10 Tough-As-Nails Strategy Game Missions That Made You Wave The White Flag

Conquest survivors will inevitably point to Den Of Betrayal or Unhappy Reunion as the most teeth-grindingly difficult missions in the game. But Eternal Stairway is the real sleeper evil.

Your objective is simplicity itself: move all your units safely from the foot of the stairway to the top. The execution, however, is anything but.

The centre of the stairway is blocked, creating four tiers with narrow choke points to either side, thereby forcing you to take a long, zig-zag course through the level. If this sound ominous, it is. Each tier is host to hard-hitting ranged units which will proceed to mercilessly pummel your forces even as they’re desperately trying to punch their way through chokepoints now clogged by enemy monsters. Worse, the enemy is reinforced every turn, some appearing behind, and some before, forcing you to get a move on lest you be crushed between them.

Your only saving grace are Dragon Veins, which temporarily disable enemy units and halt reinforcements. But they’re sparse, only Royals can use them, and if you miss one you’re in for a world of hurt.

Best to play this one on your bed, so that when you throw your console down in a rage, it lands on something soft.