Tips & Advanced Strategies
The finer points of How Many Dudes strategy -- from positioning tricks to Relic Pool mastery.
Official Top 10 Newbie Tips
Butterscotch Shenanigans' official beginner tips for new players:
Every Dude is Strong
There are no weak Dudes, only Dudes that are being ignored. Every Dude has a role in at least one synergy composition.
Not Sure? Click It!
Every UI element in the game can be clicked for more details. Tooltips explain everything from Dude abilities to Relic interactions.
Hold the Juice!
Conserve Dude Juice to save money for interest. Spending everything on Juice early can cripple your economy.
Don't Fear the Tier
Higher Challenge Tier rewards backfill lower Tiers. There is no penalty for trying a higher difficulty.
Maximize Your Dudeconomy
Business Dude compound interest is the most powerful economic tool. Treat runs like an investment sim.
Be Brave. Try Weird Stuff!
Unusual Dude combinations can create unexpected synergies. Experimentation is rewarded.
Plan for the Big Bosses
Each Act Boss has unique mechanics. Build your team with boss fights in mind.
Synergize Around Stats
Understand each Dude's stat priorities. Build around their strengths rather than forcing a role.
Understand the Relic Pool
Control which Relics appear by choosing your Dude Families and using Pre-Posted Flyers strategically.
Save Yourself!
Keep Cheat Death Relics and survival tools. Preventing a key Dude from being Knocked Out is worth more than marginal damage.
Economy Management
Business Dude Compound Interest
Business Dude doubles your cash across three investment rounds ($1K to $2K to $4K to $8K). Skimp early on Relics and consumables when you can survive without them. A late-game cash mountain buys nearly every shop Relic.
When to Save vs. Spend
- Save 200-300 Gold before wave 10 for unexpected Relic opportunities
- Prioritize Relic purchases over Dude upgrades early
- Spend aggressively between waves 20-40 when synergy comes online
- Never empty your purse -- keep 100 Gold minimum for Wandering Dude events
Workin' Dude Timing
Recruit Workin' Dude by wave 3-5. Build 1-2 more Employed Dudes by wave 10. By wave 15, your economy should generate 1.5-2x normal Gold income.
Positioning Mastery
Frontline Placement Rules
The leftmost Dudes on your roster take enemy aggro first:
- Knights always go left -- their taunt and temporary HP absorb focused fire
- Glass cannons always go right -- keep Wizard, Ninja, and other high-DPS Dudes as far right as possible
- Medics and Clerics in slots 3-4 -- middle positioning lets them heal everyone without taking front-line aggro
Wave 50+ Positioning Adjustments
- Stagger your tanks -- place tanks in slots 1, 3, 5 instead of consecutive slots 1-2
- Move glass cannons to slot 4 for maximum protection
- Save one flex slot for emergency repositioning when a tank goes down
Synergy Reading
Reading the Draft
- Count family representation -- if 5 of your first 10 Dudes are Undead, go Undead
- Check for key pairs: Wizard + Cleric, Zombie + Necromancer, Hacker + Medic
- Watch for Wandering Dude themes -- if they consistently skew toward one family, lean into it
- Do not force a losing draft -- pivot to the least-bad option
Pivot Indicators
- 3+ waves with no Dudes from your target family appearing
- A Relic appears that works better with a different family combination
- Your current build is failing wave 20 consistently
Boss Preparation
Tier 1 Boss (Wave ~20)
- At least 2 Dudes from your primary family
- At least 1 tank (Knight or Spartan)
- Budget 150-200 Gold for pre-boss Relic purchases
Tier 2 Boss (Wave ~40)
- Primary synergy at 4+ stacks
- Relics should be shaping your build
- Have a Trinket strategy for post-boss selection
Tier 3 Boss (Wave ~60+)
- Star ratings on key Dudes at 3+
- Relic composition fully shaped and coherent
- Backup plans for anti-synergy boss mechanics
Beginner-Friendly Deep Run Build
Medic + Paladin + Bard is a forgiving starter comp. Paladin absorbs front-line pressure, Medic keeps the squad alive, and Bard buffs scale into mid-game. It will not carry past wave 123 alone -- pivot to a scaling core (Undead, Fantasy, or Viking + Necro) once economy and Relic Pool are online.