Tactical Breach Wizards is a turn-based tactics game from Suspicious Developments (the Heat Signature developer) where modern-day wizards breach buildings and throw enemies out of windows. Every mission is a puzzle where you position your squad to chain knockbacks, exploit environmental kills, and defenestrate as many enemies as possible. The Confidence system lets you undo any move, encouraging experimentation without punishment. With sharp writing, a noir detective story, and mechanics designed around creative violence through window-based kills, TBW is one of the tightest tactical experiences in recent years.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
turn-based tactics
Each mission is a single room with enemies, windows, and environmental objects. Your squad of 3-4 characters takes turns using abilities that deal damage, move enemies (knockback), and reposition allies. Enemies act on their turn with telegraphed attacks. The goal is to neutralize all enemies while minimizing damage taken. Missions typically take 5-15 minutes.
spell combos
Characters' abilities combo together — Zan's Shotgun Spell knocks enemies backward, which can push them into Jen's Psychic Push range, which sends them through a window. Chaining knockbacks through multiple enemies into windows is the core puzzle. Some combos move an enemy through 3+ characters' abilities before the killing window toss.
window defenestration
Throwing enemies out of windows is the game's signature mechanic and always kills regardless of remaining HP. Windows are positioned throughout each room, and knockback abilities push enemies toward (or away from) them. The optimal solution for every room maximizes window kills. Enemies near windows are priorities since one knockback solves them.
confidence system
Confidence points let you undo any action — move, ability use, or even end-of-turn decisions. This eliminates save-scumming by building retries into the core mechanic. Each successful mission earns Confidence based on performance. The system encourages experimentation: try a wild combo, and if it fails, undo and try something else.
overwatch abilities
Some characters have abilities that trigger during the enemy turn. Sterling's Shield Bash activates when an ally is attacked, redirecting the hit. Overwatch abilities create reactive defense that protects your fragile characters. Positioning overwatch characters correctly prevents enemy damage entirely.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zan | S | Open engagements by blasting groups toward windows, reposition for follow-up knockbacks. | Knockback range, AoE width, movement range |
| Jen | S | Connect combos by pushing/pulling enemies into other characters' knockback zones or directly into windows. | Ability range, push distance, action count |
| Dessa | A | Stun and damage enemy clusters, prevent dangerous enemy abilities with stun, support knockback combos with positioning. | Chain damage, stun duration, AoE range |
| Sterling | A | Position defensively to protect allies, use overwatch Shield Bash to knock enemies toward windows on their own turn. | Overwatch range, knockback distance, HP |
| Lucille | A | Mark distant enemies from safety, combine curse damage with knockback kills, handle enemies outside knockback range. | Range, curse damage, mark duration |
Zan (S-Tier): The protagonist — a breach mage with a Shotgun Spell that fires a wide knockback blast. Zan's abilities specialize in pushing multiple enemies simultaneously, setting up chain knockbacks. Her Shotgun Spell can push 2-3 enemies at once if lined up correctly. The strongest initiator for window combos.
Jen (S-Tier): A psychic with targeted Push and Pull abilities. Jen can reposition any single enemy or ally precisely, making her the combo connector between other characters' knockbacks. Pull enemy toward a window, then Push to finish. Her flexibility makes her essential for complex multi-step combos.
Dessa (A-Tier): A lightning mage whose Lightning Bolt chains between enemies standing near each other. Dessa handles clustered enemies that Zan and Jen can't reach with knockbacks. Her chain lightning also stuns, preventing enemy attacks on their turn. Best against rooms with grouped enemies.
Sterling (A-Tier): The tank with Shield Bash (overwatch knockback) and defensive abilities. Sterling protects fragile allies by intercepting enemy attacks during the enemy turn. His Shield Bash triggers on enemy movement, creating reactive knockback opportunities. Position Sterling between enemies and your squishy characters.
Lucille (A-Tier): A sniper-curse mage with long-range targeted abilities. Lucille's Sniper Curse marks enemies, dealing delayed damage. Her range lets her cover positions other characters can't reach. The curse triggers at turn end, so marked enemies can still be knockbacked into windows before the curse procs.
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our Tactical Breach Wizards builds guide.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun Spell | Zan's primary ability — fires a cone of force that knocks back all enemies in a wide arc. | Zan exclusively — the primary combo initiator |
| Psychic Push | Jen's single-target push that sends one enemy in a straight line. | Jen exclusively — the precision combo connector |
| Lightning Bolt | Dessa's chain lightning that arcs between enemies within 2 tiles of each other. | Dessa exclusively — AoE damage and crowd control |
| Shield Bash | Sterling's overwatch ability that triggers when an enemy enters his range or attacks an ally he's protecting. | Sterling exclusively — reactive defense and overwatch kills |
| Sniper Curse | Lucille's long-range targeted curse that deals delayed damage. | Lucille exclusively — long-range targeted damage and insurance kills |
Shotgun Spell: Zan's primary ability — fires a cone of force that knocks back all enemies in a wide arc. Upgraded versions increase cone width and knockback distance. The Shotgun Spell can push 3 enemies simultaneously toward windows. Positioning Zan for maximum enemy coverage is the key puzzle in most rooms.
Psychic Push: Jen's single-target push that sends one enemy in a straight line. The push distance is fixed, so positioning Jen at the right angle relative to a window is critical. Psychic Push combos with Zan's knockback — Zan clusters enemies, Jen pushes the survivor into a window.
Lightning Bolt: Dessa's chain lightning that arcs between enemies within 2 tiles of each other. Deals damage and stuns. Stunning key enemies prevents their actions on the enemy turn, giving you an extra free turn effectively. The chain can hit 4-5 enemies if they're clustered.
Shield Bash: Sterling's overwatch ability that triggers when an enemy enters his range or attacks an ally he's protecting. The bash knocks the enemy backward — potentially into a window. Overwatch knockbacks happen on the enemy turn, creating 'free' window kills without spending your turn.
Sniper Curse: Lucille's long-range targeted curse that deals delayed damage. The curse activates at the end of the round, so cursed enemies can still be killed by window knockback before it triggers. Use it to handle enemies beyond knockback range or as insurance damage on tough targets.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Apartments | Chapter 1 (tutorial) | Core mechanic understanding, first character unlocks |
| Office Building | Chapter 2-3 | New character abilities, combo complexity increase, story progression |
| Embassy | Chapter 3-4 | Story revelations, advanced ability upgrades, complex puzzle rooms |
| Warehouse | Chapter 4-5 | Environmental combo opportunities, large-scale tactical puzzles |
| Penthouse | Final chapter | Story conclusion, ultimate tactical challenges, endgame ability combinations |
Apartments: The tutorial missions set in residential apartments with simple room layouts and 2-3 enemies. Windows are obvious and enemies are positioned for straightforward knockback chains. These missions teach core mechanics without overwhelming complexity.
Office Building: Mid-game missions in corporate offices with more enemies and complex room layouts. Cubicle walls create obstacles for knockback paths, and enemies start in positions that require creative combo routing. Multiple windows per room offer various kill angles.
Embassy: Story-critical missions with diplomatic intrigue. Embassy rooms feature reinforced walls (some windows are blocked), VIP enemies that must be defeated in specific ways, and environmental hazards. These missions introduce the hardest puzzle elements.
Warehouse: Large open rooms with distant enemies and limited cover. Warehouse missions test your ability to close distance and chain long knockback sequences. Explosive barrels add environmental combo opportunities — knock enemies into barrels for chain reaction kills.
Penthouse: The final story missions with the most complex room layouts, the most enemies, and the hardest combat puzzles. Penthouse rooms have multi-level layouts with windows on different floors. The climactic encounters require mastery of every character's abilities.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Throwing enemies out windows is always the optimal play — window kills bypass all HP and armor, so prioritize knockback positioning over raw damage every turn.
- Confidence points let you undo any move freely, so experiment with wild combos. Try pushing an enemy through three characters' knockback zones to reach a distant window — if it fails, undo and try another angle.
- Chain knockbacks through multiple enemies — Zan's Shotgun Spell pushes enemy A into enemy B, both fly toward Jen's position, Jen Pushes them both toward a window. Multi-enemy chains are the most satisfying plays.
- Overwatch abilities (Sterling's Shield Bash) trigger on the enemy turn, creating 'free' knockback opportunities. Position Sterling so enemy movement carries them toward windows when they approach.
- Every mission has a bonus objective for extra Confidence and upgrades. Bonus objectives usually require specific kill methods (all enemies must die to windows, no damage taken, etc.). Complete them on replay for maximum upgrades.
- Enemy attack telegraphs show which squares they'll target on their turn. Use this information to move your characters out of danger zones and position enemies INTO each other's attack zones for friendly fire.
- Dessa's stun prevents enemy actions entirely — stun the most dangerous enemy first, then handle the rest at your leisure. Stun is the best defensive tool against enemies with powerful abilities.
- Room layouts are fixed per mission, so failed attempts teach you the puzzle. Use early attempts to scout enemy positions and ability types, then retry with optimal opening moves.
- Upgrade character abilities that increase knockback distance and AoE width — these directly enable more window kills, which is the primary win condition. Damage upgrades are secondary to positioning upgrades.
- The story is excellent — pay attention to dialogue between missions. The noir detective plot with wizard workplace humor rewards engaged players with one of the best-written indie game narratives.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to kill enemies with raw damage instead of window knockbacks — window kills are always more efficient. If you're spending 3 turns dealing damage, you could spend 1 turn positioning a knockback kill.
- Not using Confidence to undo mistakes — the system exists specifically to encourage experimentation. Players who never undo are playing suboptimally by not exploring creative combo possibilities.
- Ignoring overwatch ability positioning — Sterling's Shield Bash on overwatch creates free knockbacks during the enemy turn. Not positioning overwatch correctly wastes half of Sterling's potential.
- Forgetting bonus objectives on first playthrough — bonus objectives provide Confidence and upgrades that make later missions easier. At least attempt them before moving on.
- Neglecting Dessa's stun utility — players focus on knockback kills and forget that stunning the most dangerous enemy prevents all their damage, buying time for complex combos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Tactical Breach Wizards?
The main campaign takes 10-15 hours. Replaying missions for bonus objectives and higher performance ratings adds another 5-10 hours. The game is designed for tight, focused sessions rather than open-ended replayability.
Is Tactical Breach Wizards like XCOM?
The turn-based tactics structure is similar, but TBW is deterministic (no hit percentages or RNG) and puzzle-focused. Every ability hits guaranteed — the challenge is positioning for window kills, not managing probability. It's closer to Into the Breach than XCOM.
Can you play TBW co-op?
No. Tactical Breach Wizards is single-player only. The puzzle nature of each room means it's designed for one person to plan and execute the solution.
What is the Confidence system?
Confidence points let you undo any action during your turn — moves, attacks, ability uses, even end-of-turn. This removes frustration from experimentation and encourages trying creative combos without fear of wasting resources. You earn more Confidence by completing missions well.
What to Read Next
- Best Tactical Breach Wizards Builds — Detailed breakdowns with gear, stats, and playstyle guides
- Tactical Breach Wizards Tier List — Current meta rankings
- Tactical Breach Wizards Walkthrough — Step-by-step progression from start to endgame
- Tactical Breach Wizards Beginner's Guide — First session essentials
- Tactical Breach Wizards Tips & Tricks — Advanced strategies and hidden mechanics
