[[File:ScreenShot03618.png|When ready, you may activate the ritual.|thumb]]
[[File:Dark_Realm_Statues_Boss_Phases.png|The Phases of the Dark Realm Statue: Left - Idle, Middle - Ritual Activated, Right - Destroyed. Defeat the statue when the ritual is active to render the Altar Assassin Assassins vulnerable.|thumb]]
As play commences on the first wave, the ground spawns will all commence with their schedules and the air lanes will produce a set number of Altar Assassins each wave. Altar Assassins are a version of the Dark Assassin with a unique flair that are invulnerable to any attacks. Altar Assassins will hunt down and attack the hero, and will follow them the entire wave. They do not latch onto the hero, like Dark Assassins do. After they spawn, they follow their air lane to the crystal, and then seek out the hero the rest of the wave. If you come near one that just spawned, it will begin following you right away. They do not attack the crystal, so there is no need to try and stop them. They do not intentionally attack any defenses, however they will sometimes possibly attack a barricade on their path, so all you need to do is come near one and it will then chase you the rest of that wave. When attacking you, Altar Assassins can damage you along with what you are next to, so be mindful about standing on the crystal or next to a defense. They are covered in a dark skin flair while they are invulnerable, and they can be seen on the minimap as an air enemy. While you cannot damage then, you can still attack them and all crowd control effects will work. Slow, Stun, and Freeze can be applied and will have an effect. Defenses do not target these enemies, but Altar Assassins will be affected by any attack they are in the path of. This means that Tower based defenses are hard to hit them with, but Aura and AOE based ones are much easier to use against them. They move slow, and their attacks also push your hero slightly, moving them. You cannot pass under or jump through them. That can make getting around them a tad tricky at times, especially in large numbers that all follow you constantly throughout the wave. Be careful not to stand in a corner or next to a ledge when they find and attack you, as they can push you over the side or you can get trapped in a corner. To lead them away, just go stand anywhere else and wait for them to follow you.