Orcs Must Die!

This achievement is rewarded for never allowing enemies into your rift AND coming in under part time for all levels on the War Mage (default/middle) difficulty. I recommend going for this before attempting the Nightmare difficulty, as the skulls you earn here can help there. I also do not recommend going for this on your first playthrough as many later traps and spells you unlock can help finish earlier missions more easily with 5 skulls - yes, replaying levels allows you to use later unlock items!

I am guessing someone will eventually post youtube videos of their methods on each level, but I'll give some tips that I employed to help get this achievement.

* Upgrade your Tar Trap and use it often - it can be used to stall waves and keep them in kill zones. I also upgraded both guardians, Barricades, and Ceiling Mace.
* Both guardians (Archers and Paladins) are great with the Steel Weaver upgrade that gives them health regeneration, and OK at best otherwise.
* Ceiling Maces + Tar Traps = fantastic kill zone. Put a Paladin or two a few paces back for extra carnage. I used this method more than any other when going for this achievement.
* Take advantage of in-level devices such as chandeliers and rolling logs. You can only use them once each, but they can help with a tricky wave or that last runner.
* Take the Lighting Ring and Ice Amulet every time! Lighting one-shots any goblin or orc (without a shield), and Ice can freeze everything in the game except Ice Ogres. It also one-shots dragons!
* Take a look around the level and figure out your kill zone(s) before choosing your traps. Some levels have great places for Spring Traps or Push Traps, others have great balconies for Archers.
* I found the Steel Weaver to be the best choice almost always - it allows Springs/Push traps to affect Ogres, guardians to regenerate health and do more damage, and most other traps to add a bleed effect.
* The quick Goblins will almost always be what prevents you from getting 5 skulls on a level. Figure out which waves they spawn and focus on them yourself while traps take care of the rest. Tar traps slow them down and the Lightning Right or Archers work great. Sometimes they would speed right by my various wall traps.
* If you get stuck on a specific level feel free to ask here and I will let you know what my strategy was. This is almost a puzzle game though so figuring it out is definitely part of the fun :).

Play through the game on apprentice or war mage without worrying about the 5 skulls first - this will allow you to unlock all the traps.

- Make sure to level up your Brimstone, Spike Trap, Arrow Trap, Paladins, and Archers first.

- Most levels have a choke point that you can lay brimstone traps over. Try find the spot that you only need to lay 2 -3 traps across. Alternate Brimstone and Spikes in rows as enemies on fire will sometimes set of more then one brimstone trap without it doing additional damage.

- Use the alternate fire on your lightning ring (Left Trigger) right in front of the doors as the Orcs enter. This will create a lightning storm and continue to shock enemies.

- Pair the lightning storm with the Knowledge Weaver's Spell Magnification and a coin forge right away to earn 3 times the money for more traps.

- Use arrow traps to slow down the Cobalts that make it past your lighting and brimstone.

- Place Paladins and Archers as last lines of defense. Also place Paladins in spots where you want the Ogres to stop and fight such as under a swinging mace or where you can hit them with the rolling logs, chandeliers, or a floor mounted ballista.


Included is a YouTube video I found that shows a similar set up.

To get this you must complete every level in War Mage without dying, letting any enemies into the rift, and getting the level completed in the time recommended. I recommend playing thru the game once on war mage as you will unlock traps as you progress. If you happen to get 5 skulls great if not move on and come back after you have unlocked all the traps.I liked this guys standard build (Baracades, Wall grinder,Sticky traps, wall spikes, lightning, and a few variables depending on the levels). He also liked the floor scorchers that I didnt bother downloading. I just swapped them out for Brimstone in most cases. He also was rewally into getting a high score. I was not as agressive with my score just getting the five skulls. So if you have extra money feel free to put traps before the "killbox" so you can thin out the enemies coming thru the killbox. He also was playing on a computer so some of the controls may look funny but its really all the same. Below I will list a link to a players youtube account (Just look in the right and you will see show all videos click that and scroll down and you will find every level on warmage and also on nightmare). I loved this guys videos and used them whenever I got stuck on a level. I take no credit for the videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/fryedegg