Run Systems
Run Systems
How enemy pressure, roles, phases, and optional run modifiers change a run.
Enemy Pressure
Run Phases
| Phase | Begins | Possible Enemies | Mini-Boss Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Launch | Grunt, Interceptor, Brute, Hopper | 30s |
| Mid | 2:00 | Grunt, Interceptor, Brute, Flanker, Hopper, Shielder | 28s |
| Post Boss 1 | After boss 1 | Grunt, Interceptor, Brute, Flanker, Hopper, Shielder, Scavenger, Bomber, Beam Caster | 25s |
| Post Boss 2 | After boss 2 | Grunt, Interceptor, Brute, Flanker, Hopper, Shielder, Scavenger, Bomber, Beam Caster, Phaser | 21s |
| Post Boss 3 | After boss 3 | Grunt, Interceptor, Brute, Flanker, Hopper, Shielder, Scavenger, Bomber, Beam Caster, Phaser, Siegebreaker | 16s |
Enemy Roles
Normal
The baseline enemy: standard toughness, movement, damage, and rewards.
1x HP1x Speed1x Damage1x Rewards
How to identify it
No role aura or role label. Its body uses only the base enemy colors.
How to respond
Read its base movement pattern and create safe space.
Elite
A much tougher, harder-hitting version of the same enemy.
3x HP1.25x Speed2.5x Damage2.5x Rewards
How to identify it
Red aura, red border, and an ELITE label. The same hit removes less of its health bar than from a Normal.
How to respond
Give it room, commit sustained damage, and avoid treating it like ordinary cleanup.
Fast
A quicker role that closes distance before a Normal enemy.
1.8x HP1.8x Speed1x Damage1.55x Rewards
How to identify it
Green aura, green border, and a FAST label. It wins the side-by-side race.
How to respond
Reposition early and remove it before slower enemies close the escape lane.
Splitter
On death, it becomes exactly two smaller Normal enemies.
2x HP1.1x Speed1x Damage1.5x Rewards
How to identify it
White aura, white border, and a SPLITTER label.
How to respond
Leave room for the two children and avoid triggering a split while boxed in.
Volatile
It warns and explodes after being defeated.
1.5x HP1.1x Speed1x Damage2x Rewards
How to identify it
Orange aura, orange border, a VOLATILE label, and an urgent death pulse.
How to respond
Step outside the warning blast instead of standing over the kill.
Optional Run Modifiers
Glass Hull
Take 20% more damage. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Reach Core Level 5
Heavy Frame
Move 12% slower. Aether Seed rewards gain +8%.
Unlock: Reach Core Level 10
Short-Range Sensors
Pickup radius is reduced by 25%. Aether Seed rewards gain +8%.
Unlock: Reach Core Level 15
Dimmed Weapons
Weapons deal 10% less damage. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Deal 100,000 total damage
Sluggish Trigger
Attack 10% slower. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Deal 1,000,000 total damage
Lean Harvest
XP gain is reduced by 10%. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Reach Core Level 50
Cracked Core
Max HP is reduced by 20%. Aether Seed rewards gain +12%.
Unlock: Reach Core Level 30
Empty Field Medbays
Normal enemies do not drop healing hearts. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Defeat 1,000 enemies
Empty Elite Medbays
Mini-bosses do not drop healing hearts. Aether Seed rewards gain +12%.
Unlock: Defeat 25 mini-bosses
Empty Boss Medbays
Bosses do not drop healing hearts. Aether Seed rewards gain +15%.
Unlock: Defeat any Tier 2 boss
Thickened Swarm
Normal enemies have 15% more HP. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Defeat 1,000 enemies
Quickened Swarm
Normal enemies move 12% faster. Aether Seed rewards gain +8%.
Unlock: Defeat 10,000 enemies
Sharp Contacts
Normal enemy contact damage is increased by 15%. Aether Seed rewards gain +10%.
Unlock: Defeat 10 bosses
Crowded Sector
Normal enemy spawn interval is reduced by 10%. Aether Seed rewards gain +12%.
Unlock: Reach Core Level 100
Mean Mini Bosses
Mini-bosses get mean: more HP, more damage, faster abilities, larger areas, and more frequent spawns. Mini-boss Aether Seed drops are doubled.
Unlock: Defeat 1,000 mini-bosses
Hard Bosses
Bosses are hard mode. Boss rewards are greatly increased.
Unlock: Defeat the Tier 4 boss
Randomized Growth
Level-up upgrade choices are hidden, and one generated choice is selected randomly. Aether Seed rewards gain +40%.
Unlock: Defeat the Tier 4 boss