Exploration

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One of the tasks for knights is exploration of the Clockworks by joining in parties going down through gates. While in the Clockworks, knights will encounter many interesting things.

Use the mini map to detect monsters and areas. Utilize the icons of Gate Maps to predict what might be encountered while exploring.

Map Features

There are many wonders to witness on Cradle. The clockworks is a dynamic place, so certain objects might be found in abundance in some areas, while others are only found in a few or even a single area. An area can have different numbers of these objects than were encountered previously in that area, forcing players to pay attention to their surroundings.

Many entities encountered are interactive, while others are not. Stone carvings can obscure switches, but are not themselves interactive. Below are lists of entities that are either interactive, and/or have a dynamic effect on the player. Other entities that are simply aesthetic, or are more complex and linked to elsewhere on this page, are not included in these lists.

The names in this list are mostly colloquial, though some do have an official name that appears if the entity is targeted.

Carried

The following entities can be picked up by the player and carried to another location. They are either set down or thrown. If the player takes direct damage, the entity will be dropped.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Clay Pot
A pot for smashing. Throw it to hit switches, or just to have fun smashing.

A common sight in the clockworks, these pots serve as a means to complete many puzzles, a lucky break for knights who neglect to bring long-range projectiles.

Example visual
Cursed Nature Sprite
A cursed Nature Sprite. Carry it to a purifying area, or splash it with a water pot.
Example visual
Ember
Throw them at a candle to light it. Encountered in Candlestick Keep areas and The Grasping Plateau. Unlike water pots, they do not have an artistic generator, simply using a respawn pad.
Example visual
Fire Pot
A pot containing a self-igniting substance. Throw it at something to set it on fire!

Low danger: you can set your friends on fire if you're not careful.

Example visual
Gold Key
A large golden key. It unlocks a Gold Gate somewhere.
Example visual
Heavy Statue
A large heavy statue. Put it on a pressure plate somewhere in the area, or use it to block monsters.
Example visual
Oil Pot
A pot containing flammable oil. Throw it at something to break it - this will spill oil everywhere. Set that oil on fire!

Low danger: you can set your friends on fire if you're not careful.

Many areas containing oil pots seem to be mostly populated by enemies that are immune to fire.

Example visual
Water Pot
A glob of water generated from a water well. Use it to put out a fire pit or shadow fire in the area. Encountered in the same areas that water wells are, though water pots without a "bowl" or "well" are encountered in Interface-icon-PvE.png Dangerous Mission: Compound 42.
Example visual
Bomb Shell
A 1x1 rocket-like object that can be thrown. Explodes on impact.

First seen ???

Can be encountered in the Interface-icon-PvE.png Dangerous Mission: Compound 42, 1-2 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: The Ancient Generator, and 4-3 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Shocking Sentient Sentries.


Enemy Aid

The following entities directly aid enemies in some way, with no other obvious purposes.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Grim Totem
1x1 object that pulses with eerie purple light.

Grim Totems will resurrect any nearby Zombies killed within its radius. These totems cannot be destroyed, but (if they can be reached) they can be carried by the player to another location to allow for easier zombie slaying.

Example visual
Healing Totem
A strange device holding a mineral-like object. It will heal nearby enemies. They can be destroyed, but are on fast spawner pads in these areas. The colors seem to reflect the Tier in which the totem is located, a behavior akin to the the similar objects in gremlin mender wands. Tier 1: greenish yellow. Tier 2: Orange. Tier 3: Purple.

Can be encountered in certain fiendish arcade areas during the March of the Tortodrones event. Several are encountered in Shadowplay.

First seen 26 February 2014.


Hazards

The following entities will harm or hinder the player in some way, usually severely. A few will also harm nearby monsters.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Brambles
A tangle of plants with grey thorns that will damage the player if touched.
Example visual
Brambles (Poison)
A tangle of plants with green thorns that will damage and possibly poison the player if touched.
Example visual
Explosive Block
1x1 light-emitting blocks that explode violently if struck, hurting both knights and monsters alike.

Stuttering Mecha Knights will trigger these.

Example visual
Fire Grate
Fire rises from this grate periodically. Players can walk across inactive grates and not take damage from the hazards within.

This hazard deals significant damage if touched while active, and is very likely to set players on fire.

Example visual
Fire Pit
A very hazardous batch of fire. Encountered in the Interface-icon-PvE.png Dangerous Mission: Compound 42, 1-4 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Crossing the Chasm, Interface-icon-PvE.png Dangerous Mission: Legion of Almire, Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer, The Grasping Plateau, and certain Lockdown maps. Can be put out with a water pot, if one is available. It is similar to the shadow fire encountered in the Firestorm Citadel.
Example visual
Floor Spikes
Conical spikes rise up from the round holes in this grate periodically. They inflict a large amount of piercing damage. Players can walk across inactive grates and not take damage from the hazards within.

A rare version of this trap inflicts stun instead of dealing damage. This phenomenon can be encountered in the kat nest of the Interface-icon-PvE.png Event Mission: Purr Terror and certain Lockdown maps.

Example visual
Freeze Grate
Frigid air rises from this grate periodically. Players can walk across inactive grates and not take damage from the hazards within.

This hazard deals significant damage if touched while active, and is very likely to freeze players.

This freeze is likely lasting, so this trap will slowly kill most knights, even if they are caught at full health. If your allies are trapped on this grate, free them immediately by breaking the ice that binds them. Very low level traps can be explored with impunity if the player has high enough freeze resistance.

Example visual
Orbital Chain
A dangerous chain orbits a fixed point. There are several variations in length, status type, and orbit speed of this hazard that can be encountered.

There are spots between each orb in a chain where the player can avoid damage as the chain passes by, but these are usually hard to utilize, so it's best to just avoid the chain.

Example visual
Poison Grate
Noxious fumes rise from this grate periodically. Players can walk across inactive grates and not take damage from the hazards within.

This hazard deals significant damage if touched while active, and is very likely to poison players.

Example visual
Respawn Pad
A tile that perpetually produces entities. The respawn rate can be different speeds in different areas, and this rate is somewhat indicated by the speed of the rotating arrows. As a rule of thumb, if there is a pad with nothing on top of it in the first place, it will spawn a monster. If it did have something on top, it will spawn whatever that thing was (usually). Don't idle on these pads - your knight can get a bit hurt when blocks respawn. Instead, avoid it or shield on it to block the spawn. This is handy to help your friends get through areas while carrying things.

If it is a monster spawner, usually shielding over it will prevent the enemy from spawning, but this doesn't work for all spawners.

Example visual
Shock Grate
Exposed wires surge with power periodically. Players can walk across inactive grates and not take damage from the hazards within.

This hazard deals significant damage if touched while active, and is very likely to shock players.

Example visual
Shadow Fire
A very hazardous batch of fire very frequently encountered in the Firestorm Citadel. Put it out with a water pot - you'll need to help the Nature Sprites to have access to water. Frequently called "lava" by the community.
Example visual
Timed Explosive Block
1x1 light-emitting blocks that count down from 3 and then explode violently if struck, hurting both knights and monsters alike.

Stuttering Mecha Knights will trigger these.

Example visual
Wheel Launcher

An armored device that periodically spits out a large wheel. This wheel crushes players and monsters alike, pushing them in front of it for yet more crushing. Unlike other exploration entities, it has weaknesses and resistances similar to the Construct monster family. Destroy it from behind, or block the wheel with a Cursed Nature Sprite, Heavy Statue, or Grim Totem, if any are available.

Encountered in the Firestorm Citadel and the Interface-icon-PvE.png Event Dangerous Mission: Grinchlin Assault!

Example visual
Missile Launcher
A block that periodically launches an explosive missile. Try to turn them off with a green missile button.

Encountered in the Ironclaw Munitions Factory, Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer, and certain Compound areas.

First seen with release 2011-07-06.

Example visual
Unused Rocket
When hit, they will flash and then explode, dealing damage in a 2 tile radius. They do not damage nearby Empty Rockets.

Encountered in the Ironclaw Munitions Factory and the Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer.

First seen with release 2011-07-06.

Example visual
Barbed Wire
Hazardous tangles of wire.

Can be encountered in the Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer, certain Compound areas, and rank mission arenas.

Example visual
Landmine
A hidden bomb that is activated by a player walking nearby. The bomb is not visible, but it's marked by distinctive tiles of a darker hue. Its fuse length is similar to that of Gremlin Demo bomb. Encountered in the Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer.
Example visual
Barbed Hedgehog
Hazardous caltrop-shaped barriers that can be removed with a single hit.

Can be encountered in 10-1 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Crimson Chaos, and ??? (Sputterspark missions, a few other areas)

Example visual
Misery Block
A family of 1x1 unbreakable spike blocks that deal high damage if touched.

These are often found in large numbers during certain events and/or in dangerous areas. Several are encountered in Shadowplay.

First seen 11 December 2013.

Example visual
Mush Block
A family of 1x1 breakable blocks that break into a pile of mush. This mush lingers for a while and will significantly hinder movement speed.

These are often found in clusters. Ice slush and chilled frosting "mush" can be encountered in the event-exclusive Grinchlin Assault and A Gremlin in Knead prestige missions, respectively.

First seen 11 December 2013.

Example visual
Red Searchlight
Similar to aesthetic searchlights found elsewhere in the clockworks. These have a red tint and make a round pool of light on the ground. If the player walks into this lit area, several missiles will fall from above.

Found in the 2-3 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: The Collector and 10-1 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Crimson Chaos.

First seen with release 2013-07-30.

Example visual
Super Explosive Block
A blast block that generates several explosive globs when destroyed (even when removed via ghost block). Globs are similar to the ones generated by defeated Blast Cubes, a type of slime.

Can be encountered during the March of the Tortodrones event and Shadowplay.

First seen 26 February 2014.

Example visual
Vortex Block
A strange block that generates a relatively harmless vortex for a short time when struck. The vortex affects both knights and monsters.

Low danger: it can potentially drag knights through hazards or keep them in range of enemy fire.

Can be encountered during the March of the Tortodrones event and Shadowplay.

First seen 26 February 2014.

Example visual
Timed Super Explosive Block
A blast block that counts down and then generates several explosive globs when destroyed.

Globs are similar to the ones generated by defeated Blast Cubes, a type of slime.

Can be encountered during the March of the Tortodrones event in certain fiendish arcade areas as well as the related prestige mission.

First seen 26 February 2014.

Example visual
Swarm Spikes
A malignant tangle of spikes hidden in the floor that respond to the presence of knights, similar to a landmine. They will spike up a moment or two after you step where they are - don't linger too long in one spot or follow the footsteps of friends.

Encountered in Core areas.

First seen with release 2015-05-13.


Loot Yielding

The following entities, unless otherwise specified, will yield a crown of some value, a heart, or nothing when broken.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Breakable Tombstone
A 1x1 object that can be broken with a single hit. A crown of some value will drop.

These grave markers are encountered in Graveyard areas. Nonbreakable versions will not have glowing green cracks. Some gravestones (breakable or not) have a mound of soil near them. Keep an eye on these - a mound might spawn a zombie as you approach, or as you walk away.

Breakable Tombstones in The Grasping Plateau are similar to spawners, containing either Souls, Pale Scarabs, Freezing Bombies, or nothing.

Example visual
Bucket
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Always encountered in Ironclaw Munitions Factory and Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer. Certain Clockwork Tunnels and Scenario Rooms have them as well. The bucket in the core terminal was removed for unknown reasons.

Example visual
Bush
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

These plants have a much lower drop rate than other loot-yielding breakables, usually yielding nothing. They have a very small chance of dropping a single crown.

Vividly colored versions are encountered in Compounds.

Example visual
Fence
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Encountered in the Firestorm Citadel.

Example visual
Hydrant
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Encountered in Concrete Jungle, Devilish Drudgery, and Dark City areas.

Example visual
Lamp
Break for a chance to find minor loot. Short or tall varieties can be encountered.

Encountered in arcade Arenas, Firestorm Citadel, and Scarlet Fortress areas.

Example visual
Mailbox
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Encountered in Concrete Jungle, Devilish Drudgery, and Dark City areas.

Example visual
Plant
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Plants can be found on almost any level with grass. They are found in abundance in Aurora Isles and Jigsaw Valley areas.

The Potted Plant furniture for decorating Guild Halls has a similar appearance.

Example visual
Tome Stack
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Found in Candlestick Keep and Scarlet Fortress areas. Not all stacks are breakable.

Tome Stack furniture items are similar.

First seen with release 2011-09-06.

Example visual
Antique Chair
Break for a chance to find minor loot.

Found in Candlestick Keep areas. Not all seats are breakable.

Antique Chair furniture items are similar.

First seen with release 2011-09-06.

Example visual
Cabinet
Break open for a chance to find minor loot.

Encountered in certain Compound areas.


Mechanisms

The following entities will cause a change when triggered, are connected to something that causes a change, or simply an integral part of the clockworks. They usually play important roles in puzzles. Others are obstacles that need to be overcome.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Button
A round red button that triggers a change. They are usually connected to gates. Other buttons trigger monster spawns.
Example visual
Crystal Block
A family of 1x1 crystalline blocks that break each other if one of them is broken, as long as they are touching (a chain) and are the same color.

Single blocks are often used to conceal mechanisms such as buttons.

Example visual
Force Field
Attacks performed through a force field will not inflict damage. These barriers will turn into pinkish-purple X's and prevent progress if the player is carrying an item.

Many force fields are one-way, and often protect players at the start of a level. Others protect NPCs in the field, or make certain puzzles a bit complicated.

Monsters cannot pass through most force fields (an exception includes Bombies in the second combat floor of Legion of Almire), though Tier 3 Wolvers can burrow past them. Some monsters can glitch past a force field as well, witnessed often with the sun scarabs in 10-2 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Shadowplay.

Example visual
Gate
A gate blocking progress. Find a button or a switch to progress.
Example visual
Monster Gate
A gate blocking progress. Defeat monsters in the area to progress.
Example visual
Energy Gate
A gate blocking progress. Open it with energy.

The topic of this article or section is subject to personal opinion, and does not represent any one absolute truth. If you disagree, discuss your concerns on the the talk page before editing.: It is usually not frugal to open these. Some gated areas are not behind walls - try popping the boxes with a ranged weapon or pickup to see if it's worth it! Danger Rooms are usually worth fighting through, if they're in a depth that has drops the player desires.

Example visual
Gold Gate
A gate blocking progress. Find and carry a Gold Key to the gate, then put the key down very close to the gate to progress.
Example visual
Ghost Block
1x1 light-emitting blue blocks with symbols on the sides.

Most types of blocks connected to a ghost block by at least one other block (a connective chain) will poof away if said ghost block is destroyed.

Careful! This poofing property also applies to Treasure Boxes! This plays a role in several minor puzzles.

Example visual
Pressure Plate
1x1 plates that activate when something heavy is on top. Find a Heavy Statue somewhere in the area or stand on it.
Example visual
Switch
A round switch that will allow or deny access. Yellow or purple coloration indicates that the switch can be toggled, or that the switch is on a timer. Red and green indicate the switch can only be hit once. Green indicates it can't be struck again - it has been activated.
Example visual
Button (Missile)
A round button with a rocket symbol. It turns off rocket launchers in the Ironclaw Munitions Factory, Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer, and certain Compound areas.
Example visual
Switch (Munitions)
A round switch that will raise or lower purple or yellow barriers in the Ironclaw Munitions Factory when struck.
Example visual
Pressure Plate (Statue)
1x1 plates that only activate when a Heavy Statue is placed on top. Find one somewhere in the area.

Can be found in The Grasping Plateau and the 10-1 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Breaking in the Recruits.

Was likely introduced with release 2013-10-23.

Example visual
Rocket Block
A family of 1x1 launchers that send off a rocket when attacked. The light on top changes color:
  • Green: can be hit to launch a rocket.
  • Red: a rocket is active, reloading another rocket - will not activate if hit.
  • Yellow: can only be activated if hit by a rocket.
First seen with release 2015-02-11.
Example visual
Unbreakable Crystal Block
A family of 1x1 crystalline blocks that break each other if one of them is broken, as long as they are touching (a chain) and are the same color.

This type cannot be destroyed unless a regular crystal block of the same color is touching them.

First seen with release 2015-02-11.


Miscellaneous

This list consists of entities that can be interacted with, but don't really fall into other categories.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Breakable Block
A family of basic 1x1 blocks can be broken by a single damaging attack of any kind. Aesthetic variations can be encountered in different areas.

Perhaps they are meant to be large bits of rubble, junk, or debris, as they seem to be more aesthetic features than obstacles most of the time.

Example visual
Stone Block
Ghost blocks will remove these blocks. A family of 1x1 boulders that can be broken with three hits. Rarely, hitting a boulder might disturb a hidden Rock Jelly.
Example visual
Unbreakable Block
Ghost Blocks will remove these blocks. A family of 1x1 blocks that cannot be broken by regular attacks. Aesthetic variations can be encountered in different areas.

With release 2013-04-03 art for the default variation was changed.

Example visual
Empty Rocket
Empty Rockets must be hit twice to be broken.

Encountered in Ironclaw Munitions Factory and Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer.

Example visual
Hedgehog
Caltrop-shaped barriers that must be struck three times to be removed.

Encountered in Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer and rank mission arenas.


Player Aid

The following entities directly aid the player in some way, with no other obvious purposes. Some are even placed by NPCs.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Energy Mecha Knight
A Mecha Knight that will fight by your side if provided with 5 energy. This entity is similar to the one produced by using a Mecha Knight Kit pickup. Kits don't require energy and are found randomly.
Example visual
Mecha Turret

A turret that fires a laser beam, damaging enemies. Some require 5 energy to activate, while others are already ready to rumble. This entity is similar to the one produced by using a Auto Turret Kit pickup. Kits don't require energy and are found randomly, though they expire after several minutes of use and can be destroyed by monsters.

The topic of this article or section is subject to personal opinion, and does not represent any one absolute truth. If you disagree, discuss your concerns on the the talk page before editing.: The benefits of activating this entity are not worth 5 energy. Players usually only activate these "for fun."

Example visual
Respawning Hearts
A tile that restores your knight's HP if you stand on top of it. The heal rate can be fast or slow in different areas.

They can be found in the Advanced Training Hall, certain Lockdown maps, Subtowns, in between Arenas, before Bosses, and very slow spawners can be found in the Firestorm Citadel.

Example visual
Respawning Hearts (Blue)
A tile that restores your knight's HP if you stand on top of it. It also cures status, indicated by its Remedy Capsule-like coloration.

They can be found in the Private Training Hall and the locker rooms of Lockdown matches.

Example visual
Danger
A module warning about perils ahead. Some mark dangerous areas. Others contain messages.
Example visual
Information
A module containing information about the area.
Example visual
Recon Module
A Recon Module contains vital information and/or small bits of stories. They can be read via the artifact section of the player's arsenal after acquisition.
Example visual
Water Well
Generates water pots. Encountered in the Firestorm Citadel and The Grasping Plateau. A version of this entity in Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer will not generate more water pots. Standing in the grassy area around wells associated with Nature Sprites will cure the player's status ailments.
Example visual
Candle
Find and throw an ember onto a candle to light it. Yellow candles will stay lit for around 30 seconds. Blue candles will stay lit forever. Lighting a candle provides light as well as a safe area from Grimalkin in keeps. This area tends to be much larger for yellow candles. Some candles will trigger mechanisms when lit and/or when their light expires.

Encountered in: Candlestick Keep areas, rarely in Graveyards in this scenario room, and occasionally in The Grasping Plateau as part of a puzzle.

First seen with release 2011-09-06.

Example visual
Beast Bell
A bell left by NPCs to aid in combat. Active ones play an important role in the Gloaming Wildwoods and using one correctly is required to defeat the Snarbolax. One can be seen in the northern area of the Lab.

Hit it to ring it - any wolvers or bunnies in range will be inflicted with stun.

First seen with release 2011-06-02.


Spawners

The following entities will spawn monsters. Some will spawn continuously or only once.

Example Name Notes
Example visual
Grave Mound
A suspicious mound of soil that might spawn a zombie as you approach, or as you walk away. They are guaranteed to be encountered in Graveyard areas, but not The Grasping Plateau. During the Dark Harvest Festival, they might spawn a Grim Scarab instead of a zombie.
Example visual
Monster Cage
1x1 object that releases a random monster when broken.

The topic of this article or section is subject to personal opinion, and does not represent any one absolute truth. If you disagree, discuss your concerns on the the talk page before editing. It would be best to break these with a ranged weapon or bomb, because monsters that come out will usually attack immediately.

Example visual
Swarm Portal
Allows the entry of swarm entities. Any swarm-infected monster above these dark portals will have their defenses increased until they are invulnerable.

Encountered in the Unknown Passage.

First seen with release 2011-10-19.

Example visual
Bunker
An armored point of entry for Gremlin forces protected by barbed wire. Permanently disable it by shooting or throwing something into the door. Disabled bunkers appear damaged and the entrance is blocked by a hazardous fire pit.

First seen with release 2012-02-29.

Encountered in Interface-icon-PvE.png Expansion Mission: Operation Crimson Hammer.

Example visual
Busted Floor
A suspicious hole in the floor. Usually, nasty mini monsters (Dust Bunnies, Glop Drops, or Scarabs) will crawl out and make a fuss.

It is a special monster spawner frequently encountered in Compounds. Variations (single tile, decorated) are seen in other areas.

First seen with release 2012-05-09.

Example visual
Fiend Gate
A suspicious sigil that continuously spawns what appears to be a portal. Fiends come through it into battle.

Destroy this portal whenever it appears to reduce the flood of fiendish forces.

First seen 26 February 2014.

Example visual
Burrow
A hole in the floor. Wolvers will occasionally come out.

First seen with release 2015-02-11. Encountered in the 10-1 Interface-icon-PvE.png Mission: Breaking in the Recruits.

Example visual
Swarm Sphere
A peculiar black sphere encountered somewhat frequently in areas of the Core. Be careful, it will spawn a monster corrupted by The Swarm if struck, similar to the Monster Cage.

Encountered in Core areas.

First seen with release 2015-05-13.


General Exploration

Items

Items are frequently dropped from map features, monsters, and treasure boxes. Rarely, they are simply on the ground waiting to be picked up.

Monsters

Monsters are the denizens that reside within the ever-changing halls of the Clockworks. There are currently six "families" of monsters found within the Clockworks; Beasts, Fiends, Undead, Constructs, Gremlins and Slimes. Each family (besides Gremlins) has at least two different "species" with varying methods of attacks.

NPCs

Occasionally, the player will encounter friendly NPCs in the field, or need to rescue NPCs before resuming exploration.

Treasure Boxes

A lucky find! Treasure boxes always contain goodies such as coins, tokens, heat, pickups or, on rare occasions, tier-based equipment for the knight to loot. They come in red and green varieties, with the red ones being more rewarding (and less often found) than the green ones.

World

The appearance of the area the player is exploring will be different depending on a variety of factors. In general, deeper depths are darker unless the area is contained in a giant sphere with moon or sun bulbs, as with Lichenous Lairs, Wolver Dens, and a few other areas. The floor, walls, and many entities will change color according to the status theme. Many areas will also have relevant weather conditions. The Theme and Environment of a Guild Hall can be changed to mimic some of these appearances.

See Also

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