Chillquarium is a one man idle aquarium from Ben Reber, released 6 September 2023 and usually priced under six dollars. You buy booster packs of fish, drop them in a tank, and they grow on a wall clock whether the game is running or not. Grown fish either get sold for a lump sum or kept so they pay daily ticket money forever. There are 156 species across six packs, and each one can roll Painted, Golden or Rainbow colour variants behind long odds. Steam sits near 93 percent positive across more than 5,000 reviews, which tells you this is a screensaver you occasionally click rather than a game with a fail state.
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. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Rare | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Epic | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Legendary | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Mythic | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Chillquarium tier list.
A-Tier: Common
Common is a top-performing option in Chillquarium.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Freshwater Friends pack | The 10 dollar starter pack and the only one you can afford in the first minutes. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Real time fish growth | Fish grow against the system clock, not against play time, so a tank left alone overnight is further along than a tank you watched for an hour. |
How to Play Common
Common focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Freshwater Friends pack does the damage and Real time fish growth keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Rare
Rare is a strong option in Chillquarium.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Rivers and Ponds pack | The second freshwater pack at 1,000 dollars per open. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Booster pack odds | Six packs gate the entire economy behind money. |
How to Play Rare
Rare focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Rivers and Ponds pack with Booster pack odds and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Epic
Epic is a strong option in Chillquarium.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Reef Fellas pack | The first saltwater pack at 200,000 dollars. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Painted, Golden and Rainbow variants | Colour variants stack on top of rarity. |
How to Play Epic
Epic focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Painted, Golden and Rainbow variants covers the gap Reef Fellas pack leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Legendary
Legendary is a specialized option in Chillquarium.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Marine Dwellers pack | A 50 million dollar saltwater pack whose fish carry a much higher base daily income. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Ticket income versus selling | Every fish is either stock or income. |
How to Play Legendary
Legendary focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Ticket income versus selling rather than raw numbers, and Marine Dwellers pack is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Mythic
Mythic is a specialized option in Chillquarium.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Giants pack | The 15 billion dollar top tier pack and the effective end of the money curve. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Tank capacity upgrades | The starter freshwater tank holds 50 fish, upgrades to 80 for 100 dollars and to 100 for 200 dollars. |
How to Play Mythic
Mythic focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Giants pack and Tank capacity upgrades pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Rare: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Common once you understand core mechanics and have access to Freshwater Friends pack
- Keep a Epic setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Mythic for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Buy both freshwater tank upgrades before your first Rivers and Ponds pack. 300 dollars total buys 50 extra slots, and slots are the bottleneck for the whole early game.
- The game credits growth from the system clock, so quitting and coming back tomorrow is mechanically identical to leaving it running. There is no benefit to keeping it open.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Chillquarium Guides
- Chillquarium Chillquarium Overview
- Chillquarium Tier List
- Chillquarium Walkthrough
- Chillquarium Beginner's Guide
- Chillquarium Tips & Tricks
- Chillquarium Weapons Guide
- Chillquarium Combat Guide
- Chillquarium Boss Guide
- Chillquarium Maps & Locations
- Chillquarium Crafting Guide
- Chillquarium Classes & Characters
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