Sniper — Tower Defense Simulator Guide
Category: Starter
Unlock: Free starter tower, given automatically when joining the game for the first time
Detection: Hidden, Flying, Lead
Placement Limit: None (unlimited)
Tier Rating: D
Total Upgrade Cost: $8,400
The Sniper Tower Defense Simulator tower is the second of the two starter towers, available free from the moment you join the game alongside the Scout. It is a cliff-only tower with the longest base range among starter units, trading a slow firerate for high per-shot damage. By Level 3, the Sniper Tower Defense Simulator unit detects Hidden, Lead, and Flying enemies simultaneously, making it unusually versatile for a free starting tower.
Sniper Stats Per Level
The table below shows all Sniper 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 | 450 | 10 | 5 | 28 | 2 |
| 1 | 200 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 3 |
| 2 | 750 | 25 | 4 | 30 | 6.25 |
| 3 | 2000 | 60 | 4 | 35 | 15 |
| 4 | 5000 | 100 | 3.2 | 45 | 31.25 |
Note: Upgrade: Spec Ops (firerate 4 -> 3.2), max level
How to Get Sniper
Like the Scout, the Sniper Tower Defense Simulator tower requires no purchase or unlock condition. It is given to every player automatically upon joining the game for the first time, with no Coin, Gem, or Robux cost.
Placing a Sniper costs $450 of in-game cash, higher than the Scout's $125 placement cost, reflecting its stronger base stats. This cost is paid from cash earned in the match, not from any premium currency.
Is Sniper Worth It?
The Sniper's main strength is its triple detection: Flying from Level 0, Hidden from Level 2, and Lead from Level 3. Very few towers offer detection against all three attributes, and the Sniper Tower Defense Simulator unit reaches that point for a relatively modest total investment of $8,400 across all levels.
Its cliff-only placement is a real constraint. Not every map offers ideal cliff spots, and the Sniper Tower Defense Simulator tower cannot be placed on the ground like most other towers, which limits flexibility compared to ground units.
At max level, the Sniper deals 100 damage every 3.2 seconds for 31.25 DPS with 45 range, respectable for a starter tower. The wiki describes it as a solid early-to-mid-game pick, particularly useful in Hardcore Mode where its triple detection covers threats many other towers miss, but it falls behind against very fast or heavily armored late-game enemies.
Sniper Tier Rating by Mode
Best Loadouts With Sniper
Because it needs no unlock investment, the Sniper Tower Defense Simulator tower is a natural first purchase on any cliff-heavy map, providing Flying detection immediately and Hidden/Lead detection as you upgrade it through the early waves.
In Hardcore Mode and other detection-heavy modes, keeping at least one upgraded Sniper Tower Defense Simulator unit active alongside ground-based DPS towers like Scout or Minigunner covers attribute gaps that pure damage towers leave open, before you transition to higher-tier towers for raw DPS.