Pummel Party is Rebuilt Games' board game brawler, out since 20 September 2018 and playable by 1 to 8 people online, in local split screen, or against bots. Board turns decide who reaches the goblet, and the minigames between rounds decide who can afford the items that wreck someone else's turn. Steam Workshop support means the map and minigame list keeps growing past the official set of boards.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage items | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Movement items | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Position swap items | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Defensive items | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Board control items | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Pummel Party tier list.
A-Tier: Damage items
Damage items is a top-performing option in Pummel Party.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Boxing Glove | The basic close-range attack item and one of the first most players use. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | One item per turn | You may use one item per round, only during your own turn, and only before you roll. |
How to Play Damage items
Damage items focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Boxing Glove does the damage and One item per turn 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: Movement items
Movement items is a strong option in Pummel Party.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Shotgun | The ranged damage option, useful when the player you want to hit is nowhere near you. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Goblet objective | A streak of light points toward the current goblet, and collecting goblets is the main win condition. |
How to Play Movement items
Movement items focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Shotgun with Goblet objective 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: Position swap items
Position swap items is a strong option in Pummel Party.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Eggplant | The Remote Controlled Eggplant is the item the Steam page itself uses as the example of the game's absurd arsenal. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Thirty starting health | Players start with 30 health, and items deal different amounts against that pool. |
How to Play Position swap items
Position swap items focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Thirty starting health covers the gap Eggplant 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: Defensive items
Defensive items is a specialized option in Pummel Party.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Wrecking Ball | A heavy area item rather than a precise one. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Minigames between rounds | Rounds break for minigames such as Snowy Spin, Sandy Search, and Explosive Exchange, which pay out the money that buys items. |
How to Play Defensive items
Defensive items focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Minigames between rounds rather than raw numbers, and Wrecking Ball 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: Board control items
Board control items is a specialized option in Pummel Party.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Dark Summoning Staff | One of the stranger items in the pool and a favorite for board chaos. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Steam Workshop maps and minigames | The game shipped a level editor and Workshop support, and community collections of vetted maps and minigames are widely shared. |
How to Play Board control items
Board control items focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Dark Summoning Staff and Steam Workshop maps and minigames 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 Movement items: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Damage items once you understand core mechanics and have access to Boxing Glove
- Keep a Position swap items setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Board control items 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.
- Items can only be used on your own turn and only before you roll, so a saved item does nothing if you forget the window. Decide before your turn starts, not after you see the roll.
- The streak of light points at the current goblet, which is the main scoring objective. Deviating from it makes sense when NPCs or players are camped on the route, and rarely otherwise.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Pummel Party Guides
- Pummel Party Pummel Party Overview
- Pummel Party Tier List
- Pummel Party Walkthrough
- Pummel Party Beginner's Guide
- Pummel Party Tips & Tricks
- Pummel Party Weapons Guide
- Pummel Party Combat Guide
- Pummel Party Boss Guide
- Pummel Party Maps & Locations
- Pummel Party Crafting Guide
- Pummel Party Classes & Characters
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