Clever league: How do I counter runner rushes?

[CombatEX]

If you could upload the replays of the games you've been having trouble with it would be easier to provide constructive feedback. Without any replays I can just give you the general advice of making soldiers and gradually blocking vulnerable parts of your base. Also the occasional 2 hp runner so you can see where your opponent is threatening to strike next would be useful. Your opponent ends up throwing away a lot of wits when attacking your base with runners, so as long as you can get a tight defense before the 5th runner, you'll be in a dominant position.

Each damage to your base your opponent does with a runner will cost them 4 wits (on average, but this is map dependent of course). So let's say they do 3 damage. That's 12 wits. Now if you've just been making soldiers/snipers/etc. it will have cost you 3-6 wits to kill those 3 runners. You are now 3-6 wits ahead of your opponent in terms of wit exchange AND you are up 3 units. If your opponent did 4 damage he's in an even worse situation. He spent 16 wits while you spent 4-8. So that's now a 8-12 wit advantage for you plus you killed 4 units.

Your base health is like a secondary resource. It's okay to trade some of your health for that wit and unit advantage as long as you manage it well and don't let your health go to 0. There is no goal in Outwitters that says you got a 'better' win for having more base health, so don't feel bad if you lose a point here or there.