Looking for an updated ASTD tier list that actually keeps up with the latest meta? You’re in the right place. After spending way too many hours grinding Infinity Mode, testing units in Raids, and cross-referencing the official wiki + community DPS sheets, I’ve put together the most complete All Star Tower Defense unit ranking on the internet — every relevant unit, sorted into clean tiers, with role-based categories so you know exactly who to summon, evolve, and bench.
Quick answer for the impatient: the strongest units in All Star Tower Defense right now sit in the Mythic (S) tier — units like Super God Koku, Zazashi (PERFECTION), King Vegu, Renitsu (District), Earing, Ikki Potent (Hollow), Buddha Navy, and Slayer Mage. These dominate Infinite, Story, Raids, and Gauntlet. The Legendary (A) tier includes reliable workhorses like Stampede (100%), Whitestache, Spider Boss, and Etri, while everything below B tier is generally bench material in 2026‘s meta.
Here’s a quick-look summary before we dive deep:
| Tier | Unique Name | What It Means | Example Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Mythic | Game-defining, must-have, dominates every mode | Super God Koku, Zazashi (PERFECTION), King Vegu, Renitsu (District), Earing |
| A | Legendary | Strong all-rounders, top investment if no S units | Stampede (100%), Whitestache, Etri, Spider Boss, Slayer Mage |
| B | Elite | Reliable mid-tier, perfectly fine for endgame builds | Borul, Killer, Super Koku, Vegu, Future T (Armor) |
| C | Veteran | Average, only good early or in niche team comps | Vegu, Ruffy, Koku, Kosuke, Lami, Worl |
| D | Bench | Replace ASAP, weak compared to modern releases | Kid Zaruto, base Koku, Snowman, Sonku, Kid T |
| F | Vault | Outdated/situational, generally avoid | Crushed Box I, Christmas Gift, Pumpkin I, base Story drops |
This guide pulls from in-game testing, the official ASTD wiki updates (last patch 23/03/2026 added Buddha Chairman Serious), the BloxMeta tier sheet (updated 14 April 2026), and community Discord rankings — so the rankings actually match the September 2026 meta and not someone’s old 2024 list.
Table of Contents
What Is the ASTD Tier List?
The ASTD tier list is a community-driven ranking of every relevant unit in All Star Tower Defense, the long-running Roblox tower defense game where you summon anime-inspired characters and use them to clear waves of enemies across Story, Infinite, Raids, Gauntlet, and PVP. Units are slotted into tiers from S (best) down to F (worst) based on real performance — not just star rarity or hype.
Rankings shift after every update, which is why a “best units” guide from six months ago is usually useless. Anita Max Wynn, Magma Marine 6, Renitsu (District), and Super God Koku didn’t even exist in older lists. Meanwhile, units that used to be S-tier — like the original Worl, base Stampede, or Vegu (Mind) — have quietly fallen off as new 6-star and 7-star units flooded the meta.
Quick clarification: “ASTD” usually refers to the original All Star Tower Defense game on Roblox. There’s also a sequel called All Star Tower Defense X (ASTDX) that launched in 2025 with a fresh roster (Dark Wing, Michishibo, Jin Sung, Etri, Onwin, etc.). Most of this guide focuses on the original ASTD because that’s what people typically mean by “ASTD tier list,” but I’ve added a quick ASTDX section near the bottom for players asking about both.
How I Ranked These Units (Methodology)
Every unit in this tier list was evaluated against six performance criteria — the same ones used by the ASTDX Stats Team and BloxMeta’s testing crew:
- DPS (Damage per Second) — total damage divided by attack speed, including damage-over-time effects like Burn, Bleed, and Poison.
- Range — how far they can attack from placement, both base and fully upgraded.
- AoE (Area of Effect) — line, cone, full circle, or single-target.
- SPA (Speed Per Attack) — attack rate; lower = faster, which matters most for support and stun units.
- Type — Hill units hit ground + flying, Ground units only hit ground enemies, Hybrid units hit both.
- Utility & shield-breaking — stuns, freezes, debuffs, summons, and multi-hit attacks that crack shielded enemies.
I weighted these against three game modes: Infinite Mode (the primary endgame grind), Story Mode (early-game progression), and Raids/Gauntlet (boss-killing content). A unit that’s a Mythic in Infinite but useless in Raids gets a slightly lower placement than one that performs across all modes.
ASTD Tier List (September 2026) Best All Star Tower Defense Units
Below is the complete tier list with every notable unit slotted into one of six tiers. Each table shows the unit, its primary role, and why it sits in that tier — so you can Ctrl+F your unit and see exactly where it stands in the September 2026 meta.
🏆 Mythic Tier (S) – The Untouchables
These are the best units in All Star Tower Defense right now. If you pull any of them, drop everything and start farming gems to upgrade them. They define the meta and trivialize every game mode in 2026.
| Unit | Role | Why It’s Mythic |
|---|---|---|
| Super God Koku | Hill DPS | Insane single-target DPS + huge range. Meta hill unit for Infinite. |
| Zazashi (PERFECTION) | Ground DPS | Top-tier wave clear with chained AoE attacks; staple for late-Infinite. |
| King Vegu | Hill DPS | Massive crit damage, excellent against shielded enemies. |
| Renitsu (District) | Ground DPS | 6-star Zenitsu Entertainment District build — burst single-target god. |
| Earing | Ground DPS | 6-star Potara reward unit from the Kai Planet Raid; broken DPS. |
| Buddha Navy | Hill DPS | Insane AoE wave clear; carries the early-to-mid Infinite stretch. |
| Slayer Mage | Hill DPS | Massive AoE + range; Mythic-tier hill option for casual + endgame play. |
| Ikki Potent (Hollow) | Ground DPS | Burst hybrid damage; best Bleach-themed DPS in the game right now. |
| Mysterious X (VOID) | Ground Stunner | Long-duration stuns make it the best support unit for Infinite. |
| Magma Marine6 | Ground Burn DPS | 6-star Akainu — applies Burn DoT, ridiculous DPS over time. |
| The Strongest Curse | Ground DPS | Crazy single-target damage + utility scaling on awakening. |
| Sound-O-Sonic (District) | Hybrid DPS | Hybrid-typing + multi-hit attacks crush shields and waves. |
| Anita Max Wynn | Hill DPS | Meme name, real damage. Surprise meta unit added in late 2026. |
| Star Pass – Season 4 | Hill DPS | Premium track unit; matches or beats most 6-stars at full investment. |
| Lightning Mommy (Maid) | Ground Hybrid | High SPA + chain lightning utility = consistent DPS in every mode. |
| The Patriot | Ground DPS | One of the most slept-on Mythic picks; insane crit chain damage. |
| Tatsu (Rainbow Flames) | Hill DPS | Burst AoE with elemental scaling; carries Gauntlet runs. |
| Pirate King | Hill DPS | Gear 5 Luffy build — bouncy hybrid AoE with insane animations. |
| Kogan Adult (Ultimate) | Ground DPS | Mass damage scaling + cheap upgrade cost relative to other Mythics. |
| Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) | Money Farmer | Best farm unit in the entire game — stack two for 2x cash. |
| Buddha Chairman (Serious) | Hill DPS | Newest addition (March 23, 2026); immediately Mythic-viable. |
Other Mythic-tier highlights worth grabbing if they pop up: 4-Eye Sorcerer (Timer), Aqua Koku (Red Spirit), Black Stache (Timeskip), Blood Queen (B-Kui), Boulder Li (5th Gate), Demon Lord, Dragon Daughter, Ghost Girl, Hecate (Virtual), Hirito (RedRose), Light Marine (Serious), Loving Pillar, Lupin III, Madoka (Goddess), Mercury Guardian, Monkey King (SAGE), Path (Furious), Sage King, Spade (Dark), Sword Saint, The Pharaoh, Toku, True Evil (Awoken), Tysson, Underwater God, Universe Justice 1 II, and Whitestache (Final). Roughly 490+ units sit in this bucket because ASTD bloats the top tier with every update — the table above covers the standouts.
⭐ Legendary Tier (A) – Top Investment Outside the Mythics
Legendary units are still excellent across the board and are honestly all most casual players need. If you don’t have Mythic units, building any 3–4 of these will absolutely carry you through Story, early Infinite, and most Raids.
| Unit | Role | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Stampede (100%) II | Ground DPS | Reliable burst damage and shield breaking. |
| Whitestache | Ground DPS | High placement cap, great for stacking damage. |
| Spider Boss | Ground Poison | Applies Poison DoT; meta 5-star ground DPS. |
| Etri | Ground Freeze | Freeze utility + DPS — best CC unit at this tier. |
| The Strongest One | Hill DPS | Burn-based ranged damage, top boss killer. |
| Borul (SUPA) | Hill DPS | Cheap to evolve, the 4-star benchmark for early Infinite. |
| Mikato (Beast Cloak) | Ground DPS | Strong Naruto-themed DPS with excellent SPA. |
| Black Stache | Ground DPS | Pre-evolution version still useful in Legendary tier. |
| Vegu (Supa) | Hill DPS | Vegeta build with strong crit-based damage scaling. |
| Hirito | Hybrid DPS | Sword Art Online-themed unit; reliable early-game pick. |
| Soul Snatcher | Ground DPS | Stat-stealing mechanic adds late-game scaling. |
| Sword Spirit | Ground DPS | Fast SPA + multi-hit makes it amazing for shield breaking. |
| Ramen Grill Master | Money Farmer | Generates cash every wave — must-have farm unit. |
| Mr. Green (Anniversary) | Ground DPS | Anniversary Piccolo skin, scales hard with traits. |
| Stampede (Normal) | Ground DPS | Base form of Stampede 100%, still great early. |
| Onwin | Buff Support | Damage-buff aura; mandatory partner for any Mythic DPS. |
| King Kaoe | Buff Support | +75% damage to nearby allies; insane in Raids. |
| Xero | Range Buffer | Boosts ally range — meta support in Infinite. |
| Blackstache | Slower | Slows enemies + decent range; cheap to deploy. |
| Mercury Guardian | Ground Burst | Full AoE attacks, great on box-shaped maps. |
| Yuni | Boss Killer | Insane single-target SPA — best boss-only DPS at A tier. |
| Shark Ninja | Ground DPS | Decent AoE filler, easy to obtain. |
| Spade (Furious) | Hill DPS | Meta Burn DPS at A tier; cheap to upgrade. |
| Bellma (Money Corp) | Money Farmer | Pre-SUPER Bellma; still one of the best farmers. |
| Black Stache (Timeskip) | Ground DPS | Timeskip Blackbeard — high crit single-target DPS. |
| Janji (Wedding) | Ground Burn | Improved Burn applier; pairs perfectly with Nezichi. |
Around 305 units sit in this tier in the official BloxMeta sheet, so the table above just covers the essentials. Rule of thumb: any 5-star unit you’ve spent gems on is probably at least Legendary tier.
💪 Elite Tier (B) – Reliable Mid-Tier Picks
Elite tier units fill out a solid team if your roster is still developing. They won’t carry endgame Infinite past wave 100, but they’re more than capable of clearing Story, Raids on Normal/Hard, and the lower 50 waves of Infinite. Many Elite units are also evolution paths to Legendary or Mythic versions, so don’t rush to delete them.
| Unit | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Killer | Ground DPS | Full AoE when upgraded; one of the best 4-star units overall. |
| Ice Queen (Hollow) | Ground Freeze | Solid freeze utility for under-developed rosters. |
| Borul | Hill DPS | Pre-Supa Borul; reliable 4-star starter unit. |
| Stampede | Ground DPS | Base form; still serviceable filler before evolving to 100%. |
| Super Koku | Hill DPS | Strong when paired with Vegu (Mind); falls off solo. |
| Vegu | Hill DPS | Cheap Vegeta build; pairs with Super Koku for combo damage. |
| Nezichi | Ground DPS | Insane single-target damage only if Bleed is on the enemy. |
| Kage Kakashi | Ground DPS | Multi-hit copy ninja; decent shield breaker. |
| Future T (Armor) | Ground DPS | Reliable Trunks build; good range and DPS for cost. |
| Future T | Ground DPS | Base Future Trunks; solid filler for early Infinite. |
| Koku Drip | Hill DPS | Drip Goku skin; surprisingly strong with All Star trait. |
| Koku Black | Ground DPS | Anti-hero Goku; consistent damage but mid range. |
| Koku (Mazin) | Hill DPS | Old reliable; pairs well with Vegu in Saiyan team comps. |
| Koku (Teen) | Ground DPS | Cheap to upgrade; useful for Story and early Raid runs. |
| Mafia Boss | Ground DPS | Decent burst damage with ability cooldowns. |
| Mr. Green | Ground DPS | Pre-Anniversary Piccolo; still hits hard in B-tier setups. |
| Pang (Demon) | Hill DPS | Niche pick with full AoE attacks. |
| Paper Beauty | Ground DPS | Decent 4-star filler before its evolved form. |
| Renitsu (PVP) | PVP DPS | Top pick for PVP; weaker than District version in PvE. |
| Rodoroki | Ground DPS | Half-and-half elemental damage; cheap to deploy. |
| Santa Ruffy | Hill DPS | Limited holiday skin; still hits like a 5-star. |
| Subordinate A | Ground DPS | Hisoka-themed unit; surprisingly good range. |
| Supreme-Leader | Hill DPS | Old Frieza form leader; reliable but outshone by Final Form. |
| Wood Master | Ground Trapper | Niche trapper unit; good for slowing waves. |
| Xerxes | Ground Trapper | Stacks trap damage on bosses; meta-niche pick. |
| Stampede II | Ground DPS | Mid-tier evolution; bridges base Stampede to 100%. |
| Kaoe | Hill DPS | Pre-King Kaoe; mostly evolution material now. |
| Inoyaza | Ground Demon | Decent demon ground DPS; outclassed by Inoyaza (DEMON). |
| Hirito GGO | Hybrid DPS | Gun Gale Online Kirito; serviceable hybrid filler. |
| Janji TS | Ground Burn | Pre-Wedding Janji; OK Burn applier early game. |
| Ms. Love | Ground DPS | Decent 4-star filler before evolved variants. |
| Pain (Cookie) I / II | Ground DPS | Niche damage units; OK with Pain team comps. |
| One-I | Ground DPS | Solo Leveling-themed; pre-Split Persona evolution. |
| Organs | Ground DPS | Base form before Organs (Golden) and Dark Swordsman. |
| King Ruffy | Hill DPS | Wano King Luffy; mid for cost but OK shield breaker. |
| Ruffy (Anniversary) | Hill DPS | Limited Luffy skin; B-tier filler. |
| Boulder Li (Awakened) | Ground DPS | Rock Lee build with decent SPA; bridges to 5th Gate. |
| Strong Giant II | Ground DPS | Beefier Titan unit; works for early Infinite. |
| Wrathdioas (?) | Ground DPS | Niche meme unit with surprising single-target DPS. |
| Ruffy TS | Hill DPS | Timeskip Luffy; reliable mid-tier hill DPS. |
The full B-tier list runs to roughly 212 units once you include all the evolution-chain stops (Angel I→V, Apostle I→V, Curse I→V, Demon I→V, Goddess I→V, Mage I→V, etc.) and PVP-specific unit variants. The table above hits every B-tier unit worth a serious roster slot.
⚙️ Veteran Tier (C) – Niche or Outdated
Veteran-tier units used to dominate years ago but have been fully outclassed. Use them only if you literally have nothing else, or if a specific Story stage or evolution chain requires their unique gimmick. Most of these are stepping stones to higher-tier evolved forms — always check before selling.
| Unit | Role | Why It’s C-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Vegu | Hill DPS | Outclassed by Vegu (Supa) and King Vegu. Evolution material. |
| Kosuke | Ground DPS | Stuns + DoT, but range too short for Infinite. |
| Koku | Ground DPS | Base Goku — only useful early Story. |
| Ruffy | Hill DPS | Base Luffy; replaced by Pirate King and Ruffy (Mystical). |
| Koro | Ground DPS | Base Koro Sensei; Lobby version is much better. |
| Kriffin | Hill DPS | Krillin build; outclassed by Kriffin Supa. |
| Lami | Ground DPS | Decent AoE 3-star, no team synergy. |
| Mage | Ground DPS | Filler magic class; only good for evolution chains. |
| Namu / Namu II / Namu III | Hill DPS | Old reliable Namek units; outclassed by Evolved Namu IV+. |
| Ninenine | Ground DPS | Pre-TS version; mid filler unit. |
| Pirate Agent IV | Hybrid DPS | OK ranged unit; outclassed by Pirate Agent V. |
| Pro-Food Hunter | Ground DPS | Toriko unit; ICE version is the better pick. |
| Snowman | Ground DPS | Holiday filler; weak DPS for the cost. |
| Son Koken / Sonku | Hybrid DPS | Old Goku-related units; replaced by modern Koku variants. |
| Soul Swordsman / II / III | Ground DPS | Bleach-themed; only IV and V are worth using. |
| Soul The Boy | Ground DPS | Decent niche pick; weaker than ELITE version. |
| Sound Ninja II / III | Ground DPS | Mid Naruto fillers; better Ninja units exist. |
| Strong Fiend | Ground DPS | Story-mode reward; only useful while leveling. |
| Super Mage | Ground DPS | Outdated mage; serves as evolution material. |
| Uru | Hill DPS | Niche boss-only unit; bad AoE. |
| Vampire / Vampire II | Ground DPS | Weak DPS; better evolved versions exist (IV+). |
| Worl | Ground DPS | Old Toguro; replaced by Worl (Ultra) and Worl (Whip). |
| Wrathdioas (Anniversary) | Ground DPS | Limited skin with mid stats. |
| Zaruto | Ground DPS | Base Naruto; replaced by every Zaruto variant. |
| Zio Agent / II / III | Ground DPS | Low-tier Zio; only IV-V are worth keeping. |
| Zomurai | Ground DPS | Story-mode unit; weak overall. |
| Boggi “The Clown” | Ground DPS | Buggy meme pick; surprisingly OK at full upgrade. |
| Jon Jo | Ground DPS | Decent 3-star filler before getting Jon Jo II. |
| Kid Zaruto | Ground DPS | Evolution material for Zaruto chain. |
| Limilia | Ground DPS | Pre-Ultimate Limilia; just keep the upgrade. |
| Bomba | Ground DPS | Bomb-Man build; very situational. |
| Captain | Hill DPS | Base captain unit; only good with Burn comps. |
| Demonside | Ground DPS | Anime cover unit; mid stats. |
| Anti Magician | Ground DPS | Base Asta; better DEMON variant exists. |
| Arot | Ground DPS | Old summon; outdated. |
| Arruncur / II / III | Ground DPS | Espada-class fillers; only IV-V are usable. |
| Blossom / Blossom (EXT) | Ground DPS | Sakura units; weak for the cost. |
| Boulder Li | Ground DPS | Pre-Awakened Rock Lee; just evolve. |
| Bug Soldier | Ground DPS | Base ant unit; only IV-V worth playing. |
| Chef / Chef II | Ground DPS | Toriko chef; only V is decent. |
| Cultist | Ground DPS | Generic enemy class unit. |
| Curse | Ground DPS | Base curse; only V is mid-tier viable. |
| Esper | Ground DPS | Base ESP unit; need to evolve to IV+. |
| Evolved Namu / II / III | Hill DPS | Lower steps in Namu evolution; only IV-V matter. |
| EXP I | Buff Filler | Generic EXP boost; minimal team value. |
| Fiend | Ground DPS | Base fiend; replace ASAP. |
| Future T (Anniversary) | Ground DPS | Limited skin with weak base stats. |
| Giant / Giant II | Ground DPS | Old Titan units; only IV-V are decent. |
| Gravitily | Ground DPS | Niche 3-star with bad AoE. |
| Homunculus | Ground DPS | FMA-themed; only IV-V worth playing. |
| Ice Soldier | Ground DPS | Frieza-army grunt; only IV-V are usable. |
| Ikki / Ikki (White I) | Ground DPS | Old Ichigo forms; replaced by every Ikki variant. |
| Pirate Agent IV | Hybrid DPS | One Piece pirate; only V is solid. |
| Ruwabara / Ruwabara (PVP) | Ground DPS | YuYu Hakusho’s Kuwabara; very mid. |
| Ryugo | Ground DPS | Base form; (Synchronized) and (Kisaragi) are better. |
| Water Temple Guard (Air/Ground) | Hybrid | Old summon utility; weak DPS. |
Roughly 81 units sit in C-tier per the BloxMeta sheet, mostly base versions of units that evolve into stronger forms. Never sell a C-tier unit until you check if it’s an evolution material — half of them feed into Legendary or Mythic chains.
🪑 Bench Tier (D) – Replace ASAP
Bench-tier units are essentially placeholders. They have no real spot in any meta team and only exist for completionism, evolution fodder, or as Story-mode rewards. Don’t waste serious gems upgrading these — they’ll just slow your gem economy.
| Unit | Role | Why It’s D-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Kid T | Ground DPS | Base Kid Trunks; weak across the board. |
| Koku (Kid) | Ground DPS | Goku as a kid; barely enough damage for Story 1-10. |
| Snowman | Ground DPS | Holiday filler unit with terrible scaling. |
| Christmas Crate I / II / III | Ground DPS | Random reward units; rarely usable past early Story. |
| Crushed Box II / III | Ground DPS | Story event leftovers; weak DPS. |
| Pumpkin I | Ground DPS | Halloween event filler. |
| Strong Alien Soldier | Ground DPS | Generic Frieza-army grunt; outclassed by II and III. |
| Demon I / II / III | Ground DPS | Lower steps of the Demon evolution chain — only keep IV-V. |
| Angel I | Hill DPS | Base Angel; only matters as evolution material. |
| Goddess I / II | Ground DPS | Goddess chain bases; weak until evolved. |
| Cultist II | Ground DPS | Generic enemy-class unit; terrible DPS. |
| Bug Soldier II | Ground DPS | Weak generic ant evolution step. |
| Curse II | Ground DPS | Mid-chain curse unit; only V is decent. |
| Soul Swordsman | Ground DPS | Base Bleach unit; way too weak for any mode. |
| Vampire | Ground DPS | Base Vampire form; replace immediately. |
| Wizard | Ground DPS | Base Wizard; evolution material only. |
| Esper | Ground DPS | Base Esper; only IV and V are worth playing. |
| Fiend | Ground DPS | Base Fiend; very weak DPS. |
| Giant | Ground DPS | Base Titan; replace once you hit Story chapter 5. |
| Mage II / III | Ground DPS | Mid-chain mage units; weak DPS. |
| Vampire III | Ground DPS | Mid-chain vampire; only IV-V worth keeping. |
| Demon IV | Ground DPS | Almost-final demon evolution; only V is solid. |
| Apostle II | Ground DPS | Pre-final apostle step; weak placement. |
| Strong Fiend II / III | Ground DPS | Strong fiend mid-chain; underwhelming. |
| Desert Ninja / II / III | Ground DPS | Sand-themed Naruto units; very weak DPS. |
| Chef III | Ground DPS | Pre-final chef unit; weak DPS. |
| Ice Soldier II / III | Ground DPS | Mid Frieza-army units; only V is usable. |
| Soul Swordsman II / III | Ground DPS | Mid Bleach evolution; only IV-V matter. |
| Pirate Agent V | Hybrid DPS | Surprisingly weak even at the top of its chain. |
| Wife I / II | Support | Old Krillin/wife support units; minimal value now. |
If you’re sitting on a roster of mostly D-tier units, focus your pulls on featured banners and don’t bother upgrading anything past level 5 until you draw a Legendary or Mythic.
🗄️ Vault Tier (F) – Avoid
Vault-tier units are the bottom of the barrel — old base-tier story rewards, useless seasonal drops, weak Christmas/Summer crate units, and unevolved early-rarity rolls. If you see them in a “best units” video from years ago, the video is outdated.
| Unit | Role | Why It’s F-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed Box I | Ground DPS | Random low-rarity event drop with garbage stats. |
| Christmas Gift / II | Ground DPS | Holiday filler; weak even at full upgrade. |
| EXP I | Buff/Filler | Low-tier EXP unit — better farm units exist. |
| Summer Box I / II / III | Ground DPS | Old summer event reward fillers. |
| Captain (base) | Hill DPS | Old base-tier captain with no team synergy. |
| Spirit Detective (base) | Ground DPS | Base Yusuke; outclassed by every newer version. |
| Fortune | Ground DPS | Niche reward unit with no real role. |
| Anti Magician (base) | Ground DPS | Base Asta; outclassed by every Anti Magician variant. |
| Humble-Swordman (base) | Ground DPS | Base form; (Selection) and (Furious) are far better. |
| Strong Alien Soldier (base) | Ground DPS | Generic Frieza grunt; bottom-tier filler. |
| Snowman | Ground DPS | Recurring Vault pick due to terrible scaling. |
| Pumpkin I (Halloween) | Ground DPS | Old Halloween filler; useless. |
| Christmas Crate I (base) | Ground DPS | Base christmas event drop; no value. |
| EXP II | Buff Filler | Slightly less terrible than EXP I, still trash. |
| Wife I | Support | Outdated support filler with no role. |
| Generic Story Reward Drops | Various | Most “basic” boss-mode reward units fall here. |
| Underachiever | Ground DPS | Joke meta unit; literal F-tier by design. |
| Soyjak | Ground DPS | Meme unit with no real combat value. |
| Ye | Hill DPS | Meme unit with novelty placement only. |
| TacoChita | Ground DPS | Meme reward unit; comedic value only. |
Vault-tier units are usually safe to sell unless they’re confirmed evolution materials. Always double-check the wiki before deleting anything — accidentally bricking your evolution chain is the worst feeling in this game.
Recent Meta Shifts (September 2026 Patch Notes)
The latest balance changes reshaped the top of the tier list. Here’s what moved up or down in the last few weeks:
| Unit | Direction | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Ikki (Dark) | ⬆️ Buffed | Damage scaling increased by ~20%; pushed from A to S. |
| King Of Heroes | ⬆️ Buffed | New ability boosts crit chance — Mythic tier confirmed. |
| Organs (OUTRAGE) | ⬆️ Buffed | DPS uptime increased; now meta in Gauntlet. |
| Ruffy (Snake SSS) | ⬆️ Buffed | New form added; full AoE attacks make it S-tier. |
| Star Boy (Requiem) | ⬆️ Buffed | Range and DPS both boosted; meta single-target pick. |
| Super God Koku | ⬆️ Buffed | Indirect buff — new traits favor his playstyle. |
| Tokens | ⬆️ Buffed | Summon rate buff makes farming for him viable. |
| Veguko | ⬆️ Buffed | Fusion form buffed; matches base Mythic units. |
| Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) | ⬆️ Buffed | Cash generation increased; #1 farm unit. |
| Mysterious X (VOID) | ⬆️ Buffed | Stun duration extended; cemented as best stunner. |
| Onwin | ⬆️ Buffed | Damage buff radius increased — premier support. |
| The Patriot | ⬆️ Buffed | New crit chain mechanic; sleeper Mythic pick. |
| Flower Magus | ⬆️ Buffed | DoT damage scaled up; viable for Infinite. |
| Koku (Alternative) | ⬆️ Buffed | New ascension level; pushes into S-tier with all 6. |
| Salesman | ⬆️ Buffed | Niche utility unit got a major buff to stack value. |
| Sword (Maid) | ⬆️ Buffed | Multi-hit ability tweaked; great shield breaker now. |
| Zazashi | ⬆️ Buffed | Better trait synergy makes Zazashi (PERFECTION) S-tier. |
| Buddha Chairman (Serious) | 🆕 Added | New Mythic added 23/03/2026; immediately viable. |
No major nerfs this patch — the devs took an “additive balance” approach, buffing weaker units instead of nerfing strong ones. That’s good news if you’ve already invested in older Mythics.
Best ASTD Units by Role (Categorized Picks)
If tier letters feel abstract, these role-based picks are easier to act on. Build your team around one Mythic from each category and you’ll have a setup that handles any mode.
Best DPS Units (Pure Damage)
For raw damage output, prioritize: Super God Koku, Zazashi (PERFECTION), Renitsu (District), Earing, The Strongest Curse, Ikki Potent (Hollow), King Vegu, and The Patriot. These are your win-condition units — everything else on your team exists to enable them.
Best Support / Buff Units
Support units don’t deal damage themselves but multiply your DPS units’ output. Top picks: Onwin (damage buff aura), King Kaoe (75% damage boost to allies), Xero (range and DPS buffs), and Blackstache (slows enemies). Always run at least one buff unit in Infinite — your team’s effective DPS doubles.
Best Farm / Money Units
Farming units generate cash so you can place and upgrade your DPS faster. The undisputed best is Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) — generates massive money every wave, scales into late game, and stacks with itself. Backup picks: Bellma (Money Corp) and Ramen Grill Master.
Best Crowd Control Units (Stun / Freeze)
CC units lock down waves while your DPS catches up. Strongest picks: Mysterious X (VOID) (long stuns), Etri (Freeze on hit), Killer (Serious) (full AoE stun), and Ice Queen (B) (Freeze + decent DPS). These are make-or-break for boss waves in Infinite past wave 100.
Best Boss Killers (Single-Target Burst)
For fights against single high-HP bosses, you want concentrated damage: Yuni (insane single-target SPA), Michishibo(chained burst), The Strongest Curse, and Renitsu (District) are the top picks. Bring at least one to every Raid attempt.
Best for Infinite Mode
Infinite is the long-haul endgame grind. Your dream Infinite team in September 2026:
- AoE Wave Clearer: Madara, Buddha Navy, Slayer Mage, or Zazashi (PERFECTION) — without strong AoE, trash waves leak past your defenses and end your run.
- Boss Killer: Michishibo, Renitsu (District), or The Strongest Curse — late-wave bosses have tens of millions of HP and need dedicated DPS.
- Stun Support: Mysterious X (VOID) or Gojo Infinity — stun uptime becomes critical after wave 100 when enemies move faster than your damage can keep up.
- Farm Unit: Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) — without it, you’ll run out of cash before wave 80.
- Flex Slot: Any Mythic DPS you have at max stars — Super God Koku, Pirate King, Renitsu (District), etc.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t bring units below 5-star into Infinite past wave 50. The HP scaling is brutal and under-starred units become dead weight that wastes a placement slot.
Tier-by-Tier Investment Priority (Where to Spend Your Gems)
Not all units are equal investments. This priority list tells you exactly where your Gems, Trait Burners, and Stat Dice should go based on what tier of roster you currently have:
| Your Roster Stage | Spend Priority | Action Plan |
|---|---|---|
| No 5-star units yet | Pull on the cheapest banners + farm Story rewards | Use Borul, Killer, Future T, Vegu temporarily |
| 1–2 Legendary (A) units | All gems into featured Mythic banners | Save 5,000+ Gems for pity-pull windows |
| 3+ Legendary, 0 Mythic | Pull on guaranteed-rate banners | Roll All Star trait on best Legendary DPS |
| 1–2 Mythic units | Stop pulling, invest in upgrades | Max evolve, level traits, max Hidden Potential |
| 3+ Mythic units | Optimize team comp + farm Trait Burners | Build full Infinite team with support + CC + farm |
| Full Mythic roster | PVP + Gauntlet content + new releases | Roll for new banners as they drop |
Rule of thumb: never upgrade a unit past level 8 unless you’re confident it’ll stay on your team for 50+ waves of Infinite. Premature upgrades waste gold you’ll need for placing your real DPS.
Best Traits to Roll for ASTD Units
A unit’s trait can completely change its tier placement. The top traits in the September 2026 meta are:
- All Star — universal damage + range buff; best on every Mythic DPS.
- Bloodlust — increases attack speed; godlike on slow-SPA single-target killers.
- Genesis — reduces upgrade cost; lets you place expensive Mythics earlier.
- Corrupted — increases SPA and damage; ideal for support and CC units.
- Sharpshooter — extra range; perfect on hill DPS units.
- Companion — buffs nearby allies; pair with support units like Onwin and Xero.
- Midas — extra cash generation; mandatory on Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) and Ramen Grill Master.
Trait reroll order: get All Star on your top DPS first, then prioritize Genesis to bring upgrade costs down on your second main unit. Use Trait Burners from codes and quests to reroll cheaply.
How to Get Top-Tier Units in ASTD
Most Mythic and Legendary units come from one of four sources:
- Banner Summons — Use Gems in the Summon menu (50 Gems for 1x, 450 Gems for 10x). Banners rotate every 60 minutes, so check often for featured units.
- Raid Rewards — Some Mythic units like Earing drop only from completing specific Raids (e.g., the Kai Planet Raid).
- Evolutions — Many Mythics evolve from lower-tier base units (e.g., Stampede → Stampede 100% → Stampede 100% II). Never delete a Legendary you might evolve.
- Codes — Active codes give free Gems, Trait Burners, Stat Dice, and occasionally exclusive units like Joe Kid (Von) from
bigcode3. Check the official ASTD codes page for the latest active list.
Pro tip: never single-summon. The 10x summon at 450 Gems is mathematically better — you get 10 pulls for the price of 9, and many banners include a guaranteed 5-star within every 10x.
Best Team Building Strategy
A strong ASTD team isn’t five Mythic DPS — that’s a beginner mistake. The optimal team composition follows the 2-1-1-1 rule:
- 2x DPS units — One AoE wave clearer + one single-target boss killer.
- 1x Support unit — Onwin, Xero, or King Kaoe to buff your DPS.
- 1x CC unit — Mysterious X (VOID), Etri, or Killer (Serious) for stun/freeze.
- 1x Farm unit — Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) or Ramen Grill Master, or skip the farmer if you’re confident in burst clear.
Place your farm unit first at the start of every wave. Once you’ve got cash flowing, drop your AoE DPS in a corner where the path bends so attacks hit multiple lanes. Place the boss killer near the spawn or end of the path. Support and CC units go in the middle to maximize buff overlap.
Common Mistakes That Tank Your ASTD Performance
Five mistakes I see beginners make every single time — fix these and your win rate doubles:
- Hoarding gems forever. Pulls give you XP and shards even if you don’t get the rare unit. Spend on featured Mythic banners as they appear.
- Skipping the farm unit. “I’ll just use 5 DPS!” Cool, you’ll run out of cash by wave 30. Run a farmer.
- Upgrading too many units to max. Pick 1-2 main DPS and dump all your money into them. Spreading upgrades thin = mid damage on every unit.
- Ignoring unit type matchups. Ground units can’t hit flying. Bring at least one Hill or Hybrid unit per team.
- Selling evolution materials. That base C-tier unit you almost deleted? It might be the evolution path to a Mythic. Always check the wiki before selling.
ASTD vs ASTDX: Which Tier List Do You Need?
A lot of players are confused between the two games, so quick clarification:
- ASTD (this guide’s main focus) — The original All Star Tower Defense, launched in 2020, still receiving updates as of September 2026 (latest patch added Buddha Chairman Serious on March 23, 2026). Has 1,000+ units across all tiers.
- ASTDX — All Star Tower Defense X, launched in 2025 as a fresh-start spiritual successor with a much smaller, cleaner roster. The Mythic units in ASTDX are Dark Wing, Spider Boss, Michishibo, Etri, Magma Marine, Spade, Ziek (Beast Giant), Zorro, Killer (Serious), Jin Sung, and Onwin. These names overlap a bit with ASTD but the games and balancing are entirely separate.
If you searched “ASTD tier list” expecting ASTDX content, the closest meta units there are Dark Wing, Michishibo, Etri, Super God Koku, and Jin Sung — those are the ASTDX equivalents to this guide’s Mythic tier.
Pro Tips for Climbing the ASTD Meta Faster
A few things that took me way too long to figure out:
- Use codes weekly. Active codes give 300+ Gems each. Over a month that’s 6+ free 10x summons. The current best code is
bigcode3for 300 Gems + the Joe Kid (Von) unit. - Run the daily login chain. Day 7 rewards usually include a free 5-star summon ticket.
- Join the ASTD Discord. Mods drop early code previews and patch leaks. Way ahead of any tier list site.
- Save Trait Burners for confirmed Mythic units. Don’t reroll traits on B-tier units “just because.”
- Check the AFK chamber every 12 hours. Free gems, no effort.
- Do your Story Mode dailies even at endgame. Free EXP boosts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best unit in All Star Tower Defense right now?
The current best single unit in All Star Tower Defense for September 2026 is Super God Koku for hill placement and Renitsu (District) for ground placement. Both deliver Mythic-tier DPS across every game mode and are the top priority for any serious player. Earing (the 6-star Potara from the Kai Planet Raid) is a close third because it’s both shop-attainable and broken at full upgrade.
How often is the ASTD tier list updated?
This tier list is updated after every major game patch and balance change. The official wiki tier list refreshed on 23/03/2026 (added Buddha Chairman Serious), and BloxMeta’s sheet last refreshed April 14, 2026. New unit additions usually shake the rankings every 2-4 weeks, so bookmark this page and check back monthly.
How are ASTD units ranked in the tier list?
Units are evaluated on six criteria: DPS, range, AoE shape, SPA (attack speed), unit type (ground/hill/hybrid), and utility (stuns, freezes, buffs, shield-breaking). Each unit’s placement reflects performance in Infinite, Story, and Raids combined — not just raw damage. Community testing data and Discord input from the ASTD Stats Team also factor into rankings.
Should I only use S-tier (Mythic) units in ASTD?
No — a balanced team with one Mythic DPS, one support, one CC, and one farm unit will outperform five Mythics with no synergy. Lower-tier units like Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) (farm) and Onwin (buff) are mandatory in optimal teams despite not being Mythic-tier DPS.
What’s the difference between ASTD and ASTDX tier lists?
ASTD is the original game with 1,000+ units; ASTDX (All Star Tower Defense X) is a 2025 spiritual sequel with a smaller, fresher roster. Their tier lists share some unit names (Spider Boss, Killer Serious, Etri, Onwin) but the two games are balanced separately. This article focuses on ASTD, with a brief ASTDX section for cross-game players.
How do I get free units in ASTD?
The fastest free-to-play paths are: (1) redeem all active codes for Gems, (2) complete daily and weekly quests, (3) clear Story chapters for milestone rewards, (4) participate in events for limited-time exclusive units like the Christmas Crates and Summer Boxes, and (5) complete Raids for unique drops like Earing.
Can low-tier units beat high-tier units in ASTD?
In niche scenarios, yes — for example, a fully-evolved C-tier unit with All Star trait can outperform an unupgraded S-tier. But in actual endgame content (Infinite past wave 100, hard Raids, Gauntlet), Mythic-tier units are mathematically required because of HP scaling.
What are the best traits to reroll in ASTD?
The top three traits in 2026 are All Star (universal damage + range), Bloodlust (faster attack speed), and Genesis (cheaper upgrades). Roll All Star on your main DPS first, then Genesis on your second-priority unit to free up cash for placement.
Is All Star Tower Defense still being updated in 2026?
Yes — ASTD is actively maintained. The latest tier list update was 23 March 2026 adding Buddha Chairman (Serious), and the dev team has confirmed continued patches alongside ASTDX. The community Discord and official Twitter remain active for patch news.
What’s the rarest unit in ASTD right now?
The rarest currently-available units are the Star Pass Season 4 unit (premium battle pass exclusive), Earing (Kai Planet Raid drop), and the latest 6-star banner units like Renitsu (District) with sub-1% summon rates. Bound units from the Y-banner (similar to ASTDX’s Michishibo) are functionally rarer due to gated summon pools.
Which D-tier or F-tier units are actually worth keeping?
A few — only those that serve as evolution materials for higher-tier units. Examples: keep base Vegu (evolves into King Vegu), base Stampede (evolves to 100% II), base Borul (evolves to SUPA II), and base Demon I-V chain (only V is decent but you need the lower steps). Sell anything else without an evolution path.
Are PVP units the same as PVE units in ASTD?
No — PVP-tagged units (like Renitsu PVP, Mountain Cannon PVP, Buddha Chairman PVP) are balanced differently and usually weaker than their PvE counterparts in Infinite or Raids. Only invest in PVP variants if you’re actively grinding the PVP arena.
What’s the best new unit added in 2026?
Buddha Chairman (Serious) — added to the official wiki tier list on 23/03/2026. Immediately Mythic-tier, with insane AoE wave clearing, decent SPA, and a Hill placement that lets it hit both ground and flying enemies. If you’re choosing between rolling for him or saving for the next banner, roll now while he’s still featured.
Final Thoughts: Your ASTD Tier List Action Plan
Here’s the TL;DR if you scrolled to the bottom: focus all your gems on summoning Mythic-tier units like Super God Koku, Renitsu (District), Zazashi (PERFECTION), and Earing. Build your team around one Mythic DPS, one support (Onwin or Xero), one CC unit (Mysterious X VOID), and Bellma (SUPER Money Corp) for farm. Roll All Star trait on your top DPS, redeem every active code, and run daily quests for free Gems.
If you’re stuck in Bench/Vault tier territory, don’t panic. Save 4,500 Gems (one full 10x), watch for the next featured Mythic banner, and dump it all on one strong pull. Better to have one Mythic unit at full investment than five mediocre uncommitted ones.
Bookmark this page and check back monthly — the meta shifts every patch, and a “best units” list from three months ago can already be wrong. If you’re brand new, pull on the cheapest banners until you’ve got at least three Legendary-tier units, then save up for big 10x summons on featured Mythic banners.
Got questions about a specific unit’s placement or want a custom team build? Drop a comment below — happy to help you optimize. Now stop reading and go grind some Infinite. 🗡️