Mastering Trap Team: The Ultimate Guide to Skylanders Traps

Introduction

The Skylanders franchise revolutionized the gaming world with its innovative “toys-to-life” concept. Kids and adults alike were captivated by the ability to bring physical toy figures to life within a video game. This groundbreaking approach reached its zenith with Skylanders: Trap Team, a game that introduced a brand new mechanic: Trapping Villains. Suddenly, the villains weren’t just characters to defeat, but assets to capture and use for good. This unique trapping system is central to the Trap Team experience, and understanding the intricacies of Skylanders traps is essential for mastering the game. Without knowledge of the Skylanders traps, you are missing an incredibly fun and powerful part of the game. This article is your comprehensive guide to Skylanders traps, providing you with the knowledge you need to dominate Skylands.

What are Skylanders Traps?

At the heart of Skylanders: Trap Team lies the ability to capture villains inside special Skylanders traps. These are not just in-game items, but real, physical objects that plug into the Traptanium Portal. When you defeat a villain that is eligible for capture in the game, a prompt appears, inviting you to trap them. Upon successful capture, the villain is transported into the physical trap, allowing you to then play as the villain within the game! This meta experience of sending someone into the real world device is incredibly fun.

The Skylanders traps themselves are made of translucent plastic, allowing them to glow in different colors, matching the element of the villain being stored inside. Each trap represents one of the eight elements of Skylands: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Tech, Life, Undead, and Magic. Each trap type is only capable of trapping villains of the matching element.

Skylanders traps allow you to play as the villains you capture. By inserting the trap into the portal, you can switch between playing as your Skylander character and playing as the trapped villain. These villains each have unique abilities and upgrade paths, adding a huge layer of replayability to the game. They level up like the normal Skylanders do.

What makes Skylanders traps unique is their ability to be upgraded. As you play with a trapped villain, they gain experience and level up. This unlocks new abilities and upgrades, making them even more powerful. You can also rename the villain in the trap to your name. When they talk in the game, they will say your name!

Exploring All Skylanders Traps

The core of the Trap Team gameplay revolves around collecting different Skylanders traps. The game has a series of elements, and traps for each element. The elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Tech, Life, Undead, and Magic.

Earth Trap

This trap is used for villains of the earth element, such as Bruiser Cruiser and Brawlrus. It is brown in color.

Water Trap

This trap captures water-based villains like Gulper and Lob Goblin. It is blue in color.

Fire Trap

This trap can hold fire elementals such as Chef Pepper Jack and Dr. Krankcase. It is red in color.

Air Trap

This trap is used to capture air element villains such as Buzzer Beak and Threatpack. It is white in color.

Tech Trap

This trap captures tech based villains like Scrap Shooter and Trolling Thunder. It is gray in color.

Life Trap

This trap can capture life elementals such as Broccoli Guy and Masker Mind. It is green in color.

Undead Trap

This trap is used to capture undead element villains such as Rage Mage and Grave Robber. It is purple in color.

Magic Trap

This trap captures magic based villains like Dream Catcher and Hood Sickle. It is pink in color.

Which Skylanders Traps Should You Prioritize?

Determining which Skylanders traps to acquire first can be a strategic decision.

For a good overall strategy, you should focus on getting one of each element first. This allows you to capture any villain you encounter. Each starter pack contains the Air and Water Skylanders traps. The next trap you should buy is the Earth trap, as many early villains can be captured with this trap.

Skylanders Traps for Solo Play

When playing solo, having a variety of traps is extremely useful. Having one of each of the elemental traps is ideal for single-player gameplay, and being able to switch between different villains is helpful when facing enemies with elemental strengths or weaknesses.

Skylanders Traps for Multiplayer

When playing with friends or family, coordinating trap selection can enhance the experience. For multiplayer gameplay, it can be fun to specialize in different elements or villain types. This allows for different playstyles.

The Best Way to Trap Each Villain

Successfully trapping villains in Skylanders: Trap Team requires a combination of strategy and timing.

Wait until they are at a low health to ensure you can trap them. The game usually indicates when a villain is ready to be captured. You can see if there is a little picture of a trap next to their health bar. Different villains may require different strategies to defeat and capture. Learning their attack patterns and weaknesses can make the process easier.

Experiment with different Skylander character types to find the best match for each villain encounter. Some Skylander characters may have abilities that are particularly effective against certain villains. Each element is strong against other elements.

You should also upgrade your Skylanders traps as you use them. The Skylanders traps level up the more you use them. When they level up, you can rename them, and can customize their audio.

Conclusion

Understanding the nuances of Skylanders traps is paramount to truly enjoying and excelling in Skylanders: Trap Team. From understanding the different elemental types of Skylanders traps, to strategically trapping villains, the trapping mechanic is a central element of the game. There is no replacement for the physical trap you need to play this game. The Traps bring the villains from the game into our world. By taking the time to learn about Skylanders Traps, players can unlock their full potential. So go forth, experiment with different Skylanders traps and villains, and become a true Trap Master in Skylands! Good luck with your journey in Skylanders Trap Team!