The Art of the Chain

When you first enter the dungeon, your primal instinct is to avoid all damage. A monster appears, you equip a weapon, you block it. Simple. This is the mindset of a survivor, and it will help you clear the dungeon. But it will never place you on top of the leaderboard.

To become a legend, you must unlearn this instinct. The true currency of Solturas isn't health; it is weapon efficiency. Health is a resource to be spent, but a powerful weapon is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.

Deconstructing The Options

Let's break down a real hand—one that separates the rookies from the veterans. You enter a room at full health and are dealt this hand:

Two monsters (a 2 and a 4) and two weapons (a 5 and an 8). The novice sees an easy clear. They'll equip the 8-weapon, drag the 4, then the 2. They take zero damage and start a tiny 2-monster chain. This is a trap, and a critical error.

The veteran player sees these monsters for what they are: chain-enders, not chain-starters. Wasting a powerful weapon to start a combo with a 4 is a catastrophic waste of potential. So, what's the play? You spend your most valuable resource: health.

• Fight Barehanded: Tap the 2 monster, take 2 damage. Tap the 4 monster, take 4 damage. Your HP drops to 15. This is not a loss; it is an investment.


• Make a Strategic Choice: You are now left with two weapons. The instinct is to keep the stronger one. The pro knows better. You don't play the 8 weapon, 'bubbling it up' to the next room. You equip the 5-weapon.

By taking 6 damage, you have achieved tactical perfection. You have prepared for two distinct future scenarios: you are holding a 5-strength weapon ready for a mid-range monster like a 9 or 10, and you have a powerful 8-strength weapon waiting in the next room for a potential King or Queen. You have spent health to maximize the scoring potential of both weapons.

The Exponential Power of a Chain

This is why that complex play is worth it. Your score is directly tied to your ability to build long chains. While every monster in a chain adds bonus points, the real prize comes from milestone bonuses. A 5-monster chain awards a significant point injection, and a 10-monster chain awards an even bigger, near-exponential bonus. That's why preserving your strong weapons for strong monsters is the only path to the top.

Final Thoughts

The journey to the top of the leaderboards begins when you stop thinking defensively. Stop asking, "How do I avoid taking damage?" and start asking, "How can I best spend my health and weapon durability to build the longest possible chain?"

During testing, the highest chain ever recorded was 8. It's difficult, and it requires a mastery of every tool at your disposal, from deck manipulation to knowing when to take a hit. Think you can do better? Head to the dungeon and prove it.