At A Glance
- Best offense strategies: tanking, Galeforce, hit & run
- How to build and protect an Aether Raids defense map
- Mythics, blessings, structures & minimizing lift loss
Understanding Aether Raids Basics
Aether Raids pits your offense squad against your opponent’s defense map. Key rules and scoring:
- You must defeat all enemy units within 7 turns. Until then, it’s possible to lose through attrition.
- Structures (offensive and defensive) play a big role; they can buff your units or hinder enemies. Offensive structures like the Escape Ladder, Bolt Tower, etc., influence turn sequence and movement.
- Your Lift gain or loss (score/standing) depends on how many units survive, use of bonus / Mythic / blessed heroes, merges, and how powerful your defense is.
Offense Strategies: What Works Best
1. Tanking
- Putting a powerful frontliner to absorb damage, supported by healers or buffs.
- Example units: Brave Hector in many player teams; with high defenses and defenses boosting skills, he can survive long enough to deal damage.
2. Galeforce-style Offense
- Utilize units with Galeforce or Duo/skill combinations that give extra actions to sweep multiple enemies.
- Use support units or refreshers to enable more actions per turn.
- Eir, Ninja Lyn, Yuri are examples often used.
3. Hit & Run
- Strike enemies early, then retreat to safety. Use movement assist or Canto effects.
- Also rely on structures like Safety Fence to protect your team during turn one. Positioning matters a lot.
Structure Placement & Map Preparation
- Upgrade the Fortress (O) in offense: higher level than your opponent’s Fortress (D) gives team stat boosts.
- Use offensive structures like Escape Ladder (almost mandatory), Bolt Tower (good for damage over turns), Bonus Structure. Empty spaces matter for hiding weaker units.
Defense: Building a Resilient Aether Keep
- Include defensive Mythic Heroes (Dark / Anima depending on season), as they reduce lift loss when your defense fails. Having 2-Mythic defense helps a lot. Include blessed units in defense.
- Spread weapon types and movement types among your defense units to avoid structure debuffs or weapon/ movement disadvantages.
- Use mock battles: Test Defense & view replays to see how opponents break your setup, then adjust.
Common Mistakes and “What Doesn’t Work”
- Over-focusing on defense at the cost of offense. Many players say offense matters more for lift and ranking.
- Putting glass cannon units in exposed positions. If they’re cornered or flanked they’re easily eliminated.
- Ignoring structure layout: poor placement of structures like Bolt Tower or Offensive line can allow attackers to exploit starting tiles.
- Not using Mythics or blessings properly, especially for defense. Even a defense full of well-blessed units and Mythics reduces lift loss significantly.
Final Thoughts
Mastering both offense and defense in Aether Raids is essential for climbing tiers and maintaining good lift. Offense yields most of the gain—Galeforce, tanking, or hit & run strategies can each work depending on your roster. On defense, Mythics and good layout minimize losses. Don’t neglect structure choices, test your maps often, and adjust based on what replays show. With consistent improvement of both sides, you’ll perform well in seasons and secure rewards without overextending your resources.