Jumping into Anima Swarm for the first time can feel like a chaotic dance with death. Waves of Void creatures relentlessly swarm you, and making the right choices early is the difference between dominating the map and being overwhelmed. This guide zeroes in on how to navigate the intricacies of Anima Swarm and steadily become a force to be reckoned with.
At a glance:
- Learn how to quickly adapt to the WASD control scheme, a departure from standard League gameplay.
- Understand which champions excel in Anima Swarm and why.
- Discover the optimal augment strategies for maximizing your survivability and damage output.
- Grasp the importance of map awareness and objective completion for unlocking new content.
- Get familiar with boss mechanics to confidently tackle the final challenges.
Adapting to a New Way to Move and Attack
The first surprise in Anima Swarm is the WASD control scheme – you're ditching the traditional mouse-click movement. This takes some getting used to, but mastering it is key to survival.
- Movement: WASD controls your champion's movement, allowing for precise dodging and kiting. Practice moving fluidly while aiming with your mouse.
- Auto-Aim: Anima Swarm features auto-aim, so you don't need pinpoint accuracy. Focus on positioning and dodging enemy attacks. However, you can optionally aim manually if you prefer.
- Prioritize Mobility: Early on, augments that boost your movement speed are invaluable. You need to be able to outrun the hordes and reposition effectively.
Example: In the Warehouse District, use the crates and obstacles to your advantage. Kite enemies around them while your auto-attacks whittle them down.
Choosing the Right Champion for Anima Swarm
While the starting roster is limited, each champion has unique strengths. Understanding these strengths will help you make the most of their abilities and augments. As you progress in the game, you can find missions that will unlock new playable champions.
- Jinx: Excels at wave clear with her rockets, making her a strong choice for beginners. Focus on augments that increase her rocket damage and explosion size.
- Leona: Offers excellent crowd control and survivability. She's great for protecting allies and stunning enemies. Prioritize augments that enhance her tankiness and stun duration.
- Seraphine: Provides strong support and healing to allies. She can keep your team alive through intense battles. Look for augments that amplify her healing and shield strength.
Beyond the Starters: As you unlock more champions, consider these powerhouses: - Illaoi: Her tentacles deal massive damage to clustered enemies. Focus on augments that increase tentacle spawn rate and damage.
- Yasuo: With proper dodging and windwall placement, he can become an unstoppable force.
- Aurora: Newest champion with great mobility.
Decision: - New Player?: Jinx is the best initial pick
- Playing with Friends?: Leona or Seraphine adds great utility
Mastering Augments: The Key to Power
Augments are the bread and butter of Anima Swarm. Each level-up offers a choice of three, dramatically altering your champion's capabilities. Choosing wisely is paramount.
- Early Game (Levels 1-6): Focus on survivability and wave clear.
- Movement Speed: Essential for dodging and repositioning.
- Area of Effect (AoE) Damage: Clear waves quickly and efficiently.
- Health Regeneration: Stay alive longer between waves.
- Mid Game (Levels 7-12): Start specializing in your chosen playstyle.
- Damage Amplification: Boost your primary damage source.
- Crowd Control Enhancements: Stun, slow, or knockback enemies to create space.
- Utility Augments: Pickup Radius, Gold Multiplier, and EXP gain can help you snowball.
- Late Game (Levels 13+): Maximize your build and prepare for the final boss.
- Evolve your abilities: Augments that will supercharge your abilities.
- Boss-Specific Augments: Some augments are particularly effective against certain bosses. Research beforehand!
Pitfall: Don't get tunnel vision on a specific build. Adapt to the augments offered and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Example: Playing Jinx? If you get offered an early augment that increases the size of her rockets, grab it! A larger explosion radius significantly improves her wave clear.
Map Awareness and Objective Completion
Anima Swarm isn't just about killing enemies; it's about completing objectives and progressing through the maps. Each map has unique layouts and challenges. Completing objectives will allow you to unlock new maps and playable characters.
- Warehouse District: A relatively simple map, good for learning the basics. Focus on kiting enemies around the crates.
- The Outskirts: More open and dangerous, requiring better positioning.
- Subterranean Lab: It will have more choke points and narrow passages.
- The Beachhead: It will be another good map to clear objectives
Objective Types: - Survival: Survive for a certain amount of time.
- Elimination: Defeat a specific number of enemies.
- Boss Battles: Defeat the map's boss within the time limit.
Tip: Pay attention to the mini-map. It will highlight key objectives and enemy spawn locations.
Conquering the Bosses: Know Your Enemy
Each map culminates in a challenging boss fight. These bosses have unique abilities and attack patterns. Learning these patterns is crucial for survival. After completing all the levels, you will unlock a new queue exclusively played on hard difficulty.
- Bel'Veth: A melee boss with devastating attacks. Stay mobile and avoid her frontal cone.
- Aatrox: A ranged boss who will barrage you from afar.
- Rek'Sai: A slippery boss who will burrow under the ground. Be aware of your surroundings.
- Yuumi: A ranged boss who will assist her partner.
Key Strategies: - Learn Attack Patterns: Observe the boss's animations and telegraphs to predict their attacks.
- Prioritize Dodging: Focus on avoiding damage over dealing damage.
- Use Crowd Control: Stun or slow the boss to create openings for attack.
Example: Facing Bel'Veth? Kite her around the map and use crowd control to interrupt her attacks.
Practical Playbook for Anima Swarm Success
Here’s a quick-start guide to get you confidently through Anima Swarm:
- Champion Selection: Pick a champion based on your playstyle and team composition. If you're unsure, Jinx is a safe bet.
- Early Augments: Prioritize movement speed, AoE damage, and health regeneration.
- Map Awareness: Pay attention to the mini-map and objective markers.
- Objective Completion: Focus on completing objectives to progress through the maps.
- Boss Battles: Learn the boss's attack patterns and prioritize dodging.
Augment Decision Tree (Early Game):
Movement Speed Offered?
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Yes --> Take it!
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No
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AoE Damage Offered?
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Yes --> Take it!
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No
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Health Regen/Armor Offered?
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Yes --> Take it!
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No --> Take the best stat boost available.
Quick Answers: Your Anima Swarm FAQs
- Q: Is Anima Swarm pay-to-win?
- A: No. While you can purchase cosmetics, they don't affect gameplay. All champions and maps are unlockable through gameplay. The Swarm Operation Anima Squad event runs from July 17th.
- Q: Can I play Anima Swarm solo?
- A: Yes! While it's designed for co-op, you can play solo. Adjust your champion and augment choices accordingly, focusing on self-sufficiency.
- Q: What happens if I die in Anima Swarm?
- A: In co-op, your teammates can revive you. In solo mode, death means game over.
- Q: How do I unlock new maps and champions?
- A: By completing missions and achievements. Check the Missions tab in the client for specific requirements.
Want to know more about how this all fits in the broader game? Check out Swarm LoL: Beginner's Guide for an overview of the game mode and its place within the League of Legends universe.
Level Up Your Game
Anima Swarm is a fast-paced and challenging game mode that rewards quick thinking and adaptability. By mastering the controls, understanding the champions, and making smart augment choices, you'll be well on your way to surviving the Void and conquering the final boss. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you. Now, go forth and swarm!