Magic Towers

Magic Towers or Mages are one of the four main tower types in Kingdom Rush. They fire magic bolts that tear through enemies with ruthless efficiency. In-game; the terms mage, mage tower and wizard are often used to designate all magic towers.

Tower Properties[]

All Magic Towers share the following properties:

Ability to target both air and ground units.
High damage, typically the highest of all towers, but a slow attack speed
Attacks ignore creature physical armor, while being reduced by magical resistance
The most expensive towers

Magic towers have a low fire rate, making them unsuited to deal with speedy foes or large masses of enemies, forcing them to be dealt with one-by-one and giving them enough time to pass through. Soldiers can help to slow down enemies, giving the mages time to unleash their magical barrage. While physical armor poses no challenge for mages, magical resistance can render creatures virtually impervious to magical attacks. Magic Towers are the second most expensive to upgrade. However, their damage increases dramatically when this is done, making it money well spent.

Tower Summary[]

In Kingdom Rush, Kingdom Rush: Frontiers and Kingdom Rush: Origins, towers are non specialised for the first three stages of their build. These basic towers have no additional special features, and only gain a specialized status on the fourth and final stage where special abilities are also unlocked.

In Kingdom Rush: Vengeance and Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance, towers are specialised at all stages of their build. Some towers have additional special abilities that are available at every level, but all towers gain special abilities on their fourth and final stage.

Kingdom Rush[]

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Mage Tower (Level 1)	9-17	Slow 1.5s	Short 280	100	None
Adept Tower (Level 2)	23-43	Slow 1.5s	Average 320	160	None
Wizard Tower (Level 3)	40-74	Slow 1.5s	Long 360	240	None
Arcane Wizard (Level 4.a)	76-140	Very Slow 2.0s	Great 400	300	Death Ray Teleport
Sorcerer Mage (Level 4.b)	42-78	Slow 1.5s	Great 400	300	Polymorph Summon Elemental

Mage, Adept and Wizard Tower are the basic Magic Towers in Kingdom Rush. They have the characteristics of all the magic towers, but without any outstanding qualities, the only difference between them is the basic statistics and the appearance.

Arcane Wizard trades a bit of firing speed for the highest maximum damage of any Kingdom Rush tower. It specializes in dealing with single, durable enemies. However because of this it is even weaker against hordes of enemies than other mages. Compared to the Sorcerer Mage, the Arcane Wizard offers superior damage but worse crowd control.

Death Ray instantly kills an enemy
Teleport Teleports groups of enemies back down the path

Sorcerer Mage focuses more on support than dealing damage directly, having similar damage per shot to the Wizard Tower. However, it has a unique ability - a cursing attack. The curse deals true damage over time and halves enemy armor. This makes the sorcerer better at crowd control (dealing damage to multiple targets at once) and stronger against magic resistant enemies than other mages, due to the curse's true damage.

Polymorph Transforms an enemy into a weak sheep
Summon Elemental Summons an Earth Elemental to engage with enemies.

Kingdom Rush: Frontiers[]

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Mage Tower (Level 1)	9-17	Slow 1.5s	Short 280	100	None
Adept Tower (Level 2)	23-43	Slow 1.5s	Average 320	160	None
Wizard Tower (Level 3)	40-74	Slow 1.5s	Long 360	240	None
Archmage Tower (Level 4.a)	60-120	Slow 1.5s	Long 396	300	Twister Critical Mass
Necromancer Tower (Level 4.b)	20-70	Average 1.0s	Long 396	300	Pestilence Summon Death Rider

Mage Tower, Adept and Wizard are the basic Magic Towers in Kingdom Rush: Frontiers. Their stats remain unchanged from Kingdom Rush, with only a cosmetic redesign standing them apart.

Archmage Tower The Archmage has attack close to the Arcane Wizard, with a faster attack speed. This gives it a better chance at attacking enemies in groups, along with two skills that work to aid its control of groups.

Twister Moves enemies back down the path and inflicts further damage
Critical Mass Attacks have a chance to explode and deal more damage

Necromancer Tower While the Necromancer has a lower attack than the Archmage, is has a unique ability that summons units in the form of Skeletons. This utility gives it excellent crowd control as the melee units can stall enemies enough for a brief moment, allowing the Necromancer time to attack large groups.

Pestilence Creates a patch of land that poisons enemies.
Summon Death Rider Summons a Death Rider that will fight enemies and empower skeletons.

Kingdom Rush: Origins[]

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Mystic Dais (Level 1)	8-12	Slow 1.5s	Short 280	100	None
Arcanist Dais (Level 2)	18-30	Slow 1.5s	Average 320	160	None
Eldritch Dais (Level 3)	34-56	Slow 1.5s	Long 360	250	None
Wild Magus (Level 4.a)	8-16	Very Fast 0.3s	Long 360	300	Eldritch Doom Ward of Disruption
High Elven Mage (Level 4.b)	41-74	Slow 1.5s	Long 360	300	Timelapse Arcane Sentinel

Mystic, Arcanist, and Eldritch Dais Are are the basic Magic Towers in Kingdom Rush: Frontiers. Compared to previous games they deal more damage than the other mages (with upgrades), but didn't gain any extra range or price cuts.

Wild Magus While its apparent damage output is low, it attacks at high speed and each consecutive hit deals more damage than the last. Combined with its abilities it has some of the best crowd control of any Magic Tower.

Eldritch Doom: Instantly kills an enemy causing additional damage to nearby enemies
Ward of Disruption: Creates a ward that silences nearby enemies and stops the use of special abilities

High Elven Mage A much slower attacker than the Wild Mage, it fires three bolts at the same time, with the following two being weaker than the first.

Timelapse Damages enemies and takes them out of battle temporarily
Arcane Sentinel Summons an autonomous sentinel that shoots less powerful magic at enemies.

Kingdom Rush: Vengeance[]

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Infernal Mage (Level 1)	8-15	Slow 1.8s	Short 300	100	None
Infernal Mage (Level 2)	24-44	Slow 1.8s	Short 315	180	None
Infernal Mage (Level 3)	48-86	Slow 1.8s	Average 330	250	None
Infernal Mage (Level 4)	78-134	Slow 1.8s	Average 350	300	Affliction Lava Fissure Infernal Portal

Infernal Mage

Affliction Places a rune on the path that reduces enemy armor and magic resistance
Lava Fissure Causes lava to erupt dealing magic damage in an area
Infernal Portal Teleports groups of enemies back down the path

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Specters Mausoleum (Level 1)	5-8	Slow 1.45s	Average 350	110	None
Specters Mausoleum (Level 2)	13-20	Slow 1.45s	Average 350	130	None
Specters Mausoleum (Level 3)	26-38	Slow 1.45s	Average 350	170	None
Specters Mausoleum (Level 4)	48-71	Slow 1.45s	Average 350	230	Guardian Gargoyles Spectral Communion Possession

Specters Mausoleum

Guardian Gargoyles Summons a Gargoyle to engage with enemies.
Spectral Communion Allows the Mausoleum to store extra magic attacks
Possession Takes possession of an enemy, making it fight on your side

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Orc Shaman (Level 1)	10-20	Very Slow 2.3s	Long 370	130	None
Orc Shaman (Level 2)	30-55	Very Slow 2.3s	Long 370	190	None
Orc Shaman (Level 3)	50-110	Very Slow 2.3s	Long 370	260	None
Orc Shaman (Level 4)	110-160	Very Slow 2.3s	Long 370	320	Healing Roots Meteor Shower Static Shock

Orc Shaman

Healing Roots Heals allied units in an area
Meteor Shower Casts a meteor shower that deals magic damage in an area
Static Shock Every attack deals additional magic damage

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Blazing Gem (Level 1)	2-4 4-7 6-10	Very Fast 0.4s	Average 320	150	None
Blazing Gem (Level 2)	6-9 11-17 16-25	Very Fast 0.4s	Average 320	230	None
Blazing Gem (Level 3)	10-15 20-30 30-45	Very Fast 0.4s	Average 320	260	None
Blazing Gem (Level 4)	14-22 30-44 44-65	Very Fast 0.4s	Average 320	340	Gem of Amplification Destructo-Ray Unstable Power

Blazing Gem

Gem of Amplification Adds a fourth level of damage to the tower's attack
Destructo-Ray instantly kills an enemy
Unstable Power Enemies killed by the tower explode, damaging nearby enemies

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Wicked Sisters (Level 1)	11-25	Very Slow 2.5s	Short 300	120	None
Wicked Sisters (Level 2)	27-63	Very Slow 2.5s	Short 300	160	None
Wicked Sisters (Level 3)	48-112	Very Slow 2.5s	Short 3000	200	None
Wicked Sisters (Level 4)	78-182	Very Slow 2.5s	Short 300	250	Froggification Hex Totem Nimbus 4000

Wicked Sisters'

Froggification Transforms an enemy into a weak frog for a short period
Hex Totem Summons a totem that silences nearby enemies and stops the use of special abilities
Nimbus 4000 Extends the rally range of the Wicked Sister

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Deep Devil's Reef (Level 1)	6-12	Slow 1.5s	Short 300	120	None
Deep Devil's Reef (Level 2)	17-30	Slow 1.5s	Short 300	170	None
Deep Devil's Reef (Level 3)	30-64	Slow 1.5s	Short 300	240	None
Deep Devil's Reef (Level 4)	60-105	Slow 1.5s	Short 300	330	Chosen by the Sea Net Throw Perfect Storm

Deep Devil's Reef has two roles, functioning as both a Magic Tower and a Melee Tower.

Chosen by the Sea Improve the stats of the Redspines
Net Throw Redspines can now throw nets to immobilize enemies
Perfect Storm Summons a cloud over enemies that strikes them with lightning

Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance[]

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Arcane Wizard (Level 1)	12-18	Very Slow 2s	Average	110	None
Arcane Wizard (Level 2)	25-47	Very Slow 2s	Average	150	None
Arcane Wizard (Level 3)	48-80	Very Slow 2s	Average	220	None
Arcane Wizard (Level 4)	70-132	Very Slow 2s	Long	280	Disintegrate Empowerment

Arcane Wizard

Disintegrate instantly kills an enemy
Empowerment Nearby towers gain an attack boost

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Arborean Emissary (Level 1)	3-6	Average 1.8s	Average	100	None
Arborean Emissary (Level 2)	7-13	Average 1.8s	Long	130	None
Arborean Emissary (Level 3)	11-20	Average 1.8s	Great	170	None
Arborean Emissary (Level 4)	17-32	Average 1.8s	Great	230	Gift of Nature Bramble Grasp

Arborean Emissary

Gift of Nature Heals allied units in an area
Bramble Grasp Grows roots that stun enemies and deal damage

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Eldritch Channeler (Level 1)	32-32	Slow 4.7s	Average	120	None
Eldritch Channeler (Level 2)	80-80	Slow 4.7s	Average	170	None
Eldritch Channeler (Level 3)	146-146	Slow 4.7s	Average	230	None
Eldritch Channeler (Level 4)	248-248	Slow 4.7s	Long	330	Power Overflow Mutation Hex

Eldritch Channeler

Power Overflow The magic ray spreads to three extra enemies, dealing a percentage of damage to them
Mutation Hex Transforms an enemy into a weak sheep

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Elven Stargazer (Level 1)	4-6	Very Slow 2.65s	Average	130
Elven Stargazer (Level 2)	11-18	Very Slow 2.65s	Average	180	None
Elven Stargazer (Level 3)	22-32	Very Slow 2.65s	Long	260	None
Elven Stargazer (Level 4)	34-52	Very Slow 2.65s	Great	320	Event Horizon Rising Star

Elven Stargazer

Event Horizon Teleports groups of enemies back down the path
Rising Star Enemies killed by the tower explode, damaging nearby enemies

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Necromancer (Level 1)	4-8	Slow 1.5s	Average	100	None
Necromancer (Level 2)	12-20	Slow 1.5s	Average	140	None
Necromancer (Level 3)	20-36	Slow 1.5s	Long	200	None
Necromancer (Level 4)	36-68	Slow 1.5s	Long	260	Rattling Beacon Death Rider

Necromancer

Rattling Beacon Places a totem on the path that curses enemies into taking more damage
Death Rider Summons a Death Rider that runs along the path, trampling enemies

Tower (Level)	Damage	Speed Fire Rate	Range Scope	Build Cost	Specials
Bog Hermit (Level 1)	7-10	Average 1.2	Average 320	120	None
Bog Hermit (Level 2)	17-22	Average 1.2	Average 350	160	None
Bog Hermit (Level 3)	29-38	Average 1.2	Long 380	240	None
Bog Hermit (Level 4)	47-63	Average 1.2	Great 400	280	Ground Pounder Sticky Tongue

Bog Hermit

Ground Pounder Ranged Area of Effect attack
Sticky Tongue Instakills an enemy

Comparison[]

All Level 4 Magic Towers, without upgrades.

Tower	Damage	Speed	Speed Fire Rate	Damage p/Second	Range Scope	Scope	Build Cost	Cumulative Cost
Arcane Wizard^KR	76-140	Very Slow	2.0s	54	Great	400	300	800
Sorcerer Mage	42-78	Slow	1.5s	40	Great	400	300	800
Archmage Tower	60-120	Slow	1.5s	60	Long	396	300	800
Necromancer Tower^KRF	20-70	Average	1.0s	45	Long	396	300	800
Wild Magus	8-16	Very Fast	0.3s	40	Long	360	300	810
High Elven Mage	41-74	Slow	1.5s	38.33	Long	360	300	810
Infernal Mage	78-134	Slow	1.8s	58.88	Short	300	300	830
Specters Mausoleum	48-71	Slow	1.45s	41.03	Average	350	230	640
Orc Shaman	110-160	Very Slow	2.3s	58.70	Long	370	320	910
Blazing Gem	14-22 30-44 44-65	Very Fast	0.4s	45 92.5 136.25	Average	320	340	980
Wicked Sisters	78-182	Very Slow	2.5s	52	Short	300	250	730
Deep Devil's Reef	60-105	Slow	1.5s	55	Short	300	330	860
Arcane Wizard^KR5	70-132	Very Slow	2s	50.5	Average	186	280	760
Arborean Emissary	17-32	Average	1.8s	14.76	Great	220	230	630
Eldritch Channeler	248-248	Slow	4.7s	52.77	Long	180	330	850
Elven Stargazer	34-52	Very Slow	2.65s	81.13	Great	200	320	890
Necromancer Tower^KR5	36-68	Slow	1.5s	34.67	Great	200	260	700
Bog Hermit	47-63	Average	1.2	45.83	Great	400	280	800

Related Upgrades[]

Kingdom Rush[]

Spell Reach (1 Star)
- Increases wizard's attack range (by 10%).
Arcane Shatter (1 Star)
- Magic attacks destroy a potion of enemy physical armor on every hit.
  - (-3% armor per hit, percentage points, doesn't work on enemies with physical damage immunity.)
Hermetic Study (2 Stars)
- Mage Towers construction and upgrading costs are reduced by 10%.
Empowered Magic (2 Stars)
- Increases wizard's attack damage (by 15%).
Slow Curse (3 Stars)
- Magic attacks slow enemies by half their speed for a moment
  - (half a second, Arcane Wizard the whole one-second beam duration. Also disables Rocket Rider Turbo boost).

Kingdom Rush: Frontiers[]

Rune of Power (1 Star)
- Increases mages' attack range (by 10%).
Spell Penetration (1 Star)
- Mages' bolts have a chance to ignore magic resistance. (10%)
Eldritch Power (2 Stars)
- Increases mages' attack damage (by 10%).
Wizard Academy (2 Stars)
- Reduces mages' special abilities costs by 10%.
Brilliance (3 Stars)
- For every mage tower built, each mage tower gets a bonus to damage

Number of mage towers built	Damage increment of each mage tower
1	0%
2	~5%
3	~10%
4	~14%
5	~18%
6	~21%
7	~24%
8	~27%
9+	~30%

Number of magic towers built	Mage Tower	Adept Tower	Wizard Tower	Archmage	Necromancer
2	11-20	28-51	47-87	70-139	24-81
3	11-20	29-53	49-91	73-146	25-85
4	12-22	30-55	51-94	76-151	26-88
5	12-23	31-57	52-97	78-156	26-91
6	13-23	32-59	54-100	80-160	27-94
7	13-24	33-60	55-102	82-164	28-96
8	13-25	34-61	56-102	84-168	28-98
9+	13-25	34-63	58-107	86-172	29-101

Kingdom Rush: Origins[]

Crystal Focus (1 star)
- Increases Mage attack range (by 5%).
Empowered Magic (1 star)
- Increases Mage attack damage (by 15%).
Crystal Gazing (2 stars)
- Increases Mage attack range (by 5%, stacks multiplicatively).
Unstable Magic (2 stars)
- Mage attacks have a small chance of dealing triple damage.
  - (Each bolt gets 5% chance and it is shown as a "BLAST!".)
Alter Reality (3 stars)
- Mage attacks have a chance of teleporting enemies 20 nodes back down the path. (Wild Magus: 1%, High Elven Mage: 3%, the others: 10%, can only trigger up to three times per enemy)