Tips and frequently asked questions
Why does an old build feel weaker now?
1.0.6 changes several systems together: diminishing level gains, percentage-upgrade scaling, Armor, respawn effects and named units. Golden Knight's multiplier falls from 5× to 3× Knight Damage, while Mage and Necromancer receive substantial changes. Compare the current unit table before repeating a launch-week purchase order.
Can I hold QWER instead of tapping?
Yes. 1.0.6 adds button hints that show the keys can be held. Follow the action shown by the current troop button and its displayed gold cost.
Where does a missing currency come from?
The Journal now lists enemy currency drops, and Unit Info shows Yield from that unit's kills. The Automatic Pickup upgrade collects Rubies and Diamonds after a short delay. For the earlier Ember rule, Fire Archer or Pyromancer generates it on first ignition after the 1.0.3 change. Current Ember and Corn drops are rebalanced again in 1.0.6.
What do Shield and Armor do?
Shield blocks one full attack. Armor halves incoming damage per 300 points. Cooldown upgrades no longer reach zero; Respawn Chance above 50% and positive percentage upgrades have diminishing returns. Read the next preview rather than extrapolating the first step.
Why retry Cursed King or Dragon?
Boss damage is retained between attempts and repeated attempts become easier. Both bosses summon larger waves during a prolonged fight. The October 25 hotfix lowers cursed melee health and changes Dragon's health/summon balance; the October 26 hotfix lowers the first-loop ceiling. See boss checks.
Where did my old skill spending go in NG+?
1.0.6 changes NG+ skill costs from exponential to linear growth and automatically refunds currency spent on skills in older saves. Inspect the budget and current costs before repurchasing. This is separate from starting a new game or deleting a save.
Are Scouts worth buying?
Scouts gain Shield upgrades in 1.0.6. Compare that added protection with the problem your current fight presents; achievement ownership alone cannot rank a unit's combat value.
Is Squad Mode already available?
The October 23 announcement describes Squad Mode as an upcoming addition with short preset challenges and random/custom squads. The current public balance release here is 1.0.6_g. Sandbox is already available for content you have unlocked.
How do I report a crash or stuck input?
The version string is at the bottom right of the main menu. Include it, your operating system and the situation in the pinned Steam Bug Reports thread. 1.0.6 fixes ghost inputs and controller drift in the tree/map, empty Spell/Aura/Special selections and several performance problems; those named fixes are not a promise that every crash has the same cause.
Which controls and platforms are listed?
The store lists Windows, macOS and Linux, Steam Cloud, mouse-only and touch-only options, and partial controller support. Match instructions to the current button hints. The 1.0.6 patch also fixes the Cursor/Automatic Toggle setting not loading correctly.