Brotato is a top-down auto-shooter roguelike where a potato-shaped alien defends against waves of enemies using up to 6 weapons simultaneously. Runs last 20 waves (~25 minutes) with a shop between each wave for weapons, items, and stat upgrades. The stat-stacking system is wildly satisfying — by wave 15, your character might have +300% ranged damage with six SMGs firing simultaneously, filling the screen with projectiles. 40+ unlockable characters each have unique starting stats and restrictions that fundamentally change strategy. At $5, it's one of the best value propositions in gaming.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Well Rounded | A | Pick one damage type early (ranged or melee), commit to stacking that stat, and adapt weapon choices to match. | Whatever the shop offers — adapt to the run |
| Brawler | S | Walk into enemies. Literally. Six melee weapons with +300% melee damage kills everything instantly on touch. Lifesteal keeps you alive. | 6x melee weapons (Lightning Shiv, Flaming Knuckles), melee damage items |
| Crazy | A | Kill everything before it touches you. Crazy's damage bonus means you clear waves in seconds, but a single hit takes a large chunk of HP. | Highest DPS weapons available, glass cannon items |
| Lucky | A | Invest in Harvesting early for gold, then buy the highest-rarity items each wave. Lucky's shop advantage compounds over 20 waves. | Whatever high-rarity items the shop provides |
| Mage | S | Equip all elemental weapons and stack elemental damage. Each weapon applies status effects independently, meaning 6 elemental weapons apply 6 simultaneous burn/shock/freeze procs. | 6x elemental weapons, elemental damage items |
A-Tier: Well Rounded
The starting character with no bonuses or penalties. Well Rounded teaches the game's basics without restrictions. Stack any damage type based on shop offerings. A good character for learning what stat combos work.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | SMG | A rapid-fire ranged weapon with moderate damage and high fire rate. |
| Core Gear | Whatever the shop offers — adapt to the run | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | One damage type focus, dodge, HP regen | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | 6-weapon slots | You equip up to 6 weapons that fire automatically (melee weapons swing automatically too). |
How to Play Well Rounded
Pick one damage type early (ranged or melee), commit to stacking that stat, and adapt weapon choices to match.
The starting character with no bonuses or penalties. Well Rounded teaches the game's basics without restrictions. Stack any damage type based on shop offerings. A good character for learning what stat combos work.
What makes this build work: The synergy between SMG and 6-weapon slots creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Whatever the shop offers — adapt to the run amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (One damage type focus, dodge, HP regen) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Brawler
Brawler starts with melee bonuses and restrictions on ranged weapons. Stack 6 melee weapons (swords, knuckles, clubs) with melee damage and attack speed. At max stack, you're a spinning death vortex that kills everything on contact.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shuriken | A thrown weapon that pierces enemies and returns like a boomerang. |
| Core Gear | 6x melee weapons (Lightning Shiv, Flaming Knuckles), melee damage items | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Melee damage, attack speed, lifesteal, dodge | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | stat stacking | Items in the shop provide stat bonuses: +% Ranged Damage, +% Melee Damage, +% Elemental Damage, +% Attack Speed, +Dodge, +HP Regen, etc. |
How to Play Brawler
Walk into enemies. Literally. Six melee weapons with +300% melee damage kills everything instantly on touch. Lifesteal keeps you alive.
Brawler starts with melee bonuses and restrictions on ranged weapons. Stack 6 melee weapons (swords, knuckles, clubs) with melee damage and attack speed. At max stack, you're a spinning death vortex that kills everything on contact.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Shuriken and stat stacking creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like 6x melee weapons (Lightning Shiv, Flaming Knuckles), melee damage items amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Melee damage, attack speed, lifesteal, dodge) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Crazy
Crazy has +50% damage dealt but takes +25% more damage. The glass cannon character. Stack maximum damage with minimal defensive investment. Runs are fast and violent — you either steamroll or die instantly.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Lightning Shiv | A melee weapon that chains lightning to nearby enemies on hit. |
| Core Gear | Highest DPS weapons available, glass cannon items | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Maximum damage, attack speed, some dodge for survivability | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | wave survival | 20 waves of enemies with increasing difficulty. |
How to Play Crazy
Kill everything before it touches you. Crazy's damage bonus means you clear waves in seconds, but a single hit takes a large chunk of HP.
Crazy has +50% damage dealt but takes +25% more damage. The glass cannon character. Stack maximum damage with minimal defensive investment. Runs are fast and violent — you either steamroll or die instantly.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Lightning Shiv and wave survival creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Highest DPS weapons available, glass cannon items amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Maximum damage, attack speed, some dodge for survivability) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Lucky
Lucky has increased item quality in the shop — more blue, purple, and red items appear. Higher quality items have better stat rolls. Lucky's advantage is economic — better items per gold spent. Stack whatever the premium items offer.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Flaming Brass Knuckles | Melee weapon that applies burn on hit. |
| Core Gear | Whatever high-rarity items the shop provides | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Harvesting (more gold), then whatever stat the best items offer | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | shop economy | Gold is earned from killing enemies. |
How to Play Lucky
Invest in Harvesting early for gold, then buy the highest-rarity items each wave. Lucky's shop advantage compounds over 20 waves.
Lucky has increased item quality in the shop — more blue, purple, and red items appear. Higher quality items have better stat rolls. Lucky's advantage is economic — better items per gold spent. Stack whatever the premium items offer.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Flaming Brass Knuckles and shop economy creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Whatever high-rarity items the shop provides amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Harvesting (more gold), then whatever stat the best items offer) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
S-Tier: Mage
Mage starts with elemental weapon bonuses. Stack 6 elemental weapons (Lightning Shiv, Wand, Torch) with elemental damage. Elemental damage applies status effects (burn, shock, freeze) that stack devastatingly at high weapon counts.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Laser Gun | A continuous beam weapon that pierces through all enemies in a line. |
| Core Gear | 6x elemental weapons, elemental damage items | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Elemental damage, attack speed, status effect chance | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | character unlocks | 40+ characters unlock through achievements (reach wave 20 with specific conditions). |
How to Play Mage
Equip all elemental weapons and stack elemental damage. Each weapon applies status effects independently, meaning 6 elemental weapons apply 6 simultaneous burn/shock/freeze procs.
Mage starts with elemental weapon bonuses. Stack 6 elemental weapons (Lightning Shiv, Wand, Torch) with elemental damage. Elemental damage applies status effects (burn, shock, freeze) that stack devastatingly at high weapon counts.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Laser Gun and character unlocks creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like 6x elemental weapons, elemental damage items amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Elemental damage, attack speed, status effect chance) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Brawler — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Well Rounded once you understand core mechanics and have access to SMG
- Keep a Crazy setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Mage for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Stack one damage type (ranged, melee, or elemental) with matching weapons. A +300% ranged damage build with 6 ranged weapons vastly outdamages a mixed +100% melee/+100% ranged build.
- Harvesting stat (+gold per kill) should be your first 2-3 purchases. More gold = more shop items = stronger build. The compound effect of early Harvesting investment is enormous.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
