Wave 123: 1,666 Polar Bears. 1,000 Honey Badgers. Total chaos.
This is where most runs die. But it doesn't have to be yours.
While How Many Dudes starts easy—punching toddlers, kicking ducks—it quickly becomes a brutal test of strategy. Many players hit a wall around Wave 50, and the infamous Wave 123 is currently known as the ultimate "filter" that separates casual runs from legend-tier builds.
Random recruiting won't cut it. You need a plan.
In this guide, we break down the best builds, a comprehensive tier list, and the exact strategies used by top players to reach the endgame.
Quick Answer: What is the Best Build?
If you want the highest chance of beating Wave 100+, the current meta is the "Viking + Necro + Spartan" build.
| Role | Unit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| DPS | Viking Dude | High damage output with berserk-style abilities |
| Summons | NecroDude | Spawns skeletons that act as meat shields |
| Tank | Spartan Dude | Incredible block chance absorbs incoming damage |
| Healer | Cleric Dude | AOE healing keeps everyone alive |
Why it works: NecroDudes summon disposable skeletons that distract enemies and pull aggro. Spartans block incoming damage while Vikings shred through high-HP enemies like Polar Bears. Clerics provide the sustain to outlast long fights.
This build was demonstrated by streamer MoistCr1TiKaL, who successfully reached Wave 123 using this composition.
How Many Dudes Tier List (2025)
Not all Dudes are created equal. Based on community data from Steam discussions and high-level runs, here is the current ranking:
| Tier | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | Viking, Spartan, Zombie, Cleric, NecroDude, Vampire | Essential for deep runs. High sustain or scaling damage. |
| A | FrankenDude, Medic, Wizard | Very strong, but may require specific relics to shine. |
| B | Knight, Ninja, Paladin | Solid early game, but can fall off in damage or tankiness later. |
| C | Ghost | Niche use, harder to keep alive without good RNG. |
| D | Bard, General | Requires too many relics to become effective. Can work, but risky. |
Note: Unit strength can vary based on which relics you find. Some players have reported success with Bard and Paladin spam builds, but these require very specific relic combinations to work.
Top 3 Best Builds Explained
🥇 Build 1: Viking + Necro + Spartan (Wave 123 Verified)
Expected Reach: Wave 100-123+
This is the current meta build, proven in high-level gameplay.
The Strategy:
- NecroDudes are the MVP. Their summoned skeletons act as disposable meat shields, distracting enemies. With the right relics, skeletons can gain Taunt, pulling aggro away from your main squad.
- Viking Dudes provide the damage. Their berserk-style abilities allow them to shred through high-HP enemies like Polar Bears and Unicorns.
- Spartans act as the frontline wall with their incredible block chance.
- Clerics keep everyone alive with AOE healing.
Key Relics to Look For:
- Relics that grant Taunt to summoned units
- Attack speed bonuses
- Healing amplification
🥈 Build 2: Undead Army (Infinite Sustain)
Expected Reach: Wave 100+
If you like watching your health bars go up instead of down, this is the build for you.
The Strategy:
- FrankenDudes have a unique passive: they gain Max HP and Damage for every unconscious dude. Combined with NecroDudes (whose skeletons count as "dudes" when they die), your Frankens become unkillable giants.
- Vampire Dudes provide lifesteal, keeping squishier units alive during AOE attacks.
- Zombie Dudes get stronger as other Dudes fall in battle, creating exponential scaling.
Weakness: Can struggle with raw DPS if you don't find damage-boosting relics early.
Source: Player comment on itch.io confirmed "great synergy with FrankenDude and NecroDude—NecroDude makes skeletons, skeletons get knocked out, and FrankenDude gets health and strength."
🥉 Build 3: Cleric Spam (The Immortal Wall)
Expected Reach: Wave 107
Sometimes, the best offense is simply refusing to die.
The Strategy:
- Recruit as many Cleric Dudes as possible.
- Clerics create overlapping AOE healing effects. When you stack many Clerics, the combined healing makes your entire team nearly unkillable.
- Add a few Knights or Spartans to tank damage while the Clerics keep everyone alive.
Weakness: Extremely vulnerable if the healing tick isn't fast enough to keep up with burst damage in very late waves.
Source: itch.io player comment — "I just spammed clerics for the heck of it and they ended up relentlessly healing each other. Got to round 107. Cleric only build is CRACKED."
The "Filter" Wave: Why Everyone Dies at Wave 123
If you're wondering why so many runs end exactly at Wave 123, it's because of a brutal difficulty spike.
The Challenge (based on streamer gameplay):
- ~1,666 Polar Bears (massive HP + damage)
- ~1,000 Honey Badgers (fast attack speed)
- Total enemy count: 2,500+
Why Pure Tanking Fails:
You simply cannot out-heal the damage of 2,500+ enemies attacking at once. You need:
- High DPS — Cleave damage from Zombies or berserk damage from Vikings
- Crowd Control — Taunt from summoned skeletons to prevent your main units from getting surrounded
- Sustain — Enough healing to survive while your DPS clears the screen
Currently, beating Wave 123 is considered the ultimate achievement in the demo.
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistake 1: Ignoring Healers Early
In the first 20 waves, a single Medic or Cleric can save you hundreds of dollars in revive costs. Always grab a healer in your first 1-2 picks.
Source: Steam community — "I basically have to reroll if I don't see medic or cleric in the first 2 flyers."
❌ Mistake 2: Picking Bard or General Too Early
Don't waste early picks on Generals or Bards unless you have a specific plan. These units require multiple relics to become effective, and by the time you get them online, you may already be overwhelmed.
Stick to S-Tier units (Viking, Spartan, Cleric, Zombie, NecroDude, Vampire) for consistent results.
❌ Mistake 3: Hoarding Money
Don't save all your gold! Consumable items like revives and temporary buffs can be the difference between winning Wave 50 or restarting.
❌ Mistake 4: Underestimating Bees
Bees deal surprisingly high damage. Both small bees and giant bees can shred your team quickly. Prioritize builds with Taunt or high AOE damage to handle swarm enemies.
Source: Multiple Steam players — "Bees... F***ING BEEES - Small ones have WAY too much damage and the big ones have even more."
Conclusion
How Many Dudes is more than just a funny auto-battler—it's a game of math, synergy, and adaptation. Whether you choose the Viking Berserkers, the Undead Army, or the Cleric Wall, proper unit selection and relic choices are key.
The meta will likely evolve as the game develops, but for now, the Viking + Necro + Spartan combo is your best bet for reaching the endgame.
Have you managed to beat Wave 123? Share your strategy with us!
This guide is based on community data from Steam discussions, itch.io comments, and streamer gameplay. Unit balance may change in future updates.