Gnarlwood is a challenge stage in Warhammer Survivors that takes players into the dangerous Realm of Beasts. Unlike stages unlocked through ordinary character progression, accessing Gnarlwood requires unlocking a special difficulty mode or using a secret incantation.
How to Unlock Gnarlwood in Warhammer Survivors
To unlock Gnarlwood in Warhammer Survivors, you must unlock 'Eavy Metal mode on an Age of Sigmar stage. Once you've unlocked that mode on another stage, Gnarlwood becomes available as a challenge stage.
You don't need to defeat Gnarlwood's final boss or discover a particular relic to access the stage through normal progression. The important requirement is unlocking 'Eavy Metal elsewhere first.
Gnarlwood also has a useful exception: its own 'Eavy Metal difficulty is available immediately after the stage is unlocked. You won't need to complete a separate challenge on Gnarlwood to access that mode.
Can You Unlock Gnarlwood With a Secret Code?
Gnarlwood also has a secret incantation that unlocks the stage and its 'Eavy Metal mode.
The Gnarlwood secret code is thondia.
To use it, enter the code through the Age of Sigmar Secrets menu. However, there's an important limitation for players trying to unlock Gnarlwood for the first time.
The Age of Sigmar Secrets menu requires the Eye of Tzeentch, which is found on Gnarlwood after collecting Arcanoscope. This means the code isn't normally a practical shortcut for reaching the stage on a fresh save.
For your initial unlock, focus on meeting the 'Eavy Metal requirement instead.
What to Expect After Unlocking Gnarlwood
Gnarlwood is a 25-minute Age of Sigmar challenge stage featuring Gloomspite Gitz enemies, dangerous creatures, and increasingly difficult encounters.
Its final boss, Trugg the Troggoth King, appears at minute 25. However, other dangerous enemies arrive much earlier, including Mangler Squigs at minutes 10 and 19.
Important Gnarlwood Mechanics
- There are no health drops during the stage.
- Enemies become stronger and faster as the run continues.
- 'Eavy Metal mode increases movement speed for both characters and enemies.
- The stage contains Arcanoscope, which is needed to reveal the Eye of Tzeentch during a later run.
I'd prioritize reliable defensive weapons and movement when entering Gnarlwood. Without health drops, avoiding unnecessary damage becomes particularly important as the enemies grow stronger.
Gnarlwood is also worth exploring beyond its boss encounter. Collecting Arcanoscope and eventually the Eye of Tzeentch provides access to the Age of Sigmar Secrets menu, opening another part of the game's progression.
