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Bug Lanes defenders explained

In Bug Lanes, bugs crawl along five lanes toward your core and you spend energy to place defenders in their way. There are ten defenders, unlocked gradually across the 70 levels. Each has a cost in energy and a recharge time before you can place another of the same kind. This guide covers what each one is for and how they work together.

Energy: the Dynamo (cost 50)

The Dynamo makes 25 energy every 8 seconds. It does not fight, but it is the reason a good opening matters: the more Dynamos you place in the first minute, the more you can afford later. Put a few in the back column before the first bugs arrive, and place more as long as you are not under pressure.

Shooters

• Bolt (100): the all-round shooter, 20 damage about every 1.4 seconds straight down its lane. A cheap first defender for every lane that has bugs.
• Scatter (125): a short-range volley of three pellets. It is excellent against crowds and weak against armour.
• Rail (200): a heavy beam that pierces every bug in line and ignores armour. Expensive and slow to recharge (9 seconds), but it is the answer to Aegis, Worms and the Kernel Panic boss.

Blockers and support

• Wall (50): 450 health and no attack. Bugs stop to eat it while your shooters work. Place it two or three tiles in front of a shooter, not next to it.
• Chill (75): slows every bug in its lane, in movement and in biting, and does no damage itself. Best placed behind a Wall.
• Mender (100): heals every defender on the eight tiles around it whenever any of them are hurt. Put it right behind a Wall.
• Mine (25): a cheap trap that blasts every bug nearby when one steps on it, once. It takes a moment to arm, so place it before the bugs get close.

Area damage

• Mortar (150): lobs a slow shell that splashes the lane and the lanes on either side. It cannot hit bugs right in front of it, so keep it at the back behind a Wall.
• Arc (175): lightning that strikes the nearest bug ahead and then jumps to two more, even in neighbouring lanes. Each jump hits a little weaker. It is best against crowds and Swarmlets.

Combinations that work

1. Wall, then shooters. A Wall two tiles in front of a Bolt keeps the bugs busy while the Bolt shoots.
2. Chill behind the Wall. A slowed bug takes much longer to chew through it.
3. Mender behind the Wall. The Wall soaks the bites and the Mender patches it up.
4. Rails in the busiest lanes. A pierce beam hits every bug in its lane at once.
5. Mines on the approach. They thin out a lane before the bugs reach your first Wall, and catch Leapers that hop it.

Common mistakes

The most common loss is too few Dynamos early, followed by putting all firepower in one lane. Bugs come from every lane, and a lane with no shooter is a free path to your core. The second is forgetting that armoured bugs take only half damage from Bolts and Scatter; if the Aegis are walking through, bring a Rail. Read the bugs guide to know what is coming and what answers it.