Guildrun Backup Mechanics — Reserve Hero Value

Roster Size and Field Limits

Steam store copy and community guides agree on the numbers: three heroes at run start, five on the board at once, six total in your roster. You recruit the sixth hero through shops or events like any other — the constraint is that you cannot field everyone simultaneously.

Reserve placement is automatic — you do not manually drag a hero off the board to enable Backup. The game resolves which hero is benched based on roster management and your five field slots. Plan your sixth recruit knowing they may live on the bench for many fights while still affecting combat.

• Start: 3 heroes
• Field max: 5 heroes on hex grid
• Roster max: 6 heroes total
• Reserve: 1 hero — Backup effects still active

What Backup Effects Do

Backup is a keyword category on specializations, items, and relics that fires while a hero remains in reserve. Effects range from passive stat auras on fielded allies to bonus triggers at combat start, on-heal procs, or economy ticks between fights. Read tooltip text carefully — some Backup bonuses require the reserve hero to share a class tag or lovers bond with fielded allies.

Because Backup scales off heroes you are not positioning, it rewards thoughtful sixth picks that complement your axis without demanding a frontline tile. Economy and support archetypes often ship Backup-friendly specs — see hero roles for archetype definitions.

Drafting Your Sixth Hero

Common mistake: recruiting a sixth hero who duplicates your frontline without Backup value. Better pattern: recruit a support or utility hero whose Backup aura buffs your carry's trigger — shield generation for Kai-style comps, heal amplification for Grace-style comps, or shop gold for economy routes.

Lovers pairing complicates the math: sometimes your lovers partner must field together for active bonuses while a separate Backup hero sits reserve. Read lovers text before assuming both must deploy — our lovers synergy guide covers pairing rules.

Backup vs Active Field Presence

Not every hero wants to sit reserve. Melee brawlers and frontline tanks usually need tiles to absorb damage. Backup shines on heroes whose kits are aura-heavy or whose active abilities underperform relative to their passive reserve value.

When a relic offers "Backup heroes gain X" or "fielded allies gain Y per reserve hero," treat it as a roster draft signal. Pivot shopping toward heroes whose Backup text stacks with the relic — similar to axis convergence in the how to build guide.

Beginner Habits

Until you understand Backup, prioritize five strong fielded heroes before chasing a sixth. Once your axis works, add a Backup specialist rather than a redundant DPS. Grace, Ratna, and economy supports frequently appear in community starter recommendations partly because their reserve value survives early wipes.

Pair this page with best starter heroes and the beginner guide roster section for first-run drafting.