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Iron Fortress Challenge

Last tip: use camera mode to see where enemies are and to align up enemies for friendly fire.

My main problem in the past was being a fire spear purist. This level is very close-quarters and filled with archers. I can't just charge in to have enemies hit each other, so shield and armor are defunct, and I already have hammer. Utilizing that to bash the enemies to dust works better, given hammer's resistance to armor pushback, knockdown combos, and occasional ability to ignore armor.

I choose to only get clones, because having all 4 weapons covers most scenarios just as well as fire upgrades would for this challenge, and having extra lives maintains one's calm and provides insurance. Additionally, fire upgrades sometimes do not even offer advantages over not having them. Shields and armor absorb fire sword, hammer is not more effective and the larger size gets it caught on walls, spear isn't that useful over hammer's peeling abilities, and fire arrows is only for convenience as most situations for arrows are ones where time is plentiful and safety is assured.
Now, how do we use our given weapons and abilities that we need for this challenge, if we only have the 4 primary weapons and our limited upgrades? Well, my strategy was to use the sword to block arrows or fight in archer-supported zones, hammer to peel or ignore armor and shields, arrows for archer duels and to peel spidertron armor safely, with spear being for tense situations against armor.

I have returned from adventures away from this game, and in that time I have been able to come back with a fresh mindset to refine my skills further.

Thusly, I have completed this challenge, and here are my thoughts on it, as well as tips for completing it.

The challenge is tough in part due to structure, but primarily, it is the enormous use of archer robots that makes this challenge so grueling. Thusly, block arrows to the highest tier is a necessity, though some individuals may choose to not upgrade to the lock-on abilities if they are skilled enough to reflect arrows back accurately manually, and do not want to suffer the lock-on reflecting to targets a floor above or below. After block arrows, simply grab get up for spidertron and then proceed to get clones.

-All of this combines into what can be described as a bouncy house that is filled with fire, spikes, murder-machines, saw-blades, constricting walls, disadvantageous conveyors, and requires you have an understanding of the layout or suffer as you slowly progress through a somehow confusing labyrinth.


-All in all, 10/10 love it I hope to beat it in the near future. Once I do I hope to give some ideas as to how to do so. Hopefully, these comments can be pieced together cohesively.

(Part of the previous paragraph)

This is quite annoying when finally confronting the archers who will leave arrows in countless positions making it so that taking an archer down an arduous task as being knocked around could leave you vulnerable to the arrow storm. Additionally, these same archers with armor are often on towers making it quite easy to fall.

-Enemies are of course the second challenge present in this level. Hammer bots will ensure jet-packers cannot pass by. Spear bots in such a confined space are the most durable requiring you find good timing or eat away at their durable shields with fire. Spider-tron will always as mentioned be safe, yet it also constantly chips in despite roofs and walls blocking it from harm it will pelt you with grenades and trip you which may be deadly or severely handicapping. Archers will usually be positioned so they can pelt you upon entrance and sometimes as you fight. Other bots also chime in to torment you. Most annoyingly EVERY enemy has armor which means you not only need to chip away at each one as they approach you in groups this also forces you to bounce around in a enemy and trap filled castle.

My thoughts:

(I will be dispersing this across multiple comments)

-This challenge is definitely hard which stems from one key concept: Enemy placement and map structure.
-The map actively does what it can to limit your abilities whether it uses conveyors to slow you down, walls to limit your movement and room for weapons, or perhaps simply layer the fort with traps. The enemies will always be structured so that the most annoying ones (Spider-tron and archers) will be protected and require you clear their defenders. Ultimately, structure comprises a majority of the challenge for me.