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.
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.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zan | S | Open engagements by blasting groups toward windows, reposition for follow-up knockbacks. | Shotgun Spell (upgraded for wider spread), Breach Charge, Movement upgrade |
| Jen | S | Connect combos by pushing/pulling enemies into other characters' knockback zones or directly into windows. | Psychic Push (upgraded range), Psychic Pull, Telekinetic Shield |
| Dessa | A | Stun and damage enemy clusters, prevent dangerous enemy abilities with stun, support knockback combos with positioning. | Lightning Bolt (chain upgrade), Storm Cloud, Stun enhancement |
| Sterling | A | Position defensively to protect allies, use overwatch Shield Bash to knock enemies toward windows on their own turn. | Shield Bash (overwatch), Guard ability, Defensive stance upgrade |
| Lucille | A | Mark distant enemies from safety, combine curse damage with knockback kills, handle enemies outside knockback range. | Sniper Curse (range upgrade), Hex Mark, Long-range enhancement |
S-Tier: Zan
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.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shotgun Spell | Zan's primary ability — fires a cone of force that knocks back all enemies in a wide arc. |
| Core Gear | Shotgun Spell (upgraded for wider spread), Breach Charge, Movement upgrade | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Knockback range, AoE width, movement range | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | turn-based tactics | Each mission is a single room with enemies, windows, and environmental objects. |
How to Play Zan
Open engagements by blasting groups toward windows, reposition for follow-up knockbacks.
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.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Shotgun Spell and turn-based tactics creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Shotgun Spell (upgraded for wider spread), Breach Charge, Movement upgrade amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Knockback range, AoE width, movement range) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Jen
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.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Psychic Push | Jen's single-target push that sends one enemy in a straight line. |
| Core Gear | Psychic Push (upgraded range), Psychic Pull, Telekinetic Shield | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Ability range, push distance, action count | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | 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. |
How to Play Jen
Connect combos by pushing/pulling enemies into other characters' knockback zones or directly into windows.
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.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Psychic Push and spell combos creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Psychic Push (upgraded range), Psychic Pull, Telekinetic Shield amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Ability range, push distance, action count) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Dessa
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.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Lightning Bolt | Dessa's chain lightning that arcs between enemies within 2 tiles of each other. |
| Core Gear | Lightning Bolt (chain upgrade), Storm Cloud, Stun enhancement | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Chain damage, stun duration, AoE range | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | window defenestration | Throwing enemies out of windows is the game's signature mechanic and always kills regardless of remaining HP. |
How to Play Dessa
Stun and damage enemy clusters, prevent dangerous enemy abilities with stun, support knockback combos with positioning.
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.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Lightning Bolt and window defenestration creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Lightning Bolt (chain upgrade), Storm Cloud, Stun enhancement amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Chain damage, stun duration, AoE range) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Sterling
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.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shield Bash | Sterling's overwatch ability that triggers when an enemy enters his range or attacks an ally he's protecting. |
| Core Gear | Shield Bash (overwatch), Guard ability, Defensive stance upgrade | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Overwatch range, knockback distance, HP | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | confidence system | Confidence points let you undo any action — move, ability use, or even end-of-turn decisions. |
How to Play Sterling
Position defensively to protect allies, use overwatch Shield Bash to knock enemies toward windows on their own turn.
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.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Shield Bash and confidence system creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Shield Bash (overwatch), Guard ability, Defensive stance upgrade amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Overwatch range, knockback distance, HP) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Lucille
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.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Sniper Curse | Lucille's long-range targeted curse that deals delayed damage. |
| Core Gear | Sniper Curse (range upgrade), Hex Mark, Long-range enhancement | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Range, curse damage, mark duration | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | overwatch abilities | Some characters have abilities that trigger during the enemy turn. |
How to Play Lucille
Mark distant enemies from safety, combine curse damage with knockback kills, handle enemies outside knockback range.
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.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Sniper Curse and overwatch abilities creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Sniper Curse (range upgrade), Hex Mark, Long-range enhancement amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Range, curse damage, mark duration) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Jen — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Zan once you understand core mechanics and have access to Shotgun Spell
- Keep a Dessa setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Lucille for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- 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.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
