The developer’s public store pages confirm several heroes and weapon roles but do not provide a complete, current comparison of every character’s damage, health, reload speed, or special effect. Rankings below separate verified facts from practical recommendations and clearly marked community-based.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
Slow Joe is the best default choice for most players because he is the safest general-purpose pick for learning stages and conserving resources. Betty is the best specialist when you need close-range shotgun damage plus rocket burst, while Cousin Welder is the better choice for packed waves that stay vulnerable to fire. For later worlds, do not pick by name alone: match the hero’s available weapon kit to the stage. Use the Shooting Range to test damage, reload timing, and ammunition before spending upgrade currency.
Direct answer
The safest ranking for most players
There is no fully verified universal tier list for the current release. The official store descriptions identify Slow Joe, Cousin Welder, Uncle Hairy, and Grandma Mau, while later update notes confirm Betty as a swamp mechanic with a heavy-duty shotgun and rocket launcher. Other heroes appear in player reviews, but their current statistics and unlock conditions are not documented in the official public listing.
For a practical ranking, place Slow Joe first for general progression, Betty first for explosive burst, and Cousin Welder first for crowd pressure. Grandma Mau and Uncle Hairy remain useful when their weapon access fits a stage, but the public sources do not provide enough current numerical data to rank them above the specialists with confidence.
- Best general pick: Slow Joe.
- Best burst-damage specialist: Betty.
- Best crowd-control specialist: Cousin Welder.
- Best choice when resources are limited: whichever developed hero gives you the required weapon without forcing a costly upgrade.
| Hero | Verified role or evidence | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow Joe | Main playable defender in the official store description. | Early progression, blind attempts, and flexible weapon testing. | No publicly verified specialty that makes him dominant in every late stage. |
| Betty | Added as a swamp mechanic with a heavy-duty shotgun and rocket launcher. | Boss pressure, armored targets, and explosive burst. | Her value depends on ammunition, upgrade level, and whether the stage lets you use her kit efficiently. |
| Cousin Welder | Officially described as flamethrowing support. | Dense waves and enemies that approach in groups. | Fire damage may be less efficient when targets are spread out or resistant to it. |
| Uncle Hairy | Officially described as armed and dangerous, without a public stat breakdown. | Stages where his available weapon handles the enemy mix well. | The public listing does not verify a distinct numerical advantage. |
| Grandma Mau | Officially described as a family backup hero; public third-party descriptions associate her with heavy weapons, but this is not fully confirmed by the developer. | Players seeking high-impact attacks after unlocking her. | Exact current weapon and balance details should be checked in-game. |
Verified facts come from the current Google Play and App Store descriptions and update notes. The ranking is an evidence-led recommendation based on those roles, the game’s weapon-focused design, and the need to match weapons to enemy waves. It is not an official developer tier list.
Mode guide
Best picks by mode and goal
For ordinary campaign stages, start with Slow Joe. The official descriptions present him as the central defender, and a generalist is usually the least expensive way to learn enemy timing, weapon range, and reload windows. Keep him as your baseline whenever you are unsure what a level contains.
For wave-clear goals, Cousin Welder is the most logical first test because the developer explicitly identifies his flamethrower. Fire-based pressure is most valuable when several enemies occupy the same lane or move close together. Do not assume he is automatically better on single targets; test the stage in the Shooting Range or use a low-cost attempt first.
For boss or high-health targets, test Betty before spending premium currency elsewhere. Her confirmed shotgun-and-rocket loadout gives her both close-range damage and explosive burst. The shotgun is useful when enemies reach the cabin, while the rocket launcher can punish a large target or a compact group. This makes her the clearest specialist for burst-oriented objectives.
For resource-saving runs, choose the hero whose weapons are already upgraded. A theoretically stronger character can perform worse if their ammunition, reload, or weapon level is behind your main pick. Character level and weapon progression should be treated as part of the build, not separate concerns.
For challenge or event modes, there is no reliable public evidence that one hero dominates every ruleset. Check the objective first. A kill-count challenge favors area damage, a survival objective favors reliable close defense, and a precision objective favors the weapon you control most accurately.
- Campaign progression: Slow Joe until a specialist clearly solves a recurring problem.
- Crowd clearing: Cousin Welder, provided enemies cluster and his fire weapon is upgraded.
- Boss damage: Betty for shotgun pressure and rocket burst.
- Low-spend progression: your highest-level hero with the required weapon type.
- Practice and comparison: use the Shooting Range before committing resources.
| Goal | First character to test | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Finish unfamiliar stages | Slow Joe | Flexible baseline and safer learning pick. |
| Clear many enemies quickly | Cousin Welder | His confirmed flamethrower is naturally suited to grouped pressure. |
| Break through a tough target | Betty | Her confirmed shotgun and rocket launcher cover close and explosive damage. |
| Earn stars efficiently | The hero that best matches the objective | Star conditions vary, so weapon fit matters more than a permanent ranking. |
| Experiment without risk | Any available hero in the Shooting Range | The mode is specifically described as a place to practice weapons and hero characters. |
A recent player discussion claims Sonny helped with difficult three-star stages, and App Store reviews mention heroes such as Larry, Frosty, Wei, Willy, and Sonny. These reports are useful leads, but they do not establish a universal ranking or verified current statistics.
Stage guide
How to choose by world and stage type
The official listing identifies a progression from the Deep South to later swamps in China and Russia, with different monsters and tactics. That supports a stage-based approach rather than one permanent favorite.
In early Deep South stages, use Slow Joe to build a stable upgrade base. Early levels are the best place to learn which enemies rush, which ones require explosives, and when to reload. Avoid spreading currency across every unlocked hero before your main weapon kit is dependable.
In middle-world stages, switch when the enemy mix becomes more specialized. If the level sends repeated groups, test Welder. If it introduces larger targets or punishes enemies reaching the cabin, test Betty. The correct choice is the one that reduces the number of emergency reloads and missed shots, not necessarily the one with the highest displayed rarity.
In late Siberian stages, assume that ammunition management and weapon compatibility matter more than character reputation. Bring the hero whose strongest weapon answers the level’s most dangerous enemy. Save rockets for the targets that threaten failure, and use close-range weapons only when the lane is genuinely crowded.
- Read the objective before selecting a hero.
- Identify the enemy that actually causes failed attempts.
- Match the hero’s weapon kit to that threat.
- Run one practice attempt before upgrading a new character.
- Keep a generalist available for stages with mixed enemy types.
| Stage situation | Recommended approach | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed enemies and unknown waves | Slow Joe | A safe baseline reduces the risk of committing to the wrong specialty. |
| Repeated clustered rushes | Cousin Welder | Area pressure should gain value when targets arrive together. |
| Large targets or cabin-breaking threats | Betty | Shotgun and rocket access gives both immediate and burst response. |
| Ammo-starved late stage | Highest-level compatible hero | Progression and ammunition efficiency can outweigh theoretical strength. |
| Star or timed objective | Objective-specific test | The best hero depends on whether speed, survival, accuracy, or kills are scored. |
The public sources do not verify that premium or newly added characters are always stronger. A higher unlock cost may reflect access, presentation, or a different weapon role rather than a universal performance advantage.
Practical steps
A reliable way to compare your roster
Use this five-step test whenever a new hero becomes available. First, record the stage objective and the enemy that ends your attempts. Second, enter the Shooting Range and test the hero’s main weapon against both a small target and a large target. Third, check how quickly the weapon empties and how punishing a reload is. Fourth, repeat the stage with the same support items and compare cabin damage, ammunition usage, and unused special attacks. Finally, invest only when the new pick solves a problem your current hero cannot.
This method is more dependable than copying an old ranking because the game has received new heroes, seasonal content, performance changes, and balance adjustments. It also protects free-to-play resources: a character is worth upgrading when they improve a specific bottleneck, not merely because another player calls them top tier.
- Compare heroes at similar levels whenever possible.
- Keep weapons and support items consistent between tests.
- Measure failed waves, reload problems, and cabin damage.
- Do not spend premium currency until the hero solves a repeatable problem.
- Re-test after a major update or weapon-balance change.
Build around one generalist and one specialist. Slow Joe is the sensible generalist starting point. Add Betty for burst-heavy stages or Cousin Welder for dense waves, then widen the roster only when a later objective demands a different weapon pattern.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Slow Joe still the best character for new players?
He is the safest recommendation for new players, not a confirmed unbeatable champion. His central role and general-purpose use make him a strong baseline while you learn stages and upgrade priorities.
Is Betty better than Slow Joe?
Betty is better for the specific job her confirmed shotgun-and-rocket kit handles well, especially burst damage and large threats. Slow Joe remains the safer all-round choice when the stage is unfamiliar or mixed.
When should I use Cousin Welder?
Try him when enemies arrive in groups or remain close enough for flamethrower pressure to matter. He is less clearly favored when targets are spread out or when the stage is dominated by a single high-health enemy.
Which hero is best for three-star stages?
There is no verified universal answer because star objectives can differ. Use the hero whose weapon solves the scoring condition, and test the stage with consistent support items. Community players have singled out Sonny for some difficult three-star attempts, but that is anecdotal rather than a confirmed rule.
Should I upgrade every character?
No. Upgrade one reliable generalist first, then invest in a specialist that solves a recurring stage problem. Because the current game emphasizes weapon access, spreading resources too widely can leave every character underpowered.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialGoogle Play listing and current game description
- OfficialApple App Store listing and version history
- OfficialApp Store update notes for Betty and Shooting Range features
- CommunityCommunity discussion about three-star stage character choices
- CommunityPlayer reviews mentioning additional heroes and progression concerns