Are you looking to build the ultimate defense team in SpongeBob Tower Defense? This comprehensive tier list will help you identify the strongest characters to invest in and which ones to avoid. Based on extensive gameplay analysis and community feedback, I’ve ranked all available units from best to worst to help you optimize your strategy and dominate every wave.
Before diving into the tier list, it’s important to understand how characters are evaluated:
| Name | Tier | Damage | Range | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpongeBob (Final Form) | S | Very High | Medium | Bubble Bash AoE |
| Patrick (Star Power) | S | High | Short | Stun & Knockback |
| Mr. Krabs (Rich Mode) | S | Medium | Long | Money Multiplier |
| Squidward (Concert) | S | Very High | Long | Music Wave Damage |
| Sandy (Scientist) | S | High | Medium | Slow & Damage Debuff |
| Name | Tier | Damage | Range | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plankton (Microscopic) | A | High | Medium | Critical Hit Chance |
| Gary (Snail Speed) | A | Medium | Long | Trail Damage |
| Larry (Lobster Strength) | A | High | Short | Area Damage |
| Mrs. Puff (Boating School) | A | Medium | Medium | Knockback |
| Pearl (Whale Song) | A | High | Long | Healing Wave |
| Name | Tier | Damage | Range | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squilliam | B | Medium | Long | Confusion Effect |
| Mermaid Man | B | High | Medium | Super Strength |
| Barnacle Boy | B | Medium | Medium | Team Buff |
| Flying Dutchman | B | High | Long | Ghost Form |
| King Neptune | B | Very High | Short | Trident Strike |
| Name | Tier | Damage | Range | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen | C | Low | Long | Tech Support |
| Larry the Snail | C | Very Low | Medium | Poison Trail |
| Bubble Bass | C | Medium | Short | Ground Slam |
| Man Ray | C | Medium | Medium | Ray Gun |
| Dirty Bubble | C | Low | Medium | Bubble Shield |
| Name | Tier | Damage | Range | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold | D | Very Low | Short | None |
| Margie | D | Very Low | Short | None |
| Old Man Jenkins | D | Low | Medium | Story Time |
| Tom | D | Low | Short | Chocolate Sales |
| Fred | D | Very Low | Medium | “My Leg!” |
SpongeBob in his Final Form is an absolute powerhouse in SpongeBob Tower Defense. With very high damage output and medium range, he can eliminate waves of enemies with ease. His Bubble Bash special ability creates a devastating area-of-effect attack that clears clustered enemies efficiently. What makes SpongeBob truly exceptional is his consistent performance across all game modes and his ability to scale incredibly well with upgrades. When fully upgraded, he can single-handedly carry difficult waves, making him a must-have unit for any serious player. The only downside is his high placement cost, but the investment pays off tremendously in the long run.
Patrick Star in his Star Power form is one of the most valuable defensive units in the game. Despite having a short range, his high damage output and unique stun/knockback abilities make him incredibly effective at controlling enemy flow. Patrick excels at choke points where he can maximize his crowd control potential. His ability to stun and knock back enemies gives your other towers more time to attack, creating a synergistic defense that’s hard to break through. When upgraded, Patrick’s stun duration increases, making him even more valuable in later waves when enemies become more aggressive.
Mr. Krabs in Rich Mode is an essential economic unit that provides incredible value beyond his combat capabilities. While his damage is only medium and his range is long, his true strength lies in his Money Multiplier special ability, which significantly increases your gold income. This economic advantage allows you to build and upgrade other towers more quickly, creating a snowball effect that can win games. Mr. Krabs is particularly valuable in the early to mid-game when establishing your economy is crucial. Even in the late game, his consistent income generation can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Squidward’s Concert form is one of the best long-range damage dealers in SpongeBob Tower Defense. His very high damage output combined with long range makes him perfect for picking off high-health enemies from a safe distance. The Music Wave special ability deals damage in a line, allowing Squidward to hit multiple enemies at once. This makes him especially effective against straight paths where enemies line up naturally. Squidward’s main weakness is his vulnerability to fast enemies that can close the distance quickly, so proper placement is key to maximizing his effectiveness.
Sandy in her Scientist form is a versatile support unit that brings both damage and utility to your defense. Her high damage output and medium range make her a solid combatant, but it’s her Slow & Damage Debuff special ability that truly sets her apart. By slowing enemies and reducing their damage resistance, Sandy makes your entire defense more effective. This synergistic quality makes Sandy valuable in almost any team composition. She’s particularly effective when paired with high-damage units like Squidward, as her debuffs amplify their damage output significantly.
Plankton’s Microscopic form is a high-damage dealer with a unique critical hit chance mechanic. His medium range allows for flexible placement, and his damage output is consistently impressive. What makes Plankton valuable is his ability to deal massive burst damage through critical hits, which can eliminate high-health enemies before they become a threat. This makes him particularly effective against boss enemies that appear in later waves. While he doesn’t have the crowd control abilities of some S-tier units, his raw damage potential makes him a valuable addition to any defense.
Gary in his Snail Speed form is an excellent long-range support unit with a unique Trail Damage ability. While his base damage is only medium, his trail damage effect creates a damage-over-time area that significantly increases his effectiveness. This makes Gary particularly valuable against waves of weaker enemies that would otherwise overwhelm your defenses. His long range allows for safe placement behind your main defensive line, where he can consistently contribute damage without being at risk. Gary’s effectiveness increases in longer paths where enemies spend more time in his trail damage zones.
Larry the Lobster brings raw power to your defense with his high damage output and Area Damage special ability. His short range requires strategic placement at choke points where he can maximize his effectiveness. When positioned correctly, Larry can devastate clustered enemies, making him invaluable against waves that feature high enemy density. His main limitation is his vulnerability to ranged attacks due to his short range, so he needs protection from other units. When properly supported, Larry becomes a cornerstone of your physical defense that can handle even the toughest enemies.
Mrs. Puff in her Boating School form is a versatile defensive unit with medium damage and range. Her Knockback special ability provides excellent crowd control, allowing your other towers more time to attack enemies. This makes Mrs. Puff particularly valuable when dealing with fast enemies that would otherwise speed past your defenses. Her balanced stats make her adaptable to various situations, and she performs consistently across different game modes. While she doesn’t excel in any particular area, her reliability and utility make her a solid choice for any defensive strategy.
Pearl’s Whale Song form is a unique support unit that combines high damage output with healing capabilities. Her long range allows for safe placement, and her Healing Wave special ability can keep your other units alive during intense battles. This makes Pearl particularly valuable in longer games where sustained defense is crucial. Her damage output is also impressive, allowing her to contribute directly to eliminating enemies. Pearl’s main strength is her versatility, as she can serve both offensive and supportive roles depending on your needs. This flexibility makes her a valuable addition to many team compositions.
Squilliam is a long-range support unit with a unique Confusion Effect special ability. His medium damage output is supplemented by his ability to cause enemies to attack each other, creating chaos in enemy ranks. This makes Squilliam particularly effective against waves with diverse enemy types, as he can turn their strengths against them. His long range allows for safe placement, but his effectiveness is situational and depends on the enemy composition. While not as consistently valuable as A-tier units, Squilliam can be game-changing in the right circumstances.
Mermaid Man brings high damage output and medium range to your defense, along with his Super Strength special ability. This ability allows him to deal increased damage to high-health enemies, making him particularly effective against boss units. Mermaid Man’s balanced stats make him adaptable to various situations, and he performs consistently across different game modes. While he doesn’t have the crowd control abilities of higher-tier units, his focused damage against tough enemies makes him a valuable specialist in certain situations.
Barnacle Boy is a medium-range support unit with a Team Buff special ability that increases the damage of nearby allies. His own damage output is only medium, but his ability to enhance your other towers makes him a valuable support unit. Barnacle Boy excels when paired with high-damage dealers, as his buff can significantly increase their effectiveness. His main limitation is his situational value, as he’s most effective in specific team compositions. When used correctly, however, Barnacle Boy can elevate your entire defense to new levels.
The Flying Dutchman is a high-damage dealer with long range and a unique Ghost Form special ability. This ability allows him to pass through enemies, dealing damage to multiple targets in a line. This makes the Flying Dutchman particularly effective against waves with high enemy density. His long range allows for safe placement, and his damage output is consistently impressive. While he lacks the crowd control abilities of higher-tier units, his unique damage mechanics make him a valuable addition to many defensive strategies.
King Neptune brings very high damage output but suffers from a short range limitation. His Trident Strike special ability deals massive damage in a small area, making him incredibly effective against high-health enemies. When positioned correctly at choke points, King Neptune can eliminate even the toughest enemies before they become a threat. His main weakness is his vulnerability due to short range, requiring protection from other units. When properly supported, King Neptune becomes a devastating force that can single-handedly handle boss enemies.
Karen is a long-range support unit with low damage output but a useful Tech Support special ability. This ability increases the attack speed of nearby mechanical units, making her valuable in specific team compositions. Her long range allows for safe placement, but her effectiveness is highly situational and depends on having compatible units in your defense. While not as versatile as higher-tier units, Karen can be valuable in specialized strategies that focus on mechanical units.
Larry the Snail is a medium-range unit with very low damage output but a unique Poison Trail special ability. This ability creates a damage-over-time effect that can wear down enemies over time. While his direct damage contribution is minimal, his poison trail can be effective against waves with high enemy density. His main limitation is his slow attack speed and low damage, making him less effective in situations where immediate damage is needed. Larry the Snail is a situational unit that requires specific circumstances to be valuable.
Bubble Bass is a short-range unit with medium damage output and a Ground Slam special ability. This ability deals area damage in a small radius, making him somewhat effective against clustered enemies. His short range requires strategic placement at choke points, but his overall effectiveness is limited by his average stats and situational special ability. While not completely useless, Bubble Bass is generally outclassed by other units that provide similar benefits with better stats or more versatile abilities.
Man Ray is a medium-range unit with medium damage output and a Ray Gun special ability. This ability deals damage in a straight line, allowing him to hit multiple enemies at once. While this makes him somewhat effective against straight paths, his overall performance is underwhelming compared to higher-tier units. His balanced stats make him adaptable to various situations, but he doesn’t excel in any particular area. Man Ray is a mediocre unit that can be useful in specific circumstances but is generally outclassed by better options.
Dirty Bubble is a medium-range unit with low damage output but a unique Bubble Shield special ability. This ability reduces incoming damage for nearby allies, providing some defensive utility. While this can be valuable in certain situations, his low damage output and situational special ability make him less effective than higher-tier units. Dirty Bubble is a niche unit that requires specific circumstances to be valuable, and even then, his impact is often minimal compared to other options.
Harold is a short-range unit with very low damage output and no special abilities. His limited range and damage make him ineffective in almost all situations, and he offers no unique utility to compensate for his weaknesses. Harold is generally considered one of the worst units in the game and should be avoided in favor of better options. Even in the early game, there are superior alternatives that provide better value for your investment.
Margie is another short-range unit with very low damage output and no special abilities. Like Harold, she offers no unique utility and is outclassed by virtually every other unit in the game. Her limited range and damage make her ineffective in all situations, and there are always better alternatives available. Margie should be avoided in any serious defensive strategy.
Old Man Jenkins is a medium-range unit with low damage output and a Story Time special ability that temporarily slows nearby enemies. While this ability provides some utility, his overall performance is underwhelming compared to other units. His low damage output and situational special ability make him less effective than higher-tier options. Old Man Jenkins is a niche unit that can be useful in specific circumstances but is generally outclassed by better options.
Tom is a short-range unit with low damage output and a Chocolate Sales special ability that generates small amounts of gold over time. While this economic utility might seem valuable, his low damage output and limited range make him ineffective in combat situations. There are better economic units available that provide greater value without sacrificing combat effectiveness. Tom is generally considered a poor investment in most defensive strategies.
Fred is a medium-range unit with very low damage output and a “My Leg!” special ability that temporarily increases his damage after taking damage. While this ability might seem useful, his base damage is so low that even the increase doesn’t make him effective. Fred offers no unique utility and is outclassed by virtually every other unit in the game. He should be avoided in any serious defensive strategy.
The SpongeBob Tower Defense tier list is typically updated whenever new characters are introduced or significant balance changes occur. As of January 2026, this tier list reflects the current state of the game following the latest updates. I recommend checking back monthly for the most current rankings, as the meta can shift with each new patch or character release.
The best team composition in SpongeBob Tower Defense typically includes a mix of S-tier and A-tier characters that complement each other’s strengths. A balanced approach with at least one economic unit like Mr. Krabs, a crowd control specialist like Patrick, and high damage dealers like SpongeBob and Squidward forms a solid foundation. However, the optimal composition can vary depending on the specific map and enemy types you’re facing.
Characters in SpongeBob Tower Defense can be obtained through various methods including the gacha system, special events, and completing specific challenges. Some characters are also available through the in-game store using premium currency. To maximize your chances of getting new characters, participate in events when they’re available and save your premium currency for high-value banners featuring S-tier characters.
When deciding which character to upgrade first in SpongeBob Tower Defense, prioritize your S-tier units, particularly SpongeBob (Final Form) and Patrick (Star Power), as they provide the most value for your investment. Economic units like Mr. Krabs should also be prioritized in the early game to establish a strong income. Focus on upgrading one or two key units rather than spreading resources thinly across multiple characters.
While this tier list generally reflects the consensus on character effectiveness, some players find success with underrated characters like Plankton (Microscopic) or Sandy (Scientist) in specific situations. These characters might not be S-tier, but their unique abilities can be invaluable in the right circumstances. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your playstyle and the specific challenges you’re facing.
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