Cowboy — Tower Defense Simulator Guide
Category: DPS
Unlock: 4,000 Coins
Detection: Hidden
Placement Limit: 12 per player
Tier Rating: A
Total Upgrade Cost: $14,127
The Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator tower is a unique hybrid that combines DPS with income generation. Every few shots, the Cowboy reloads in a spinning animation and generates cash, making it both a damage dealer and an economy supplement. At max level, the Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator unit deals approximately 59 DPS while generating $185 per reload cycle at an income rate of roughly $38.14 per second. This dual role makes the Cowboy one of the most flexible towers in the game.
Cowboy Stats Per Level
The table below shows all Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator upgrade levels and stats. Click any column header to sort. All values are sourced from the TDS Fandom wiki (checked August 2, 2026).
| Level | Upgrade Cost | Damage | Cooldown | Range | DPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 550 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 2.57 |
| 1 | 200 | 3 | 0.9 | 15 | 3.13 |
| 2 | 600 | 5 | 0.9 | 15 | 5.22 |
| 3 | 2000 | 10 | 0.6 | 17.5 | 15 |
| 4 | 3000 | 10 | 0.35 | 20 | 24.74 |
| 5 | 7777 | 24 | 0.35 | 20 | 59.38 |
Note: Cash Shot: every 12 shots, Income: $185, Spin Time: 1.0s, Income/s: $38.14
How to Get Cowboy
Unlocking the Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator tower requires two steps: first, triumph (complete) the Badlands II map, then purchase the tower for 4,000 Coins from the Store. Alternatively, you can bypass the triumph requirement by purchasing the Cowboy gamepass for 340 Robux.
Triumphing Badlands II is a significant challenge that requires a strong loadout and ideally a coordinated squad. If you are a newer player, the 340 Robux shortcut may be worth considering to get the Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator unlock without the triumph grind.
Is Cowboy Worth It?
The Cowboy is rated A tier across all game modes in our tier list, based on consensus from tower-defense-simulator.wiki and earnaldo.com. The rationale: reliable hybrid DPS and economy generation, with decent damage output while producing cash throughout the match.
The Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator tower's unique value is that it replaces or supplements the Farm for income generation while also contributing to defense. A fully upgraded Cowboy generates approximately $38.14 per second in income, which is less than a max-level Farm but comes with 59 DPS attached. The placement limit of 12 per player means you can deploy multiple Cowboys for both economy and firepower.
The Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator unit detects Hidden enemies starting at Level 3, adding utility in modes with stealth enemies. With a total upgrade cost of roughly $14,127, the Cowboy is one of the most cost-efficient towers when you factor in both damage output and income generation.
Cowboy Tier Rating by Mode
Best Loadouts With Cowboy
The Cowboy works well as an economy-DPS hybrid. A balanced loadout includes Cowboy, Farm, Commander, Accelerator, and Minigunner. The Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator income paired with Farm provides strong cash flow while the Cowboy also contributes to wave clear.
For a pure economy approach, try Cowboy, Farm, Commander, Ranger, and Engineer. Multiple Cowboy Tower Defense Simulator towers paired with Farms generate substantial income, allowing you to invest heavily in Ranger and Engineer upgrades during later waves.
FAQ
How do you unlock the Cowboy in Tower Defense Simulator?
You must triumph (complete) the Badlands II map first, then purchase the Cowboy for 4,000 Coins from the Store. Alternatively, you can skip the triumph requirement by purchasing the Cowboy gamepass for 340 Robux.
Does the Cowboy generate money in TDS?
Yes. The Cowboy is a hybrid DPS/economy tower that generates cash every reload cycle. At max level (Level 5), it earns $185 per reload cycle at a rate of approximately $38.14 per second, while also dealing about 59 DPS.