Throneward Arcane Guide

Arcane playstyle: spell frequency over raw bodies

Arcane is a control-and-mana legion. Its prices are unusual: Apprentice costs 35 gold, Mana Crystal 105, Gravitas 115, Time Worm 245 and Archmage 260. That lets you place more small units early, but only Apprentice and Archmage are classified as primary damage dealers. Gravitas, Crystal and Time Worm are support roles, and none is a dedicated tank.

Arcane works best when each purchase solves a concrete bottleneck: more attacks to charge bolts, a Gravitas to reset contact, a Crystal to accelerate established casters, or an Archmage to end a fight before the control expires.

How the mana-and-control engine really works

Mana Crystal never attacks or moves. With no incoming mana, it takes about eight seconds to charge its 80-mana Conjure Mana, then grants 25 mana to every other living allied caster with a mana bar. Other Crystals do not feed one another. If there is no eligible caster, it holds its full charge rather than wasting it. The gift is not a proximity aura, so place the Crystal safely instead of beside the frontline.

Time Worm's Massive Slow is a separate payoff. Each 95-mana cast multiplies the movement and attack speed of every current enemy by 0.85, stacking down to a 0.35 floor. The effect lasts for that battle on affected enemies, but enemies spawned after a cast do not inherit its earlier stacks. A Crystal gift can help the Worm reach a cast even before it has spent much time attacking.

All five Arcane units and current stats

Tier 5 · 35 gold · DPS

Apprentice Mage: the cheap opening engine

Mana Bolt deals 48 direct damage for only 25 mana. Four ordinary attacks can charge a cast without outside help. At 165 HP, an Apprentice should attack from the protected rear, not become an improvised frontline. Multiple Apprentices are a practical way to buy early damage while saving toward Gravitas.

Tier 4 · 115 gold · Support

Gravitas: front-side peel, not a true tank

Almighty Push hits enemies within 3.4 units for 80 damage, shoves them outward and briefly stuns them. Closer enemies are pushed farther. Its 680 HP lets it take some contact, but it needs ranged damage behind it; a push without follow-up merely postpones the same wave.

Tier 3 · 105 gold · Support

Mana Crystal: the stationary accelerator

Crystal has zero attack damage, never moves, regenerates 10 mana per second and gives 25 mana to each other allied caster at full charge. It ignores distance but cannot feed another Crystal. Buy it when several useful abilities are already in the formation, and hide it where leaks are least likely to reach it.

Tier 2 · 245 gold · Support

Time Worm: a tough, short-range global slow

Its 1,000 HP and three-unit attack range let it fight nearer the front than a caster. Massive Slow reduces every current enemy's movement and attack speed by 15% per cast, multiplicatively, to a 35% floor. It does not damage enemies directly. Pair the slower wave with enough damage to finish it.

Tier 1 · 260 gold · DPS

Archmage: the burst the controls enable

Arcane Blast deals 210 to its primary target and 105 to nearby enemies within two units. A 12-range basic attack keeps the Archmage behind the scrum, but 800 HP does not mean it should lead it. The Crystal's mana gift and Worm's slow are most valuable when this attacker survives to use repeated blasts.

A practical Arcane formation

Arcane's frontline is assembled rather than supplied by a Tank card. Put Gravitas on the incoming side of the contact point so its push sends enemies away from the casters. Time Worm can stand behind or beside it: short range and 1,000 HP let it share pressure without placing Crystal in danger. Spread Apprentice Mages and Archmage behind those bodies; keep the immobile Crystal in a safe rear tile.

This shows roles, not a required final board. Crystal has no radius requirement for its gift, so choose safety over symmetry. The early board contains only Apprentices; do not hold gold for the full diagram while Wave 2 is already leaking. The placement guide explains first contact and anti-area spacing.

A tested Arcane opening

Across 30 seeds of the current solo simulator, the two–three–five Apprentice sequence followed by Gravitas cleared the first four waves without leaks. It is a baseline, not a rigid competitive build: PvP sends and your next boss check can demand a different response.

When to buy mana, control or damage

Time Worm at 245 and Archmage at 260 sit close in price but solve different problems. Worm makes a hard-to-kill wave slower; Archmage actually removes its health. If your Apprentices already survive and cast but the battle drags on, prioritize damage. If the backline is being overrun before those casts land, buy control and contact. The economy guide covers the separate choice of a 60-gold worker.

Arcane's difficult wave types

Arcane in PvP and arenas

In PvP, mercenaries join the scheduled wave at its tail. An early Wall Breaker or a heavy send can keep fighting after your first set of Mana Bolts. Watch whether Gravitas pushes a packed send away from the casters or merely delays a single durable target. Time Worm's earlier slow casts only affect enemies that were present when it cast; late arrivals need a new cast. The mercenary guide explains send timing and defenses.

After Waves 10 and 20, arenas copy your placed formation. Crystal can feed every allied caster in that battle without standing next to them, while Archmage benefits from a front that survives long enough to repeat Arcane Blast. Gravitas should receive first contact from the opposing army, with Time Worm close enough to attack and charge its global slow. Do not let the immobile Crystal become the only thing between enemy melee and your ranged carries.

Seven Arcane mistakes to avoid