Tiles Survive troop counters decide a lot of fights before the first shot, because each of the three troop types beats one type and loses to another. FunPlus’s official guides confirm the three types, Guard, Gunner and Marksman, and show how gear and heroes tie into them. The counter loop itself comes from community guides, since FunPlus hasn’t published an official chart. Here’s what’s confirmed, what the community agrees on, and how to use it in your formations.
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Key Takeaways
- The three troop types are Guard, Gunner and Marksman, and each hero commands one of them
- Community guides agree on the loop: Guards beat Marksmen, Marksmen beat Gunners, Gunners beat Guards
- The common baseline mix is 40-50% Guards, 30-40% Gunners and 20-30% Marksmen
- Troop-type gear stats only work when they match the troops the hero leads
- FunPlus is adding a Power Info button to the Drill Ground to explain troop Power differences
The Three Troop Types
FunPlus’s official gear guide lists three questions to ask about every hero: their combat role, their faction, and “what type of Troops do they command.” The answer to that last question is always one of three types:
- Guards are the frontline. LootBar’s troop guide describes them as high-defense, high-health units that absorb damage and protect the units behind them.
- Gunners are the midline. Community guides call them flexible, consistent damage dealers that sit behind the Guards.
- Marksmen are the backline. They deal burst damage but are fragile, so they need Guards in front of them to survive.
Troop tiers matter as much as type. Packsify’s troop guide lists tiers from T6 up to T10 and ties each one to your Power Plant level. BoostBot’s guide warns against training a higher tier before its prerequisites are ready, because you can end up paying for troops you can’t field at that tier.
The Counter Loop: Who Beats Whom
Two independent community guides, Packsify’s troop guide (May 2026) and mTurboGamer’s team composition guide (September 2026), describe the same rock-paper-scissors loop:
- Guards counter Marksmen. Tough frontliners soak up burst damage and close the gap on fragile shooters.
- Marksmen counter Gunners. Burst damage wins against steady midline damage.
- Gunners counter Guards. Sustained damage wears down even the toughest frontline.
Neither guide gives a percentage for the counter bonus, and FunPlus hasn’t published one, so I won’t guess a number. What matters in practice is the direction. If a rival’s march is heavy on Marksmen, a Guard-heavy reply is the safe answer. If they lead with a wall of Guards, bring more Gunners.
The same guides say troop counters stack with faction counters between the hero factions: Stalwart, Aeronaut, Mariner and Rover. The faction matchups differ from guide to guide, though, so check the in-game info before you build a whole lineup around them.
Best Troop Mix for PvP and PvE
You rarely know exactly what you’ll face, so most guides recommend a balanced army over a single-type stack. Packsify notes that a balanced mix wins more matchups than a stronger army of one type, because a pure stack has a hard counter waiting for it.
The baseline both Packsify and LootBar recommend:
- Guards: 40-50%. Packsify’s rule is never to drop below 40%, since your backline melts without them.
- Gunners: 30-40%. Your reliable damage in long fights.
- Marksmen: 20-30%. Enough burst to punish exposed backlines without leaving you fragile.
Then tune it by mode. LootBar suggests more Gunners for PvE, where steady damage against monsters matters most, and a Guard-heavy PvP army with Marksmen aimed at enemy backlines. mTurboGamer’s suggested 3v3 Arena main team uses a 50/30/20 split of Guards, Gunners and Marksmen. Treat these as starting points, then adjust to what your State’s top players field.
Match Heroes, Gear and Troops
This is where the official systems reward planning. FunPlus’s gear guide splits Special Stats into general stats and troop- or faction-specific ones:
- Helmets can roll Guard, Gunner or Marksman Troop Attack
- Armor can roll Troop Defense for each type
- Greaves can roll Troop Health for each type
These stats only work when they match the type of troops the hero leads. A Gunner Troop Attack stat on a hero who commands Guards does nothing. FunPlus’s golden rule is to prioritize synergy over rarity: a matching stat can beat an unrelated Legendary one.
So once you know which troop type each of your main heroes commands, reforge their gear around it. A Guard-leading frontliner wants Guard Troop Defense and Health. A Marksman-leading damage dealer wants Marksman Troop Attack. For which heroes are worth building in the first place, see my Tiles Survive tier list.
Reading the Fight: Scout, Then Adjust
Counters only help if you know what the other side is bringing. Battle Reports are your best tool: after a loss, check which troop types the enemy used and how many of yours died, then shift your mix toward the counter.
FunPlus is also making this easier. The October 16, 2026 Developer Feedback promises a Power Info button at the Drill Ground that breaks down how much Power comes from heroes, troops, scenario-specific stats and Season Stats. That explains why the same army can show different Power on the March screen and in a Battle Report. The same post adds a remaining troop strength bar for garrisoned and encamped troops on the World Map, which turns red when numbers run low.
One more practical point: don’t throw a hard-countered army into the same fight twice. Pull back, heal and come back with the right mix.
FAQ
What are the troop types in Tiles Survive?
Guard, Gunner and Marksman. FunPlus’s official gear guide confirms all three.
Which troop type counters which?
Community guides agree that Guards beat Marksmen, Marksmen beat Gunners and Gunners beat Guards. FunPlus hasn’t published an official counter chart.
What’s the best troop ratio?
A common baseline is 40-50% Guards, 30-40% Gunners and 20-30% Marksmen, adjusted for PvP or PvE.
Do gear stats depend on troop type?
Yes. Troop Attack, Defense and Health stats only apply when they match the troops the hero commands.
Just starting out? The Tiles Survive beginner guide covers your first buildings, and the Tiles Survive review explains how combat fits into the bigger game. Rank your heroes with the Tiles Survive tier list, find more games in the MMO Strategy section, and read FunPlus’s gear guide on the official Tiles Survive website.
