Orcs Must Die!: Hard Climb (Level 21)

New weapon

Autoballista – This one’s fun, small, and for a ranged ceiling trap it’s not too pricey either. Affix it to any ceiling and face it in the desired direction (it will not turn around) to rain death upon enemies below.

Enemies

Orc Warriors
Crossbow Orcs
Gnoll Hunter
Ogres
Hellbats

General survival skills

• Block off one side of the map to make this level half as difficult
• Hellbats spawn almost every wave, so have plenty of archers on the top center balcony
• The large amount of stairs leading to the rift leaves little place for traps, so bring and upgrade guardians
• Gnoll Hunters come in bulk here, and will kill lower level archers if given the chance
• If using a floor plan instead of guardians, block off a side before they get to the stairs (there’s a pathway in the back they’ll use)

Five skull guide

This level is pretty darn straight forward, and there are two distinct approaches. The pathway in the back means blocking off one side close to the stairs is possible and will allow for a fun floor labyrinth, but is expensive to do at the start. In that light, this guide will cover the other way, which includes jamming the top of one stair case with paladins filtered through archers and a swinging mace.

It’s really that simple, too. Start the level off blocking off one staircase place archers (at least four) on the top balcony. Bring the ice amulet for insurance purposes, just in case the Hellbats pick off the archers. Speaking of which, upgrade them to at least Regenerating Health quickly or the constant waves of flying enemies will decimate the guardians (do so by the first Go Break). Another early setup piece should be the swinging mace. After that, this level gets pretty methodical. Plug the top stair way with, say, eight paladins (pretty low chance they’ll get used, but it’s nice to have insurance), maybe put six at the top and two where the swinging mace is, or whatever feels right. Beef up the top balcony and the bottom as well with archers until the guardian limit is reached and have them fully upgraded by the second Go Break.

The rest of the level falls into place easily. If desired, use Autoballista to quicken the levels and put a second Swinging Mace on the other staircase if the blockades are placed at the top. Don’t fall prey to the Gnoll Hunter rushes, use the ice amulet to keep them under control.

Waves

1. (A – West & B – East) Orcs
2. (A&B) Archers & Orcs
3. (C – Window) Hellbats

Go Break

4. (A&B) 1x Ogre (C) Hellbats
5. (A&B) Orcs (C) Hellbats
6. (A&B) Orcs & Archers, 2x Gnoll Hunters(C) HellbatsGo Break
7. (A&B) 1x Ogre (C) Hellbats
8. (A&B) Archers (C) Hellbats
9. (B&C) Orcs, 1x Gnoll Hunter (C) HellbatsGo Break
10. (A&B) 2x Ogres (C) Hellbats
11. (A&B) 3x Gnoll Hunters, Orcs
12. (A&B) Orcs & Archers x2 (C) HellbatsGo Break
13. (A&B) 1x Ogre & Orcs, 1x Ogre & Archers, 1x Gnoll Hunter (C) Hellbats