strategies and Tips

[iPhoneUser]

Anyone have tips on the hard mode? Not looking for a complete strategy, but some hints to get me further.

Also, here's a general tip for the easy/medium levels: Once you have a fully upgraded light skeleton, upgrade it to a heavy skeleton as soon as you've collected 450 gold. Even the unupgraded heavy skeleton is *much* stronger than the fully upgraded light skeleton.

[different]

Top tip: Place archers BEHIND your other units, this way they can use their long range attack as long as possible before your other skeletons get wiped out.

Never leave an archer on it's own, it will die.

[deckard]

Now that 1.0.1 is out the gold exploit is squashed and is it just me or is hard mode just a little bit...harder?

Anyways about strategy. So far it seems the only way to get enough momentum going on hard mode is to focus all energy on the middle spawns. I feel like I'm doing pretty good through R5 with an L2 archer and 3xL2 sword but the turning point of this game is definitely R6-8. If you can survive past those you'll typically have enough cash and upgrades to start really cookin'. Problem is I haven't found a good strategy to consistently get me through R6 much less 7 & 8. When the margins of success are this razor-thin, it's as specific as putting your archer on this spawn instead of that spawn even if it's right next to it. One thing's for certain, the archers are absolutely the key to victory, don't think it's even possible with only melee units.

[deckard]

Ok yeah, spent more time with it and tried different variations and I pretty much found the sweet spot to win at hard. It's basically as has been said above as far as replacing your swords with axes and getting range attacks ASAP and focusing early efforts on the middle spawns. The difficulty lies in knowing when to place specific units and when exactly to upgrade them so you have enough gold for the critical moments during R6-8 and that I'll leave unmentioned as it's the whole fun of the game.

However, the way I win it DK always takes some damage so I'd be interested to know of a strategy for hard where he stays 100% untouched.

EDIT - ok got it all figured out now, DK no damage on hard. After finding the way to win on hard every time it'll be great to see how the random mode plays which should be coming in a few weeks.

[Aryantes]

I basically have done the same thing.

Concentrate all units in the middle spawn area. archers in back, melee in front.

A few more maps should change everything and would force us to vary strategy.

Overall a good TD. A couple more units and maps and it would be top top notch.

What I would really like to see, is upgrade paths for units as well.

IE, bows can do area damage at level 3, or stronger single target damage. Might be interesting.

[jwhoward]

Now that 1.0.1 is out the gold exploit is squashed and is it just me or is hard mode just a little bit...harder?

We fixed a bug where the skeletons were anticipating an attack, but the heroes had to get whacked once before doing battle. Now they anticipate an attack just as the skeletons do.

And, yes it is a bit harder.

[Aloft_Productions]

I need help on Medium mode, I cant seem to get past lvl 8.

Please advise.

[deckard]

I need help on Medium mode, I cant seem to get past lvl 8.

Please advise.

Post up a pic of your layout for R8 and we'll give some counsel.

[rpb1975]

I am really having difficulty on hard...I usually fail at level 6, but if I don't, then I definitely fail at level 7. The problem for me seems to be figuring out when to upgrade and when to add archers. I wish I new the damage differences. Also, I never seem to be able to afford the heavy skeletons (they last much longer and their strikes do a little more damage). I will post a screenshot tonight if that helps.

[deckard]

Yep post a screen of your R6 layout and I'm sure we can get you slaying heroes in no time.

[rpb1975]

Yep post a screen of your R6 layout and I'm sure we can get you slaying heroes in no time.

Here are some screenshots. I have gotten closer, but I can't get past lvl 8. Deckard...apparently you are my only hope!

Here are some different attempts and strategies. Screenshot 4 makes me feel like an idiot! ;)

[deckard]

Ok you certainly have the right idea but in general you need to focus more energy on unit placement and your ranged attack. In some of the shots you posted I see a couple units placed that for the majority of any battle are just idle until the primaries die at which point a single unit is just fodder. Light skele's are only successful when they can surround the heroes, kill 'em quick and dash back for a bit of healing; the head on toe to toe stuff is for the heavies which come later. Tweak the light placement with that in mind and utilize that spawn in the corner that you currently have unoccupied. Remember the light skele backstab only works if they can get behind the melee rabble and stick 'em in the ribs so again surround and conquer is the mantra. Probably the biggest tip is that you need more arrow chuckers! You should have enough coin for 3xL1 archers and 3xL3 light skele's to tackle R8 and if placed very strategically, should get you past and into the deeper levels where the heavy skele's can start pounding heroes to dust.

[rpb1975]

Ok you certainly have the right idea but in general you need to focus more energy on unit placement and your ranged attack. In some of the shots you posted I see a couple units placed that for the majority of any battle are just idle until the primaries die at which point a single unit is just fodder. Light skele's are only successful when they can surround the heroes, kill 'em quick and dash back for a bit of healing; the head on toe to toe stuff is for the heavies which come later. Tweak the light placement with that in mind and utilize that spawn in the corner that you currently have unoccupied. Remember the light skele backstab only works if they can get behind the melee rabble and stick 'em in the ribs so again surround and conquer is the mantra. Probably the biggest tip is that you need more arrow chuckers! You should have enough coin for 3xL1 archers and 3xL3 light skele's to tackle R8 and if placed very strategically, should get you past and into the deeper levels where the heavy skele's can start pounding heroes to dust.

Thanks. I will play more tonight and post new screens.

[deckard]

This might be giving too much away but if you come back to this thread it's probably because you're still stuck anyway. :)
If you can achieve this layout by R8 and work towards adding a 3rd archer you should be basking in glory from there on out.

http://i42.tinypic.com/34obhp5.png

[soup]

to be honest once you get past level 8 the rest is easy.
and not only does this game desperately need more......

it also now needs a fast forward button, its so slow with nothing to do for long stages my phone went out if i didn't just prod the screen.

now going back to besiegement :)

[rpb1975]

to be honest once you get past level 8 the rest is easy.
and not only does this game desperately need more......

it also now needs a fast forward button, its so slow with nothing to do for long stages my phone went out if i didn't just prod the screen.

now going back to besiegement :)

Uhhhh....it has a fastforward button in the top bar. I think the game is great! By the way, I did get through after your text advice (I think mine was slightly different that yours, but it was the same idea, deckard).

Thanks!

[soup]

yes thats my point the fast forward is very slow !

[deckard]

yes thats my point the fast forward is very slow !

This is greatly improved in the next update which really should have been live by now (dev's any word on delays?) but hopefully very soon.

[Adams Immersive]

I beat Hard without healing or selling anything, and never upgrading swords to axes. (In fact, I've only ever used axes "for the heck of it" late in the game when I have cash and soldiers to spare. They seem useful when you have just one spawnpoint to defend two archers.)

So now, to add my own challenges, I've tried running on Easy and seeing if I could win with just ONE type of skeleton.

My results:

* Swords only: I don't THINK it's possible. I can get pretty far and have L3 swords on every spawnpoint, but the heroes overwhelm me even so. I was doing near-constant King slowdowns (on the theory that it would give my units more time to heal) but still lost. I doubt it can be done. If it can be done, then it would be by spending excess gold to heal units early, instead of (or along with?) King powers. I didn't try that.

* Archers only: yes, doable on Easy. You take a real beating through R3 because you don't have enough gold for any soldiers at all. But the tide turns and you can win without ever buying anything but an archer. Next I'll try on Medium.

* Axes only: no. You can JUST barely buy ONE axeman before your King dies, but one lone axeman cannot save him.

So then I lowered my standards: I'd allow swords at the beginning, and upgrade them to axes later. I tried limiting myself to just one sword, then two, then three... but I still can't make it. Maybe if I allow 4 swords early on. (And I have NOT allowed myself to upgrade the swords. Maybe if I allow myself some L2s it can be done with 3 or fewer swords.)

[deckard]

Damn, that's some impressive stuff AI. I am a HUGE DD fan and even I haven't tried those challenges. Very interesting. I'd have guessed immediately that it couldn't be done with axemen due to cost but I never would have thought you could do the whole map with just archers, even on easy. Admittedly (and the dev's would probably say so as well) the first map is more of a tutorial so the challenge is light. Don't be dismayed though, after my beta-test experience with the next map (Blood-Orb) the challenge is much more in line with seasoned players and I'm hoping the skill level continues to ramp up with each new map release.

[deckard]

Uhhhh....it has a fastforward button in the top bar. I think the game is great! By the way, I did get through after your text advice (I think mine was slightly different that yours, but it was the same idea, deckard).

Thanks!

Nice going rpb, you've leveled up and are ready for the next map, if the update would just hurry the freak up already.

[Adams Immersive]

* Archers only: yes, doable on Easy. You take a real beating through R3 because you don't have enough gold for any soldiers at all. But the tide turns and you can win without ever buying anything but an archer. Next I'll try on Medium.

Medium would be a no. I died halfway through level 6, and I don't think that can be improved.

But if I use the "swords at first" cheat, maybe so.

I still want to see if axes-only can stop the later waves. But I fear there's not enough gold in the game to HAVE very many axes. (There's not enough to put L3 archers on every spot. I'll post a screenshot of how many I could get--enough to win Easy, anyway.)

P.S. Is it just me, or are the three difficulty levels very close to each other? It seems to me that R6-R8 require just a BIT more precise placement for each level, but that before/after R6-R8 there's little difference. Is the only thing that changes the amount of damage dealt to you by the creeps?

[jwhoward]

This is greatly improved in the next update which really should have been live by now (dev's any word on delays?) but hopefully very soon.

We just got word from Apple (about 10 minutes ago) that the blood-orb update was rejected because we put a preview screen for crypt-siege in it. I guess it strictly violates the rule that all apps must be "completely" functional - sorry about that.

So here's the plan now. We will combine the new blood-orb and crypt-siege maps with the scoring system update into one new update that will be submitted late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

We tossed two quick-and-dirty gameplay videos up on the website (www.InMotionSoftware.com (http://www.inmotionsoftware.com/Dungeon_Defense.html)) to give you a preview of the new maps. We'll have a little better quality of video ready to post by Friday.

Endless random wave game-play mode is still on target to submit on or before 4/28.

[Adams Immersive]

Thanks for the info. One big update instead of a few small ones. Works for me :)

[deckard]

We just got word from Apple (about 10 minutes ago) that the blood-orb update was rejected because we put a preview screen for crypt-siege in it. I guess it strictly violates the rule that all apps must be "completely" functional - sorry about that.

So here's the plan now. We will combine the new blood-orb and crypt-siege maps with the scoring system update into one new update that will be submitted late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

We tossed two quick-and-dirty gameplay videos up on the website (www.InMotionSoftware.com (http://www.inmotionsoftware.com/Dungeon_Defense.html)) to give you a preview of the new maps. We'll have a little better quality of video ready to post by Friday.

Endless random wave game-play mode is still on target to submit on or before 4/28.

Sweet! Scoring is definitely gonna be a big one and hopefully that will include global not just local. I get the feeling AI and I will be at the top of the leaderboards. One thing I'd like to see is not having the screen fade out when you win the map. Would be cool to just be able to scroll around the map, zoom and just appreciate the victory a little and then proceed to the main menu.

[Oolong]

I love me some TD games, but unfortunately, I'm pretty bad at them. Having trouble with Crypt Seige on medium. I'm getting plowed on level 17. Any friendly pointers?

[deckard]

I love me some TD games, but unfortunately, I'm pretty bad at them. Having trouble with Crypt Seige on medium. I'm getting plowed on level 17. Any friendly pointers?

For CS the key is strategic archers and use of the axemen's taunt skill.
That's pretty vague I know but don't want to give too much away.

[Oolong]

For CS the key is strategic archers and use of the axemen's taunt skill.
That's pretty vague I know but don't want to give too much away.

I'm having luck with an archer at the entrance (bottom left of screen), 2 behind the first door, and two at the entrance to the second doors (on the right hand side, behind a pair of axemen). Level 17 still crushes me. Any other tips?

[ddaddy2420]

I am getting to the point where i don't know what else to do on the blood orb hard level. I get as far as 16 but then get owned at level 16. I can get to the point where i have all archers inside the room and 1 axeman on the 4 different outskirts. i have a feeling its all about saving enough gold to be able to upgrade the 4 axemen i have. anyone else beaten hard on the orb?

[deckard]

I'm having luck with an archer at the entrance (bottom left of screen), 2 behind the first door, and two at the entrance to the second doors (on the right hand side, behind a pair of axemen). Level 17 still crushes me. Any other tips?

Let's call the level '3-tiered' instead. So what you have on the 2nd tier is perfect and you just need to focus on what you're doing with Tier 1 and 3 (in my experience there's no way to win w/o eventually placing key units on the 3rd tier as well). You're on the right track with a single archer on Tier 1 (what else do you have there?) but sounds like you haven't dealt with Tier 3 yet or maybe just haven't gotten to that point.

[deckard]

I am getting to the point where i don't know what else to do on the blood orb hard level. I get as far as 16 but then get owned at level 16. I can get to the point where i have all archers inside the room and 1 axeman on the 4 different outskirts. i have a feeling its all about saving enough gold to be able to upgrade the 4 axemen i have. anyone else beaten hard on the orb?

Yep R16 is devastating, even my supposed 'strategy' sometimes fails due to the slightly different way each melee can possibly play out. I will tell you that I've tried many, many times to win with all archers in the middle and never been successful. My hint to you is it's all about the axemen!

[wiesse]

Yep R16 is devastating, even my supposed 'strategy' sometimes fails due to the slightly different way each melee can possibly play out. I will tell you that I've tried many, many times to win with all archers in the middle and never been successful. My hint to you is it's all about the axemen!

Agreed, I put 4 Axemen in the middle with two upgraded archers on each side of the middle. Then I put Axemen on the outskirts as well. I only upgrade the archers right away, the rest I upgrade after I place them all, or as a boost to a axeman who is about to die...

Now my question is how the heck do you beat Siege in Hard mode????

[wiesse]

OK I made it to Hard level 17 in Siege but think I am doing something fundamentally wrong. Come on, someone please show me the way!

[deckard]

OK I made it to Hard level 17 in Siege but think I am doing something fundamentally wrong. Come on, someone please show me the way!

Post up a pic of your R17 layout (or just describe what you got) and we'll get you going.

[wiesse]

Post up a pic of your R17 layout (or just describe what you got) and we'll get you going.

So, as I am retrying the level to take screen shots, I solved it :-P My strat was a bit odd.

At the front gate two swordsmen and a archer all un-upgraded

At the second gate 2 axemen on the left and two archers on the right all fully upgraded. I stockpiled my gold and when the waves were to big for the second gate I would resurrect the axemen over and over. The three guys in the front were enough to give my real troops recovery time. I ended having 3000 gold left over at the end.

[deckard]

So, as I am retrying the level to take screen shots, I solved it :-P My strat was a bit odd.

At the front gate two swordsmen and a archer all un-upgraded

At the second gate 2 axemen on the left and two archers on the right all fully upgraded. I stockpiled my gold and when the waves were to big for the second gate I would resurrect the axemen over and over. The three guys in the front were enough to give my real troops recovery time. I ended having 3000 gold left over at the end.

Cool strategy, what was your score?? We have a separate high score thread (http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=10353) going to see whose bombastic strategy yielded the most points.

[wiesse]

Cool strategy, what was your score?? We have a separate high score thread (http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=10353) going to see whose bombastic strategy yielded the most points.

The final score was 170919, not as high as the better players for this one. I can try refining this strategy though.

It was quite fun winning this level with only 4 upgraded guys though.

[Adams Immersive]

Blood Orb was a real pain! I finally beat it on Medium and Hard--with no reviving and no archers.

Since I like to make my own challenges (on Easy mainly) I think I'll try winning without any axes or any upgraded swords/archers,

[Oolong]

Let's call the level '3-tiered' instead. So what you have on the 2nd tier is perfect and you just need to focus on what you're doing with Tier 1 and 3 (in my experience there's no way to win w/o eventually placing key units on the 3rd tier as well). You're on the right track with a single archer on Tier 1 (what else do you have there?) but sounds like you haven't dealt with Tier 3 yet or maybe just haven't gotten to that point.

Finally beat it :o I ended up with 3 axemen and one archer in tier 1. Tier 2 had another axeman and an archer on the left with the two archers and axemen to the right, and I had another archer and axeman just past the doors to tier 3 when I finished it. Did the same thing essentially on hard, and beat it with relative ease. Thanks for your help. Off to Blood Orb!

[deckard]

Finally beat it :o I ended up with 3 axemen and one archer in tier 1. Tier 2 had another axeman and an archer on the left with the two archers and axemen to the right, and I had another archer and axeman just past the doors to tier 3 when I finished it. Did the same thing essentially on hard, and beat it with relative ease. Thanks for your help. Off to Blood Orb!

Hey when you get time post your scores on our other thread (http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=10353), so far I have all the high scores and looking for someone to knock me down (work best under pressure).

[AllanMarcus]

Finally beat it :o I ended up with 3 axemen and one archer in tier 1. Tier 2 had another axeman and an archer on the left with the two archers and axemen to the right, and I had another archer and axeman just past the doors to tier 3 when I finished it. Did the same thing essentially on hard, and beat it with relative ease. Thanks for your help. Off to Blood Orb!

I tried this strategy and was sounded defeated :-(

Might I ask, what units did you upgrade and when?

Thanks,

Allan

[AllanMarcus]

OK, a little help please. Here I am playing in medium mode and I need a little direction as to where to spend my money. Every strategy I have tried usually has me being killed off in round 10 or 17.

I would love to hear a suggestion on what to do next and a general strategy for the game.

Thanks,

Allan

All the axemen are level 1 and the archers are level 3. It was suggested to use the taunt skill, but I think that is on the level 3 swordsman. If that is true and the skill is needed, where's a good place for the swordsman?

http://marcusfamily.info/dd/r9.png

[Devilishly Good]

Taunt is the 3rd level skill for axemen. Backstab is what 3rd level skeletons get.

[AllanMarcus]

Thanks Devilishly Good.

So, here I am right before round 17. I get destroyed in level 17. Any help is appreciated.

http://marcusfamily.info/dd/r17.png

[Trevor]

Still can't come even close to beating any level on hard difficulty. If anyone wants to share exact strategy I'd appreciate it.

Also, people posting screenshots and/or asking for help, please specify which difficulty.

[deckard]

Thanks Devilishly Good.

So, here I am right before round 17. I get destroyed in level 17. Any help is appreciated.



Focus on strategizing with the axemen's taunt skill, especially in the one place you never placed any units. Generally your strategy is solid though, just need a couple last tweaks to get over the hump.

[AllanMarcus]

Focus on strategizing with the axemen's taunt skill, especially in the one place you never placed any units. Generally your strategy is solid though, just need a couple last tweaks to get over the hump.

Thanks for the tip. Turns out I didn't need anyone in the upper left section after all!

http://marcusfamily.info/dd/20.PNG


http://marcusfamily.info/dd/victory.PNG

[Zabobon]

I'm finding that in hard mode I just can't get beyond round 17 no matter what I do. (I'm talking about the siege map here with the three walls). I've managed to beat the other two maps in hard mode. But this first map in hard is a tough. I've only beaten it once and that was with a quick revival of an axeman at the last gate. Does anyone know if it's possible without reviving? Or am I wasting my time attempting it? Of course I am wasting my time playing iPhone games - but you know what I mean :-)

[Adams Immersive]

I beat all 3 and I'm pretty sure I never revived. I found the 3rd map to be the toughest.

[Zabobon]

I've finally beaten all three maps in hard mode. The exact placement/upgrading sequence is vital and it took loads of hours on the train, commuting into work, to do it...
I found the first map (with the walls and gates) the hardest.
For me this is the best TD game on the iPhone. Looking forward to future updates/developments :-)

[Robotguy]

I just picked this up last night and am securely hooked. I'm only a light gamer and had never played one of these new-fangled "TD" games y'all keep talking about, so this is a new experience for me. Anyone want to spell out for us newbs some really basic strategies that get taken for granted by the experienced players? For example I'll start (learned after 4-5 hours of gameplay trying to beat medium in the dungeon):

1. When you place your first two units, watch which one gets hit most often and upgrade him first. For instance, if you place a swordsman at 9 and 10, the one at 10 will almost always take more damage:
http://www.robotguy.net/screen2.png

[Adams Immersive]

I just picked this up last night and am securely hooked. I'm only a light gamer and had never played one of these new-fangled "TD" games y'all keep talking about, so this is a new experience for me. Anyone want to spell out for us newbs some really basic strategies that get taken for granted by the experienced players? For example I'll start (learned after 4-5 hours of gameplay trying to beat medium in the dungeon):

1. When you place your first two units, watch which one gets hit most often and upgrade him first. For instance, if you place a swordsman at 9 and 10, the one at 10 will almost always take more damage:
http://www.robotguy.net/screen2.png

Each TD is very different (which is half the fun) and this one is one of the more unique. But for THIS one, a basic piece of advice: put archers behind swordsmen. The swordsmen will stall the enemy, yet the archers can still reach them.

[Devilishly Good]

I would also put an archer at #8 and #14, not at #13...those archers will get a much longer time to fire arrows at enemies that way since enemies will be engaged with stuff in the middle. I would also upgrade #9 to lvl 3 asap...as you said most of the monsters will head to #10...*9 will then be able to do double damage with backstab if he's maxed. When you have the cash, you need axe warriors in there...more damage and better survivability.

[funnymonkeyguy]

The mages also ruins my plans, mages always attacks archers first, which weakens my defense, then if this happens alot i end up with no archers and i get killed strategy for the king map with 3 lv3 swordsman and 3 archers doesnt work for me? what could i be doing wrong?

[buckZor]

So these posts seem pretty dated to the old version where it was much easier. The latest version of DD is _HARD_. I can't get past any dungeon on medium now. Anyone else?

[Adams Immersive]

Is there a new version? I don’t see one newer than last August.

(I don’t recall noticing it getting harder—but some maps are harder than others.)

[nanocatalyst]

Best strategy to beat medium level in dungeon defense: Its a little tricky but easy to crack Medium Level, follow my thread :Best Strategy:Dungeon Defense: and you will be able to crak it. I almost cracked Hard Level with that strategy too :)

[bradmc20]

I must be dense. I have beaten the hard level on both siege and blood orb but I still cant defeat hard on the original map. I have done what you said it gets me to level 15 then I die! Nothing says looser like DEFEAT 20 times in a row. and you all say this is the easiest! arg.

will someone post a winning pic of their set up going into level 14 or so?

[Zabobon]

If you go to page 2 of this thread, there are some screenshots that really helped me beat the original map in hard mode. Basically, you have to concentrate on the middle room and ignore all other rooms. You want to end up with a bunch of axemen in the front and middle of the room and archers in the positions behind them.

Here's a rough outline of what I ended up doing. It's not move by move, but hopefully it helps:

Using the numbered map that has already been posted a few times (and is in Adams Immersive's post on this page):
Start with swordsmen on 10 and 9. Add a swordsman to 8. Upgrade them when you can. Place an archer on 13. Place an archer on 11. Add swordsmen to 7 and 6. Keep upgrading. Swap swordsmen for axemen when you can. Add an archer to 14. Ultimately aim to get gold axemen on 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and gold archers on 11, 12, 13, 14.

Good luck. This is a good game. It's a shame it hasn't been upgraded for a while.
http://www.robotguy.net/screen2.png