Doodle TD WikiDoodle Tower Defense Beginner's Guide
In short: do the mall tour, claim free gifts, summon with Crayons, clear Act 1 (Play → Act 1 → Create Party → Start), then keep upgrading your best damage unit and add a support. This guide uses information from the official game page, the developer's videos and gameplay videos from launch week.
On this page
1. Learn the mall lobby
- Summon banner: spend Crayons for new doodles. There is also a premium banner and a Skin banner that uses Glitter.
- Unit index: shows the whole collection, including units you do not own yet, so you can see what is missing.
- Free gifts: timed gifts you can open for free.
- Wishing fountain: one free wish per day.
- Sketchbook pass: the season pass. Its reward track includes units such as Singer and Chef.
- Pencil Shop and Crayon Shop: daily shops. You can buy Crayons and other items with Pencils.
- Stasis Pods: put a unit in a pod and it gains XP over time.
- Dream Chamber: next to Play. Stand inside to roll random AFK rewards (rare drops up to about 1 in 16,000).
- Exchange: combine items into higher rarities, or break them down.
Players report that a quick tour of the mall gives 5 Paint Pots, 5 Stat Chips and an epic gear item.
2. Play Act 1
- Walk to the Play area (it looks like a cinema) and choose Act 1.
- Pick Create Party, then Start. Friends can join; servers hold up to 12 players.
- Place units along the path from your hotbar. Upgrade with the cash you earn during the match.
- You can switch to 2x speed for free. 3x speed needs the 3x Game Speed pass.
- Winning gives Crayons, Pencils and chips. Players report a free summon after an early win.
3. Build a balanced team
- Damage: Sniper (pierces armor), Burner (cheap, burns), Gunner (hits flyers), Bomber (splash), Wizard (fire and ice), Reaper, Berserker, Dragon.
- Control: Gluer slows, Medusa stuns (not bosses).
- Detection: Radar reveals hidden enemies and knocks down flyers.
- Economy and support: Banker pays money every wave; The General buffs nearby units (per players).
Watch your placement cost: some units cost around 500 to place, while cheap units like Burner help early waves.
4. Currencies
| Currency | Used for |
|---|---|
 Crayons | Summoning units |
 Pencils | Levelling, upgrades, Pencil Shop, upgrading Stasis Pods |
 Paint Pots | Painting (rolling) traits onto units |
| Stat Chips / Super Chips | Rerolling unit stats |
 Glitter | Skin banner; can be won in Boss Rush |
| Charms, star items, event tickets | Upgrades, exchanges and the event shop |
5. What to do next
Finish more stages across the 3 worlds (community players name them Crayon Kingdom, Pencil Forest and Frost Peak), try hard mode and endless waves, do daily challenges, and play Boss Rush and Draft Mode. Check the codes page for free Crayons.
FAQ
What should I do first in Doodle Tower Defense?
Take the quick tour of the mall (it gives starter rewards), claim your free gifts and daily fountain wish, summon with your Crayons, then go to Play and clear Act 1 by choosing Create Party and Start.
How do I place units?
Matches use a top-down camera. Select a unit on your hotbar and place it next to the path. On PC the hotbar keys work (players used E). Players reported placement being buggier on mobile at launch.
What are Crayons, Pencils and Paint Pots?
Crayons are for summoning, Pencils are for levelling, upgrades and the Pencil Shop, and Paint Pots are for rolling traits. Glitter pulls skins on the Skin banner and can be won in Boss Rush.
Is Doodle Tower Defense pay to win?
It has Robux passes and bundles, but the core currencies can be earned by playing, and Pencils can buy items in the Pencil Shop that would otherwise cost Robux.