Focus Fire vs Spreading Damage (Scenario Success Guide)

One of the biggest tactical questions new Gloomhaven players grapple with is:

Should we focus all our attacks on one enemy at a time, or spread out our attacks across many enemies?

In tactical scenarios, this choice affects:

how much damage you take
how long a fight drags on
how much card burn your party suffers
whether objectives can be completed in time

This guide walks through when to focus fire, when to spread damage, and how to make the call on the fly.

The Case for Focus Fire

Focus fire means concentrating attacks on one enemy until it dies, then moving on to the next.

This approach is commonly recommended in Gloomhaven because:

You Reduce the Number of Attacking Enemies

By killing foes one at a time, you shrink the pressure on your party. Fewer enemies acting means fewer attacks going off each round — and damage is the biggest limiter in most scenarios. Even if other enemies have lost health, they are still a threat until they are gone.

Lowered Complexity & Predictability

When there are fewer figures on the board, planning becomes easier:

Monsters have fewer movement options
You can funnel enemies more effectively
You reduce initiative chaos

This is especially valuable in multi-room fights where hallway or doorway control matters.

Easier Card Management

Fewer still-alive enemies means fewer incoming attacks, so fewer opportunities to take damage and lose cards. Conserving cards is frequently the difference between success and exhaustion in later rooms.

Examples of When to Focus Fire

Best times to focus fire:

When an enemy has low remaining health and can be finished quickly
When a strong enemy threatens multiple party members
When you lack control abilities but can kill fast
Early in a scenario where overkill now prevents later damage

In practical terms, this means picking priority targets — usually high-damage or low-HP threats — and knocking them out first.

The Case for Spreading Damage

Spreading damage means attacking multiple targets instead of committing all attacks to one.

This has tactical value in some scenarios because:

It Prevents Many Enemies from Acting at Full Strength

If you injure several enemies, but don’t kill them, you can reduce the total damage output of the group more than by killing one. A wounded enemy sometimes deals less effective damage than several full-strength enemies acting together.

This is typical in other tactical RPGs too: diluting the group’s total action value can be more effective than focusing fire in certain contexts.

Spreading Damage Helps When You Can’t Kill Quickly

If your party lacks enough sustained damage to kill a foe this turn, it may be better to:

injure multiple enemies
reduce initiative efficiency
diminish future damage

This is especially true when:

enemies have high HP and don’t die quickly
enemies are clustered but will threaten different party members
your party lacks high single-target damage this turn

Scenarios Where Spreading Damage Shines

Good situations for spreading damage:

Against large hordes of weak enemies
When enemies have strong reactive abilities (e.g., retaliate)
When you’re trying to set up control effects (e.g., poison, stun, immobilize)
When team AoE abilities hit multiple enemies

Which Approach Is Better?

There is no universal answer — both focus fire and spreading damage are valid.
Instead, ask yourself these questions each round:

Can we kill at least one enemy this round?
- If yes, focus fire on the easiest or most dangerous one.
- If no, consider spreading damage.
Which enemies will definitely act before we go again?
- A dangerous initiative enemy should be a focus target.
Does spreading damage reduce overall incoming damage?
- If partial damage reduces total threat next turn, spreading can be superior.
Do we have control or status effects that reward spreading?
- Effects like poison, immobilize, or stun are more valuable against multiple wounded targets.

If you can answer these questions clearly, you’ll make better tactical choices.

Examples in Typical Gloomhaven Scenarios

Example A: Two High-Threat Enemies

Your party can kill one, but not two, this round.

Focus fire the most threatening one (highest damage or strongest ability)
Spread damage is not helpful here because one enemy will act full force next turn

Outcome: One enemy dead → fewer attacks next round.

Example B: Horde of Weak Foes

You have many weak enemies clustered with low HP.

Spread damage to reduce how many can act in meaningful ways
Consider AoE or attacks that hit multiple enemies

Outcome: Weak enemies stay alive but hurt less, reducing total damage output.

Example C: Control and Debuff Setup

You have a stun or immobilize available next round.

Spread damage to injure several targets within range
Use control to neutralize a group

This increases value of debuffs more than focusing fire in a single turn.

Party Composition Changes the Equation

What your party can do matters:

High single-target burst classes (e.g., Hatchet, Scoundrel) accelerate focus fire
AoE or supportive classes (e.g., Demolitionist, Soothsinger) enable spreading damage
Control classes amplify the value of spreading damage because injured foes are easier to hold in place

Always pair your approach with what your party actually does well.

Practical Tactical Tips

Don’t Sweat Overkill

Sometimes it’s worth “wasting” damage to secure a kill because the benefit (one fewer enemy acting) is greater than saving a few hit points.

Think About Initiative

If you know a dangerous enemy will act before certain party members, focus them down even if other enemies are wounded.

Use Positioning to Force Decisions

Clumping enemies can make AoE more valuable and spreading damage more effective.

Consider Scenario Objectives

In scenarios with goals other than killing everything, spreading damage to slow enemies can be more valuable than focus fire.

Summary

Here’s a quick comparison:

Focus Fire

Best when you can kill enemies quickly
Reduces total threats
Works well against fewer high-threat enemies

Spreading Damage

Best against many weak enemies
Reduces total output rather than eliminating threats
Works well with debuffs/AoE

Both approaches are situational — the key is choosing the right one based on the game state and your party’s strengths.