Field manual · Modes

Game modes and battlefields

One door for the AI, two endless runs against it, and one for someone real. The same units, prices and spells apply on both sides in all of them.

Conquest — the ladder against the AI

Five difficulties: Easy, Normal, Hard, Extreme and Ultra Extreme. The AI's only stat lever is gold income, from 20% less than yours on the easiest setting to 45% more on the hardest, and the number is printed on the button. Beyond that it just plays better — the top difficulty moves first and reads you instantly.

The ladder opens in steps. Every age opens on Easy. Each win opens the next difficulty — Normal, Hard, Extreme, then Ultra Extreme — and beating all five opens the next age. Every win is timed by the battle's own clock and posted to the speed boards.

Custom rules

The setup screen lets you choose the difficulty, any age you have opened, the battlefield, which spells are banned, one of four economies and how fortified the castles start. The default is the Boom economy — double income and 300 starting gold — on fully fortified castles, which starts the liveliest fight. The AI plays by whatever rules you set.

Siege Gauntlet (beta)

One continuous battle against a relay of commanders. Raze the keep and it rises again at full health under a sharper, richer AI, with four minutes on the clock for each keep. You keep everything between keeps: your gold, your upgrade levels, and the damage on your own walls. The run ends when your castle falls. Score is castles razed.

Horde Survival (beta)

There is no keep to raze. Waves march on a countdown, or the moment you clear the last one. The horde's purse doubles every age and its roster turns with it through all seven. Hold your line as long as you can. Score is waves held.

Both endless modes are open to everyone, guests included, and can be played across all eras or locked to one age you have opened in Conquest. Best runs are kept on your device. A run never records a clear time or moves the ladder.

The three battlefields

Online

Ranked duels and friend rooms sit behind the Online door. See playing online.