Numantian Games left Early Access on 18 June 2019 with The New Empire, a 48 mission campaign carrying more than 60 hours on top of the existing Survival mode. The custom engine pushes up to 20,000 infected on screen at once, and a single one reaching an unwalled house can end a four hour colony in about 90 seconds. Everything hinges on wall placement, noise discipline and the score factor you set before the map generates.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger | A | Balanced | Wooden Wall | Yes |
| Soldier | A | Balanced | Stone Wall | Yes |
| Sniper | A | Balanced | Great Ballista | Yes |
| Thanatos | A | Balanced | Shocking Tower | Yes |
| Titan | A | Balanced | Executor | Yes |
New player? Start with Soldier. See our beginner's guide for why.
Ranger
Ranger is a strong option in They Are Billions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Wooden Wall |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | One infected can end a run |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Wooden Wall
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in The Deep Forest to learn Ranger-specific mechanics
- Focus on One infected can end a run. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Wooden Wall as your first major upgrade
- See our full Ranger build guide for the optimal gear progression
Soldier
Soldier is a strong option in They Are Billions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Stone Wall |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Noise attracts the horde |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Stone Wall
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in The Deep Forest to learn Soldier-specific mechanics
- Focus on Noise attracts the horde. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Stone Wall as your first major upgrade
- See our full Soldier build guide for the optimal gear progression
Sniper
Sniper is a strong option in They Are Billions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Great Ballista |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Score factor sets difficulty and reward |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Great Ballista
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in The Deep Forest to learn Sniper-specific mechanics
- Focus on Score factor sets difficulty and reward. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Great Ballista as your first major upgrade
- See our full Sniper build guide for the optimal gear progression
Thanatos
Thanatos is a strong option in They Are Billions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Shocking Tower |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Villages of Doom seeded on the map |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Shocking Tower
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in The Deep Forest to learn Thanatos-specific mechanics
- Focus on Villages of Doom seeded on the map. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Shocking Tower as your first major upgrade
- See our full Thanatos build guide for the optimal gear progression
Titan
Titan is a strong option in They Are Billions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Executor |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Tesla Tower energy grid |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Executor
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in The Deep Forest to learn Titan-specific mechanics
- Focus on Tesla Tower energy grid. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Executor as your first major upgrade
- See our full Titan build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Soldier is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Ranger is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Wooden Wall for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Titan offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Thanatos shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More They Are Billions Guides
- They Are Billions They Are Billions Overview
- They Are Billions Best Builds
- They Are Billions Tier List
- They Are Billions Walkthrough
- They Are Billions Beginner's Guide
- They Are Billions Tips & Tricks
- They Are Billions Weapons Guide
- They Are Billions Combat Guide
- They Are Billions Boss Guide
- They Are Billions Maps & Locations
- They Are Billions Crafting Guide
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