Hearthpine

Caves and counterplay

The left shortcut first appears in wave 5 and repeats in wave 6. Its separate warm torch glow warns for four simulation seconds before the first emergence. Enemies retain their health and status effects underground, where they cannot be attacked.

Cover the shared final road and watch the left mouth. Later waves gradually increase shortcut pressure.

Wave plan

• Wave 1 — Northern spears: 4 Dire Wolf (right cave); 4 Frost Troll (right cave).
• Wave 2 — The winter line: 6 Frost Troll (right cave); 3 Renegade Archer (right cave).
• Wave 3 — Shadows over snow: 4 Frost Troll (right cave); 4 Frost Troll (right cave); 6 Gloomwing Bat (right cave).
• Wave 4 — White hunters: 4 Winter Wolf (right cave); 3 Dire Wolf (right cave).
• Wave 5 — Watch the amber cave: 4 Frost Troll (right cave); 2 Frost Troll (left cave); 6 Winter Wolf (right cave).
• Wave 6 — A second warning: 3 Frost Troll (right cave); 2 Frost Troll (left cave); 8 Gloomwing Bat (right cave); 2 Ironclad (right cave).
• Wave 7 — Two roads to the shore: 3 Frost Troll (right cave); 3 Winter Wolf (right cave); 3 Frost Troll (right cave); 3 Winter Wolf (right cave); 3 Frost Troll (left cave).
• Wave 8 — The axe takes the long road: 1 Frostbound Reaver (right cave); 4 Frost Troll (right cave); 3 Renegade Archer (right cave); 2 Dire Wolf (right cave); 3 Frost Troll (left cave).
• Wave 9 — Warning before the hunters: 8 Frost Troll (right cave); 5 Winter Wolf (right cave); 1 Black Banner Captain (right cave); 4 Frost Troll (left cave); 1 Winter Wolf (left cave).
• Wave 10 — Hold both roads: 1 Frostbound Reaver (right cave); 5 Frost Troll (right cave); 6 Winter Wolf (right cave); 3 Frost Troll (left cave); 2 Winter Wolf (left cave).
• Wave 11 — Light beneath the rock: 6 Frost Troll (right cave); 8 Gloomwing Bat (right cave); 3 Renegade Archer (right cave); 1 Frostbound Reaver (right cave); 4 Frost Troll (left cave); 1 Renegade Archer (left cave).
• Wave 12 — Keep Hearthpine open: 3 Frost Troll (right cave); 1 Frostbound Reaver (right cave); 3 Winter Wolf (right cave); 3 Frost Troll (right cave); 1 Frostbound Reaver (right cave); 3 Winter Wolf (right cave); 4 Frost Troll (left cave); 4 Winter Wolf (left cave).

Development status

The approved v4 map and separate glow are integrated locally. The roughly 10% difficulty-increase target is not yet validated; automated results vary by strategy and novice reaction fairness needs further playtesting.

Frost Troll Chieftain packs are staged for waves 8, 10 and 12, replacing existing budgets. They remain disabled while diagonal animations await correction.

Connected stories & guides

• Kataris — The Frostbound Dominion
• Frost Troll — Sturdy northern infantry
• Winter Wolf — Fast northern predator
• Frostbound Reaver — Limited axes / Melee / Blood rage
• Frost Troll Chieftain — A northern pack leader