Iron Challenge opens on a stage once it is won in Campaign; the other four also need 24 stars.
Each challenge won on a stage adds 1 star to the total, on top of the up to 3 Campaign stars: 54 Campaign stars and 90 challenge stars, 144 in all.
20 lives, 5-15 waves.
1 life, 1 wave.
3 lives, 3 waves, faster spells.
3 lives, 6 waves, no heroes and faster spells.
3 lives, 6 waves, 4 heroes and no spells.
3 lives, 5-15 waves, one hero and 8 Classic Towers.
Campaign: 20 lives, 5-15 waves. Enemies carry the stage's full gem amount. A win gives 1 to 3 stars, by lives left. Always available on every stage the map has opened.
Gems
100%
Iron Challenge: 1 life, 1 wave. Enemies carry 60% of the stage's Campaign gems. A win gives 1 star. Opens on a stage once that stage is won in Campaign. The level-select screen lists its reward as "Towers +XP Gain".
Towers allowed in Iron Challenge
| Stage | Towers |
|---|---|
| 1. Linirean Castle | Archer Garrison, Royal Catapult |
| 2. Arcane Academy | Knights Order, Scholar Mage |
| 3. Raided Farmlands | Scholar Mage, Royal Catapult |
| 4. Western Wall | Dwarven Culverin, Knights Order |
| 5. Silveroak Village | Elven Elite Ranger, Scholar Mage |
| 6. Lozagon Tower | Dwarven Culverin, Knights Order |
| 7. Three-Side Ambush | Elven Elite Ranger, Royal Catapult |
| 8. Fortress of Acaroth | Archer Garrison, Scholar Mage |
| 9. Path of Peril | Sunray Master, Elven Elite Ranger |
| 10. Abominable Lair | Royal Catapult, Sunray Master |
| 11. Frostbite Nest | Gold Prospectors, Dwarven Culverin |
| 12. Ha'kraj Village | Knights Order, Elven Elite Ranger |
| 13. Stormcloud Halls | Sunray Master, Dwarven Culverin |
| 14. Brightwick Town | Light Priestess, Archer Garrison |
| 15. Castle Blackburn | Dwarven Culverin, Knights Order |
| 16. Golden Grove | Wildcat Huntresses, Ironbark Treant |
| 17. Paladin Enclave | Alchemist Shack, Elven Elite Ranger |
| 18. Vez'nan's Tower | Arcane Forger, Cursed Crossbows |
Blitz Challenge: 3 lives, 3 waves, faster spells. In this mode enemies give 2.5 times their gold, spell cooldowns are half as long, enemies move 20% faster and heroes earn 25% more XP. Enemies carry 30% of the stage's Campaign gems. A win gives 1 star. Opens on a stage once that stage is won in Campaign and 24 stars have been earned. The level-select screen lists its reward as "Spells +XP Gain".
Spell Rush: 3 lives, 6 waves, no heroes and faster spells. In this mode spell cooldowns are half as long. Enemies carry 60% of the stage's Campaign gems. A win gives 1 star. Opens on a stage once that stage is won in Campaign and 24 stars have been earned. The level-select screen lists its reward as "Towers +XP Gain".
Hero Party: 3 lives, 6 waves, 4 heroes and no spells. In this mode enemies give 1.5 times their gold and heroes earn 25% more XP. Enemies carry 60% of the stage's Campaign gems. A win gives 1 star. Opens on a stage once that stage is won in Campaign and 24 stars have been earned. The level-select screen lists its reward as "Heroes +XP Gain".
Classic Rush: 3 lives, 5-15 waves, one hero and 8 Classic Towers. In this mode heroes earn 50% more XP. Enemies carry the stage's full gem amount. A win gives 1 star. Opens on a stage once that stage is won in Campaign and 24 stars have been earned. The level-select screen lists its reward as "Heroes +XP Gain".
Gems
100%
Challenge rating
The level-select screen rates the challenges of each stage: Hard on stages 1-7, Brutal on stages 8-13 and Extreme on stages 14-18.
Starting lives and waves by mode
| Mode | Lives | Waves | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign | 20 | 5-15 | 3 |
| Iron Challenge | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Blitz Challenge | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Spell Rush | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Hero Party | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Classic Rush | 3 | 5-15 | 1 |