Dragonspire: Guide & Thoughts (Empires & Puzzles)
Dragonspire has finally arrived in Empires & Puzzles, creating an entirely new, but also the same, mini ecosystem to manage.
There’s good and bad here but what do you think?
Is it awesome or excruciating?
At its core, Dragonspire is a mini-Empires and Puzzles, but with Dragons rather than Heroes.
In this post, I will share my frank first impressions of the new Dragons that invaded E&P, and I invite you to do the same!
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This post may contain speculation, personal opinion, and comedy. It is not advice and is solely for entertainment and informational purposes.
What is Dragonspire? A Simple Guide (Empires & Puzzles)
Dragonspire is a completely new realm that is set within Empires and Puzzles.
You can access it by pressing this icon on your home screen:
Once there, you’ll discover a world similar to your normal Stronghold, with buildings to upgrade, Chests to fill, Heroes Dragons to level, and Raids to compete in.
The Dragonspire has its own ecosystem, containing:
- Dragon World Energy
- Dragon Raid Energy
- Fish
- Dragonstone
- Dragonlings
There are also two new Idle Chests to open:
- Adventure
- Raid
When you first enter Dragonspire, you receive a short tutorial and are granted 5 Trainer Dragons.
On my account, I received 1 free Portal spin on the first day (resulting in Krio; a 3-Star Dragon), and another free Portal spin on the second day (resulting in Shen Lin; a 4-Star Dragon).
After a little base management, you can either Raid (PvP) or hit the main campaign World Map (PvE).
At the beginning, you have very few resources and progression is slow.
As most players will be advanced in the main game (the Stronghold), this early period might feel quite stagnant.
Do Dragons Impact the Stronghold & Hero Raids?
The Dragons currently have a minimal impact in the main game.
I can’t see them in Raids at all (please tell me if you can), but they are available for all PvE Stages except the Titan.
However, it seems that eventually, if you level them up, Dragons might be quite useful in PvE.
My 4-Star Dragon, Shen Lin, provides the following Stat bonus for all of my Heroes when selected in Quests and Events:
Attack: +15
Defense: +15
Health: +15
Here are his Assist Skills (Slow):
Revitalizing Breath> 1. Recovers 45 health for all allies. 2. All allies regenerate 25 HP over 5 turns.
That seems pretty inconsequential.
However, there is an “Assist” Tab on Shen Lin’s Hero Dragon Card that lets you upgrade these powers and according to the Forum, [Wiki] his Assist Skills will improve to:
Revitalizing Breath> 1. Recovers 450 health for all allies. 2. All allies regenerate 250 HP over 5 turns.
One thing I noticed with these Dragons (and their initially weaker Assist Skills), is that they can overwrite your Hero’s stronger Skills.
Check out these two images (Rigards Regeneration overwritten by Shen Lin):
Heroes can also cross over to the Dragonspire, where they serve as “Riders” in place of what we know as “Troops”.
I think that’s really smart and well-implemented.
My Thoughts On Dragonspire (Pros/Cons)
First the bad, let’s get it out of the way:
(1). It’s a rough start.
I’ve already been stone-walled by the Dragonspire thrice:
- First trying to make progress on the world map,
- second, trying to complete level 1 on the Quest yesterday,
- and again trying to complete a Dragon Raid.
That said, as you level the Dragons, things do get easier.
Moving on, (2). the rewards for Missions are just silly.
It would take a lifetime to accumulate anything from those 3, 5, and 10 Gems.
That’s more tight-fisted than my dad on payday!
Finally, and probably most significantly, (3). it feels like more of the same game all over again.
It takes a lot of time to work both parts of Empires and Puzzles. Maybe, if this is your only game, the expansion is a net positive. But for me personally, it’s a game within a game.
And with that in mind, will the Dragonspire develop into something as busy as the Stronghold? Or will it simply supplement it?
At the moment, it feels like I could safely ignore the Dragonspire, but down the road, I suspect those Dragons are gonna get more and more powerful, just like the Heroes have.
And at some point, I suspect, this part of the game will have more of an impact on the other.
Let’s do some of the good:
(1). Dragons are a logical addition to the game. Most games that have Heroes have Super-Heroes of this sort.
(2). The artwork is lovely.
Interestingly, I do enjoy my time over in Dragonspire; it’s a calmer place to be, but maybe that’s because it’s closer to what early Empires and Puzzles was like.
(3). It is fun to play once you get into it. But of course it is, it’s Empires & Puzzles.
I imagine Dragonspire could have been its own game, released to the App Store independently and on its own merit.
Empires and Puzzles Dragons (Dragonspire)
My final thoughts:
I’m cynical and can’t help but see this as the new beginning of an Arms race.
As a current F2P PvP enthusiast, it looks like a long grinding road to get something out of Dragonspire.
But I’m going to try it out and test it for myself.
Duplication is the real issue here and I can’t predict how I’ll feel about that in a week or a month.
I might completely ignore Dragonspire or I might end up playing it daily. Time will tell.
Let me know what you think about the Dragonspire!
Yay or nay?
[Please always check in-game Hero Cards to confirm details and never chase Heroes]
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Images used by way of review/tutorial
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Thanks for taking your time to share your thoughts. Personally, I’m not in favor of the addition. It’s sole purpose is to incease profits for the developers.
When entering, there’s a whole new list ads of items to spend money on. The top players on the leader board alreagy have at least 5 – 5* dragons at level 50 – 60. For those not planning to spend or spend little, it’ll be a slow slog. There’s all ready some coss over with the original world and like you, over time, I think if you don’t invest in dragonspire, you’ll fall further behind in E&P.
I agree, it could have been its own game but suspect it’ll generate more income with an already established base of players, many willing to spend lots of money.
It’s a substantial investment in more time and drain on resourses, at present, primarily gems that are common to both parts of the game.
I suspect within a week or two, I’ll drop out of the game all together. With over 5 years invested, in not an easy decision but the game just seems more draining. The fun and joy has gone. I won’t be missed, because my $10 – $20 a month is not really what the developers are after. It’s just a little bit of gravy on top of what they really seek.
Just my opinion and expect I’m not alone, especially among FTP & CTP players.
Hey Peter! You were not censored; I think the cash-money numbers redirected this to the spam. 😁
I agree with what you’re saying and really hope E&P can be more generous with goodies for the Dragonspire to incentivise average players to play. I was busy trying to complete the “River Of Resources” thinking those were free Silver Coins to spin at the Portal.
Turns out, the levels only give you 1! … and you need 100!
Thanks for sharing your opinion and for stopping by.
“It’s sole purpose is to increase profits for the developers.”
Of course it’s to make money. Small Giant is not a charity. Developers need to get paid, so this is a nonsense reason to me.
I personally really like it. Cynic said “it feels like early E&P” and I totally agree. The initial team they give you is really bad, so I did a silver 10 pull to get started and the game really took off. Just gotta be patient.
I see a lot of “I quit now” posts on Reddit, and this reflects a lack of patience. Why do you need to race the deep wallet people? So what if you get smacked around in raids a bit? There is always someone stronger.
If I wanted to play early E&P I’d download any of the imitators and start there. It’s just more in an already bloated game.
I totally agree with your analysis. But if you don’t do things to freshen the game, peeps will get bored and leave. this seems like it might be a good tie in, but, if they release dragons so quickly that an average player stands no chance at winning raids, etc. then it will be a total turnoff. Yes, they could have released as a stand-alone, but here they have a readymade market. Glad to see you are back with your analysis! Very helpful to an old guy like me who doesn’t have the ability to do a lot of number crunching. Plus, you explain things in a somewhat humorous and easily understandable manner!
Thank you Michael, thanks for sharing your opinion, too. It does freshen up the game, let’s see how it goes.
My first thought was ‘looks lovely’; the artwork is great and I do like the humour of some of the special skill sounds (yes, I am a rare creature that doesn’t mute the game). I’m F2P in the main game and I don’t intend to change. It seems to me that some players are impatient and, from day 1, just want to hit the leaderboard. Personally I actually just enjoy the gameplay… I’m selfishly hoping that the whales will get bored and leave DS alone so that I don’t have to face them. Thank you for your review 🙂
Thank you Karen! I think you’re right about early expectations, and managing expectations. Thanks for sharing.
Greetings OC, thanks for your in depth review, and your thoughts on DragonSpire.
It is strangely calmer over there, but I would have preferred this to have been its own game, not a game-in-game as it is now.
It feels like more of the same, if that makes sense.
It does CN, I think I would have preferred a separate game but as others have commented, there is a ready made community for it here.
Thanks for sharing and stopping by CN!
Nearly half of my alliance are fed up and quit due to the Dragonspire addition. For all the aforementioned reasons, the amount of time and money to remain competitive doesn’t have sufficient ROI. We’ve all been playing since just before the pandemic and they were semi-serious PvP players for the most part. To lose 6 players due to a seemingly redundant and time/ money consuming expansion is frustrating, to say the least.
Absolutely right
Sorry to hear, Swoop. The Dragonspire has certainty been divisive. At this point I watch on to see how it develops; it’s hard to predict the long term impact.
Thanks for sharing what’s going on in your alliance.
At least the progression is well balanced. I mean, if you do the ‘welcome path’ after 10 stages you will got 100 coins more. And the stash at the end of the area gives you a lot of feathers – so you can start training dragons. On the 2nd area the chest contains what you need to finish the path, and if you manage to end 3rd area you must got 100 coins more (by beating 33 stages). Assault gives you ham and iron (or whatever) in good amount, and crates as reward in some stages, makes your stronghold grow fast.
Some sharp edges of EP are also less rough: no 1 and 2 stars (just trainers), the idle chests, the lack of LB and talents (by now!) and troops…
I was sceptical (cash grab! Whale territory! Start over again!) but actually I’m liking it.
Time will tell. Thanks for your insight, OC
Thanks for sharing Cris, appreciate the view point and tips.
Am I missing something with the training part of Dragonspire? I don’t see anyway to get Dragonlings to train with unlike the regular part of the game with the House to get your recruits from.
You train them in the Hatchery.
You misunderstood the question. Hatchery still requires Dragonlings. Where do we get the Dragonlings?
Completing World Map Stages gives you some.
I haven’t received any from the world stages and I use all the world energy every time I log on🤷🏻♂️
I’m actually quite enjoying it. It’s calm, i don’t have the feeling i ‘have to’ play to keep up etc etc. And yes, it will be a money grabbing thing all over again but it’s your own choice in how far you want to participate in that. And when i’m bored of it i’ll just take a break again.
Yes, I’ve been playing it and quite enjoying it, too. Like the old days. I hope to pull a free 5-Star Dragon; that would really help with my enjoyment. Zynga, please isolate my account and drop some top-end Dragons please!
Oh, and some mats to level them!
😅 i actually got one!
Im hoping it isnt remade into E&P map 2.
because right now theres very little to it, which is a hair boring, but also relaxing.
In the original E^P map, they did as many games and tried to give us a purpose, the dark lord was taking liberties, he even murdered one of your best buds…you HAD to take him down!
Here they dont really put any such story driven encouragement. There are raids, theres a map. You will beed to finish the map (the 3 levels given) to get some baby dragons, but aside from that, its just a map.
One of my complaints against the old game is it never changed. Yes they added new “levels” with new maps. and each brought newer more powerful heroes. But the game play and the map exploration and completion was literally identical. I always thought they could have had some developmental strategy elements that other games have., a dundeon to explore or raid, a gambling hall, a way to invest your wealth in hopes of greater reward in the future.
But no, its been very stable for 5 years. I hope the dragonspire doesnt simply become another map to complete. Ive never completed UNTOLD TALES. Mostly because, it was gruelingly repetitive. Maybe when Im really bored I last 1 or 2 more new levels. But Id rather farm or fight raids than do another map that has no real reason to do it? no big bonus or new game features that will be granted only if.
I hope the dragonspire is a support to the original moire than another MAP…or Ill be bored of it soon too.
Hey TLK, sorry for the late replay, I’ve been busy the last few days.
I agree with your sentiments and the problem for me is that I hate completing maps in E&P and DS feels like, more mapping.
Time has past since this post was published and I’m still tore. Some days, it’s cool to chill there a bit, others it feels pointless when there’s so much to do over in the Stronghold 🤷♂️
Dragonspire is an interesting addition to the game and makes me wonder what the Devs are hoping/planning for it.
Time will tell.
Thank you for taking the time, and again, sorry for the late reply!
I like the implementation of Dragonspire so far, but I also agree that it’s a rehash of early-game E&P, where the going is slow. However, it also feels much less hectic than the Stronghold now, and having your heroes serve as the equivalent of troops for the dragons is a nice touch.
I prefer Dragonspire in its current state, as part of E&P, rather than being its own game – it means I don’t have to spend more time switching between two games, because if Dragonspire was its own game, I definitely do NOT have the bandwidth left in real-life to give it a try.
Hey Nortaneous, thanks for sharing.
If it were its own game it would be direct competition for E&P; I can only imagine it would develop into that sweet spot E&P was once in. When it had a few years under its belt and Heroes were coming out at a much slower rate.
When everyone and their mother was testing out the same Heroes to establish which were better, offered better synergy, and when a new Hero to the game could change everything.
I said it elsewhere, but it would be good to know what the plan is here… Will the Devs run this as a side “modern” E&P, or will it be slower and more like the old E&P.
We shall see. Thanks for stopping by Nortaneous!
Hello old cynic. I hope you’ve been well. I like the new aesthetic of Dragonspire.
Visiting dragonspire is a very mellow endeavor for me. It’s always going to be F2P. Something to kill the time when got nothing cooking in my stronghold. I like the minimal crossover between the games right now. If anything changes where whales get more of an advantage in their stronghold based on their roster of dragons, well, I won’t be happy. Right now it’s all good. Take it easy!
Hey Nurglesgift! I’ve been an infrequent visitor to Dragonspire. Feel like I have loads going on in the Stronghold, plus without netting a strong Dragon it feels a little redundant atm. As you say, something to do when there’s nothing else on. Good to see you!
Has anyone managed to drop a blue sapphire statue? I’ve been grinding world map stages that claim it’s a possible drop but I’m dropping all kinds of 4-star ascension materials, yet not a single whale statue which I need to ascend my blue dragons. Thx.
Oh yeah, I’ve got loads of them, only… I need the yellow lion heads and they just don’t drop in my game 😒 And I’m kind of getting bored playing the same 3 map stages over and over again. Why can’t they open more?
What about tips for farming items?
I desperately need a Ruby Horse Statue!0
The Dragonspire didn’t catch on for me. I stay over on the Stronghold side of things at the moment, sorry!