Grinchlin Assault!
From SpiralKnights
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grinchlin Assault! is an event-exclusive dangerous prestige mission available during Winterfest.
Overview
Description:
Warning: This is a Dangerous Mission!
On behalf of Impostoclaus, Spiral HQ has located the base of operations of the nefarious Grinchlins. It's time to take the fight to them and end their Winterfest terrorism once and for all. But it won't be an easy task.
Those who accept this mission must climb Mount Krampus, a perilous trek filled with Grinchlin ambushes and icy deathtraps. Along the way you will find shelters that allow you to collect Grinchlin treasures and escape the mountain, or press on toward the summit for even greater rewards! Just be warned: Grinchlins and their allies are a stingy lot and will not drop ANY loot. All the treasures to be found on Mount Krampus are at the shelters. And should you pass on them for greater rewards ahead, you risk losing everything if you fail!
Some say that on the very summit of Mount Krampus lies a stash of Grinchlin loot that may contain treasures none have ever seen before...
Objective:
The Grinchlins have sabotaged Winterfest for the last time. Take the fight to them!
Gate Map
Depth: 0
Level Link: This mission's lobby is a special prep area at the base of Mount Krampus unique to this mission.
Depth: Depends on rank
Level Link: Ascent is unique to this mission.
Depth: Depends on rank
Level Link: Summit is unique to this mission.
Notes
This danger mission was introduced 11 December 2013 during the 3rd Winterfest.
The player must be ranked Defender (7-1) to host this mission.
Unlike most levels, the elevator animates going up instead of down. This is because the player is "ascending" Mount Krampus, even though the next floor is a deeper depth. 
: Players hypothesize that the mountain is upside-down in the Clockworks, but it is enormous and has its own gravity generator, so when it is stood upon, the perspective is of a properly oriented mountain. Thus, players can climb up a mountain while descending into deeper depths.
Mount Krampus alludes to Krampus, who punishes bad children during the winter holidays. Mount Krampus likely also alludes to Mount Crumpit from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinchlins and the Humbug Hat costume also allude to that work.
Gameplay
After most battle segments, the player has the option to loot Grinchlin Treasure Boxes and end the mission, or continue up the mountain for larger treasure caches. Every treasure cache cannot be looted in a single mission - the player must choose to loot or continue, not both. At the summit is the largest cache. This cache contains many boxes, one of which is the only source of the 4* trinket components for the Grand Solstice Ring.
If a Mender revives a Grinchlin Thwacker or a Grinchlin Scorcher, they will turn into the regular Darkfang version.
Strategy
Strategy DisclaimerBecause this Danger Mission pits the player against many different classes of monsters, there isn't a specific loadout that ensures a good defense against everything unless the player wishes to invest in Unique Variants.
The Maskeraith battle sprite is a popular choice for this mission due to its Deadly Shadow Cloak ultimate. This allows players to take down the final Battlepod quickly, when otherwise a respawning Mender and various deadly enemies make the task difficult. The Seraphynx is a popular choice for replenishing hp, and its 3rd ability allows speedrunning past hazards.
Ensure you have high fire and freeze resistance, with more focus on fire. Equip an elemental resistant helmet and armor. The fiends in this level are easily dealt with, so loadouts should not be too concerned with shadow defense.
The Omegaward is likely the best shield option because its defenses are excellent for this mission, and its movement speed penalty is hardly noticeable when the player has to deal with Mush Block and Falling Mush hazards throughout the mission. If the player does not have an Omegaward, then the Heater Shield or Grey Owlite Shield are good choices.
Weapons should deal elemental and shadow damage.
Battling to the summit mandates time and planning. The summit is not required for mission success. "Success" depends on accomplishing personal player goals. If the goal is simply to collect materials for crafting gear while maintaining Sparks of Life, players can spam the lower levels without going to the summit, choosing to loot the earlier caches and repeat. This is a good option if your game tends to lag, as the condensed hazards in this mission can take heavy tolls on your knight's hp at any given moment. The only reason to go to the summit repeatedly is to search for Silver or Gold solstice rings, challenge yourself, and/or find a balance between material collecting efficiency and personal time spent playing.
Gallery
Related news art.
The loading background for levels of Mount Krampus.
This lone Grinchlin Treasure Box has a chance to drop special loot.
