Line #6 VideoGame/Wargroove


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wargroove2.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Our groovy heroes (and villains, too).]]
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4	[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Describe]] ''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Wargroove]]'' [[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere here.]]
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6	...Okay, it's ''[[VideoGame/NintendoWars Advance Wars]]'', [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace IN MEDIEVAL TIMES]]. Well, that was easy, who's for lunch?
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8	All joking aside, ''[[https://wargroove.com/ Wargroove]]'' is a 2019 TurnBasedStrategy game for [[Platform/IBMPersonalComputer PC]], Platform/NintendoSwitch, Platform/XboxOne, and Platform/PlayStation4 by Chucklefish, developers of ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'' and original publisher of ''VideoGame/StardewValley''. Like its predecessors, it is an intentionally retro-looking game intended to serve as a SpiritualSuccessor to a previous franchise, in this case Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s venerable ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'' series with a seasoning of ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' added.
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10	The gameplay will be immediately familiar to any ''Advance Wars'' fan: Starting out with a headquarters and a few units, players take turns to slowly conquer the map by claiming settlements and defeating your opponent's units in turn-based moves heavily dominated by TacticalRockPaperScissors, buying new units from buildings you claim along the way. You win by either destroying the opposing headquarters or by defeating their hero. In addition to the ''Advance Wars'' staples the game also adds its own touches with the introduction of [[HeroUnit commander units]], powerful unique units that represent your army's general [[HeroMustSurvive and will fail you the game if they are defeated]], and a built-in turn limit for multiplayer games where the player with the most territory and units will win when time runs out. Commanders each have unique hero powers called [[TitleDrop 'grooves']] (similarly to CO powers) that slowly charge up as the commander fights battles. The game supports 4-player multiplayer games over the internet with cross-platform compatibility, as well as the ability for players to play multiple games at a time and message their opponent when their turn is done instead of waiting around for the opposition's moves in-game.
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12	The game's included single-player campaign follows Mercia, recently-crowned queen of the [[TheGoodKingdom Cherrystone Kingdom]] after her father is murdered by the [[TheNecrocracy Felheim Legion]] in an attempt to weaken Cherrystone for an invasion. Over the course of the campaign Mercia must make common cause with her other neighbours, the [[HollywoodMedievalJapan Heavensong Empire]] and the [[PlantPerson Floran Tribes]], and repeal the Felheim Legion's invasion. The game also comes complete with a [[LevelEditor map and campaign editor]] that promises the ability for anyone to make (and share) their own stories online with anyone who would like to play them.
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14	In October 2019, a free ExpansionPack named ''Wargroove: Double Trouble'' was announced. It introduces a new co-op story campaign, three new commanders (Wulfar, Errol and Orla, and Vesper), two new units (the Rifleman and Thief), and a range of balance updates and improvements to both the map editor and online play.
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16	In March 2023, a sequel titled ''VideoGame/Wargroove2'' was announced, introducing new units, game modes, commanders and factions. It released on October 5, 2023.
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18	!!Wargroove provides examples of the following tropes:
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20	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: All of the Steam achievements have this in full force.
21	* AerithAndBob: A DownplayedTrope. The bandit leaders' real names (Greg, Neil, and Paul) are run-of-the-mill compared to everyone else in the series. However, in a feudal system like Cherrystone, it's not uncommon for the upper castes of nobles and the knighthood to have a different naming culture (see ThemeNaming below) to the commoners.
22	* AlienAnimals: The codex heavily implies the florans are present on Aurania as an introduced species, delivered by a spaceship that crash-landed nine-hundred years before the story's beginning (remembered by history as a mysterious "comet"). Anyone familiar with ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'' probably isn't surprised by this, but the modern florans appear to have long forgotten this event.
23	* AllAnimalsAreDogs: To the point of being a RunningGag in the codex. It's understandable with the Floran Quagmutts, which are classed as a Dog unit, but becomes a bit of a joke when Cherrystone's dragons (units that stand in for bomber aircraft) are described as "really just big dogs".
24	* AllThereInTheManual: The in-game codex has a ''ton'' of lore that fleshes out the world and units beyond what the campaign offers.
25	* AmbiguouslyBrown: Emeric, as well as most of the Cherrystone faction units. Spawning any air unit or ground unit [[note]]Except for the Golem[[/note]] in the Cherrystone faction will result in randomized skin tones for the human, including pale, skin white, brown, and even darker brown.
26	* AntiAir: Mages, ballistae, harpoon ships, and sky riders are designed to counter air units (being reskinned AA, Missiles, ranged Cruisers and Fighters from ''Advance Wars'', though ballistae can attack ground units as well and harpoon ships can attack water units).
27	* AntiCavalry: Cavalry being 'tanks' in this game, they are countered by Aeronauts, Giants and attacking Spearmen (Battle Helicopters, Megatanks and Mech) units.
28	* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Compared to the series it's inspired by, several units (especially Naval units) are far more affordable than their original counterparts. Some notable ones include Warships and Sky Riders, which are much less expensive than the Battleships and Fighters in ''Advance Wars''. To put this to perspective, the most expensive units are the Trebuchets (Rockets), Giants (Medium Tanks), and Dragons (Bombers).
29	* AntiStructure: Knights, Trebuchets, Dragons and Warships are all capable of one-shotting buildings when they launch a critical attack (which, since buildings are stationary, is fairly easy for the former two). Spearmen cannot one-shot buildings, but do solid damage with another simple critical condition. There's also the Thief from ''Double Trouble'', who when ransacking buildings will turn them neutral, bypassing its defences.
30	* ArbitraryWeaponRange: Like in ''Advance Wars'', non-infantry ranged units cannot attack adjacent units. Harpoon Ships and Warships need to be at least two tiles away from a target in order to attack, while Trebuchets and Ballista need only a one-tile clearance ([[DownplayedTrope and thus have no trouble attacking diagonally]]).
31	* ArmyScout: Dog units. Mobile with a huge vision radius that can clear FogOfWar even in rough terrain and through forests and a powerful attack, but very little defense.
32	* ArtifactOfDoom: [[spoiler:Requiem turns out to be an EvilWeapon that corrupts the minds of anyone who could possibly be tempted into wielding it. Anyone who rejects a simple offer of power is instead [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind assaulted]] by an EnemyWithin until they're weak enough for Requiem to possess outright.]]
33	* ArtificialStupidity:
34	** The AI emphasizes attacking over defending and can be baited into making bad trades by providing them with the right fodder to attack. [[StraightForTheCommander This goes double if your Commander is on the frontline]]; the AI will gladly charge them with units who have no realistic chance in heck of making a permanent dent in their HP pool.
35	** The AI will often focus on destroying allied villages, even if one of your units nearby is recapturing it every turn. Inversely, an isolated unit will sometimes fixate on capturing a village, even if one of your own units is nearby to demolish it every turn.
36	** Wagons receive a disproportionate amount of the AI’s ire, much like the APCs of ''[[VideoGame/NintendoWars Advance Wars]]'' old.
37	** Especially with the above in consideration, the AI is just not good with large maps. It's not too difficult to keep up with a hard arcade AI on them, as the AI refuses to make wagons/balloons/barges and usually focuses its forces on wherever your commander is, meaning the starting skirmish can be pushed further into their territory than it should.
38	** If the AI somehow gets wagons/balloons/barges, it has no real idea what to do with them, leaving them just out of reach of your troops at best.
39	* AscendedExtra: In the default ''Wargroove'' campaign, the Outlaws are a mere PaletteSwap of Cherrystone and have no commanders to speak of beyond a trio of spokesman mooks. ''Double Trouble'', meanwhile, gives the Outlaws three unique commanders and even makes them the protagonist faction of their own campaign.
40	* BambooTechnology: The Empire of Heavensong. Unlike the other factions, Heavensong is all-human and compensates using advanced puppet-based technology to substitute giants, turtles and dragons. This has no effect on gameplay, naturally.
41	* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: [[spoiler:What the [[TrueFinalBoss Epilogue]] consists of, as Requiem tries to convince Mercia to accept its power, while attacking her in the form of an EnemyWithin.]]
42	* BeastOfBattle: Instead of vehicles, most heavy units in ''Wargroove'' are monsters, from dogs as recon units to gigantic dragons that serve as bombers.
43	* BlingOfWar: The Heavensong Empire's units are heavily decked out in golden elaborate masks and armour.
44	* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The Floran, as usual. This complicates diplomacy during the campaign, though it's downplayed as their Greenfinger is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, and Nuru is friendlier than your average Floran [[spoiler:thanks to being part of a multicultural protectorate]]. This also creeps into their unit lore; for example, they don't traditionally domesticate their scouts and mounts, as it's a rite of passage to tame a wild one.
45	* BookEnds: The first mission where Sigrid kills Mercival and the final mission where [[spoiler:Mercia faces off against Dark Mercia]] have an identical map layout.
46	* BoringButPractical: In a game where you can summon dragons, purchase gallant knights, call in harpies, and utilize massive, unit killing golems, what will usually be your most important, most valued, most pivotal unit? The humble Pikeman (with perhaps a ballista or witch around for handling aerial units) will often be the key to your success. At a cheap 150 gold cost, they are easily spammed, and unlike most of the units worth less than 600 gold, can actually tank ''really'' well. The majority of ground units simply can't break through them in a single hit, and often can't do it in two, either. And unlike the swordsman, Pikemen [[MightyGlacier can give just as good as they get.]] The biggest reason to use Pikemen, however, is the way money is handled in this game. Both you and your opponent will be jockeying for a lot of money to start purchasing heavy hitters like Golems, Trebuchets, and Dragons. However, given that there's rarely more than fourteen properties on a map (and that's being generous), the simple fact of the matter is that even late into a campaign you can't crank out a dragon every turn. This is compounded by buying Knights and Harpies and Archers- all fantastic, usable units, but expensive. In general, until mid-to-late into a campaign, it's far more cost effective to spam Pikemen as a defensive wall so that, at most, you're only losing around 300 gold a day (as later maps will often have multiple army deployment centers) at a point where that will ''give you a net gain on money,'' allowing you to save up for Ballistae and the heavy hitter units much more effectively than futilely spamming Knights. Spamming expensive units is often the AI's greatest flaw to exploit as a result.
47	** {{Downplayed}} in a later update where Pikemen now cost 250 gold each but they're still useful nonetheless.
48	* BottomlessMagazines: Unlike ''Advance Wars'', units don't need to restock on ammo for their weapons. This is justifiable for melee-focused units, but it also means Archers have an unlimited supply of arrows, et cetera. ''Double Trouble'' re-implements a variation of this mechanic as the Rifleman's gimmick; after a certain number of shots they must spend a turn to reload.
49	* BuffySpeak: Many of the Floran Tribe's units are named like this ('Slasher', 'Stabber', 'Shooter', 'Floaty Thing', etc.).
50	* CallASmeerpARabbit: The codex has a handful of oddities like this. One that stands out is a mention of cinnamon mines that apparently waft their scent quite far. (In the real world, cinnamon is the inner bark of its namesake tree, which doesn't smell much stronger than any other tree.)
51	* ColourCodedArmies: Cherrystone's units are red, Felheim is blue, Heavensong is yellow and the Florans are green. In cases of CivilWarcraft, Cherrystone bandits are black, the co-op campaign bandits are purple, and Floran separatists are turquoise. [[spoiler:Requiem’s forces are purple.]]
52	* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard:
53	** The AI has no respect for FogOfWar. It knows [[TheAllSeeingAI where your units are at all times]], and doesn't need to spot them before it can attack, rendering hiding places useless. Fortunately [=FoW=] is limited to only two missions early in the campaign, and the story makes an attempt to HandWave the cheating (stating the local Florans know the forest much better than outsiders).
54	** The computer also gets Giants, Harpies/Vampires, and Dragons significantly earlier than you do in the Story Mode. Thankfully the game gives you counters for all three at the same time they're introduced (Trebuchets for the Giants, Alchemists and Balistas for the Vampires, and Witches for the Dragons), but it can be seen as quite unfair for the AI to have far more powerful and mobile units. Handwaved with Greenfinger's mission against Sedge, where he classifies them as a DangerousForbiddenTechnique, but seen as weird during Ragna's VillainEpisode, where her foe Caesar (a Cherrystone dog) can casually use Giants.
55	** The computer can recruit new units and use them in the same turn whereas the player can never do this.
56	** Inverted with the co-op campaign's Outlaw outpost, which can produce Riflemen and Rogues, which is available only to the players for the majority of the campaign. Heavensong does have a few Riflemen stationed in a map, but no way to replace them.
57	** Justifyingly played straight with the final mission in the co-op campaign, where [[spoiler:Vesper has bought out all the outlaws to fight against Wulfar, Errol, Orla, and co., and the player cannot use whatever barracks they steal from her except for reinforcing your forces]].
58	* CosmeticallyDifferentSides: Beyond sprite differences, the four factions' units are identical in abilities. Even the commanders are equal combatants. The only difference is their Grooves.
59	* CoupDeGraceCutscene: [[spoiler:Both Sedge and Sigrid are killed by the victorious player commander in [[CutsceneDeath cutscenes]] after their final encounters in the campaign, even if in-game they merely lost their fortresses or were struck down by generic units. Sirgid's case especially, as the cutscene immediately opens with her fatally impaled upon Mercia's sword, without actually showing the attack.]]
60	* CrapsaccharineWorld: [[DownplayedTrope A Downplayed example]], as the setting of ''Wargroove'' remains a lighthearted AdventureFriendlyWorld, but the Codex isn't afraid to point out some of its darker elements. For example, it comments on how Cherrystone appears to have a bandit problem and speculates on what the wider socioeconomic cause could be.
61	** Despite their AdaptationalHeroism, the Florans are still voracious carnivores and deadly hunters. The codex points out that the main reason they refrain from eating [[IAmAHumanitarian people]] is simple PragmaticVillainy - Humans don't taste as good as herbivorous animals, and they have a tendency to react with TorchesAndPitchforks. Even then, a hapless intruder into TheLostWoods is liable to be hunted down for sport by the locals, with only the word of the Greenfinger capable of staying their hand. The codex entry on Floran villagers also implies that [[BaitTheDog even those who befriend Florans aren't entirely safe from them.]]
62	* CriticalHit: Each unit has a CriticalHit mechanic that increases its damage provided a particular requirement is fulfilled when it attacks. For example, the humble Swordsman deals Critical Hits if it attacks while adjacent to your side's Commander.
63	* {{Crossover}}: The Florans are originally from ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}''. One of their commanders (Nuru) is stated to be a "visitor", and drops numerous hints she's ''the'' Nuru from that game. They appear to be slightly less stabbing-happy than their spacefaring counterparts this time around (in that they keep it to within their own borders).
64	* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Despite the fantasy coat of paint, the games wears its inspiration on its sleeves, which can lead to tripping up when a couple of crucial mechanics are very slightly different. In particular:
65	** For ''Advanced Wars'' veterans.
66	*** Properties use a completely different set of mechanics that bares not even a passing resemblance to [=AW=].
67	*** Grade in Campaign mode is exclusively based on your speed (How many turns it takes for you to win). Players are used to scoring high on Power and Technique for grade (killing enemy units and preserving your own) will find it awkward.
68	*** The Archer unit, while filling the same niche as Artillery, is a very different beast, being able to move and attack in the same turn, retaliate and range, and attack point-blank. They can also attack flying units for normal damage unlike the Artillery.
69	*** Trebuchets and Ballistas have similar niches to Rocket and Missile Launchers, but they both function very differently. Both cannot move and attack at the same turn, and Ballistas can attack all units (although for less damage than air units).
70	** A lot of units here are significantly inexpensive compared to Advance Wars, especially the air and sea units. There are only three units that are 1,000 or over coins, and those are the Trebuchet, Giant, and Dragon. Even accounting for ''Wargroove'' lopping a 0 off the end of its gold values, that still makes most units significantly less costly than their ''Advance Wars'' analogues... except the Trebuchet, which is dramatically pricier than the Rocket it replaces.
71	** For ''Fire Emblem'' veterans.
72	*** Archers even being able to attack and counter more than 2 spaces and at point blank, which was implemented in [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Shadows of Valentia]]. Additionally, Archers aren't super effective against Flying units - Mages, Sky Riders, Ballistas, and Harpoon Ships do that instead. Also, Mages can only attack the space in front of them unlike [=FE=] Mages.
73	*** [=FE=] players are used to selecting a unit or structure with the A button, as well as entering the menu by selecting an empty tile with A. It's now B on the Nintendo Switch version. You'd end up pressing A and, instead of ''selecting'' a unit or bringing up the ''game menu'', you bring up the ''unit and tile information'' menu.
74	*** Worse is if you're playing on ''Xbox'' (Or using an Xbox controller) and played [=FE=] before. The tutorial actually ends up displaying "A" every time it wants you to select, further motivating you to press the rightmost button rather than the bottommost, since A and B are switched on Nintendo and Xbox. [[https://i.imgur.com/i7NwkRw.jpg a picture to help you understand]] if you're not aware.
75	* DancePartyEnding: The ending credits for Double Trouble showcases all of the commanders [[spoiler:minus the secret ones from the first campaign]] and a couple of foot soldiers with their dancing poses. Yes, this includes Sigrid and Sedge.
76	* DarkerAndEdgier: The second game definitely. In the first game, [[spoiler: most of the commanders who died were bad guys, with only King Mercival really dying on the good guy side, and that in the prologue. In the second game, the very first introductory campaign offs Zawan, the friendly Greenfinger of the Florians!]]
77	* DevelopersForesight:
78	** If an enemy kills a Thief that stole from them, they get the gold back. If the Thief [[UnfriendlyFire is killed by its own side]] the gold goes to them as if it was deposited in a Hideout... ''unless'' the Thief was launched into water by Wulfar's Tee Off, in which case ''nobody'' gets the gold. (You don't exactly have time to recover it from the bottom of the ocean in the middle of a battle)
79	** Emeric warns you not to attack Valder in Act 1 Chapter 4 and just escape with the villagers. At the point he appears you're usually overwhelmed by enemies, but if you decide to do it anyway, he'll just ''laugh it off'' and [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard heal back to full health]].
80	* DivergentCharacterEvolution: In the first game, the Outlaw Clans are a PaletteSwap of the Kingdom of Cherrystone, not even counted as a real faction until ''Double Trouble'' [[AscendedExtra gave them a set of commanders]]. In ''Wagroove 2'', the Outlaws and their commanders are heavily redesigned with a {{Pirate}} theme, finally making their units visually distinct from Cherrystone.
81	* DoNotRunWithAGun: The Ballista and the Trebuchet cannot move and fire in the same round. Downplayed with Archers, who can move and fire in a turn, but deal a CriticalHit if they fire without moving. Both ranged ships can move and fire with no penalties. With the Double Trouble update, Musket men can't move and fire.
82	* ADogNamedDog: Nuru insists on calling Caesar "Dog"
83	* DontCelebrateJustYet: [[spoiler:The war with Felheim ends when Mercia chases [[DragonWithAnAgenda Sigrid]] to Cradle Island and slays her. Unfortunately, Sigrid had successfully opened Requiem's tomb before her death, and the protagonists decide that it can't be left to chance, so the final two missions are spent battling the SealedEvilInACan.]]
84	* DoppelgangerAttack: [[spoiler:Vesper's groove in ''Double Trouble's'' final mission allows her to create smoke clones of herself, which deal the same massive damage a commander deals but dissipate at the slightest attack.]]
85	* DramaticIrony: Mixed in with TomatoSurprise. The prologue of the game clearly shows Sigrid killing King Mercival, restarting the conflict between Cherrystone and Felheim. However, only near the very end of the game is it shown that [[spoiler:Valder hadn't sanctioned the assassination. Mercia held Valder responsible for her father's murder and Valder wasn't even aware that one of his own had done it. When Sigrid reveals she started the war, Valder is outraged.]]
86	* EasyModeMockery: Playing the campaign on easy mode will limit given stars from 1-2, which won't provide the needed amount of 100 stars to access the Epilogue chapter.
87	* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Despite stealing the gold reserves from every nation, Wulfar team up with the nations' leaders to defeat Vesper after they realize Wulfar only stole the gold to pay a ransom to Vesper. In some cases they only teamed up because Vesper now owns the gold that was stolen from them.]]
88	* {{Expy}}: Most units are basically classic ''Advance Wars'' units reskinned, with much the same strengths and weaknesses.
89	* FantasyGunControl: Averted. Cannons are present on naval warships, and the ''Double Trouble'' expansion adds musket-armed riflemen as a land unit.
90	* FogOfWar: An optional rule to battles. Act 2 of the campaign also features it, to represent the dense, obscuring foliage of [[TheLostWoods the Gloomwoods.]]
91	* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: [[spoiler:In a reflection of the final battle being all in Mercia's head, the objective given is [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope to give in]], in purple, wavy text just like how the final boss speaks. It doesn't show the actual objective until the battle is nearly over (and the boss is considerably weaker then).]]
92	* FragileSpeedster: Wardogs and Turtles both have very good movement but die quickly to counterattacks, the turtles also having very good offense on top of it. The transport units are also very fast, but have no offensive power at all.
93	* GeoEffects:
94	** Weather effects are present and accounted for. Sunny is normal, fair winds give movement bonuses on land and sea and attack bonuses for air units, and bad weather applies penalties to the same.
95	** Each type of terrain provides bonuses or penalties to a unit's defense, as well as affecting their mobility. Roads allow land units to move faster, but provide no defensive benefit; meanwhile a mountain will slow movement due to the treacherous geography, but provides a significant defense bonus. Futhermore, many units' CriticalHit mechanics depend on the unit standing on a certain type of terrain (eg. Areonauts dealing a critical hit while over a mountain).
96	* GetBackHereBoss: All enemy commanders will generally try to stray away from combat if it's not necessary for them or if they're low in health. Combined with the fact all of them slowly regenerate and beating campaign missions in a set amount of turns yields higher stars, this can be frustrating. [[spoiler:The TrueFinalBoss, Dark Mercia, teleports and retreats to different phases in her battle]].
97	* GlassCannon: Archers, Ballista and Trebuchets can deal incredible damage at range but take 50+% damage even from the most basic melee troops and suffer a OneHitKill from Commanders or Giants if they're mostly unharmed.
98	* HarpingOnAboutHarpies: Harpies form the basis of the Aeronaut units (which fill the role of ''Advance Wars''' battle helicopters). Cherrystone's are outright called Harpies, and actually defy most aspects of the trope - the live peacefully up in the mountains, regularly help rescue miners, and the ones in the army are there because they voluntarily enlisted to defend their nation.
99	* HeroUnit: Commander units. Each faction has three, each with their own unique groove.
100	* HeroMustSurvive: If your Commander is defeated in battle, you lose the match. In addition, much like in ''Advance Wars'', losing your HQ is also an instant loss. This also applies if you're controlling multiple commanders at once - losing any one of them will result in mission failure.
101	* HeroicDog: Caesar, who is a skilled commander in the Cherrystone army despite being a BigFriendlyDog wearing what appears to be samurai armor.
102	* InterfaceSpoiler: Downplayed, as Felheim are obviously the main antagonists, but the fact two of their commanders have pages upon pages of campaign-progress-locked data in the codex confirms there's much more going on than meets the eye.
103	* JackOfAllStats: The Mage's stats are all-around decent on top of its incredible bonus damage against flying units and easily-triggered CriticalHit. While Mages will fall quickly to specialized late-tier units it has decent matchups against most low-to-mid-tier units.
104	* LavaIsBoilingKoolAid: Averted, in the map editor mode, if you happen to set your terrain tileset to lava, seaports and sea units other than Amphibians (which are land restricted) will be restricted on the map.
105	* LostSuperweapon: [[spoiler:Requiem. The entire events of the story eventually revolve around trying to prevent its unearthing.]]
106	* {{Leitmotif}}: Each commander has their own theme, which will play when they are taking their turn. In missions where you control more than one commander, the dominant commander's theme plays (usually Mercia's or Emeric's), although [[spoiler:both Requiem commanders override all commander themes in the Story mode, and Vesper's theme overrides all commander themes at the end of the Co-op campaign]].
107	* LevelEditor: The game comes with not only a map editor, but also scripting tools, a cutscene editor, and a campaign maker. The system is robust enough to re-create the entire story campaign - in fact, according to a developer's tweet, it's just a more user-friendly version of the team's mapmaking toolkit.
108	* LightningBruiser: Both the Giant and the Dragon have incredible offensive power, decent staying power and some of the highest movement for their class (the Giant having 5 walking speed and the Dragon 8 flying). The Giant can even enter mountains to attack, unlike its ''Advance Wars'' equivalent.
109	* MaskPower: Each Heavensong unit wears a golden animal mask that the Codex explains is symbolic of their role in the Heavensong army and associates them with the virtues of that creature. Heavensong's Commanders also wear masks, but in their cases [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic they're not face-covering]].
110	* MightyGlacier: The Spearman has the lowest movement rate in the game, but can deal frightful damage in packs thanks to its CriticalHit mechanic and has decent defenses against melee attacks. Its best counter are ranged units, who avoid fighting it in the first place, or flying units who they can't attack back against.
111	* MorphWeapon: [[spoiler: Requiem takes the form of a cello in Princess Elodie's hands, but when Dark Mercia takes it, it collapses into a sword and shield. It's possible it has more forms to suit different wielders.]]
112	* {{Nerf}}:
113	** Spearmen and Trebuchets were regarded as very easy to spam, and didn't have many cost effective counters. For this reason, they both went up in price by 100 coins.
114	* NotPlayingFairWithResources:
115	** In the hard mode of the arcade, the AI gets twice as much money per structure than the player does.
116	** {{Inverted\|Trope}} of course on easy. The computer gets half as much money per structure than the player.
117	* OneBulletLeft: The Rifleman's CriticalHit condition is when they are down to their last shot.
118	* OneManArmy: Commanders are the most powerful units in the game and have good match-ups against practically every unit in the game; most low-tier units will, at best, deal around 10-15% damage to them. This is balanced by the Commader's defeat being an instant loss to its faction.
119	* OurElvesAreDifferent: Reading their FlavorText establishes [[PlantPerson the Floran Tribes]] to be a warped take on the trope of forest-dwelling elves living in harmony with nature. They're described as "lithe and beautiful, moving with other-worldly grace and agility," but "also display terrifying aggression and a keen hunter's instinct."
120	* PaletteSwap: The Outlaw Clans in the first game use Cherrystone units, until ''Wargoove 2'' gives them a more distinct pirate theme. The Guardians of Requiem also use Cherrystone units during Arcade matches. One of [[spoiler:Dark Mercia]]’s voice lines has her [[BreakingTheFourthWall take offence at being called a palette swap.]]
121	* PlantPerson: The Floran Tribes are comprised of humanoid plant-folk native to TheLostWoods, with green skin and foliage for hair. Floran are described as beautiful, graceful, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and]] [[ManEatingPlant savagely carnivorous]].
122	* PoorCommunicationKills: And how! The Florans are fought as enemies because Sedge tricks Greenfinger into thinking they're hostiles and he believes it. The Heavensong warriors are fought due to a combination of Sedge's assault against them and Nuru's BloodKnight attitude. The Felheim Legion are the villains, but [[spoiler:only Sigrid was the actively evil one. Valder had thought Mercia had started a war against them -- he had no idea Sigrid killed Mercia's father until the last minute]].
123	* ProudHunterRace: They Florans are a primitive culture mostly interested in hunting, although it's less out of martial pride and more out of [[BloodKnight a love for "stabbing"]] and [[ToServeMan meat]]. According to flavor text, any outsider who sets foot in their territory is considered free game for hunting, unless the Greenfinger (a combination of shaman and chieftain) personally vouches for their presence.
124	* RedShirtArmy: Everyone except the commander, especially since the game doesn't penalize you for losing units.
125	* RiskingTheKing: Commanders may lose the game when defeated, but they are powerful combatants, heal passively, every [[LimitBreak Groove]] has its effective range centred on the user (if they're not a direct action outright), and Groove charge is built faster when the Commander is in combat. Taking measured risks using them as a FrontlineGeneral is greatly rewarded compared to taking a TooAwesomeToUse approach and leaving them sitting next to HQ.
126	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Mercia takes up the Cherrystone throne after the death of her father and becomes her faction's main commander in war. She's eventually joined in her quest by the royal family of Heavensong.
127	* SharedUniverse: With ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}''. The florans, a species from that game, arrived on a "meteor" that is implied to be a fallen spaceship. Floran commander Nuru is an existing character from ''Starbound'' who repeatedly alludes to interstellar adventures, and uses a spaceship's teleporter for her groove (complete with the same beam-down sound effects). [[spoiler:In her Arcade Mode ending, it's revealed that Nuru is working for [[MissionControl Esther Bright]], confirming that ''Wargroove'' takes place after the events of ''Starbound''.]]
128	* ShoutOut:
129	** One of Valder's lines when using ''Raise Dead'' is [[VideoGame/AlteredBeast1988 "Rise from your grave!"]]
130	** Similarly, one of Ryota's lines for ''Blade Dash'' is [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar "You are already dead."]] Another one is [[VideoGame/Persona5 "You'll never see it coming!"]].
131	** During the campaign, Ragna catches up to the party in the third act. She and her Vampire backup then introduce themselves [[Manga/DragonballZ by using the Ginyu Force's poses]].
132	** Sedge's [[MichaelJacksonsThrillerParody dance moves in the Jukebox]].
133	** Koji's Jukebox dance heavily resembles the [[Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir Carlton Dance]].
134	** In their own Jukebox sprite, Errol and Orla perform the notorious [[EverybodyDoTheEndlessLoop Christmas dance]] from ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas''.
135	** Sigrid's gag line in the cutscene editor is to ask [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} "What is a man..?"]]
136	** Valder's gag line is [[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/teleports-behind-you-nothing-personal-kid "Nothing personal, kid."]]
137	* {{Sidequest}}: The main campaign is littered with optional maps that can be played (or ignored) without moving the main story beforehand. They often unlock new characters for Arcade Mode (those missions being ADayInTheLimelight or a VillainEpisode for that character) and add to the player's star rating.
138	** SidequestSidestory: All the side quests canonically happen at the same time as the main storyline whether you play them or not; for example, [[spoiler:Sedge is exiled by Zawan in an optional map where you play as Zawan]] and later shows up in the main storyline referencing the events of the optional map.
139	* SoundTest: Present in the extras menu, though with the caveat that you need to complete Arcade Mode with each character to hear their themes. Each tune also comes with [[EverybodyDoTheEndlessLoop cute dancing animations]] of each character, or a Cherrystone Swordsman operating a gramophone in the case of miscellaneous songs.
140	* StormingTheCastle:
141	** Unlike in ''Advance Wars'', buildings act more like units and have a health bar and the ability to counter-attack. A building reduced to zero health flips to neutral and can be instantly captured by any faction's infantry or commander.
142	** In the campaign proper, Caesar's first side-mission, and the second battle against Valder (as well as [[spoiler:the TrueFinalBoss]]) involves invading a castle using a relative handful of units.
143	* StraightForTheCommander: A very viable strategy, and if you can pull it off, it'll often win you an A or even an S-rank in Campaign mode. Just be careful since the enemy [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou can do it to you, too.]]
144	* StrategicAssetCaptureMechanic: ''[=WarGroove=]'' has several neutral buildings that can be captured by troops. Villages (both regular towns and stilt-villages built on reefs) provide income, and Barracks, Towers, Ports, and [[BadGuyBar Hideouts]] allow the production of corresponding unit types (regular army troops and artillery, flying units, sea units, and thieves and musketeers, respectively).
145	* SupportPartyMember: Wagons, Transports and Balloons can quickly ferry land units across the map, but have absolutely no means of defending themselves or attacking targets. ''Double Trouble'' adds Thieves, who are also incapable of fighting, but can steal income from enemy buildings (neutralizing them instantly, no matter their current health).
146	* TacticalRockPaperScissors: The game is heavily based upon the idea of countering opposing units with good match-ups, preferably cheap ones. Like ''Advance Wars'', not all of these matchups are immediately obvious.
147	* ThemeNaming: The Cherrystone characters have Latin names (Mercia, Emeric, Caesar and Mercival), Felheim's have Germanic/Nordic names (Valder, Ragna and Sigrid) and Heavensong's have Japanese (Tenri, Ryota and Koji). Averted with the Floran, who avoid their ''Starbound'' tendency of being named after plants or botanical terms (though Sedge is a plant related to grasses). [[spoiler:[[{{Precursors}} Cacophony]] is tied to music-themed names, judging by Elodie (spoken to rhyme with "melody") and Requiem.]]
148	* ThrowTheMookAtThem: Wulfar's groove allows him to launch any non-commander unit away, dealing splash damage to any enemies it lands near and instantly defeating the unit if it lands somewhere it can't move through (land units in water, wheel units on mountains). He can even launch his own units to reposition them, though he will still damage them.
149	* TurnsRed: The CriticalHit mechanic for giants triggers when they're below 40% health. This makes them capable of dealing considerable damage to anything on the ground at almost any health level. They're the least dangerous at 10% or less.
150	* TheUndead: The Felheim Legion practices necromancy and practically all their units are one manner or another of undead. This has no effect on gameplay, however.
151	* TheUnfought:
152	** The player never fights Tenri in the main story mode, instead taking control of her during her one limelight mission against Emeric in a friendly spar. She is however fought in the expansion campaign mode.
153	** In the co-op campaign, [[spoiler:Sigrid and Sedge are nowhere to be seen, likely due to the fact that this campaign takes place after the main story, long after they have been slain for good. They are however featured in the DancePartyEnding in the credits for that campaign though]].
154	* VillainExitStageLeft: In both campaign and arcade, any defeated Commander is hale and healthy in subsequent cutscenes ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation even if you defeated them in-game]]), and usually escape off-screen with no hindrance. [[spoiler:Averted in Ryota's spotlight side-mission in the Campaign, where he corners and executes Sedge, and in the last battle against Sigrid, which ends with the vampire skewered by Mercia.]]
155	** Averted by [[spoiler:Elodie and Dark Mercia]] in Arcade Mode, who outright kill their opponents after each battle.
156	* WarHasNeverBeenSoMuchFun: Every bit as colourful and optimistic-looking as its spiritual predecessor (''Days of Ruin'' excluded), and with plenty of joking cutscenes before and after campaign maps.
157	* WarriorUndead: Valder commands a nation of powerful undead warrior soldiers, most of whom he created himself, and all of them a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. This includes skeleton swordsmen, pikemen, archers and the Ragna, a Frankenstien-like monster created from the corpses of history's greatest combatants. Far from mindless zombies, Valder's undead soldiers are capable of independent thought in his absence and are no less competent or intelligent than any living soldier.
158	* WeHaveReserves: Downplayed, especially compared to its spiritual progenitors. Maps tend to be designed with far more income than deployment buildings, dis-incentivising waves of cheap CannonFodder (a rampant tactic in ''Advance Wars'' et. al.) in favor of tactically deploying more expensive units.
159	* WhatMeasureIsANonCute: While most units die in combat, dog units instead just run away. [[https://www.pcgamesn.com/wargroove/wargroove-dog In earlier builds of the game]] they did die, but the dev team felt like it would've been a hollow victory.

Context VideoGame / Wargroove