Summoners War: Combat and Strategy Guide

Welcome to the ultimate Summoners War: Combat and Strategy Guide! Whether you're a seasoned summoner or just getting started, this comprehensive guide is designed to elevate your gameplay and dominate the battlefield. Dive into the intricacies of Understanding Combat Mechanics and master the art of Using Skills and Runes to enhance your monsters’ abilities. Discover the secrets behind the Best Team Compositions to ensure your squad is always battle-ready. Learn the essentials of Managing Health and Energy to keep your team in top shape. Finally, conquer the arena with our expert Tips for Winning Battles. Ready to become a Summoners War champion? Let’s get started!

Understanding Combat Mechanics

Welcome to the world of Summoners War! Whether you're a newbie or just need a refresher, it's crucial to understand the combat mechanics to succeed. Let’s break it down step by step.

Turn-Based Battles

In Summoners War, battles are turn-based. This means each monster gets to act in turns. The turn order is determined by each monster’s Speed stat. The faster the monster, the sooner it gets to move. It's like a race - but with epic attacks and spells.

• Pro Tip: Speed isn’t everything, but it’s super important. Having a monster that moves first can often control the flow of battle.

Mana and Skills

Each monster has several skills they can use. These special moves can range from basic attacks to complex abilities that heal or buff allies or debuff enemies. However, using these skills consumes Mana. So, you need to manage your Mana wisely.

• Basic Attack: Usually costs no Mana and can be used every turn.
• Skills: Each has its own Mana cost and cooldown period. Deciding when to use what skill can turn the tide of battle.

Attributes and Affinities

Monsters in Summoners War are aligned with one of five attributes: Fire, Water, Wind, Light, and Dark. These attributes have strengths and weaknesses against each other, similar to rock-paper-scissors.

• Fire > Wind > Water > Fire
• Light ↔ Dark

Using the right monster against another can give you a significant advantage. For example, a Water monster deals more damage to a Fire monster and takes less damage from it.

• Pro Tip: Always check your opponent's line-up and adjust your team to exploit their weaknesses.

Buffs and Debuffs

Buffs and debuffs can make or break a fight. Buffs enhance your monsters' abilities, while debuffs can cripple your enemies. Here are some common ones:

• Buffs: Attack Up, Defense Up, Immunity, Speed Up
• Debuffs: Attack Break, Defense Break, Stun, Poison

Mastering the application of buffs and debuffs provides a strategic edge that can easily turn a losing battle into a winning one.

Team Synergy

Your monsters should work well together. A team with good synergy can outperform one with just high stats. Look for combos that amplify your monsters' strengths. For example, a healer with high-resilience tanks can keep your damage-dealers alive and kicking.

• Pro Tip: Experiment with different monster combinations to find a team that clicks.

Arena and PvP

In Summoners War, you’re not just fighting AI-controlled monsters. You’ll also face other players in the Arena and PvP matches. Human opponents are unpredictable and can have a wide variety of strategies. This is where understanding combat mechanics really shines.

• Scout: Before a PvP battle, scout your opponent's defense setup if you can. Adjust your team accordingly.
• Adapt: Stay adaptable. What works against one opponent might not work against another.

Continuous Effect Leadership Skills

Many monsters have leadership skills that give additional bonuses to the whole team, as long as they are the appointed leader. These could range from increased HP, Attack, or Speed to other unique buffs. Placing the right leader with an effective leadership skill can offer significant boosts during combat.

Quick Tips Recap

• Speed Matters: Fast monsters often control the battle flow.
• Use Skills Wisely: Manage your Mana and cooldown periods.
• Attributes Count: Exploit enemies' weaknesses using attribute advantages.
• Buffs and Debuffs: Master these to dominate the battlefield.
• Team Synergy: Build a team that works well together.
• Adapt in PvP: Always adjust your strategy based on your opponent’s team.
• Leadership Skills: Leveraging these can offer additional combat advantages.

Understanding these combat mechanics will set you on the path to becoming a top Summoner. Now, go forth and conquer!

Using Skills and Runes

Mastering Your Skills

In Summoners War, every single monster has its own set of skills, usually three, but some can have up to four. These skills are pretty much your main tools for clobbering enemies, buffing your team, or debuffing the bad guys. Understanding how to use them properly can make or break your success.

• First Skill: This is usually the simplest one. It's often an attack, sometimes with a basic effect like causing a debuff (like Continuous Damage or Defense Break).

• Second Skill: These skills generally have a cooldown and are a bit flashier. They might have stronger debuffs, buffs for your team, or multi-hit attacks.

• Third Skill (Ultimate): Ultimate skills take the longest to recharge but often have the biggest impact. They can turn the tide of battle with a powerful attack, full team heal, or huge buff.

• Leader Skills: Unique compared to other skills, a monster’s leader skill kicks in when they're the leader of your team. These are typically stat boosts like increased attack power, health, or crit rate for everyone in your squad. It's like an extra sprinkle of power!

Knowing when to use each skill is crucial. Spamming your most powerful skills right away can leave you in a tough spot when you need them most. Try and find a rhythm, saving ultimates for tougher waves or bosses and using second skills to handle crowds or support your squad in between.

Rune Your World

Runes are like magic stones that make your monsters stronger. Think of them as gear you'd use in other RPGs. There are six rune slots per monster, and each slot can hold a different type of rune that boosts various stats.

• Stat Boosts: Each rune boosts a specific stat like Attack, Defense, HP, Speed, Crit Rate, Crit Damage, Resistance, or Accuracy. These boosts can make your monsters hit harder, survive longer, or move faster.

• Rune Sets: Putting together runes from the same set gives you bonus effects. For example, having four Violent runes gives your monster a chance for an extra turn, while two Revenge runes can give a counterattack when hit.

Here's a breakdown of some popular sets:

• Swift: Increases Speed by 25%
• Violent: Gives the monster a chance to take an extra turn
• Despair: Adds a chance to stun with every attack
• Revenge: Allows the monster to counterattack
• Energy: Boosts HP by 15%

Setting Up Runes

Focusing on specific stats can drastically change how effective a monster is. For instance, a healer might not need high attack power but will benefit massively from more HP or Speed to heal faster. On the other hand, damage dealers might prioritize Crit Rate and Crit Damage to maximize their output.

1. Identify Role: Determine the primary role of your monster--are they a tank, healer, damage dealer, or support? This helps you figure out which stats to prioritize.

2. Choose Rune Sets: Select rune sets that complement their role. A high-damage monster might go for Rage (increases Crit Damage) and Blade (increases Crit Rate) sets.

3. Upgrade Runes: Level up your runes to enhance their primary stat and unlock secondary stats. This costs mana but is essential for getting the most out of your runes.

4. Synergy: Try to create synergy between your monster's skills and the runes. For example, pairing a monster with a stun skill with Despair runes can give them more chances to stun enemies.

Optimization Is Key

Optimizing your monster with the right runes and skills is a key part of Summoners War. Test different rune setups and skill combinations until you find what works best for your team. Keep an eye out in-game for new runes and always look to improve your monsters. As you progress, you'll face tougher opponents, so staying on top of your rune game is essential for continued success. Happy summoning!

Best Team Compositions

Choosing the right team composition in Summoners War can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Whether you're aiming to dominate the Arena, conquer Kairos Dungeons, or excel in World Boss fights, having a balanced and synergistic team is crucial. Here are some proven team compositions to help you get ahead.

Arena Offense (Speed Nuke Team)

For Arena Offense, speed is the name of the game. A Speed Nuke Team focuses on outspeeding the enemy and landing powerful attacks before they even get a chance to move.

Team Composition

• Leader: Bernard (Wind Griffon) - Boosts Speed and Attack Bar.
• ATK Buff/Stripper: Megan (Water Mystic Witch) - Provides Attack Buff and Strips buffs.
• AOE Nuker: Lushen (Wind Joker) - Deals massive AOE damage.
• Single Target Nuker: Zaiross (Fire Dragon) - Follow up with more AOE and single target damage.

Strategy:

1. Bernard boosts the team’s speed and Attack Bar.
2. Megan increases attack power and removes enemy buffs.
3. Lushen deals significant AOE damage, ideally taking out most enemies.
4. Zaiross cleans up any survivors with more damage and potential debuffs.

Dungeon Farming (Giants B10)

Giants B10 farming requires a balance of defense, attack, and debuffs to survive the giant's deadly attacks while dishing out enough damage to clear the waves and boss efficiently.

Team Composition

• Leader: Sigmarus (Water Phoenix) - Provides HP lead and strong damage.
• Debuffer: Shannon (Wind Pixie) - Adds Slow and Defense Break.
• Healer: Belladeon (Light Inugami) - Essential sustain and Defense Break.
• ATK Buffer: Bernard (Wind Griffon) - Speed Buff and Attack Bar boost.
• AOE Damage: Veromos (Dark Ifrit) - AOE stun and cleanse.

Strategy

1. Sigmarus adds survivability and damage with a lead HP increase.
2. Shannon slows the enemy and helps everyone hit harder.
3. Belladeon heals and keeps the defense break going.
4. Bernard ensures the team moves faster with buffs and bar boosts.
5. Veromos handles crowd control and removes harmful effects.

ToA Hard (Tower of Ascension Hard)

Clearing ToA Hard requires a solid Control and Sustain team to handle the tough crowd-control and sustain challenge.

Team Composition

• Leader: Veromos (Dark Ifrit) - Adds HP lead and continuous cleanse.
• Crowd Control: Baretta (Fire Sylph) - Continuous Dots (Damage over Time) and stuns.
• Healer: Belladeon (Light Inugami) - Necessary heals and defense break.
• ATB Manipulation: Spectra (Fire Griffon) - Decreases foe’s Attack Bar and speed.
• Support: Mav (Wind Penguin Knight) - Provides cooldown reduction and additional control.

Strategy

1. Veromos cleanses debuffs and reduces damage.
2. Baretta lays down continuous Dots and stuns.
3. Belladeon keeps everyone alive and breaks enemy defense.
4. Spectra controls the enemy’s Attack Bar and speed.
5. Mav provides cooldown reduction and reduces enemies' damage.

PvP Defense (Bruiser Team)

A Bruiser Team focuses on outlasting the enemy with sustain and consistent damage over time, ideal for Arena Defense.

Team Composition

• Leader: Velajuel (Fire Archangel) - Defense lead and immunity.
• Healer: Eladriel (Wind Archangel) - Revives and heals.
• Bruiser: Camilla (Water Valkyrja) - Tanky and reliable damage output.
• Bruiser: Ritesh (Wind Beast Monk) - Provides sustain and defense break.

Strategy

1. Velajuel protects the team with immunity and defense buff.
2. Eladriel revives fallen allies and sustains the team.
3. Camilla handles damage and self-sustains with her passive.
4. Ritesh breaks enemy armor and contributes to sustained damage.

Remember, the best team composition often depends on your monster roster and rune quality. Experiment with different combinations and see what works best for you!

Managing Health and Energy

In Summoners War, knowing how to manage health and energy isn't just smart; it's essential. Without proper management, your monsters won't last long in battles, and you'll end up stuck in frustrating situations. Let’s break it down into simple steps you can follow to keep your team in top shape.

Understanding Health and Energy Basics

• Health (HP): This is pretty straightforward--how much damage your monster can take before being knocked out.
• Energy: This is what you use to start battles in different PvE modes like scenario maps, dungeons, and world boss fights. Your energy refills over time or can be replenished with crystals.

Tips to Maintain Your Monster’s Health

1. Healing Skills:

   • Monsters with healing abilities are lifesavers, literally. Include a healer like Belladeon or Chasun in your main setup. They can heal multiple allies, keeping your team fighting fit longer.

2. Scaling and Buffs:

   • Buffs like Defense Up or Shield can help mitigate incoming damage. Try monsters such as Megan or Shannon, who can buff your team’s defense.

3. Runes:

   • Equip your monsters with runes that boost HP and defense. Look for Energy, Guardian, or Endure sets. Remember, a monster with high HP and defense can tank more hits, giving your team the endurance needed in long battles.

Energy Management

Energy is your gateway to all the action in Summoners War. Efficiently managing your energy can ensure you keep grinding and improving without hitting frequent roadblocks.

1. Daily Tasks and Rewards:

   • Completing daily tasks often rewards you with energy. Activities like arena battles, guild quests, and daily logins can give you a sweet energy boost. Don't skip these freebies.

2. Energy Packs:

   • Check the shop for energy packs. They often come up as special deals, especially during events. Using crystals to buy energy can be worthwhile if you’re in the middle of an intense farming session.

3. Social and Guild Help:

   • Don’t forget to send and receive energy from your friends and guild members. Maintaining a healthy social network in-game can keep your energy levels topped up.

4. Timing Refills:

   • Plan your playtime around energy refills. Energy refills naturally over time, so if you are close to max energy, don't take long breaks. Log in periodically to use some energy and let it start refilling again.

Efficient Use of Energy

1. Prioritize High Rewards:

   • Use your energy on activities that give the best rewards for your current goals. Farming for runes or monster pieces in dungeons can often offer more value than simple scenario grinding.

2. Auto-Battle:

   • Use the auto-battle feature during times when you can’t actively play. It’s a great way to burn through energy while you’re busy. Just set it up and let it run.

3. Events and Achievements:

   • Pay attention to in-game events and achievements. They often provide bonus energy rewards. Participate in these events as they can help you gather extra resources without extra energy cost.

Quick Recovery Tricks

1. Crystals:

   • While grinding, you may find it necessary to use crystals for a quick energy refill. It’s a good emergency backup, just don’t burn through them too fast.

2. Arena Wings:

   • Spend your arena wings. Winning arena fights not only earns you glory points but also some sweet energy rewards. It’s a good double-dip.

3. Mana Stones:

   • Sometimes, mana stones can be used to buy energy in special events or shops. Keep an eye out for these opportunities.

By following these strategies, you can keep your team healthy and your energy levels balanced. This will help you progress faster and enjoy the game without long waiting periods. Happy summoning!

Tips for Winning Battles

So you're ready to dive into the fierce world of Summoners War, but those battles are looking a bit tough? Don't worry, we've got your back. Here are some solid tips to guide you to victory and help you ace those battles.

Understand Your Monsters

First things first, you need to know your monsters inside out. Each monster has unique skills, attributes, and stats that can make a big difference in battles.

• Check Their Skills: Always read up on their abilities. Some skills deal heavy damage, while others could heal or provide important buffs and debuffs.
• Pay Attention to Attributes: Monsters come in five attributes - Fire, Water, Wind, Light, and Dark. Each attribute is strong against one and weak against another. Use this to your advantage. For example, Fire is stronger against Wind but weaker against Water.

Build a Balanced Team

A balanced team often outperforms a team of just high-level monsters.

• Mix Attributes: Don't rely on one attribute. A balanced attribute setup can help cover weaknesses and exploit your opponent's weaknesses.
• Variety of Roles: Make sure your team has a mix of attackers, healers, and support characters. Attackers dish out damage, healers keep everyone alive longer, and support can provide shields or debuffs to enemies.

Runes Are Your Friends

Runes can make or break your monsters. Here’s how to use them wisely:

• Set Effects: Equipping different types of runes gives set effects. For example, 4 Fatal runes increase your monster's Attack by 35%.
• Upgrade Your Runes: Upgrading runes can significantly boost your stats. Prioritize upgrading runes on your key monsters.

Strategic Turn Usage

Turn order can decide the battle’s outcome.

• Speed Matters: Speed determines who goes first. Faster monsters can deal damage or apply buffs/debuffs before the enemy gets a chance.
• Cooldown Management: Keep track of your monsters' skill cooldowns. Use powerful abilities wisely and time their use for maximum impact.

Focus Fire on Key Targets

Don’t spread your damage too thin. Focus on taking out key enemy units first.

• Kill Healers First: Take out annoying healers to prevent them from continuously healing their team.
• Debuffer Priority: Remove units that apply harmful debuffs to your team.

Master Arena Tactics

Arena battles are a bit different from PvE (player vs. environment) battles. Here’s how to handle them:

• Scout Opponents: Before entering a fight, check your opponent’s team composition. Look at their ranks and set up your team accordingly.
• Manual Battles: While auto-battling is convenient, manually controlling your monsters can give you the edge in tight fights.

Keep Upgrading and Farming

Constant improvement is key in Summoners War.

• Grind Often: Keep farming for experience, runes, and materials to strengthen your monsters.
• Awaken and Evolve: Awaken your monsters to unlock better abilities and stats. Evolve them to higher star levels when possible.

Practice Makes Perfect

The more you battle, the better you’ll get. Keep experimenting with different team compositions and strategies to find what works best for you.

• Trial of Ascension: This mode is a great way to test your skills and earn cool rewards.
• Guild Battles: Join a guild and participate in guild battles to gain experience and rewards.

By keeping these tips in mind and constantly refining your strategies, you’ll be well on your way to dominating battles in Summoners War. Happy summoning!