Tesla — Tower Defense Simulator Guide
Category: DPS
Unlock: 6,000 Coins
Detection: Flying, Lead
Placement Limit: 2 per player
Tier Rating: B
Total Upgrade Cost: $75,195
Tesla is a mid-late game chain lightning tower that stuns enemies in place and, from Level 2 onward, builds toward a Smite ability that deals a burst explosion of splash damage capable of bypassing Defense.
Tesla Stats Per Level
The table below shows all Tesla 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 | 2000 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 7.5 |
| 1 | 1856 | 20 | 2 | 17 | 10 |
| 2 | 8888 | 20 | 1.8 | 18.5 | 11.11 |
| 3 | 18450 | 20 | 1.4 | 18.5 | 14.29 |
| 4 | 44001 | 20 | 1.2 | 20 | 16.67 |
Note: Chain Range 20, Max Hits 8; Smite deals 140 dmg, radius 7
How to Get Tesla
Purchase Tesla from the Store for 6,000 Coins - no level requirement needed
Is Tesla Worth It?
Chain lightning stuns multiple enemies at once, strong crowd control for its price
Smite ability from Level 2+ adds burst splash damage that ignores Defense
Detects both Lead and Flying enemies from the start
Only 2 placements per player and no Hidden detection at any level, so it needs to be paired with a dedicated Hidden detector
Tesla Tier Rating by Mode
Best Loadouts With Tesla
Pairs well with Electroshocker for stacked stun coverage across more of the map
Works well alongside a Hidden detector like Engineer or Necromancer to cover its blind spot