Combat and enemies in Among the Trolls
Enemies react to what you do rather than repeating a script. Some attack in packs, others ambush, and each has its own attack pattern, so reading the group beats trading hits.
Combat in Among the Trolls is a survival problem before it is a power fantasy. Enemies react to what you do, they do not all fight the same way, and each one has its own attack pattern. Reading the group in front of you matters more than any damage number you can stack.
How enemies are designed
The developers describe three things as the core of enemy behaviour:
- Dynamic, responsive behaviour. Enemies react to your actions and adapt to their surroundings rather than looping a script.
- Unique attack patterns. Each enemy type has its own approach, so knowledge transfers as pattern recognition rather than as memorised timing.
- Group tactics. Some enemies attack in packs, while others prefer a different approach and use ambush tactics.
The practical result is that the first encounter with anything new should be observational. Watch what it does when you back off, when you are on higher ground, and when there is a second one behind you.
The creatures themselves
The setting supplies the enemy roster. Creatures in the game are made of wood and stone, described as though they came straight out of the Kalevala, and the sound team built their voices to match: a death-metal vocalist's screams were layered with recordings of wood being manipulated, so the material comes through in the sound. Combined with the game's supernatural framing and the corruption called Hiisi, that gives a consistent idea of what you are fighting — animated material and mythic guardians rather than generic wildlife.
Combat conditions that decide the fight
| Condition | Effect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Night or cold | Anna is weaker and slower | Fight in daylight where possible |
| Deep water nearby | Tools do not work while swimming | Fight on land, never in the water |
| Low Lykky | Animals more aggressive, tools wear faster | Withdraw and fix the balance first |
| Pack of enemies | Multiple attackers, less room | Break line of sight, fight in a doorway |
| Ambush | You start at a disadvantage | Retreat to open ground and re-engage |
| Dungeon corridor | Guardians chosen for the space | Bring potions and expect attrition |
The first death explains Sisu
If an enemy kills Anna for the first time, the game plays a cutscene explaining Sisu. It is the Finnish concept the game hangs its death and endurance theme on, and it is worth watching rather than skipping: it frames what happens when Anna loses, which is part of how the difficulty is meant to feel.
Fighting well without over-investing
- Scout a group before engaging; count the enemies and note which is fastest.
- Use ranged attacks to thin a pack before it closes.
- Keep a retreat path and use doors and narrow ground.
- Fight with a full stomach and a full canteen; both meters are combat stats.
- Carry potions into any fight you chose rather than one you stumbled into.
- Accept that running away is a valid plan, especially near the shore.
Sources
- Devlog #1 (enemy behaviour, packs and ambush, mythic framing): Steam news archive
- Devlog #13 (how the creatures were given voices): Steam news archive
- Store page: Among the Trolls on Steam
Game imagery on this page is official promotional material, used for reference.
