In this general strategy and achievment guide, I will explain how I found three main tower types: Power, Support, and Cleanup. Every tower fits into at least one of these categories. And each role after understanding has helped me build stronger defenses and complete harder levels much more consistently.

Towers and How I Use Them

• Power Towers deal high damage and usually have solid pierce. Some are less reliable, but they excel when large hordes appear.
• Support Towers help my other towers by slowing enemies, applying debuffs, or using crowd control like knockback.
• Cleanup Towers focus on finishing off enemies that survive my main defenses. They usually fire quickly and are very reliable.

I try to build a balanced defense by combining all three types instead of relying on only one.

Machine Gun

I use the Machine Gun as one of my most reliable towers. It has a very high fire rate but low damage and low pierce.

At first, I mainly use it to clean up small groups of Orcs that survive my stronger towers. Once it is fully upgraded, however, its damage and pierce improve enough that it also becomes a solid Power tower.

Although each shot is weak, the fast fire rate gives it excellent overall damage output. I usually place several Machine Guns behind my main defenses to thin out waves and finish off anything that gets through.

Mortar

I consider the Mortar a mix of a Power and Support tower.

It has infinite pierce, but its damage is not high enough to compete with Cannons or Lasers. Where it really shines is its knockback effect.

I use Mortars to block small choke points and push enemies backward. Some Orcs may still slip through, but most of the wave stays grouped together. This allows my stronger damage towers to focus on one area instead of splitting their fire.

I don’t rely on Mortars for damage. I mainly use them for crowd control.

Cannon

The Cannon is my main Power tower.

It deals excellent damage, has great pierce, and destroys large groups of Orcs with ease. Although it fires slowly, each shot is extremely powerful.

I usually aim Cannons along the paths where enemies naturally travel. On some maps, I even place several Cannons beside each other to completely dominate a choke point.

If I need pure damage, the Cannon is usually my first choice.

Flamethrower

The Flamethrower is easily one of the most versatile towers in the game.

It can deal damage, support my other towers, and even help clean up enemies. Even so, I mostly use it as a Support tower.

It increases the damage enemies take by 30%, making every nearby tower much stronger. It also gives attacks a chance not to consume pierce, which greatly benefits Machine Guns, Flak, and other high-pierce towers.

Although I can clear hordes, I don’t think it deals enough damage to replace my main damage towers. So, I usually place Flamethrowers just in front of my strongest defenses so every enemy receives the debuff first.

Tesla Coil

The Tesla Coil is one of my favorite towers and one of the strongest in the game.

It fires very quickly, deals solid damage, chains electricity between enemies, and attacks in every direction. Because of this, I think it is the best Cleanup tower available.

While it does not perform as well against massive hordes later in the game, it is excellent at removing enemies that survive my front line.

I usually place Tesla Coils behind my main defenses so they can focus on escaping enemies instead of wasting time attacking the main horde.

Grenade Launcher

I mainly use the Grenade Launcher as a Support tower.

Its damage is fairly low, but it applies a strong slow effect and increases the damage enemies receive.

I usually place Grenade Launchers directly in front of my main damage towers so every Orc is slowed and weakened before entering my kill zone.

Laser

The Laser is another excellent Power tower.

It has infinite pierce, the longest range in the game, and its beam can bounce between surfaces.

I often use Lasers like stronger Cannons with higher pierce but lower damage. My favorite strategy, however, is building laser walls that continuously damage every Orc passing through a choke point.

Lasers work best on flat horizontal or vertical surfaces. Sloped terrain often reduces their effectiveness because the beam cannot bounce as reliably.

Achievement Strategies

Stage 1.1 and 2.1

These achievements are very easy.

I simply spam nearly maxed-out Missile towers along with almost any fully upgraded tower. This strategy has always been enough for me.

Stage 3.1

I completed this stage mainly with Tesla Coils because they perform well in almost every situation.

I think Flamethrowers can also work if I spread them out properly. Machine Guns and Lasers should also be able to clear this stage.

Stage 4.1

This stage is very simple.

I let Flamethrowers apply their damage and debuffs first. Then my Tesla Coils finish off everything that survives.

Stage 5.1

For this stage, I mainly use Cannons and Machine Guns to control the main horde.

Since Lasers cannot bounce from the entrances, I rely on Tesla Coils to clean up any enemies that make it through.

Stage 6.1

Lasers perform extremely well because of the narrow paths.

I use Lasers for most of my damage while supporting them with Machine Guns and Cannons. Tesla Coils handle any remaining enemies.

This stage can be slightly random because explosive Orcs sometimes launch enemies forward, causing a few lives to be lost.

Stage 6.2

This is the hardest setup I use.

I block roughly half of the map with Laser gates. The remaining paths are defended with Cannons and Machine Guns.

I use Mortars to close smaller paths, place my Support towers before every kill zone, and keep Tesla Coils at the back for cleanup.

I also tested placing Tesla Coils closer to the front, but my results were much worse. Keeping them behind the main defenses worked much better.

My Tower Rankings

These rankings are based on my own experience. Your preferences may be different, but these are the towers that have worked best for me.

1. Tesla Coil

The best all-around tower in the game.

It works on almost every map, provides excellent cleanup, attacks in every direction, and stays useful throughout the game.

2. Cannon

The best tower for clearing large hordes.

Its damage is incredible, and it can quickly reduce even the biggest enemy waves.

3. Machine Gun

One of the most reliable towers available.

Its high fire rate gives it excellent damage over time, and it performs well in almost every situation. It ranks below Tesla and Cannon because it does not completely dominate any single role.

4. Laser

A very strong damage tower with amazing range.

Its effectiveness depends heavily on the map layout, which is why I rank it below the Machine Gun.

5. Grenade Launcher

A very good Support tower.

I think it provides slightly better support than the Flamethrower because of its strong slow effect and damage amplification.

6. Flamethrower

The Flamethrower is always useful, but I don’t think it is the best at any one role.

Its damage is decent, and its support abilities are helpful, but other towers usually perform those jobs better.

7. Mortar

The Mortar is my least favorite tower.

Although its knockback can be useful, I find it unreliable. Sometimes it even pushes Orcs past my defenses if I’m not careful.

I mainly use it for crowd control or early wave management rather than damage. Among all the towers, I think it has the fewest situations where it truly shines.