If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the chaotic world of PONOS’s flagship tower defense game, you know the "meatshield" is the backbone of literally every strategy. You’ve got your Wall Cats, your Crazed Tanks, and your cheap-as-dirt Boogie Cats. Then there’s Sumo Cat. He’s fat. He’s slow. He looks like he should be a brick wall, but a lot of players—especially those moving from the early Empire of Cats into the nightmare of Stories of Legend—start wondering if he’s actually worth the Cat Food.
Honestly, the community is kinda split on him. Some people swear by his higher health pool, while others think he’s just a glorified wallet-drainer.
Let’s get one thing straight: Sumo Cat isn’t just a "worse Wall Cat." That’s a common misconception. While Wall Cat (and eventually Eraser Cat) is the undisputed king of efficiency, Sumo exists in a weird middle ground of "special" units that requires a bit more brainpower to use correctly. He is a Rare-tier unit that you unlock via the gacha, and his whole vibe is about staying put.
Why People Sleep on the Battle Cats Sumo Cat
The biggest gripe most players have is the cost. At 300 cents (in Chapter 1), he’s exactly double the price of a Wall Cat. In the early game, where your worker cat is basically living paycheck to paycheck, dropping 300 on a single meatshield feels bad. It feels like a luxury you can’t afford when a swarm of Snaches is knocking at your door.
But here’s the thing. Sumo has a faster attack rate than Tank Cat.
Does that matter for a meatshield? Usually, no. You don’t want your meatshields attacking; you want them standing there taking a beating so your Paris Cat or Bahamut can do the actual work. However, in specific stages where you’re being pushed by weak but numerous "peons," that extra bit of chip damage can actually help clear the path.
He’s also immune to knockback in his evolved forms. That’s huge.
Think about those annoying bosses that have a high "procc" rate for knocking your units back. If your Wall Cats are constantly flying backward, your backline attackers (the ones with the big guns) are suddenly exposed. Sumo Cat doesn't care. He stands his ground. He’s stubborn. That’s his niche. If you’re fighting something like a Bore or a Shy Boy that pushes hard, having a unit that refuses to move can be the difference between a win and a "Stage Failed" screen.
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The Evolution Ladder: From Sumo to Riceball
When you hit level 10, he turns into Maid Cat. It’s... a choice, aesthetically. Same stats, just a different costume. The real magic happens when you get his True Form: Riceball Cat.
To get Riceball Cat, you need to beat the "Awakens" stage or use an Evolution Fruit/Catfruit depending on the version and your progress level. Once he becomes Riceball, everything changes. His movement speed skyrockets.
Riceball Cat is fast. Like, surprisingly fast.
This creates a brand-new use case. In the late game, specifically in Uncanny Legends or high-tier Heavenly Tower floors, "speed-killing" or "stall-pushing" becomes a necessity. Riceball can sprint to the front lines faster than almost any other meatshield. If a boss just wiped your entire front line with a massive AOE attack, you need boots on the ground now. Eraser Cat waddles. Riceball Cat sprints.
The Problem With Health Per Cent
We have to talk about the math, even if it’s boring.
If you look at the raw HP-to-cost ratio, Sumo Cat usually loses. In the "Standard Meta," efficiency is king. Most pro players at the Battle Cats subreddit or the Discord communities will tell you to stick to the "Dual Eraser" setup (Manic Eraser and Normal Eraser). Why? Because for 300 cents, you can get two Erasers that collectively have more health and better survivability than one Sumo.
It’s basic economics.
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But games aren't played on spreadsheets. Sometimes you hit the deployment limit. Battle Cats has a cap on how many units can be on the screen at once (usually 50). If you’re spamming 75-cent Macho Cats, you’ll hit that cap instantly, and then you can’t spawn your big hitters. In these specific, niche scenarios, using a "thicker" meatshield like Sumo Cat helps you stay under the deployment limit while still maintaining a solid wall.
Where He Actually Shines: The Niche Use Cases
Don't bring him to every fight. That’s how you go broke. Instead, save him for these moments:
- Anti-Knockback Stages: When the enemy has a high frequency of knockback (like some Cyclone variants or specific Event bosses), Sumo’s "Area Attack" and "Immune to Knockback" (in later forms/talents) are life-savers.
- The "Speed" Meta: When you need a meatshield to reach a point across the map instantly. This is mostly a Riceball Cat thing, but it’s the primary reason to invest in the line.
- 4-Star Stages: These are stages where you can only use Special and Rare cats. Since you can’t use your ultra-buffed Super Rare or Uber Rare units, Sumo Cat suddenly becomes one of your primary defensive options. You’ll be glad you leveled him up when you're stuck on a 4-star SoL stage.
Talents and Late-Game Viability
Once you unlock Talents using NP (post-Into the Future Chapter 3), Riceball Cat gets some serious buffs. You can give him resistance to certain effects or just dump points into his health. Honestly? Most players shouldn't prioritize him for NP unless they’ve already maxed out the essentials like Pizza Cat’s waves or Sanzo’s slow.
But if you’re a completionist? A max-talented Riceball Cat is a terrifyingly fast, surprisingly tanky wall that can confuse the hell out of enemies in Cats of the Cosmos.
Dealing With the "Slow" Start
If you've just pulled Sumo Cat and you're still in the early game, my advice is simple: Don't over-rely on him.
Use him as a "backup" wall. If your Tank Cat is level 10 but you're still getting overrun, throw Sumo in as a third line of defense. Just watch your wallet. If you see your money dropping to zero and you can't afford to spawn your attackers, Sumo is the first one you should stop tapping.
The learning curve in Battle Cats is mostly about managing your "money flow." Sumo Cat is a high-flow unit. He’s a gas-guzzler. You wouldn't drive a Hummer to pick up groceries if you're broke, right? Same logic. Use him when the situation demands a tank, not just because he looks tough.
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Practical Next Steps for Your Lineup
If you're looking to optimize your playstyle with or without this unit, here is what you should actually do:
Check your current stage. Are you being pushed back by "Boss Shockwaves" or knockback abilities? If yes, swap one of your cheap meatshields for Sumo Cat. He will provide a more stable front line that doesn't retreat.
Prioritize his True Form. The jump from Maid Cat to Riceball Cat is one of the most significant "glow-ups" in the game. The speed boost alone changes him from a situational tank to a specialized tactical unit.
Level your Tank Cat first. Always. No matter how much you like Sumo, the Normal Tank Cat (and its evolution to Eraser) is the most important unit in the game. Sumo is a supplement, not a replacement.
Lastly, watch your deployment limit. If you find that the game won't let you spawn more units even though you have money, that's a sign you need to stop using "spam" units and start using higher-cost, higher-impact units like Sumo.
He’s a weird cat. He’s not the "best" in any single category, but he’s a solid B-tier specialist that will save your skin in 4-star stages and speed-heavy maps. Just don't expect him to carry you through the whole game solo.