Noob Tower Defense Tier List
No unit appears in this list unless at least one cited source named it. We tag every unit with the source(s) that placed it. Ladder positions for C/D tier are still needs_check pending in-game verification. Season 2 note: Slimegunner left active rotation on May 9, 2026 — use Mod or 1x1x1x1 as your Season 2 starter.
Tier rank is not the same as trade value. For Noob Tower Defense value list, Noob TD value list, and exclusive tower trading, use the Noob Tower Defense values guide. This tier list ranks combat usefulness; the values page explains obtainability, Season 1 exclusives, 1x1x1x1, and the official NTD values tool.
S Top tier — meta carries
| Unit | Role | Why it is S-tier | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juggernaut | DPS | Both sources call this the meta carry / top single-target DPS. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| King | DPS | Listed alongside Juggernaut as top alternative. | moyens-tier-list |
A Strong picks
| Unit | Role | Why it is A-tier | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hacker | DPS | Reliable DPS workhorse if Juggernaut/King are unavailable. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| Railgunner | DPS | Reliable long-range DPS workhorse. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| Veteran | Support | Top support pick. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| Musician | Support | Top support pick. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
B Recommended starter / economy
| Unit | Role | Why it is B-tier | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slimegunner | Starter | Recommended starter. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| 1x1x1x1 | Starter | Recommended starter. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| Mod | Starter | Recommended starter. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| Farms | Economy | Required for sustained late-wave economy. | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
EV Event-exclusive (top tier when available)
| Unit | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Moderator | Event-exclusive DPS | destructoid-tier-list, moyens-tier-list |
| Monkey Tower | Event-exclusive | moyens-tier-list |
| Inverse Moderator Tower | Event-exclusive | moyens-tier-list |
| Mr. Monkey | Event-exclusive | moyens-tier-list |
Event units rotate. Sources confirm these names but availability calendar is needs in-game verification. We do not list a hard return date.
Source comparison by role
Where two articles differ, we keep both lists side-by-side instead of forcing a single ranking.
| Category | Destructoid pick | Moyens.net pick | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Starter | Slimegunner, 1x1x1x1, Mod | Slimegunner, 1x1x1x1, Mod | full-consensus |
| Best DPS | Juggernaut, Hacker, Railgunner | Juggernaut, King, Hacker, Railgunner | Moyens adds King; otherwise consensus |
| Best Support | Veteran, Musician | Veteran, Musician | full-consensus |
| Best Farming/Economy | Farms | Farms | full-consensus |
| Best Late-game | Juggernaut, King (implied) | Juggernaut, King | consensus |
Creator tier-list videos
Independent creator tier lists pulled from a live YouTube search on 2026-05-02. Different creators rank slightly differently than the text aggregators above — useful as a sanity check.
How to Use This Noob Tower Defense Tier List
This list ranks units by sustained combat performance across normal waves, boss waves, and the Aftermath Event — sourced from Destructoid and Moyens.net. Use it as a starting point, not a final verdict:
- S-tier carries anchor every team. Juggernaut and King are the top DPS units. If you can afford only one S-tier, unlock Juggernaut first.
- A-tier fills support and secondary DPS. Hacker and Railgunner are strong secondary carries. Veteran and Musician multiply S-tier damage — one support is usually enough.
- B-tier works for early waves. B-tier units hold Normal mode well but fall behind on boss HP scaling. Upgrade to A or S-tier carries as gems allow.
- Unranked does not mean weak. Units not listed are simply not covered by the cited sources yet. See individual unit pages for source status on each tower.
- Tower Mastery changes the math. A heavily mastered B-tier unit can outperform an unmastered S-tier in some scenarios. See the Tower Mastery guide to decide where to invest first.
For pre-built team compositions using these tiers, open best loadouts. To fund S-tier unlocks with free gems, redeem the current Noob Tower Defense codes — Index (500 Coins + 150 Gems) and ENDLESSDELAY (300 Gems) are the top picks.
Tier List Meta Analysis — Why Each Rank Was Assigned
Tier positions are not assigned by consensus of community opinions — they are derived from the specific language Destructoid and Moyens.net use to describe each unit. Here is the reasoning behind each major placement.
Why Juggernaut is the top carry
Juggernaut is the single unit both Destructoid and Moyens.net independently name as the meta carry. In tier-list language, consensus across two independent sources at the same position is the strongest possible signal. Juggernaut delivers the highest pure single-target damage per cited source, making it the most effective unit against boss HP pools — which is where Hard and Expert mode runs are won or lost. The key caveat: Juggernaut has short range, so placement at a map choke point is critical.
King as the alternative carry
King is listed alongside Juggernaut as the top alternative carry. Moyens.net explicitly positions King as the next-best S-tier option. In practice, King functions as an interchangeable carry slot — if you own King but not Juggernaut, King carries runs equivalently. For teams without either, drop to Hacker or Railgunner as A-tier workhorses rather than attempting Hard mode.
Why Hacker and Railgunner sit below S-tier
Both Hacker and Railgunner are rated A-tier rather than S-tier because they fall behind Juggernaut and King in raw DPS ceiling on Hard and Expert boss waves. They are not weak — they are reliable workhorses that can carry Normal mode and the early phases of Hard. Their A-tier ceiling means they hit a damage floor against Expert and Extreme HP scaling that S-tier carries do not.
Support tier analysis: Veteran vs Musician
Veteran and Musician are both placed as the top support options by both sources — there is no ranked difference between them in the cited tier lists. Veteran provides an attack-rate buff (more shots per second); Musician provides a damage buff (more damage per shot). Both multiply carry DPS compoundingly. Destructoid specifically recommends Apex enchant on both. The practical choice: pick whichever support you can obtain first — the effect on your carry is substantial regardless.
Farm is not ranked as a combat unit
Farms appear in B-tier as an economy unit, not as a damage dealer. Their B-tier position reflects the game design reality: without Farms, you cannot sustain carry upgrades in longer runs, and without carry upgrades, the run fails. Farms are mandatory for Hard and above — both cited sources treat them as required for sustained late-wave economy. The B-tier placement signals "essential" not "mediocre."
Why this matters: Tier lists that rank units without explaining the reasoning create the impression that all S-tier units are interchangeable. They are not — Juggernaut and King occupy S-tier for different reasons, and knowing those reasons lets you build a better team than following the letter grade alone.
Best Noob Tower Defense Unit Synergy Pairs
Tier position describes individual unit strength. Synergy describes what happens when two units interact. The best team in Noob Tower Defense is not two independent S-tier units — it is two units that multiply each other. Here are the four confirmed synergy pairs that every cited guide treats as the meta loadout foundation.
| Pair | Why it works | Recommended enchants |
|---|---|---|
| Juggernaut + Veteran | The consensus top combination. Veteran's attack-rate buff means Juggernaut fires more frequently — a multiplicative effect on Juggernaut's base damage. Both units are S/A-tier per both sources. This pair handles all boss checkpoints in Hard and Expert when properly upgraded. | Reaper on Juggernaut, Apex on Veteran (Destructoid recommendation) |
| King + Musician | The alternative carry-support pair. Musician's damage buff stacks with King's carry stats. Functionally equivalent to Juggernaut + Veteran for players who own King instead of Juggernaut. | Reaper on King, Apex on Musician |
| Hacker + Veteran | The budget S-tier alternative for Normal mode and early Hard mode. Hacker is cheaper to obtain than Juggernaut; Veteran multiplies what Hacker already does. This pair is the correct loadout for players transitioning from starter units before they can afford an S-tier carry. | Reaper on Hacker, Apex on Veteran |
| Farms × 2 + carry + support | The economy backbone for any run above Normal difficulty. Two Farms compound income faster than one, funding carry upgrades and the mandatory detection slot on Hard. This is not a unit pairing but the full economy framework every tier-list guide treats as the baseline for Hard mode. | Invest in carry and support enchants before Farm enchants |
For pre-built loadouts using these pairs across different scenarios (early runs, boss farming, Endless mode), see the best loadouts guide.
How Season 2 Affected the Noob Tower Defense Tier List
Season 2 launched on May 9, 2026. Understanding what changed — and what did not — is essential for building an accurate loadout as a current Season 2 player.
| Category | What Changed | Tier Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Starter availability change | Season 2 removed Slimegunner, Builder, and Nox from active play rotation — these are now trading-only assets. The practical impact on the tier list: new Season 2 players can no longer use Slimegunner as their starter. 1x1x1x1 and Mod are now the primary starter options for new players. Mod is the most accessible starter for Season 2 newcomers. | B-tier starters: 1x1x1x1 and Mod remain; Slimegunner is trading-only |
| 1x1x1x1 unobtainable status | 1x1x1x1 became unobtainable on May 10, 2026 when the Powerhouse Paintball badge was permanently disabled. While it still functions as a B-tier starter for players who own it, new players cannot obtain it through gameplay. Its trading value increased post-badge-disable. If you own 1x1x1x1, it remains a fully valid starter; if you do not, use Mod instead. | B-tier: still valid combat starter; unobtainable for new players |
| Core meta stability | Juggernaut, King, Hacker, Railgunner, Veteran, Musician, and Farms all transitioned through Season 2 with no cited change to their tier positions. These are permanent units — they did not leave rotation. The Season 1 → Season 2 transition confirmed that the meta core is stable: S-tier carries and A-tier supports remain the same loadout framework. | S/A-tier: no changes from Season 1 to Season 2 |
| Season 2 exclusive towers | Season 2 introduced new exclusive towers alongside the new Season Pass and event tower. The specific units and their tier positions are not yet covered in the cited third-party sources (Destructoid and Moyens.net). Until those sources publish updated tier coverage for Season 2 exclusives, new Season 2 towers are not assigned a tier on this page. Check official Discord announcements for Season 2 exclusive unit names. | Season 2 exclusives: unranked pending third-party source coverage |
Season 2 starter caveat: If you are a new player who started after May 9, 2026, Slimegunner is not available to you through gameplay. Use Mod as your primary starter. Slimegunner, Nox, and Builder are now available only through trading (requires Discord Level 5 / Recon). Do not build your progression plan around units you cannot obtain.
How to Use This Tier List as a Beginner: Unit Chase Order
A tier list is only useful if you know which tier to chase first. The answer is not "just unlock S-tier immediately" — it is a phased progression that matches your current resources to the right unit investment. Here is the correct tier-by-tier chase order for Season 2 beginners.
| Phase | Target Units | Priority Rule | Gem Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Starter (Easy mode) | Mod or 1x1x1x1 (if owned) | Learn placement and Farm timing. Farms are mandatory — skip them and runs collapse at wave 15+. | Do not spend gems yet. Redeem all codes first (see codes page for current active list). |
| Phase 2: A-tier build (Normal mode) | Hacker or Railgunner as primary DPS; Veteran or Musician as support | Upgrade carry before adding support. Support multiplies existing damage — without a partially upgraded carry, the multiplier does little. | Spend gems on Hacker or Railgunner unlock only after codes are redeemed. |
| Phase 3: S-tier carry (Hard mode) | Juggernaut or King as primary carry | Hard mode requires detection + 2 Farms + S-tier carry. Do not attempt Hard without all three. | Save all gems for Juggernaut or King unlock. Enchant with Reaper immediately after unlock. |
| Phase 4: Optimize (Expert / Endless) | Full team: Juggernaut/King + Veteran/Musician + Hacker/Railgunner + Farms × 2–3 | Invest in Tower Mastery on your main carry. Mastery compounds across runs and is the primary progression for Expert readiness. | Apex enchant on support after Reaper enchant on carry. Then Tower Mastery investment. |
For a full difficulty roadmap alongside this unit chase order, see the Noob Tower Defense beginner guide. For how to obtain each unit in the table above, see the how to get units guide.
Enchant Guide: Which Enchants Belong on Which Tier Units
Enchants are permanent upgrades that modify unit stats at the cost of gems. Applying the wrong enchant to the right unit is a common mid-game mistake. The Destructoid tier list explicitly names two enchants by name; every other enchant recommendation on this page would require in-game verification.
Confirmed Enchant Recommendations (Destructoid sourced)
- Reaper on DPS carries (especially shorter-range units). Destructoid recommends "Reaper on almost everything else, especially shorter range units." In practice this means Juggernaut (your primary short-range S-tier carry) should receive Reaper as its first enchant. Reaper multiplies damage output — applied to the highest-DPS unit, it produces the largest absolute damage increase per gem spent.
- Apex on support units. Destructoid explicitly pairs Apex with support units. Apex on Veteran or Musician amplifies the support's buff aura, which in turn multiplies the Reaper-enchanted carry's output. The Reaper (carry) + Apex (support) pairing creates a compounding synergy: your carry hits harder per Reaper, and your support makes it hit even harder per Apex.
What Not to Enchant First
- Do not enchant B-tier starters. Slimegunner, 1x1x1x1, and Mod are transition units — you will replace them with A-tier DPS in Normal mode. Enchanting a starter wastes gems on a unit you plan to remove.
- Do not enchant Farms. Farm enchants improve income generation, but the gems spent on a Farm enchant produce more value if applied to a carry enchant first. Enchant carry and support before Farms.
- Do not enchant A-tier DPS before your first S-tier. If you enchant Hacker before you own Juggernaut, those gems extend the life of a placeholder unit. Save enchant gems for the carry you plan to use long-term.
Enchant order of operations: Redeem all codes → unlock S-tier carry → enchant carry with Reaper → unlock A-tier support → enchant support with Apex → invest remaining gems in Tower Mastery. This order is derived from the Destructoid tier-list recommendation and the gem efficiency framework in the beginner guide.
Tier List FAQ
Did Season 2 change the meta?
The core meta is stable. Juggernaut, King, Hacker, Railgunner, Veteran, Musician, and Farms all retained their tier positions through the Season 1 → Season 2 transition. What changed is starter availability: Slimegunner left active rotation and 1x1x1x1 became unobtainable for new players. Use Mod as your Season 2 starter.
Is MrGuider's June 2026 tier list consistent with Destructoid and Moyens.net?
Yes. The MrGuider June 2026 listing confirms Juggernaut and King as the top S-tier carries, Hacker and Railgunner as A-tier workhorses, and Veteran/Musician as the top supports. This three-source consistency is the strongest signal that the core meta ranking is accurate as of June 2026. We have added MrGuider as a third cross-check source in this update.
Why are Season 2 exclusive towers not listed here?
Season 2 exclusive towers are not assigned tier positions on this page because Destructoid and Moyens.net have not yet published updated tier coverage for them. We do not rank units without a cited source. When the cited sources cover Season 2 exclusives, this tier list will be updated. Check the update log for when tier-list data sources publish new coverage.
Can I clear Hard mode without an S-tier carry?
Technically possible but not recommended. Hacker and Railgunner (A-tier) can carry Hard mode if properly upgraded with support and enchants, but they hit a damage ceiling against boss HP scaling that S-tier carries do not. The Arsinix Hard Mode tutorial specifically uses Minigunner and Marksmen (video-sourced) alongside Farms — not A-tier workhorses alone. Build toward S-tier as quickly as possible once Normal mode is comfortable.
Does Tower Mastery change tier rankings?
Tower Mastery adds permanent stat bonuses to any unit you invest in — in theory, a heavily mastered A-tier carry could outperform an unmastered S-tier in some scenarios. However, the tier list reflects base unit potential, not mastery-adjusted performance. For mastery investment priorities, see the Tower Mastery guide. The tier list answer: always invest mastery in S-tier or A-tier units, never in B-tier starters.