[Dungeon Defenders II] Mastery VII - Crumbled Bulwark (5 Stars)

Game: Dungeon Defenders II
Port: PC
Mastery Diff: M7
Map:: Crumbled Bulwark

Another No Anti-Air Map that isn't too difficult. You will have to pay attention to lanes as to avoid Air slipping through and costing you the Project Your Jewels affix. Luckily, the setup I usually use for APx farming with Flame Auras works perfectly here.

5 STAR REQUIREMENTS
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Survive all 5 waves
Both Crystal Cores must stay above 90% Health at all times
You cannot build Anti-Air Defenses
You cannot upgrade any defenses
Do all the above in 1 run

PLAN
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Due to the lack of anti-air defenses, you will need to use standard defenses, Auras, Traps and Nodes to slay the incoming Air before they reach your Cores or you will need to keep tabs on air units and slay them with your main Hero. If you do the latter, make sure your hero has a long range attack or ability to allow for this.

Using Auras, Nodes, and Traps will help you kill off most opposition before it reaches your Blockades. Weapon Manufacturers do a good job containing enemies in a small area and can possibly stunlock Kobolts if you have the Shocking Revelation servo. Long range defenses also help immensely. The Earthshatter, Volcano, Weapon Manufacturer, Obelisk and Dryad defenses can be setup to handle multiple lanes if placed correctly.

If a defense is about to fall, quickly fix it before it falls. You will need to make sure your Blockades can withstand maximum punishment on their own without upgrades. The Hardened and Fortitude Servos along with Fortification and Shielding Guard shards will help you with this.

Keep tabs on the Radar! Kobolts are easy to spot (orange air unit) and should be downed as soon as possible to avoid shut down of your other defenses. On Wave 5, there is a chance that Zapper will spawn and his explosion is not only larger, but his stun duration is longer as well. This guy must be destroyed as soon as possible. DO NOT PROVOKE OR CONFUSE IT! You can also use low cost defenses to bait them into divebombing them to protect your main line.

On wave 3 and onwards, you will be harassed by Dark Assassins. If you have any abilities to break yourself free, then use them. Otherwise, pull them near defenses that can kill them quickly or break their lock fast. On Wave 4 and 5, Hex Throwers will be added to the mix and must be slain as to avoid getting your defenses Cursed.

Aside from Kobolts, you will have to be vigilant against Hex Throwers, Snooki and Kobolds as they can still do considerable damage to your defenses. Witherbeasts can also pose a problem if you got a meat wall in front of your defenses. These things can also be a problem when a Cannon Ogre or a boss spawns alongside them.

HYPER SHARD RECOMMENDATION
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Hyper Destruction - Any tower that is either facing bosses or handling multiple lanes or a specific one that is in most or all lanes.

Vicious Strikes - Anything that benefits from the increased range.

Radiant Critical Power - The hero you will be most active with. Fight near your auras, traps and nodes or use ranged near your towers to take full effect of this.

Explosive Shielding Guard - Whichever Blockade will benefit from the Shielding and Explosive effects. Preferably one that is in multiple lanes.

Thunderstruck - Your most active hero, preferably one with high offensive power. This is a useful shard when trying to keep Dark Assassins pacified long enough to kill them before they disappear.

Destructive Pylon - Any tower you feel will benefit from this.

Automation - Your main blockade.

CHARACTERS
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Lenneth (Dryad) - Hero DPS (World Tree, Angry Ninbus)
Yojimbo (Squire) - Hero DPS (Spike Blockade)
Tsumiko Kuri (Initiate) - AP DPS (Flame Aura)
Shilf (Huntress) - AP DPS (Poison Dart Tower)
Mishera (Adept) - AP DPS (Earthshatter Tower)