The Thorn King and Underworld
The Thorn King and Underworld are older monthly events that are no longer active in the game. GGE has not confirmed their return. However, the achievements from the Underworld are still visible to new players in the achievements window. Here you will find how they were played and what tactics you can take from them.
What the events were
The Thorn King was a monthly event with its own campaign map full of towers and castles that you gradually conquered. Completing tasks rewarded you with talismans and special units. Underworld was another standalone event, whose main currency was runes. Both are now removed, so you cannot access them - only achievements and community guides remain.
Entering The Thorn King
The event opened through the skull at the bottom of the screen. First, you donated wood, stone, food, and coins, then you clicked on the skull again and entered the map. Inside, you received 1500 wood and stone to get started - the recommended start was a granary and two small tents. Then you built drill grounds and additional tents to increase your army capacity.
Tactics that still apply today
- Don't save rubies - in the end, you won't get many anyway. Instead of large tents and auto-completion, use time skips.
- Don't attack if you're not sure of victory. Moving troops took 2 hours, so every unnecessary loss hurt.
- Never attack a medium or large resource village.
- Pair close combat with ranged and vice versa. Use Heavy Crossbowmen against Skeleton Warriors, and Two-Handed Swordsmen against Skeleton Archers.
- Maintain high morale - ideally +50 or more, it reduces losses.
- Unlock as many spots in the camp as possible - for each unlocked spot, you received 5 talismans.
Are you ready?
According to community guides, it was not worth entering below level 40, without five barracks at level 5, and without the willingness to lose thousands of coins and hundreds of units. Veteran units were recommended for battles, or Two-Handed Swordsmen and Heavy Crossbowmen if you didn't have veterans yet. Special units obtained from tasks were worth using immediately, not saving - they consumed capacity that you needed for progression.