Lanterns

Play Lanternfall

Twelve lanterns, each with three upgrade paths, three ascension types and up to two merges.

Contents

• At a glance
• How upgrades work
• Mastery
• Spark
• Cinder
• Frost
• Lance
• Venom
• Sapling
• Bolt
• Beacon
• Comet
• Moonwell
• Hollow Bell
• Eclipse

At a glance

Lantern	Role	Cost	Damage	Rate	Range	Special	How to get it
Spark	Damage	30	6	2.2	2.3		Unlocked from the start
Cinder	Area	55	13	0.75	2.1	splash 0.95	Unlocked from the start
Frost	Control	45	3	1.2	2	slows 40%	Lanterns page, 8 embers
Lance	Damage	50	11	0.9	2.7	pierces 4	Lanterns page, 12 embers
Venom	Control	50	2	1	2.2	poison 7/s	Lanterns page, 15 embers
Sapling	Support	60	–	–	–	passive	Lanterns page, 20 embers
Bolt	Area	80	16	0.7	2.6	chains 3	Lanterns page, 25 embers
Beacon	Support	70	–	–	–	passive	Lanterns page, 30 embers
Comet	Area	110	75	0.28	4.2	splash 0.7	Lanterns page, 40 embers
Moonwell	Damage	70	10	1	2.4	beam heats up	Season 1 Pass (or the Shop for 200 moonstones)
Hollow Bell	Control	90	12	0.55	1.9	freezes 0.5s	Season 1 Pass (or the Shop for 300 moonstones)
Eclipse	Damage	150	40	0.3	5	+6% max HP	Season 1 Pass (or the Shop for 450 moonstones)

Damage is per hit, fire rate is shots per second and range is in tiles. These are base numbers before upgrades, mastery, boons and camp upgrades.

How upgrades work

• Every lantern has three paths of five tiers. A lantern can only use two of its three paths: once two have upgrades, the third is locked. Max both to ascend. Each ascension is linked to a path (the first ascension to path 1, and so on), so the paths you pick decide which ascensions you can choose. Each ascension type can be on the board once at a time. The third path unlocks at mastery 40.
• Every tier also gives a core boost on top of its listed effect: about +17% damage and +0.05 range.
• Damage and fire-rate boosts from tiers are softened a little as they stack, and extra targets from multi-shot upgrades deal half damage.
• Tier prices are a multiple of the lantern's build cost: ×1.3, ×1.95, ×3, ×4.7 and ×7.4 for tiers 1 to 5, and then 15% more on top of that. Camp upgrades like Thrift and Appraiser lower them.
• Ascending needs both paths at tier 5 and costs 6× the build cost. You pick one of the lantern's ascension types: the first unlocks at mastery 30, the second at 50 and the third at 70.
• Merging two ascended lanterns of the same type and level makes Ascended II, then Ascended III. Each merge gives ×1.75 damage, ×1.2 fire rate and ×1.12 range.
• Selling refunds 60% of everything spent on the lantern.

Mastery

Every lantern has a permanent mastery level from 1 to 100. It goes up at the end of each run: 1 point per foe the lantern snuffed and 3 points per wave cleared for every lantern type you built (Studious adds more). Each level needs a little more than the last (12 + 3 × level points, about 16,000 for all 100 levels).

Mastery	Unlocks
1	Path 1, tiers 1–3
10	Path 2
20	Tier 4
30	Tier 5 and ascension
50	2nd ascension type
70	3rd ascension type
100	Radiant look
100	Mastery prestige

Each mastery level also adds +0.5% damage, and every 10 levels add +2% fire rate. Check a lantern's mastery road on the Lanterns page.

Mastery prestige. At mastery 100, prestige a lantern from its Mastery tab. It goes back to mastery 1 and gains a permanent +2% boost (damage, Sapling boost or Beacon boost), up to 10 times for +20%. Everything its mastery unlocked (path 2, tiers 4 and 5, every ascension and the Radiant look) stays unlocked, and account prestige never resets it.

Spark

Fast darts, one target.

Role: Damage · Cost: 30 gold · Get it: Unlocked from the start

Damage 6 · Fire rate 2.2/s · Range 2.3 tiles

• How it works: Fires fast darts at the foe furthest along the trail. Cheap, quick to build and good at picking off small, fast foes.
• Strong against: Swarms, wisps, bats and anything fast and fragile.
• Weak against: Heavy armor: every dart loses damage to it.
• Tip: Great as your first lantern. Pair it with an armor breaker or Venom once beetles show up.

Path 1: Sharpshooter

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Honed tips	+20% damage.	45	1
2	Keen aim	8% chance to crit for 3× damage.	67	1
3	Armor piercer	Ignores 3 armor.	103	1
4	Deadeye	+0.5 range and +8% crit chance.	162	20
5	Marksman	+35% damage. Crits hit for 3.5×.	255	30

Path 2: Rapid fire

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Quick hands	+15% fire rate.	45	10
2	Light darts	+15% fire rate.	67	10
3	Twin darts	Fires at 2 foes at once.	103	10
4	Hair trigger	+20% fire rate.	162	20
5	Spark swarm	Fires at 3 foes at once. +15% fire rate.	255	30

Ascensions (180 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Overcharge: Every 5th dart hits for 4× damage.
50	Static field: Darts mark foes: they take 20% more damage from every lantern for 2 seconds.
70	Starburst: Every dart bursts, hitting foes within 0.7 tiles for 60% damage.

Cinder

Embers that burst on impact.

Role: Area · Cost: 55 gold · Get it: Unlocked from the start

Damage 13 · Fire rate 0.75/s · Range 2.1 tiles · Splash 0.95 tiles

• How it works: Lobs embers that burst on impact and hurt every foe in the blast.
• Strong against: Tight clumps of foes, broods and splitting foes.
• Weak against: Lone, fast foes that slip between bursts.
• Tip: Place it where the trail bends back on itself so its bursts land on two lanes at once.

Path 1: Inferno

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Hotter coals	+20% damage.	82	1
2	Embers	Bursts burn foes for 2 seconds.	123	1
3	Napalm	Burns deal 80% more.	190	1
4	Firestorm	Bursts are 25% wider.	297	20
5	Hellfire	+50% damage and stronger burns.	468	30

Path 2: Bombardier

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Bigger shells	Bursts are 15% wider.	82	10
2	Quick fuse	+15% fire rate.	123	10
3	Concussion	Bursts stun regular foes for 0.2 seconds.	190	10
4	Long fuse	+0.6 range.	297	20
5	Carpet bomb	Fires at 2 foes at once.	468	30

Ascensions (330 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Wildfire: Bursts set foes ablaze, burning them for 3 seconds.
50	Scorched earth: Bursts leave fire on the trail for 3 seconds.
70	Meltdown: Bursts mark foes: they take 25% more damage from every lantern.

Frost

Chills and slows foes.

Role: Control · Cost: 45 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 8 embers

Damage 3 · Fire rate 1.2/s · Range 2 tiles · Slow 40% for 1.5s

• How it works: Chills foes so they move slower for a short time. Its damage is low.
• Strong against: Making every other lantern hit more often. Fast foes and bosses.
• Weak against: Foes that ignore slows, like Ice skaters and Ghosts.
• Tip: Put it at the start of your best kill zone, not at the end.

Path 1: Deep freeze

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Colder	Slows 8% more.	67	1
2	Lingering chill	Slows last 40% longer.	101	1
3	Brittle	Chilled foes take 15% more damage.	155	1
4	Permafrost	Slows 10% more.	243	20
5	Absolute zero	Freezes regular foes solid for 0.4 seconds.	383	30

Path 2: Blizzard

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Wide reach	+0.4 range.	67	10
2	Ice shards	+60% damage.	101	10
3	Frost nova	Shots splash 0.8 tiles, chilling everything nearby.	155	10
4	Quick freeze	+25% fire rate.	243	20
5	Hailstorm	Fires at 3 foes at once.	383	30

Ascensions (270 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Shatter: Slowed foes take 30% more damage from every lantern.
50	Glacier: Every shot leaves an icy patch that slows foes 50% for 3 seconds.
70	Winter’s heart: Lanterns within 1 tile fire 20% faster.

Lance

Spears pierce a line of foes.

Role: Damage · Cost: 50 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 12 embers

Damage 11 · Fire rate 0.9/s · Range 2.7 tiles · Pierces 4 foes

• How it works: Throws spears that pierce through a line of foes.
• Strong against: Long straight stretches packed with foes.
• Weak against: Corners and lone targets.
• Tip: Line it up with a straight run of trail so every spear passes through as many foes as possible.

Path 1: Impaler

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Barbed tips	+20% damage.	75	1
2	Long spear	Pierces 2 more foes.	112	1
3	Armor breaker	Ignores 4 armor.	172	1
4	Heavy shaft	+35% damage.	270	20
5	Executioner	Instantly finishes regular foes below 10% health.	425	30

Path 2: Volley

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Quick throw	+15% fire rate.	75	10
2	Reach	+0.5 range.	112	10
3	Twin spears	Throws at 2 foes at once.	172	10
4	Rapid volley	+20% fire rate.	270	20
5	Spear rain	Throws at 3 foes at once.	425	30

Ascensions (300 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Skewer: Spears pierce every foe in their path.
50	Bloodline: Spears mark foes: they take 20% more damage from every lantern.
70	War drums: Fires up to 60% faster the longer it keeps attacking.

Venom

Poison that ignores armor.

Role: Control · Cost: 50 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 15 embers

Damage 2 · Fire rate 1/s · Range 2.2 tiles · Poison 7/s

• How it works: Poisons foes. Poison ticks over time and ignores armor completely.
• Strong against: Armored foes and bosses with lots of health.
• Weak against: Foes that shrug off poison, like the Prism and Rime wraith.
• Tip: Mix it with fast hitters: Venom softens tough foes while the others finish them.

Path 1: Toxin

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Stronger poison	+30% poison.	75	1
2	Lingering toxin	Poison lasts 50% longer.	112	1
3	Corrosion	Poisoned foes take 15% more damage.	172	1
4	Lethal dose	+50% poison.	270	20
5	Neurotoxin	Poison also slows foes 30%.	425	30

Path 2: Spitter

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Quick spit	+15% fire rate.	75	10
2	Glob	Shots splash 0.6 tiles.	112	10
3	Acid pool	Shots leave a pool that hurts foes for 2 seconds.	172	10
4	Long range	+0.5 range.	270	20
5	Twin glands	Spits at 2 foes at once.	425	30

Ascensions (300 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Plague: Poisoned foes pass their poison on when they die.
50	Blight: Deals double damage to bosses, poison included.
70	Miasma: Every shot leaves a wide toxic cloud for 3 seconds.

Sapling

Grows stronger every wave and boosts nearby lanterns.

Role: Support · Cost: 60 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 20 embers

Passive: doesn't attack. It replaces the old Mint, and every Mint skin carried over to it.

• How it works: Starts small and grows one stage every wave it stands on the board, up to stage 20. Each stage gives lanterns within 1 tile more damage and fire rate.
• Strong against: Long runs, where it becomes one of the strongest boosts.
• Weak against: It adds no damage on its own and starts weak.
• Tip: Build it early. It only grows while it is on the board.

Roots: grows faster and can grow higher. Bloom: each stage gives more damage and fire rate. Canopy: starts with stages already grown, adds range to nearby lanterns, and reaches 1 tile farther.

Ascensions: Evergreen (grows twice as fast, 10 stages higher), Wild seed (nearby lanterns gain crit chance per stage), World tree (reaches farther, grows higher, more damage per stage).

Bolt

Lightning leaps between foes.

Role: Area · Cost: 80 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 25 embers

Damage 16 · Fire rate 0.7/s · Range 2.6 tiles · Chains to 3 foes

• How it works: Strikes one foe with lightning that leaps to several more nearby.
• Strong against: Packed groups and swarms of small foes.
• Weak against: Single targets, since the leaps are wasted.
• Tip: Its chain grows with upgrades and Conductor at camp.

Path 1: Overload

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Higher voltage	+20% damage.	120	1
2	Longer arcs	Chains to 1 more foe.	179	1
3	Superconductor	Chain hits lose almost no damage.	276	1
4	Arc reach	Chains to 1 more foe. +0.3 range.	432	20
5	Thunder	+50% damage.	681	30

Path 2: Tesla

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Capacitor	+15% fire rate.	120	10
2	Static shock	Stuns regular foes for 0.15 seconds.	179	10
3	Supercharge	+20% fire rate.	276	10
4	Forked bolt	Strikes 2 foes at once.	432	20
5	Tempest	Stuns for 0.3 seconds. +15% fire rate.	681	30

Ascensions (480 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Storm: Chains to 3 more foes and stuns each one briefly.
50	Ball lightning: Strikes mark foes: they take 20% more damage from every lantern.
70	Thunderhead: Deals double damage to bosses.

Beacon

Boosts the 8 tiles around it.

Role: Support · Cost: 70 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 30 embers

Passive: doesn't attack.

• How it works: Does not attack. It boosts the damage and fire rate of every lantern in the 8 tiles around it.
• Strong against: Surrounded by your strongest lanterns.
• Weak against: Sitting on its own.
• Tip: Plan a 3×3 block and put the Beacon in the middle.

Path 1: Brilliance

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Polished lens	Boost +5% damage.	105	1
2	Brighter flame	Boost +5% damage.	157	1
3	Far light	Reaches lanterns 2 tiles away.	241	1
4	Radiance	Boost +8% damage.	378	20
5	Blaze	Boost +12% damage.	596	30

Path 2: Signal

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Quickening	Boosted lanterns fire 5% faster.	105	10
2	Drumbeat	Boosted lanterns fire 5% faster.	157	10
3	Focus lens	Boosted lanterns get +0.3 range.	241	10
4	Rally	Boosted lanterns fire 8% faster.	378	20
5	Eagle eye	Boosted lanterns crit 10% of the time for 3×.	596	30

Ascensions (420 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Lighthouse: Boosts every lantern within 2 tiles.
50	Sun shrine: Boost +25% more damage.
70	Starlight: Boosted lanterns mark what they hit: +15% damage taken.

Comet

Slow, huge, long-range impacts.

Role: Area · Cost: 110 gold · Get it: Lanterns page, 40 embers

Damage 75 · Fire rate 0.28/s · Range 4.2 tiles · Splash 0.7 tiles

• How it works: Fires slow, huge impacts from very long range.
• Strong against: Bosses, big groups and covering lots of trail at once.
• Weak against: Fast foes, which can dodge its slow shots.
• Tip: Its range lets it sit far from the trail, so save the close tiles for short-range lanterns.

Path 1: Cataclysm

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Denser core	+20% damage.	164	1
2	Shockwave	Bursts are 20% wider.	247	1
3	Crater	Impacts leave burning ground for 3 seconds.	379	1
4	Heavy core	+40% damage.	595	20
5	Extinction	Impacts stun regular foes for 0.5 seconds.	936	30

Path 2: Meteor shower

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Orbit	+15% fire rate.	164	10
2	Far sight	+0.6 range.	247	10
3	Split comet	Drops on 2 foes at once.	379	10
4	Swift orbit	+20% fire rate.	595	20
5	Shower	Drops on 3 foes at once.	936	30

Ascensions (660 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Impact: Bursts are 60% wider and stun what they hit.
50	Black hole: Impacts leave a rift that slows foes 60% for 2 seconds.
70	Supernova: Instantly finishes regular foes below 15% health.

Moonwell

A beam that burns hotter the longer it holds one foe. Ignores armor. A shard of the hollow moon, caught in a well of still water.

Role: Damage · Cost: 70 gold · Get it: Season 1 Pass (or the Shop for 200 moonstones)

Damage 10 · Fire rate 1/s · Range 2.4 tiles

• How it works: Locks a beam onto one foe. The longer it holds the same foe, the hotter it burns. Ignores armor.
• Strong against: Bosses and tanky foes that stay in range.
• Weak against: Swarms, since the beam resets on each new foe.
• Tip: Place it where foes stay in range longest, like the inside of a U-bend.

Path 1: Lunar

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Silver light	+20% damage.	105	1
2	Quick heat	Heats up 40% faster.	157	1
3	Moonburn	The beam burns its target.	241	1
4	Hotter core	Heat climbs one step higher.	378	20
5	Blue moon	+50% damage.	596	30

Path 2: Tides

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Wide well	+0.4 range.	105	10
2	Undertow	The beam slows its target 20%.	157	10
3	Twin beam	Beams 2 foes at once.	241	10
4	High tide	+0.4 range.	378	20
5	Spring tide	Keeps its heat when it switches targets.	596	30

Ascensions (420 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Full moon: Heat builds twice as fast, up to 6× damage.
50	Moonmark: The beam marks its target: +25% damage from every lantern.
70	Crescent: Deals double damage to bosses.

Hollow Bell

Tolls to hit every foe nearby and freeze them in place. The bell from the moon’s empty heart. When it tolls, the swarm forgets how to move.

Role: Control · Cost: 90 gold · Get it: Season 1 Pass (or the Shop for 300 moonstones)

Damage 12 · Fire rate 0.55/s · Range 1.9 tiles · Freeze 0.5s

• How it works: Tolls to hit every foe nearby at once and freeze them in place for a moment.
• Strong against: Clumps of foes and buying time for your damage lanterns.
• Weak against: Bosses, which are only frozen briefly.
• Tip: Ring it next to your heavy hitters so frozen foes sit in their fire.

Path 1: Toll

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Heavier clapper	+20% damage.	135	1
2	Resonance	+0.3 range.	202	1
3	Deafening	Tolled foes take 15% more damage.	310	1
4	Bronze bell	+40% damage.	486	20
5	Cathedral	+0.4 range.	766	30

Path 2: Chime

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Long ring	Freezes last 25% longer.	135	10
2	Quick toll	+20% fire rate.	202	10
3	Echo	+25% fire rate.	310	10
4	Deep ring	Freezes last 30% longer.	486	20
5	Requiem	Tolled foes stay slowed 30% after they thaw.	766	30

Ascensions (540 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Grand toll: 30% more range and freezes last twice as long.
50	Sanctuary: Lanterns within 1 tile fire 20% faster.
70	Death knell: Instantly finishes regular foes below 12% health.

Eclipse

Strikes the healthiest foe in range for heavy damage plus 6% of its max health. The one thing the Moth Queen fears: the moon’s shadow, turned against her.

Role: Damage · Cost: 150 gold · Get it: Season 1 Pass (or the Shop for 450 moonstones)

Damage 40 · Fire rate 0.3/s · Range 5 tiles · +6% of max health

• How it works: Strikes the healthiest foe in range for heavy damage plus a share of its max health.
• Strong against: Bosses and the toughest foes in each wave.
• Weak against: Waves of many small foes.
• Tip: Let other lanterns handle the crowd. The Eclipse is your boss killer.

Path 1: Shadow

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Dark edge	+20% damage.	224	1
2	Gravity	+1% of max health per hit.	336	1
3	Void piercer	Ignores 6 armor.	518	1
4	Umbra	+35% damage.	811	20
5	Black sun	+2% of max health per hit.	1,276	30

Path 2: Corona

Tier	Upgrade	Effect	Cost	Mastery
1	Solar wind	+15% fire rate.	224	10
2	Long shadow	+0.5 range.	336	10
3	Solar flare	Strikes splash 0.8 tiles for 40% damage.	518	10
4	Quick dusk	+20% fire rate.	811	20
5	Twin suns	Strikes 2 foes at once.	1,276	30

Ascensions (900 gold)

Mastery	Ascension
30	Totality: Max-health damage doubles to 12%.
50	Event horizon: Strikes mark foes: +25% damage from every lantern for 3 seconds.
70	Sunfall: Deals 60% more damage to bosses.

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