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Skylanders: Swap Force ~ Trophy Guide & Road Map


DemonicPrime

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uSb4Gis.jpg

 

Road Map

 

Overview:

  • Estimated trophy difficulty: 3/10 (Platinum Difficulty Rating)
  • Offline trophies: 39 (29(B), 4(S), 5(G), 1(P))
  • Online trophies: 1 (1 (B))
  • Approximate amount of time to Platinum: 40+ hours (personal estimate)
  • Minimum number of playthroughs: 4 (Once on any mode to unlock Nightmare difficulty, and once on Nightmare difficulty then on Score Mode and Time Attack, both of which require an additional playthrough).
  • Number of missable trophies: 4. Unless you have a second controller, you won't be able to get any of the Team Survival related trophies. And (PS4 only) Unless you have a PS+ subscription, Newsworthy(B) will also be unobtainable.
  • Glitched trophies: 1, (B)Newsworthy (AUS version)
  • Does difficulty affect trophies?:Yes. (Complete story mode once on Hard and once on Nightmare. One playthrough on any difficulty is required to unlock Nightmare difficulty.)
  • Do trophies stack?: Yes.
  • Do cheat codes disable trophies?: No.
  • Extra peripherals needed?: Yes, you need 2 controllers.

 

Walkthrough

 

First off you're going to need to get a starter pack. This includes one Skylanders: Swap Force game disk, a (shiny new) portal peripheral, two Swap Force Skylanders, the WATER type Swash Buckler and the FIRE type Blast Zone, along with returning Skylanders veteran the LIFE type Stealth Elf. Like Giants in the previous game, the new Swap Force figs unlock new gates in this game.

 

Unlike before, the use of a second Playstation controller is required in order to get three trophies: Slings and Arrows, Enduring the Onslaught and Coming out Ahead. Don't worry if you're still playing solo as I will explain how to get the aforementioned trophies shortly, even if you're playing alone.

 

While you don't necessarily need a second player to aid you in your quest for the platinum trophy, having a friend chip in their spare time for a while will definitely help make certain levels and challenges, especially when attempted at higher levels, less difficult to overcome.

 

Something that must be stressed here is that you only need one save file. You can now change the difficulty from the pause menu at any time, thus you do not need to start a new file on Nightmare mode.

 

One last thing. While all the Skylanders from the previous two games will work with Swap Force, if you're willing to spend a few pound on getting a new Swap Force figure then I recommend you get the AIR type Free Ranger Skylander. His :circle: attack comes in handy a lot especially when dealing with the particular enemy types in this game.

 

 

Step 1: Playthrough 1 - Complete the game on any difficulty of your choice

 

If you're new to Skylanders, then I would recommend you try out Easy mode first to get a general feel for what the game will be like. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, then Medium difficulty is the way forward for you. If you want to go straight in head first, then Hard is the route ahead for you. On my first playthrough for PS4, I've chosen to start with hard mode straight off.

 

Regardless of what mode you choose, you should manage to snag these on your first time through:

 

Story related (can't be missed):

(B) Welcome To Woodburrow

(B) Chieftess Rescued

(B) Swamp Secured

(B) Ruins Romped

(B) Glumshanks De-Evilized

(B) Lawman

(B) New Law in Town

(B) Squid Squabble

(B) Vexed Viper

(B) Cold Caravan

(B) Snowball Fight!

(B) Blizzard Bailout

(B) Puppet Master Pounded

(B) Woods Wetted

(B) Kastle Krashed

(B) Kalamity Averted

(B) Kaos Quashed

(G) Champion of Skylands

 

If you decided to play on Hard mode straight off, you'll also acquire (G) Times are Hard.

 

You should also take care of a few easy trophies that can be got in Woodburrow (the Dreadnought of this Skylander game):

 

(B) Boom!

(B) Perch Plunge

(B) Newsworthy (Requires you to be signed into PSN and (PS4 Only) have a PS+ subscription. More on this here)

 

Lastly, depending on how much Golem brawlin' you've been doing, you should also pick up (B) Golem Graveyard on your first time. Don't fret if you don't get it though; you're guaranteed to get it in your next playthrough.

 

 

Step 2: Choices

 

After beating the game once, you unlock Nightmare difficulty, as well as two sets of unique modes: Score Mode & Time Attack. Thus, you have a choice; will you brave nightmare mode to get your last story related trophy? (Knight of Nightmares) or will you try your hand at attempting these new modes that have become available to you? On my first time out on the ps3 version, I took on Nightmare mode straight off but I recommend you do the opposite.

 

Now then, Score Mode and Time Attack. How to approach these modes? It's simple, really:

 

For Score mode: This is the trickier of the two modes. While it sounds like a walk in the park, trust me, it ain't. The aim is simple; smash and bash every enemy in sight! The more enemies you lay waste to without getting hit, the higher your 'Combo Score' will be. Thus, pay attention here folks; you see that big, bulging bar that appears in the top left-hand side of your screen when you play a level in this mode? Pay. Very. Close. Attention.

 

You need to try and get as high a score as possible to smash the 3rd star record and set you on the road to getting the Score Mode related trophies. Contrary to belief, at least the first half of the levels should be played on Nightmare mode; you get bonus points and without it, obtaining three stars on a lower difficulty is nearly impossible. I've certainly come in underscore one too many times for my liking.

 

Score mode can be accessed by selecting it from the Portal Master section of the Pause screen or talking to Wheellock (or is it Wheeljock?) in Woodburrow.

 

For Time Attack: It's all a matter of speed. First, select Time Attack from your Portal Master selection screen or simply talk to Arvil in Woodburrow to bring up the levels screen and pick a stage to play. You're up against the clock here so take out your Stealth Elf from your starter set and spam her Arboreal Acrobatics attack (provided you've purchased this upgrade, if not, get it as soon as possible!) to cartwheel through the levels, shaving off as much time as possible. Obviously the higher levelled she is and the more upgrades she's got, the smoother things will go for you.

 

On my run, I had a Series 2 Stealth Elf left over from Giants so mine was nearly fully upgraded to begin with.

 

The game doesn't entirely put you up the time-clock creek without a paddle, though; in place of where treasure chests, legendary treasures, hats, etc were, you will find special tokens that will freeze the clock for a precious few seconds.

 

I recommend that Time Attack should be attempted on easy difficulty.

 

If you have decided to tackle the Score Mode & Time Attack trophies, then you should have these beauties bagged:

 

For Score Mode:

(B) Reach for the Sky

(B) Racking Up the Points

(B) High Roller

(S) Winning Streak

 

For Time Attack:

(B) Race to the Finish

(B) Mad Dash

(B) Speed Demon

(S) Fastest One Around

 

 

Step 3: A Reprieve Before The End

 

Granted that you'll be wearing a bit thin from all these playthroughs I suggest we take a break from attempting Nightmare mode and our fourth and final playthrough to snag the last remaining trophies before the all important Knight Of Nightmares and the (P).

 

Some of the last things to check out on our list are the Bonus Missions and Team Survival Arena matches.

 

Bonus Missions: These remind me a lot of the Heroic Challenges from the last two games. They're quite similar; do a random mission or another, although they don't award any status bonuses. Bonus missions can be found as Maps behind random elemental gates and the new 'Swap Force' exclusive gates, so simply secure five of these and you're on your way to getting these trophies.

 

Maps can also be purchased at Tuk's Emporium.

 

(B) New Challenger

(B) Up and Coming

(S) Rising Star

(G) Heroic Champion

 

Team Survival Arena: Just as Bonus Missions resembled Heroic Challenges, these 'arena' trophies are a lot like the ones in Skylanders Giants, only the focus is on two player co-op this time out.

 

This is what a second controller is needed for. You cannot even attempt to try Team Survival Arena with a single controller, because it will be locked. On the bright side, you can leave the corresponding second Skylander to die and carry on by yourself in order to meet the requirements for these trophies.

 

(B) Slings and Arrows

(S) Enduring the Onslaught

(G) Coming out Ahead

 

Step 4: The other choice!

 

Now's the time to take the other path; the (not-so) nightmarish Nightmare mode! This mode is more annoying than hard. Regardless, you do need to be on your game here, and remember to dodge all projectiles as much as possible (because they will send you reeling before you know it).

 

Hats are a must to wear. I had the Knight Helm from Giants, so which one you wish to wear or none at all, is entirely up to you. If you've got legendary treasures and free pedestals around town, don't be afraid to use them. The last playable level and the last two bosses are parts to watch out for and as always the more Skylanders you have, the better.

 

After all is said and done, you should have (G) Knight Of Nightmares & (P) NO WAY! bagged. Congratulations!

Edited by Terminator
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Trophy Guide:

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/93E.jpg NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (P)

Obtain all other trophies.

 

This is the fabled Platinum trophy for this game and will be the final trophy you will earn after all is said and done.

 

Story Related:

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/493.jpg Welcome To Woodburrow (B)

Complete Mount Cloudbreak on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/c6b.jpg Chieftess Rescued (B)

Complete Cascade Glade on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/455.jpg Swamp Secured (B)

Complete Mudwater Hollow on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/3AD.jpg Ruins Romped (B)

Complete Rampant Ruins on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/1B1.jpg Glumshanks De-Evilized (B)

Complete Jungle Rumble on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/B4D.jpg Lawman (B)

Complete Iron Jaw Gulch on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/6E6.jpg New Law in Town (B)

Complete Motleyville on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/BFE.jpg Squid Squabble (B)

Complete Twisty Tunnels on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/EB6.jpg Vexed Viper (B)

Complete Serpent's Peak on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/D3F.jpg Cold Caravan (B)

Complete Boney Islands on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/374.jpg Snowball Fight! (B)

Complete Winter Keep on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/9D8.jpg Blizzard Bailout (B)

Complete Frostfest Mountains on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/14C.jpg Puppet Master Pounded (B)

Complete Mesmeralda's Show on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/45E.jpg Woods Wetted (B)

Complete Fantasm Forest on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/DA5.jpg Kastle Krashed (B)

Complete Kaos' Fortress on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/A1A.jpg Kalamity Averted (B)

Complete Motherly Mayhem on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/9DE.jpg Kaos Quashed (B)

Complete Cloudbreak Core on any difficulty

 

Story related and hence cannot be missed. Merely complete the named level above to get this trophy.

 

 

The rest:

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/EFD.jpg Boom! (B)

Light the fireworks in Woodburrow.

 

The fireworks are located at the top of the large tree in Woodburrow, they can be reached by stepping on 'mushrooms' that stick out of the tree on the left-hand side of it. To light the fireworks, you'll need either a FIRE type Skylander or a Skylander with a flame attack (e.g. Spyro's flame breath).

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/E3D.jpg Perch Plunge (B)

Dive off the Tree in Woodburrow.

 

In the same place as the fireworks there is a launch pad, simply step on it and launch off it to get this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/6C0.jpg Champion of Skylands (G)

Complete all main chapters in Story Mode on any difficulty

 

Just complete the main campaign in the game on any mode to unlock.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/3E3.jpg Times are Hard (G)

Complete all main chapters in Story Mode on Hard difficulty

 

You can however play on Nightmare mode straight after your first playthrough if you didn't start the game on hard and the difficulty related trophies will stack. I'm not sure if changing the difficulty partway through the game will affect trophies but for the sake of things I'm going to assume that changing difficulty in game will affect your chances of getting the difficulty related trophies!

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/C54.jpg Knight of Nightmares (G)

Complete all main chapters in Story Mode on Nightmare difficulty

 

Arguably the most challenging trophy in the game and will draw on all of your skill. Adding to what I said before, perseverance is key and when it comes to just how many Skylanders do you need to survive Nightmare mode, just remember this; more is not necessarily better (and your wallet will be better off for a start).

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/EBE.jpg Newsworthy (B)

Use the signpost in Woodburrow to see the Message of the Day (online only).

 

MAY BE GLITCHED More on that, over here; Workaround.

http://i.imgur.com/4RDdLvt.jpg

 

PS+ Subscription required for PS4 version. More on this here.

 

This is easy enough. Simply walk over to the sign post located across from Woodburrow's Town Crier, interact with it and the trophy should pop up soon afterwards.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/6B8.jpg Golem Graveyard (B)

Defeat 10 Golems

 

You first encounter Golems in Iron Jaw Gulch, there are four types: FIRE, TECH, WIND & ICE. Merely defeat 10 of them to trigger this trophy.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/D01.jpg Race to the Finish (B)

Complete your first Time Attack level

 

Time Attack mode can be accessed from the pause menu by selecting Portal Master and then clicking on the 'clocks' icon or by talking to Arvil in Woodburrow. The trophy will pop once you have completed your first Time Attack level.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/8BB.jpg Mad Dash (B)

Earn a 3-star rating in any Time Attack level

 

See Fastest One Around

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/8FF.jpg Speed Demon (B)

Earn a 3-star rating in 3 Time Attack levels

 

See Fastest One Around

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/64F.jpg Fastest One Around (S)

Earn a 3-star rating in 17 Time Attack levels

 

As mentioned before, stick to levelling up your starter pack Stealth Elf and you'll be able to dash through these levels and smash the star times with little effort. Remember to flee most battles if you can. Of course there are a few that require you to stand your ground and put up your dukes, but keep your eyes on the prize (or time in this case) and you should be fine. Lastly don't forget to collect those time freeze tokens as well but do not get the tokens that lurk behind elemental gates, you'll jeopardise your 'speed run' time otherwise.

 

H0nkyFac3 has also provided a thread where you can see for yourself what the particular criteria is for getting three stars in each individual level in time attack mode.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/5C2.jpg Reach for the Sky (B)

Complete your first Score Mode level

 

This is easy, just select a Score Mode level and you'll have this trophy in no time at all. Score Mode can be accessed in the same manner as Time Attack, with the only difference being the icon. You can also talk to Marshal Wheellock in Woodburrow to start this Mode.

Edited by DemonicPrime
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http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/5AA.jpg Racking Up the Points (B)

Earn a 3-star rating in any Score Mode level

 

See Winning Streak

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/B56.jpg High Roller (B)

Earn a 3-star rating in 3 Score Mode levels

 

See Winning Streak

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/BA4.jpg Winning Streak (S)

Earn a 3-star rating in 17 Score Mode levels

 

It's time to go to town on this one folks. Become slick and deadly, racking up as much badly needed score points as possible. Avoid taking hits, and once again attempt at least the first half of these levels on Nightmare difficulty. You can solo this but I imagine if you have a partner you could get massive score points even on lower levels (I only played solo).

 

H0nkyFac3, as before, has also provided in the same thread the list of score 'goals' that you need to achieve in order to get three stars in each individual level in score mode.

 

WARNING: If you die then your combo chain will be reset to zero! If this happens you "might" be able to recover your chain and still get enough score points to claim those stars. I would recommend you restart the entire level if it happens more than once though.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/DCE.jpg New Challenger (B)

Complete your first Bonus Mission level

 

Remember that in order to play Bonus missions, you will need to find maps which are scattered throughout story levels and a few are sold from Tuk's shop in Woodburrow.

 

Bonus missions can also be accessed via the pause menu => Portal Master screen (trust me, there's a lot here!) or by talking to Master Eon in Woodburrow. Rufus the Town Crier will show you his location if you don't know where to find him, along with also showing you Arvil's, Wheellock's and Snaggletooth's locations.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/4CD.jpg Up and Coming (B)

Earn a 3-star rating in any Bonus Mission level

 

See Heroic Champion

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/CE8.jpg Rising Star (S)

Earn a 3-star rating in 3 Bonus Mission levels

 

See Heroic Champion

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/974.jpg Heroic Champion (G)

Earn a 3-star rating in 5 Bonus Mission levels

 

I've found that in order to earn enough score points to get the three stars, I was better off doing them on harder difficulties. I took the same approach to this as I did with Score Mode.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/A1B.jpg Slings and Arrows (B)

Complete your first Team Survival Arena level

 

Team Survival Arena can accessed via pause menu => Portal Master and selecting the appropriate icon or by talking to Snaggletooth in Woodburrow. Unlike Score Mode & Time Attack, Team Survival Arena, along with the other arena options, will become available to play after you save the Flashfin elemental.

 

Once again, please remember that you will need a second controller to even unlock this mode. Once you have a second controller, turn it on, join the game via the button prompt and select a second random Skylander, you're now ready to tackle Team Survival Arena.

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/DBC.jpg Enduring the Onslaught (S)

Earn a 3-star rating in any Team Survival Arena level

 

See Coming out Ahead

 

http://www.ps3trophies.org/images/trophies/1922/972.jpg Coming out Ahead (G)

Earn a 3-star rating in 3 Team Survival Arena levels

 

Get out your second controller, choose a second Skylander, allow that Skylander to faint before you do anything else then after it throws in the towel, continue on with any three team arena fights of your choosing. I went with the first three and played on hard difficulty. There's a similar issue here as there was with Score Mode. If you play on lower difficulties you might not secure enough points to get the three stars.

 

Personally I used the Giant AIR Skylander Swarm to tackle these fights,but any Skylanders with decent attacks consisting of a mixture of ranged and close combat attacks should do.

Edited by DemonicPrime
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A Note Regarding Newsworthy(b) Trophy.(PS4 ONLY)

 

It has come to my attention that the long regarded 'glitched' trophy Newsworthy is in fact not glitched at all. At least not for everyone. Instead, the reason it is not obtainable for some in the PS4 version is due to PS+. To refresh your memory, a Playstation Plus subscription is needed for online play on the PS4. While one could debate all night long that the use of 'online' for Skylanders SWAP Force is minuscule at best, one can't deny that you do need to connect to something in order to get the related trophy and subsequent Platinum. Here is a handy comparison to show you what is different between having a subscription and doing without it;

 

With a PS+ Subscription;

http://i.imgur.com/4RDdLvt.jpg

 

Without a PS+ Subscription;

http://i.imgur.com/fTTgtLe.jpg

 

If you are still having a problem getting the trophy, then please consider this; are you using an AUS region disc? If correct, I'm afraid the only way for you to get this nuisance of a trophy is to import a PAL UK disc.

Edited by DemonicPrime
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Right-o, then. First stab at making a guide thing, so please be gentle. *Sweat*

 

Considering I have both the ps3 (plat'd) & ps4 (plat in progress) versions, I might record some stuff as a guide to emphasize certain particulars outlined in this guide, if that's allowed.

 

All's that's left to do is add a banner, and I'm currently working on that. :)

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Thanks for the guide! Very useful for someone new to Skylanders.

Just a quick query about Newsworthy. Playing on PS4 and have always been signed in to PSN when playing but have never seen an interact prompt above or any where near the sign. Just beat the game and thought it might appear upon returning to Woodborrow but still nothing. Wondering if this is a PS4 specific glitch or am I just missing something really obvious?

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  • 3 weeks later...
I'm having the same problem with Newsworthy. I've contacted Activision support by Twitter and Facebook but no reply yet. Anyone in the US ring up the support help line? This really sucks if a glitch prevents what would otherwise be a fun game and nice platinum.

 

 

^same!, ,u all shld drop a comment on this activision assist facebook post, hassle em heaps cuase ive been ther a few weeks now, and tho ther actualy answering ther , nothing seems to be being done still!

 

https://www.facebook.com/ActivisionAssist/posts/10152165390229311

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yeah, to reiterate, smash 'n' grab all items in sight, especially where the boxes that previously contained hats and treasures were. Raking up that 30x as early as possible is key to achieving the necessary score. Contrary to belief, if done on higher modes of difficulty like Hard or Nightmare, you'd find it much easier to get the points.

 

Agreed, I admittedly wasted a lot more time in Score Mode than in either of the other two 'campaigns.' Braved Nightmare mode for a finish.

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Just finished the three bonus mission trophies on easy mode last night. Was using my max level night elf, and was speeding through it. Gonna work on the time attack this week/weekend before tackling the remainder next week. :D Looks doable to be my first ps4 (P)

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