Undertale is Toby Fox's 2015 role playing game about a child who falls into the Underground and has to find a way out. Its hook is that every encounter can be ended without killing: you dodge patterned attacks inside a small box, then use ACT and MERCY instead of FIGHT. A single run takes roughly six to seven hours, and the game quietly records what you chose to do along the way.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral Route | A | Balanced | Best available |
| True Pacifist Route | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Genocide Route | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Hard Mode | A | Balanced | Best available |
| No Hit Challenge Run | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Undertale tier list.
A-Tier: Neutral Route
Neutral Route is a top-performing option in Undertale.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Stick | The starting weapon at 0 attack, found in the Ruins. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Bullet dodging in the SOUL box | On an enemy turn your SOUL becomes a small red heart inside a rectangular box and you dodge projectile patterns with the arrow keys. |
How to Play Neutral Route
Neutral Route focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Stick does the damage and Bullet dodging in the SOUL box 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: True Pacifist Route
True Pacifist Route is a strong option in Undertale.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Toy Knife | 3 attack, found in the Ruins. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | FIGHT, ACT, ITEM and MERCY | FIGHT uses a timed bar where stopping the cursor dead centre deals maximum damage. |
How to Play True Pacifist Route
True Pacifist Route focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Toy Knife with FIGHT, ACT, ITEM and MERCY 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: Genocide Route
Genocide Route is a strong option in Undertale.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Worn Dagger | 15 attack, found in New Home near the end of the game alongside the Heart Locket. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | LOVE, EXP and LV | EXP stands for Execution Points and LV stands for LOVE, and both rise only when you kill. |
How to Play Genocide Route
Genocide Route focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: LOVE, EXP and LV covers the gap Worn Dagger 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: Hard Mode
Hard Mode is a specialized option in Undertale.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Burnt Pan | 10 attack, found in Hotland. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Coloured SOUL modes | Several bosses recolour your SOUL and change the rules entirely. |
How to Play Hard Mode
Hard Mode focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Coloured SOUL modes rather than raw numbers, and Burnt Pan 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: No Hit Challenge Run
No Hit Challenge Run is a specialized option in Undertale.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Real Knife | 99 attack, and it only exists on the Genocide route. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Route tracking across a whole run | The game counts kills, spares, deaths and dialogue choices, and it holds those counts across saves. |
How to Play No Hit Challenge Run
No Hit Challenge Run focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Real Knife and Route tracking across a whole run 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 True Pacifist Route: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Neutral Route once you understand core mechanics and have access to Stick
- Keep a Genocide Route setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try No Hit Challenge Run 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.
- Use Check on every new enemy before anything else. The flavour text points at the ACT option that will spare it, and it costs one turn you were going to spend dodging anyway.
- Toriel's phone number is not decoration. Calling her from different rooms produces different lines, and in the Ruins the phone is part of how the area is meant to be played rather than an optional extra.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Undertale Guides
- Undertale Undertale Overview
- Undertale Tier List
- Undertale Walkthrough
- Undertale Beginner's Guide
- Undertale Tips & Tricks
- Undertale Weapons Guide
- Undertale Combat Guide
- Undertale Boss Guide
- Undertale Maps & Locations
- Undertale Crafting Guide
- Undertale Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Undertale, check out these related guides:
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- Baldur's Gate 3 Builds: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Builds: rpg game with similar mechanics
