Gwen
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Excellent (8.5/10)
Low Investment
Rare Relics OK
Gwen is a highly resilient champion characterized by exceptional sustain and scaling. She is widely considered one of the most effective and accessible champions for consistent clears, though she requires specific relic configurations to maintain peak efficiency in high-difficulty content. While her standard gameplay is methodical, her advanced constellations transform her into an explosive speedrunning specialist.
Standard Sustain & Scaling
Crucial for amplifying the damage of Gwen's 'Snip Snip!' skill. Because the skill drains based on damage dealt, this relic directly increases Gwen's healing output and Nexus pressure.
Provides an immediate Rally upon level up. This allows Gwen to capitalize on the Hallowed stacks accumulated during her initial attack, often securing a victory on the same turn she transforms.
Grants Overwhelm to Gwen and her allies. This is essential for ensuring that Hallowed-buffed units successfully transfer their massive power to the enemy Nexus rather than being absorbed by small blockers.
Strategy
This build focuses on Gwen's core identity: surviving the early game through chump blockers and then ending the game via a high-damage level-up turn. Prioritize safe attacks with Ghastly Bands to stack Hallowed until Gwen can safely drop and trigger her level-up Rally.
C6 One-Turn-Kill (OTK)
At 6 stars, the board is immediately filled with units. This relic reduces Gwen's cost to zero and deals damage to allies to trigger an instant level-up upon play.
Grants Scout, allowing for two attacks in a single round. Combined with the Rally from Crownguard or the natural 6-star Rally, this enables Gwen to strike multiple times with full Hallowed stacks.- Further increases the drain damage of her skill during the multiple attacks afforded by the Scout and Rally mechanics.
Strategy
Exclusively for high-investment players, this build leverages the 6-star power to end games on the very first action. By killing the summoned Ghastly Bands with Disciple of Shadows, Gwen enters the board leveled and ready to attack immediately with high Hallowed counts.
Other Relic Options
An alternative for creating a single, massive Gwen by consuming Ephemeral units, though it requires careful positioning to avoid anti-synergy with Hallowed stack distribution.
Useful for 'Gwen Printer' strategies where multiple copies of Gwen are desired on board to multiply the number of 'Snip Snip!' skill activations.
Provides safety during attacks, allowing Gwen to strike without risk of being removed by high-attack blockers or strike spells.
Essential in adventures heavy on removal or stuns, protecting Gwen long enough to complete her attack sequence.
Gwen is highly flexible. While Luden's Tempest is almost always preferred for the healing benefit, her third slot can be adjusted based on the specific adventure's mutators (e.g., swapping Overwhelm for Spellshield).
Constellation
Gwen's constellation is heavily focused on two aspects: enhancing her Hallowed scaling and increasing her board presence. Her upgrades significantly reduce the 'ramp-up' time her deck normally requires.
Snippets of Song
Round Start: If you don't have the attack token, summon a Ghastly Band.
Needlework
+1 Starting Mana. When your leftmost attacker gains power from Hallowed, so does the attacker to its right.
Snippets of Song II
Round Start: Summon a Ghastly Band.
Crush
Allies have Overwhelm.Review
A major quality-of-life upgrade. By granting Overwhelm to the champion, it frees up a relic slot that would otherwise be mandatory for closing out games.
Manaflow
Game Start: Get a mana gem.Review
Highly impactful for consistency. Reducing her cost ensures she can be deployed before the enemy aggressive deck can overwhelm your defenses.
Last Dance
Game Start: Summon 4 Ghastly Bands and Rally.Review
Fundamentally changes her playstyle from a mid-range sustain deck to a premier speedrunner. The immediate board of Ghastly Bands provides both offense and fodder for powerful 'on-play' relic effects like Disciple of Shadows.
Gameplay Tips
- Optimize Attack Order
To maximize damage, Gwen should typically be placed in the second attacking slot. This allows her to benefit from her own Hallowed buff while the unit in the first slot also receives the standard Hallowed bonus.
- Master the Art of the Pass
Gwen excels in reactive play. In many high-difficulty encounters, passing the turn to allow the AI to exhaust its mana before playing Gwen ensures she isn't immediately stunned or recalled before she can strike.
- Sustain through Skill Damage
Remember that Gwen's healing is tied to the damage dealt by her 'Snip Snip!' skill. Even if Gwen is blocked by a unit with Tough or high Health, increasing her Skill damage through relics or powers will significantly increase your Nexus regeneration.
- Hallowed as a Resource
Ghastly Bands and other Ephemeral units are intended to die. Do not over-invest in protecting your followers; their primary purpose is to increase the Hallowed count for Gwen's eventual arrival.
- Avoid Synergistic Anti-Patterns
Be cautious with items or powers that increase the Health of your Ephemeral units (like Sparring Loser). If your Hallowed units survive their attacks, they do not contribute to your Hallowed stack for the following round, slowing down your win condition.