Introduction
In November 2023, Age of Apes launched Version 0.59.0, unveiling a new minigame called Subterranean, which redefined the game’s strategic landscape. Initially dismissed by many players due to its resemblance to the less popular Treasure Dig, the Subterranean minigame has quickly proven itself to be a game-changer. In this post, we’ll explore what makes Subterranean unique and how it has become an essential part of every strategist’s toolkit moving forward.
What Is The Subterranean Minigame?
The Subterranean minigame takes place underground, featuring a gameplay format similar to Treasure Dig. Players are tasked with navigating mines of different levels and completing building objectives as a gang, competing to reach the highest percentage of completion before the timer expires.
Like in Treasure Dig, players mine nodes, upgrade their minigame research, and clear paths to mutant bosses guarding sub-stage gates. Starting a level consumes mining licenses, with additional licenses required only for re-challenging the final boss. Each successful final boss defeat rewards the gang with a percentage boost in overall completion, based on the number of boss levels cleared. For instance, clearing all 5 levels of the final boss grants a larger completion boost than clearing only 3 levels.
This new minigame introduced two key strategic shifts:
- Foundation Buffs
- Earthquakers
Foundation Buffs
Previously, buffs in the game were activated by a gang’s occupation of above-ground objectives, divided into Gang and Outpost buffs. However, with the introduction of the Subterranean minigame, the most critical buffs have transitioned into Foundation buffs.
Foundation buffs are only activated for the gang that controls the underground objective, with no connection to the gang holding the above-ground building. This means that while an opposing gang may occupy the above-ground objective, they will not receive the Foundation buffs. These buffs are exclusively granted to the gang that secures control underground, making above-ground control unnecessary for receiving these benefits.
Earthquakers
Earthquakers, introduced with the Subterranean minigame, are a powerful and highly strategic tool for overall map and objective control. When a gang gains underground control of an Earthquaker, they unlock the ability to activate it, unleashing seismic waves that destroy all enemy distributors within a fixed radius. Conveniently, these Earthquakers are strategically positioned around key objectives on each map (Earth/Planetary Wars), making them essential for disrupting enemy operations and securing victory in critical areas.
When Earthquakers open, there’s a 24-hour contest period where gangs compete to achieve the highest percentage of completion to secure occupation. If players do not enter the Earthquakers, the 24-hour contest period will not start. This timer can be viewed on the Earthquaker tooltip. Once occupied, the Quaker follows the 3×3 rule: 3 days of occupation followed by 3 days unoccupied. This means a gang can control the Earthquaker for up to 3 days. If the occupying gang activates the seismic waves during their control, once the ability is completed, the Earthquaker enters a 3-day cooldown where it cannot be occupied. If the gang chooses not to activate the ability, the Earthquaker will still enter the 3-day cooldown after the occupation period ends.
How Did It Change Strategy?
The shift from Gang buffs to Foundation buffs has made Subterranean Warfare a critical aspect of battle strategy. By focusing on the Subterranean minigame, gangs can now secure vital combat-related buffs without depleting resources on capturing above-ground objectives. This change has redefined the purpose of controlling above-ground buildings, which are now more important for map control rather than for securing buffs. Additionally, the introduction of Earthquakers near key objectives adds a layer of counterplay, posing a serious threat to teams that overlook the significance of Subterranean Warfare.
Conclusion
The Subterranean minigame introduced in Version 0.59.0 of Age of Apes has revolutionized the way gangs approach strategy. By shifting critical Gang buffs underground and introducing powerful Earthquakers, players are now forced to rethink their priorities on the battlefield. What was once a war focused above ground has now transformed into a multi-layered battle where underground control can make or break a gang’s success. Subterranean Warfare is not a mere side game but an essential tool for any serious strategist looking to gain the upper hand in both combat and objective-based map control. As the game evolves, mastering this new dynamic will be essential, and when executed flawlessly, it will give you the edge needed to dominate the competition.
