Evolution Egghunt Legend Difficulty Severely Overtuned

[Lelyn]

In the new Evolution campaign Egghunt is horribly overtuned.

Before I explain why, I have beaten Barbarians Legend Ironman twice, Empire Legend Ironman 3 times, every Onslaught Campaign, so I am a very experienced player.

Now this level is meant to have you constantly defending different points and than retreating as soon as your eggs hatch. First two eggs hatching is tuned fine, very hard but doable.

The last egg spawn however takes over 10 turns, all while 20+ units are coming at you from the North, 5+ North East, 15 from the East, and 20+ from the west.

I had nigh unkillable Devourer’s and Siege Crabs with bonus evolution armor, 15+ Armor total and Fortify from relics holding the north and western choke points in between swamps/Forests so the enemy couldn’t get past me for over 10 turns by themselves before they die. And even thats not enough. If one unit holding off 20+ units for 10+ turns isnt enough to stall the enemy than something is seriously wrong with the balance.

I can pretty much guarantee this level was not play-tested on Legend difficulty.

[Cazurey]

It's doable but... really hard. I don't use swarm dragon, its cost too much and too weak compare to crabs.
Just spam Siege crabs ( i had 3 this mission, 2 for holding the hovel,1 aim killing their sieges and archers) circle charge archers and enemies siege and fortification tool and healing potions help. The trick is u must hold the speed buff shire as long as possible to delay enemies on the left advance and eliminate the armies with your main armies from the north east and then later the southeast to prevent hammer and anvil situation. Crab and trash armies as long as there no archers and siege can hold well( siege can shot aoe most of your trash armies).
There a building with ghost armies (2nd choice ancestor or something similar), combine with you trash armies (buy from hovel about 25 gold or 50 gold i dont remember) and u can ambush the southeast armies ( just move to the corner of the map and wait for them to spawn then kill the key target (archers, siege)
This mission seem like u save every things from the previous map(potion, golds, mana ..) too all in this map.

[Lelyn]

I used Siege crabs with fortification tool and held the speed shrine for 20+ Turns. I focus fired their Monster Hunters,Siege, Archers and Eagle bombers.

I had 2x Siege Crabs, 2x Devourer’s, 3x Thunder Ranged Crabs for sniping key targets like their Monster Hunters, Longbowmen, Eagle Bombers Artillery etc, Scarab (Bonus hero Lizard) where I would constantly cycle fortification tools on in key choke points. These units were also fully evolved with no penalty on land, 3+ Armor and extra relic.

I also bought both Web Spider mercenaries to constantly web down their Monster Hunters and other priority targets while also preemptively webbing key choke points in between swamps and forests before the enemy even spawned in preparation to slow their advance.

I killed 90% of their first Northern army before setting up to the western choke points while cycling fortification tools on my Siege Crabs and Devourer’s as well as Scarab.

I also used the Ancestor approach to kill key targets like Archers and Siege, as well as bringing them back to my main army when they get low health for their armor boost to my army.

We had a very similar strategy, did you do this on Legend difficulty or a different difficulty? Because even holding northern and western choke points for 15-20+ turns isnt enough on Legend difficulty.

[Cazurey]

i'm on legend, u cant win them, just clear the right wing, hold the left wing. Crab with 1-2 potion is enough. Plus with the charge u can rout some enemies and buy you sometime. Trash and convert armies skill help reduce the pressure on the crab. The key on this map is do not get surrounded. As 1k gold u can spam trash nonstop.
u can look at this thread below, i'm learning tips from them too.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1025440/discussions/0/3113647550055632265/

[Lelyn]

I did look at that thread before making this one. Unfortunately I only had one potion for my Crab, however having a level being unbeatable without multiple potions is definitely a balance issue.

And I also chose to hold the north and west choke points while killing the east, but even with 14+ Armor Crabs and Devourers with Fortify they can’t hold long enough. Both sides need to hold for over 10 turns against an army of 30+ enemy units. Even know their units are only doing 5-10 dmg or sometimes even 0 per hit it adds up when you’re getting hit 8+ times a turn.

[primetide_dev]

We will look into it. It was playtested on Legend repeatedly, though the composition of the army at that point can differ wildly. Adnmittedly, I have not seen a winning strategy that tries to destroy the northern army.
I personally usually kite their fliers into water and simply leave a few mercs in their path in optimal defensive positions to slow them down, then destroy or diffuse the eastern army and hold off the west long enough to slip through with my egg carriers. Even so I usually suffer a few casualties of my elite troops...but then that is almost expected :)

[Lelyn]

Destroying the first northern army at least for me wasn’t bad, I killed 90% of it in multiple different attempts with no casualties. While also being able to set up in the western choke points before the enemy got there.

I also chose to kite enemy flyers into the water, I would purposely leave a unit in shallow water where their Monster Hunt or Eagle Bomber flyer would want to attack, only to have a stealthed Lizard Hunter to stop it mid attack. Also had Spitting Spider Mercenaries slowing enemy advance from the water and in between trees etc.

When you say the composition of the army can vary wildly at that point, are you referring to the players army, or the enemy army? My team consisted of Szzlag,Scarab,Unique Lizard Warrior,Unique Lizard Hunter,Lizard Hunter,Unique Lizard Sheller, Lizard Sheller, Ranged Thunder Crabs x3, Siege Crab x2, Devourer x2, 2 Spitting Spider Mercenaries, and the Ancestors from the mission choice. Both Siege Crabs,Devourers and Scarab had +3 Armor Walk on Land and Extra Relic evolutions, along with 25% dmg upgrade from Szzlag. Thunder Lizards had 25% dmg bonus etc

The enemy army for me each wave had 2-3 Monster Hunters, 3-4 Eagle Bombers, 2-4 Longbowmen, 4+ Archers/Hunters, 2-4 Berserkers, lots of Spearmen, 1-2 Spear Maidens, 1-2 Wolf Mothers,2-4 Hunting Packs. 1-2 Taurus Artillery.

[Cazurey]

Originally posted by Lelyn:

I did look at that thread before making this one. Unfortunately I only had one potion for my Crab, however having a level being unbeatable without multiple potions is definitely a balance issue.

And I also chose to hold the north and west choke points while killing the east, but even with 14+ Armor Crabs and Devourers with Fortify they can’t hold long enough. Both sides need to hold for over 10 turns against an army of 30+ enemy units. Even know their units are only doing 5-10 dmg or sometimes even 0 per hit it adds up when you’re getting hit 8+ times a turn.

You can get Crab out then fill the trash armies that dont have retreat trait or swap with other of your tank unit (devourers) then rest ur crabs. The AI always focus trash unit 1st so ur crabs is safe. You cant kill all enemies this map, i'm just focus the northeast armies and southeast armies. Just leave the melee guys, they kill so slow and took square slot and turn doing nothing (they cant 1 shoted your trash armies).
My armies comp from the next map hope this can help.
shelter can help alot with unlimited shot.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1732171863667643695/C3F84A048A07CF3BE1BD146FF2BD62EC8CB8D4E4/

[BrGGR]

@Cazurey
Where do crabs get their charge attack training from?

[Virgil-SKY]

Originally posted by BrGGR:

@Cazurey
Where do crabs get their charge attack training from?

By killing TsuNa and spare her warriors to teach yours. He may also mean the Break Through skill of Giant Siege Crab, which does not requires training.