Scout — Tower Defense Simulator Guide
Category: Starter
Unlock: Free starter tower, given automatically when joining the game for the first time
Detection: Hidden
Placement Limit: None (unlimited)
Tier Rating: D
Total Upgrade Cost: $4,100
The Scout Tower Defense Simulator tower is one of two starter towers given free the moment you join the game, alongside the Sniper. It is a cheap, well-rounded basic tower that becomes available for placement immediately without any Coins, Gems, or level requirement. While its damage output stays low even at max level, the Scout Tower Defense Simulator unit gains Hidden detection at Level 2, making it a practical first line of defense while you save up for stronger towers.
Scout Stats Per Level
The table below shows all Scout Tower Defense Simulator upgrade levels and stats. Click any column header to sort. All values are sourced from the TDS Fandom wiki (checked August 3, 2026).
| Level | Upgrade Cost | Damage | Cooldown | Range | DPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 125 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| 1 | 50 | 1 | 0.75 | 12 | 1.33 |
| 2 | 375 | 3 | 0.75 | 14 | 4 |
| 3 | 1350 | 8 | 0.65 | 16 | 12.31 |
| 4 | 2200 | 8 | 0.325 | 16 | 24.62 |
Note: Upgrade: Akimbo Handguns (firerate 0.65 -> 0.325), max level
How to Get Scout
The Scout Tower Defense Simulator tower requires no unlock step at all. It is handed to every player automatically upon joining the game for the first time, alongside the Sniper. There is no Coin, Gem, or Robux cost associated with unlocking access to it.
Once unlocked, placing a Scout still costs $125 of in-game cash, which is earned during matches. Because this placement cost is so low, the Scout Tower Defense Simulator tower is typically the very first thing new players put down on the map.
Is Scout Worth It?
The Scout's core value is its cost efficiency at the very start of a match. At $125 to place and only $50 to reach Level 1, it is one of the cheapest ways to get any damage on the field, and reaching Level 2 for $375 unlocks Hidden detection for very little investment.
Its ceiling is low: max-level DPS is only 24.62, far behind mid-game and late-game towers. The wiki explicitly frames the Scout Tower Defense Simulator tower as an early-game pick that becomes ineffective once tougher waves or Fallen Mode enemies with the Fallen Shield appear.
Because it detects Hidden enemies cheaply from Level 2, the Scout Tower Defense Simulator tower remains useful in a support role even after you've moved past it as your primary damage source, letting you redirect spending toward more expensive towers while it still contributes detection.
Scout Tier Rating by Mode
Best Loadouts With Scout
In the earliest waves, multiple Level 2 Scout Tower Defense Simulator towers provide cheap, simultaneous Hidden detection and modest damage while your economy towers like Farm ramp up income for bigger purchases.
As the match progresses, Scouts are commonly sold or left at low investment once towers such as Minigunner or Sniper take over primary damage duties, with the Scout Tower Defense Simulator unit's cheap placement cost also making it a low-risk way to distract single-target enemy abilities away from more valuable towers.