Formation Builder Idle: Every hero changes the heroes beside it.
Drag heroes into the grid and watch who buffs whom. In each puzzle, maximize the named main DPS hero. Other heroes help through buffs and traits. That puzzle is the whole game, spread across 46 heroes and 21 worlds.
One account on every platform. Your progress is saved to your account, not your device, so you can switch between browser, desktop, Android and Steam without losing anything.
46 heroes
21 worlds
125 stages
99 talents
Offline progress
The first formation
Starter · Maximize Nadia DPS. Other heroes count only when they buff her.
0 of 5 puzzles complete
Nadia DPS0
Place Nadia to start
Enemies
◀ backfront ▶
Maximize Nadia DPS, not formation damage. Place heroes to buff her, or tap a hero and then a square.
Demo DPS numbers simplify the real abilities; only the named main DPS hero scores, and only occupied heroes grant buffs. Use Tab to focus a hero, press Enter or Space, then focus a square and press Enter or Space. Click a placed hero to return it to the tray.
[{"title":"The first formation","difficulty":"Starter","objective":"Maximize Nadia DPS. Other heroes count only when they buff her.","cells":[0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11],"carry":"Nadia","heroes":[{"name":"Alex","base":100,"kind":"global","mult":1.1,"tip":"multiplies every hero\u0027s DPS by 1.1x, wherever he stands.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Alex.png","traits":["male","support","dps","melee","human"],"female":false},{"name":"Casey","base":100,"kind":"behind","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x to heroes in the column behind her, to her left.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Casey.png","traits":["female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Dakota","base":100,"kind":"column","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x to every hero in his own column, himself included.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Dakota.png","traits":["male","female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Evelyn","base":100,"kind":"adjacent","mult":1.25,"tip":"gives 1.25x to heroes directly above, below, left and right of her.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Evelyn.png","traits":["female","support","magic","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Nadia","base":300,"kind":"none","mult":1,"tip":"has no buff, but she hits three times harder than anyone else. Point the buffs at her.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Nadia.png","traits":["female","dps","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Strixia","base":100,"kind":"strixia","mult":1.5,"tip":"multiplies everyone\u0027s DPS by 1.5x for each other female hero in her column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Strixia.png","traits":["female","support","mythical","animal"],"female":true}],"start":[0,-1,-1,-1,5,-1]},{"title":"Crossfire","difficulty":"Tactical","objective":"Maximize Nadia DPS with female allies for Strixia and buffs from Gary and Casey.","cells":[0,1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11],"carry":"Nadia","heroes":[{"name":"Gary","base":100,"kind":"front","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives occupied heroes in the column in front (right) 1.15x demo DPS. In the full game he buffs gold, not DPS.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Gary.png","traits":["male","support","gold","melee","human"],"female":false},{"name":"Casey","base":100,"kind":"behind","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x DPS to occupied heroes in the column behind her (left).","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Casey.png","traits":["female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Dakota","base":100,"kind":"column","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x DPS to heroes in his column, including himself.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Dakota.png","traits":["male","female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Evelyn","base":100,"kind":"adjacent","mult":1.25,"tip":"gives 1.25x DPS to occupied orthogonal neighbours.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Evelyn.png","traits":["female","support","magic","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Nadia","base":300,"kind":"none","mult":1,"tip":"hits three times harder in this demo. Stack buffs on her.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Nadia.png","traits":["female","dps","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Strixia","base":100,"kind":"strixia","mult":1.5,"tip":"gives everyone 1.5x DPS per other female hero in her column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Strixia.png","traits":["female","support","mythical","animal"],"female":true}]},{"title":"The rear guard","difficulty":"Challenging","objective":"Maximize Nadia DPS: fill the column behind Lyra and group female allies with Strixia.","cells":[0,1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11],"carry":"Nadia","heroes":[{"name":"Lyra","base":100,"kind":"lyra","mult":1.12,"tip":"gives everyone demo DPS x(1 + 0.12 times the occupied hero count in the column immediately behind her, left). Linear in occupied heroes; empty squares do nothing.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Lyra.png","traits":["female","support","dps","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Casey","base":100,"kind":"behind","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x DPS to the occupied column behind her.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Casey.png","traits":["female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Dakota","base":100,"kind":"column","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x DPS to his own column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Dakota.png","traits":["male","female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Evelyn","base":100,"kind":"adjacent","mult":1.25,"tip":"gives 1.25x DPS to occupied orthogonal neighbours.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Evelyn.png","traits":["female","support","magic","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Nadia","base":300,"kind":"none","mult":1,"tip":"the main DPS in this puzzle; stack buffs on her.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Nadia.png","traits":["female","dps","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Strixia","base":100,"kind":"strixia","mult":1.5,"tip":"gives everyone 1.5x DPS per other female hero in her column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Strixia.png","traits":["female","support","mythical","animal"],"female":true}]},{"title":"Shared neighbours","difficulty":"Expert","objective":"Maximize Umbron DPS with human and female neighbours and column bonuses from Strixia.","cells":[0,1,2,4,5,6,8,9,10,11],"carry":"Umbron","heroes":[{"name":"Umbron","base":220,"kind":"umbron","mult":1.12,"tip":"self DPS x(1 + 0.12 times adjacent human count times adjacent female count). Counts all eight surrounding squares, including diagonals, but not himself. A hero with both traits counts in both groups.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Umbron.png","traits":["dps","magic","melee","mythical"],"female":false},{"name":"Evelyn","base":100,"kind":"adjacent","mult":1.25,"tip":"gives 1.25x DPS to occupied orthogonal neighbours.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Evelyn.png","traits":["female","support","magic","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Casey","base":100,"kind":"behind","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x DPS to the column behind her.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Casey.png","traits":["female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Dakota","base":100,"kind":"column","mult":1.15,"tip":"gives 1.15x DPS to his column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Dakota.png","traits":["male","female","support","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Nadia","base":300,"kind":"none","mult":1,"tip":"supplies human and female traits to boost Umbron when nearby.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Nadia.png","traits":["female","dps","melee","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Strixia","base":100,"kind":"strixia","mult":1.5,"tip":"gives everyone 1.5x DPS per other female hero in her column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Strixia.png","traits":["female","support","mythical","animal"],"female":true}]},{"title":"The final weave","difficulty":"Master","objective":"Maximize Umbron DPS with column buffs and human and female neighbours.","cells":[0,1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10],"carry":"Umbron","heroes":[{"name":"Strixia","base":100,"kind":"strixia","mult":1.5,"tip":"gives everyone 1.5x DPS per other female hero in her column. Does not count herself.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Strixia.png","traits":["female","support","mythical","animal"],"female":true},{"name":"Ysabell","base":100,"kind":"ysabell","mult":1.2,"tip":"gives the occupied column in front (right) 1.2x DPS per female hero in that front column.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Ysabell.png","traits":["female","support","mythical","animal"],"female":true},{"name":"Kassara","base":100,"kind":"kassara","mult":1.12,"tip":"gives her column 1.12x DPS per occupied hero in her column, including herself.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Kassara.png","traits":["female","support","magic","mythical","animal"],"female":true},{"name":"Umbron","base":220,"kind":"umbron","mult":1.12,"tip":"self DPS x(1 + 0.12 times adjacent human count times adjacent female count). Counts all eight surrounding squares, including diagonals, but not himself. A hero with both traits counts in both groups.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Umbron.png","traits":["dps","magic","melee","mythical"],"female":false},{"name":"Evelyn","base":100,"kind":"adjacent","mult":1.25,"tip":"gives occupied orthogonal neighbours 1.25x DPS.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Evelyn.png","traits":["female","support","magic","human"],"female":true},{"name":"Nadia","base":300,"kind":"none","mult":1,"tip":"supplies human and female traits to boost Umbron when nearby.","sprite":"/assets/heroes/Nadia.png","traits":["female","dps","melee","human"],"female":true}]}]
Best main DPS layout found!
Only the main DPS hero counts here; allies supply buffs and traits. The full game has 46 heroes whose abilities read traits, columns and neighbours.
Choose which destinations show Town notifications. Your choices are saved for each account on this device, and muted destinations remain accessible.
Reduced Workshop machine upgrade costs, with slower cost increases at higher levels.
Mission hero tooltips now show whether a hero is in your active formation and which saved formations use them, including formations in other worlds.
Bug Fixes
Mines now work at full staffed speed whenever a hero or machine is assigned, including speed-only machines and heroes without mining gear.
Fixed Auto Farm mastery rotations losing hero reservations when Spotlight worlds change.
Auto Farm no longer levels heroes without assigned pets. Pets still automatically level their assigned heroes while they are in formation.
Restored enemy stat inspection in Mount Campaign. Hover an enemy or use the Enemy stats button to inspect the whole enemy team at the selected difficulty.
See your estimated maximum wave beside the stage goal. Hover over the Optimal button to see its target wave.
Enemies have new pixel-style health bars. The enemy threat gauge shows how quickly you can defeat them and whether they will reach the castle, with an overkill multiplier for one-shot kills.
Recent Prestiges in Player Stats lists your finished runs from the last seven days, including run length, highest wave, and your fastest and longest runs. Auto Farm is not required.
The Seer now shows your progress through the current level as a percentage and compares your current bonuses with the next level's bonuses.
+3 more in the full notes
Bug Fixes
Greatest effect talent sorting now puts DPS cap talents first, then ranks other talents by their relative benefit instead of comparing raw numbers from different stats.
Essence Distiller and Mystic's Favor now support bulk purchases and Buy max, with previews showing the total rewards for the selected quantity.
Auto Farm drafts can now be saved while heroes are busy on missions, in mines or in the Workshop. Heroes must still be available before the loop starts.
Auto Farm now explains which world, formation or hero blocks a save or start, and keeps your draft available to fix and retry.
+9 more in the full notes
Quality of Life
Simplified the Options sidebar by removing the colored letter icons.
The mission board now keeps your heroes visible in groups: Free, In formation, Coming back, and Busy. Plan crews inside mission cards, see when heroes return, and check how many free heroes will remain after sending a crew.
Your estimated DPS reach is now always visible below Enemy HP on the main screen.
The hero gear roster now defaults to Order acquired. You can still switch to alphabetical order, formation order, or heroes with upgrades ready.
Bug Fixes
Workshop workers can now move directly between stations. The worker picker correctly identifies heroes busy in mines, on missions, or at other stations.
Moved formations in Worlds 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, and 21 clear of the hero dock, without changing their shapes or connections.
Fixed rounding errors in displayed Animal Food and Oats amounts below one trillion in Critter Corner, including bulk upgrade costs.
Hovering over a hero in the main roster now shows their ability description.
New World 21: Solstice Nebula, a compact world with six new campaign stages beyond the summit.
New hero Torren, earned by clearing Stage 21-1. Torren adds temporal shift for each adjacent speed hero, scaled by scarf effect. Players who have already cleared 21-1 receive Torren automatically.
New mine: Aurora Stables, unlocked by clearing Stage 21-5. Its Aurora Resonance reward boosts the Power, Stamina and Speed of every mount.
World Mastery now goes up to tier 10 in every world except Timelatch Terrace. Progress you have already earned counts toward the new tiers, and any Mastery Points it earns are granted right away.
+35 more in the full notes
Performance Improvements
The main screen now checks for mission, mine and workshop alerts with a single small request instead of four large ones.
Faster chest opening and mine rewards.
Leaderboards and daily spotlight worlds load faster.
Bug Fixes
Fixed Die Tonight boosting DPS for players who had not bought the talent. Its bonus now only applies once you own it, which matches its tooltip.
Fixed heroes on Workshop stations or missions also being assignable to a mine. Any existing double assignments have been removed from the mine.
Logging in somewhere else no longer lets an older game window take the account back.
Heroes in your formation or working a mine are no longer picked for missions by quick start or optimal crew selection.
+7 more in the full notes
Quality of Life
The website has a new look, with a Hero Codex, formation puzzles and direct download links.
Right-click a mission to start it immediately when its starred heroes fill every slot.
The mission tutorial and on-screen hints now explain starring heroes and right-click quick start.
Bug Fixes
Heroes in saved formations used by an enabled Auto Farm rotation are now protected from mission assignment, including heroes needed in later worlds. Pause Auto Farm to send them on missions.
Pile of Animal Food chests now count the built-in tiers of late-game mounts when calculating rewards.
Mission details, party slots, success chance, and action buttons stay visible above the scrolling reward list.
When Auto Farm cannot use its next destination, its status now identifies the world, formation, and reason.
Number formatting is now a setting. Options has a new picker for 1,234.56 or 1.234,56 or 1 234,56, and Auto follows your device region.
The Essence Distiller dropdown now lists the world number next to each world name.
Bug Fixes
Turning the Speedy Mine effect on or off no longer changes how many chests you earn. Chests you already earned are paid out before your waves are rescaled, and re-enabling no longer pauses future chest drops.
Swapping to a different mine now settles earned chests the same way, so mine swaps are chest neutral too.
Auto Farm now pauses before a Speedy Mine change instead of continuing on stale wave numbers. Turn it back on when you are ready.
Auto Farm no longer stops an active run when saved formation templates refresh in the background.
Every version runs on the same servers and the same account. Your heroes, gold and upgrades live on your account, so you can play on your PC at home, your phone on the bus and Steam on the weekend, all on one save.
