Late-game advice below includes boss and progression spoilers, especially for stages 21–24.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The complete campaign has 24 stages, with Day and Night versions for each. Progress is mainly linear: finish the available map, defeat its boss where required, and continue to the next area. Night Mode is not a separate campaign; it reuses the maps with restricted visibility. The final section is stages 22, 23, and 24. If those stages are missing, first check the platform: Steam and mobile editions include the full late game, while some browser builds cap at stage 21. Stage 24 is the final level, but there is no verified evidence that it is unlocked by a special password or hidden quest.
Campaign structure
How the stages are arranged
The safest way to think about progression is as one 24-stage campaign with two difficulty presentations: Day and Night. The official publisher material confirms the 24-stage count and describes Night Mode as an added challenge in which tower light controls what you can see. That means Night is best treated as a replay route for the same map, not as a separate set of numbered stages.
Community references describe eight map areas with three stages each. The game itself may present these as regions or map groups rather than using a formal chapter label, so “chapter” is useful shorthand but not a consistently documented in-game term. Expect each group to culminate in a stronger boss or special encounter, followed by a new progression step.
- Stages 1–21 form the main browser-era campaign found in many older guides.
- Stages 22–24 are the late-game extension found in the complete mobile and Steam editions.
- Each numbered stage can be replayed in Day and Night forms.
- A stage is cleared by protecting at least one gem; Brilliant ratings require stricter performance than a basic win.
| Progression block | What to expect | Practical priority |
|---|---|---|
| Early maps | Core tower placement, basic enemy abilities, and skill-tree growth. | Spend skill points on reliable economy and tower improvements. |
| Middle maps | More carriers, champions, buildings, and awkward routes. | Learn the map before chasing Brilliant results. |
| Stages 19–21 | Longer, less forgiving defenses with ships, divers, or other special threats. | Keep mana for scripted threats instead of spending it all on towers. |
| Stages 22–24 | Final maps with a sharp difficulty increase and demanding boss waves. | Save skulls, strengthen the skill tree, and expect retries. |
The 24-stage count and Night Mode are supported by publisher material. The eight-map, three-stages-per-map structure is documented by a community reference, but the game’s formal chapter names are not consistently published.
Waves and bosses
What changes from stage to stage
There is no single wave count for the whole campaign. Wave totals depend on the map, and later stages generally add more enemy combinations, champions, environmental buildings, and boss mechanics. A documented example is stage 15, which has 35 waves and ends with The King. This is a useful warning against assuming that every stage has ten or twenty waves.
Bosses are not merely stronger ordinary enemies. They can alter the route, carry or threaten multiple gems, disable towers, or require a specific response from your spells and tower upgrades. Treat the final wave as a separate phase: reserve mana, identify the boss’s support units, and avoid spending every emergency spell during the preceding wave.
- Check the wave counter before committing to a long upgrade or building seizure.
- Keep at least one emergency spell available for a carrier, champion, or boss unless the map clearly gives reliable drops.
- In Night Mode, tower light is part of the defense plan. A tower that is strong on Day may be ineffective if it cannot see the approach.
- Do not judge a stage only by its first attempt. Drops, path timing, and the order of special enemies can make a large difference.
| Stage range | Typical progression issue | Recommended approach |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Learning tower roles and terrain restrictions. | Use short, repeatable builds and upgrade before expanding. |
| 5–9 | More enemy abilities and map objects. | Remove or capture dangerous supporting structures when affordable. |
| 10–15 | Longer waves and stronger champions. | Plan around the boss wave; stage 15 is documented at 35 waves. |
| 16–18 | Tighter routes and more demanding Night visibility. | Place light-producing towers where they cover multiple lanes. |
| 19–21 | Special threats and high mana pressure. | Use controlled spending and replay for skill points or skulls. |
| 22–24 | Endgame difficulty spike. | Farm earlier content if necessary, then spend saved resources deliberately. |
Only selected stage wave lists are readily documented in reliable references. Do not assume a fixed wave total for stages 4, 9, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 without checking the exact edition and mode.
Unlocks and platform differences
How to unlock stages 22–24
There is no well-supported evidence for a universal secret requirement called a “level 22 unlock.” In the complete editions, the final three stages are part of the campaign progression. If stage 22 is unavailable, finish the preceding campaign content and confirm that you are using the Steam or mobile edition rather than a limited browser port.
Several current browser references state that their HTML5 build ends at stage 21. That conflicts with the publisher’s general description of 24 levels, but the conflict is explained by platform scope rather than by a hidden quest. In practical terms, changing browser sites may not unlock the missing maps if the build itself does not contain them.
- On Steam or mobile, complete stage 21 and return to the campaign map to check the next region.
- On a browser build, look for a platform or edition notice before spending time searching for a code.
- Do not buy a supposed “level pack” or use an unofficial unlock file unless the store or publisher clearly identifies it.
- If Night Mode is locked, defeat the relevant map boss first; community documentation describes boss completion as the gate for Night Mode in that map.
| Problem | Most likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 22 is not visible | Limited browser build or incomplete stage 21 progression. | Confirm the platform and finish stage 21. |
| Stage 23 or 24 is missing | The edition stops at stage 21 or the previous stage is incomplete. | Use a complete mobile or Steam edition and clear the preceding stage. |
| Night is locked | The map boss has not been defeated in the required mode. | Replay the map and finish its boss stage. |
| A walkthrough map looks different | Different port, revision, or Day/Night mode. | Match the walkthrough’s platform, version, stage, and mode. |
The evidence supports one campaign with 24 numbered stages in the complete editions, not a separately purchased “level pack.” Browser availability is the main source of confusion.
Late-game route
Advice for stages 19, 20, 21, and 24
Stages 19–21 are the point where resource discipline matters more than simply adding towers. Community strategy discussions repeatedly recommend preserving mana for divers, carriers, golems, or other high-impact threats, while leaving some enemy-generating structures active long enough to produce useful drops. The exact build order is map-specific, so copy a walkthrough only after matching its edition and mode.
For stage 21, several player references identify the pirate ship boss as a useful skull-farming opportunity. This is a recommendation from experienced players, not a guaranteed reward rate. Farm only after you can stabilize the stage, and collect drops while the boss remains alive if your build can safely withstand the extra pressure.
Stage 24 is the final level and is widely described as the hardest part of the campaign. Community reports mention multiple kings and high dependence on spell timing or drops. Save skull-based resources for this section, but do not assume they are mandatory: some players report clearing the late stages without them, while others use them to make the final maps manageable.
- Before stage 20, build a reserve of mana rather than spending every early drop immediately.
- For stages 20 and 21, identify which structures create extra enemies and decide whether their drops justify delaying destruction.
- For stage 22 onward, enter with the skill tree developed and a stock of skulls or emergency resources.
- On stage 24, focus fire on the most dangerous king or support unit first; the correct target order depends on the current map layout and mode.
- If Brilliant is not realistic, take the clear, earn experience, and return later with stronger skills.
| Goal | Best route |
|---|---|
| Unlock the next stage | Clear the current stage; Brilliant is not generally required for ordinary campaign progress. |
| Improve Night performance | Defeat the relevant boss, then use light coverage rather than copying a Day placement. |
| Farm skulls | Replay a stable late-middle stage, with stage 21 commonly recommended by players. |
| Beat the final level | Prepare the skill tree, preserve emergency mana, and use spells for boss windows rather than routine enemies. |
Late-game build orders are sensitive to edition, skill-tree progress, item drops, and Day or Night mode. Treat community tactics as tested approaches, not fixed requirements.
FAQ
Common questions
How many stages are in the complete game?
The complete mobile and Steam editions contain 24 numbered stages. Each can be played in Day and Night forms, so the practical amount of content is larger than 24 individual runs.
What is the final level?
Stage 24 is the final numbered stage. It is part of the complete edition’s late-game section with stages 22 and 23.
Why can I only see stage 21?
You may be playing a browser build that caps at stage 21. Current browser references report this limitation, while publisher material and the Steam and mobile editions describe 24 stages.
How do I unlock stage 22?
Finish stage 21, return to the campaign map, and confirm that your platform includes the complete 24-stage edition. There is no verified universal password or separate quest that unlocks stage 22.
Are stages 19, 20, and 21 especially difficult?
They are commonly treated as a late-game difficulty wall because special enemies and structures put heavy pressure on mana. Reserve spells, control enemy-generating structures, and replay for skill points or skulls before forcing Brilliant ratings.
Is Night Mode a separate chapter?
No. Night Mode is a harder version of the same map with restricted visibility. Community documentation indicates that defeating the boss for a map is the usual gate for its Night version.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialArmor Games Studios announcement confirming 24 levels and Night Mode
- OfficialArmor Games press kit describing 24 levels and Night Mode
- ReferenceCurrent mobile walkthrough index with edition and version context
- CommunityCommunity reference documenting map groups, Night Mode, and progression systems
- ReferenceBrowser-build report about stages 22–24 availability
- CommunityDocumented stage 15 wave list and boss
- CommunitySteam community discussion on late-stage farming and dwarf maps