In Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD, heroes are pivotal to your success, serving as both the vanguard and the last line of defense.
In Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD, heroes are pivotal to success, serving as both the vanguard and the last line of defense. Unlike many tower defense games of the genre, Kingdom Rush’s inclusion of heroes adds an extra level of strategy. They are completely separate and fully controllable characters with which to support lanes and towers.
Mastering a chosen hero and ensuring they complement the map and tower setup is essential for triumph. Without this synergy, even the most skilled players will struggle to overcome certain stages. Although heroes unlock progressively throughout the main campaign, some exceptional ones are accessible early, helping players breeze through initial challenges. However, the most powerful heroes only become available after completing the game. These late-stage champions are perfect for mopping up stars and tackling tougher challenges.10 Nyru
Health: 215
Attack: 14-30 (Melee), 18-53 (Ranged)
Armor: None
Speed: 95
Nyru is a must-have hero when flying enemies enter the fray. This nimble forest protector excels at quick map traversal, allowing players to handle threats before they overwhelm their defenses. Additionally, Nyru can attack both air and ground enemies effectively.
While his hero ability only spawns thorns on the ground and can’t target flying enemies, Nyru’s speed and versatility make him a valuable asset in many situations. Just be cautious — his defense is on the weaker side, so it’s best to keep him out of prolonged skirmishes.9 Raelyn
Health: 400
Attack: 24-36
Armor: 50%
Speed: 50
Raelyn is one of the first heroes players will acquire, and she can easily carry them through the early stages and well into the second area. Specializing in handling ground-based enemies, she pairs perfectly with ranged towers to trap and eliminate swift foes.
Her main drawback is her slow movement speed, which makes repositioning her across the map a tedious process. It’s often better to station Raelyn in high-traffic areas where she can maximize her impact.8 Anya
Health: 400
Attack: 8-12 (Melee), 48-70 (Ranged)
Armor: 25%
Speed: 95
Anya is a dynamic gunslinging dhampir who can seamlessly switch between long-ranged attacks for airborne enemies and melee combat for ground foes. She’s remarkably mobile, transforming into smoke to traverse the map quickly, and her hero ability activates instantly, making her a reliable choice.
While her defense isn’t the strongest, a fully upgraded Anya can carry players far into the campaign, proving invaluable in high-pressure stages.7 Onagro
Health: 290
Attack: 27-41
Armor: 64%
Speed: 42
For any players who enjoy explosive gameplay, Onagro is the hero for them. With high durability and devastating attacks, this goblin war machine can wreak havoc on enemy hordes. However, his slow movement and the delayed activation of his hero ability require precise timing and strategic positioning.
Despite these challenges, Onagro’s sheer power and ability to absorb damage make him a solid choice for players who can master his quirks.6 Grimson
Health: 400
Attack: 20-28
Armor: None
Speed: 95
Grimson is a durable hero that players will likely rely on frequently, especially as they upgrade his abilities. His resilience makes him perfect for throwing into chaotic battles, where he can slow down enemies and absorb considerable damage.
Though his attack speed is slower than others, Grimson’s ability to move across the map efficiently allows for timely interventions. His hero ability requires careful planning, but when used effectively, it can turn the tide of battle.5 Broden
Health: 460
Attack: 26-38
Armor: None
Speed: 120
Broden provides unparalleled air support, prioritizing flying enemies that other heroes might overlook. His hero ability locks onto airborne foes, making him a lifesaver on maps with overwhelming aerial threats.
Thanks to his griffon mount, Broden can bypass obstacles and reach key areas quickly. However, his attack speed could be faster, which might leave players wishing for a little more efficiency in high-pressure moments. 4 Therien
Health: 250
Attack: 15-24 (Melee), 26-48 (Ranged)
Armor: None
Speed: Teleport
Therien becomes available midway through the campaign and is one of the most versatile heroes in the game. Her teleportation ability allows her to reposition easily, while her long-range attacks target both flying and ground enemies.
Her low defense is offset by her ability to escape crowded areas, and her passive skill extends tower ranges temporarily — a game-changer in the later stages. Therien’s crowd-control hero ability is a must-have for managing the chaos of the final levels. 3 Warhead
Health: 335
Attack: 15-23
Armor: 69%
Speed: 152
Warhead is a mechanical tank built to withstand even the toughest battles. Though he’s slow-moving, his durability and powerful abilities make him a reliable choice during the game’s most challenging stages.
His hero ability deals significant damage to large groups of enemies, and his ability to hold his own means players won’t need to micromanage him much. Warhead’s utility in the final campaign stages is second to none.2 Kosmyr
Health: 580
Attack: 35-55
Armor: None
Speed: 100
Kosmyr, a powerful dragon, becomes available after beating the main campaign. This hero excels at dominating enemy groups with devastating crystal hailstorms and dive-bombing attacks. With Kosmyr on a player’s team, few enemies will stand a chance.
Even without full upgrades, Kosmyr is a powerhouse that can carry most players through harder difficulties and help them achieve three stars across all stages.1 Lumenir
Health: 500
Attack: 38-74
Armor: 36%
Speed: 120
Lumenir, another premium dragon hero, is unlocked post-campaign and is a force to be reckoned with. Their instant-activation hero ability blocks pathways with fighters, buying valuable time for Lumenir to deal massive damage.
In the early stages, Lumenir’s sheer strength can singlehandedly clear paths, reducing the need for extensive tower support. Their versatility and overwhelming power make them one of the most impactful heroes in the game.

Path of Exile 2 has many map icons, some of which may not make sense at first; here’s each one explained and how to use the map.
Path of Exile 2 has multiple Acts for you to complete, each with its own map filled with icons to discover. Your map will be central for fast traveling across multiple areas at once, though the icons found on the map can help greatly when searching for optional content.
Each area you visit will usually be tied with a main quest, but there will still be lots of optional content that is worth completing. Here’s what every map icon means and how to visit the various icons found on the map. All Map Icons In Path of Exile 2
Map Icon
Name
Explanation

Current Location
Appears over the area the player is currently in.

Town
The location of a hub town in the Act.

Unknown Area
An area you have not visited at all.

Visited Area
An area visited without a waypoint.

Area With Inactive Waypoint
An area visited but the waypoint has not been discovered.

Area With Active Waypoint
An area with an active waypoint that will be the destination of your fast travel.

Quest Location
The location of a main or side quest.

Travel Destination
A location you can travel to from the map.

Rare Monster Encounter
A powerful yellow-named enemy is found in that area.

Rare Monster Encounter With Djinn Barya
A powerful yellow-named enemy is found in that area that will drop ascendancy items.

Boss Encounter
A boss is found somewhere in that area.

Boss Encounter With Upgrade
A boss is found somewhere in that area and will drop a Quest Item used for an upgrade.

Boss Encounter With Djinn Barya
A boss is found somewhere in that area and will drop an ascendency item.

Act Boss Encounter
The final boss of that act is found in that area.

Notable Chest
A rare chest containing powerful loot is found in that area.

Notable Item
A rare item is found somewhere in that area. How Do Map Icons Work In Path of Exile 2
If you wish to find an icon, such as a boss encounter, you’ll need to travel to the area to which that icon is attached to. Traveling there will create an Instance and randomly generate the location of that icon’s cause somewhere in that Instance. There will just about always be some level of exploration to find the cause of an icon due to the random nature of the game’s maps.
There will also be icons unique to some side quests, indicating where you need to go in order to complete that quest. A small yellow cave icon over a waypoint also indicates a dungeon instead of a more open area.