In many modern variations of the genre, players are given the freedom to design their own defensive layouts.

Conversely, a brilliantly engineered maze can confuse enemy AI, run down the clock, and secure you a massive defensive victory.

We will delve into the geometry of defense, discussing compartmentalization, funneling, and trap placement.

The Concept of Funneling

Instead of spreading your damage evenly, funneling forces the entire enemy army into a concentrated kill zone.

To create a successful funnel, place non-defensive buildings (like resource collectors) on the outside to distract early deployers.

• Symmetry is predictable and easy to exploit.
• Use high-hitpoint buildings as meat shields.
• AoE is king against swarms.

Building Cellular Defenses

A fatal mistake is enclosing your entire base inside one massive, single ring of walls.

Ensure that each compartment contains at least one defensive structure so they can fire upon troops stuck beating on the walls.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

A base layout that was impenetrable last month might be completely useless against the newest flying hero.

Building the perfect defense is an ongoing process of trial, error, and meticulous refinement.