Shakes and Fidget is Playa Games' satirical browser RPG, spun out of the German comic strip of the same name and on Steam since 2016. Combat runs itself: you spend a daily pool of adventure thirst on Tavern quests, pick an opponent in the Arena, and read the fight log afterwards. The depth sits outside the fights, in eleven classes with fixed damage and health multipliers, a Fortress that caps every other building at its own level, and an Underworld that only opens once your Gem Mine passes level 10.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Mage | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Scout | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Berserker | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Paladin | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Shakes and Fidget tier list.
A-Tier: Warrior
Warrior is a top-performing option in Shakes and Fidget.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Weapon | The only slot that carries a damage range rather than an armour value, so it decides more of your output than any other item. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Adventure thirst and quests | Every day refills a pool of adventure thirst measured in minutes, and each Tavern quest spends a slice of it for gold, experience and items. |
How to Play Warrior
Warrior focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Weapon does the damage and Adventure thirst and quests 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: Mage
Mage is a strong option in Shakes and Fidget.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shield | A restricted slot. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Automated combat and class multipliers | You never press an attack button. |
How to Play Mage
Mage focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Shield with Automated combat and class multipliers 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: Scout
Scout is a strong option in Shakes and Fidget.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Breastplate | The chest piece carries the largest armour number of any armour slot, which is why the Weapon Shop price on a good one is always the highest of the set. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Fortress building and raids | The Fortress unlocks at level 25 and its own level, capped at 20, sets the ceiling for every other building. |
How to Play Scout
Scout focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Fortress building and raids covers the gap Breastplate 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: Berserker
Berserker is a specialized option in Shakes and Fidget.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Amulet | Sold at Fidget's Magic Shop rather than the Weapon Shop, alongside rings and talismans. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Gem Mine and the Underworld | The Gem Mine runs to level 100 and digs socket gems plus the dungeon keys for the shadow world. |
How to Play Berserker
Berserker focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Gem Mine and the Underworld rather than raw numbers, and Amulet 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: Paladin
Paladin is a specialized option in Shakes and Fidget.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Talisman | The third Magic Shop accessory. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Scrapbook and Toilet aura | The Scrapbook fills in as you see new items, monsters and portraits, and each entry adds a permanent percentage to your stats. |
How to Play Paladin
Paladin focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Talisman and Scrapbook and Toilet aura 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 Mage: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Warrior once you understand core mechanics and have access to Weapon
- Keep a Scout setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Paladin 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.
- Adventure thirst does not carry over on its own. Build the Time Machine in the Underworld as early as you can, because it is the only building that stores unspent thirst for a day you can actually play.
- The Weapon Shop and Magic Shop both refresh at midnight, and one mushroom rerolls them. Since offer quality scales with your level and your Toilet aura, a reroll early in a new server is far weaker than the same reroll 200 levels later.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Shakes and Fidget Guides
- Shakes and Fidget Shakes and Fidget Overview
- Shakes and Fidget Tier List
- Shakes and Fidget Walkthrough
- Shakes and Fidget Beginner's Guide
- Shakes and Fidget Tips & Tricks
- Shakes and Fidget Weapons Guide
- Shakes and Fidget Combat Guide
- Shakes and Fidget Boss Guide
- Shakes and Fidget Maps & Locations
- Shakes and Fidget Crafting Guide
- Shakes and Fidget Classes & Characters
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