Combat
Combat is the means by which the player defeats enemies. Generally, the player attacks enemies by clicking on them when they are on an adjacent cell, but combat is also impacted by the type of enemy, environment, and orbs the player possesses.
General Rules
Attacking does not move the player. As such, if the player is attack range of multiple enemies, or in a dangerous situation such as being over a chasm, attacking is generally not possible.
Stunning
In some situations enemies are stunned rather than killed upon attack. Enemies for which this can occur are given the "stunnable" category. Some stunnable monsters cannot be killed normally, like Reptiles and Metal Beasts, while others can be killed after several hits, like Terracotta Warriors and many Palace monsters. Most enemies can also be stunned using the Orb of Stunning, Orb of Chaos, Orb of Beauty, or Orb of Impact. While stunned, an enemy cannot move or attack. Some stunned enemies can be pushed by attacking them while they are stunned, but others are too heavy for this work. Stunning lasts a few turns, after which the monster is back to normal. The stun time varies based on the type of monster.
Environmental Hazards
There are many environmental hazards, which can potentially kill enemies or the player. Environmental hazards can even kill otherwise invincible monsters.
Chasm
Most enemies can be killed by knocking them into a chasm. The main ways this is done is by preventing them from moving after stepping on a trapdoor, or by pushing them while stunned. The Land of Eternal Motion creates a chasm on every tile that is walked on, so a monster can be restricted (through other monsters or a Great Wall), run out of moves, and fall.
Trapdoors can be triggered remotely using the Orb of the Dragon or the Orb of Summoning. The Orb of Earth can create and fill chasms in some lands (such as the Hunting Ground). Players can avoid falling to their death by using an Orb of Gravity or Orb of Aether.
Water
Water is most commonly found in the Ocean and other aquatic lands. Most monsters and the player cannot survive in water without a boat. Water can be created using the Orb of Water.
Players can survive on water tiles with an Orb of the Fish, an Orb of Aether, or of course a boat.
Fire
Fire will kill most enemies or the player (unless protected with an Orb of Winter, Orb of Aether, or Orb of Shielding). Fire is found in many areas and can be created using the Orb of the Dragon, Orb of Lava, Orb of Fire, or by detonating a mine left by a Bomberbird.
Special Tactics
For some enemies, attacking in the normal fashion does not work, but they can be attacked using special tactics.
Stabbing
Stabbing refers to moving around a monster. In other words, the player starts adjacent to a monster, and moves somewhere else adjacent to the monster. This tactic is usually the only way to defeat Hedgehog Warriors. However, with the Orb of Thorns, Hedgehog Warriors can be defeated normally, and regular monsters can be stabbed.
Backstabbing
Flail Guards and Viziers can be attacked by moving away from them. Flail Guards die instantly while Viziers require multiple such "hits" to destroy.
Tripping
Tripping is tactic which works only against Pikemen. Moving one space away from them will automatically attack them.
Blocking
Some monsters will die if they are unable to move on certain turns. Unlike most special tactics, the player does not directly attack the monster, so such monsters are also labeled as invincible. An example is the Sandworm from the Desert.
Allies
Allies will not attack the player and do not count for kills. Each type of ally has its own mechanics. Most of them follow the player, but Friendly Ghosts will fly away.
The allies are:
- Golem, summoned using the Orb of Life
- Tame Bomberbird, summoned using the Orb of Friendship
- Mouse, found in the Palace to begin the Palace Quest. Cannot attack and is usually ignored by monsters.
- Princess, rescued from the Palace Quest and healed/revived using the Orb of Love
- Friendly Ghost, created when you slay a monster while having the Orb of Undeath
- Mimic, created by walking through a Magic Mirror or Cloud of Mirage
Mutual Enemies
Mutual enemies still pursue and attack the player, but will attack other monsters if they have opportunity. An example is the Hyperbugs from the Hive, which will attack anything except another Hyperbug of the same color. The Orb of Discord will turn all enemies into mutual enemies.
Orb Attacks
Many orbs have powers which attack enemies. Examples include Orb of Flash, Orb of Storms, Orb of the Mind, and the two Orbs of the Sword. Orbs may also indirectly cause monsters to die, such as the Orbs of Discord and the Dragon.
Other orbs may make standard combat of multiple monsters easier. Orb of Speed can allow the player to attack twice in the same turn, or attack once and then move away. The Orbs of Shielding and the Shell protect the player from monster attacks. The Orbs of Slashing, the Triangle, and Ferocity all allow for attacking multiple monsters in a single click if they are positioned right. The Orb of Plague makes your attacks also harm enemies further away than your target. The Orb of Slaying allows your attacks to kill most enemies that would otherwise be stunned or unharmed.