Combos are a staple game mechanic of the Orcs Must Die franchise. Generally, combos reward the player with coin and score for the number of factors resulting in the immediate elimination of an enemy. The more effects, the higher the combo, the higher the reward.
In Orcs Must Die 3, combos are calculated by the number of unique effects the enemy was inflicted with over the past two seconds. Combos are not rewarded until at least three effects come into play – Thus, the lowest possible combo is "3x".
Basics[]
The simplest method of scoring combos is to use a variety of traps with different damage types in close proximity to each other. For example, applying burning with Brimstone, freezing with Snow Blower, melting with Acid Geyser, and then finishing the enemy off with a Longbow would result in at least a "7x" combo from the Brimstone damage + Brimstone Burn + Snow blower Damage + Freeze + Acid Geyser Damage + Melt + Longbow primary attack damage = 7. Some tools are better than others for combos like the Scepter of Domination have a combo potential of 5x, while the Spike Wall is at a 3x, the lowest scoring item is the Confusion Flower at a 1x.
Formula[]
Combos are not confined to damage types but many other status effects.
B = Base Combo Score ( 50 for enemies, 100 for bosses and Fire Fiend Mage, Gnoll Hunter, Gnoll Grenadier) C = Combo
Formula = B*C(3*C-7)
Example 1:
If B = 50, C = 5: 50x5(3x5-7) = 2000
Example 2:
If B = 50, C = 21: 50x21(3x21-7) = 58800
Kill Streak: K=killstreak
K^2
Headshots grant 100 points to enemies with a base of 50 and 200 to enemies with a base of 100.
Calculating combo[]
In addition to an items individual source(s) of damage, the following effects are used when when calculating a combo score:
- Bleeding
- Burning
- Charmed
- Distracted
- Electrified
- Frozen
- Launched
- Magicked
- Melted
- Poisoned
- Scared
- Slowed
- Stoned
- Stunned
- Wind Belt Hold
- Zapped
Tips[]
- "Combos count when minion will be hit by many source before death. Source are traps, weapons, elements. Minimal combo is x3" - behemut
- "the trick to high combos is to keep the orcs alive long enough to take damage from a lot of sources" - p01yg0n41
- "Never forget that, stun, slow, airborne, fear, stone, mind control, confusion and distraction also count as a combo counter. For example Spike Wall with bleed has combo x3 [Physical dmg, Bleed, Launched]" - MasterMax58
- Unlike the previous games, in Orcs Must Die 3, the player dying has no real penalty on your combo or total score and can infact be useful due to the Rift Rush feature that is triggered upon death. This actually makes some Rift Lord levels easier if you commit suicide or get yourself killed whilst waiting for the Orc horde to reach your traps / killbox.
Guides[]
- A Combo's Tales, Moto Man Dan, 2020-08-10