Best Upgrades to Choose During a Hero Havoc Run

Hero Vitality: +20 max health and an immediate 20-point heal. Quick Boots: +10% movement speed. Power Fists: +15% basic attack damage. Focus Core: −10% special cooldown. Split Shot: +1 projectile per basic attack. Hero Magnet: +20% pickup radius.

These are in-run upgrades and reset when the run ends. Permanent boosts come from the Hero Lab.

Early waves are small and health drops are relatively common, so the fastest way to get ahead is killing faster. Split Shot is usually the best early card: an extra projectile is a large damage increase and also helps hit more monsters. Power Fists is next.

One copy of Hero Magnet early makes gem collection easier for the rest of the run, which means faster level-ups.

From wave 6 the arenas change and waves add Splitters, Goo Throwers and Rust Tanks. Mix Hero Vitality into your picks; the instant heal is especially valuable when offered after a rough wave. Take Focus Core if your hero's special is your main defence — Arachnyx, Hydro and Flamewing all benefit.

Level-ups on waves 4, 9, 14 and 19 are your last cards before a boss. If you are below half health, Hero Vitality's heal is often the right pick even over damage. Quick Boots is excellent before Sand Colossus (wave 10) and Volt Tyrant (wave 15), both of which punish standing still.

Titan: Quick Boots fixes the slowest speed in the game. Warden: Focus Core shortens the 8-second Crimson Overdrive. Starborn and Thunderborn: Hero Vitality is a bigger percentage boost on low-health heroes. Wildcard and Arrowstorm: Split Shot stacks with multi-shot styles. Each hero page lists its own best upgrades.

Taking only health means waves last longer and you take more total damage. Taking only damage leaves fragile heroes one mistake from defeat. Stacking Hero Magnet beyond one or two copies rarely beats a damage or health card. Read Beginner Mistakes to Avoid for more.