Into the Breach: Advanced Tactics & High Scores

Into the Breach is a game of perfect information. Every move matters. This guide covers advanced tactics and scoring strategies.

Grid Control

The 8x8 grid is your battlefield. Control it or lose.

Key Principles

• Push Vek off buildings: Every building destroyed = -1 grid control. Lose all buildings = game over.
• Use terrain: Mountains block movement. Water damages Fire Vek. Smoke blocks ranged attacks.
• Chain reactions: Push a Vek into another Vek. Both take damage. Efficient kills.

Positioning

• Keep mechs between Vek and buildings: Mech blocks Vek movement.
• Use push to reposition: Push a Vek away from a building, then kill it next turn.
• Corner Vek against walls: Limits their movement options.

Push/Pull Mechanics

Push and pull are the most important mechanics in the game.

Push

• Pushes Vek 1 tile in the direction of the attack
• Damages Vek if it hits another Vek or wall
• Can push Vek off buildings (saves the building)

Pull

• Pulls Vek 1 tile toward the attacker
• Only available with specific mechs (e.g., Artillery mech)
• Useful for pulling Vek off buildings

Advanced Push Tactics

• Push Vek into water: Fire Vek take 1 damage from water. Push them in to weaken them.
• Push Vek into mountains: They take 1 damage and cant move next turn.
• Push Vek into other Vek: Both take 1 damage. Efficient for clearing groups.
• Push Vek off buildings: Saves the building. Always prioritize this.

Vek Behavior Patterns

Each Vek type has predictable behavior. Learn the patterns.

Sand Vek (Burrowers)

• Behavior: Burrow underground, emerge next turn to attack
• Weakness: Water forces them to surface immediately
• Strategy: Use water to force them up, then kill them before they burrow again

Fire Vek (Flamethrowers)

• Behavior: Shoot fire in a line. Fire destroys buildings.
• Weakness: Water extinguishes fire and damages them
• Strategy: Keep them away from buildings. Use water to damage them.

Plasma Vek (Artillery)

• Behavior: Shoot plasma in a 3x3 area. High damage.
• Weakness: Slow movement. Can be outrun.
• Strategy: Kill them first. They deal the most damage to buildings.

Blob Vek (Slimes)

• Behavior: Split into 2 smaller blobs when damaged
• Weakness: Fire kills them instantly (no splitting)
• Strategy: Use fire weapons. If you use physical damage, kill both blobs in one turn.

Scorpion Vek (Assassins)

• Behavior: Teleport next to a building, attack next turn
• Weakness: Predictable teleport locations
• Strategy: Place mechs on buildings theyll teleport to. Kill them before they attack.

Scoring Strategies

Score Breakdown

• Grid control: +100 per building remaining at end of island
• Mech HP: +50 per HP remaining on each mech
• Power Grid: +200 per unused power grid
• Time bonus: +50 per turn remaining (if you finish early)
• No damage bonus: +500 if no mechs take damage

Island Priorities

1. Grid control: Always prioritize saving buildings over killing Vek.
2. Mech survival: A dead mech = -500 score. Keep mechs alive.
3. Efficiency: Kill Vek in as few turns as possible. More turns remaining = more score.
4. Power grid: Save power grid for emergencies. Unused power = bonus score.

40K+ Score Strategy

To score 40,000+ points:

• Save all buildings on every island (3 islands × 8 buildings × 100 = 2,400)
• Keep all mechs at full HP (3 mechs × 5 HP × 50 = 750)
• Finish each island in under 10 turns (10 turns × 50 = 500)
• Dont use power grid (3 islands × 200 = 600)
• No damage bonus (3 islands × 500 = 1,500)

Note: The actual score is much higher because of Vek kills, building saves, and other bonuses. 40K+ requires perfect play across all 3 islands.

Squad Recommendations

Best Squads for High Scores

1. Mist Eaters: Smoke blocks Vek attacks. Easy grid control.
2. Cataclysm: Fire damages multiple Vek. Fast kills.
3. Frozen Titans: Ice freezes Vek. Predictable and safe.
4. Steel Judoka: Push Vek around. Excellent grid control.

Squads to Avoid for High Scores

• Blitzkrieg: Too aggressive. Hard to control grid.
• Rift Walkers: Teleporting is unpredictable. Hard to plan.

Advanced Tips

• Plan 3 turns ahead: Every move should set up the next 2 turns.
• Use the undo button: Its not cheating. Its learning.
• Prioritize grid control over kills: A saved building is worth more than a dead Vek.
• Learn Vek spawn patterns: Vek spawn in predictable locations. Plan ahead.
• Save power grid for emergencies: Only use it if youre about to lose a building.