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Secrets (9)
Keeper

Secrets (9)

Navigate the challenging Secrets (9) level in Keeper with this comprehensive guide. Learn strategies for handling hero invasions, creature placement, and dungeon design.

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Navigate the challenging Secrets (9) level in Keeper with this comprehensive guide. Learn strategies for handling hero invasions, creature placement, and dungeon design.

This guide details the Secrets (9) level in Dungeon Keeper, focusing on creature placements, special rooms, and handling hero invasions.

Neutral Creatures: Hellhound(5), Orc(5), Skeleton(7), Mistress(9), Dragon(9)

Dungeon Specials: 3x Increase Level, Steal Hero, Reveal Map, Resurrect Creature

The first half of this level presents a significant challenge due to progressively tougher hero invasions during the initial 30 minutes. The hero drops begin after approximately 6-7 minutes, providing a short head start. It is recommended to pause the game upon entering the level to plan your strategy. Once all waves are dealt with, you can advance towards the heroes' dungeon Heart. The level design is similar to the "Hearth" or "Mirthshire" level from the original Dungeon Keeper, but with unique elements. Hero doors -2 and -1 can be avoided by staying clear of the excavated crevice, as their spawned enemies do not include Tunneller dwarfs.

1. Evade and/or Crush the Hero Invasions

You begin the level with 11 creatures. It is crucial to act quickly to manage the first phase effectively.

  1. Activate "Must obey": This command costs 25 gold per second but increases creature efficiency by 125%, effectively halving training time. This gold expenditure is worthwhile as creatures spend less money on leveling up. Prioritize making your creatures as powerful and fast as possible.
  2. Separate Lair Rivals: You have 3 Lairs. Sell the northeastern lair, which is near the Workshop, to create a larger Workshop area. Assign creatures like Vampires/Warlocks and Bile Demons/Skeletons to separate lairs and ensure they are working.
  3. Strategic Creature Placement: Place Dragons and Mistresses in the Training room, Bile Demons in the Workshop, and Warlocks in the Library. Be cautious with Warlocks (3) as their Fireball/Meteor spells can harm Imps in the Library. Alternate Dragons/Bile Demons to ensure they both level up. Construct and lock one of the library entrances with a wooden door to prevent accidental Imp deaths.
  4. Gold Extraction: Dig out all gold located directly south of the Treasure room. Avoid connecting to the large crevice in the bottom right area.

Map Key:

  • .: Excavated path
  • G: Gold
  • x: Trap
  • +: Increase Level
  • S: Steal Hero
  • R: Reveal Map
  • P: Portal
  • H: Heart
  • -: Hero Door
  • 1-31: Location Numbers
  • :: Lava/Water

Location Details:

  1. 1x Giant(5), "Speed"
  2. 2x Archer(6), 3x Barbarian(4), 35 gold pots
  3. Triggered after 1850 sec: 1x Tunnel(4), 2x Giant(6), 2x Dwarf(7)
  4. 2x Wizard(7), 2x Samurai(5), 4x Giant(6), "Invisibility", "Protect", Increase Level
  5. 3x Archer(4), 35 gold pots
  6. 2x Dwarf(5), "Heal"
  7. 2x Monk(2), 3x Fairy(3)
  8. Triggered after 1850 sec: 2x Giant(6), 2x Dwarf(7)
  9. 1x Witch(6), 26 gold pots
  10. 2x Thief(8), 31 or 47 gold pots
  11. 2x Dwarf(6), 2x Fairy(7)
  12. 2x Fairy(5), 4x Archer(6)
  13. 4x Barbarian(7), 2x Skeleton(6), Increase Level
  14. 2x Archer(5), 2x Fairy(5), 46 gold pots
  15. 16x Dwarf(4)
  16. 3x Wizard(8), 2x Archer(6), 2x Monk(7)
  17. 1x Samurai(6), 1x Wizard(7), 28 gold pots
  18. 3x Wizard(6), 2x Fairy(7)
  19. 3x Monk(6), 2x Giant(7), 2x Samurai(7)
  20. 2x Wizard(7), 4x Fairy(8), 42 gold pots (14 lava traps)
  21. 2x Archer(3), 2x Barbarian(8), 2x Wizard(8)
  22. 2x Monk(7), Giant(7), 46 gold pots
  23. 4x Barbarian(7)
  24. 4x Archer(7), Giant(9)
  25. 4x Archer(8), 3x Samurai(8), 2x Giant(8)
  26. 2x Fairy(10), 18 gold pots
  27. 4x Dwarf(7), 2x Fairy(8), 17 gold pots
  28. 4x Barbarian(8), 3x Wizard(8), 2x Monk(9)
  29. 3x Monk(10), Reveal Map
  30. 2x Wizard(10), Resurrect Creature
  31. 3x Monk(10), 3x Giant(10), 1x Wizard(10), 1x Knight(10)
  32. Triggered after 1850 sec: 2x Giant(6), 2x Dwarf(7)
  33. 1x Giant(8), 5x Barbarian(2x7, 3x8), 76 gold pots

Hero Doors:

  • -1: Triggered after 1450 sec: 3x Monk(7), 2x Witch(6). Triggered after 1750 sec: 2x Giant(6), 2x Dwarf(7).
  • -2: Triggered after 600 sec: 3x Wizard(2x5, 1x6), 3x Thief(2x6, 1x5). Triggered after 1450 sec: 2x Giant(6), 2x Dwarf(7). Triggered after 1750 sec: 3x Wizard(2x5, 1x6), 3x Thief(2x6, 1x5).
  • -3: Triggered after 350 sec: 3x Archer(2), 3x Barbarian(3). Triggered after 650 sec: 3x Archer(2), 3x Barbarian(3). Triggered after 1100 sec: 2x Giant(6), 2x Dwarf(7). Triggered after 1450 sec: 3x Archer(7), 2x Thief(8). Triggered after 1750 sec: 3x Monk(7), 2x Witch(6).

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