Written by YoyoYoshi for awRev
This section covers the Normal Campaign in Advance Wars: Dual Strike, with mission-by-mission strategy, recommended CO setups, and major threat notes. Enemy movement can vary slightly based on positioning, damage rolls, and capture timing, so follow the strategic principles if the AI deviates from the exact sequence shown here.
Table of Contents
- Mission 1: Jake’s Trial
- Mission 2: The New Black
- Mission 3: Max Attacks
- Mission 4: Reclaiming the Skies
- Mission 5: Neverending War
- Mission 6: The Ocean Blue
- Mission 7: Fog Rolls In
- Mission 8: Tag Battle
- Mission 9: Victory or Death!
- Mission 10: Black Boats Ahoy!
- Mission 11: Omega Land Lab Assault
- Mission 12: Lightning Strikes
- Mission 13: Frozen
- Mission 14: Verdant Hills
- Mission 15: Snow Hunters
- Mission 16: Spiral Garden
- Mission 17: Owens and Signs
- Mission 18: Into the Woods
- Mission 19: Muck Amok
Mission 1: Jake’s Trial
Objective:
Defeat all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Jake (fixed)
Why This CO:
This is Jake’s introductory tutorial mission, designed to teach basic movement, combat, and property capture mechanics. CO selection is fixed.
Map Notes:
- Introductory tutorial battle
- Small battlefield with only a few enemy units
- Designed to teach direct combat sequencing
- Capturing the city is part of the intended learning flow
General Strategy:
This mission is straightforward: eliminate the enemy tank immediately, then use your surviving tank and mech to clean up the infantry over the next two turns.
The key lesson here is focus fire: multiple units attacking one target in sequence is far stronger than splitting damage across several enemies.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Move your mech east and attack the enemy tank first.
- Follow with your tank and finish the tank off immediately.
- Move infantry onto the nearby property and begin capture.
Destroying the tank on Day 1 prevents any meaningful enemy counterpressure.
Day 2:
- Finish capturing the property.
- Use your tank to weaken one infantry.
- Use your mech to eliminate the other infantry.
Midgame Priorities
There is almost no true midgame here, but the mission teaches two essential principles:
- Remove the strongest enemy threat first
- Use heavier units to soften targets before finishing with weaker units
By Day 3, only one enemy infantry should remain.
Enemy Threat Warnings
The only real danger is leaving the enemy tank alive too long.
If you fail to destroy it on Day 1:
- it can damage your tank significantly
- cleanup becomes slower
- perfect score pacing becomes harder
Mission End
On Day 3:
- Use your tank to damage the last infantry
- Finish it with your mech
This ends the mission cleanly with no complications.
Playthrough Note:
A clean completion earns a 300 point S Rank and establishes the basic combat patterns used throughout the rest of Dual Strike.
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Mission 2: The New Black
Objective:
Defeat all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Jake (fixed)
Why This CO:
This mission is designed as an artillery tutorial and uses Jake by default. The focus is on learning indirect combat rather than CO-specific mechanics.
Map Notes:
- Early tutorial mission introducing artillery combat
- Your force consists mainly of artillery and support units
- Enemy tanks approach in a narrow lane
- Proper artillery positioning is the central lesson
General Strategy:
This mission teaches how indirect units control space. Let the enemy advance into artillery range, then destroy each tank before it can close distance.
Do not rush your artillery forward unnecessarily. Let the enemy come to you.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Use the eastern artillery to fire on the nearest tank.
- Move the western artillery west into better firing position.
- Hold your APC safely behind the line.
Day 2:
- Use both artillery units to target the advancing northern tanks.
- Focus fire to reduce the number of enemy attacks each turn.
Day 3:
- Continue firing both artillery units into the central advancing tank.
- Prioritize damaged tanks first so they cannot survive into another turn.
Midgame Priorities
This mission is about preserving artillery spacing:
- Keep artillery protected from direct attack
- Never allow tanks adjacent access to your artillery line
- Use overlapping firing ranges whenever possible
By Day 4, only one enemy tank should remain threatening.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Enemy tanks become dangerous only if:
- your artillery is left exposed
- firing lines are broken
- APC blocks artillery movement poorly
If needed, use the APC as a temporary blocker to protect weakened infantry.
Mission End
Late in the mission:
- Reposition the western artillery south and west as needed.
- Use APC blocking movement to prevent enemy access.
- Finish the last tank with concentrated artillery fire.
This mission ends once the final tank is destroyed.
Playthrough Note:
A clean artillery-focused clear earns a 300 point S Rank and teaches one of the most important early Dual Strike fundamentals: indirect units win by control, not speed.
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Mission 3: Max Attacks
Objective:
Capture the enemy HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Max (fixed)
Why This CO:
This mission introduces Max’s direct combat strengths and emphasizes aggressive frontline pressure. His stronger direct units make him ideal for fast armored breakthroughs.
Map Notes:
- First major air mobility mission
- Introduces coordinated Battle Copter and Transport Copter usage
- Enemy uses strong armored resistance, including medium tanks
- Black Bomb threat makes poor unit clustering dangerous
General Strategy:
Spread your air units on Day 1 to reduce Black Bomb splash vulnerability, then use Battle Copters to overwhelm armored targets while your Transport Copter delivers a mech toward the enemy HQ.
This mission rewards fast aerial tempo more than slow attrition.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Spread your Battle Copters apart immediately.
- Avoid clustering multiple copters in Black Bomb blast range.
- Begin shifting your Transport Copter and mech toward the HQ route.
- Advance artillery and APC support cautiously behind the air line.
The primary objective is to preserve copter mass while setting up the HQ run.
Midgame Priorities
Day 2 through Day 4:
- Use full health Battle Copters to focus medium tanks first
- Keep damaged copters merged or withdrawn when possible
- Load eastern mech into Transport Copter quickly
- Maintain artillery support against surviving armor clusters
Priority target order:
- Medium Tanks
- Anti-Air threats
- Remaining tanks
- Infantry blocking HQ route
Battle Copters should never waste attacks on low-value infantry if armored targets remain active.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Black Bomb:
The biggest danger in this mission is overstacking aircraft.
Always:
- keep copters separated
- avoid ending turns in clustered formations
- stagger approach angles when attacking
Enemy anti-air fire is secondary, but still dangerous if your copters overcommit.
HQ Capture Timing
By Day 4:
- Your Transport Copter should reach HQ range
- Unload the mech directly onto or adjacent to the HQ
- Continue attacking enemy armor with remaining copters to prevent interruption
Even if elimination remains possible, HQ capture is usually faster and safer.
Mission End
Once the mech lands:
- Secure surrounding enemy threats with copters.
- Continue suppressing armor near HQ.
- Finish remaining enemy units or complete HQ capture.
This mission usually ends on Day 5 with aggressive air superiority intact.
Playthrough Note:
A clean fast clear earns a 300 point S Rank and demonstrates the importance of air spacing, target priority, and coordinated transport timing.
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Mission 4: Reclaiming the Skies
Objective:
Defeat all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Max (fixed)
Why This CO:
This mission continues Max’s combat tutorial arc and highlights anti-air combat. His stronger direct units help finish enemy aircraft quickly once they are weakened by missiles.
Map Notes:
- Short anti-air focused battle
- Introduces coordinated anti-air and missile support
- Enemy force is air-heavy, with bombers, fighters, and copters
- One enemy tank provides the only major ground threat
General Strategy:
Eliminate the enemy tank immediately with rockets and your tank, then use anti-air units and missiles to clear the sky before enemy aircraft can trade damage efficiently.
This is a tempo mission: if you destroy the air force quickly, the battle ends almost immediately.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Fire your rocket at the enemy tank.
- Move your tank in and finish the weakened tank.
- Use anti-air units to strike bombers and fighters.
- Use missiles to remove the battle copter.
Removing the tank first protects your anti-air units from ground pressure.
Midgame Priorities
After the opening exchange:
- Focus bombers first if they threaten clustered units
- Finish damaged fighters before splitting damage
- Keep anti-air units separated enough to avoid overlapping retaliation
Target priority:
- Bombers
- Fighters
- Remaining copters
Because enemy aircraft are expensive, every clean knockout creates immediate tempo advantage.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Bombers:
Bombers are the most dangerous enemy unit here.
If left alive too long:
- they can heavily damage anti-air units
- your cleanup becomes slower
- S Rank pacing becomes less reliable
Do not waste anti-air attacks on already neutralized low-threat targets while bombers remain active.
Mission End
Day 2 usually ends the mission:
- Finish off surviving bombers and fighters.
- Use missiles only if needed to secure final cleanups.
Once the air fleet is gone, the map ends immediately.
Playthrough Note:
A clean two-day victory earns a 300 point S Rank and reinforces one of Dual Strike’s most important combat lessons: remove expensive air threats first.
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Mission 5: Neverending War
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Rachel (fixed)
Why This CO:
Rachel is required here and fits the map well. Her missiles are excellent on a tight battlefield where enemy units tend to cluster, and her repair bonus helps preserve damaged vehicles during prolonged exchanges.
Map Notes:
- First larger-scale mission with multiple production bases
- Black Hole begins with a Medium Tank guarding its HQ
- The northern front is the decisive breakthrough lane
- Southern front is mainly about securing properties and support captures
General Strategy:
Lure the enemy Medium Tank off the HQ, weaken it safely with artillery, then destroy it before pushing tanks into Black Hole territory. Once the Medium Tank falls, the map becomes much easier and turns into a standard advance-and-cleanup battle.
This mission teaches patience: do not rush into the HQ lane before the Medium Tank is neutralized.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Move the northern mech north to begin contesting the upper lane.
- Build a tank from the northern base.
Day 2:
- Use the northern mech to attack the recon on your city.
- Move your new tank northeast toward the northern city.
- Build artillery from the northern base.
- Build infantry from the southern base.
Day 3:
- Move your tank onto the northern city and attack the anti-air.
- Advance artillery behind the tank toward the Medium Tank lane.
- Keep southern infantry moving toward captures.
- Build another northern tank.
The goal is to set up artillery range on the Medium Tank by Day 4.
Midgame Priorities
Once the Medium Tank approaches:
- hit it first with artillery
- finish it only when safe from counterattack
- do not expose tanks directly unless artillery has softened it
After the Medium Tank falls:
- Push northern tanks aggressively into Black Hole territory
- Remove anti-air and tanks before weaker units
- Save artillery cleanup for last once direct threats are gone
Priority target order:
- Medium Tank
- Tanks
- Anti-Air
- Mechs
- Artillery
Southern Front Role
The southern lane is secondary but still important:
- Capture the neutral base steadily
- Use mechs to eliminate weakened enemy tanks
- Secure nearby neutral cities whenever safe
- Avoid overcommitting south if north breakthrough is underway
The southern side exists to strengthen your economy, not to force the win.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Medium Tank:
This is the mission’s defining threat.
If engaged too early:
- your tanks lose badly in direct combat
- HQ route stalls
- northern push collapses
Always soften it first with artillery before committing direct attacks.
CO Power Timing
Rachel’s Super CO Power is very strong here if charged mid-battle.
Best timing:
- after the Medium Tank is gone
- when multiple Black Hole vehicles are clustered
- before your northern breakthrough turn
This can accelerate cleanup dramatically.
Mission End
Once the northern line breaks:
- Advance tanks directly toward Black Hole HQ.
- Clear blocking armor first.
- Either capture HQ safely or eliminate remaining units.
The mission usually ends soon after the Medium Tank and frontline armor are gone.
Playthrough Note:
This mission becomes highly variable after Day 5, so exact move scripting is less important than following the correct northern breakthrough sequence.
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Mission 6: The Ocean Blue
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Colin (fixed)
Why This CO:
Colin is ideal here because his reduced unit costs let you recover quickly from expensive naval trades. This mission emphasizes careful ship exchanges, where cheap replacement value matters greatly.
Map Notes:
- First major naval battle mission
- Introduces combined sea, air, and transport coordination
- Lash controls mixed naval forces with strong indirect support
- Early naval tempo determines the entire battle
General Strategy:
Neutralize Lash’s strongest naval units quickly, especially her battleship and submarine, then land your transport force safely and overwhelm her island position before she can recover.
This mission rewards precise sequencing more than brute force.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Fire your rocket into the enemy cruiser immediately.
- Use your battleship to heavily damage Lash’s rocket.
- Move submarine east and dive.
- Load infantry into APC.
- Load APC and tank into lander.
- Advance lander southeast toward landing route.
- Move artillery east.
- Use battle copter to chip enemy battleship.
The early goal is to weaken Lash’s naval core before your landing begins.
Naval Priorities
Your first three naval targets should be:
- Enemy Battleship
- Enemy Submarine
- Enemy Cruiser
Why:
- Battleship threatens your transport route
- Submarine threatens your battleship
- Cruiser threatens your submarine
If Lash’s battleship survives too long, your landing becomes much riskier.
Landing Operation
By Day 3:
- move lander into unloading position
- unload APC and tank onto shore
- establish immediate beachhead pressure
Once landed:
- APC pushes infantry inland quickly
- tank begins frontline clearing
- do not leave unloaded infantry exposed unsupported
Landing safely is the mission’s decisive pivot.
Midgame Priorities
After the naval exchange:
- eliminate Lash’s remaining rocket quickly
- remove shore tanks before they reach your landing force
- protect your battleship from low-value attrition
- keep APC resupply active for submarine and indirects
Priority target order:
- Rocket
- Shore tank
- Cruiser remnants
- Infantry blockers
Enemy Threat Warnings
Lash’s SCOP:
Lash may trigger Super CO Power mid-battle.
When this happens:
- enemy terrain defense rises sharply
- cleanup attacks become less efficient
- weak units may survive unexpectedly
If Lash’s meter is near full, avoid relying on exact damage thresholds.
Submarine Usage
Your submarine is the mission’s most important assassination unit.
Best use pattern:
- dive early
- eliminate enemy battleship first
- reposition to destroy lander later
Do not waste submarine attacks on minor targets unless naval threats are gone.
CO Power Timing
Colin’s Super CO Power is strongest after landing begins.
Best timing:
- once multiple frontline land targets remain
- after enemy naval superiority is broken
- when your beachhead tanks need reinforcement advantage
Using SCOP too early weakens its economic swing value.
Mission End
Once Lash loses:
- battleship
- submarine
- rocket
- shore tank line
The mission collapses quickly.
Advance inland:
- Finish surviving defenders.
- Protect infantry from unnecessary losses.
- Complete cleanup near HQ zone.
Playthrough Note:
A clean execution earns a 300 point S Rank. The mission is largely decided by the first three naval turns, so precise opening sequencing matters most here.
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Mission 7: Fog Rolls In
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Jake (fixed)
Why This CO:
Jake is well suited here because this mission emphasizes balanced ground combat under fog conditions, where steady tank pressure and efficient direct trades are more important than specialized CO gimmicks.
Map Notes:
- First major fog of war mission in Dual Strike
- Enemy hidden units must be revealed before they can be safely targeted
- Koal uses concealed artillery, transports, and ambush positioning
- Vision control matters more than raw damage output
General Strategy:
Advance carefully, reveal Black Hole’s hidden artillery positions before committing expensive units, and eliminate Koal’s direct combat threats first. Once his tank force is broken, the rest of the mission becomes controlled fog cleanup.
This mission is about scouting discipline, not speed rushing.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Move infantry east to reveal Koal’s hidden artillery.
- Use recon and battle copter to destroy that artillery immediately.
- Advance indirect units up the road as far as safely possible.
- Move tanks and anti-air behind your advancing screen.
- Load your mech into the APC.
- Send APC northeast to begin central advance.
Day 2:
- Use battle copter to attack the Black Hole tank from the east.
- Move rocket into forest cover for protected firing range.
- Reveal and destroy any surviving hidden artillery.
- Advance recon north to expand sightlines.
- Keep APC just behind your rocket.
The first two turns are about neutralizing hidden artillery safely.
Fog Vision Control
In fog maps:
- recons are your most important scouts
- forests hide enemy artillery well
- APC positioning helps maintain safe mech deployment
- never move tanks blindly into unrevealed terrain
Always scout first, attack second.
A hidden artillery hit is often more damaging than losing tempo for one turn.
Midgame Priorities
After the opening artillery is cleared:
- Destroy Koal’s remaining tank units first
- Eliminate APCs and landers after direct threats are gone
- Continue clearing hidden infantry from capture routes
Priority target order:
- Tanks
- Artillery
- APCs
- Landers
- Infantry
Once Koal loses his tank, his offensive pressure collapses sharply.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Hidden artillery:
Koal’s artillery is the mission’s biggest danger.
They are often:
- concealed in forests
- positioned behind revealed bait units
- protected by fog ambiguity
Do not expose anti-air or tanks until recon confirms safe approach lanes.
Transport Ambush Notes
Koal hides transports in reefs and fogged coastlines.
Important:
- landers in reefs are easy to miss
- hidden APCs can extend enemy infantry reach
- destroy transports before they unload if possible
Revealed transports are usually low threat, but hidden ones can swing tempo.
Battle Copter Role
Your battle copter is critical for:
- early artillery removal
- reaching hidden rear targets
- punishing tanks revealed by recon
Avoid sending it too deep alone into fog unless recon has already cleared the area.
Mission End
After Day 4:
- Koal’s major armored threats should be gone
- only damaged artillery, transports, and infantry remain
From there:
- Finish exposed artillery first.
- Destroy landers in reefs.
- Mop up transports and final infantry.
The final turns are usually safe cleanup if fog scouting remains disciplined.
Playthrough Note:
This mission becomes much easier once Koal’s last tank is removed. Fog maps are won by information advantage, and this mission teaches that lesson directly.
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Mission 8: Tag Battle
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Max (fixed)
Why This CO:
Max is required here and works well because this mission emphasizes direct tank combat, rapid property expansion, and strong frontline pressure. His boosted direct units help break Black Hole’s defenses once your economy develops.
Map Notes:
- First mission centered around Tag mechanics
- Introduces Piperunners as enemy special units
- Strong expansion economy map with many neutral properties
- Early property captures determine long-term tempo
- Dual-front production pacing becomes more important here
General Strategy:
Destroy the Piperunner quickly, expand across the map through aggressive base captures, then overwhelm Black Hole by outproducing them on both fronts.
This mission is won economically before it is won militarily.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Build two infantry immediately.
Day 2:
- Send western infantry northeast to capture the neutral city.
- Move eastern infantry east toward expansion lane.
- Build tank from western base.
- Build infantry from eastern base.
Day 3:
- Begin capturing southeastern neutral base.
- Advance tank south toward Piperunner lane.
- Keep infantry spreading toward all nearby neutral properties.
- Build APC support.
The first objective is rapid property expansion while preparing to remove the Piperunner safely.
Piperunner Priority
The Piperunner must be eliminated early.
Why:
- it controls the central pipe corridor
- it restricts safe tank movement
- delaying its removal slows your expansion badly
By Day 4–5:
- move your tank into forest attack range
- destroy the Piperunner as soon as possible
Once it falls, the center lane opens dramatically.
Expansion Priorities
Your early capture order should emphasize:
- Nearby neutral bases
- Airport access
- Central pipe-side base
- Remaining cities
Important:
Every extra base captured before Day 8 creates long-term production advantage.
This mission heavily rewards aggressive economic tempo.
Midgame Priorities
After Piperunner removal:
- capture the airport immediately
- begin tank pressure on western lane
- develop battle copters on eastern lane
- continue filling unused bases with infantry
Priority target order:
- Enemy tanks
- Anti-Air
- Infantry on contested bases
- Remaining support units
By midgame, your unit count should exceed Black Hole’s significantly.
Tag Mechanics Lesson
This mission introduces the practical value of Tag pressure:
- stronger economy enables better Tag turns later
- having more active units makes CO swaps more decisive
- property control multiplies Tag momentum
Even before using Tag Power directly, this mission teaches how Tag systems reward production superiority.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Black Hole’s main danger is not early combat strength. It is losing track of their production lanes.
Watch for:
- tanks emerging from western base
- counterattacks from eastern base once airport is threatened
- late Tag activation around Day 10–11
If you block their bases early, their Tag threat becomes much weaker.
Base Blocking Strategy
By around Day 10:
- place tanks on or adjacent to Black Hole’s western base
- deny western production first
- then pressure eastern base next
Base denial is often stronger than direct combat here.
If both enemy bases are blocked, the mission is effectively decided.
Mission End
Once:
- airport is secured
- Piperunner is gone
- both enemy bases are pressured
Black Hole cannot keep up economically.
Finish by:
- Advancing tanks through west lane.
- Sending battle copters down east side.
- Eliminating remaining defenders.
Playthrough Note:
Even if Black Hole activates Tag Power late, their low surviving unit count makes it largely harmless if your expansion phase was executed correctly.
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Mission 9: Victory or Death!
Objective:
Destroy the Black Crystal
Recommended CO Setup:
Jake / Max
Why These COs:
Jake should lead first because he controls the bottom screen, where early property capture and anti-air timing matter most. Max is the stronger closer, since his boosted direct firepower makes the final crystal strike far more efficient once the battlefield has been stabilized.
Map Notes:
- First major dual-screen split battle mission
- Air unit transfer between fronts is essential
- The Black Crystal is the true objective, not full elimination
- Black Ark support and air threats create timing pressure
- Bottom front controls the bomber setup needed for final crystal kill
General Strategy:
Stabilize the bottom screen first, transfer most air units upward early, destroy the Black Ark safely, then set up a bomber strike on the Black Crystal using a Jake-to-Max Tag finish.
This mission is about sequencing, not brute-force elimination.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Send all air units except the fighter near HQ to the top screen.
- Move bottom mech east toward expansion lane.
- Begin city captures with infantry immediately.
- Advance tank east toward recon engagement.
Day 2:
- Finish all nearby captures.
- Continue mech capture progression.
- Use tank to damage enemy recon.
- Move fighter east toward future air defense role.
The early turns are about property setup and establishing air superiority on the upper screen.
Top Screen Priorities
Your transferred air units should:
- establish control over enemy air threats quickly
- protect vulnerable support units
- avoid unnecessary damage before Black Ark engagement
Priority target order:
- Battle Copters
- Anti-Air threats
- Supporting enemy aircraft
Winning the air war early makes the rest of the mission much easier.
Bottom Screen Priorities
On the lower screen:
- continue capturing all nearby properties
- build anti-air at the bottom base early
- eliminate southern enemy battle copter quickly
- prepare bomber production timing carefully
The bottom screen determines whether your crystal strike finishes on schedule.
Black Ark Timing
Destroying the Black Ark is the mission pivot point.
Before engaging:
- ensure fighter cover is active
- keep bomber outside anti-air and fighter range
- do not expose bomber too early
Once Black Ark falls:
- Max should be close to full power meter
- prepare immediate Tag sequence setup
Bomber Crystal Strike Setup
The safest finishing sequence is:
- Build bomber.
- Move bomber within striking distance of Black Crystal.
- Avoid entering anti-air, fighter, or Black Ark range prematurely.
- Fill Max’s power meter fully.
- Swap back to Jake before activating Tag.
Then:
- Jake moves bomber into attack position
- Max follows with boosted finishing strike
This guarantees reliable crystal destruction.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Major threats:
- southern battle copters killing exposed mechs
- anti-air zones around crystal approach
- enemy fighters intercepting bomber route
Do not rush the bomber before airspace is safe.
Tag Power Timing
This is one of the first missions where Tag sequencing truly matters.
Best timing:
- after Black Ark is destroyed
- once bomber is in safe striking distance
- when Max’s meter is full
Using Tag too early weakens the crystal kill setup.
Mission End
Once the Black Ark is destroyed and bomber is positioned:
- Trigger Tag with Jake first.
- Move bomber into final attack range.
- Switch to Max.
- Use Max’s boosted firepower to destroy the Black Crystal.
This ends the mission immediately regardless of remaining enemy units.
Playthrough Note:
A clean crystal-focused route can finish in about 9 days with a perfect 300 point S Rank if the bomber timing is executed correctly.
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Mission 10: Black Boats Ahoy!
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Max / Jake
Why These COs:
Max should lead first because the opening phase requires strong direct combat against Kindle’s artillery line and island defenders. Jake is an excellent partner once the frontline expands, since his balanced direct combat helps sustain pressure across the island assault.
Map Notes:
- Introduces Black Boats for the first time
- Island invasion mission with mixed land and naval combat
- Kindle controls a fortified island HQ position
- Early naval dominance determines invasion safety
- Capturing the lab city unlocks Black Boat schematics
General Strategy:
Destroy Kindle’s navy first, establish safe naval control, then land your mech assault force on the HQ island while your main army pushes across the western front. Once the island artillery is removed, Kindle’s position collapses quickly.
This mission is won by naval sequencing before land combat begins.
Opening Plan
Day 1:
- Move recon east and attack Kindle’s artillery.
- Load mech into APC.
- Load APC onto lander.
- Move lander north into invasion route.
- Dive submarine east immediately.
- Advance both tanks east.
- Push anti-air and artillery east behind them.
- Move infantry toward early property captures.
The opening objective is to prepare your island landing while beginning naval pressure immediately.
Naval Priorities
Your submarine should follow this kill order:
- First Black Boat
- Battleship
- Second Black Boat
Why:
- Black Boats extend Kindle’s naval sustain
- Battleship threatens your invasion route
- Removing naval support makes the island much safer
If Kindle keeps her battleship too long, your lander route becomes dangerous.
Black Boat Mechanics
Black Boats are hybrid support ships:
- carry two infantry-class units
- repair adjacent units
- resupply nearby units
They are weak in combat but strategically powerful.
This mission teaches: Black Boats are high-value naval support targets and should often be destroyed before less dangerous combat ships.
Island Landing Operation
When your lander reaches the HQ island:
- Unload APC first.
- Move APC forward.
- Drop mech directly beside Kindle’s artillery position.
Important:
Kindle’s artillery cannot attack the mech safely if the APC blocks properly.
This creates a protected artillery kill setup on the next turn.
Midgame Priorities
After landing begins:
- eliminate island artillery first
- secure the lab city quickly
- continue western front advance with tanks
- avoid attacking Kindle from city defense tiles when possible
Priority target order:
- Island artillery
- Battleship remnants
- Tanks on defensive cities
- Infantry blocking HQ approach
Kindle Threat Warnings
Kindle’s city bonuses are dangerous.
Never attack her units recklessly when they are:
- sitting on cities
- clustered around urban defense tiles
Her boosted city combat makes bad trades much more punishing than normal.
Also: If Kindle is near CO Power, move units off cities whenever possible.
Western Front Role
While the island force advances:
- your western army should keep steady pressure forward
- tanks should clear frontline blockers
- artillery should support from behind safe lanes
The western front exists to stretch Kindle’s defenses so the island landing can break through more easily.
Lab Capture Importance
Capturing the first neutral city on the island gives: Black Boat map data.
This is worth prioritizing early because:
- it unlocks the unit permanently
- it is on your natural invasion route anyway
Always secure this before overextending toward HQ.
Mission End
Once:
- Kindle’s navy is destroyed
- island artillery is gone
- mech and APC secure the HQ island
The mission swings decisively in your favor.
Finish by:
- Clearing remaining island defenders.
- Advancing tanks inland.
- Capturing HQ or eliminating survivors.
Playthrough Note:
This mission becomes straightforward once Kindle loses naval control. The first submarine attack sequence is the most important part of the entire map.
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Mission 11: Omega Land Lab Assault
Objective:
Capture the Lab OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Orange Star: Rachel / Max
Blue Moon: Sasha / Colin
Why These COs:
Rachel is the strongest lead choice for Orange Star because her repair bonus helps preserve damaged indirect units, which are critical in this fog-of-war map. Max gives stronger direct combat support later once the frontline closes.
For Blue Moon, Colin’s cheap unit production helps reinforce the southwest push, while Sasha provides strong long-term economy and a useful tag partner later.
Map Notes:
- Fog of war is active throughout the mission
- Orange Star cannot build new units early
- Blue Moon can reinforce from its southwest base network
- Capturing the lab immediately ends the mission
- Black Boats appear for the first time here and can repair nearby units
General Strategy:
This mission is split into two coordinated fronts:
- Orange Star must hold the central choke points while advancing a small squad northeast toward the lab.
- Blue Moon applies heavy pressure from the southwest, gradually ferrying reinforcements onto the eastern island and mainland.
Orange Star is fragile early because every artillery and rocket unit matters. Do not trade indirect units unnecessarily.
Day 1: Orange Star Opening
- Use the left artillery to destroy the Black Boat immediately.
- Fire the right rocket at the submerged sub.
- Move infantry and mech northeast toward the neutral bases.
- Use the eastern tank to damage the revealed Black Boat after advancing vision.
- Move recon units carefully into fog to reveal hidden enemy positions.
- If possible, target Neo Tanks with rockets whenever safe.
Key Rule:
Preserve every Orange Star artillery and rocket whenever possible.
Day 1: Blue Moon Opening
- Use both battleships to strike the Neo Tank and medium tank.
- Move cruiser northwest.
- Advance sub and dive immediately.
- Begin capturing neutral cities with infantry.
- Build two infantry from bases.
Blue Moon’s job is long-term reinforcement, not immediate breakthrough.
Midgame Priorities
Orange Star:
- Hold the central choke route
- Use APCs as blockers when needed
- Keep rockets on protected terrain when possible
- Push infantry steadily toward northeast bases
Blue Moon:
- Capture the southeast airport as early as possible
- Begin producing Battle Copters once airport is secured
- Use landers continuously to ferry tanks and infantry forward
- Keep battleships targeting expensive enemy units first
Priority target order:
- Neo Tanks
- Medium Tanks
- Cruisers
- Black Boats
- Artillery
Enemy Tag Power Warning
Black Hole can trigger Tag Power early in this mission.
This gives them:
- two consecutive turns
- sudden breakthrough pressure
- unexpected armor swings
When enemy meter is near full:
Pull fragile units out of exposed positions before ending turn.
Choke Point Control
Orange Star only has one main land route the enemy can push through.
Use this to your advantage:
- stack artillery behind tanks
- rotate damaged blockers backward
- deny direct access to rockets
This choke point is the key defensive advantage of the mission.
Rachel Tag Power Timing
Save your Tag Power until:
- enemy armor clusters are weakened
- your artillery can reposition for second-turn pressure
Rachel’s Missile Strike is especially strong here because:
- it deals 3 HP fixed damage
- it cripples weakened Neo Tanks instantly
- it softens clustered units before Max attacks
Ideal timing:
Use Rachel Tag Power once Black Hole’s frontline is already damaged but before their remaining Neo Tanks can regroup.
Endgame Cleanup
By Days 7–9:
- Orange Star should control the northeast approach
- Blue Moon should dominate southeast waters
- Battle Copters should be reinforcing rapidly
Continue advancing infantry toward the lab while clearing remaining defenders.
Important:
A final Black Boat may hide in reef terrain southeast of HQ. Reveal reefs before assuming all enemy units are destroyed.
Mission End
The fastest clean finish is usually lab capture rather than full elimination.
Capture the lab once:
- northeast defenders are cleared
- infantry reaches capture range safely
S-Rank Notes:
A perfect 300-point S Rank is achievable here:
- 100 Speed
- 100 Power
- 100 Technique
To preserve perfect score:
- minimize Orange Star unit losses
- avoid sacrificing indirect units
- keep pressure constant on Neo Tanks early
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Mission 12: Lightning Strikes
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Orange Star: Rachel / Colin
Why These COs:
Rachel is a strong lead choice here because her missiles provide fixed damage that helps swing clustered engagements on either front. Colin is a strong partner because his cheap unit production makes it easier to keep building infantry and anti-air while reinforcing both maps.
A workable alternative is Rachel / Max, but Colin is generally more useful here because the bottom screen benefits heavily from sustained production.
Map Notes:
- This is a dual screen mission
- The bottom screen is the main front against Grimm
- The top screen is the secondary front against Sensei
- Auto CO can be turned off in Intel to allow manual control of both fronts
- Ground units built on the bottom screen can be sent to the top screen
- Six missile silos are located on the northern island of the bottom screen
- Missile silos deal fixed 3 HP damage in a large area
- Losing the top front does not fail the mission, but winning it is very helpful
General Strategy:
This mission is split into two connected fronts:
- Bottom screen: Secure the northern missile island, keep firing silos into Grimm’s best unit clusters, and build enough infantry to capture key northern properties.
- Top screen: Survive Sensei’s early air pressure by repeatedly sending anti-air units upward until you gain control of the sky.
The mission becomes much easier once the top screen is stabilized, because that lets you finish the secondary front and convert that advantage into a strong cleanup on the main map.
Day 1: Bottom Screen Opening
- Turn off Auto CO in Intel immediately.
- Send your starting anti-air from the HQ to the top screen.
- Build infantry from the western base.
- Build another anti-air from the second base.
- Move your mech northwest toward the northern missile island.
Key Rule:
Reaching the northern island and controlling its silos matters more than early direct fighting on the bottom screen.
Day 1: Top Screen Opening
- Move the transferred anti-air as far northeast as possible.
- Advance your other units slightly, but do not overextend into battle copter range.
- Use the APC to help move slower units forward.
- Accept that this front begins defensively, not offensively.
The top screen is initially about survival and attrition, not breakthrough.
Midgame Priorities
Bottom screen:
- Keep building infantry almost every turn
- Capture cities and the north middle base as early as possible
- Fire missiles into expensive clustered targets
- Send additional anti-air units to the top screen
- Hold the river line and punish units crossing from Grimm’s side
Top screen:
- Preserve anti-air units at all costs
- Fight from cities whenever possible for healing and defense
- Let lower value units absorb pressure when needed
- Reduce Sensei’s battle copters before trying to advance
Priority target order for missile strikes:
- Tanks
- Artillery
- Recons
- Infantry or mechs only if they complete a strong cluster hit
Missile Silo Control
The missile silos are the most important special mechanic on the bottom screen.
Use them to:
- soften expensive enemy units before direct engagements
- reduce pressure at the river crossings
- support your push toward the northern base network
Important:
Do not waste silo shots on low-value targets unless they also hit stronger units in the blast radius.
Top Screen Air War
Sensei’s battle copters are the defining threat on the secondary front.
To handle them:
- keep anti-air units healthy whenever possible
- use cities for healing
- avoid letting tanks take unnecessary copter hits
- use recons, APCs, or damaged units as safer bait when needed
Once a second and third anti-air arrive from the bottom screen, the matchup becomes much more manageable.
Property Control and Production Shift
Once you capture the north middle base on the bottom screen:
- start producing tanks there when needed
- continue infantry production for captures and score stability
- build a battle copter from the northwest airport when practical
After this point, your production becomes much more flexible and Grimm’s side becomes easier to pressure from multiple angles.
CO Power Timing
Rachel’s power is strongest when enemy units are already clustered or partially damaged.
Good uses include:
- softening armor before a river crossing
- setting up anti-air wins on the top screen
- weakening Grimm’s surviving frontline before the final push
Do not rush power use just because the meter is full. Use it when it converts into immediate tempo or multiple favorable trades.
Secondary Front Win Condition
The top screen usually remains defensive for most of the mission.
Your goal is simply to outlast and reduce Sensei’s force until:
- his battle copters are mostly gone
- your anti-air units can move freely
- your remaining ground units can safely finish cleanup
Once this front is won, the mission swings heavily in your favor.
Tag Power Conversion
After winning the secondary front, you can use Tag Power pressure to collapse the main front more quickly.
Rachel is especially strong here because:
- her missiles soften the remaining mechanized units
- they help remove anti-air protection
- they open the way for your own battle copters and tanks to finish cleanup
This is the point where the mission usually shifts from controlled attrition into a decisive final advance.
Endgame Cleanup
As Grimm weakens:
- keep building infantry
- move tanks and battle copters north and east aggressively
- block the northeast airport if possible
- keep firing remaining silos into whatever strong units are left
Once enemy anti-air is gone, your battle copters become much harder to stop.
At that point, the mission is usually decided.
Mission End
This mission often ends by full elimination rather than HQ capture.
You should be in winning position once:
- the top screen has been cleared
- the missile island is under your control
- the north middle base is captured
- Grimm’s remaining anti-air and armor are broken
From there, continue pushing forward and remove the last surviving units.
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Mission 13: Frozen
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units
Recommended CO Setup:
Northwest Front: Colin / Rachel
Southeast Front: Sensei / Max
Why These COs:
Colin is excellent on the northwest front because his cheap infantry and tanks let you flood the map early, secure properties, and contest bases before Black Hole can consolidate. Rachel is a strong partner because her power works well on clustered ground units and narrow choke points.
On the southeast front, Sensei is stronger once infantry and battle copters are in play. Max is also a solid partner because direct combat matters heavily on this map, but Sensei gains more value once the airport is secured and copter production begins.
Map Notes:
- Snow is active and sharply reduces movement off roads
- This is a two front war with Black Hole in the center
- Orange Star begins on the northwest side
- Blue Moon begins on the southeast side
- Black Hole starts with strong central property control
- Com Towers appear here for the first time
- Com Tower bonuses only apply to the army that owns them
- There are no naval concerns on this map
- The southeast side has an airport and can support battle copter play
- Orange Star must eventually cross the river to pressure Black Hole’s side
General Strategy:
This mission is won by steady property control, disciplined infantry spam, and a gradual two front squeeze.
- Northwest front: Use Colin’s cheap production to build infantry every turn, secure nearby properties, contest bases across the river, and transition into tanks once your economy stabilizes.
- Southeast front: Capture the airport, bring battle copters into play, and use them with tanks and infantry to pressure Black Hole’s stronger units efficiently.
The key is not rushing recklessly through the snow. Movement is slower here, so the mission rewards early captures, efficient production, and controlled advancement.
Day 1: Northwest Front Opening
- Build three infantry immediately.
- Start spreading toward nearby cities and the contested bases.
- Prioritize early capture flow over aggressive combat.
Because Colin is leading, early infantry spam is especially efficient here.
Day 1: Southeast Front Opening
- Build two infantry.
- Begin capturing nearby cities.
- Start positioning one infantry toward the airport area.
The southeast side develops more slowly at first, but it becomes the more important combat front once battle copters enter play.
Early Capture Priorities
Northwest front:
- Capture nearby cities first
- Contest the base Black Hole wants near the river
- Move toward the Com Towers as soon as practical
Southeast front:
- Capture the nearby cities
- Redirect infantry to secure the airport
- Move toward the neutral base above your starting area
The airport matters more than a nearby city once the opening settles, because it unlocks the strongest mobility option on this map.
Production Plan
Northwest front:
- Build infantry every turn early
- Add tanks once Colin’s economy starts rolling
- Keep using cheap infantry to fill space, capture, and improve technique
Southeast front:
- Build infantry early
- Add a tank once frontline contact begins
- Build battle copters after securing the airport
This mission strongly rewards constant production, especially from Colin’s side.
Com Tower Control
Com Towers are one of the defining mechanics of this map.
Use infantry to capture them as soon as practical because:
- they increase firepower
- they improve your trades across both fronts
- Black Hole begins with a tower advantage you want to reduce
Do not overextend fragile infantry just to grab a tower early, but do keep moving toward them consistently.
River Crossing and Choke Control
On the northwest front, the main transition point is the river crossing.
Plan for it this way:
- keep infantry capturing behind the line
- move tanks forward first when crossing
- deny Black Hole’s infantry from capturing contested bases
- avoid feeding units into artillery range blindly
Once you gain a foothold across the river, Black Hole’s central position becomes much easier to break down.
Southeast Airport Timing
The southeast airport is critical.
After nearby cities are started, redirect the closer infantry to capture the airport instead of finishing a less important city first.
Once the airport is secured:
- build battle copters
- force Black Hole to respect anti-air production
- use copters to pressure tanks and weakened ground units
This is one of the biggest turning points in the mission.
CO Switching Logic
On the northwest side:
Start with Colin for production efficiency, then switch toward stronger combat pressure once tanks are active and direct engagements matter more.
On the southeast side:
Sensei becomes more valuable once infantry and battle copters are active.
That means the best timing is often:
- open with standard capture flow
- secure the airport
- bring battle copters online
- shift emphasis back toward Sensei
Midgame Priorities
Northwest front:
- keep building infantry every turn
- add tanks whenever funds allow
- capture Com Towers
- cross the river with tanks first
- deny enemy base captures
Southeast front:
- secure the neutral base above your start
- use battle copters against tanks and mechanized units
- keep infantry moving on properties
- reinforce with tanks from the ground bases
The mission usually stabilizes once you have both Com Tower progress and active battle copter pressure.
Enemy Threat Warnings
Watch for artillery ranges carefully.
A good rule here is:
Hover over enemy artillery and check attack range before ending turn.
Because movement is restricted by snow, getting caught by artillery is even more costly than usual.
Also note:
- Black Hole can still pressure weak infantry effectively
- recons can punish exposed infantry in the midgame
- tanks with Com Tower support trade better than expected
- Koal’s Urban Blight damages units on properties, so damaged units sitting on bases or cities are not fully safe from power damage
Fuel and Snow Management
Snow increases fuel strain and slows your advance.
This matters most for tanks:
- tanks lose tempo faster on snow maps
- long marches can reduce mobility before combat even begins
- APC support becomes more useful than usual
If a tank is starting to bog down, keep it advancing with purpose rather than wasting turns on low-value repositioning.
Unit Preservation and Merging
Merging damaged infantry is useful here.
Reasons:
- it preserves technique more efficiently
- it prevents multiple weak infantry from being picked off
- it keeps your army compact while still maintaining capture pressure
Infantry can also still finish weakened recons or tanks in the right situations, so do not assume low-HP infantry are useless.
Target Priority
In general, focus on the most dangerous and cost-efficient enemy units first.
Usual order:
- Tanks that still threaten your front
- Artillery covering key lanes
- Recons harassing infantry
- Capturing infantry on important properties
One important adjustment:
If a tank is already heavily weakened but a recon is still healthy and actively threatening your infantry, it can be correct to hit the recon first.
Endgame Cleanup
By the late mission:
- Black Hole should be short on strong frontline units
- your northwest side should be established across the river
- your southeast side should have battle copters and tanks pushing forward
- Com Towers should be mostly under your control
At that point, continue building infantry, keep moving tanks forward, and use battle copters to remove the last mobile resistance.
Once Black Hole is reduced to scattered infantry and a few damaged units, the map is essentially won.
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Mission 14: Verdant Hills
Objective:
Capture the HQ OR destroy all enemy units within 15 days
Recommended CO Setup:
Orange Star: Colin / Max
Blue Moon: Sensei / Rachel
Why These COs:
Colin is the best starting choice for Orange Star because this side needs cheap early production and fast tank deployment. Once enough tanks are on the field, Max becomes the stronger combat closer for direct engagements.
Blue Moon cannot build immediately, so it begins as a support front built around indirect fire, vision control, and terrain use. Sensei is valuable because Blue Moon starts with many mechs and can later threaten the HQ with strong infantry pressure. Rachel is a solid partner because her missiles are strong on a dense ground map if the battle drags on.
Map Notes:
- This is a snow map, so off-road movement is heavily reduced
- Green Earth starts in the middle with Jess and Javier
- A prototype Mega Tank appears here for the first time
- Mega Tanks hit harder than other tanks but only move 4 spaces
- Orange Star begins in the north with limited starting production
- Blue Moon surrounds Green Earth from the east and west
- Blue Moon starts with a large support force but little immediate production
- Mountains and forests are critical for vision and defensive positioning
- Comm Towers are important because Javier scales well with them
- You must win within 15 days
General Strategy:
This mission is about surviving the early armored push, using Blue Moon’s indirects to chip down Green Earth’s strongest units, and then turning the map once their center weakens.
- Orange Star: Build cheap infantry and tanks early, hold the northern choke, and avoid getting overrun while your economy comes online.
- Blue Moon: Use rockets, artillery, mechs, forests, and mountains to inflict repeated chip damage without exposing key units unnecessarily.
The mission swings once Green Earth’s medium tanks, anti-air units, and Mega Tank are softened enough for your two fronts to advance together.
Day 1: Orange Star Opening
- Build two infantry immediately.
- Move the tank downward toward the main approach.
- Move the recon into forest cover for safer vision.
- Start your infantry toward nearby cities.
Orange Star is fragile early, so do not overextend just to trade damage.
Day 1: Blue Moon Opening
- Use rockets and artillery to hit the strongest targets in range.
- Prioritize the medium tank and anti-air when possible.
- Move mechs into mountains or forests for vision without exposing them.
- Move APCs up so your indirects can be resupplied later.
- Use recon movement carefully to reveal hidden artillery and armor.
Blue Moon’s first job is not breakthrough. It is controlled chip damage.
Early Threat Assessment
Green Earth starts with a very dangerous ground force, including:
- multiple tanks
- anti-air units
- artillery
- a medium tank
- a prototype Mega Tank
Because of fog and terrain, some enemy units are hidden early.
Do not assume the visible unit count is the full army. Scout carefully before committing tanks or indirects forward.
Target Priority
In the early and midgame, focus on the strongest and most expensive units first.
Priority order:
- Mega Tank
- Medium Tanks
- Anti-Air
- Artillery
- Recons
- Mechs and infantry when they threaten captures or choke points
Blue Moon’s indirects should almost always be trading into expensive units.
Orange Star Economy Plan
Open with Colin to maximize early value:
- build infantry for captures
- add tanks as soon as funds allow
- keep production flowing every turn
Once enough tanks are active, switch toward Max for stronger direct combat.
Orange Star does not need flashy plays here. It needs to survive, build, and create enough tank mass to punish overextension.
Blue Moon Positioning Rules
Blue Moon wins its early phase through terrain discipline.
Use:
- mountains for mech vision
- forests for safer scouting
- APCs for resupply and occasional blocking
- rockets and artillery from protected ranges
Do not reveal mechs too early if doing so lets Green Earth remove them for free.
The support line matters more than one extra low-value attack.
Choke Point Defense
The northern approach can be held surprisingly well if you block it correctly.
Key ideas:
- use tanks to block the main lane
- force Green Earth to bunch up behind choke points
- keep indirects positioned behind blockers
- retreat damaged indirects before enemy armor can reach them
A single tank placed correctly can buy an entire extra turn.
Comm Tower Pressure
Comm Towers matter more here than on a normal test battle because Javier scales especially well with them.
If you can spare the tempo, start contesting and capturing Towers with Blue Moon mechs once the front stabilizes.
This helps in two ways:
- it weakens Javier’s army
- it strengthens your own trades
One missed opportunity in this run was delaying early Tower capture on Blue Moon’s side. Taking them earlier would make the mission cleaner.
HQ Threat and Mech Utility
Blue Moon mechs are not just vision units here.
They can also:
- pressure side properties
- contest bases
- threaten HQ capture routes
- act as buffers in front of tanks and indirects
Sensei is especially useful once mech pressure becomes relevant, since even a single surviving mech near HQ can force awkward enemy responses.
Enemy Tag Power Warning
Green Earth can trigger Tag Power here.
When Green Flash is active:
- they get consecutive turns
- your exposed blockers can collapse quickly
- fragile indirects become much easier to pick off
Before enemy meter fills, make sure:
- tanks are not overcommitted
- rockets are outside breakthrough range
- wounded units are not sitting where a second turn kills them easily
Surviving Green Flash is one of the mission’s key turning points.
Midgame Pivot
Once Green Earth starts to thin out:
Orange Star should:
- keep producing tanks and infantry
- move tanks into punish positions
- trade into weakened armor efficiently
Blue Moon should:
- continue indirect fire
- move artillery and rockets north as the line shifts
- capture available Towers and bases
- begin converting from chip damage into forward pressure
This is the phase where the mission stops being a pure hold and becomes a push.
Mega Tank Handling
The Mega Tank is powerful, but it has one important weakness: it is slow.
That means you can:
- chip it repeatedly with indirects
- bait it into bad lanes
- surround its advance with cheaper units
- finish it only after it has already been worn down
Do not rush direct trades into a healthy Mega Tank unless forced. It is usually better to bleed it first.
Production Shift and Cleanup
As the anti-air threat is reduced:
- Blue Moon can safely expand production options
- battle copters become much more attractive if airport control is available
- artillery can anchor the center while tanks move in for finishing blows
Continue building every turn where possible. Even late production helps maintain pressure and protects technique.
Infantry are also useful as buffers so your tanks can get favorable second hits.
Endgame Cleanup
By the late mission:
- the Mega Tank should be gone
- Green Earth’s anti-air should be reduced
- Blue Moon should be advancing from the sides
- Orange Star should have enough tanks to strike back directly
At that point:
- keep artillery covering remaining armor
- use tanks to finish exposed units
- keep the HQ under capture pressure
- do not waste time hunting irrelevant corners if HQ capture is open
Mission End
You are in winning position once:
- Green Flash has been survived
- the Mega Tank is destroyed
- Javier’s Tower advantage is reduced
- Blue Moon’s support line is intact
- Orange Star has enough tanks to stop merely defending and start trading back
From there, keep pressing toward HQ while removing any unit that can still break the capture.
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Mission 15: Snow Hunters
Important Note:
Enemy AI may react differently depending on positioning, damage rolls, pipe-break timing, and unit targeting. If enemy movement varies slightly, follow the same strategic principles rather than trying to reproduce every move exactly.
Objective:
Destroy all three mini cannons
Video Walkthrough:
Watch the Mission 15 video walkthrough
Recommended CO Setup:
Grimm / Sensei
Why These COs:
Grimm increases the attack power of every unit, allowing your army to destroy pipe seams and mini cannons more quickly. His reduced defense is manageable here as long as you respect enemy ranges and avoid unnecessary exposure.
Sensei supports map control through stronger infantry and mechs while giving the army additional flexibility across separated parts of the map. His infantry-focused abilities are especially useful for securing the southeast lab city and Comm Tower while the main force advances west.
Map Notes:
- A large pipe system restricts movement across most of the map
- Pipe seams can be destroyed to open new routes
- Pipe runners can move only along pipes and attack targets from long range
- Three mini cannons on the western side are the mission objectives
- A hidden lab city is located on the southeast island
- A Comm Tower is also located on the southeast island
- Enemy forces are divided among the west, north, northeast, and southeast areas
- A missile silo is available in the southwest
- A lander is available to transport units to the southeast island
- Mini cannon and pipe runner ranges must be checked before every major advance
- Capturing the lab city before destroying the final mini cannon unlocks the research-lab mission
General Strategy:
Snow Hunters is a divided-objective mission. Your main army must push west and destroy all three mini cannons, while a smaller transport operation secures the lab city and Comm Tower on the southeast island.
The western force should advance quickly but methodically. Pipe seams control your available routes, while pipe runners and mini cannons punish units that move forward without checking enemy ranges.
- Commit West Early: Send most of your combat units west immediately so they can reach and destroy the mini cannons before enemy pressure becomes difficult to manage.
- Open the Pipe Network: Use rockets, artillery, and medium tanks to destroy the pipe seams blocking your advance.
- Respect Enemy Ranges: Keep valuable units outside mini cannon and pipe runner range until you are ready to attack decisively.
- Secure the Southeast Island: Transport a mech by lander so it can capture the lab city before the final mini cannon is destroyed.
The mission becomes straightforward once your western force reaches safe firing positions around the cannons and the southeast mech begins its capture.
Day 1: Initial Positioning
- Use the rockets to begin damaging the pipe sections blocking the western route.
- Move the lander toward the mech near the southeast transport route.
- Load the mech into the lander.
- Move the medium tanks, artillery, and other ground units west toward the mini cannons.
- Move the anti-air units southwest to support the western push.
- Load the infantry into the APC and move it toward the southwest.
- Group the remaining combat units around the western approach without entering unnecessary enemy ranges.
Your Day 1 goal is deployment rather than combat. Establish the western attack group, begin opening the pipes, and get the southeast transport operation underway.
Western Force Composition
The western force should contain most of your heavy combat strength:
- medium tanks for direct damage against pipe seams and mini cannons
- rockets and artillery for protected indirect fire
- anti-air units for enemy aircraft and additional cannon damage
- an APC and infantry for support, blocking, and missile-silo access
Keep the indirect units behind the medium tanks and other frontline units. The rockets are especially valuable and should not be exposed to enemy armor or pipe runners.
Southeast Transport Plan
The southeast island contains both the lab city and a Comm Tower. Neither property is required to destroy the mini cannons, but the lab city must be captured before the mission ends if you want to unlock the optional research-lab mission.
Use the lander to transport a mech rather than diverting a large combat force. One mech can handle the captures while the rest of the army concentrates on the western objective.
Day 2: Early Engagement
- Use the missile silo to destroy or heavily damage the incoming bomber.
- Use anti-air units to eliminate battle copters and nearby infantry where possible.
- Continue moving the rockets and artillery west while keeping them behind pipe cover.
- Use medium tanks to damage or destroy pipe seams and open better forward positions.
- Keep indirect units outside enemy attack range as they advance.
- Continue moving the lander toward the southeast island.
The bomber is the most immediate threat because it can inflict severe damage on your ground formation. Using the missile silo against it preserves your anti-air units for battle copters and other nearby targets.
Pipe-Seam Management
Destroying pipe seams creates the routes needed to reach the western cannons, but every opening also changes how enemy units can approach your army.
Before breaking a seam:
- check whether an enemy tank or medium tank can move through the opening
- keep artillery and rockets behind a frontline screen
- confirm that nearby pipe runners cannot punish the unit making the attack
- avoid opening several lanes at once unless your army can defend them
The best seam to destroy is not always the closest one. Open routes that improve your firing positions without giving the enemy an easy attack lane.
Day 3: Positioning for Cannon Range
- Move the main force into positions immediately outside the mini cannons’ attack range.
- Keep vulnerable units approximately five tiles away unless terrain or the cannon’s exact position changes its effective coverage.
- Continue advancing artillery, rockets, and medium tanks into future attack positions.
- Use missile-silo damage against clustered high-value enemy units when an effective target remains available.
- Maintain enough spacing that pipe runners cannot damage several important units or disrupt the entire formation.
Do not rush into cannon range merely because your units have reached the western side. Day 3 should establish a coordinated attack line so several units can strike together once the assault begins.
Range Discipline
Mini cannons and pipe runners punish isolated movement. Check both attack ranges before committing any unit forward.
Use the following formation:
- medium tanks and durable direct units in front
- anti-air units near the front but outside unnecessary armored threats
- artillery behind the direct-combat line
- rockets in the safest available rear firing positions
- APCs and infantry away from exposed cannon lanes
A coordinated attack from several unit types is safer than feeding units into cannon range one at a time.
Day 4: Controlled Advancement
- Land the mech on the southeast island.
- Begin capturing the lab city immediately.
- Move the infantry toward the Comm Tower for a later capture.
- Begin attacking the mini cannons with anti-air units, artillery, rockets, and medium tanks when safe.
- Destroy additional pipe seams where needed to improve firing positions and movement.
- Prepare the western formation to absorb incoming enemy pressure without exposing indirect units.
Day 4 begins the main assault. The goal is not to destroy every cannon immediately, but to establish safe attacks while preserving the units needed to finish the mission cleanly.
Mini Cannon Assault Rules
Mini cannons cannot move, so use their fixed ranges against them.
When beginning the assault:
- move several attackers into range during the same turn
- lead with units that can survive nearby counterattacks
- keep rockets and artillery behind direct-combat units
- focus one cannon at a time rather than spreading damage unnecessarily
- check pipe runner and enemy armor ranges before every attack
Grimm’s increased attack makes nearly every unit useful against the objective, including anti-air units that are no longer needed against aircraft.
Target Priority
Although the mini cannons are the objective, nearby enemy units can disrupt the assault if ignored.
Use this general priority order:
- air units threatening your ground formation
- enemy medium tanks and tanks that can reach your indirects
- pipe runners covering the western approach
- mini cannons that can be destroyed safely
- infantry and other support units interfering with positioning
Do not delay the objective merely to eliminate harmless units, but remove anything capable of breaking your formation.
Day 5: Cannon Destruction Phase
- Concentrate medium tank and indirect fire on the western mini cannons.
- Destroy two of the three mini cannons if your attack positions are ready.
- Continue capturing the lab city with the southeast mech.
- Engage nearby enemy units that threaten your attackers or capture operation.
- Keep vulnerable units outside medium tank and pipe runner range whenever possible.
Two cannons can usually be removed during this phase if the earlier positioning was efficient. Leave the final cannon alive until the lab city capture is secure.
Why the Final Cannon Should Wait
The mission ends immediately when the third mini cannon is destroyed. If the lab city has not been captured by then, the optional research-lab mission will remain locked.
Before destroying the final cannon, confirm that:
- the mech is actively capturing the lab city
- the mech cannot be interrupted by a nearby enemy unit
- the remaining cannon can be destroyed on command
- your western army can safely hold its position for another turn if necessary
The objective can wait. The lab unlock cannot be recovered after the mission ends.
Day 6: Position Reset and Safety
- Pull exposed units back outside pipe runner and medium tank range.
- Avoid taking unnecessary damage while waiting for the lab capture to finish.
- Keep artillery or another reliable attacker positioned to destroy the final mini cannon.
- Protect the southeast mech from any enemy unit that can interrupt its capture.
- Maintain control of the western battlefield without launching unnecessary attacks.
Day 6 is a preservation turn. Once two cannons are gone, there is no reason to risk technique by forcing additional combat before the southeast objective is complete.
Preserving Technique
Avoiding unit losses is more important than dealing extra damage during the final turns.
To protect technique:
- retreat damaged direct-combat units behind the main line
- do not leave infantry or APCs exposed to easy attacks
- keep indirect units outside breakthrough range
- avoid attacking pipe runners unless the exchange is safe
- use intact units to screen weakened ones
The mission is already under control once the western cannons are reduced to one and the lab capture is nearly complete.
Day 7: Final Execution
- Complete the capture of the lab city to unlock the research-lab mission.
- Capture the Comm Tower on the southeast island if the infantry is in position.
- Use artillery or another safely positioned unit to destroy the final mini cannon.
- Eliminate nearby enemy units first only when doing so is safe and beneficial to the final score.
Once the lab city is secured, finish the mission immediately unless another attack can be made without creating risk.
Optional Southeast Comm Tower
The Comm Tower is not required for victory or for unlocking the research-lab mission, but capturing it strengthens Grimm’s already powerful offense and completes the southeast operation.
Do not delay the mission excessively for the Tower if the infantry cannot reach it safely. The lab city is the essential optional objective.
Mission End
The mission ends as soon as all three mini cannons are destroyed.
Before delivering the final attack, verify that:
- the lab city has been fully captured
- the research-lab mission has been unlocked
- no unit needs to be moved out of immediate danger
- the final cannon can be destroyed without sacrificing a unit
An S-Rank is achievable with:
- 100 Speed
- 100 Power
- 100 Technique
No units need to be lost during this mission.
Key Success Factors:
- committing the main army west immediately
- destroying pipe seams without opening unsafe enemy routes
- remaining outside mini cannon and pipe runner range until the attack is ready
- using medium tanks and indirect units efficiently against the objective
- transporting a mech to the southeast island early
- capturing the lab city before destroying the final mini cannon
- preserving every unit during the final waiting turns
Back to Top
Mission 16: Spiral Garden
Important Note:
Enemy AI may react differently depending on positioning, pipe-seam timing, pipe runner targeting, and infantry movement. If enemy movement varies slightly, follow the same strategic principles rather than trying to reproduce every move exactly.
Objective:
Capture 15 properties
Alternate Win Conditions:
- Capture the lab
- Destroy all enemy units
Video Walkthrough:
Watch the Mission 16 video walkthrough
Recommended CO Setup:
Sensei / Javier
Why These COs:
Sensei is the best starting choice because this mission is fundamentally a property race. His stronger infantry and mechs improve early captures, while his powers can add infantry across your controlled cities and bases once the map begins to open.
Javier provides defensive support during the crowded middle and late phases. His powers help protect exposed capture units and frontline forces, especially once both armies begin contesting the airport, missile silos, and northern properties.
Map Notes:
- Kindle is the enemy CO
- The battle ends when either army captures 15 properties
- You begin with eight units and six bases
- Kindle begins with ten units and three bases
- Kindle starts with two pipe runners
- The lab is located far to the northwest
- A spiral-shaped pipe system blocks direct movement through the map
- Pipe seams must be destroyed to create expansion routes
- The airport and missile silos are major central objectives
- Kindle has access to many nearby northern properties
- You must expand immediately to prevent Kindle from winning the property race
- Infantry production should continue almost every turn
- Pipe runner ranges must be checked before moving capture units through openings
Starting Units:
- 2 tanks
- 2 artillery
- 1 infantry
- 1 mech
- 1 recon
- 1 APC
Enemy Starting Units:
- 1 medium tank
- 1 tank
- 1 artillery
- 2 pipe runners
- 2 infantry
- 1 recon
- 1 anti-air
- 1 battle copter
General Strategy:
Spiral Garden is a property race disguised as a pipe-control battle. You must destroy the western pipe seams quickly, flood the map with infantry, and keep expanding before Kindle reaches 15 properties.
Your early turns should prioritize mobility and capture tempo rather than destroying every enemy unit. Once the first two seams are broken, the map opens into a wider contest over the southwest city, central missile silos, airport, and northern properties.
- Break West Immediately: Concentrate your starting tanks and artillery on the two western pipe seams so capture units can reach the far side.
- Build Infantry Constantly: Produce infantry almost every turn because the victory condition depends on property count.
- Manage Pipe Runner Range: Keep fragile units outside their firing zones until tanks or mechs can attack them safely.
- Secure Central Infrastructure: Contest the airport and missile silos before Kindle can use them against your advancing army.
- Maintain Forward Momentum: Once a route opens, continue moving units through it rather than allowing the army to become congested near the starting bases.
The most important resource in this mission is tempo. Every delayed pipe break or idle infantry unit gives Kindle another opportunity to move closer to 15 properties.
Property-Race Priorities
Not every property has equal strategic value.
Prioritize:
- bases that expand your production area
- cities that create a continuous capture route
- the airport near the center
- properties near missile silos
- northern cities that Kindle can otherwise capture easily
Do not divert several units toward a distant property if doing so leaves closer bases or cities unclaimed.
Day 1: Initial Setup
- Load the infantry into the APC.
- Move the APC seven spaces west and deploy the infantry on the western side.
- Move both tanks west toward the two leftmost pipe seams.
- Move the artillery toward the leftmost seam.
- Attack the leftmost pipe seam with artillery.
- Begin capturing the nearby city with the mech.
- Move the recon and remaining units west as far as safely possible.
- Build two infantry from the available bases.
The APC deployment gives your infantry an immediate head start toward the western properties. Meanwhile, the tanks and artillery should begin concentrating damage on the seams rather than spreading attacks across multiple targets.
Opening Production Plan
Early production should support the property race first and combat second.
Build:
- infantry from as many bases as your funds allow
- an anti-air unit early enough to intercept Kindle’s battle copter
- additional tanks once the western route begins opening
- artillery when you need protected fire against units guarding pipe exits
Avoid spending too much on expensive units during the opening. A powerful army cannot win the property race if there are not enough infantry available to capture.
Day 2: Pipe Pressure
- Continue attacking the two leftmost pipe seams.
- Move infantry toward nearby cities and the future western base capture.
- Keep the recon outside pipe runner and battle copter range.
- Move the APC slightly east after completing the infantry drop so it can support the central formation.
- Continue advancing tanks and artillery toward the seams.
- Build an anti-air unit and another infantry.
Do not allow the battle copter to dictate your movement. The early anti-air gives your western force freedom to advance without exposing infantry or artillery to repeated air attacks.
Pipe Runner Safety
Pipe runners have excellent range but limited movement because they must remain on the pipe network.
Use that limitation against them:
- check their firing range before moving infantry through a seam
- place tanks at the edge of their range to prepare a direct attack
- use mechs when terrain or pipe layout creates a safe approach
- avoid leaving artillery or recon units exposed after a seam breaks
Destroying a seam can suddenly expose units that were previously protected by pipes, so recalculate enemy ranges after every break.
Day 3: First Breakthrough
- Destroy the first pipe seam.
- Move infantry through the opening and begin positioning it to capture the base beyond the pipe.
- Keep all advancing units outside pipe runner range.
- Move the anti-air west toward the incoming battle copter.
- Position artillery behind tanks or the recon so direct units screen it from attack.
- Use the APC to resupply the mech if its ammunition or fuel becomes low.
- Continue producing infantry.
The first seam is the mission’s opening pivot. Once it falls, immediately move capture units through the gap so the breakthrough creates property value rather than merely improving combat positioning.
Capturing the Western Base
The base beyond the pipe is one of the most important early objectives because it extends your production deeper into the map.
Once captured, use it to produce:
- infantry closer to uncaptured properties
- tanks for the central advance
- artillery if Kindle establishes a defensive line nearby
Protect the capturing infantry with tanks and artillery. Losing the capture midway costs both time and momentum.
Day 4: Stabilization
- Destroy the second western pipe seam.
- Complete or begin capturing the base beyond the pipe network.
- Use artillery to attack the nearby enemy tank.
- Use anti-air to destroy the battle copter.
- Use the anti-air or a tank to finish an exposed enemy ground unit when the trade is safe.
- Move infantry west toward additional cities.
- Continue building infantry from available bases.
By the end of Day 4, both western seams should be open and your army should be expanding through the gaps. The battle copter should also be removed so your infantry and artillery can move without constant air pressure.
Early Target Priority
During the opening, focus on units that directly interfere with expansion.
Priority order:
- the battle copter threatening infantry and artillery
- pipe runners covering the western routes
- enemy tanks blocking bases or cities
- the anti-air if you are preparing to use battle copters later
- infantry actively contesting important properties
Kindle’s medium tank is dangerous, but you do not need to engage it immediately if terrain, pipes, or distance prevent it from affecting the property race.
Day 5: Pipe Runner Engagement
- Attack exposed pipe runners with tanks or mechs when a safe approach becomes available.
- Continue damaging pipe seams that block the southern and central routes.
- Move infantry toward the southwest city.
- Advance tanks and anti-air units through the opened western path.
- Reposition artillery behind the new frontline if earlier movement has left it too far back.
- Continue producing infantry and add tanks when funds allow.
Once the western seams are gone, the pipe runners become easier to approach. Their movement is restricted to the pipe network, so use tanks and mechs to attack from directions they cannot easily escape.
Do not sacrifice a unit merely to damage a pipe runner. Remove them when your direct units can attack without exposing themselves to Kindle’s medium tank or artillery.
Pipe Runner Engagement Rules
Pipe runners are most dangerous while your army is compressed near narrow openings.
To deal with them safely:
- use tanks as the primary direct attackers
- use mechs when they can approach through terrain or behind cover
- keep infantry out of their range unless a capture is worth the risk
- avoid clustering artillery, anti-air, and infantry in one firing lane
- finish damaged pipe runners before they can retreat along the pipe network
Every pipe runner removed makes the property race safer because your capture units can cross newly opened routes without long-range pressure.
Day 6: Expansion Phase
- Capture the southwest city.
- Move infantry toward the missile silos and central airport.
- Destroy the pipe seams blocking further southern movement.
- Use artillery to damage anti-air units and other defenders from protected positions.
- Place an infantry unit on a missile silo to prevent Kindle from using it.
- Move the APC near frontline units for fuel and ammunition support.
- Continue building infantry and artillery.
Day 6 begins the true expansion phase. Your army should no longer be concentrated around the starting area. Infantry should be spreading toward separate objectives while combat units protect the most important routes.
Missile Silo Control
Missile silos can alter the entire central battle by damaging several units at once.
Use them carefully:
- occupy unused silos so Kindle cannot fire them
- target clusters containing expensive or strategically important units
- prioritize medium tanks, artillery, anti-air, and pipe runners
- avoid hitting your own advancing units
- do not delay an important capture solely to chase a weak missile target
A missile does not need to destroy a unit to be useful. Reducing several defenders can create favorable tank and artillery attacks on the following turn.
Southwest and Central Expansion
Once the southwest city is captured, begin separating your infantry into distinct capture routes.
Send units toward:
- the central cities
- the airport
- unused missile silos
- northern properties beyond the spiral
Do not send every infantry unit along the same path. The fastest way to reach 15 properties is to threaten several captures at once.
Days 7–9: Mid-Map Control
- Continue advancing all available units north and west through the opened pipe routes.
- Capture additional cities to increase your property count steadily.
- Use tanks and artillery to attack enemy tanks and anti-air units.
- Eliminate any remaining pipe runners that still cover your expansion lanes.
- Fire a missile silo at a valuable enemy cluster when friendly units are clear of the blast.
- Secure the airport area.
- Build infantry every turn where funds and production space allow.
- Add tanks and artillery as needed to maintain frontline pressure.
This phase determines whether the property race remains under control. Kindle’s northern position gives her easy access to several cities, so your army must keep expanding rather than pausing after the first western breakthrough.
Airport Control
The airport is one of the strongest strategic properties on the map.
Capturing it provides:
- another property toward the 15-property objective
- access to battle copters
- a way to bypass some of the restrictive pipe layout
- additional pressure against artillery, infantry, and tanks
Protect the capturing infantry with tanks, anti-air, and artillery. Kindle’s anti-air should be weakened or removed before you invest heavily in battle copters.
Midgame Target Priority
As the map opens, enemy units should be removed according to how much they interfere with your captures.
Priority order:
- units capable of interrupting an active capture
- remaining pipe runners
- anti-air threatening future battle copters
- artillery covering central properties
- tanks and the medium tank blocking major routes
- infantry approaching uncaptured cities
Do not chase weakened units away from the property lanes unless they can return and disrupt a capture.
Maintaining Production Flow
Newly captured bases should begin contributing immediately.
A balanced midgame production pattern is:
- infantry from most available bases
- tanks from forward bases when direct pressure is needed
- artillery when Kindle forms a defensive line
- battle copters once the airport is secure and enemy anti-air is controlled
Keep base entrances clear whenever possible. Congestion can cost an entire production turn and slow the property race.
Days 10–11: CO Power Spike
- Activate Tag Power when it can support several captures and attacks during the same turn.
- Use Sensei’s power to generate additional infantry from controlled properties.
- Advance the entire army aggressively during the extra-turn sequence.
- Capture cities near the center and northern routes.
- Begin producing battle copters after the airport is secure.
- Concentrate attacks on Kindle’s strongest remaining units.
Sensei’s power is especially valuable because it creates the exact unit type required by the victory condition. Even low-health infantry can capture uncontested properties, occupy missile silos, block movement, or force Kindle to divert combat units.
Using Tag Power Effectively
Do not activate Tag Power merely because the meter is full. Use it when the extra turns can create a decisive expansion swing.
The best timing allows you to:
- finish several captures
- move newly created infantry toward open properties
- remove defenders before they interrupt capture attempts
- advance battle copters and tanks into stronger positions
- protect exposed units with Javier’s defensive support
A strong Tag Power turn can increase your property count, expand your unit advantage, and collapse Kindle’s central defense at the same time.
Sensei and Javier Roles
Sensei should handle:
- infantry generation
- capture pressure
- battle copter production and attacks
- rapid expansion across several fronts
Javier should handle:
- defensive stabilization
- protecting exposed capture units
- supporting crowded frontline engagements
- holding contested central properties
Sensei creates the expansion advantage, while Javier helps prevent Kindle from reversing it through concentrated counterattacks.
Days 12–14: Northern Grind
- Continue moving infantry through the remaining pipe routes toward uncaptured northern properties.
- Destroy additional pipe seams when doing so shortens capture routes or improves your final score.
- Attack enemy rockets and artillery whenever they can threaten active captures.
- Maintain pressure across the center, airport route, and northern approach simultaneously.
- Capture every safe nearby city rather than concentrating all infantry around one objective.
- Continue producing infantry, artillery, and occasional tanks.
The middle of the mission can become a slow grind because the pipe network restricts movement and Kindle may still have indirect units guarding the northern routes.
Do not allow the slower pace to stop production or expansion. Keep advancing infantry behind the frontline so another capture unit is always available if the leading one is damaged.
Breaking the Northern Defense
Kindle’s remaining rockets and artillery can interrupt captures from behind the pipe network.
To break the defense:
- use tanks to absorb or threaten direct approaches
- move artillery forward behind tanks and infantry screens
- use battle copters to bypass pipes and strike exposed indirect units
- destroy seams that prevent your direct units from reaching the defenders
- protect damaged capture units with inexpensive infantry blockers
Removing one well-positioned indirect unit can open several northern properties at once.
City Terrain Warning
Kindle’s units receive increased combat strength on cities and other properties. This makes even ordinary defenders more dangerous when they are positioned directly on contested capture points.
When attacking a unit on a property:
- soften it with artillery before committing tanks
- use missile damage when several property defenders are grouped together
- avoid weak direct attacks that leave the defender alive
- move your capturing infantry onto the property only after the defender is removed
Do not underestimate a damaged Kindle unit merely because it appears close to destruction. Property terrain and Urban Blight can make counterattacks much stronger than expected.
Urban Blight Warning
Kindle’s CO Power can damage your units stationed on properties. Because the victory condition requires frequent capturing, several infantry may be exposed when her meter fills.
Before Urban Blight becomes available:
- finish captures whenever possible rather than leaving several units midway
- move wounded combat units off properties if they do not need the healing
- avoid stacking your most valuable units around the same capture zone
- keep replacement infantry moving forward
Urban Blight may slow the advance, but it should not stop it if you maintain a large infantry reserve.
Property Count Management
Check both armies’ property totals at the beginning of every turn.
Your tactical decisions should change depending on the count:
- if Kindle is close to 15, prioritize interrupting her captures immediately
- if you hold a comfortable lead, protect your capture units and avoid risky trades
- if both armies are close, use CO Powers and blockers to control the final contested properties
- if an alternate win condition becomes easier, consider capturing the lab or eliminating the remaining army
The property count is more important than the number of enemy units destroyed.
Days 15–17: Final Push
- Complete enough captures to reach approximately 13 properties.
- Move multiple infantry toward the final northern cities.
- Capture the 14th property while preparing a second capture nearby.
- Surround the final contested property so Kindle cannot reinforce it easily.
- Use artillery to weaken or remove units defending the capture route.
- Activate Javier’s Tower of Power or another available CO Power to stabilize the frontline.
- Maintain your unit-count advantage through continued production and careful blocking.
The final turns are easier when two or three infantry threaten different properties. Kindle may be able to interrupt one capture, but she should not be able to stop all of them.
Setting Up the 14th Property
Once you reach 13 properties, do not treat the next capture as an isolated objective.
While taking the 14th property:
- move another infantry toward the intended 15th property
- position tanks or artillery to remove its defender
- block routes Kindle could use to reach the capture unit
- keep a replacement infantry close enough to continue the attempt
This overlap prevents the army from losing several turns between the 14th and 15th captures.
Final Property Defense
The unit capturing the 15th property is the most important unit on the map.
Protect it by:
- placing tanks and infantry in adjacent movement lanes
- using artillery to cover likely enemy approaches
- removing any indirect unit capable of interrupting the capture
- using Javier’s defensive power before Kindle’s counterattack
- occupying nearby properties and choke points with spare infantry
You do not need to preserve an elegant formation after the final capture begins. Use every available unit to prevent Kindle from reaching it.
Using Tower of Power
Javier’s Tower of Power is most valuable when your army is exposed across several contested properties.
Use it to:
- help infantry survive capture interruptions
- strengthen tanks holding narrow approaches
- protect battle copters from weakened anti-air units
- stabilize the frontline while the final captures finish
The power does not need to produce a large attack sequence. Preventing one critical capture unit from being destroyed can be enough to win the mission.
Day 18: Victory
- Complete the capture of the 15th property.
- Eliminate nearby enemy units first only when the attacks are safe and improve your Power score.
- Confirm that no unnecessary attack risks delaying or interrupting the winning capture.
The mission ends immediately when your 15th property is secured. Do not accidentally prioritize cleanup over the victory condition.
Alternate Win Conditions
Capturing 15 properties is the intended and usually fastest route, but two alternate victories remain available.
Capture the lab:
- the lab is located far to the northwest
- reaching it requires a long advance through the pipe network
- it may become practical if your northern army already controls the area
Destroy all enemy units:
- this may occur naturally if Kindle loses her production properties
- it is usually slower than completing the property objective
- do not chase total elimination while an easy 15th capture is available
Mission End
The mission is complete once you capture 15 properties, capture the lab, or destroy all enemy units.
An S-Rank is achievable with:
- 100 Speed
- 100 Power
- 100 Technique
Key Success Factors:
- destroying the two western pipe seams immediately
- producing infantry throughout the mission
- capturing forward bases to expand production
- keeping capture units outside pipe runner range
- removing the early battle copter with anti-air
- controlling the missile silos and central airport
- using Sensei’s infantry generation to accelerate expansion
- using Javier’s defense to protect the final captures
- tracking Kindle’s property count every turn
- maintaining simultaneous capture threats during the endgame
Back to Top
Mission 17: Omens and Signs
Important Note:
Enemy AI may react differently depending on carrier positioning, stealth deployment timing, cruiser movement, and performance on the secondary front. If enemy movement varies slightly, follow the same strategic principles rather than trying to reproduce every move exactly.
Objective:
Destroy all mini cannons on the lower-screen fortress
Alternate Win Conditions:
- Win the secondary-front battle
- Destroy all enemy units
Video Walkthrough:
Watch the Mission 17 video walkthrough
Recommended CO Setup:
Grimm / Max
Why These COs:
Grimm provides the raw attack power needed to remove cruisers, carriers, pipe seams, and fortress defenses efficiently on the lower screen. His offensive boost helps shorten the naval battle before enemy indirects and fortress weapons can wear down your fleet.
Max is the ideal partner for the upper-screen secondary front because his fighters gain overwhelming direct-combat strength. He can defeat the enemy air force quickly, secure the secondary battle, and unlock Tag Power access for the main fortress assault.
Map Notes:
- Koal and Jugger are the enemy COs
- The battle is divided between an upper and lower screen
- The upper screen contains the secondary-front air battle
- Winning the secondary front unlocks Tag Power access
- The lower screen contains the main fortress and mission objectives
- Carriers can launch, repair, refuel, and resupply air units
- Stealth fighters can hide from most enemy attacks
- Hidden stealth fighters consume fuel rapidly
- Cruisers can attack submarines, battle copters, and visible stealth fighters
- Several carriers begin trapped behind pipe seams
- Destroying pipe seams releases additional stealth fighters
- All lower-screen mini cannons must be destroyed to complete the main objective
- Pipe-seam destruction also awards bonus points
- Enemy battleships, rockets, artillery, missiles, and anti-air units cover the fortress approaches
- Naval and air ranges must be checked carefully before every advance
Starting Units — Upper Screen:
Starting Units — Lower Screen:
- 3 carriers
- 1 battleship
- 1 cruiser
- 1 submarine
- 1 bomber
- 2 battle copters
- 1 rocket
- 1 artillery
- 2 APCs
- 1 infantry
- 1 mech
- additional naval support units
Enemy Starting Units — Upper Screen:
- 4 fighters
- 2 bombers
- fortress defenses
Enemy Starting Units — Lower Screen:
- multiple cruisers
- multiple battleships
- battle copters
- 1 fighter
- 1 rocket
- 1 artillery
- 1 anti-air
- 1 missiles unit
- black boats
- fortress mini cannons
General Strategy:
Omens and Signs is a two-front operation. Max should win the upper-screen air battle as quickly as possible, while Grimm’s lower-screen force controls the sea, destroys the pipe seams, and gradually opens the fortress to stealth fighter and battleship attacks.
The lower front should not rush directly toward the mini cannons. Enemy cruisers can punish battle copters and stealth fighters, while battleships, rockets, artillery, missiles, and anti-air units cover the fortress approaches. Remove the units that threaten your air force, preserve carrier access, and then collapse the fortress from several angles.
- Win the Secondary Front Quickly: Use Max’s fighters to overwhelm the upper-screen air force and unlock Tag Power.
- Remove Cruisers Early: Cruisers are the main obstacle to safe battle copter and stealth fighter deployment.
- Break the Pipe Seams: Destroy the seams trapping carriers and release additional stealth fighters.
- Manage Stealth Fuel: Hidden stealth fighters consume fuel rapidly and must rotate through carriers for resupply.
- Collapse the Fortress Gradually: Use battleships, stealth fighters, battle copters, and indirect units together once the surrounding defenses weaken.
The mission swings in your favor once the upper battle is won, the first cruisers are removed, and the carrier lanes begin opening.
Two-Front Priorities
The upper and lower battles serve different purposes.
Upper screen:
- attack aggressively with Max’s fighters
- remove enemy bombers and fighters before they can trade efficiently
- finish the secondary front quickly enough to unlock Tag Power for the main battle
Lower screen:
- protect the carriers and indirect units
- damage cruisers before exposing air units
- use the submarine against vulnerable naval targets
- destroy pipe seams to release stealth fighters
- advance toward the mini cannons only after the approach is under control
Day 1: Opening Deployment
- Begin capturing the nearby cities and Comm Tower on the upper-left island.
- Move the rocket south toward the enemy naval approach.
- Move the battleship southeast while remaining outside enemy rocket range.
- Send the upper-screen fighters forward to begin supporting the secondary-front assault.
- Move the bomber toward a useful lower-screen attack route without exposing it to the enemy fighter or missiles.
- Move the submarine southeast.
- Position the cruiser near the battle copters so it can protect and transport them.
- Build infantry from the available base.
- Leave the blocked carriers protected while preparing to destroy the pipe seams.
Day 1 establishes both fronts. Max’s fighters should begin closing on the upper defenses immediately, while the lower force spreads into safe firing and support positions.
Carrier and Air Unit Roles
The carriers are the center of the lower-screen air strategy.
Use them to:
- launch stealth fighters as pipe routes open
- repair damaged air units
- restore fuel and ammunition
- provide safe staging points near the fortress
Do not move every carrier forward at once. Keep enough separation that one enemy breakthrough cannot threaten the entire air-support network.
Day 2: Early Naval Positioning
- Use the upper-screen fighters to attack the enemy air force and fortress targets.
- Continue capturing the upper-left properties.
- Use the rocket to damage the pipe seams blocking the carriers.
- Move the artillery toward the southern approach.
- Load the battle copters into the cruiser for protection.
- Dive the submarine before advancing it farther into enemy naval range.
- Use the APCs to move infantry and mechs southward toward useful capture and support positions.
Loading the battle copters keeps them safe from enemy cruisers and fighters during the opening. They become much more valuable later, once the anti-air and cruiser threats have been reduced.
Submarine Use
The submarine can remove expensive naval units while avoiding many direct attacks when submerged.
Use it to:
- threaten enemy battleships
- destroy black boats and isolated support vessels
- force cruisers to remain near valuable ships
- approach from angles not covered by fortress indirects
Watch its fuel closely. A submerged submarine consumes fuel quickly and may need APC, black boat, or carrier support before the mission ends.
Day 3: First Engagements
- Begin damaging enemy cruisers with rockets and artillery.
- Use the battleship to destroy an exposed enemy rocket.
- Use the cruiser to eliminate the nearby fighter when a safe attack is available.
- Launch the first stealth fighter from an opened or available carrier.
- Continue moving infantry toward the southwest properties.
- Continue the upper-screen air assault with Max’s fighters.
- Build another infantry unit.
Day 3 should begin removing the units that restrict your air force. The enemy fighter and cruisers are higher priorities than the mini cannons because they can destroy or heavily damage your most useful attackers.
Early Target Priority
Use this general priority order on the lower screen:
- enemy fighter threatening bombers or stealth fighters
- cruisers threatening battle copters, submarines, and visible stealth fighters
- rockets and artillery covering the carrier lanes
- battleships threatening your naval formation
- anti-air and missiles near the fortress
- pipe seams blocking additional carriers
- mini cannons once the approach is safe
The objective remains the mini cannons, but attacking them too early can cost the air and naval units needed to finish the mission efficiently.
Stealth Fighter Deployment
Launch the first stealth fighter only when you have a clear role for it.
Good early uses include:
- attacking a pipe seam from an otherwise inaccessible angle
- damaging a mini cannon while remaining hidden
- removing an exposed support unit
- forcing enemy cruisers to reposition
Hide the stealth fighter after deployment when doing so protects it from enemy attacks, but remember that hidden status sharply increases fuel consumption.
Days 4–5: Secondary-Front Victory
- Use Max’s fighters to finish the remaining upper-screen air units and fortress defenses.
- Hide the deployed stealth fighter when doing so keeps it safe from enemy attacks.
- Use the submarine to attack vulnerable battleships and black boats.
- Continue weakening enemy cruisers with rockets, artillery, and other protected attacks.
- Advance the carriers toward the newly opened pipe routes.
- Continue capturing available cities and Comm Towers.
- Win the upper-screen secondary battle.
- Unlock access to Tag Power for the lower-screen fortress assault.
The upper battle should be resolved as quickly as possible. Max’s fighters are strong enough to overpower the enemy air force directly, and every turn saved there brings Tag Power online sooner for the main front.
Winning the Secondary Front
The upper-screen victory does more than remove a side objective. It changes the lower battle by unlocking your Dual Strike.
To finish the upper front efficiently:
- focus damaged enemy fighters before spreading attacks
- remove bombers before they can trade into your fighters
- use Max’s direct-combat advantage rather than waiting for perfect damage
- avoid leaving a weakened enemy air unit alive when another fighter can finish it
Once the upper screen is secure, shift your attention fully to the fortress.
Cruiser Elimination
Enemy cruisers remain the most important lower-screen targets during this phase.
They threaten:
- submarines
- battle copters
- visible stealth fighters
- your ability to approach the fortress safely
Use rockets and artillery to soften them before committing naval or air units. A damaged cruiser is still dangerous, so finish it whenever you can do so without exposing a more valuable unit.
Stealth Fighter Fuel Management
Hidden stealth fighters are powerful but consume fuel rapidly.
Use a rotation plan:
- launch a fully supplied stealth fighter from a carrier
- hide it only when concealment materially improves survival
- attack a high-value target or pipe seam
- return toward a carrier before fuel becomes critical
- launch another stealth fighter while the first one repairs and resupplies
Do not leave a hidden stealth fighter deep near the fortress without a return route. Losing one to fuel exhaustion wastes one of your strongest objective attackers.
Day 6: Tag Power Push
- Activate Tag Power once it can support a meaningful lower-screen assault.
- Use carrier access and support units to resupply the submarine and stealth fighters.
- Attack mini cannons and pipe seams with stealth fighters.
- Deploy battle copters near the northeast artillery position after cruiser coverage weakens.
- Continue damaging or eliminating the remaining cruisers.
- Build an additional battleship if funds and production access allow.
- Begin preparing a coordinated assault on the fortress defenses.
The Dual Strike should create a positional breakthrough, not merely add scattered damage. Use the first turn to remove threats and the second to advance air and naval units into stronger attacking positions.
Tag Power Priorities
During the extra-turn sequence, prioritize actions that would otherwise be unsafe.
Good uses include:
- damaging a cruiser and finishing it before it can counterattack
- breaking a pipe seam and immediately moving a carrier or stealth fighter through the opening
- resupplying an air unit and sending it back into combat
- dropping battle copters into a safe staging area after nearby threats are removed
- damaging a mini cannon twice before the fortress can respond
The strongest Tag Power turn changes access, positioning, and target availability all at once.
Battle Copter Deployment
Battle copters should remain protected until the cruiser and anti-air threats are reduced.
Once the route is safer, use them to:
- attack artillery and rockets near the fortress
- finish weakened mini cannons
- remove black boats and other light support units
- approach from angles unavailable to naval units
Do not send battle copters forward merely because they are available. Their value appears late, when the enemy’s anti-air coverage begins collapsing.
Day 7: Fortress Breach
- Destroy additional pipe seams to release more stealth fighters and open carrier routes.
- Rotate low-fuel stealth fighters back toward carriers.
- Continue eliminating black boats and weakened naval units.
- Advance battleships carefully while checking enemy battleship, rocket, and mini cannon ranges.
- Move battle copters closer to the fortress once cruiser pressure is reduced.
- Position the fleet and air force for attacks from several directions.
Day 7 is the transition from naval control to fortress assault. Your forces should begin surrounding the objective rather than approaching through a single predictable lane.
Pipe-Seam Destruction
Destroying the remaining seams serves three purposes:
- it releases additional stealth fighters
- it opens movement lanes for carriers and support units
- it awards bonus score points
Use rockets, artillery, stealth fighters, and battleships against seams when no more urgent threat is available. Avoid wasting a powerful attack on a seam if a cruiser or anti-air unit can destroy one of your key units on the next turn.
Multi-Angle Fortress Pressure
The fortress is easier to dismantle when several unit types attack from different ranges.
Use:
- battleships for long-range cannon damage
- stealth fighters for concealed attacks and seam destruction
- battle copters for finishing blows and support-unit removal
- rockets and artillery for pressure from protected land positions
- the submarine to keep enemy naval support occupied
Do not allow every attacker to depend on the same lane. A spread formation reduces congestion and prevents one enemy unit from blocking the entire assault.
Day 8: Endgame Setup
- Destroy the remaining pipe seams.
- Launch every remaining stealth fighter that can contribute safely.
- Eliminate the final cruisers and nearby anti-air threats.
- Advance the battle copters toward the fortress.
- Use battleships and stealth fighters to damage the mini cannons.
- Keep vulnerable units outside remaining artillery, battleship, missile, and mini cannon ranges.
By Day 8, the map should be shifting fully into objective cleanup. Most of the enemy units capable of threatening your air force should be damaged or gone, while the destroyed pipe seams should give your carriers and stealth fighters much greater freedom.
Final Cruiser and Anti-Air Cleanup
Do not begin the last fortress push while a healthy cruiser or anti-air unit still controls an important approach.
Remove them using:
- battleship fire from outside retaliation range
- rockets or artillery from protected land positions
- the submarine against exposed naval targets
- stealth fighters when the target can be destroyed without creating a fuel emergency
Once these threats are gone, your battle copters and stealth fighters can attack much more freely.
Launching the Remaining Stealth Fighters
Each newly released stealth fighter should have a clear assignment before launch.
Possible roles include:
- damaging a mini cannon
- finishing a weakened cruiser or anti-air unit
- destroying a final pipe seam
- removing a fortress support unit
- drawing enemy attention away from a damaged attacker
Do not hide every stealth fighter automatically. If enemy threats have already been removed, remaining visible may conserve enough fuel for another attack.
Fortress Range Checks
The fortress remains dangerous even after most mobile defenders are gone.
Before moving an attacker forward, check:
- mini cannon coverage
- enemy battleship range
- rocket and artillery range
- missiles coverage against air units
- whether another unit blocks the intended retreat path
One careless movement can expose several units if the area around the fortress becomes congested.
Day 9: Final Assault
- Destroy additional mini cannons with battleships and stealth fighters.
- Use battle copters to finish weakened cannons or nearby defenders.
- Continue building infantry where possible to support Technique and maintain unit count.
- Remove remaining transport copters, black boats, and other support units when the attacks are safe.
- Position the remaining fleet and air units around the final fortress defenses.
Focus damage rather than spreading it across every remaining objective. A destroyed mini cannon stops contributing immediately, while several damaged cannons still remain fully functional.
Mini Cannon Targeting
Choose the next cannon according to which one most restricts your movement.
Prioritize:
- a cannon covering your carrier or battleship route
- a cannon threatening several air units
- a damaged cannon that can be removed immediately
- a cannon blocking battle copter access to the inner fortress
Coordinate attacks so that battleships provide the initial damage and more mobile air units deliver finishing blows.
Battle Copter Cleanup
Battle copters become especially useful during the last two days because most cruisers and anti-air units should already be gone.
Use them to:
- finish weakened mini cannons
- destroy artillery and rockets
- remove transport copters and black boats
- occupy attack lanes that stealth fighters do not need
Keep them away from any surviving cruiser, fighter, missiles unit, or anti-air unit.
Maintaining Technique
The mission’s late phase can tempt you to sacrifice damaged units for one more attack. Avoid doing so unless that attack ends the mission immediately.
Protect Technique by:
- returning damaged aircraft to carriers
- keeping wounded naval units outside enemy range
- building inexpensive infantry to maintain unit count
- using full-health units for the final exposed attacks
- avoiding unnecessary trades against harmless support units
Day 10: Victory
- Destroy the final mini cannon.
- Finish additional enemy units first only when the attacks are safe and improve the final score.
- Complete the mission with the fortress destroyed and the surviving force intact.
The final attack should come from whichever unit can destroy the cannon without risking a loss beforehand. A battleship or stealth fighter will usually provide the safest finishing blow.
Mission End
The mission ends once all lower-screen mini cannons are destroyed.
An S-Rank is achievable with:
- 100 Speed
- 100 Power
- 100 Technique
- 40 Mini Cannon Points
- 34 Pipe Seam Points
The recorded run finishes with a 370-point S-Rank.
Key Success Factors:
- winning the upper-screen secondary battle quickly with Max
- unlocking Tag Power before the main fortress assault
- eliminating enemy cruisers before deploying battle copters aggressively
- destroying pipe seams to release additional stealth fighters
- rotating low-fuel stealth fighters through carriers
- using battleships and indirect units to remove fortress support defenses
- attacking mini cannons from several directions
- preserving damaged air and naval units during the final turns
- destroying every available pipe seam for bonus points
Back to Top
Mission 18: Into the Woods
Important Note:
Enemy AI movement may vary depending on fog-of-war scouting, unit positioning, Tag Power timing, and how aggressively you advance toward the rivers. If enemy units move differently, follow the same positioning and preservation principles rather than trying to reproduce every move exactly.
Objective:
Capture the enemy HQ or destroy all enemy units
Video Walkthrough:
Video link pending
Recommended CO Setup:
Orange Star: Max / Rachel
Blue Moon: Grimm / Jess
Why These COs:
Max gives Orange Star the direct-combat power needed to remove tanks, medium tanks, and Oozium units along the lower route. His stronger direct units are especially valuable when enemy armor appears suddenly from the fog.
Rachel provides flexible support through her CO Powers and helps Orange Star control clustered enemy formations. Her missile strikes become more useful once hidden units are revealed and several targets begin gathering near the central and eastern approaches.
Grimm strengthens Blue Moon’s upper-front attacks and helps its smaller direct-combat force remove enemy armor efficiently. His additional firepower is valuable when mechs, tanks, and anti-air units must combine attacks against Oozium or concealed defenders.
Jess supports Blue Moon’s slower land advance through stronger vehicles, improved mobility, and reliable resupply. Her abilities help keep rockets, artillery, APCs, and frontline vehicles moving through the dense terrain without losing momentum.
Map Notes:
- Kindle and Lash are the enemy COs
- The entire mission takes place under fog of war
- Dense forests sharply restrict vision
- Orange Star and Blue Moon advance eastward on separate fronts
- Oozium 238 units appear during the mission
- Oozium instantly destroy adjacent units if allowed to attack
- Oozium are immune to CO Powers
- Missiles, rockets, and artillery are essential support units
- Rivers create major central choke points
- Recon placement is critical for revealing hidden units
- Infantry and mechs can provide vision from mountains and forests
- APCs are useful for shielding, refueling, resupplying, and extending vision
- Both fronts should advance in compact formations
- Expensive units should never move into unrevealed forest areas without support
Starting Units — Orange Star Front:
- 1 Mega Tank
- 1 Neotank
- 2 medium tanks
- 2 anti-air units
- 1 artillery
- 2 tanks
- 1 APC
- 1 infantry
- 1 mech
Starting Units — Blue Moon Front:
- 2 rockets
- 2 artillery
- 1 recon
- 2 APCs
- 3 mechs
- 1 anti-air
- 1 tank
Enemy Starting Forces:
- multiple tanks
- multiple medium tanks
- artillery
- rockets
- battle copters
- recon units
- additional hidden fog-of-war units
- multiple Oozium 238 units
General Strategy:
Into the Woods is a fog-of-war preservation battle. Both allied fronts should move east in tight formation, reveal threats before committing expensive units, and destroy each Oozium in a single coordinated turn whenever possible.
The mission becomes dangerous when one front advances too quickly and leaves its indirect units exposed. Rockets, missiles, and artillery provide much of your safest damage, so protect them with tanks, mechs, APCs, and terrain while recon units reveal hidden targets.
- Protect the Indirect Line: Keep rockets, artillery, and missiles behind durable frontline units at all times.
- Scout Before Advancing: Use recons, infantry, mechs, forests, and mountains to reveal hidden units before moving expensive armor.
- Destroy Oozium in One Turn: Do not begin an Oozium attack unless enough units are available to finish it before the enemy phase.
- Use Terrain Defensively: Forests conceal and protect units, while rivers create useful barriers and staging lines.
- Coordinate Both Fronts: Orange Star and Blue Moon should advance at similar rates so neither side becomes isolated.
- Save Tag Power for a Breakthrough: Use Dual Strikes when they can remove several threats and push both armies into the eastern half of the map.
The safest approach is slower than a normal land battle, but preserving the support line gives you enough firepower to dismantle every hidden formation.
Fog-of-War Formation
Each army should move as a compact group rather than as a string of isolated units.
Use the following formation:
- recons, infantry, or mechs slightly ahead for vision
- tanks, medium tanks, anti-air, and APCs on the frontline
- Mega Tank and Neotank close enough to respond without leading blindly
- artillery and rockets two or more spaces behind the frontline
- damaged or low-value units positioned as emergency screens
Do not move the entire formation based only on the first visible enemy. Hidden artillery, rockets, battle copters, or Oozium may still be positioned beyond the current vision radius.
Vision Priorities
Use different scouts for different terrain.
- Recons: Reveal long road and open-ground lanes efficiently.
- Infantry: Check forests and support nearby captures or blocking positions.
- Mechs: Use mountains and forests for vision while retaining useful anti-armor damage.
- APCs: Extend the formation safely and absorb space without risking expensive attackers.
A scout does not need to attack to be valuable. Revealing a hidden rocket or Oozium before your tanks move can prevent a major loss.
Oozium Engagement Rules
Oozium 238 instantly destroy an adjacent unit during their attack. Treat every square next to an Oozium as lethal unless the unit will be destroyed before the enemy turn.
Before attacking an Oozium:
- reveal every adjacent forest and likely support position
- calculate whether your available attacks can destroy it in one turn
- attack first with indirect units when possible
- use mechs, medium tanks, Neotanks, or the Mega Tank for finishing damage
- leave no expensive unit adjacent if the Oozium survives
CO Powers do not damage Oozium, so do not rely on Rachel’s missiles or another power to finish one.
Day 1: Opening Deployment
- Load the Orange Star infantry into the APC.
- Move weaker frontline units forward first to reveal safe movement lanes.
- Keep the Mega Tank and Neotank slightly behind the initial screen.
- Advance the artillery and anti-air units cautiously.
- Move Blue Moon’s mechs and recon eastward to begin expanding vision.
- Keep Blue Moon’s rockets, artillery, and anti-air protected behind the frontline.
- Advance both armies without moving deep into unrevealed forest areas.
Day 1 is about establishing safe formations. There is no reason to expose the strongest units simply to gain one extra space of movement.
Orange Star Opening Roles
Orange Star has the stronger direct-combat army and should form a durable lower-front column.
- Use tanks and anti-air units to probe the route.
- Keep the medium tanks ready to respond to enemy armor.
- Hold the Mega Tank and Neotank behind the first vision line.
- Protect the artillery with the APC and cheaper frontline units.
- Use the mech for forest vision and later Oozium damage.
Max’s army should hit hard only after the enemy formation is revealed.
Blue Moon Opening Roles
Blue Moon begins with greater indirect strength but fewer durable direct units.
- Use the recon as the primary mobile scout.
- Move mechs through forests and mountains to extend vision.
- Place the tank, anti-air, and APCs in front of the rockets and artillery.
- Keep both rockets separated so one breakthrough cannot threaten them together.
- Use APCs to resupply units and fill dangerous approach spaces.
Blue Moon should avoid direct exchanges until its indirect units have softened the enemy.
Day 2: First Fog Engagements
- Continue advancing cautiously toward the eastern forest lines.
- Keep support units at least two spaces behind the frontline whenever the terrain allows.
- Use forests to reduce exposure to hidden direct attacks.
- Build a defensive formation around likely Oozium approach lanes.
- Avoid placing the Mega Tank, Neotank, rockets, or artillery adjacent to unrevealed spaces.
- Use recon and infantry movement to reveal targets before selecting attacks.
The first visible enemy unit may be bait for a hidden indirect or Oozium. Reveal the surrounding terrain before moving several attackers into the same area.
Protecting Against Battle Copters
Enemy battle copters are especially dangerous to Blue Moon’s mechs, artillery, and rockets.
To control them:
- keep anti-air units near the center of each formation
- avoid leaving mechs isolated at the edge of vision
- use missiles if available to cover likely air approaches
- reveal forests before moving anti-air into an exposed attack position
Do not chase a damaged battle copter into the fog unless the route has already been scouted.
Day 3: First Oozium Battle
- Reveal the first Oozium 238 unit using a scout or controlled frontline movement.
- Check the surrounding fog for enemy artillery, rockets, armor, and battle copters.
- Use artillery, rockets, or other indirect attacks to begin weakening the Oozium.
- Follow with medium tanks, mechs, or other direct units.
- Destroy the Oozium during the same turn whenever possible.
- Keep missiles and rockets protected from enemy battle copters.
- Eliminate nearby artillery and rocket threats that could punish the formation afterward.
The first Oozium encounter establishes the pattern for the rest of the mission: reveal, surround, soften, finish, and then rebuild the formation before advancing.
First Oozium Attack Sequence
A safe attack sequence is:
- Reveal the Oozium and all nearby support units.
- Attack with rockets or artillery from maximum safe range.
- Use mechs or medium tanks for additional damage.
- Deliver the final attack with a durable direct-combat unit.
- Move any unnecessary adjacent units away before ending the turn.
Do not use the Mega Tank or Neotank as the first blind attacker. Preserve them for reliable finishing damage after the area is fully scouted.
Early Target Priority
During the opening, remove threats according to their ability to expose or destroy your support line.
- Oozium that can reach an expensive unit
- battle copters threatening indirects and mechs
- rockets and artillery covering your advance
- medium tanks and tanks blocking narrow routes
- recons revealing your hidden units
Preserving your indirect fire is more important than chasing low-value units through the fog.
Day 4: Surviving Black Hole Pressure
- Prepare both fronts for the enemy Tag Power.
- Pull damaged or exposed units behind stronger frontline screens.
- Keep anti-air, rockets, artillery, and other support units protected by terrain and durable units.
- Use forests to reduce the damage taken by units that must remain near the frontline.
- Continue advancing beyond the rivers only where the route has been scouted.
- Use captured cities to repair damaged units when doing so does not expose them to an Oozium or indirect attack.
Kindle and Lash can create a dangerous two-turn sequence. The combination of Kindle’s property-based combat strength and Lash’s terrain bonuses can punish units that are spread too thin or resting in predictable positions.
Enemy Tag Power Warning
Before the enemy power meter fills, assume every exposed unit may need to survive two consecutive enemy turns.
Prepare by:
- keeping damaged units away from the front edge
- placing tanks, anti-air units, APCs, or mechs in front of indirect units
- avoiding isolated units in forests that the enemy can reveal and surround
- keeping expensive armor away from unrevealed spaces
- maintaining multiple retreat routes through the formation
Do not rely on fog alone to protect a unit. Enemy recons and infantry may reveal it before the second Tag Power turn.
Property and Terrain Risk
Kindle becomes more dangerous when fighting from cities and other properties, while Lash gains additional value from favorable terrain.
As a result:
- avoid weak attacks against enemy units positioned on cities
- use indirect fire to reduce property defenders before direct combat
- do not assume a forested unit is safe merely because it has high defense
- finish damaged enemies when leaving them alive would create a strong counterattack
The terrain protects both armies, so use concentrated attacks rather than several low-damage exchanges.
River Choke Points
The rivers divide the central battlefield and restrict how armor can move east.
Use them to create a stable staging line:
- place durable units near crossings
- keep rockets and artillery behind the river approach
- use mechs and infantry where vehicles cannot cross directly
- reveal the far side before sending tanks across
- avoid crowding several expensive units around one crossing
A controlled river crossing is safer than pushing one tank ahead and forcing the rest of the army to rescue it.
Day 5: Second Advance
- Push both fronts eastward once the central enemy pressure has been stabilized.
- Continue using APCs as shields, fuel support, and ammunition support.
- Move rockets and artillery closer while preserving at least one protective layer in front of them.
- Eliminate remaining enemy resistance on the western side of the rivers.
- Scout the likely approach to the second Oozium.
- Rebuild the formation before committing the strongest units forward.
Day 5 is a transition turn. The first Oozium should be gone, the enemy Tag Power should be survived, and both fronts should begin moving from central defense into the eastern half of the map.
APC Utility
APCs are especially valuable in this mission even when they are not transporting infantry.
Use them to:
- resupply rockets, artillery, anti-air units, and heavy armor
- restore fuel to scouts operating deep in the fog
- occupy dangerous movement spaces in front of support units
- block enemy tanks from reaching indirects
- extend the formation without risking a more expensive attacker
An APC can be placed in a dangerous position when necessary, but never leave it adjacent to a surviving Oozium.
Advancing the Indirect Line
Indirect units must continue moving forward as the frontline shifts east.
Move them in stages:
- Scout the next section of terrain.
- Advance the direct-combat screen.
- Move artillery and rockets into newly protected positions.
- Reposition APCs for resupply and blocking.
- Confirm that battle copters cannot reach the support line.
Leaving rockets too far behind reduces their usefulness, but moving them before the frontline is secure can cost the mission’s most important units.
Day 6: Second Oozium Engagement
- Reveal the second Oozium and any nearby supporting units.
- Position several attackers around it without ending the turn adjacent prematurely.
- Use rockets and artillery for the opening damage when available.
- Use Neotanks and medium tanks for the primary direct attacks.
- Finish the Oozium before ending the turn.
- Move wounded or unnecessary adjacent units away once the target is destroyed.
- Continue preserving the Mega Tank, Neotank, and indirect units for the final eastern push.
The second Oozium should be handled with the same discipline as the first, but your army will usually have more units in range and better CO meter support by this point.
Second Oozium Attack Sequence
A reliable sequence is:
- Reveal the Oozium with recon, infantry, or controlled frontline movement.
- Check for hidden artillery, rockets, tanks, and battle copters.
- Attack with indirect units first.
- Follow with a medium tank or Neotank.
- Use the strongest remaining direct unit for the finishing blow.
- Re-form the defensive line before ending the turn.
Do not spread attacks between the Oozium and several nearby enemies if doing so leaves the Oozium alive.
Preserving Heavy Armor
The Mega Tank and Neotank provide your most dependable finishing damage, but they are also difficult to replace.
Protect them by:
- keeping them behind scouts until the target area is revealed
- avoiding unnecessary attacks into forests
- using indirect fire before committing them
- retreating them when ammunition or health becomes low
- using APC support to maintain ammunition and fuel
The strongest unit does not always need to lead. In fog of war, it is often more valuable as a safe closer.
Day 7: Tag Power Push
- Activate your Tag Powers once the second Oozium is gone or the remaining enemy formation is fully revealed.
- Use Rachel’s support and missile pressure before switching to Max for stronger direct attacks.
- Use Blue Moon’s power sequence to strengthen and resupply the upper-front advance.
- Push both allied armies aggressively toward the eastern HQ area.
- Use recon movement to reveal hidden tanks, artillery, rockets, and other remaining units.
- Eliminate the strongest revealed armor before it can counterattack.
- Move infantry and mechs forward to support the final scouting and cleanup phase.
Tag Power should convert the careful central advance into a decisive eastern breakthrough. Use the extra turns to reveal targets, remove them, and then move the support line forward before the enemy can respond.
Rachel and Max Tag Sequence
Rachel should provide utility before Max takes over the direct-combat phase.
Use Rachel’s turn to:
- damage clustered revealed units
- weaken defensive formations near the eastern approach
- move support units and scouts into useful positions
- prepare targets for Max’s direct attackers
Use Max’s turn to:
- destroy tanks and medium tanks
- finish any remaining Oozium if direct damage is still required
- break through units blocking the HQ route
- move heavy armor into safe forward positions
Grimm and Jess Tag Sequence
Blue Moon should use its power sequence to keep the upper formation supplied and moving.
Grimm provides:
- stronger attacks against exposed armor
- better mech and anti-air finishing damage
- faster removal of units blocking the indirect line
Jess provides:
- stronger vehicle performance
- improved movement through the final advance
- resupply support for rockets, artillery, APCs, and direct units
Use whichever order best matches the immediate battlefield, but make sure the extra turns improve both combat and positioning.
Late Target Priority
During the Tag Power push, prioritize:
- any surviving Oozium
- rockets and artillery covering the eastern route
- medium tanks and other heavy armor
- battle copters threatening support units
- recons that can continue hiding in forests
Once the heavy threats are gone, the mission becomes a search for the final hidden units or a safe route to the HQ.
Day 8: Final Recon Hunt
- Continue scouting the remaining eastern forests carefully.
- Use infantry, mechs, and recons to expand vision without exposing expensive units.
- Search for surviving recon units and other hidden enemies.
- Move rockets, artillery, anti-air units, and tanks toward newly revealed targets.
- Begin capturing the enemy HQ if the remaining units cannot be located quickly.
- Keep both fronts coordinated so hidden units cannot slip behind the advancing formations.
After the major enemy units and Oozium are destroyed, the mission can continue because one recon or another small unit remains hidden in the forests.
Do not scatter the entire army blindly. Use cheap vision units to search while the main combat force remains close enough to respond.
Systematic Forest Search
Search the eastern half of the map in sections rather than moving units randomly.
Use this process:
- Move an infantry, mech, or recon to reveal one forest cluster.
- Check whether the newly revealed unit can attack the scout.
- Bring direct or indirect support into range.
- Eliminate the target before opening the next search area.
- Keep another scout covering the route behind the formation.
A structured sweep reduces the chance that a hidden recon survives by moving between forests.
Using Infantry and Mechs for Vision
Infantry and mechs are ideal late-game scouts because losing their movement efficiency is less costly than exposing heavy armor.
Use them to:
- enter forests directly
- stand on mountains for expanded vision
- block likely escape routes
- support an HQ capture
- reveal targets for rockets and artillery
Mechs also retain enough firepower to finish a weakened tank, recon, or Oozium if one remains.
Final Recon Handling
Recons can prolong the mission because their high movement allows them to retreat through roads and forest corridors.
Once one is revealed:
- block the nearest escape routes with infantry or APCs
- move tanks or anti-air units into direct attack range
- use rockets or artillery if terrain prevents an immediate approach
- avoid pushing it into another unrevealed forest if possible
Do not allow the recon to draw a valuable unit away from the HQ route unless destroying all enemy units remains the easier victory condition.
HQ Capture Option
If the final enemy unit remains hidden, capturing the HQ may be faster than completing the search.
To begin the capture safely:
- reveal the forests surrounding the HQ
- place a healthy infantry or mech on the HQ
- position tanks, anti-air units, or APCs around the capturing unit
- keep indirect units covering the most likely enemy approach
- maintain enough vision that a hidden unit cannot interrupt the capture unexpectedly
The mission ends through either HQ capture or total elimination, so use whichever route requires fewer uncertain turns.
Day 9: Victory
- Reveal and destroy the final recon or other surviving enemy unit.
- Complete the HQ capture instead if the elimination route remains uncertain.
- Make any safe final attacks needed to secure the Power score.
- Finish the mission while preserving the remaining expensive units.
The recorded route ends through elimination after the final recon is located and destroyed.
Final Cleanup Rules
Once only one or two enemies remain:
- continue using scouts rather than heavy armor for blind movement
- keep indirect units protected even if the map appears nearly clear
- do not leave units adjacent to a surviving Oozium
- heal damaged units on cities when doing so does not delay victory
- avoid unnecessary sacrifices for one additional attack
The final hidden unit is rarely dangerous enough to justify abandoning the formation discipline used throughout the mission.
Technique Management
The recorded S-Rank allows some Technique loss, but preserving expensive units still makes the mission much safer.
Protect Technique by:
- keeping rockets, artillery, and missiles behind screens
- destroying Oozium before ending turns adjacent to them
- retreating heavily damaged armor
- using APCs as blockers only when necessary
- avoiding blind movement into forests during cleanup
A perfect Technique score is not required for the recorded result, but unnecessary losses can still threaten the S-Rank.
Mission End
The mission ends once the enemy HQ is captured or all enemy units are destroyed.
An S-Rank is achievable with:
- 100 Speed
- 100 Power
- 80 Technique
- 80 Oozium Bonus Points
The recorded run finishes with a 360-point S-Rank.
Key Success Factors:
- advancing both allied fronts in compact formations
- scouting forests before moving expensive units
- protecting rockets, artillery, missiles, and other indirect units
- keeping anti-air units close enough to stop battle copters
- destroying each Oozium in a single coordinated turn
- remembering that CO Powers do not damage Oozium
- using forests and rivers as defensive staging terrain
- surviving the enemy Tag Power without exposing the support line
- using APCs for blocking, resupply, and formation support
- saving allied Tag Powers for the eastern breakthrough
- searching systematically for the final hidden recon
- switching to HQ capture if the elimination route becomes inefficient
Back to Top
Mission 19: Muck Amok
Important Note:
Enemy AI movement may vary depending on unit spacing, Oozium positioning, Comm Tower capture timing, and HQ pressure. If enemy movement differs slightly, follow the same survival and positioning principles rather than trying to reproduce every move exactly.
Objective:
Capture the enemy HQ
Alternate Win Condition:
Destroy all enemy units
Video Walkthrough:
Watch the Mission 19 video walkthrough
Recommended CO Setup:
Grimm / Javier
Why These COs:
Grimm provides the offensive power needed to destroy Oozium efficiently. Because each Oozium has high durability and can instantly destroy an adjacent unit, stronger attacks reduce the number of units that must enter dangerous positions.
Javier gains substantial offensive and defensive value from the map’s Comm Towers. As more Towers are captured, his bonuses help units reach better damage thresholds against Oozium while surviving the remaining enemy defenses.
Map Notes:
- Koal is the enemy CO
- Hawke and Lash temporarily assist as allied units
- Oozium instantly destroy adjacent units when they attack
- Oozium move only one space per turn
- Desert sandstorms reduce the maximum range of indirect units by one
- Several Comm Towers are located on the southeast and northwest sides
- The enemy HQ is located in the northeast
- A missiles unit and pipe seams guard the main HQ route
- A mini cannon covers part of the northwest area
- The map rewards careful spacing more than aggressive movement
- Destroying pipe seams awards bonus points
- Capturing the HQ disables the Oozium energy source and ends the mission
- Every unit should end its turn at least one space away from a surviving Oozium
Starting Units — Orange Star:
- 1 rocket
- 1 Neotank
- 1 medium tank
- 2 mechs
- 1 recon
- 1 APC
- 1 artillery
- 1 battle copter
- 1 transport copter
- 1 stealth fighter
Temporary Allied Units:
Enemy Starting Forces:
- a large Oozium swarm
- 1 missiles unit
- 1 mini cannon
- multiple pipe seams
- HQ-area defenses
General Strategy:
Muck Amok is primarily a survival and positioning puzzle. The Oozium swarm is far more dangerous than its low movement suggests because any adjacent unit can be destroyed instantly on the enemy turn.
Your early goal is not to charge the HQ. Spread the Oozium apart, eliminate isolated targets, preserve every unit, and begin moving capture units toward the southeast Comm Towers. Once the eastern side opens, shift from survival into a controlled northeast push toward the HQ.
- Never End Adjacent to Oozium: Any unit next to a surviving Oozium is at immediate risk of destruction.
- Attack Isolated Targets: Focus on Oozium that can be surrounded and destroyed without exposing several units.
- Preserve Unit Count: Every starting unit has a useful role, and replacements are unavailable.
- Capture Comm Towers: Tower bonuses help Grimm and Javier reach stronger damage thresholds.
- Use Mobility to Split the Swarm: Repositioning can pull Oozium away from one another and create safer attacks.
- Transition Toward the HQ: Once the eastern route clears, stop fighting every Oozium and begin applying capture pressure.
The mission becomes manageable once the Oozium stop moving as one dense group. Their one-space movement allows you to manipulate their formation if you remain patient.
Oozium Safety Rules
Before ending every turn, inspect each surviving Oozium individually.
Confirm that:
- no allied unit is adjacent to it
- no expensive unit can be trapped by its next movement
- your retreat lanes remain open
- indirect units are outside its immediate approach
- any planned attack for the next turn has enough available damage
Diagonal positioning is safe from an immediate Oozium attack, but always consider where it can move on the next turn.
Damage Planning
Oozium require concentrated attacks. Do not begin an engagement based on hope or uncertain damage rolls.
Use combinations of:
- rockets and artillery for opening damage
- the Neotank and medium tank for reliable direct damage
- the stealth fighter and battle copter for flexible attack angles
- mechs and recons for finishing weakened targets
- Comm Tower bonuses to improve marginal damage thresholds
If the Oozium will survive, move every adjacent attacker away before ending the turn.
Sandstorm Warning
Desert sandstorms reduce the maximum range of indirect units by one space.
This affects:
- your starting rocket
- your artillery
- Hawke and Lash’s allied rocket
- the enemy missiles unit
Recheck ranges whenever the weather changes. A rocket positioned correctly under clear conditions may be one space short during a sandstorm.
Day 1: Initial Positioning
- Use the northern rocket to attack the nearest Oozium.
- Move the main force generally northeast while maintaining safe spacing.
- Keep every unit at least one space away from all surviving Oozium.
- Position the artillery where it can support a future attack without becoming trapped.
- Keep the Neotank, medium tank, stealth fighter, and battle copter flexible rather than committing them too far forward.
- Move Hawke and Lash’s rocket toward a safer western position.
- Move support units so they do not block future retreat routes.
- End the turn only after confirming that no unit is adjacent to an Oozium.
Day 1 is about creating space. The initial formation is crowded, and the greatest danger is trapping your own units between the Oozium and one another.
Opening Formation
Use mobile units around the outer edges and keep indirects closer to the rear.
- Use the recon to test movement lanes and finish weakened targets.
- Keep mechs near routes toward the southeast Comm Towers.
- Position the APC where it can resupply the stealth fighter and ground units.
- Keep the transport copter available for repositioning capture units.
- Do not allow the rocket or artillery to become boxed in by slower units.
The Oozium move slowly, but your own congestion can make them much more dangerous.
Using Hawke and Lash’s Units
The temporary allied rocket and APC can contribute useful chip damage and support, but they should not anchor the entire formation.
Use them to:
- damage isolated western Oozium
- draw part of the swarm away from Orange Star
- occupy safe western spaces
- support retreats without blocking your main northeast route
Keep the allied rocket moving away from any Oozium that begins closing on its position.
Day 2: First Eliminations
- Use mechs and the stealth fighter to help eliminate isolated Oozium.
- Finish every committed target before ending the turn.
- Move the APC and transport copter toward useful support positions.
- Keep the battle copter and heavier ground units available for multiple attack angles.
- Use Hawke and Lash’s rocket to chip an isolated Oozium when safe.
- Continue spreading the main force northeast without compressing the formation.
- Recheck all adjacency before ending the turn.
The first kills should come against Oozium that have separated from the main group. Do not attack the center of the swarm while several others can close around your units.
Stealth Fighter Use
The stealth fighter is one of your best mobile attackers, but it also depends on careful fuel and ammunition management.
Use it to:
- attack Oozium from angles ground units cannot reach
- finish weakened targets without blocking ground movement
- shift rapidly between the western and eastern sides
- support the HQ push once the route opens
Keep the APC close enough to restore fuel and ammunition. Do not leave the stealth fighter committed over the northeast side without support.
Transport Copter and Mech Roles
The transport copter can accelerate the Comm Tower plan and help rescue units from crowded positions.
Possible uses include:
- moving a mech toward the southeast Towers
- repositioning a capture unit around the Oozium swarm
- carrying a mech toward the eventual HQ route
- blocking movement temporarily from a safe non-adjacent space
Do not land a transported unit next to an Oozium unless the Oozium will be destroyed that turn.
Day 3: Controlled Pressure
- Retreat the artillery or either rocket if Oozium movement threatens to trap them.
- Identify another isolated Oozium that several units can attack safely.
- Use the Neotank, battle copter, stealth fighter, and indirect support together when needed.
- Check the mini cannon’s range before moving toward the northwest Comm Towers.
- Keep vulnerable support units away from the densest Oozium groups.
- Continue repositioning the APC, transport copter, mechs, and recon without blocking retreat lanes.
- End the turn with every surviving Oozium separated from adjacent allied units.
Day 3 often requires more retreating than advancing. That is not lost tempo. Pulling an indirect unit out of danger preserves firepower needed for the later HQ breakthrough.
Mini Cannon Range
The northwest mini cannon creates an additional hazard near the Tower route.
Before approaching that area:
- display the cannon’s range
- avoid leaving capture units inside its coverage unnecessarily
- keep damaged units away from the edge of its range
- do not retreat from an Oozium directly into cannon fire
Oozium adjacency remains the greater danger, but the mini cannon can punish otherwise safe retreat positions.
Early Target Priority
During the first three days, prioritize:
- isolated Oozium that can be destroyed immediately
- Oozium threatening rockets, artillery, or the APC
- Oozium blocking the southeast Comm Tower route
- Oozium preventing the main force from moving northeast
- pipe seams and HQ defenses only after the route begins opening
Do not attack the nearest Oozium automatically. Attack the one whose removal creates the most space and safety.
Day 4: Stabilization
- Use the APC to resupply and refuel the stealth fighter if needed.
- Continue targeting only isolated Oozium that can be destroyed safely.
- Begin moving a mech toward the southeast Comm Towers.
- Retreat crowded units westward or southward if the Oozium formation threatens to trap them.
- Keep the rocket and artillery protected behind mobile units.
- Continue building CO meter through safe attacks without forcing risky engagements.
Day 4 is about stabilizing the formation after the first eliminations. Your army may still be crowded, and several Oozium may be moving toward the same area.
Do not confuse movement toward the Towers with a full offensive. The southeast mech should advance only while the surrounding spaces remain safe.
APC Resupply
The APC should remain near the units that consume the most fuel and ammunition.
Prioritize resupplying:
- the stealth fighter
- the rocket
- the artillery
- the Neotank and medium tank
- the battle copter
Move the APC after attacks whenever possible so it can restore several adjacent units at once without ending next to an Oozium.
Creating Space
When the formation becomes crowded, move backward before trying to move sideways through the swarm.
Useful retreat principles include:
- keep at least two escape lanes open around indirect units
- move air units first so ground units can use the cleared spaces
- avoid placing the APC between a rocket and its only retreat route
- use the recon and transport copter on the edges of the formation
- do not allow one isolated Oozium to push several units into a second cluster
Retreating one or two spaces can create a much safer attack on the following turn.
Day 5: Tower Expansion
- Begin or complete capture of the first southeast Comm Tower.
- Continue spacing units carefully around the remaining Oozium groups.
- Reposition the medium tank and stealth fighter westward if the central formation becomes unsafe.
- Use the APC to restore ammunition and fuel.
- Preserve every unit rather than forcing marginal attacks.
- Retreat Hawke and Lash’s allied rocket farther west if Oozium movement threatens it.
The first Comm Tower creates an important damage increase. Attacks that previously left an Oozium barely alive may now reach a clean destruction threshold.
Why the Comm Towers Matter
Each captured Tower improves the offensive strength of your entire army. Javier also gains additional defensive value from them.
Tower bonuses help:
- rockets and artillery deal more meaningful opening damage
- mechs and recons finish weakened Oozium
- air units reach better damage thresholds
- direct units survive counterattacks from the remaining defenses
- the final HQ push require fewer exposed attackers
The Towers are not merely score objectives. They materially reduce the risk of every later engagement.
Preservation Over Cleanup
Do not attack an Oozium simply because it is within range.
Skip the attack when:
- the target will survive
- the attacker cannot retreat afterward
- another Oozium can move adjacent on the enemy turn
- the attack blocks the Tower-capture route
- the unit is needed to protect an indirect or capture unit
A full-health Oozium in a harmless position is less urgent than a safe Tower capture.
Day 6: Midgame Control
- Continue eliminating isolated Oozium through coordinated attacks.
- Move a capture unit toward the next available Comm Tower.
- Use recons and mechs to finish weakened targets after heavier units attack.
- Keep units two or more spaces away from Oozium whenever the map allows.
- Begin shifting mobile forces toward the northeast.
- Maintain zero unit losses.
By Day 6, the Oozium swarm should be thinner and more spread out. The eastern side should begin opening, allowing part of the army to stop retreating and start moving toward the HQ route.
Using Low-Cost Finishers
Recons and mechs can preserve stronger units by delivering the final attack against weakened Oozium.
Use this sequence when possible:
- Open with rocket or artillery fire.
- Attack with the Neotank, medium tank, stealth fighter, or battle copter.
- Finish with a mech or recon.
- Move all remaining units out of adjacency before ending the turn.
Saving the strongest units for new targets improves both mobility and damage efficiency.
When to Shift Northeast
You do not need to destroy the entire Oozium swarm before moving toward the HQ.
Begin the shift when:
- the eastern Oozium have moved away from the HQ route
- a mech can advance without ending adjacent to a target
- the missiles unit can be approached safely
- the southeast Towers are secured or nearly secured
- enough mobile units remain to protect the capture attempt
The western units can continue distracting or eliminating Oozium while the eastern group transitions toward the objective.
Day 7: HQ Route Opens
- Complete capture of the second southeast Comm Tower.
- Observe whether the nearby Oozium have moved away from the northeast route.
- Advance the eastern mech and supporting units toward the HQ approach.
- Remain outside the missiles unit and mini cannon ranges.
- Use unit positioning to pull Oozium away from one another.
- Continue chipping or destroying isolated targets where the attacks remain safe.
Day 7 marks the strategic pivot. The mission is no longer only about survival. Once the eastern route opens, begin building a protected path toward the HQ.
Splitting the Oozium Formation
Oozium move toward nearby targets one space at a time. Use that behavior to separate the swarm.
You can split them by:
- placing mobile air units on opposite sides of the formation
- moving western units away from the HQ path
- keeping the eastern capture group just outside adjacency
- using APCs and recons as distant movement lures
- avoiding a single dense cluster of allied units
The goal is not to bait an Oozium into an attack. It is to make different Oozium move in different directions.
HQ Approach Threats
The northeast route is guarded by more than the Oozium.
Before advancing, account for:
- the missiles unit covering air approaches
- the nearby mini cannon
- pipe seams blocking the direct path
- sandstorms reducing your indirect range
- Oozium that may return toward the HQ after being drawn away
Keep the mech protected until the missiles unit is removed and the capture route is secure.
Midgame Success Check
You are in a strong position by the end of Day 7 when:
- multiple Oozium have been destroyed
- no allied units have been lost
- the southeast Comm Towers are captured
- the stealth fighter and indirect units remain supplied
- the eastern Oozium have moved away from the HQ path
- a mech is positioned to begin the final approach
Day 8: Breakthrough Phase
- Destroy the missiles unit guarding the HQ approach.
- Move the eastern mech toward the enemy HQ.
- Begin attacking the nearby pipe seams for access and bonus points.
- Use Tower-boosted units to eliminate any Oozium still blocking the route.
- Position the main force for a Tag Power activation.
- Continue moving western units safely so they keep the remaining Oozium divided.
Removing the missiles unit is the key Day 8 objective. Once it is gone, the stealth fighter, battle copter, and transport copter can support the northeastern advance much more safely.
Destroying the Missiles Unit
Approach the missiles unit with ground units whenever possible so your aircraft do not enter its range unnecessarily.
Use:
- the Neotank or medium tank for direct damage
- the rocket or artillery when sandstorm range permits
- the recon or mech to finish a weakened target
- the stealth fighter only after confirming that the attack and retreat are safe
Destroy the missiles unit before committing the transport copter or other aircraft deep into the HQ area.
Pipe-Seam Objectives
The two northeast pipe seams both restrict movement and provide bonus points when destroyed.
Attack them with:
- the Neotank or medium tank
- rockets or artillery from safe range
- the stealth fighter or battle copter when no higher-priority target remains
- weaker units when only a small amount of damage is needed
Do not delay the HQ capture solely to destroy a pipe seam unless the extra opening is needed or the bonus can be secured without risk.
Preparing the Capture Unit
The mech approaching the HQ must remain healthy enough to complete the capture.
Protect it by:
- keeping the transport copter available for rapid repositioning
- clearing Oozium from adjacent movement lanes
- using the Neotank, medium tank, APC, or recon as blockers
- checking mini cannon range before every move
- avoiding unnecessary attacks that reduce the mech’s health
The mech’s capture value is more important than its combat value once the HQ route opens.
Day 9: Tag Power Offensive
- Activate Tag Power once the HQ route and several nearby targets are available.
- Use the Dual Strike turns to attack aggressively before the remaining Oozium can respond.
- Destroy additional Oozium with recons, rockets, air units, and heavy armor.
- Destroy both pipe seams for bonus points if safe.
- Move the mech onto the enemy HQ and begin capturing it.
- Use the remaining units to split enemy movement and protect the capture route.
Tag Power provides the safest opportunity to convert battlefield control into the winning capture. Use the first turn to clear threats and the second to begin the HQ capture behind a protective screen.
Grimm and Javier Tag Power Roles
Use Grimm’s turn to:
- maximize damage against Oozium
- destroy the missiles unit or pipe seams
- remove anything blocking the HQ route
- create safe finishing attacks for weaker units
Use Javier’s turn to:
- benefit from the captured Comm Towers
- stabilize the capture formation
- strengthen blockers around the HQ
- help exposed units survive if any enemy response remains possible
The exact order can vary, but the Dual Strike should end with the HQ capture underway and the capture unit protected.
Using the Extra Turn Safely
Tag Power does not remove the need for adjacency checks.
Before ending the second turn:
- confirm that no surviving Oozium is adjacent to an allied unit
- place blockers between the Oozium and the capturing mech
- move damaged attackers away from the swarm
- resupply aircraft and indirect units when possible
- make sure the capture cannot be interrupted on the next enemy turn
The extra turn is most valuable when it creates a permanent positional advantage rather than one round of scattered attacks.
Destroying the Final Pipe Seams
Each destroyed seam contributes to the bonus score.
Secure the seam points when:
- the HQ capture is already protected
- the attack does not leave a unit adjacent to Oozium
- the seam blocks movement needed by your capture screen
- the attacking unit has no more important target
Both seams can be destroyed during the Tag Power sequence in the recorded route.
HQ Capture Formation
Once the mech begins capturing, build the rest of the formation around it.
Use:
- heavy armor to block direct northern and western approaches
- the APC and recon to occupy secondary movement lanes
- the battle copter and stealth fighter to threaten approaching Oozium
- rockets and artillery to cover spaces beyond the blockers
- the transport copter as an emergency movement or blocking unit
You do not need to destroy every remaining Oozium. You only need to prevent them from reaching the capturing mech before the second capture turn.
Day 10: Victory
- Complete the capture of the enemy HQ.
- Attack additional Oozium first only when the attacks are completely safe and improve the final score.
- Ignore normal adjacency concerns after the capture is guaranteed to finish immediately.
- End the mission with every unit preserved.
Once the second capture action begins, the mission ends immediately. No surviving Oozium will receive another turn.
Optional Final Attacks
Before completing the capture, you may attack additional Oozium for bonus points.
Only do so when:
- the capture cannot be interrupted
- the attack will not accidentally block the mech
- the target can be destroyed safely
- the extra action will not reduce Technique through a unit loss
The HQ remains the priority. Do not jeopardize a certain victory for one unnecessary attack.
Why HQ Capture Ends the Oozium Threat
The enemy HQ controls the energy source sustaining the Oozium. Capturing it disables that source and ends the battle immediately.
This is why the mission does not require total elimination. Once the northeast route opens, the safest strategy is often to bypass distant Oozium and complete the capture.
Mission End
The mission ends once the enemy HQ is captured. Destroying all enemy units also provides an alternate victory.
An S-Rank is achievable with:
- 100 Speed
- 100 Power
- 100 Technique
- 10 Pipe Seam Points
- 480 Oozium Points
The recorded run finishes with a 790-point S-Rank and zero unit losses.
Key Success Factors:
- never ending a turn adjacent to a surviving Oozium
- attacking isolated Oozium instead of dense groups
- preserving every starting and allied unit
- keeping indirect units mobile during sandstorms
- using the APC to maintain stealth fighter and heavy-unit supplies
- capturing the southeast Comm Towers for stronger damage thresholds
- using movement to split the Oozium swarm
- transitioning toward the HQ before every Oozium is destroyed
- removing the missiles unit before committing aircraft to the northeast
- using Tag Power to clear the route and begin the capture safely
- destroying both pipe seams for bonus points
- protecting the capturing mech until the second capture turn
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