Game Overview

• Objective: Destroy the enemy fortress (green square).
• Map Layout: The map is symmetrical, with a critical middle point (dashed white line) providing 10 bonus gold every 20 seconds to each player on the controlling team.
• Teams: Each team has 3 players who build and deploy armies in waves.

Basic Mechanics

1. Starting Gold:
   • Each player starts with 280 gold and a base income of 100 gold every 20 seconds.
2. Build Area:
   • Players construct their armies in their designated build area (colored rectangles).
3. Waves:
   • Waves occur every 35 seconds.
   • Player 1 and Player 2 deploy on the first wave.
   • Player 3 and Player 4 on the second.
   • Player 5 and Player 6 on the third.
   • The cycle repeats until one fortress is destroyed.
4. Attacking:
   • Spawned units and heroes will automatically move towards the enemy fortress.
   • Units and heroes will automatically attack enemies and use abilities along the way.
   • Abilities can be toggled by the player using the Ability AI panel.
5. Income:
   • Base income is shared and constant.
   • Controlling the middle point adds a 10-gold bonus per 20 seconds per player.

Game Modes

1. Classic: Choose a race and build units and heroes unique to that race.
2. Mixed: Randomly assigned units and heroes from various races.
3. Draft: Build your army from a pool of units selected in a four-round draft. Heroes are chosen from three random options.

Progression & Tiers

• Tier Upgrades: Unlock stronger units, abilities, and upgrades.
• Tier 1 → Tier 2: Costs 250 gold, takes 45 seconds.
• Tier 2 → Tier 3: Costs 450 gold, takes 45 seconds.

Heroes & Items

1. Heroes:
   • Created using the "Hero Builder" purchased at the town hall.
   • Use the "Ability AI" panel to toggle hero abilities/spells.
2. Items:
   • Purchased from the Goblin Merchant.
   • No tier restrictions.

Additional Income Strategies

1. Gold Mines:
   • Build Gold Extractors to gain 10 extra gold every 20 seconds.
   • Cooldown: 90 seconds.
   • Timing:
     • 1st Gold Mine: Always build at least one.
     • 2nd Gold Mine: Acquire at 8–12 minutes, depending on your performance.
     • 3rd Gold Mine: Only if the game is expected to last 40+ minutes.
     • 4th Gold Mine: Almost always avoid—it’s inefficient and a common beginner mistake.
2. Holding Middle:
   • Provides 10 gold every 20 seconds, equivalent to an extra Gold Mine, benefiting all team members.
3. Pillaging:
   • Raiders gain 10 gold per hit on enemy towers or the fortress.
4. Alchemist's Ultimate:
   • Transmute: Instantly kills a target unit, converting it to gold. Cannot target Heroes or high-level creeps.

Key Differences From Melee

• AoE abilities don't hurt allies. (Including siege)
• Druid of the Talon's Crow Form deals magic damage (Not pierce)
• Anti Magic Shell for Banshess grants spell immunity (Not spell damage absorb)
• Siege Tanks can attack land units.
• Far Seer's "Farsight" replaced with Firebolt (effectively same as Storm Bolt).
• Archmage's Ultimate "Mass Teleport" is replaced by Tornado.
• Priestess of the Moon's "Scout" is replaced by Silence.
• Abilities that require trees no longer do. (e.g. Force of Nature, Huntress Scouts)
• Spirit Walker's Revive ability drains some mana from all nearby Spirit Walkers (to stop almost limitless revives)
• Banshee's Possession costs 0 mana. Units possessed by a Banshee rapidly lose life over time until they die.
• Gargoyles have a ranged attack against air (it's not melee range).
• Dreadlord's Sleep is functionally a stun. (It can't be dispelled or canceled by damage)
• Some upgrades are removed (Exhume Corpses) or given baseline (Vorpal Blades).
• Necromancers summon 1 skeleton by default. (Plus Skeletal mage after upgrade)
• Sorceress Invisibility lasts a minimum of ~1.5s before it is cancelled by attacks.
• As of 6.1.2, Druid of the Claw can cast Rejuvenation while in Bear Form.

Tips for Success

• Focus on controlling the middle point for consistent income.
• Time your Gold Mine investments wisely—don’t overcommit early.
• Use the "Ability AI" panel to optimize unit and hero abilities.
• Communicate and coordinate with your team to capitalize on middle control and timing upgrades.

Good luck on the battlefield, and may your strategies lead to victory!