Base Tower Defense Guide: How the game modes work
About
OverviewBase Tower Defense is a cooperative strategy game where you place towers to stop waves of enemies from reaching your base. This guide covers how to get started, how each difficulty mode works, how to earn towers through badges, and how to get the most out of the Miner income tower.
What is on this page
Contents
How the game modes work
Table
There are three main survival modes plus a secret one. Each mode sends waves of enemies at your base, and you spend cash to place and upgrade towers that stop them.
| Easy Mode | 30 waves, final boss is the Gladiator, no special mechanics |
| Normal Mode | 40 waves, final boss is the Void Titan |
| Hard Mode | 40 waves, final bosses are Light and Darkness, all towers cost 10% more to place and upgrade, you start with a $100 bonus |
| Hidden Wave | triggered by beating Normal or Hard Mode in under 16 minutes and 30 seconds, the boss is Mech, winning it earns you the Cyborg tower |
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Tower limits by team size
Table
Every player has a cap on how many towers they can place at once. The cap changes depending on how many people are in your server.
| Team size | Tower limit per player |
|---|---|
| Solo (1 player) | 30 |
| Duo (2 players) | 20 |
| Trio (3 players) | 17 |
| Quad (4 players) | 15 |
Earning towers through badges
Step
Badges are achievements you earn by completing specific in-game tasks. Some reward you with a tower you cannot get any other way. The two event badges — Halloween 2021 and Frost Event 2022 — are no longer obtainable.
- Beat Easy Mode defeat the Gladiator to earn this badge; no tower reward
- Beat Normal Mode defeat the Void Titan; no tower reward
- Beat Hard Mode defeat Light and Darkness to earn this badge
- Mining Madness beat Hard Mode specifically on the Mineshaft map; rewards the Miner tower
- ??? (Hidden Wave) beat Normal or Hard Mode in under 16 minutes and 30 seconds to trigger the Hidden Wave, then win it; rewards the Cyborg tower
- Beat Frozen Fortress defeat Moranos and the Overseer in Frozen Fortress mode; rewards the Cryomancer tower
How to use the Miner tower
Step
The Miner is an income tower that generates cash automatically every few seconds rather than waiting for a wave to end. That means you can upgrade it at any point during a round, not just between waves. Unlock it by beating Hard Mode on the Mineshaft map, then buy it from the shop.
- Place your first Miner it costs $350 and starts generating $25 every 10 seconds
- Upgrade to level 2 before adding a second level 1 one level 2 Miner outearns two level 1 Miners
- Push to level 3 as your main goal one level 3 Miner outearns three level 2 Miners, and level 3 has the best cost efficiency of all five levels
- Build toward seven level 3 Miners two level 3 Miners outperform one level 4, and three level 3 Miners outperform one level 5
- Upgrade lower levels while saving do not stall your defenses waiting to afford level 3; upgrading level 1 and 2 Miners still increases your income
- Reach level 4 and 5 only after hitting seven level 3 Miners the efficiency drop is significant at those top levels
Glossary
Glossary- Miner
- An income tower that generates cash every few seconds on its own, unlocked by beating Hard Mode on the Mineshaft map.
- Hidden Wave
- A secret bonus wave triggered by clearing Normal or Hard Mode in under 16 minutes and 30 seconds; winning it rewards the Cyborg tower.
- Mineshaft
- A Hard Mode map and the specific map you must beat to unlock the Miner tower.
- Frozen Fortress
- A special mode with two enemy entry paths and its own bosses, Moranos and the Overseer.
- Wave
- One round of enemies that move along the map path toward your base.
Common questions
FAQHow do I unlock the Miner tower?
Beat Hard Mode on the Mineshaft map to earn the Mining Madness badge, which lets you buy Miner from the shop.
How do I trigger the Hidden Wave?
Finish Normal Mode or Hard Mode in under 16 minutes and 30 seconds and the Hidden Wave starts automatically. The timer does not count down during the Hidden Wave itself, so your run time is locked in before it begins.
How many Miners should I have before upgrading to level 4 or 5?
Get seven level 3 Miners first. Two level 3 Miners outperform one level 4, and three level 3 Miners outperform one level 5, so stacking level 3 first gives you much better returns on your cash.
What is different about Hard Mode?
Hard Mode runs 40 waves and ends with two bosses, Light and Darkness. Every tower costs 10% more to place and upgrade compared to other modes, but you start the run with a $100 bonus.
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