A hero strategy game puts named characters at the center of your army: each hero has a role and a special attack, grows stronger from battle to battle, and changes how the troops around them fight. That is exactly how Astrakeep, Djoox Studio's hero strategy game, works: 13 heroes to collect, level up and awaken, played as cards in sieges and in PvP.
What heroes add to a strategy game
In a strategy game without heroes, one unit is much like another of its type. Heroes add three things:
- A role: some hit fast, some damage a whole area, others slow enemies or protect your troops.
- A moment to seize: a special attack that charges during battle, and that you trigger when it counts.
- Long-term progression: your heroes stay with you, and the time you spend on them shows in every fight.
Your lineup ends up mattering as much as the size of your army. For the other families of the genre, see our guide to free strategy games on mobile.
Astrakeep's 13 heroes
| Rarity | Hero | Fighting style | Special attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare | Lyra the Archer | Rapid fire | Arrow Rain |
| Rare | Orin the Mage | Area damage | Arcane Meteor |
| Rare | Kael the Knight | Heavy hitter in melee | Guardian's Shock |
| Epic | Nyx the Sorceress | Frost | Blizzard |
| Epic | Tharok the Bombardier | Bombs from far away | Bomb Barrage |
| Epic | Kiran the Star Whelp | An egg of light that hatches in battle; awakened, he grows into an elder dragon | Hatching Breath |
| Epic | Mio the Shadow Child | Becomes a shadow beast (wolf, owl, bear) | Cry of the Fallen Isles |
| Epic | Bolt the Link Golem | A chain golem that unfolds, then adds modules once awakened | Chain Lash |
| Epic | Solène the Lantern Keeper | Follows the phases of the day, from dawn to night | Heartbeat of the Star |
| Legendary | Aurelion the Paladin | Spears of light | Celestial Judgment |
| Legendary | Sylvara the Empress | Dragonfire | Imperial Breath |
| Legendary | Jinhou the Monkey King | Star staff | Celestial Staff |
| Legendary | Varek the Ember Prince | Fists of fire | Star Burst |
With its mages, knights and dragonfire, Astrakeep is also a true fantasy strategy game for mobile.
How heroes fight in a siege
Every battle in Astrakeep, from the campaign to raids, the Ascension of Astra and PvP, is a siege. An energy gauge refills on its own, you hold a hand of 4 cards (troops, spells and heroes), and you play each card in one of three lanes to bring down the enemy's two towers, then its keep.
A hero is a card you drop in a lane, and each one boosts the troop placed next to them. A few examples from the game:
- Kael the Knight leads the charge: nearby footmen deal +25% damage.
- Lyra the Archer guides the griffins: nearby griffins deal +25% damage.
- Jinhou the Monkey King leads the griffins: +30%.
- Varek the Ember Prince leads the footmen: +35%.
- Sylvara the Empress watches over the army: nearby troops slowly heal.
When a hero's special attack is charged, you tap it. Pair the right hero with the right troop, and a lane that looked lost can turn. To see heroes against walls and keeps, read our page on castle siege games on mobile.
Collecting heroes: what you earn and what you buy
- From the start: Lyra, Orin and Kael.
- Epic heroes (Nyx, Tharok): summoned at the Summoning Altar with tokens you earn by playing (the daily chest, day 7 of the login streak, the Sky Ruins expedition, one optional video a day). The odds are shown, and an Epic card is guaranteed within 10 summons at most. Gems never buy summons.
- Kiran, Solène, Mio and Bolt (Epic): given to you by the campaign (Kiran at the end of the tutorial, then the others after levels 15, 40 and 75), and they can also be summoned at the Altar.
- Aurelion and Sylvara: never summoned. You buy them in the shop or pick one with 40 legendary fragments, earned one per daily chest you open.
- Jinhou and Varek: only with their own pack, in the shop.
What money buys, and what it doesn't, is laid out on our page about mobile strategy games without paid loot boxes.
Levels, stars and awakening
Levels
Heroes level up with your resources. Their cap is your Crystal Tower's level + 1, so 16 at most with a level 15 Tower.
Stars
Shards give heroes stars, up to 5, and each star makes them 12% stronger.
Awakening
A hero at max level and 5 stars awakens: in sieges, an awakened power replaces their special attack, and their troop combo gets stronger. Jinhou's is called A Thousand Staffs, Varek's Last Burst; once awakened, Varek also takes his astral form after 45 seconds of combat (+20% damage and power). Every awakened power is in our Astrakeep hero awakening guide.
Your kingdom works for your heroes
The Rune Forge raises their damage, the Barracks their health, and the Arcane Academy charges special attacks faster. Construction keeps going while the game is closed.
Heroes that defend without you
You choose which heroes defend your village when another player attacks, even while you're offline, and you can watch the assaults you suffered afterwards. If you came to heroes through a roster game, compare with games like RAID: Shadow Legends.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hero strategy game?
A strategy game in which named heroes, each with a role, a special attack and their own progression, lead or support your army. In Astrakeep, heroes are cards you play in a siege, and each one boosts a troop type.
How many heroes does Astrakeep have?
13: three Rare available from the start (Lyra, Orin, Kael), six Epic (Nyx and Tharok to summon; Kiran, Mio, Bolt and Solène given by the campaign) and four Legendary (Aurelion, Sylvara, Jinhou the Monkey King and Varek the Ember Prince).
Can I get every hero without paying?
Not all of them. Rare and Epic heroes are earned by playing, and Aurelion and Sylvara can be picked with 40 legendary fragments. Jinhou and Varek only come with their pack in the shop.
Do bought heroes have an edge against players?
The shop describes legendary heroes as more powerful than any summoned hero, and a bought legendary fights other players too. But against players, every hero, bought or not, is capped in level and stars by your Crystal Tower.
Where can I play Astrakeep?
On Android, on Google Play, and in your browser, free to play with optional in-app purchases. The iPhone version is coming soon. Our Astrakeep heroes guide covers each hero in detail.
