Getting started with ARCADE
Tap the "Arcade" button on the grid map screen to open ARCADE mode. A territory battle is settled with one tap in 5 seconds, but in ARCADE you move your character yourself and fight it out. The 9AM briefing even suggests it: try 1 VS 1 battles and the Gauntlet in ARCADE mode.
Pick one of the three tabs at the top: Training, 1 VS 1 or Gauntlet. If you are playing as a guest, you need to sign up to play Arcade duels. Every match ends with a victory or defeat screen, and 1 VS 1 and the Gauntlet ask you to confirm the ticket cost before you start.
The three modes at a glance
| Mode | Opponent | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Training | CPU | Choose a training level: Easy, Normal, Hard or Expert. CPU matches give no reward. |
| 1 VS 1 | A real player or a friend | Find an opponent or use a room code. You spend tickets to fight and earn tickets when you win. |
| Gauntlet | The top 100 | Spend tickets to start a run. Foes get stronger as you win, and you compete on score. |
Training and Practice Mode
Training is where you fight the CPU. Set the training level with the − and + buttons, from Easy up to Expert, then tap the Practice Mode button in the middle to start. While that button is on screen, you see stat cards for you and your rival; tap a card to open a detailed score sheet. The Practice Mode button also appears on the Gauntlet screen and takes you straight to Training.
1 VS 1
Tap "Find" and the game waits until a real player is found, searching farther away as time passes. Watching an ad gives you a set number of searches, and the screen shows how many are left. To fight a friend, tap "CODE" to create a room and share the code, or enter a code you received; tapping the code copies it. Before each match you are asked to confirm the ticket cost. There is a daily limit on 1 VS 1 matches: the screen shows how many are left today and tells you when none remain.
Gauntlet
The Gauntlet is a run where you keep winning to build your score. Opponents from the top 100 appear in random order, and they get stronger as you win. A confirmation shows the ticket cost; tap again to begin. During the run you see which opponent you are on and your current score, and when you lose you see that run's score, your best score and your rank. Beat all 100 and you enter the Hall of Fame. The ranking screen lists the Hall of Fame, then players by best score with their flag, nickname and job.
The match screen and match rules
In a match you move left and right with the direction joystick and attack with the arm, leg, throw and super buttons. 1 VS 1 is played live, so the screen shows your rival's name and the round-trip time in milliseconds. The match starts when the opponent is ready.
- Leaving : if you leave a 1 VS 1 match, it counts as a loss. In Training you are simply asked to confirm.
- Leaving the screen : if the app leaves the screen during a match, you forfeit.
- Lost connection : the game tries to reconnect automatically; if it can't, the match ends.
- Result check : if the two devices disagree on the result, the result is not accepted.
How your stats are decided
ARCADE characters have 8 stats: HP, Punch, Kick, Atk Speed, Block, Dodge, Cooldown and Defense. A stat card draws all 8 as a chart, where the white line is your base stats and the yellow line is your final score. The final score adds up these parts:
- Base : the score your character starts with.
- Job : your current job adds points to the one stat that matches it. If no job effect is active, the card says so.
- Fortune : once you check today's fortune, it applies all day. A fortune of 60 adds 0, and anything below 60 subtracts. Rivals have no fortune.
- Reach : if your reach is shorter than your opponent's, you get a matching Atk Speed bonus.
Each stat maxes out at 10. Any overflow is split evenly among the stats that are still below 10. In Training, the practice rival's strength is matched to a Gauntlet stage according to the level you picked, and the rival's stat card says which.
| Job | ARCADE bonus stat |
|---|---|
| Explorer | Cooldown |
| Warrior | Punch |
| Guardian | Block |
| Builder | HP |
| Miner | Kick |
| Jeweler | Atk Speed |
| Assassin | Dodge |
| Tycoon | Defense |
The job introduction on the app's entry screen also lists this stat as the "ARCADE bonus". The Starter has no special effect, so it adds no bonus stat.
How rewards work
- Win a 1 VS 1 match to earn tickets. Tap "Claim" after the result to collect them.
- Your first win of the day gets a reward multiplier.
- Winning in a row adds a win-streak bonus.
- Rewards from the same opponent are limited to 2 matches a day.
- There is a daily limit on rewarded matches; once you reach it, wins give no reward.
- CPU matches in Training give no reward.
- The Gauntlet is about score and rank: your best score and rank stay on the ranking.
Since 1 VS 1 rewards have a daily limit, make the most of your first win of the day and your streaks. For other ways to collect tickets, see the tickets and gold guide.
Tips for winning more
- Read the stat cards first. In Practice Mode, tap the cards to compare your final score with your rival's and spot the gaps.
- Check today's fortune before you fight. Without it, fortune adds nothing. Above 60 helps, below 60 hurts.
- Treat your job as a stat. Only your current job adds a bonus, so a job that covers your character's weak stat can make a difference.
- Remember the cap. Each stat stops at 10, and extra points spill into your other stats.
- Climb the training levels. Practice rivals are matched to Gauntlet stages, so going from Easy to Expert is good preparation for a run.
- Face different opponents. The same opponent only pays out for 2 matches a day.
- Stay on the screen until the end. Leaving the app mid-match is a forfeit, so play on a stable connection.