- Unequip Orb in ASTD: Open the Units menu, select the equipped character, and use the Orb slot to remove the item.
- Orb management: Removing an Orb immediately strips its stat bonuses from that unit.
- No loss on removal: You keep the Orb permanently in your inventory after unequipping it.
- Strategic swapping: Reassign Orbs freely to adapt your team for Story, Infinite, or Raid content.
- Orb compatibility: Always verify that an Orb matches the unit you are equipping it to for maximum efficiency.
How to Unequip an Orb in All Star Tower Defense
The Orb system is a core part of team optimization in All Star Tower Defense (ASTD). Orbs provide powerful stat boosts—such as reduced deployment cost, increased range, or faster attack speed—that can dramatically improve a unit's performance. However, as you unlock stronger characters and progress through harder modes like Infinite and Raids, you will frequently need to swap Orbs between units. Knowing exactly how to unequip an Orb ensures you do not waste valuable resources or leave a key damage dealer without its necessary enhancements.
As your roster grows, your best Orbs should always sit on your active meta units. Unequipping a range or attack-speed Orb from an outdated character allows you to maximize your team's overall DPS without grinding for duplicate Orbs.
The process for removing an Orb is straightforward, but it requires navigating through a few specific game menus. Below is a quick reference table detailing the core mechanics of the Orb unequip system.
| Action | Location | Effect on Unit | Effect on Orb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equip Orb | Unit Upgrade Menu | Applies stat boosts | Bound to unit |
| Unequip Orb | Unit Upgrade Menu | Removes stat boosts | Returns to inventory |
| Swap Orb | Orb Slot Menu | Replaces previous boost | Old Orb returns to inventory |
Step-by-Step Orb Removal Process
Removing an Orb from a unit in ASTD takes just a few seconds once you know where to look. Follow these exact steps to safely return your Orbs to your inventory.
Open the Main Game Hub
Launch All Star Tower Defense and load into the main lobby. Ensure your character is not currently locked into an active Story, Infinite, or Raid match, as you cannot edit unit loadouts mid-battle.
Access the Units Menu
Look for the Units button located at the bottom of the screen. Clicking this will open your complete character roster, displaying every unit you currently own.
Select the Equipped Unit
Scroll through your collection and click on the specific character that currently has the Orb equipped. This opens the unit's detailed stats and upgrade path menu.
Locate the Orb Slot
Inspect the unit's detail panel. Look for the dedicated Orb Slot, which will display the icon of the currently equipped Orb (such as Blue Eye Orb or Universal Reduction Orb).
Click Unequip
Click the Orb slot or the adjacent Unequip button. The game will instantly remove the Orb from the character and place it back into your general Orb inventory.
Before removing an Orb, double-check that the unit is not part of your primary defense lineup for an ongoing AFK farming setup. Removing a Cost Orb or Damage Orb can suddenly break your farming strategy.
Best Orbs to Swap and Reassign
Not all Orbs are created equal. Some Orbs are universally powerful and should be actively swapped between your best units as you tackle different game modes. Others are highly specialized and only benefit specific characters. Understanding which Orbs to move around is critical for efficient progression.
Universal Reduction Orb
- Type: Attack-Speed Utility
- Effect: Reduces SPA (Seconds Per Attack)
- Best Use: Swap this onto your highest DPS units in Infinite Mode to maximize wave-clearing potential.
Blue Eye Orb
- Type: Range Utility
- Effect: Increases effective attack range
- Best Use: Ideal for units with narrow attack cones or those positioned at map corners to cover multiple lanes.
Cost Orb
- Type: Economy Utility
- Effect: Lowers deployment cash cost
- Best Use: Perfect for expensive late-game units, allowing faster team setup in the early waves of Story Mode.
Make a habit of unequipping specialized Orbs from units you no longer use. High-value Orbs like the Fire Rage Orb or Moon Orb should always be transferred to your active meta damage dealers when your team composition evolves.
Below is a comparison of how different Orbs impact various game modes, helping you decide when it is time to unequip and reassign.
| Orb Type | Story Mode Value | Infinite Mode Value | Raid Value | Priority Swap Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Reduction | Medium | High | High | Primary AoE Damage |
| Blue Eye Orb | Medium | High | High | Crowd Control / Slowers |
| Cost Orb | High | Low | Medium | Expensive Openers |
| Unit-Specific Orb | Varies | Varies | Varies | Matching Compatible Unit |
Common Orb Management Mistakes
Even experienced ASTD players make mistakes when managing their Orbs. Avoiding these common pitfalls will save you time and prevent unnecessary losses during difficult content.
When you evolve a unit in ASTD, its stat profile and role can change dramatically. Players often leave an old Orb on a newly evolved unit simply out of habit. Always unequip Orbs immediately after an evolution to re-evaluate the optimal stat boost for the unit's new abilities.
Another frequent mistake is hoarding Orbs on bench units. If a character is sitting in your inventory and is not part of your active Infinite Mode team or Raid lineup, strip its Orb and give it to a unit you actively deploy. Orbs do nothing sitting on a bench.
Orb Audit Checklist:
- Review all equipped Orbs in your current active team
- Unequip all Orbs from units below 5-star rarity
- Verify Universal Reduction Orb is on your best DPS unit
- Ensure Cost Orbs are used on your most expensive deployment
- Double-check unit-specific Orbs match their intended characters
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I lose the Orb if I unequip it in All Star Tower Defense?
No, unequipping an Orb simply detaches it from the unit and sends it back to your Orb inventory. You can reuse it on the same unit later or assign it to a completely different character without any penalties or durability loss.
Q: Can I unequip an Orb during an active ASTD match?
No, you cannot edit your Orb loadouts once a match has started. You must return to the main lobby, open the Units menu, and make any necessary Orb adjustments before queuing up for the next Story, Infinite, or Raid stage.
Q: What happens if I trade a unit that has an Orb equipped?
In All Star Tower Defense, Orbs are strictly bound to the player account, not the unit. If you trade a unit to another player, the Orb will automatically unequip and return to your inventory before the trade is finalized.
Q: Is there a cost to unequip and swap Orbs?
No, swapping Orbs is completely free. You can experiment with different Orb combinations on your units as often as you like without spending Gems, Gold, or any other in-game currency.