- All Star Tower Defense Gauntlet tier list ranks units based on raw combat performance, not trading value or rarity alone.
- Economy units like Jeff (CEO) and Bellma remain essential for funding expensive late-wave upgrades.
- Crowd control from units like Black Stache (Timeskip) is critical for surviving high-density enemy waves.
- AoE damage dealers such as Stampede (100%) excel at clearing grouped enemies in extended matches.
- Team synergy matters more than stacking high-rarity units without support or cash generation.
Understanding the Gauntlet Tier List Criteria
Building an effective team for the Gauntlet requires more than just deploying your highest-rarity characters. Units in All Star Tower Defense serve distinct combat roles, and a successful lineup balances raw damage output with utility, crowd control, and economy management. This tier list evaluates units based on their practical performance across Story Mode, Infinite Mode, and challenging Gauntlet encounters.
We rank units using five core metrics: sustained DPS (damage per second), AoE coverage, SPA (seconds per attack), crowd-control utility, and economy generation. A unit that deals massive damage but attacks slowly may struggle against fast-moving waves, while a support unit that slows enemies can multiply the effectiveness of your entire team.
This Gauntlet tier list measures combat effectiveness only. A unit's placement here does not reflect its trading value, rarity, or collector demand. Always consult a separate trading value list before making player-to-player exchanges.
Evaluation Metrics at a Glance
| Metric | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DPS | High | Sustained damage output over time |
| AoE Coverage | Medium | Ability to hit multiple enemies per attack |
| SPA | Medium | Attack speed and frequency |
| Crowd Control | High | Slow, stun, or displacement effects |
| Economy | situational | Cash generation for team funding |
S-Tier Units: Gauntlet Meta Picks
S-Tier units define the current Gauntlet meta. These characters deliver exceptional performance in their respective roles and should be prioritized whenever available. They excel across multiple modes and provide unmatched value whether you are pushing Infinite Mode waves or tackling difficult Raid content.
Jeff (CEO) - Economy
- Role: Cash Generation
- Best For: Long matches, expensive setups
- Strength: Funds costly placements and upgrades
- Generates additional battle cash to accelerate your team
Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) - Economy
- Role: Dedicated Economy
- Best For: High-cost team compositions
- Strength: Scales cash output with upgrades
- Essential for Infinite Mode and extended Gauntlet runs
Black Stache (Timeskip) - Support
- Role: Crowd Control
- Best For: Infinite Mode, dense enemy waves
- Strength: Powerful slow effect on enemies
- Gives damage dealers more time to eliminate threats
Many players underestimate economy units, but in the Gauntlet, cash flow determines your ceiling. Without Jeff or Bellma funding your upgrades, even the strongest damage dealers will fall behind as enemy health scales upward. Always reserve at least one team slot for economy.
S-Tier Statistical Breakdown
| Unit | Role | Placement Type | Key Strength | Best Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff (CEO) | Economy | Ground | Massive cash generation | All modes |
| Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) | Economy | Ground | Scaling money production | Long matches |
| Black Stache (Timeskip) | Support / CC | Ground | Enemy slow effect | Infinite, Raids |
A-Tier Units: Strong Progression Picks
A-Tier units are highly effective characters that perform reliably across most game modes. While they may lack the defining utility of S-Tier picks, they deliver consistent results and form the backbone of most successful Gauntlet teams. These units are more accessible than S-Tier options while still contributing meaningfully to wave clearing and progression.
Star Boy (Requiem)
- Role: Damage and Utility
- Best For: General progression, mixed teams
- Combines offensive pressure with useful abilities
- Works well when supported by economy units
Koku Black Pink
- Role: Ranged Damage
- Best For: Story Mode, wave clearing
- Consistent ranged attacker for progressing waves
- Reliable single-target and splash damage
Stampede (100%)
- Role: AoE Damage
- Best For: Dense waves, Infinite Mode
- Powerful area damage against grouped enemies
- Excellent when enemies cluster on narrow paths
A-Tier damage dealers perform best when paired with S-Tier economy and support units. Star Boy (Requiem) combined with Black Stache (Timeskip) creates a strong damage-and-slow combo that handles most mid-to-late game content efficiently.
A-Tier Performance Comparison
| Unit | Primary Role | Attack Type | Best Synergy | Upgrade Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Boy (Requiem) | Damage / Utility | AoE | Economy + Slow support | Medium |
| Koku Black Pink | Ranged Damage | Single-target | AoE support + Economy | High |
| Stampede (100%) | AoE Damage | AoE | Single-target DPS + Economy | High |
Building Your Gauntlet Team: Step-by-Step
Constructing a winning Gauntlet lineup requires deliberate planning. Follow these steps to assemble a team that can handle escalating difficulty and adapt to different enemy types.
Secure Your Economy Core
Place either Jeff (CEO) or Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) early in the match. Position your economy unit safely away from the front line so it survives throughout the encounter. Upgrade it consistently to maximize cash generation before investing heavily in damage dealers.
Deploy Early Wave Damage
Add a reliable damage dealer like Koku Black Pink to handle the opening waves. Position this unit at a choke point where enemies remain in range for as long as possible. Corners and overlapping paths are ideal placement zones.
Add AoE Coverage
Once your economy is established, deploy an AoE attacker such as Stampede (100%) to handle grouped enemies. AoE units become increasingly important as wave density increases in later stages.
Integrate Crowd Control
Place Black Stache (Timeskip) or another support unit to slow enemy movement. This gives your damage dealers additional time to eliminate threats before they reach the base, dramatically improving your team's effective DPS.
Upgrade Strategically
Compare the cost of placing a new unit versus upgrading an existing one. Focus upgrades on your primary damage carry and economy unit first. Important upgrades can change attack patterns, increase range, or significantly boost damage output.
A well-rounded Gauntlet team typically includes: 1 economy unit, 1-2 AoE damage dealers, 1 single-target DPS, and 1 crowd-control support. Adjust based on the specific mode and enemy types you are facing.
Mode-Specific Tier Adjustments
Unit effectiveness shifts depending on the game mode you are playing. A unit that dominates Story Mode may underperform in Infinite Mode, and vice versa. Understanding these adjustments helps you select the right characters for each challenge.
Mode Performance Matrix
| Unit | Story Mode | Infinite Mode | Raids | Trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff (CEO) | S | S | S | S |
| Black Stache (Timeskip) | A | S | S | A |
| Stampede (100%) | A | S | A | B |
| Star Boy (Requiem) | S | A | A | A |
| Koku Black Pink | A | B | A | A |
| The Pharaoh | B | B | B | B |
For Infinite Mode, prioritize scaling damage and crowd control over burst damage. Enemy health increases continuously, so units that slow enemies (like Black Stache) and units that generate cash (like Jeff) become more valuable with each passing wave.
Recommended Teams by Mode
| Mode | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 4 | Flex Slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story | Jeff (CEO) | Koku Black Pink | Star Boy | Stampede | Any damage |
| Infinite | Jeff (CEO) | Bellma | Black Stache | Stampede | High DPS |
| Raids | Jeff (CEO) | Black Stache | Star Boy | Koku Black | AoE damage |
| Trials | Bellma | Star Boy | Koku Black | Black Stache | Utility |
Gauntlet Preparation Checklist
Before entering any challenging Gauntlet encounter, run through this checklist to ensure your team is ready for sustained combat.
Gauntlet Readiness Checklist:
- Team includes at least one economy unit (Jeff or Bellma)
- At least one AoE damage dealer is equipped for wave clearing
- Crowd control unit is available for slowing dense enemy waves
- All units are fully upgraded or evolved to their current maximum
- Orbs are equipped on compatible units for stat optimization
- Choke point placements are planned before starting the match
Avoid these frequent errors: overplacing without upgrading, ignoring economy units, stacking only single-target damage, and placing units at the front of the path where they cannot maximize their range. Always plan placements around the enemy route geometry.
Orb Recommendations for Top Units
| Orb | Effect | Best Unit Match | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Orb | Reduces deployment cost | Expensive opening units | Medium |
| Blue Eye Orb | Increases attack range | Short-range damage dealers | High |
| Universal Reduction Orb | Improves attack speed (lower SPA) | High-DPS carries | High |
| Fire Rage Orb | Specialized unit boost | Compatible fire-type units | Situational |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best unit in the All Star Tower Defense Gauntlet tier list?
Jeff (CEO) and Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) rank at the top of the S-tier because economy units determine how far you can scale in extended matches. For pure damage, Star Boy (Requiem) and Stampede (100%) are consistently strong picks across multiple modes.
Q: Does this tier list apply to both Story and Infinite Mode?
Yes, but with adjustments. Units like Black Stache (Timeskip) move higher in Infinite Mode because crowd control becomes critical as enemy health scales. Refer to the Mode Performance Matrix for specific tier shifts between modes.
Q: Should I prioritize rarity when building a Gauntlet team?
No. A balanced team with economy, damage, and support will outperform a team of high-rarity units with no synergy. Attack type, range, SPA, and utility often matter more than raw rarity in actual combat situations.
Q: How often does the Gauntlet tier list change?
Tier placements shift whenever the developers release new units, balance updates, or new game modes. Check back after major updates, as new units or evolution paths can significantly alter the meta and team composition strategies.