Fast answer
The answer before the background
The current Axon TD Uprising tower roster contains 40 towers and traps, with three possible upgrades that add or change effects, plus 10 castable abilities. A useful database must pair each defense with its damage job, control or support effect, range shape, Credit and Power cost, upgrade, Tech interaction, mode and patch. It must also record the 35+ Axon enemy types and their abilities. Version 1.2.3 changed support-enemy target priority and multiple defenses, while 1.2.4 fixed Electron Launcher and Radiation Vent interactions, so role and version are more reliable than an undated DPS list.
Defense schema
Record fields that explain a placement
| Field | Question answered | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Single target, area, control, support, economy or utility? | Prevents comparing unlike defenses by one damage number. |
| Range and path coverage | How many firing windows can the maze create? | Map manipulation changes effective output. |
| Three upgrades | Which effect or job changes? | Upgrade choice can turn one base defense into different answers. |
| Credits and Power | What is the full opportunity cost? | A strong result may delay path, Tech or another counter. |
| Mode and patch | Campaign, Quickplay, Survival, co-op or PvP? | Mode bonuses and 1.2.x balance differ. |
Current names
Use official patch examples without inventing a tier
Recent official notes name Artillery, Drilling Laser, Duplicator, Plasmathrower, Siphon Cannon, Electron Launcher, Radiation Vent, Gravity Field, Network Tower and Command Link. They also document changes to damage, upgrade cost, range, targeting, checkpoint behavior and interactions. Those names establish live database entities but not a universal ranking.
Version 1.2.3 strengthened every single-target defense by 20% in Survival and co-op Survival. It also changed several individual values. Therefore, store base values, mode modifiers and upgrades in separate fields; never copy the Survival result into Campaign or a pre-1.2 guide.
Enemy schema
Counter abilities before health
- Mass Cloaker can disrupt priority targeting and is first in the documented support-target order.
- Purger, Architect, Mass Teleporter, Lifter, Carrier, Replicator, Supply Tank, Disruptor and Protector follow in the updated order.
- Record speed, armor, shield, cloak, teleport, spawn, lift, repair or support behavior separately from health.
- Mark whether a tower's effect actually stops the ability; do not infer a counter from its name.
Placement test
Turn the database into a decision
When a wave fails, note the first leaking enemy, the support unit protecting it, the path segment and which defense had unused or blocked coverage. Filter the database for the missing job, then change one tower or upgrade. Keep the same route and Tech for the comparison.
For a new map, start with one defense from each required role rather than the highest historical rating. The best-towers page explains the controlled test, while the resource guide records Credits and Power so a seemingly strong placement is not judged without its cost.
FAQ
Common questions
How many defenses are officially advertised?
The Steam page lists 40 towers and traps and 10 castable abilities.
How many upgrades does a tower have?
The official description says three possible upgrades that add new effects or change existing ones.
Why not publish one damage ranking?
Path coverage, upgrades, Tech, costs, enemy abilities, mode bonuses and patches change effective value.
Which support enemy should be prioritized first?
Version 1.2.3 placed Mass Cloaker first in the documented default support-target priority, followed by other named support units.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialOfficial Steam tower and enemy counts
- OfficialOfficial 1.2.x tower and targeting notes
- OfficialOfficial map editor and Workshop
- CommunityOfficial Steam Community questions