Tier List - Retro Tower Defense

August 2026 Meta Overview

This tier list reflects the Retro Tower Defense meta after the August 2026 patch featuring Yorick Heroic banner return and the Gunner Epic tower launch, plus the Forsaken Collab running August 21 to September 4. Rankings weigh performance across Normal, Hard, Endless, and boss-wave content—not raw summon rarity alone.

S-tier towers define competitive loadouts and are worth investing trait rerolls and upgrade priority. A-tier units are strong role-fillers that excel in specific niches or serve as bridge towers before your first Heroic pull. B-tier towers remain viable for early progression but require heavy investment to compete in late Endless.

Tier placement shifts when Plaything Games patches damage numbers or adds new towers. Bookmark this page and cross-reference our DPS, Support, and Farm sub-pages for role-specific breakdowns.

S-Tier Towers

Mage anchors every top loadout with AoE magical burst that clears escort clusters on boss waves. Noli complements Mage as the premier single-target execution specialist—together they handle wave 40, Yorick, and Telamon checks that stall lesser DPS.

Yorick joined S-tier in August 2026 as the best Endless lane controller. His multi-projectile attack pattern and durability make him ideal for holding long stretches of path while Mage and Noli burn down the boss. Place Yorick at the final chokepoint before your base.

Helper Bot rounds out S-tier as the mandatory support buff that multiplies every DPS tower in range. No competitive Endless loadout is complete without central Helper Bot placement—his buff radius should cover your primary damage dealers.

• S-tier: Mage, Noli, Yorick, Helper Bot

A-Tier Towers

Gunner Epic launched in August 2026 as a strong sustained-DPS bridge tower. Until you pull your first Heroic, Gunner fills the A-tier slot with consistent single-target damage that outpaces Minigunner and Scout by a wide margin. Prioritize Gunner upgrades in early to mid-game.

Mech climbed to S-tier after Summon Overhaul buffs to rocket pod and flamethrower modes. Dual weapon switching covers both path-wide AoE and sustained burn, making Mech a flexible anchor on Crossroads and Yorick's Resting Place.

Forest Mage returned to the standard banner with poison AoE and stun utility—ideal when escorts block sightlines to the boss. Doombringer provides splash damage that scales into Endless wave 80+. Tycoon earns A-tier for Tix generation that funds in-round upgrades and future summons.

Dusekkar shields and damage reduction keep boss-wave clusters alive during Yorick stomp and Telamon fire-ring phases. Rocket debuffs high-HP targets so Noli and Mage burst windows land harder.

• A-tier: Gunner, Mech, Forest Mage, Doombringer, Tycoon, Dusekkar, Rocket

B-Tier and Starter Towers

Minigunner and Scout occupy B-tier as solid Rare and Epic starters. Minigunner handles early Crossroads waves cheaply; Scout offers range on elevated tiles before you summon Heroic replacements. Both drop off once Mage or Mech enters the loadout.

A-tier and B-tier rankings assume proper placement—an A-tier Rocket on ground level underperforms compared to the same unit on an elevated corner covering two path segments.

• B-tier: Minigunner, Scout

Forsaken Collab and Chance

The Forsaken Collab introduced Chance, a Void rarity self-support unit with triple-card buff mechanics. Chance picks from three cards that grant different buff effects to himself and nearby allies, making him a flexible pocket pick for players who enjoy decision-based gameplay.

Chance sits at the A-B border in current tier rankings. His self-buff focus means he does not directly multiply your team like Helper Bot, but his triple-card system offers unique sustain and damage amplification in the right loadout. More data is needed from the community before definitive placement.

The four Forsaken maps—Rift, Void, Catacombs, and Citadel—are available during the August 21 to September 4 event window. See the Forsaken Collab page for map-specific loadout recommendations.

Placement Rules and Loadout Building

Ranged towers—Mage, Forest Mage, Noli, Gunner, Rocket, Minigunner, and Scout—belong on elevated surfaces where they maximize line of sight across multiple path bends. Crossroads rooftops, Doomspire ledges, and Chaos Canyon platforms are priority real estate.

Melee and ground-focused units—Mech in flamethrower mode, Dusekkar shields, and Doombringer splash anchors—sit at ground-level chokepoints where enemies cluster. Place them where escorts stack before reaching your elevated DPS line.

Yorick goes at the final chokepoint—the last ground tile before your base—to maximize his lane-holding potential. Helper Bot goes centrally so its buff radius covers the widest spread of damage dealers. A common August 2026 core is elevated Mage, ground Mech at the primary choke, central Helper Bot, Yorick at the exit, and Noli on the boss sightline tile.