Astrakeep raids are played with troops trained at the Barracks. Four troop types beat each other in a cycle; you send them to loot five rival villages, then other players from the world map. On the other side, your heroes defend your village, even when you're offline. Here's how to attack well and how to hold your ground.
This page is part of the Astrakeep guide. The Barracks and their levels are covered on the islands and buildings page.
The 4 Barracks troops
"The Barracks train your troops. They're used to attack rival villages and other players; troops sent into battle don't come back." Each troop needs a Barracks level:
| Troop | Barracks | In-game description |
|---|---|---|
| Footman | lv. 1 | Fast and cheap soldier, strong in large numbers |
| Shield guard | lv. 2 | Heavily armored, he takes the hits for the others |
| Griffin | lv. 3 | It flies over the melee defenders |
| Crystal colossus | lv. 5 | A very slow crystal giant, nearly indestructible |
Training takes time and army space: keep an eye on "Army space" and queue up training before you close the game.
The troop cycle
"Each troop beats another (+50%)." The cycle goes like this:
- Footman: "Numerous: overwhelms guards".
- Shield guard: "Sturdy: stops griffins".
- Griffin: "Flying: brings down colossi".
- Crystal colossus: "Giant: crushes infantry".
In practice: never head out with just one troop type. A mixed army always has an answer, and scouting tells you what to counter.
Raiding the 5 rival villages
Raids unlock once you win campaign level 2. "Raid rival villages with your troops to steal their resources and earn renown. Careful: they can strike back!"
The five villages are looted in order:
- Goblin Stronghold, led by Grokk the Raider.
- Shadowwing Nest, led by the Night Queen.
- Golem Quarry, led by the Granite Warden.
- Shadow Citadel, led by the Shadow Titan.
- Dragon Bastion, led by the Crystal Dragon.
Each village defends itself with towers: Archer Tower, Sorcery Tower and Frost Tower. During the assault, tap a troop to send it in; to fully loot the village, you have to take all its treasure. A looted village rebuilds for a while. Once all five are looted, "the rivals grow stronger": they rank up, and the cycle starts again against tougher defenses.
If a raid fails, the game keeps it simple: "Train more troops and upgrade the Barracks!"
When rivals strike back
Rivals also attack your kingdom ("… is attacking your kingdom!"). The "Defend" button starts the fight: your heroes hold the platforms of your defense formation, just like in the campaign.
Attacking other players
"The world map shows other players' kingdoms." Tap a village to take a closer look, then:
- Scout: "Scout it first, since its garrison and heroes defend it." Scouting shows the garrison and the village's power, and the game gives you an estimate ("likely victory", "close fight", "likely defeat").
- Pick your army: troops and march heroes. Your army then marches to the village; the trip takes time.
- Play the assault: "Pick a card, then tap a lane in your half of the field (in green)." Each card costs energy. If you don't play it, "the assault will play itself".
With your alliance, start a rally: your allies get a set amount of time to add their troops to yours, and the leader's heroes lead the attack. You can never attack a member of your own alliance. See the Astrakeep alliances page.
Revenge
If someone attacked you in the last 24 hours, the Revenge tab lets you hit back: "Strike back even through their shield", with bonus renown.
Shields
After you've been looted, your village is protected: "Shield active: 6 h of protection." Peace shields of 8 h, 24 h or 72 h can also be bought with gems, up to 72 hours per 7 days. The game is clear about it: "A shield protects you, it does not make you stronger. Attacking ends it."
Your defense formation
On the "Defense formation" screen, tap a platform to place a hero on it. When a rival or a player attacks, your heroes defend there, even if you're offline.
The key rule: "Against other players, only your 3 best heroes defend (⚔). The other platforms are used in the campaign and against rivals." So invest first in three strong heroes with stars: the Astrakeep heroes page explains how. With no formation set, "your best heroes will defend at random", so it's better to choose yourself.
When you come back, a report sums up the attacks: who hit you, what was stolen, or "Your heroes held the line."
Renown and ranks
Looting earns renown, which sets your rank: Squire (0), Knight (50), Baron (150), Count (300), Duke (550) and King (900). The leaderboard shows the players and alliances with the most renown.
Because attacks are played against a saved defense, Astrakeep is a tower defense PvP game on mobile where nobody needs to be online at the same time. Find out more on the Astrakeep page.
Frequently asked questions
When can you raid in Astrakeep?
As soon as you've won campaign level 2, provided you've built the Barracks (Warrior Isle) to train troops.
Do troops come back after an attack?
No: troops sent into battle don't come back. You have to train new ones at the Barracks.
Can you attack a player who has a shield?
No, except for revenge: if that player attacked you in the last 24 hours, you can strike back even through their shield.
How many heroes defend against other players?
Three: your 3 best heroes. The other platforms are used in the campaign and against rival villages. To swap strategies, head to the Astrakeep forum.
