- All Star Tower Defense requires strategic unit placement and resource management to win.
- Gems are the primary currency for summoning new units and should be spent wisely early on.
- Story Mode is the best starting point for farming gems and unlocking new maps.
- Unit synergy matters more than raw stats—deploy units that complement each other's attack patterns.
- Daily tasks and Orbs provide consistent progression boosts for new players.
All Star Tower Defense Core Mechanics
Understanding the core gameplay loop is essential before diving into advanced strategies. In All Star Tower Defense, your primary goal is to prevent waves of enemies from reaching your base by strategically deploying units along a path.
Video Highlights:
- Step-by-step walkthrough for first-time players
- Best early-game units to summon and upgrade
- How to efficiently farm gems in Story Mode
- Placement strategies to maximize damage output
Every unit in the game has unique stats, including damage, range, and attack speed (SPA - Seconds Per Attack). Balancing these three attributes determines how effective a unit is against specific enemy types. Some units excel at single-target damage for bosses, while others provide Area of Effect (AoE) attacks to clear groups.
| Stat | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | Raw hit points removed per attack | High |
| Range | How far the unit can reach enemies | Medium |
| SPA | Attack speed; lower is better | High |
| DPS | Damage Per Second overall rating | Critical |
DPS (Damage Per Second) is the most reliable metric for evaluating a unit's offensive output. Always compare DPS values rather than just raw damage numbers when deciding which units to deploy.
Summoning and Early Game Units
The summoning system is your primary method of acquiring new characters. Using Gems, you can perform summons that randomly grant units ranging from 3-Star to 7-Star rarity. As a beginner, your first major objective is to secure a reliable damage dealer to carry you through the initial Story Mode stages.
Single Summons
- Costs 50 Gems per pull
- Good for testing luck
- Slower animation process
- Best when low on currency
Multi Summons (x10)
- Costs 450 Gems for 10 pulls
- Discounted bulk option
- Faster animation
- Most efficient use of Gems
Special Banners
- Features limited-time units
- Higher cost per pull
- Best meta units available
- Save Gems for these events
When you first start playing, focus on completing the easy Story Mode stages. These stages have low difficulty but reward you with a steady stream of Gems. Accumulate at least 450 Gems before performing a multi-summon to maximize your chances of getting a 5-Star or higher unit.
Avoid using Gems to revive during missions or to continue failed attempts. Instead, retry the stage with a different unit placement strategy. Saving your Gems exclusively for summoning will accelerate your progression significantly.
Step-by-Step Early Progression
To establish a strong account in All Star Tower Defense, follow this structured progression path. This approach ensures you maximize resource gain while building a capable roster.
Clear Story Mode Act 1
Deploy your starting units in single-file choke points. Focus on upgrading your strongest damage dealer to max level before the stage boss appears. This will net you your first 200-300 Gems.
Perform Your First Multi-Summon
Once you have 450 Gems, head to the summon area and perform a x10 pull. Look for units with high DPS or AoE capabilities. If you get a low-tier unit, do not worry—progress is still possible.
Grind Daily Tasks and Infinite Mode
After securing a primary damage dealer, shift your focus to Daily Tasks. These reset every 24 hours and provide consistent Gem rewards. Use Infinite Mode to test unit synergy and farm additional resources.
Equip Orbs and Emotes
Visit the Orb Shop and equip any available upgrade Orbs to your main carry. Orbs provide flat stat boosts that dramatically increase a unit's effectiveness in later stages.
Reaching Level 50 and clearing the first three Story Acts unlocks most of the game's core features, including Raids and Trials. Prioritize this milestone within your first few play sessions.
Unit Placement and Strategy
Winning in All Star Tower Defense is not just about having the strongest units—it is about where and when you place them. Enemy pathing dictates the effectiveness of your attacks. Units placed at corners or along long straightaways will land more hits than those placed on short curves.
| Placement Type | Effectiveness | Best Unit Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Line | Excellent | AoE, Cone Attack | Maximizes hit count on groups |
| Sharp Corner | Very Good | Single Target | Units attack twice on U-turns |
| Near Base | Risky | Slow/Debuff | Last line of defense strategy |
| Spawn Point | Aggressive | High SPA | Good for early wave clearing |
Key Placement Rules:
- Always place your most expensive unit at a corner where enemies pass twice
- Spread out your units to avoid being overwhelmed by AoE enemy attacks
- Upgrade units incrementally rather than placing many low-level units
- Keep support units (buffers/healers) safely behind your frontline
When enemies navigate a U-shaped corner, they pass by the same point twice. Placing your highest DPS unit at the inner edge of this corner effectively doubles their damage output for that wave.
Farming and Resource Management
Efficient resource management separates casual players from top-tier defenders. The two most important resources in the game are Gems and Gold. Gems are used for summoning, while Gold is used to upgrade placed units during matches.
Best Gem Farming Methods:
| Method | Gem Yield | Difficulty | Time Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story Mode (New) | 30-50 per stage | Low | 5-10 minutes |
| Daily Tasks | 50-100 total | Varies | 15 minutes |
| Infinite Mode | 5-10 per wave | Medium | Ongoing |
| Raids | 20-40 per run | High | 10-15 minutes |
| Trials | 25 per completion | Hard | 10 minutes |
During a match, do not immediately spend all your Gold on the first unit you place. Save a portion of your Gold to upgrade your carry unit to their final upgrade tier before the boss wave spawns. Final-tier upgrades often provide exponential damage increases.
First Week Goals:
- Clear all of Story Mode Act 1 and Act 2
- Obtain at least one 5-Star or higher unit
- Reach Player Level 50
- Complete all Daily Tasks for 7 consecutive days
- Equip an Orb on your primary damage dealer
Common Beginner Mistakes
New players frequently encounter the same roadblocks. Recognizing these pitfalls early will save you time and resources.
Neglecting Unit Upgrades
- Problem: Placing many units without upgrading them
- Fix: Focus Gold on 1-2 core units and max them out
- Result: Higher single-target DPS for boss waves
Ignoring Enemy Types
- Problem: Using only one damage type against all enemies
- Fix: Diversify your team with different attack elements
- Result: Better coverage against resistant enemies
Some enemies in All Star Tower Defense have elemental resistances. Pay attention to the enemy icons before a wave starts and adjust your unit placement accordingly. Bringing the wrong damage type to a boss fight can result in a failed run.
FAQ
Q: What is the best way to get Gems in All Star Tower Defense?
The most reliable method for new players is clearing Story Mode stages for the first time. Each stage completion grants a one-time Gem reward. After that, focus on completing Daily Tasks and participating in Raids for ongoing Gem income.
Q: Should I spend Gems on single pulls or save for multi-summons?
Always save for multi-summons (x10 pulls). The cost is 450 Gems for 10 pulls compared to 500 Gems for 10 individual pulls, giving you a 10% discount. Additionally, multi-summons are faster and sometimes guarantee higher rarity drops during special events.
Q: Can I trade or sell units to other players?
No, All Star Tower Defense does not feature a trading system. Units you summon are permanently bound to your account. If you receive duplicate units, they can be used to limit-break or enhance the original unit's stats.
Q: What should I do if I am stuck on a Story Mode stage?
If you cannot progress, return to earlier stages to farm Gold and level up your units. Check your unit placement—moving a high-DPS unit to a corner position can dramatically change the outcome. You can also try upgrading your Orbs or summoning a new unit with better AoE coverage.