Phage+Wars+2+Walkthrough

=__Phage Wars 2 Walkthrough__=

//Figure 1. The testing area with every level beaten.//

//Contents//
1. Beginning Your Journey 2. Overview 3. Basic Strategy 4. The Stats

Beginning Your Journey
So you just opened up Phage Wars 2 and decided you want to beat all the levels in the game as well as unlock everything available. The good news for you is that this is a pretty easy task. Perhaps __too easy__. The only thing your going to need to succeed is a list of the basic strategies, and a general description of the game phases. Don't get us wrong, there are a few difficult battles along the way, but with the very generous ability to modify your stats using __Gene Proteins__ it's possible to beat the game in under an hour without even using this guide. For those of you who want to beat the game to 100% completion and develop the strategies needed to take on the __Challenges__, though, you'll need to read on.

First, some basic information. The Phage Wars 2 levels are divided into 8 Phases, each represented by a particular bacteria culture name. Each of these cultures has 4 Testing Areas (or nodes) branching off of it, and each node is a single level in the game (represented in the diagram as a letter followed by a number.) Each separate phase introduces a new __Cell Type__ with it that considerably changes the strategy of the levels. When a new Phase is unlocked, you immediately have access to all 4 nodes and can choose to complete then in any order you decide. As a general principle, it is usually advantageous to complete the nodes in a Phase from the upper most node to the lower most. For instance: in the Light Culture phase, you would play a1, then a2, a3 etc. There are exceptions to this formula however, as it is sometimes better to complete a more difficult node to get a powerful Gene Protein to aid in beating the earlier levels of that phase.

Overview
//Figure 2. Light Culture Map 1a//

Before you take on any advanced strategies and theories, it is important to master the basics. In order to do so you need to understand how the information is presented in the walk-through. In this guide, each level in the game is represented by a screenshot like the one above. In the diagrams, the starting cell where the player begins is represented by blue. Cells outlines in green are key cells, and represent any cell that is important or crucial in the level. Other cells are labeled by numbers or letters for easy reference. Each page for the Phases contains a walk-through of the 4 nodes and gives advice on virus builds to beat each level.

**Unit Movement**
At the beginning of every level, you enter the field with a medium sized cell that contains 100 units. From this cell, you can move half of your units to any other cell on the map. When you move your units to another cell, half the total number on the cell is directed to move. For example, if you direct a cell with 100 units to another area, 50 units will be moved. Thus, the game is literally about dividing and conquering more strategically than your opponent does. There are a few concepts surrounding cell movement that impact strategy:


 * Number Tracking -** Beating a level in Phage Wars requires knowing which of your cells are vulnerable at any given time. Tracking the number of units you have on each cell by scanning the map is an important skill to learn in order to be successful. Once you send units to attack or fortify a position, don't just sit there and watch them move across the map. Instead, constantly switch your focus to every part of the level and notice which areas need your attention. A big part of number tracking is making sure that you don't move units from a cell which is already vulnerable. If you move units off a cell that leaves the position open for an easy take-over, you can begin reproducing at a lower rate than your opponents, which can have disastrous consequences.

**Reproduction is Key**
Phage Wars is a game of input versus output - The only way to win is to produce more cells than you lose, and destroy more cells than the opponent creates. If you can achieve this balance correctly, even the hardest levels in the game become easy. Over time, the number of units you have on each cell increases until it reaches maximum capacity. There are a 3 factors that effect the rate at which units are produced on a cell. The first is cell size. The bigger the cell is in size, the faster it will produce units. This is why the big cells on a level are usually the location of heated battles. Second, the number of units on a cell effects its reproduction rate. The more units currently on a cell the faster they are produced. Cells with 1-20 units are particularly vulnerable because they are easily taken over by larger units and they produce slowly: making them easy targets for your opponent.

When you first start a level, there is a small pause before you are able to take control of your starting cell. These few seconds let the player scan the map in order to decide on a overall game plan. When you first see a map, there are a few things to immediately recognize. The first is where the biggest cell on the map is. This is important because //bigger cells reproduce faster.// The more cells you have at your disposal in the early game usually dictates how easy or difficult the end game will be. Before the introduction of __Cancer Cells__, any boost to your reproduction stat is especially important because you do not have many gene proteins to modify your DEF. Another important factor to remember is that your starting cell has a slight DEF and REP boost. Retreating to your starting cell after an enemy attack can be a viable strategy if utilized correctly. Because the first few phases are against enemies with relatively weak stats, the games are more about perfect strategy than exploiting weakness, and reproduction is the most important part of employing a winning strategy.