Doing campaign levels in Kingdoms of Middle Earth is fun and good for a number of things, such as: Leveling up your heroes, farming items and hourglasses, getting armor scraps to trade for equipment, or get awesome equipment/items/ tokens from Smaug. But there is also the Campaign High Score Event, either individual or alliance based.
Most of the times, people will run down the campaign levels with full t1 armies and wipe out any resistance. But this strategy gets you far from a high score on the different levels, which you need if you wanna compete in the aforementioned events.
So what army should you use? T1 or T5? Mixed or single troop type? Should you use speed ups? How is campaign high score even calculated? In this article, I give you a rundown of some very basic tips to get your high scores up and be competitive.
>continued
So before we get into the tips, it is important to understand how campaign high scores are determined. I will make it no secret that I have no clue what the exact formula is, nor do I have any intention to do so. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is, is that scores are determined based on three stats:
- Number of troops used in the attack
- Numbers of troops lost
- The marching time it took your troops to get to the level
You can access your current stats by pressing on a campaign level on a map, and then press the “i” button next to your current high score. In the pop-up screen, you can see the above mentioned stats labeled as ”efficiency”,”vitality” and ”time”. It shows the stats from your latest attack, and from your record high score attack.
Minimize number of troops, but don’t use the minimum
The key in getting high scores for the efficiency and vitality points is using as a low a number of units impossible, evidently. BUT, there is a major BUT…There is of course an absolute minimum number of troops you need to defeat the goblins on a certain map. The big BUT here is that that minimum number of troops does NOT yield you the highest high score for that map!
That is because of the battle mechanics in this game. I will do a post later on the exact mechanics as far as I understand them, but suffice to say here is that the game battle mechanics work in rounds. Each round of battle, damage of all standing troops on both sides is calculated and then distributed among the enemies. Lets do a quick and simple example. We will not focus on factors such as runes/heroes etcetera.
Say you want to attack 100 t1 goblins. They have 100 attack points and 200 health points. Lets go through two scenarios:
- Overwhelming force
You attack with an overwhelming number of troops: 1000 t1, with 1000 attack points and 2000 health points. The goblins are wiped out completely in the first round, and they kill 50 of your troops.
- Matched force
Now you attack with 100 t1 troops. Round one kills 50 troops on both sides. Round two, with 50 troops remaining on both sides, kills 25 on both sides, and so on.
In the second case, if you win through RNG, you have used the minimum number of troops, but battle was spread out over multiple rounds, and you lost almost all troops. Turns out that this significantly lowers your high score.
Somewhere in between these extremes lays the perfect number which will net you the highest score. I will be honest again and tell you that I do not know the exact number necessary, nor can I because this is complicated by factors such as Goblin hero level, your hero level, research, runes and equipment. It will be a bit of trial and error, but for now, remember that minimum =/= best.
Use your highest level hero and your best equipment
Ok, I should not have to mention this, but always use your highest level hero, and make sure he has your highest gear equipped, preferably the Pilfered set from Smaug of course.
Use runes
To further increase your score, always try to use runes. Normal combat and defense runes are obligatory, and if you have enough Runes of Fury and/or Runes of Invulnerability, use them. Both attack and defense runes will help lower the troops necessary and up your scores. Please also not that the normal and super runes stack! So a combat rune and RoF give you 120% increased attack. If you don’t have runes laying around, don’t worry, you can still get great scores without them with the right troop numbers, albeit not the top scores.
So now we come down to the three important questions to achieve the best high score:
- What troops should you use?
- How many troops should you use?
- Should you use speed-ups?
1. What troops should you use?
First and foremost, you should use your highest Tier troops to get the greatest scores. You will need less troops and less will die, increasing efficiency and vitality scores. But what troop types should you use?
As you know, each troop type has a strong against opponent and a weak against opponent, like this: Mounted>ranged>foot>mounted… So if you attack a single type of enemy troops, you just match your strong troops against it. But what if the enemy has 2 or 3 troop types? Well, turns out that, crazy as it seems, using one troop type gives you the highest scores! Say the enemy has 100 mounted, 100 foot and 100 ranged troops. Instinct would say you should also send all 3 troop types to make use of the strong against bonus. But your troops will then also have a weak against one of the opponents, hurting your score. So here are the troop types you should use:
Two notes here. You may be wondering why, when you fight against two enemy types, you need the specific troops mentioned to attack. The below picture shows the example possibilities for when you attack Mounted and Foot Goblins:
When you attack with Mounted troops, the enemy foot troops have an advantage over you. When you attack with ranged troops, you have an advantage over the foot troops, but this time the mounted enemy has an advantage over you. If you attack with foot troops however, only you have an advantage, over the mounted enemy. So as a general rule of thumb, use the enemy troop type that is strong against the other enemy troop type!
The second note is that, when I talk about the enemy having all 3 troop types, I mean the enemy has reasonable even amounts of all troops. But some maps have for example 500-600 mounted and foot troops, and only 60 ranged troops. In this case, it is better to treat the enemy as having only mounted and foot troops, as the number of ranged troops is so insignificant compared to the other types. In such case, choose your troops according to the above picture.
2. How many troops should you use?
I have already mentioned how I cannot give exact numbers for troop numbers needed for the best scores, due to multiple factors. So basically, its gonna be trial and error finding out what troop numbers work for your specific setup.
But there is something you can do. If you go to my campaign article, you can download the campaign spreadsheet which lists the enemies for most maps. You can fill in your hero level and research etc, and it gives you the number of t1-3 required to beat the map in one single round.
Take one single map with a medium amount of enemies. Attack it with the suggested amount of t1 troops, and look at your high score. Now attack again with 25% more and 25% less t1 troops, and see again what it does to your score. Shouldn’t take long to figure out approximately the right amount of troops this way. Once you have the right number, translate the t1 troops needed into tier 2-5. Attack with that and you should get your highest score.
If you do this for medium sized enemies on a few maps, you can start to see roughly the amount of troops needed to defeat a certain number of enemies. Then use this knowledge to go after the other maps.
3. Should you use speed-ups?
Update: Marching times have since been removed form campaign, so you cannot even use hourglasses anymore.
Following the above steps, you should arrive at your best efficiency and vitality scores, but what about the time score? Well, although march times across maps and levels vary, I have never marched for longer than 30 seconds on any level. This could be because of tavern, I don’t know. But basically the only thing you can do to decrease march time more is apply a Bilbo’s hourglass as fast as possible. But should you?
Well, it turns out the time factor is not as influential as the other two. Assuming you go with high tier, high hero armies at it, applying an hourglass only increases high score a little bit. For scores around 200.000 without speed up, an hourglasses only adds a few thousand points max, from personal experience. The bonus is usually lower than 1%. So unless you want to be the absolute number one and have a RoI/RoF burning, or you have a shitload of hourglasses laying around, you shouldn’t bother. Especially in alliance based campaign events, it is far more important that EVERY alliance member plays the levels.
Thanks for the great info BeardMonkey… Any chance of working Giants and Master rangers and all the high end hero gear etc into the chart as well?
LikeLike
hey man, i totally love the spreadsheet! i just have 1 little questions:
1. what do you mean with the “strong against %” in the little calculated for the “actual additive numbers” ?
2. you’re saying that these numbers aren’t for the highest scores but for the minimum troop loss, but you also said in your post that minimum troop loss is parallel on the highest scores, isn’t it?
again, thx a lot for this spreadsheet man!
LikeLike
Hi ,I’m on 58 and would appreciate if u sent me ur spreadsheet,always looking to improve …thanks
LikeLike
how do you use the hourglasses?
LikeLike
you dont anymore. The use of hourglasses in campaign has been removed in later updates…
LikeLike
Hi love it..i play in vastriel37 my heroes are 235 and i need help with campaign high score..i got tons of t6 giants e all of them my equipment is a havoc can u help me with the kind of troops and the amout of each troop so i get the highest score..my email is ngmarcos66@gmail.com thanks
LikeLike
I’m a high score event does your score only count once or can you pay the campaigns multiple times to rack up points for your alliance?
LikeLike
every time you get a high score the difference from your last score is added to your total. if you dont get a high score you get no more points.
LikeLike
Just adding to this, because carl’s answer can cause some confusion. The main rule is: “The highest score you get DURING the event period is what counts for the event score”
This means that you DO NOT have to beat your PREVIOUS HIGHSCORE that you got from a previous event or before the current event in general. So go through each and every map during an event because each score matters. Carl’s statement is correct ONLY IF we talk strictly about the scores during the event.
LikeLike
I would love a copy of your formula. Thank you taking the time that you do to post these its awesome it serves to help other geeks like myself get a little closer to the game . Thank you Poisoned_Dart of Chaos Legion Server Vas. 57
LikeLike
I dont have a formula. All formulas I apply can be found in the sheet. In this sheet, I simply calculate life of the goblins and divide by attack points per tier, to give an approximate number of troops to defeat them in one round. This is not meant for highest scores, just as a starting point
LikeLike
im on 97, I am sittin at #2 but I know I can do better, is there an excel calc out there?
LikeLike
No, not that I know of. It is notoriously difficult to figure out all formulas. And you need two: 1 to predict battle outcomes, and then one to plug in these numbers and predict high score.
As far as guides go, not one will be the same. Problem is, a difference of a few % attack or defense buff changes almost all troop numbers…
LikeLike
97 here too!!!! What what!
LikeLike
Hi Beardmonkey. I’m working on campaign guide for my alliance in E5. I’ve used your excellent spreadsheet and have added experimental numbers for T4 and T5 ‘pilfered’ from the #1 on our server. I noted your nominal multipliers for the number calcs for T1, 2 and as being 1, 2 and 4. Using the experimental numbers I have I think I have the multiplier for T4 and 5. I have also added in shield wall, battle cry, ferocity and resilience into the bonus multiplier. My guys are getting pretty good scores although, as you state, minimum troop number does not equal maximum score. This is my per project now and it would be nice to work on mx score calcs if you are interested. I have a bitly link to my google doc if you want a look. Cheers. I’m Rich1979 on Line and Rich1979 Minas Morgul on Touch (prefer Line).
LikeLike
Rich nr 70 overall score, you can do better buddy lol 😉 Grtz Tilly (T1LB04RMY)
I can teach you 😛
LikeLike
Lmao. Damn right I need to do better tilly! Still trying to figure the damn thing out! 🙂
Thanks though. Will you be my mentor? Up there in 26th looking down on me! X
LikeLike
get inside top 5 and i may help you WaSp
LikeLike
Hi can you please send your I am currently working on one myself but would like to compare against someone else’ I play on Oin 56
LikeLike
on 31 would like a copy of your numbers thx
LikeLike
Have you had any luck, or tried to develop a formula for estimating the proper troop amount for high score, rather then guess work on each map? I’ve been working of your base campaign sheet, and have adjusted it for varying troop types to give the actually number of troops, incorporating split troop types, for exact numbers for minimal troop losses. As well, I’m trying to calculate estimated troop loses given such, and loss %age, to see if anything uniform shows up.
I’d be happy to share my work so far, though unfortunately I’m working in open office format, not excel.
LikeLike
I’m is Saruman 64 if you could send me a copy please. Game name: Imyurhucklberry
LikeLike
Play on bilbo 82. Could really use your info, thank you.
LikeLike
I really would like a guide of how to get higher scores. I can only get in the top 300 on my server.
LikeLike
I would like a cheat sheet also. You can find me on Line or Touch. RISKTINOL is my line id and R!sk t!n0l is my touch. Maybe we can trade tips. Ive drawn one up too but only 13th overall is the best I can get. Please help
LikeLike
I have found a pretty near perfect set up to campaign, as it pertains to the amount of troops u should use @ each lvl on every map. With my formula I am individually top 10 or better on every single map. I am not # 1 on every map & not exactly sure what the people ahead of me r doing to better my scores. But, this is only on a few maps. Other than that if I’m not ranked # 1 on a map, it’s bc whomever is #1 has the exact same score as me. But overall, I’m the #1 player in the campaigns. You can check out 96 & see for urself. If any1 from another server other than 96 & 112 wld like to know my formula, plz let me know.
TheProphet
LikeLike
Send me ur layouts please for all modes I have all chapters open but need that little edge to boost. I think I’m on 108 so I’m not competition for you.
LikeLike
Please send to me as well. I’m on server 59. Thanks
LikeLike
I play on 88…i’d love to know ur formula!
LikeLike
I’m on 64. Send away!
LikeLike
Hey Prophet. I was doing really well but have now been edged out i think it is because some players have greater shield wall. I am on bombur 40. I would really appreciate any help on this.
Barr.
LikeLike
if you wouldnt mind sharing, I would really like to know how i can get better scores. Im top 50 on every map, but just cant move up any more. Im on 48 so no competition here…
LikeLike
Can u send me a copy also would species are it I’m on 49
LikeLike
Can you tell me to please
LikeLike
Hi. From 13, any note would’ve greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Happy gaming
LikeLike
Is like to know what you do dude! I’ve tried anyerhods an got respectable scores but want to better
LikeLike
I would also love to know your formula, I’m on 15 so no worries there. Thank you.
LikeLike
Love to get a copy. I’m on 81. I have one as well that I have been working on and could really use some new thinking.
LikeLike
I would love a good formula to max my scores. I am on world 71.
LikeLike
Hi prophet can you please to me world 84 nofear
LikeLike
I would love to get some info for the best way to hit I’m in 71 thanks for any help mam
LikeLike
Could use your info on bilbo 82
LikeLike
Could u send to me plz on server 57
LikeLike
I am top 100 using someone elses spreadsheet that needs a lot of work. Would love to see yours if you could send it to me. I’m on Saruman 64. Imyurhucklberry is my game name. Thanks!!
LikeLike
Bilbo62 here. I’m in the top 20 here and would like to compare your numbers with mine please.
LikeLike
Prophet,
I play on E5, send me your your layout please i could really use the help to better my scores
Thanks
LikeLike
from world 71, and would love to know your formula if possible! would be greatly appreciated.
LikeLike
yes plz prophet
LikeLike
Would really like to see how you counted it. I’ve tried but dont get good scores.
LikeLike
I’d love to have your sheets I’m on bofur 46
Many Thanks
LikeLike
I am in Bilbo 81. I would love to know your methods. I am top 50 in my world on campaign but need to get back to the top 10. My alliances sheet is vague at best but we are a top ally in our world. I would greatly appreciate your help.
LikeLike
Dear Prophet I am new to this Game and i play on 59. I need all the help i can get on this server.Please can you send me the tips and spread sheet i would appreciate it Sir. Thank you.
LikeLike
Hey Scott, what name do you play under? I’m on 59 also!
LikeLike
I would love it myself. I play on DWALIN72 and just can’t get that troop count correct. I have a few numbers down but I know yours are best. Please send to me. 🙂
LikeLike
Let’s see them layouts bro
LikeLike
Hi Prophet, I’d love to know the formula and play on Bifur114 so would not be competition. Thanks!
LikeLike
Can you please send a copy to me of your spreadsheets for all campaigns
LikeLike
Would love to see your sheets, im on Bilbo2 and rank top15 , would like to compare them
LikeLike
Would luv that spread sheet , I’m in Rad3
LikeLike
Ya I would love to see your formulas for campaign high scores. Figuring it out myself is worse than self dentistry??
LikeLike
Please send me your formula, i have just started trying to get high scores. need all the help i can get.. im on Gloin148
Thank you very much 🙂
LikeLike
Some of the guys i play with in kom have come up with troop amounts and types for each map in campaign if you like i could share this with you.
LikeLike
depends, do you mean the goblin troops and types for each map, or troops needed to secure best score?
LikeLike
Troops to get the highest score please
LikeLike
i need that ASAP
LikeLike
If youre looking for the goblin troop numbers and types per campaign level, I already have a post here on this site with that. Look it up on the post index screen, its called “Campaign spreadsheet”
LikeLike
Yes i would love a gander at your formula
LikeLike
Im in 57 and 99 but thinking of venturing to 97 to check it out what is your game tag there so i can look you up when i arrive.
LikeLike
I have a system as well, I wld like to compare if u wldnt mind…..?
LikeLike
I was away for holidays, so sorry for the late reply. Im very much interested in sharing thoughts on the subject. Ill see if I can contact you in game…
LikeLike
Isn’t ent gear the best for campaign ?
LikeLike