Within a Dead City Enemy Types Guide

Hi all, developer here. Some people have asked about what the different enemy types do on the Discord server. I thought that might be good info to share with everyone 🙂

Beasts: Rats, Rat Kings, and Cyclops
Beasts were the first enemies that I put in the game, so I feel like they are the most “standard” in terms of their drops and attacks. Rats and Rat Kings will spawn more often then their counterparts (rat swaaaarm). Cyclops have a heavy-hitting ranged attack, and I think they’re the toughest monster in the normal game (outside of the two game-ending sandbox spawns).

Creeps: Bats, Spiders, and Ghosts
Creeps will drop more lore and less gold than Beasts. This means that you’ll be able to cast more spells and complete research quicker, but your heroes will take longer to upgrade their gear. (And, since that takes longer, you’ll have less money coming in as well.) Bats and Spiders have a higher speed, which can make them tricky for low-level heroes. Ghosts are the weakest of the 3rd-level monsters, and will tend to accumulate around mausoleums.

Thieves: Bandits, Warlocks, and Black Knights
Thieves drop more gold and less lore than Beasts. Your heroes will be able to afford upgrades more quickly (and you’ll rake in more money from your shops), but it will take longer to do research and you can’t cast as many spells. The Bandit and the Warlock both have ranged attacks. The Warlock and Black Knight both have their own healing potions, giving them some staying power. (Well, as much staying power as a mage can have.)

While no enemy type is meant to be more difficult than others, I feel like the Creeps and Thieves are both slightly more challenging than Beasts.

Sandbox: Giant Crabs and Nidhogg
While not a monster type you can select with a new game, there are two more monsters that can only be spawned while in Sandbox mode. Both of these enemies were meant to be a “final test” for heroes once you’ve already beaten a game and are going to quit anyways. Both are meant to destroy your kingdom. The first, the Crab-pocalypse, summons one Giant Crab for every water-adjacent plains tile on the map. Giant Crabs are equivalent to a Cyclops or Black Knight in difficulty. The second, Nidhogg the World Eater, summons the giant serpent who eats the roots of the World Tree Yggdrasil. He will eat your heroes as well! I’ve managed to defeat the crabs once, but I haven’t been able to beat Nidhogg yet.