Let’s be real for a second. If you’re still trying to brute force your way through Infinite Mode using whatever five-star unit you happened to pull this morning, you’re basically just throwing gems into a black hole. All Star Tower Defense X (ASTDX) isn’t like the old game where you could just spam a favorite character and win. The meta right now is incredibly punishing, and if your squad doesn’t have the right crowd control or scaling damage, you're toast by wave 30.
I’ve spent way too many hours testing the new "All Star" trait and watching the leaderboard shifts. Honestly, the gap between an S-tier unit and a B-tier unit in 2026 is a literal canyon.
The Heavy Hitters: S-Tier
These are the units that make the game feel like you've got cheats enabled. If you see one of these on a banner, you dump your gems. No questions asked.
Michishibo is, without a doubt, the king of the current meta. Why? It's the bleed. In ASTDX, damage-over-time (DOT) is everything because enemy health scales into the billions faster than ever. Michishibo has the highest single-shot potential in the game right now, making him the ultimate boss killer.
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Then you’ve got the Spider Boss (Chrollo). He’s pricey to upgrade—definitely not a "place and forget" unit—but his AoE poison is a lifesaver for clearing out those massive, dense waves that usually leak through your defenses.
Top-Tier Support and Crowd Control
Don't sleep on Slayer Mage. She’s basically mandatory if you want to push for a high placement in Infinite. Her range is essentially "yes" (global coverage), and her AoE is consistent enough to keep the pressure off your frontline.
Here is the thing: a lot of people overlook Etri and Xero. They aren't the flashiest, but the raw DPS and shield penetration they provide are the only reason most players are surviving the new world raids.
Solid but Not Broken: A-Tier
These units are fantastic. You can clear almost all Story Mode content with them, but you’ll start to feel their limitations when you hit the high-level Infinite grinds.
- Freezer (Final Form): The freeze effect is still one of the best utility moves in the game. It stops the clock, giving your heavy hitters time to recharge their big moves.
- King Kaoe: He’s your best friend if you’re running an A-tier team. His damage amplification buff is huge—it can literally make an A-tier unit feel like an S-tier for a few critical seconds.
- Neymar (Trapper): Kinda niche, but his trap mechanics are the "secret sauce" for specific Infinite strategies. He’s not about damage; he’s about control.
Kuroma (Yoko) is another interesting one. The ability to swap damage types is super versatile, especially when you’re facing enemies with shifting resistances.
The "Fillers" You Should Probably Replace: B-Tier and Below
Look, I love Ramen Grill-Master as much as the next guy. He’s the classic farming unit. If you need cash fast in the early game, he’s your man. But once you hit the mid-game? He’s just taking up a slot that could go to someone who actually kills things.
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Units like Zaruto (Sage) or Ruffy (Lobby) are fine for beginners. They’ll get you through the first few islands. But their "Long SPA" (Seconds Per Attack) is their downfall. In the current meta, if a unit takes 10 seconds to swing, the enemies have already walked halfway across the map.
Expert Tip: If you’re using Whitestache or Blackstache, check your range. They have decent DPS, but their placement requirements are so picky that they often end up being useless on more vertical maps.
The Secret Ingredient: Why Traits Matter More Than Units
You could have the best unit in the all star x tier list, but if it has a "Tank" trait, you’re playing at half-strength.
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The All Star Trait is the holy grail. It’s a 0.2% drop rate, but it gives you a +300% damage boost. It’s literally game-breaking. If you get this on a Michishibo, you've basically won the game.
On the more realistic side, aim for Genesis or Bloodlust. Bloodlust is particularly nasty because it stacks. Every kill your unit gets makes them faster and stronger. By wave 50, a Bloodlust unit is often outperforming a "clean" S-tier unit.
How to Actually Build Your Team
- Prioritize One DOT Unit: Either Michishibo for bleed or Spider Boss for poison. You need that scaling damage.
- Bring a Buffer: King Kaoe is the easiest to slot in.
- Economy is Key: Don't forget a farm unit like Ramen Grill-Master, but be ready to sell him later.
- Watch the SPA: Avoid anything with an attack speed slower than 7-8 seconds unless their damage is astronomical.
Your Next Steps for Dominating ASTDX
Go check your current roster and look for the Bloodlust or Corrupted traits. If you have a B-tier unit with a God-tier trait, keep them for now. Your immediate goal should be to save gems for the next Michishibo or Slayer Mage banner rotation. Don't waste your Bounded Cubes on low-tier units; save them for when you finally pull a 0.01% secret unit. If you're struggling with shield enemies, try to roll for the Corrupted trait on your fastest attacking unit to bypass those pesky defenses.