Nordhold: Runestone Tower Guide
Image Credits: StunForge, Nordhold
This is a simple and very beginner-friendly Runestone build for Runestone Tower. If you're trying to unlock things like the Market or Lighthouse, or you just want to finally win a run without spiraling into existential despair, this one's for you.
What’s the Build?
We’re focusing on Runestone Towers—yes, the ones that shoot beams and stack damage the longer they stay locked on. These towers scale hard if you keep them attacking the same target. Add the right banners, a couple relics, and decent planning, and the build pretty much plays itself.
Starting Out
Pick the +Damage Focus banner early. This makes your Runestones way stronger from the jump.
Don’t grab Trinity yet. Start with regular Runestones and keep everything simple and focused.
Gold economy first. Grab the relics that boost passive income or reduce build costs. They’ll pay off fast.
Early Game: Waves 1–10
Drop one Runestone tower early and place it where it can hit both lanes.
Add a second Runestone as soon as you have enough gold.
Use banners that focus damage or give scaling per second of continuous fire.
If you see a prism relic or something that buffs spell damage contributing to tower power—skip it for now. We’re keeping it basic.
Mid Game: Waves 10–20
Time to start building economy and unlocking markets/outposts.
Add Trinity around wave 13–15. It splits your Runestone’s beam into three weaker ones. You’ll need this to handle crowd waves.
Don’t overbuild. Two to three Runestones, placed smartly, are enough for most runs.
Add another banner if needed—but keep them all on the Focus trait.
Optional But Useful
Oracle building: Helps lower relic costs.
University: Boosts spell power.
Market: Use the passive gold to snap up powerful relics.
Hire more workers: More workers = more research and faster progression.
Late Game: Waves 21–30
Max out your Focus banners and add a few upgrades to barrier or armor damage as needed.
Take the unique banner that causes enemies to explode into little damage pillars when they die. Great AoE value late.
More Trinity towers help handle massive enemy groups. If enemies are leaking, check that your beams are hitting enough targets.
Positioning Tips
Place towers between two paths whenever you can. You'll hit double the enemies with one tower.
Keep Outposts upgraded for more placement and resources.
Use skills mid-fight to boost spell power and melt elites.
Final Wave
Don’t panic if a few enemies get close. Your upgraded Trinity towers can shred anything that slips through.
Use your big skill right before the boss shows up for extra burst.
Finish with style. Or panic-spam towers. Either works.
Final Blurb
If you’re struggling with Runestone Tower, this build will do the heavy lifting for you. It’s straightforward, powerful, and doesn’t ask much from you except a little planning and a lot of laser beams. Focus, blast, repeat. That’s the magic.
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