I may consider getting a bomb. Of course, I only need it for the compound and it will be expensive as already stated.

I do try to avoid them when I can, but it's difficult especially when it's in a rank mission and I have to finish it to progress. Avoiding doesn't excuse having frustratingly tough levels however. Which is why I suggested "nerfing" them. That will not just make me able to finish them, but also make me enjoy playing those levels, like all the others.

I find other types of levels tough too, like Candlestick keep. But I only ever feel like it is unfair with those dang mini enemies. The only mini enemies I feel are balanced are the royal minis. They attack slow and don't have a constant attack move like Drops or Scarabs. Also they spawn in low numbers, so you can deal with them with a sword or gun without being overwhelmed.

None of the battle sprites will be exactly amazing with the mini enemies. The only one sprite skill that could be a bit useful is Seraphynx's Ray of Light (but only slightly), but I am not spending that much money in order to swap and I am not gonna start the game all over just to swap for that one singular skill. The tier 3 sprite skills for Maskeraith and Drakon could be useful, if they didn't take so long to recharge. Which makes them unreliable at the rate of which they spawn mini enemies in.

I am already using Maskeraith. I'll say that it's not exactly as full blown perfect to make the Compound easy. All the skills don't wipe them off quickly enough to match their quick respawns and large spawn rates (except for it's last skill, but how will you have that in tier 2 when they first throw you compounds?) A bomb, I agree would be more suited for that.
But I don't think a singular level type should deserve you needing a specific build in order to beat it without crying. I think, like all the other level types and enemy types, that it should support multiple play-styles in order to be finish ('cept for the damage type resists).
Saying that, I am trying to get a bomb just for those level. Thanks for the recomends.
That doesn't forgive them though. Picking up the broken glass with your hands instead of your teeth doesn't fix the fact that the glass is broken. Which is why I want a nerf so I can sleep at night.

I agree with you... In some places. I do use the shadow cloak often with the compound already, it is helpful sometimes but doesn't charge fast enough to keep you safe. In the double key gate arena, one shadow cloak is quite temporary since you loose your cloak after picking up a key. And when you do, the minis will swarm you, so it's unlikely you'll make it to the door without getting hit and dropping it to be eaten by swarms of mini scarabs.
A bomb may be useful, (which is why I am trying to get one) but I will not prefer it over a sword and gun. It's what I am comfortable with and have invested hundreds of crowns on. Give a woodcutter an axe and they'll cut down a tree, give a axe to a bard and they might cut themselves.
If the compounds rewards were higher, I actually might accept it's difficulty. I do already for the arenas and those are very hard (but don't require a bomb to finish easily), only because of the rewards. The compound sucks for loot because the mini enemies do not drop nothing for you. But I am not asking for a level nerf to begin with, I'm asking for an enemy type nerf. If the mini enemies were nerfed, I can finish those levels in Elite easily with a gun and sword, a playstyle that I am comfortable with not one forced to me.
I stand by what I typed first. Don't let them level up the way they do now. They should only exist to make the other enemies tougher.

I see where you are coming from game design wise. The late arrival of the compounds made me confused of how my playstyle that worked out so well, finds tremendous difficulty in completing those levels. But there are levels I cannot imagine a bomb/blade build could ever finish.
I really, really need a bomb, for secondary builds. That's why the loadout exists right?
I'll eat my greens and spend my crowns. Guess that will make more sense than asking for a enemy nerf.

Thank you for opening my eyes. I'll think twice about my build before I cry "OP, pls nerf!"

I have found times when they were balanced, the royal minis are very balanced all throughout their level, and even drops and scarabs find their way into being balanced the way they are. As you can tell, I've changed my mind about them but I still feel some kind of change is required. Mostly for a specific part of the compound...

I can do most compound levels even without a bomb. But never can I finish the dual locked gate level. You have to deal with turrets and mecha knights while having the entire screen almost all taken up by continuously attacking drops or scarabs that respawn, but also need to carry a key all throughout the narrow circuit to a locked gate... twice. I'll get a bomb, but you cannot expect me to not think this level is INSANE.

I personally don't care if the levels don't reward you that well. There are other missions for that. But I do like how all other levels are fun. But that one specific level, especially, is not fun. I have 3 Elite passes on Roarmulus, because it was fun, not because of the rewards.

I often play with one other knight who always joins me when they're online, and we have very good coordination with each other. If I ever find a mission hard, I invite them. But no matter how many people are apart of the party, I can expect none of them to have a good time with the dual locked gates.

You know what? I've changed my mind. Don't change anything! That mission is hilariously difficult! Everyone going salty, everyone rage quitting! It's hilarious! I got so salty I typed a forum post asking for a nerf! I hope this bomb isn't DA' BOMB (haha see what I did there) and isn't the perfect way to make that mission less difficult. Sometimes you just need the bane of your existence to exist.

My strategy is different. First get as many minis as you can to chase you/ lead them to one side while keeping your character to a corner/ shadow cloak out of there before they surround you (as long as you stay relatively clear of that corner, minis won't chase you)/ Kill the turrets first (you now have space with all the minis in one corner), then the mecha knights and other enemies (optional)/ Then get both keys to the door using the opposite side of which you kept all the minis/ and your out!

I am biased to my own strategy. But I still cannot say the level is any less difficult with my strategy like you however. I can pull of mine without a bomb but it is still a hard level. So many things can still go wrong no matter how good the strategy. No plan is fool proof. With as many steps as these, if any of them go wrong, you're dead. You cannot say that is "not that difficult".