The Astrakeep campaign has 18 chapters of 5 levels, 90 levels in all. The fifth level of every chapter is a boss. In each battle, enemies walk a path in waves and you stop them by placing heroes on platforms: 6 to begin with, up to 8 with the Barracks. Here's how the campaign is laid out and how to beat the levels that won't give way.
This page is part of the Astrakeep guide. Picking your heroes is covered on the Astrakeep heroes page.
How a battle works
"Enemies follow the path. Tap a platform to place a hero on it." Before the battle you set up your heroes ("Prepare your defense"), then launch the first wave. The fight plays out in waves, numbered on screen, until the "Final wave!". You lose if the creatures break through your defense.
Your heroes attack any enemy in range on their own. Your job during the fight: fire the special attacks. "When a special attack is charged, tap it at the bottom of the screen." A hero who goes down comes back into the fight after a few seconds.
The 18 chapters and their bosses
| # | Chapter | Boss |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Floating Isles | Shadow Titan |
| 2 | The Frozen Peaks | Crystal Dragon |
| 3 | The Goblin Camp | Goblin King |
| 4 | The Shadow Realm | Void Lord |
| 5 | The Lava Forges | Mana Minotaur |
| 6 | The Forgotten Necropolis | Lich |
| 7 | The Crystal Caverns | Crystal Spider |
| 8 | The Cursed Marshes | Necromancer |
| 9 | The Storm Peaks | Shadowwing Queen |
| 10 | The Crystal Sanctuary | Crystal Golem |
| 11 | The Ash Dunes | Sand Scorpion |
| 12 | The Sky Fortress | Fallen Archangel |
| 13 | The Sunken Abyss | Abyssal Leviathan |
| 14 | The Elder Forest | Ancient Treant |
| 15 | The City of Gears | Clockwork Colossus |
| 16 | The Phoenix Nest | Blazing Phoenix |
| 17 | The Moon Gardens | Lunar Sphinx |
| 18 | The Void Citadel | Void Hydra |
To open a chapter, you need to finish the previous one and have the Crystal Tower level it asks for. If a chapter stays locked, the islands and buildings page explains how to level up the Tower.
Common enemies
Three enemies show up again and again: the Shadow Goblin, the Stone Golem and the Spectral Bat. Watch out for the bat: it flies. Kael the Knight blocks ground enemies, not the ones passing overhead. Always keep some ranged heroes (Lyra, Orin, Nyx, Tharok) for flying enemies.
Bosses and their powers
Bosses have powers: calling in reinforcements, raising a shield, spinning a web, breathing fire, healing, teleporting or flying into a rage. Some combine two. Save your strongest special attacks for the boss instead of spending them on the first wave.
Placing your heroes well
Placement matters as much as hero level. A few principles:
- The blocker up front: put Kael on a platform close to the path, early on the route, to hold ground enemies while the others shoot.
- Area damage on the bends: where the path turns, enemies bunch up. That's the ideal spot for Orin, Tharok or Sylvara.
- Slow them before the damage zone: Nyx placed just ahead of your area heroes keeps waves under fire for longer.
- A last line: keep a fast shooter like Lyra near the end of the path to finish off anything that slips through.
- Fill every platform: "together, they stop far more enemies".
The Barracks unlock a 7th platform at level 6 and an 8th at level 12: one more hero on the field often turns a hard level around.
Auto mode
The Auto button fires your special attacks automatically as soon as they're charged (your heroes always attack on their own anyway). It's handy for replaying a level you've already won, or for watching a fight hands-free. On a tight boss level, take back control: holding a Blizzard or a Celestial Judgment for when the boss arrives can make all the difference.
Rewards
Every level you win gives loot (wood and stone), and an optional video can double the loot ("Double the loot"). Your first win on a level and your first win against a boss also give gems.
What to do after a defeat
The game points the way: "The creatures broke through your defense." Improve your heroes or change where they stand, then try again. In order:
- Change your placement, it's free. Watch where enemies get through.
- Check the recommended level ("Recommended heroes: lv. …") and level up your heroes.
- Upgrade the Rune Forge (damage), the Barracks (HP and platforms) and the Arcane Academy (more frequent special attacks).
- Add stars to your best heroes with shards.
- Replay levels you've already won to gather resources.
With its bosses, paths and heroes to place, the campaign recalls the genre's classics; our roundup of games like Kingdom Rush covers them. The Astrakeep page keeps you posted on the launch.
Frequently asked questions
How many levels are in the Astrakeep campaign?
90 levels: 18 chapters of 5 levels. The 5th level of each chapter is a boss, and all 18 bosses are different.
Why is a chapter still locked?
You need to finish the previous chapter and reach the Crystal Tower level that chapter requires.
What does the Auto button do?
It fires special attacks automatically as soon as they're ready. That's enough for levels you've mastered; against a tough boss, choosing the moment for each special attack yourself gives you a better shot at winning.
How many heroes can you place in battle?
Six platforms to begin with, seven with Barracks level 6 and eight with Barracks level 12. To share your setups, head to the Astrakeep forum.
