The News, Explained
On October 22, 2026, Becastled’s developers said its Traits and Some Magic DLC was available. The additional content brings more than 40 traits and magic units to a game about building a castle by day and defending it at night. Traits change the abilities and restrictions of a playthrough. Source
Every few in-game days and after a Blood Moon, players choose one of three traits. They come in Common, Uncommon and Rare tiers, with rarer choices more likely after a Blood Moon. Three examples show the trade-offs: Source
| Trait | Benefit | Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Master of the Bow | More archer damage | Use only archers |
| Glass Cannon | More damage | Less unit health |
| Manifest Destiny | Several upcoming zones for free | Lower mood |
The announcement supplies no numerical increase for these effects. Traits can be combined, so attack boosts also affect army composition and survival in different ways. Source
The new Mage School recruits Mages and Clerics. Mages attack groups but are easy to kill; the developers describe placing them on walls or behind other units. Clerics heal troops, but exposed Clerics can quickly fall to enemy archers and other units. Both roles depend on a protected position. Source
A separate experiment let players choose unlimited rule changes before a run. The developers say it was not completed or included in this DLC. The released additions center on traits chosen during play and the new units. Source
OYOPICK’s Take
We would weigh a trait against an existing defense rather than its largest apparent boost alone. An archer-only restriction could narrow the use of a mixed army, while reduced health could make exposing troops more costly. The same benefit may therefore look different depending on the walls and positions already built.
Fragile Mages and Clerics make that trade-off more concrete. If a defense can provide space and protection for supporting units, the new roles could widen the combinations available. We hope that accommodating weaknesses, alongside collecting strengths, leads to more varied defensive designs.