Tower Defense Simulator Beginner Guide
October 30, 2026 · 5 min read
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The short version: join the Paradoxum Games group, clear Tutorial and Easy with your free towers, save for a Farm, then move up one mode at a time. Spend coins on one strong damage tower before you buy lots of cheap ones.
The game changes often, and most prices here come from one or two fan-run guides dated August or September 2026. Check the in-game shop before you save up for anything.
Do this first
The official game page says that joining the Paradoxum Games group gives you +$100 starting cash. Scout costs 125 to place, so this extra cash helps from the first second of a match. It is free, so do it before your first game.
Then play the Tutorial. It is only 3 waves and has no level gate.
Which mode to play
Modes unlock by level. Move up when you can win your current mode without much trouble.
| Mode | Level needed | Waves | Main rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial | None | 3 | Coins, EXP |
| Easy | None | 20 | Coins, EXP |
| Casual | None | 30 | Coins, EXP |
| Intermediate | 5 | 30 | Coins, EXP |
| Molten | 15 | 35 | Coins, EXP |
| Fallen | 30 | 40 | Coins, EXP |
| Hardcore | 50 | 45 | Gems, EXP, Tower EXP |
| Frost | 60 | 40 | Coins, Gems, EXP |
Story Mode has no level gate and gives first-clear rewards, so it is worth trying between normal matches. Badlands II and Pizza Party open at level 25, and clearing them unlocks Cowboy and Warden. PVP also opens at level 25.
An older guide from 2023 says Molten pays new players the most coins but is too hard with only Scout and Sniper, and it suggests playing in a group of three or four. The advice about bringing a team still makes sense, but treat the payout claim as dated.
Your first towers
You start with two free towers.
| Tower | Cost to place | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Scout | 125 | Cheap early damage, and one guide says it can see hidden enemies |
| Sniper | 450 | Long range, sees hidden and flying enemies, hits lead enemies, cliffs only, slow firing |
Scout falls off quickly, so use it for early waves only. Sniper is your free answer to enemies that other towers cannot see.
The coin store has low-priced options as well.
| Tower | Coin price | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Paintballer | 100 | Splash damage |
| Demoman | 200 | Area damage |
| Slime Trooper | 300 | Damage and slowing |
| Soldier | 350 | Cheap burst damage |
These are cheap, but one guide rates Scout and Demoman as towers to replace soon. Buy one if you are stuck, then keep saving for the bigger purchases below.
What to save coins for
One August 2026 guide suggests this order. It is a good plan, but it comes from a single source and prices can change.
- Farm (2,000 coins). It earns you in-match money, so it usually goes down first. Upgrade it early. The guide says a max-level Farm pays for itself in about 6 waves.
- Commander (4,000 coins). It has no level gate and makes nearby towers fire faster.
- Minigunner (8,000 coins). Reliable steady damage with no limit on how many you can place.
Fill the last two loadout slots with towers you already own, such as Sniper for detection and a cheap splash tower for groups.
Other towers another guide likes for new players are Shotgunner for close lanes, Pyromancer for groups at short range, and Boomerang for early groups. It also suggests Ace Pilot when flying enemies start to give you trouble.
Some towers wait behind higher levels. That same guide lists Turret at level 50, Engineer at level 50 plus 4,500 gems, and Pursuit at level 100. Do not plan around them yet.
How to play a match
- Place the first tower where it covers a long part of the path. A tower only earns its cost while enemies are in range. Bends in the path are usually good spots because enemies stay in range for longer.
- Build income early, damage just in time. Put down enough damage to survive, then buy your Farm. Upgrade Farms in the early waves so later waves are easier to pay for.
- Check what you can detect. Hidden enemies walk past towers that cannot see them. Keep at least one Sniper or other detection tower ready. For example, the tier guide warns that Toxic Gunner has no hidden detection and Saboteur has no flying detection.
- Do not spread money too thin. Upgrading a few strong towers is usually better than placing a lot of weak ones, especially once Scout stops keeping up.
- Play with others when a mode is too hard. More players means more towers on the map. If you do join a team, do your share and do not just sit on Farms.
Coins, gems and EXP
- Coins come from most modes and buy most towers.
- Gems come from Hardcore, Frost, Polluted Wasteland II, and the Hidden Wave branch of Fallen, according to the modes table we read. Hardcore needs level 50, and a 2023 guide warns that its rounds can last up to 30 minutes, so go in with a team.
- EXP comes from playing matches. Replaying modes you can reliably win is a simple way to level up and open new modes.
Fallen needs level 30, and one guide recommends Freezer there because slowing fast enemies gives your damage towers more time to fire.
Things to avoid
- Do not buy a tower only because it looks good on a tier list. Many top picks need money and levels you do not have yet.
- Do not spend real money early. You can reach a solid loadout with coins alone.
- Do not use scripts, exploits or item sellers. They can put your account at risk.
For free cosmetics, check the game description on Roblox, since the developers post codes there.
