Tower rankings are recommendations based on documented tower roles, listed stats, and established community strategies. Some map-specific advice is practical judgment rather than an official developer ranking, and no recent balance patch information was found in the sources checked.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
For most campaign and Heroic maps, take Machine Gun, Ice or Polymorph, Spark, Flamethrower, and Tesla. Machine Gun gives cheap damage while shaping the maze; the slow tower extends every firing window; Spark punishes enemies around bends; Flamethrower clears crowds; and Tesla covers air units and durable targets. Add Hive on looping or crowded maps, Link on compact repeatable paths, Railgun against isolated elites, and Nuke for Endless mode. Do not buy a tower simply because its damage number is higher: placement, enemy immunities, and the map’s pathing matter more than a universal tier list.
Quick ranking
The core loadout that works almost everywhere
The most dependable five-tower package is Machine Gun, Polymorph or Ice, Spark, Flamethrower, and Tesla. It covers the five jobs that decide most maps: maze control, slowing, close-range burst, crowd damage, and anti-air or heavy-target damage.
Machine Gun is the best early upgrade target because it combines respectable damage with a useful slow effect at a modest price. It also remains valuable as a maze-building piece after stronger weapons become available. Ice is easier to obtain than Polymorph and slows several nearby runners, but Polymorph is the better long-term choice because its larger area can repeatedly affect units and can slow Stubborn Runners.
Spark is the most flexible damage tower for corners and U-bends. Its short range is a limitation in open terrain, but it becomes excellent when a slow tower holds enemies beside it. Flamethrower supplies sustained area damage and is unlocked relatively early. Tesla is the safest answer when air units or heavily armored enemies are expected.
This is a recommendation, not a claim that every other tower is weak. Fieldrunners 2 is built around custom mazes, so a tower’s value changes with the path you create.
- Best early purchase: Machine Gun.
- Best general slow: Polymorph; use Ice before it is available.
- Best close-range damage: Spark.
- Best crowd damage: Flamethrower.
- Best anti-air and heavy-target option: Tesla.
| Tower | Best role | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Machine Gun | Early damage, slowing, and maze building | Short range and less impressive against late-game crowds by itself |
| Ice or Polymorph | Keeping groups inside damage zones | Slow towers do little damage alone |
| Spark | Burst damage around corners and choke points | Needs enemies to pass close by |
| Flamethrower | Reliable damage against groups | Some fire-resistant enemy types reduce its value |
| Tesla | Air coverage and durable targets | Expensive compared with early-game options |
The documented tower guide lists Machine Gun as a strong-value damage and maze tower, Polymorph as the strongest slow, Spark as especially effective beside slowing towers, Flamethrower as a staple damage choice, and Tesla as highly effective against air units. The ranking above combines those documented roles into practical loadouts.
Progression
What to buy and upgrade first
Start with the towers that solve several problems at once. Gatling is useful at the beginning, but Machine Gun is the better investment when you can afford it because it adds slowing to its damage. Upgrade an existing tower before filling every available space with level-one towers; the community walkthrough specifically recommends upgrading because it is generally cheaper and more effective.
Your first major goal should be a reliable slow-damage pairing. Use Machine Gun with Ice during early progression. When Polymorph becomes affordable or available, replace Ice on maps where Stubborn Runners or large groups are causing leaks. Do not feel forced to buy every slow tower. Glue remains useful when one runner needs to be held in place, while Oil and Slow Link have narrower applications.
After the slow is covered, unlock damage that matches your map layout. Spark is a strong star-based progression target because it works in compact bends. Flamethrower is worth prioritizing for crowded ground routes. Tesla should enter the loadout as soon as the map introduces dangerous aircraft or heavy targets.
Late purchases are specialist tools. Link requires at least two towers to function meaningfully, so it is a poor casual purchase but a powerful investment on a map with repeated loops. Railgun is better when a few elite units need focused long-range fire. Nuke is expensive and has a close-range blind spot, so save it for Endless or large combo setups.
- Early campaign: Gatling, Machine Gun, Glue or Ice, and one basic damage tower.
- Mid progression: Machine Gun, Ice, Spark, Flamethrower, and Tesla.
- After Polymorph: replace Ice when the wider repeated slow matters.
- Late progression: add Link, Railgun, or Nuke only for a map-specific purpose.
| Progression stage | Recommended six-tower pool | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Gatling, Machine Gun, Glue, Ice, Missile, Tesla | Covers maze shaping, basic slow, range, and early air threats |
| Mid-game | Machine Gun, Ice or Polymorph, Spark, Flamethrower, Hive, Tesla | Adds dependable crowd control and area damage |
| Late-game | Polymorph, Spark, Flamethrower, Tesla, Link, Railgun or Nuke | Uses specialist towers for loops, elites, air, and Endless survival |
The reference guide lists different unlock prices for iOS and Steam. Check the in-game unlock screen before planning a purchase, especially for Polymorph, Machine Gun, Tesla, Link, and Nuke.
Modes and maps
Best picks for campaign, Heroic, and special stages
For ordinary Survival maps, build around the route rather than the tower list. Put slow effects where enemies must pass repeatedly, then place Spark or Flamethrower so the same group remains inside the damage zone. Use Hive when the map gives you long lanes, loops, or tightly packed runners; its large range and splash damage make it more forgiving than short-range weapons.
Twist of Fate is a good example of a map that rewards synergy. Its looping sections let Gun towers, a slow tower, Hive, and Flamethrower attack the same enemies more than once. A documented Heroic walkthrough uses Gun towers, Missile, a slow tower or Polymorph, Hive, and Flamethrower. That is a better model for map selection than taking six supposedly top-ranked towers into every mission.
Heroic generally favors efficient upgrades and layered coverage. Keep Tesla available when aircraft appear, even if it is not your highest damage option. In a narrow U-bend, Spark can outperform a longer-range tower because enemies remain beside it. On an open map, Missile, Hive, Cannon, or Railgun may gain value because they can begin firing earlier.
Time Trial and Sudden Death maps reward flexibility and fast rebuilding. The practical priority is a cheap opening tower, a slow effect, and one damage tower that can be upgraded quickly. Avoid committing all of your money to expensive specialists before the route is stable. Selling can help, but resale losses mean that unnecessary rebuilding is costly.
Endless changes the priority. Nuke becomes much more attractive because wide splash damage and repeated placements support large combos, while Link becomes powerful when the map lets several towers share a compact loop. Keep Tesla or another dependable anti-air answer in the loadout rather than relying only on ground-focused area damage.
- Long lanes and loops: Hive, Flamethrower, and Polymorph.
- Tight U-bends: Spark beside Ice or Polymorph.
- Air-heavy stages: Tesla first, then supporting damage.
- Elite-heavy routes: Railgun or Tesla with a slow tower.
- Time Trial and Sudden Death: cheap early coverage and fast upgrades.
- Endless: Nuke, Link setups, and broad splash coverage.
| Situation | Best additions | Placement principle |
|---|---|---|
| Looping map | Hive, Flamethrower, Link | Make enemies revisit overlapping damage zones |
| Tight corner | Spark, Ice or Polymorph | Hold runners beside short-range damage |
| Open straight lane | Missile, Cannon, Railgun, Tesla | Use range before enemies reach the choke point |
| Air pressure | Tesla, Hive, Missile | Cover the route where aircraft cross the maze |
| Endless | Nuke, Link, Polymorph | Favor repeated area damage and long exposure time |
Exact optimal placements depend on difficulty, available build squares, wave order, and the towers already unlocked. The recommendations here identify strong roles, not guaranteed three-star layouts.
Practical method
How to test a tower without wasting coins
Use a simple three-step test whenever a new tower becomes available. First, identify what the map is actually asking for: more time, more single-target damage, splash damage, anti-air coverage, or a way to handle elites. Second, place one copy at the longest useful section of path rather than at the entrance. Third, compare an upgrade with buying a second tower.
The most common mistake is building too many level-one towers. A level-two or level-three damage tower beside a strong slow effect often produces more real value than several isolated weapons. The next mistake is placing a short-range tower on a straight lane where enemies pass quickly. Move it to a bend, loop, or exit approach where the path is longest.
Use specialist towers only when their conditions are present. Link needs a partner and becomes better with a dense network. Pyro is valuable for area damage and combos but is costly and has known unfavorable matchups. Gas, Plague, and Radiation are poor choices when Hazmat units dominate because the documented guide lists those effects as ineffective against them. Flamethrower also has a specific weakness against Toastmaster units.
Finally, watch the air route. Even if a tower can technically target air, Tesla’s documented role makes it the more dependable dedicated answer. One Tesla in the correct lane can prevent a late leak that would otherwise force an expensive rebuild.
- Match the tower to the enemy and route before checking damage numbers.
- Upgrade a useful tower before spreading money across weak level-one copies.
- Place short-range weapons at bends, loops, and exit approaches.
- Avoid damage-over-time specialists when their immune enemy type is present.
- Keep dedicated anti-air coverage when the wave list demands it.
| If the problem is... | Try this first | Then add... |
|---|---|---|
| Runners escape the maze | Machine Gun or Polymorph | Spark or Flamethrower |
| Large groups overwhelm a bend | Ice or Polymorph | Hive, Spark, or Flamethrower |
| Aircraft slip through | Tesla | Hive or Missile for extra range |
| One elite survives | Polymorph to extend exposure | Railgun or Tesla |
| Endless waves stall the build | Nuke and repeated splash coverage | Link network on a suitable loop |
There is no single winning tower for every map. The strongest general plan is a slow effect plus overlapping damage, with Tesla for air and a specialist added only when the map justifies its cost.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the best tower to buy first?
Machine Gun is the safest first purchase after the opening towers because it deals useful damage, slows enemies, and remains helpful for maze construction. If your immediate map has large groups, prioritize Ice soon afterward.
Is Polymorph better than Ice?
For general use, yes. The documented guide gives Polymorph a wider effective role and stronger late upgrades, and it specifically notes that it can affect Stubborn Runners. Ice remains an excellent early and budget option.
Which towers are best for Heroic difficulty?
A strong general Heroic pool is Machine Gun, Ice or Polymorph, Spark, Flamethrower, and Tesla, with Hive or Missile as the sixth choice. The exact sixth tower should follow the map’s enemy mix and available firing lanes.
When should I use Link Towers?
Use Link only when you can afford at least two and the map offers a compact loop or repeated route. The documented guide warns that one Link has no useful effect and that uneven upgrades reduce the pair’s efficiency.
Is Nuke worth buying for the campaign?
Usually not as an early campaign priority. Nuke is expensive, has a close-range weakness, and is most useful in Endless mode or large combo-focused setups. Buy it after the core loadout is stable and you are pursuing long survival or score goals.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.