Build an all-new Defense Outpost and prepare for wave after wave of thrills in a new gameplay mode. The Invasion Battle Pass begins today and it offers opportunities to earn Enchanted Materials (used to upgrade Defense Outposts!), special Battalion Equipment, and other prizes–all leading to rich rewards!

Invasion Battle Pass

The latest Battle Pass is your key to Enchanted Materials, which you’ll need to beef up your Defense Outpost past level 11, a completely new City structure that dramatically improves your City defenses, and it will be key to performing well in the new Nightmare Invasions you can trigger against your City. Battle Pass progress will also help you earn Battalion Equipment that will help give your troops the edge against the Nightmarish Frostraiders; foes who have returned to lend their might to Nightmare Invasions.

This gear will go great on troops sent to reinforce your City during Nightmare Invasions (but more on that in a moment):

Rime Studded Leather  - This armor increases the health of Axemen, Archers, and Crossbowmen. It also beefs up defenses against damage from Frostraider units and Frost damage.

Antlerbone Longbow  - Offers a general damage increase to Archers, but gives a huge boost when attacking Frostraiders.

Slayer Arrow: Frostraiders  - Goes nicely with the Antlerbone Longbow, increasing the damage dealt by Archers and Crossbowmen, with a whopping boost to damage dealt to Frostraiders.

Miss some Events, or just want to advance through the Battle Pass faster? Be sure to check out the Battle Pass Point Packs in the Store along with other special offers to help you gear up quicker.

Players who earn Battle Pass points over the cap will gain progress in the Overachiever Event which offers a chance to earn additional rewards such as gold, Molten Runes, and Glacial Runes.

February Events

Battle Pass Daily Challenges and different Event Challenges begin every day at 19:00 UTC during the Battle Pass. They’re how you can earn Battle Pass Points toward earning the awesome rewards mentioned earlier

As usual, some of the best and most rewarding events begin each Friday at 19:00 UTC. Then Nightmare Invasion Events keep the fun going each Saturday and Sunday at 0:00 UTC Sunday and Monday (4:00 p.m. PST Saturday and Sunday–the only current Events to begin and end at this time), so be sure to keep an eye on your Event logs!

Don’t forget the recently introduced Capitals & Guilds unlocks too!

So what exactly are those Nightmare Invasion Events that keep coming up?

Nightmare Invasions (Finally)

These are new, self-triggered events, something like the Invasion Daily Goals you may already be familiar with, but including some major twists. 

Nightmare Invasions become available at Keep Level 11, and like a normal Invasion, when a Nightmare Invasion is triggered, you must defeat a set number of waves of enemies. Unlike normal Invasions, Nightmare Invasions require fending off wave after wave of challenging ‘Nightmarish’ Frostraiders, more powerful versions of the troops that once roamed the icy north that have returned to Ardendale for Nightmare Invasions.

The unit types that you’ll face vary from wave to wave, but they’ll always be tougher than normal enemies, and they’ll get tougher as each wave is defeated. At higher Keep Levels, defenders will need to fend off several waves of foes, and then an even more challenging final wave, that includes the new invasion Boss: the frost giant known as Vogi Icecrasher. Watch out for the Icecrasher’s Stomp special attack that does damage, slows enemy units, and reduces the damage that they do. 

Reinforcements can take part in Nightmare Invasions, but your best hope for defeating every wave of invaders and putting Vogi on ice is to build a Defense Outpost (or two)!

Nightmare Invasions are a challenge well worth facing, because they offer opportunities to earn rewards like Enchanted Materials and Uncommon Metals. The more Enchanted Materials you earn, the more you can upgrade your Defense Outposts, and the easier it will be to fend off the Nightmarish invaders. Speaking of Defense Outposts. . .
 

Defense Outpost 

Defense Outposts are completely new City buildings that are sure to become central to any wise ruler’s defensive strategy, but they have some key differences from the towers that you’re no doubt already familiar with.

First and foremost, Defense Outposts provide the Archers or Crossbowmen Garrisoned inside with a much-needed damage bonus versus the Nightmarish enemies that attack during Nightmare Invasions (including Vogi, of course). They’re a huge help versus Nightmare Invasions, so it would be a good idea to construct one and fill it with troops before activating one of these new Invasions.

Defense Outposts hold many more troops than a standard tower, but cannot benefit from Garrison Size bonuses. In addition, when leveled up they provide more protection for the troops garrisoned within. 

Outposts also can’t connect to City Walls and don’t have doors, but that’s a good thing. It means that there are plenty of creative and tactical ways to position Defense Outposts so they have the maximum possible impact on defending a City. They are effective in PvP too.

Defense Outposts are a major defensive asset but keep in mind that, while they’ll keep troops safe from Melee attackers because units can’t enter or leave an outpost during Combat, ranged units can still deal damage to the troops inside.

How to Build One

Sounds good, right? At Keep Level 11 the ability to construct a Defense Tower will appear in the City Build menu. For the first few upgrade levels, Defense Outposts can be upgraded with plain old stone–but powerful structures like this will require Enchanted Materials to advance beyond level 10. Fortunately, there will be opportunities to earn Enchanted Materials from the Invasion Battle Pass, Events, defeating Nightmare Invasions, and a few can be found in packs too.

If one Defense Outpost is good, two are even better. Fortunately, the ability to construct a second outpost unlocks on Keep Level 21+.

Build Up While You Can!

This month’s Events are an amazing opportunity to stock up on Enchanted Materials and powerful Battalion Equipment. Nightmare Invasions are here to stay, so be sure to get your defenses in order while the Battle Pass lasts! 

The gates close on the Invasion Battle Pass on March 11 at 19:00 UTC.