Ultimate All Star Tower Defense X PvP Ranked Arena Guide

PvP in ASTD X (All Star Tower Defense X) is, without a doubt, one of the best strategic gameplay experiences on Roblox. Every game will be a new challenge, and the more you win, the better opponents you'll get. If you want to reach the top of the PvP leaderboard, you'll need to know every mechanic and trick there is. For that reason, we created this ultimate guide to Ranked Arena PvP in All Star Tower Defense X. We'll look at how PvP works, which units are best, all the different mechanics you need to know, little-known gameplay tips, and more.

How Does Arena PvP Work in All Star Tower Defense X?

Arena is a competitive PvP (Player vs Player) mode in All Star Tower Defense X, where you compete against other players in 1v1 and 2v2 game modes. Each side gets its own half of the map, with units spawning on one end and their base on the other. Players place units on their side to defeat enemies, and whoever lasts longer in protecting their base is the winner. PvP has unique game mechanics compared to PvE modes, and we'll explain them one by one in this guide.

How to Play Arena in ASTD X

You access the PvP Arena by clicking on the Arena button at the bottom of the left-side menu while in the main lobby. In the Arena menu, you can see your current Elo and Rank, stats, check basic Arena mode info, access Arena rewards, and queue for games.

What Are the Arena Rewards and How Elo and Rank Work

Each time you win a game of Arena PvP in ASTD X, you'll gain Elo, and the opposite is true if you lose (you won't lose Elo if it's already at 0). As your Elo increases, so will your Rank, and you'll be able to immediately collect better and better rank rewards and get more Seasonal Arena Coins at the end of the season. Here are all the ranks, their rewards, and Elo requirements:

How to Use the Arena Shop

The Arena Shop/Store NPC is next to the PvP Elo Leaderboard, right in the middle of the lobby (spawn). Talk to the NPC to open the Arena Shop. Here, you can buy various items with Arena Coins and Seasonal Arena Coins, including the exclusive Xerxes unit. The best items to buy are Star Scroll (Xerxes), Trait Burners, Luck Boosters, and Summon Tickets.

ASTD X Arena PvP Gameplay Guide - Tips & Tricks

In this section, we'll look at the different phases and mechanics each game of PvP Ranked Arena in All Star Tower Defense X has and what you can exploit to your advantage. Here is the summary of Arena gameplay. In-depth information for each part is further below.

ASTD X Ranked PvP Arena Gameplay Summary

0. Randomized Unit Pool: A randomized pool of units is generated that will be the same for all players. Units that you don't have will be bannable but not pickable. All units will have no traits, maximum level, and maximum stats.
1. Banning Phase: Each player bans 2 units. Generally, it's best to ban units that you don't have, and your opponent might. Check our units tier list to see which units are the strongest.
2. Picking Phase: You can pick up to 6 units for your roster. Generally, it's best to pick 2 support units (Ice Queen, Shirtless Magician, etc.) and 4 DPS units (5★s and 4★ teams).
   • IMPORTANT: Pay mind to the Unit Modifier (+%DMG for units of a certain type) above the unit selection/ban menu. Pick DPS units of that type for the best performance.
3. Ability Card Selection: Reveal the 3 random Ability Cards (same for both players) and pick one. Generally, the best ones are those that slow/push back enemies or stun your opponent's units. You can access the ability by clicking on the Ability Manager (Y) on the right.
4. Gameplay: You place your units on the side of the field that you spawned on. Enemies will be coming from one end and going towards your base. Each wave will have progressively stronger enemies and generate more cash.
5. Spawning Enemies: Click on Spawn Enemies (V) on the right to see the mobs you can spawn for your enemy. Spawning mobs for your enemy costs money and increases your basic income per wave. The enemy will earn extra cash because of the extra enemies, but you will earn more in the long run because of the increased passive income. Tips about this mechanic are further down.

Randomized Unit Pool

At the start of every Ranked PvP Arena game in All Star Tower Defense X, a randomized pool of units is generated, from which all players will ban and pick units. You will be able to ban units you don't have, but you won't be able to pick them. All units will have no traits, maximum level, and maximum stats.

Banning Units & Best Units to Ban

The first part of the draft phase in PvP is banning units. Each player bans 2 units, most preferably the best units that your opponent might have (see our units tier list for all the info). If some units that you don't have are in the pool, they'll be grayed out. Ban them so your opponent can't pick them. Also, pay mind to the Unit Modifier at the top while choosing your bans.

Picking Units & Best Units to Pick

After the ban phase, you'll start the pick phase. You'll get to pick up to 6 units from the pool. Generally, it's best to pick 2 supports (Ice Queen, Shirtless Magician) and 4 DPSs. Here are some tips on picking the best possible squad for Ranked Arena PvP in ASTD X:

• Ice Queen and Shirtless Magician are the 2 best low-rarity supports that are in the pool almost every game.
• Pick DPSs based on the Unit Modifier at the top. If 3★ units have +400% DMG, pick two 3★ teams for the best ratio of DPS/cost; if Green units have +200% DMG, pick them; etc.
• Don't worry about maxing out units, as lower upgrades offer the best DPS/cost ratios.
• 4★ teams are often better than 5★ units, especially if they match the Unit Modifier.

Picking Ability Cards & Best Ability Cards to Pick

After picking units, you'll get to reveal 3 Ability Cards (they are the same for all players). These cards are single-use abilities that you'll be able to activate during the round. The best Ability Cards to pick are Domain (stuns your enemy's units for 8 seconds) and Shambles (sends enemies back 100 studs). Other abilities are fairly mediocre. The best time to use the ability is during waves ~27-30 when the high-HP mob stack reaches your and your enemy's units.

Spawning Enemy Units & Best Enemies to Spawn

Spawning enemies is one of the most crucial mechanics in PvP in All Star Tower Defense X. You can access the menu by clicking on Spawn Enemy (V) on the right. Then, spawn enemies by clicking on the money button below them. Hovering over the spawn will tell you its type, spawn delay time, and passive income increase (purple number; 1/5th of the cost most often). As waves pass, new and better spawns will unlock. You can queue up to 8 spawns at a time, and the income increases take effect immediately. Here are some tips on when to spawn enemies and what kind:

• You'll want to keep spawning enemies almost always. This means you'll want the queue to be filled at all times.
• Before wave 10, just keep spawning the highest-cost enemies available. They'll make it harder for your opponent and bring you optimal income increases.
• After wave 10 you'll have 3 new choices: Rage, Air, and Shielded. Spawn the ones based on your goal:
  • Rage: Low cooldown and good if your opponent has enough Hill units to make Flying not worth it.
  • Air: The best income-generating spawn. Use it the most in the early game for the best economy. Also, if your enemy doesn't have good Hill units, spam these.
  • Shielded: Fairly bad in almost all scenarios. Don't use them.
• Use other spawns based on your budget and what your enemy can't counter. Regeneration if he doesn't have DoT units, Powerful if he is yet to upgrade many units, etc.

ASTD X PvP Arena Gameplay & Unit Placement Tips

Ranked Arena PvP is by far the most strategically challenging mode in All Start Tower Defense X, and there are a few tips that will clutch you wins when games come down to the wire. Here they are:

• When the high-HP mob wave hits at waves 25-30, start moving and upgrading your freeze units, so they are permanently slowing them down. Also, stop using money for spawning enemies and focus on upgrading your DPSs so they can hopefully deal with the wave.
• Space out your freeze units, as CC effects have cooldowns before they can be applied again.
• Try to collect all units in the game to make yourself as competitive as possible.
• Pay very close attention to the Modifier during the pick/ban phase. Picking appropriate units will make the round much easier.
• Don't max upgrade units (unless they benefit from the Modifier), as DPS increase/cost ratios at higher upgrade levels aren't worth it. It's better to place more units and upgrade them all bit by bit.

ASTD X Ranked Arena PvP FAQ

That covers all you need to know to start dominating in the Ranked PvP Arena in the All Star Tower Defense X Roblox experience. If you found this guide helpful and want to learn more about this and other popular experiences, do check out the Roblox section here on Pro Game Guides.