This iron mode is a tale of two maps, as occasionally is the case when I'm doing these challenges. When I first started doing this map I struggled mightily, and for the longest time I could not get a win at all (although I was using the weakest hero pairs, like Grimson and Torres, since that's what I do my initial testing with), despite trying several different strategies. I got really frustrated and put the game down for a couple of weeks as a result. Then when I went back to it, for some reason everything just clicked and I was able to beat it fairly easily. It's an important reminder that when you're really struggling with something - whether it's a video game, job task, or anything else - sometimes the best thing you can do is just walk away for a while. When you've been beating your head against a wall and then give yourself some space, your brain often will silently level up during the break, so that when you return the problem magically goes away.
This is still a difficult map, make no mistake, although less so than heroic mode. It's all about investing in the Arboreans to handle the Winged Croks, then doing everything you can to keep them alive so you're not wasting money repurchasing them. Properly timing the Old Trees is a key part of the strategy, and it makes me miss maps from previous games where figuring out the precise timing of Rain of Fire / Thunderbolt was the key to winning.
Impressions
Grades are much better here than in heroic mode, with only Raelyn ending in the 'C' tier. Sadly I was not able to give Broden his usual 'A+', as it just felt like he didn't bring the heat like normal. Thus we have a rare instance where Kosmyr earns a better grade than him, as he definitely tore it up. Other than that the heroes pretty much ordered themselves appropriately based on their GPAs so far.
Final Grades
- Vesper - B
- Raelyn - C+
- Nyru - B+
- Torres - B-
- Anya - A-
- Grimson - B+
- Broden - A
- Therien - B+
- Onagro - B
- Warhead - B-
- Lumenir - A
- Kosmyr - A+
- Stregi - B
- Bonehart - A+
