DDraceNetwork is a free, open source cooperative 2D precision platformer built on the Teeworlds engine, and it arrived on Steam on 17 August 2020. Up to 64 players share one server and drag each other through thousands of community maps using a grappling hook and a hammer. Official servers run across 14 countries, and every finish feeds a single global points table holding over 33,000 points.
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
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice runner | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Rank chaser | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Team carry | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Dummy solo player | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Map maker | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our DDraceNetwork tier list.
A-Tier: Novice runner
Novice runner is a top-performing option in DDraceNetwork.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Hook | Always available, reaches about 11 blocks, and pulls you toward hookable tiles at up to roughly 20 blocks per second. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Grappling hook movement | The hook reaches roughly 11 blocks and accelerates you toward whatever it grabs until you hit the cap of about 20 blocks per second. |
How to Play Novice runner
Novice runner focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Hook does the damage and Grappling hook movement keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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: Rank chaser
Rank chaser is a strong option in DDraceNetwork.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Hammer | The only melee tool and the one you press most often. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Freeze and deep freeze tiles | A freeze tile disables movement keys, jumping, the hook and every weapon for a few seconds. |
How to Play Rank chaser
Rank chaser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Hammer with Freeze and deep freeze tiles and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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: Team carry
Team carry is a strong option in DDraceNetwork.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Shotgun | Fires a straight beam that pulls any tee it strikes toward the beam, including your own. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Hammer unfreezing | The hammer is short ranged melee that instantly releases any tee it touches from freeze. |
How to Play Team carry
Team carry focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Hammer unfreezing covers the gap Shotgun leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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: Dummy solo player
Dummy solo player is a specialized option in DDraceNetwork.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Grenade launcher | Lobs a projectile whose explosion pushes tees outward. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Team system with save codes | Typing /team followed by a number drops you into a private team where every member has to reach the finish together. |
How to Play Dummy solo player
Dummy solo player focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Team system with save codes rather than raw numbers, and Grenade launcher is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Map maker
Map maker is a specialized option in DDraceNetwork.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Laser rifle | An automatic weapon whose beam bounces off walls until it hits a tee or runs out of range, and any tee it touches is unfrozen immediately. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Points scaled by map difficulty | Points depend on the server category plus the map star rating. |
How to Play Map maker
Map maker focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Laser rifle and Points scaled by map difficulty pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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 Rank chaser: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Novice runner once you understand core mechanics and have access to Hook
- Keep a Team carry setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Map maker 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 weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Bind the dummy toggle to a single key before doing anything else. Almost every solo technique, from deepfly to dummy hammer parts, assumes you can swap control between two tees without pausing to open a menu.
- Learn the /r rescue command on your first evening. It teleports you back out of freeze to the last safe position, which turns a dead run into a five second setback rather than a restart from the start line.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More DDraceNetwork Guides
- DDraceNetwork DDraceNetwork Overview
- DDraceNetwork Tier List
- DDraceNetwork Walkthrough
- DDraceNetwork Beginner's Guide
- DDraceNetwork Tips & Tricks
- DDraceNetwork Weapons Guide
- DDraceNetwork Combat Guide
- DDraceNetwork Boss Guide
- DDraceNetwork Maps & Locations
- DDraceNetwork Crafting Guide
- DDraceNetwork Classes & Characters
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