Monsters

Reading the horde

Roles in the horde

• Melee: The bulk of every horde: slow, plentiful and dangerous only when they surround you. For example Briar Maw, Duskclaw, Grave Marcher.
• Runner: Fast and fragile. Runners reach you first, so keep an instant or piercing skill ready. For example Thorn Runner, Cinder Skirmisher, Rift Runner.
• Tank: Slow and heavily armored. Tanks soak hits and block your escape routes. For example Bark Guard, Chain Warden, Sepulcher Knight.
• Specialist: Brings a telegraphed attack of its own — read the shape on the ground. For example Spore Bearer, Root Tender, Briar Lancer.
• Support: Protects or strengthens other monsters. Kill it first. For example Reliquary Bearer.

Bosses have their own boss guides. Every floor page in the world guide lists exactly who joins the fight and when.

From floor 1

The Rootbound

Bark, spores and roots — the forest that turned on its keepers. They fill the first floors.

MeleeFloor 1+

Briar Maw

Bark armors the beasts that gnaw at the crown’s roots.

MeleeFloor 1+

Duskclaw

Copper-plated scavengers hunt beneath the crown’s roots.

RunnerFloor 1+

Thorn Runner

A splinter of the crown drives each hurried step.

TankFloor 1+

Bark Guard

Old wardens still obey a forgotten command.

SpecialistFloor 1+

Spore Bearer

It sows the crown’s rot far beyond its roots.

SpecialistFloor 2+

Root Tender

Patient hands wake the roots beneath your feet.

SpecialistFloor 3+

Briar Lancer

The forest has sharpened its fallen knights.

From floor 4

The Hollow Court

Courtiers, bowmen and chain-bound wardens of a city that forgot how to die.

MeleeFloor 4+

Grave Marcher

The empty court still expects its morning guard.

SpecialistFloor 4+

Bone Bowman

Every arrow carries an oath long forgotten.

SpecialistFloor 4+

Bell Acolyte

Its cracked bell tolls for a sovereign who never wakes.

TankFloor 5+

Chain Warden

The prisoner and the jailer now share one chain.

SupportFloor 5+

Reliquary Bearer

One stolen oath shelters one companion.

TankFloor 6+

Sepulcher Knight

Its iron salute became a killing stroke.

From floor 7

The Ash Legion

An army that marched into the furnaces and kept marching. They guard the deepest floors.

MeleeFloor 7+

Ashbound

The old forges burn inside these empty shells.

RunnerFloor 7+

Cinder Skirmisher

A brief flare carries it through the ash.

SpecialistFloor 7+

Ember Mortar

It hurls smoldering coals from a buried furnace.

TankFloor 8+

Slag Brute

Failed armor fused around the soldier within.

SpecialistFloor 8+

Furnace Cultist

Two offerings feed the flame under the world.

SpecialistFloor 9+

Chain Reaver

It learned patience in the furnace pits.

SpecialistFloor 10+

Crown Thrall

The crown’s final command has become its spear.

Endless Swarm

The Crownless

What is left of the shattered crown’s host. They arrive only with the Endless Swarm.

MeleeEndless Swarm

Crownless

The shattered crown has nothing left to command but hunger.

RunnerEndless Swarm

Rift Runner

It follows the cracks between the crown’s fragments.

TankEndless Swarm

Ironbound

An oath of iron is heavier than a living heart.

SpecialistEndless Swarm

Ash Needle

A spark of the old forge still flies from its fingers.

SpecialistEndless Swarm

Oathbreaker

Its spear points toward every promise it abandoned.

SpecialistEndless Swarm

Hollow Herald

It announces the reign of no one.

Endless Swarm

How the Endless Swarm is made up

When a floor’s timer runs out, the Endless Swarm begins: waves of Crownless pour in and the mix hardens every minute until you leave through the portal.

• Minute 1: Crownless 70%, Rift Runner 30%
• Minute 2: Crownless 55%, Rift Runner 30%, Ironbound 15%
• Minute 3: Crownless 45%, Rift Runner 25%, Ironbound 20%, Ash Needle 10%
• Minute 4+: Crownless 38%, Rift Runner 22%, Ironbound 18%, Ash Needle 10%, Oathbreaker 8%, Hollow Herald 4%