Fieldrunners 2 for iPad for iPad: Early Mazing and Choke Point Strategy

To survive the early open-field levels in Fieldrunners 2 for iPad for iPad, construct a central serpentine ("S-curve") maze using basic Gatling towers, then anchor hairpin turns with Glue towers. Ground units always take the shortest available open path to the exit. Lengthening their route across cheap defensive lines buys critical firing time, conserves initial funds, and creates controlled choke points before armored units appear.

Constructing Serpentine Mazes on Open Grids

Open battlefields require you to dictate the enemy march rather than reacting to preset roads. Ground forces automatically calculate the shortest unblocked route from spawn to your base exit.

Follow this placement procedure from wave one:

1. Start in the center: Begin building in the middle of the grid rather than at the spawn gate or base entrance. A central footprint leaves room to extend rows in either direction as wave sizes scale.
2. Form alternating horizontal rows: Place continuous horizontal lines of Gatling towers with alternating openings on the left and right edges. This layout forces units to weave back and forth across the screen.
3. Check the path indicator: Before confirming each tower drop, check the projected enemy path line. Ensure the placement extends the overall walk distance instead of causing enemies to bypass your firing zone.
4. Maintain an open exit: The game prevents you from sealing the exit entirely, but placing a tower carelessly can trigger pathfinding to reroute enemies down a completely empty outer flank.

[Enemy Spawn]
      │
┌─────▼───────────────────────────┐
│ [Gatling] [Gatling] [Gatling]   │ ◄── Forces wave to turn right
│                             │   │
│   ┌─────────────────────────┘   │
│   │ [Glue]    [Gatling] [Mortar]│ ◄── Forces wave to turn left
│   └─────────────────────────┐   │
│                             │   │ ◄── Extend rows downward
└─────────────────────────────┼───┘
                              ▼
                         [Base Exit]

Layering Gatling and Glue Towers

Gatling towers supply cost-effective single-target ballistic damage against early infantry, but their damage output falls off if fast enemies can sprint past them in straight lines. Pairing them with Glue towers creates high-efficiency kill zones.

• Glue towers at hairpin corners: Glue towers deal minimal direct damage, but their area-of-effect slowing field cuts movement speed. Place them directly on the inside or apex of 180-degree turns where enemy clusters must pivot.
• Overlapping crossfire lanes: Position Gatling towers along both sides of these slow zones so two or three turrets engage the same slowed target simultaneously.
• Backline spacing: Leave tile gaps behind your primary Gatling walls so long-range splash options, such as Mortar or Missile towers, can shell dense swarms without disrupting ground pathing.

Tactical Counters for Early Enemy Waves

Early stages rotate between three distinct ground threats. Adjust your focus based on the incoming wave:

When fast runners enter the wave order, stop extending the outer maze and upgrade your primary choke-point Gatlings. Upgrades increase both range and firing rate, ensuring low-health runners die before exiting the corridor. For heavy armor, ensure your maze loops back toward your upgraded core to force vehicles through the same kill zone twice.

Treasury Management and Upgrade Timing

To maintain damage scaling without running out of funds:

1. Build a three-row baseline: Spend initial funds exclusively on un-upgraded Gatling towers until you have formed at least three alternating horizontal rows.
2. Halt outward expansion: Once the baseline path is established, stop building new low-tier walls at map edges.
3. Upgrade central intersections: Invest coins into upgrading established towers at the highest-traffic junctions. Upgraded central turrets offer significantly better damage per coin than perimeter towers that only fire for a few seconds.
4. Avoid isolated single towers: Never drop lone towers in open space to redirect units. Every structure must actively shape the lane while continuously engaging targets.