Tips & Tricks
Strategy guide, common mistakes, and expert advice.
Phase-by-Phase Strategy
Early Game (Waves 1-25)
Goals: Establish defenses, build economy, survive to first prestige check
Recommended Actions:
- Start with 2-3 Pulse Cannons near the center
- Upgrade to level 2-3 before adding more turrets
- Let interest accumulate (watch the cap)
- Add Scatter Shot for Swarm waves (5, 10, 15…)
- Have at least one level 3+ turret for Wave 10 Boss
Economy Focus:
- Don’t spend every credit immediately
- Interest is free money every wave
- Milestone bonuses at waves 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
Mid Game (Waves 26-50)
Goals: Push turrets to level 4-6, prepare for prestige
Recommended Actions:
- Prioritize upgrading key turrets to level 4+ (major power spike)
- Add specialized turrets: Cryo for control, Rail for shields
- Build up credits for interest while maintaining defense
- Prepare for Wave 50 prestige threshold
Economy Focus:
- Interest cap becomes important (upgrade Investment Returns)
- Wave 50 milestone = 2,500 bonus credits
- Balance spending with savings
Late Game (Waves 51-80)
Goals: Counter advanced enemies, continue scaling
New Threats:
- Regenerators (wave 51): Need sustained DPS
- Splitters (wave 55): AoE for spawns
- Phasers (wave 60): High accuracy or AoE
- Phase Drones (wave 60): Avoid energy damage
- Pyro Tanks (wave 65): Avoid fire damage
- Nullifiers (wave 70): Shield breaking
- Adaptive (wave 75): Turret diversity
Recommended Actions:
- Diversify turret types for resistances
- Max out key turrets to level 6
- Use powerups strategically on tough waves
- Research Quantum Core for shield protection
End Game (Waves 80+)
Goals: Survive Titans, counter anti-meta enemies
Major Threats:
- Titan (wave 80+): Huge HP, shield, costs 5 lives
- Void Shield (wave 100): Pierce immune
- Chrono Phaser (wave 105): Beam immune
- Inferno Carrier (wave 110): Fire resistant
Survival Tips:
- Stock Quantum Immunity for Titan waves
- Build diverse damage types (no single meta)
- Use Slow Mobius to manage overwhelming waves
- Keep The Nuke for emergencies
- Turret Mastery at game start for best value
Enemy Counter Quick Reference
| Enemy |
Counter |
| Swarm |
AoE (Mortar, Tesla) |
| Shielded |
Rail Gun, sustained fire |
| Heavy |
Focus fire, high DPS |
| Stealth/Phaser |
Laser Beam, AoE |
| Boss |
Everything, prioritize |
| Regenerator |
Burst or high sustained DPS |
| Splitter |
AoE ready for spawns |
| Phase Drone |
Kinetic, avoid energy |
| Pyro Tank |
Avoid fire/MOAT |
| Adaptive |
Use varied turret types |
| Titan |
All resources, powerups |
| Void Shield |
Avoid Rail (pierce immune) |
| Chrono Phaser |
Avoid Laser (beam immune) |
| Inferno Carrier |
Avoid fire, prep for spawns |
Turret Synergies
Frozen Target Setup
- Cryo Emitter freezes enemy (3 hits)
- Frozen enemies take 2x damage
- Other turrets deal massive damage
- Group Pulse Cannons together
- Each nearby Pulse adds +8% damage
- Maximum +24% with 3 adjacent Pulses
Pull and Splash
- Singularity pulls enemies together (+30% damage)
- Plasma Mortar AoE hits clustered enemies
- Massive group damage
Slow + Rail Line
- Temporal Field slows enemies to 30% speed
- Rail Gun pierces through slowed group
- +15% damage per pierce adds up
Common Mistakes
1. Building Too Many Low-Level Turrets
Problem: Spreading credits thin across many weak turrets
Solution: Fewer turrets, higher upgrades. Level 4-6 turrets are far more efficient than many level 1s.
2. Ignoring Interest
Problem: Spending every credit immediately
Solution: Let credits build between waves. 5% interest is free income. Upgrade the cap.
3. Not Upgrading Interest Cap
Problem: Base 500 cap limits income scaling
Solution: Investment Returns upgrade is one of the best early purchases.
4. Single Turret Type Strategy
Problem: Building only one turret type
Solution: Late game enemies have resistances. Diversify to counter Adaptive, Phase Drone, etc.
5. Forgetting About Turret Placement
Problem: Random turret placement
Solution: Force enemies to walk through kill zones. Block paths strategically.
6. Hoarding Too Much
Problem: Sitting on massive credits while struggling to survive
Solution: Dead runs earn nothing. Spend enough to survive comfortably.
7. Ignoring Daily Rewards
Problem: Missing free Prestige Points
Solution: Log in daily for 10-45 PP. Streaks add up fast.
Advanced Tips
Sell/Rebuy Strategy
With max Salvage Master (+40% sell value):
- Total return: 75% + 40% = 115%
- Actually profit from selling!
- Enables repositioning and strategy changes
Interest Optimization
- Interest applies before wave starts
- Spend credits AFTER wave starts if possible
- Wave Bonus upgrade + Interest = compound gains
Prestige Timing
- Prestige at wave 50 = 0 bonus points from waves
- Each wave above 50 = 10 bonus PP
- But higher waves = more PP from score
- Balance: prestige when struggling, push when comfortable
Research Priority
- Quantum Core - Shield prevents surprise deaths
- Singularity - Great control and damage amp
- MOAT - Amazing for grouped enemies (watch for Pyro)
Powerup Economy
- Turret Mastery and Large Cap at game START
- Quantum Immunity DURING Titan waves
- The Nuke as absolute LAST resort
Quick Reference Numbers
| Stat |
Value |
| Starting Credits |
1,500 |
| Starting Lives |
20 |
| Interest Rate |
5% |
| Interest Cap |
500 |
| Sell Return |
75% |
| Max Turret Level |
6 |
| Turret HP |
100 |
| Enemy Attack |
25 dmg/sec |
| Prestige Requirement |
Wave 50 |
| Max Prestige |
50 |
Final Advice
- Upgrades over quantity - Invest in what you have
- Interest is power - Let it build, upgrade the cap
- Adapt to threats - Counter-build for enemy types
- Use powerups - They’re tools, not trophies
- Prestige early, prestige often - Bonuses compound
- Have fun - Experiment with strategies!
Good luck, Defender!