Mastering Orcs Must Die: Deathtrap requires strategic finesse. Below are essential techniques to optimize your defense systems and combat tactics.

Barricades

Position barricades strategically near the Rift to seal off direct approaches, then design winding routes to concentrate foes into lethal trap corridors.

Combo Focus

Chain together diverse damage-dealing mechanisms. This tactic accelerates Rune Coin accumulation and rapidly charges your Overdrive capability.

Rats and Brimstone

Small pests like rats can sabotage traps prematurely. Counteract this with anti-vermin devices such as Brimstone to maintain defensive integrity.

Sentinels and Cannons

Deploy stationary artillery like Sentinels despite their expense—they prove invaluable against armored or high-health adversaries.

Mini-Map Awareness

Scan the Mini-Map frequently to identify enemy classifications early, enabling swift tactical adaptations to emerging threats.

Auto Ballistas

Install Auto Ballistas near vulnerable zones as fail-safes against overlooked aerial units slipping through primary defenses.

Physics Traps

Leverage knockback or displacement traps to prolong enemy exposure to damage zones, amplifying combo potential.

Broken Mirror Pieces and Kalos

Collect Mirror Fragments using Kalos in hub areas—this unlocks high-tier upgrades critical for endgame progression.

Upgrade Priority

Specialize early resources into upgrading versatile traps rather than diluting investments across multiple systems.

Ghost Wisps and Pathing

Analyze Ghost Wisp trajectories during setup phases. Crimson markers indicate imminent barricade breaches requiring immediate reinforcement.

Trap Loadout Changes

Adjust trap selections during mission preparation phases, as modifications are locked once combat commences.

Active Combat as War Mage

Adopt an aggressive playstyle—direct combat involvement now significantly influences battle outcomes compared to prior series entries.

Ranged War Mage for Solo

Solo players benefit from choosing projectile-based War Mages, simplifying aerial target management and enhancing positional flexibility.

Aim for Headshots

Prioritize cranial strikes against bulky enemies to expedite eliminations and conserve resources.

Elemental Weaknesses

Exploit elemental affinities: Armored units falter against electric attacks, while frost proves devastating to Mountain Trolls.

Stagger Multiple Paths

When defending split routes, create asymmetrical path lengths to prevent simultaneous enemy surges overloading traps.

Combine Damage Types

Layer elemental and physical damage sources—for example, ignite foes with Brimstone before impaling them with Spikes—to maximize combo rewards and crowd control.