POPUCOM is a co-op puzzle platformer from Hypergryph, the studio behind Arknights, published by GRYPHLINE and Fireshine Games on 1 June 2025 at 19.99 dollars. Two players carry a rainbow blaster that fires coloured gum, and nothing pops until three pellets of one colour land together. Each player only controls two of the four colours, so almost every puzzle is a communication problem before it is a platforming one.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow blaster | S | Everything. Enemy clears, switch activation and puzzle setup all run through the same blaster. | The universal tool, firing coloured gum pellets that pop a target once three of one colour line up. |
| Shield | A | Crossing gaps with no platform, and turning an enemy laser into the answer instead of the obstacle. | Deploys as a solid platform and also deflects coloured laser beams back along their path, which makes it two tools sharing one button. |
| Morph ball | A | Opening shortcuts and reaching stickers and Goodiebots hidden behind breakable panels. | Compresses your character into a rolling form that breaks through weak walls and fits through openings a standing character cannot use. |
| Drone arm | B | Split rooms where a key object sits on the far side of a colour gate you do not own. | Grabs and retrieves objects at range, letting one player fetch something the other physically cannot reach. |
| Swap gun | B | Crossing hazards with no floor, and repositioning puzzle blocks without carrying them. | Teleports your character and a targeted object into each other's positions rather than pulling the object toward you. |
S-Tier: Rainbow blaster
The universal tool, firing coloured gum pellets that pop a target once three of one colour line up. Each player carries only two of the four colours it can produce.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Everything. Enemy clears, switch activation and puzzle setup all run through the same blaster. |
| Key Mechanic | Colour matched shooting |
| Recommended Build | Setup shooter |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Rainbow blaster: Pairs naturally with Setup shooter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Shield
Deploys as a solid platform and also deflects coloured laser beams back along their path, which makes it two tools sharing one button.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Crossing gaps with no platform, and turning an enemy laser into the answer instead of the obstacle. |
| Key Mechanic | Two colours per player |
| Recommended Build | Match closer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Shield: Pairs naturally with Match closer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Morph ball
Compresses your character into a rolling form that breaks through weak walls and fits through openings a standing character cannot use.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Opening shortcuts and reaching stickers and Goodiebots hidden behind breakable panels. |
| Key Mechanic | Colour gated obstacles |
| Recommended Build | Platform layer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Morph ball: Pairs naturally with Platform layer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Drone arm
Grabs and retrieves objects at range, letting one player fetch something the other physically cannot reach.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Split rooms where a key object sits on the far side of a colour gate you do not own. |
| Key Mechanic | Gadget tools |
| Recommended Build | Route caller |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Drone arm: Pairs naturally with Route caller thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Swap gun
Teleports your character and a targeted object into each other's positions rather than pulling the object toward you.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Crossing hazards with no floor, and repositioning puzzle blocks without carrying them. |
| Key Mechanic | Goodiebot rescues |
| Recommended Build | Collectible sweeper |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Swap gun: Pairs naturally with Collectible sweeper thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Anti-Pomu War HQ
- Shield → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Morph ball → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Rainbow blaster → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Neither player can finish most matches alone because each owns only two of the four colours. The efficient pattern is one player laying two pellets of a colour they control and calling the third, rather than both firing at once and wasting gum.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More POPUCOM Guides
- POPUCOM POPUCOM Overview
- POPUCOM Best Builds
- POPUCOM Tier List
- POPUCOM Walkthrough
- POPUCOM Beginner's Guide
- POPUCOM Tips & Tricks
- POPUCOM Combat Guide
- POPUCOM Boss Guide
- POPUCOM Maps & Locations
- POPUCOM Crafting Guide
- POPUCOM Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy POPUCOM, check out these related guides:
- Escape Simulator Weapons Guide: puzzle game with similar mechanics
- Pico Park Weapons Guide: puzzle game with similar mechanics
- Portal Weapons Guide: puzzle game with similar mechanics
