Noob Tower Defense Beginner Guide
On this page
First 10 minutes
- Finish the tutorial. The Settings menu only appears on the left side after you complete it — and you need that menu to redeem codes.
- Redeem all currently active codes. See the codes page for the verified list.
- Pick Easy mode. Easy is meant for new players; Hard mode requires Marksmen + Minigunner + Farms — not a starter loadout.
- Place a starter unit at a turn early in the path. Slimegunner / 1x1x1x1 / Mod are all valid starters.
- Add a Farm early — before the wave economy outscales you. Skipping Farms is the single biggest run-killer.
Best early upgrades
Upgrade your starter once before placing a second tower. After your first Farm is paid for, prioritize:
- Range upgrade on the path corner. A unit at a corner with range covers more wave-time than two flat-line units.
- Damage upgrade on your DPS once you swap to a Hacker / Railgunner.
- Farm upgrades before any new unit. Farms compound — extra units do not.
How to spend gems and cash
Cash is wave currency. Gems are persistent. Different rules:
| Currency | Spend on | Do not spend on |
|---|---|---|
| Cash (in-wave) | First Farm early, then your DPS upgrades, then a second Farm if the map is long. | A second DPS unit before the first one is upgraded. |
| Gems (persistent) | S-tier DPS unlocks (Juggernaut, King) when they become obtainable. | Cosmetics or starter unit re-rolls; you already have viable starters. |
Common mistakes
- Skipping Farms. The single biggest reason runs collapse on wave 15+.
- Building 4 starter towers. One upgraded DPS plus one support beats four un-upgraded starters.
- Spending gems on the first DPS you unlock. Save until at least an A-tier (Hacker / Railgunner) is in reach.
- Ignoring supports. Veteran and Musician multiply your DPS output. Without one, late-wave DPS feels flat.
- Typing codes wrong. Codes are case-sensitive (UPD2, not upd2). See the codes page.
When to change units
Use this swap chart as a phase guide. None of our cited sources publish exact wave breakpoints — the wave ranges below are community ballpark guidance.
| Phase | Rough wave | Loadout shape |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | early | 1× starter (Slimegunner / 1x1x1x1 / Mod), nothing else |
| Economy | before mid | Add 1× Farm, upgrade starter once |
| Mid | mid | Replace starter with Hacker or Railgunner. Add 1× support (Veteran / Musician) |
| Late | late | Swap to Juggernaut or King as carry once available. Add a second Farm if wave length allows. |
Beginner FAQ
Which unit should I start with as a beginner?
Slimegunner, 1x1x1x1 or Mod. All three are best-starter picks per Destructoid and Moyens.net.
Should I spend gems on the first carry I see?
No. Save gems until an S-tier DPS (Juggernaut or King) is obtainable.
When do I add Farms?
Early — before late-wave health pools outscale starter DPS damage. Community videos place it anywhere from wave 3 to wave 7 depending on map and difficulty. Without Farms you cannot scale.