- Tatari formation depends on your tier, survival needs, lane coverage, and teammate coordination.
- T2 teams can choose between a durable tank setup and a ranged Monkey-centered formation.
- T3 teams gain stronger sleep, debuff, support, and damage options through Butterfly and Tideon.
- Core picks commonly include Monkey, Deer, Butterfly, Cheer Spring, and Sunflower.
- Flexible slots should cover damage reduction, shields, weak debuffs, attack buffs, or extra crowd control.
Tatari Formation Basics and Core Roles
A strong Tatari formation is built around complementary roles rather than six identical damage dealers. The most reliable setups combine front-line pressure, area damage, support buffs, debuffs, and enough durability to survive extended Horde Invasion encounters.
The board uses six lanes, so placement affects which enemies are reached by bouncing attacks, plus-shaped buffs, area-of-effect skills, and lane-specific support effects. Treat every formation as a starting template. Your available tiers, upgrade levels, teammate choices, and preferred playstyle should determine the final arrangement.
Video Highlights:
- T2 tank and ranged formation references
- T3 Monkey, Butterfly, and Tideon positioning concepts
- Support placement for Bird, Pig, Seal, and Mushroom
- Earthworm teleport positioning for back-row utility units
For additional planning, use the Tatari formation reference video to compare lane layouts before testing your own board.
Front Line
Monkey, Deer, Mantis, or a tank absorb pressure and deliver consistent damage. Deer also adds piercing value.
Core Support
Cheer Spring and Sunflower provide dependable utility for control, area coverage, and team stability.
Debuff Layer
Seal, Tideon, Butterfly, or Fire Cat can apply weak effects, sleep, or other pressure tools.
Flex Slots
Bird, Pig, Mushroom, Owl, or Bat fill defensive, offensive, or positioning gaps based on the team.
Build around the jobs your team still needs. If one player already supplies a support effect, use the open slot for damage, control, or survivability instead of duplicating every buff.
| Formation Role | Main Purpose | Common Options |
|---|---|---|
| Front liner | Holds pressure and deals close-range damage | Monkey, Deer, Mantis, tank |
| Area control | Clears or disrupts groups | Sunflower, Tideon, Butterfly |
| Team support | Adds buffs, shields, or damage reduction | Cheer Spring, Bird, Pig, Mushroom |
| Debuff support | Weakens targets or improves team damage | Seal, Butterfly, Fire Cat |
| Flexible damage | Fills missing damage or utility | Unicorn, Ice Cat, Fire Fox, Owl |
T2 Tatari Formation Setups
T2 teams generally choose between a safer tank-oriented formation and a more aggressive ranged formation. The tank version is useful when your group needs additional protection or when the encounter punishes weak front lines. The ranged version becomes more attractive when your team can survive without a dedicated tank.
A tank setup can combine Panda and Tauken for damage reduction, Cheer Spring for central support, Sunflower for area control, Lion for pushback, Mantis for damage, and Deer for piercing. Seal, Babbit, Bird, Pig, and a flexible sixth slot help round out the formation.
| T2 Style | Front Line | Support Core | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durable tank | Tank, Deer, Mantis | Panda, Tauken, Cheer Spring | Safer progression and damage reduction |
| Ranged Monkey | Monkey, Deer, Mantis | Sunflower, Cheer Spring, Panda | Higher ranged pressure with adequate survival |
| Hybrid | Tank, Monkey, Deer | Ash Lava, Panda, Seal | Mixed damage with directional buffs |
| Debuff support | Deer, Mantis, flexible damage | Seal, Bird, Pig | Teams that need weakness and defensive coverage |
T2 Tank Reference
Place the main durable units toward the front while keeping Cheer Spring near the middle of the formation. Sunflower should have a useful firing path for area control. Deer can provide piercing pressure, while Babbit contributes slow and fragile effects. Seal is flexible and can move between lanes when a different bounce route is more valuable.
The remaining slots should reflect your partner’s choices. If your teammate brings Panda and Bird, you can prioritize damage. If the team lacks mitigation, consider keeping both a defensive support unit and a front-line anchor.
T2 Monkey Reference
The T2 Monkey setup is more aggressive and depends heavily on upgrading Monkey toward level seven for its bouncing-stick area damage. Pair Monkey with Deer and Mantis when you have enough survival, then use Sunflower, Cheer Spring, Ash Lava, Seal, Owl, Panda, or Bird to support the damage core.
Ash Lava’s plus-shaped buff makes its position important. Place the unit so the buff reaches either Deer or Monkey, depending on which unit needs the larger boost in your current setup.
Do not remove your tank simply because a ranged formation looks stronger on paper. Test whether Monkey has enough protection, then replace defensive coverage gradually rather than abandoning it all at once.
| T2 Unit | Recommended Function | Placement Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey | Main ranged damage | Position inside Ash Lava’s buff when possible |
| Deer | Piercing damage and front pressure | Move forward when piercing coverage matters |
| Mantis | Damage and frontline durability | Use near the front or beside Deer |
| Panda | Damage reduction and support | Keep within useful support range |
| Seal | Weak debuff and bounce utility | Position according to the lanes needing coverage |
| Ash Lava | Plus-shaped buff | Place to reach Monkey or Deer |
| Cheer Spring | Core support | Central placement is usually valuable |
| Sunflower | Area control and damage | Keep a clear attack path |
T3 Tatari Formation and Crowd Control
T3 formations add more room for layered control. Monkey and Deer can remain front-line damage anchors, while Butterfly and Tideon introduce sleep and debuff combinations. Seal can support Butterfly by applying weak effects and helping bounce pressure across multiple lanes.
A common T3 structure uses Monkey and Deer in front, Cheer Spring and Sunflower in the second line, and Butterfly, Seal, Tideon, Panda, Bird, or Pig toward the back. The exact arrangement depends on which player is responsible for support and which unit benefits from a neighboring buff.
Sleep and Debuff Layer
Butterfly works well when paired with Seal because the two units can combine sleep pressure with weak effects. Tideon adds area sleep and debuff coverage, but it is more valuable when manually repositioned toward the most important enemy group or boss location.
Do not treat Tideon as a fixed-position unit. Move it when the threat changes, especially if the boss shifts lanes or an enemy group forms outside its most effective range.
Bird and Pig Teleport Positioning
Bird and Pig can begin near the back of the lane. When Earthworm appears, use the teleport effect to move one of these units into a higher position. This technique can protect support units, improve buff coverage, or make better use of a slot that would otherwise be difficult to place.
After teleporting, avoid unnecessary movement. Keep the unit in place until survival, buff coverage, or enemy pressure makes a relocation worthwhile.
Use Earthworm’s teleport opportunity to place Bird or Pig where their defensive effects cover more of the team. The trick is most useful when the support unit would otherwise remain restricted to the back.
| T3 Combination | Main Benefit | Supporting Units |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey plus Deer | Reliable damage and piercing | Mantis, Sunflower, Cheer Spring |
| Butterfly plus Seal | Sleep and weak debuff layering | Panda, Tideon |
| Tideon plus Butterfly | Area sleep and control | Sunflower, Cheer Spring |
| Bird plus Pig | Defensive support and shield coverage | Earthworm teleport |
| Mushroom plus Butterfly | Damage reduction with control | Cheer Spring, Seal |
Control Build
Use Butterfly, Tideon, Seal, and Sunflower when sleep and debuff timing matter more than immediate burst.
Balanced Build
Combine Monkey, Deer, Cheer Spring, Sunflower, Butterfly, and Panda for damage, control, and protection.
Support Build
Bring Bird, Pig, Mushroom, and Panda when your partner already supplies most of the damage.
Step-by-Step Formation Setup
Use this process whenever you create or revise a Tatari formation. It prevents you from placing units first and discovering later that the team lacks a key function.
Identify the Team’s Main Damage
Decide whether Monkey, Deer, Mantis, Butterfly, or another available unit will carry most of the damage. Mark the unit that should receive Ash Lava, Bat, Fire Moth, or other offensive support.
Secure the Front Line
Place a tank, Monkey, Deer, or Mantis where the formation can handle early pressure. If the team is struggling to survive, restore a durable front-line option before adding another damage dealer.
Add the Fixed Support Core
Start with Cheer Spring and Sunflower when they fit your tier and roster. Their support and area coverage provide a stable base for both T2 and T3 formations.
Assign Debuffs and Control
Add Seal, Butterfly, Tideon, Owl, or Fire Cat according to the encounter. Spread them across useful lanes instead of stacking every effect in one area.
Fill and Test Flex Slots
Use Bird, Pig, Mushroom, Bat, Unicorn, Ice Cat, Fire Fox, or another available option. Test the formation, then adjust one unit or one position at a time so you know what improved the result.
The best formation is usually the one your team can operate consistently. Coordinate before the encounter so one player does not bring every support unit while the other lacks enough damage to finish priority targets.
Before starting, agree on who brings Panda, Bird, Pig, Seal, and other shared support pieces. Clear role assignments create more usable flex space for both players.
| Testing Question | If the Answer Is No | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Can the front line survive the opening pressure? | The team collapses early | Add tank, Mantis, Panda, or Bird |
| Does Monkey or Deer receive the intended buff? | Damage feels inconsistent | Move Ash Lava or another buffer |
| Are priority lanes covered? | Enemies advance unchecked | Reposition Seal, Tideon, or Sunflower |
| Does the team have enough control? | Groups overwhelm the board | Add Butterfly, Tideon, or Sunflower |
| Are support units protected? | Buffs disappear too early | Use Pig, Bird, Mushroom, or teleport positioning |
Formation Checklist and Practical Priorities
A formation should be reviewed after every meaningful upgrade. T2 Monkey becomes more attractive after reaching its important upgrade breakpoint, while T3 teams can change substantially when Butterfly, Tideon, Mushroom, or Fire Cat becomes available.
Use the checklist below before committing to a final layout.
Formation Review:
- Choose a clear primary damage unit
- Confirm the front line survives the opening pressure
- Place Cheer Spring and Sunflower where their coverage matters
- Assign Seal, Butterfly, or Tideon to priority lanes
- Coordinate Bird, Pig, Panda, and Mushroom with your teammate
Recommended Priority Order
- Survival first: A formation that loses its frontline early cannot convert high theoretical damage into a clear.
- Buff alignment second: Make sure Ash Lava, Bat, Fire Moth, or Mushroom affects the units that actually carry the team.
- Control coverage third: Spread sleep, weak debuffs, pushback, slow, and area damage across the lanes that need them.
- Flex optimization last: Only replace a stable unit after identifying the exact problem the new choice should solve.
Change one variable at a time. Moving several units simultaneously makes it difficult to identify whether the improvement came from a new unit, a new lane, or better buff alignment.
| Priority | What to Check | Typical Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frontline survival | Tank, Mantis, Panda, Bird |
| 2 | Main damage scaling | Monkey, Deer, Butterfly |
| 3 | Buff alignment | Ash Lava, Bat, Fire Moth, Mushroom |
| 4 | Crowd control | Sunflower, Tideon, Seal |
| 5 | Lane coverage | Reposition Seal, Tideon, or Deer |
Q: What is the best Tatari formation for every team?
There is no single formation that fits every roster or playstyle. Monkey, Deer, Butterfly, Cheer Spring, and Sunflower are strong core options, while the remaining slots should cover your team’s survival, debuff, and support needs.
Q: Is T2 Monkey worth using in a Tatari formation?
T2 Monkey can be a strong option when upgraded toward level seven, particularly for its area damage. Use it when the team can survive without giving up too much frontline protection.
Q: Where should I place Ash Lava?
Place Ash Lava so its plus-shaped buff reaches the damage dealer you value most. Depending on your formation, that may be Monkey or Deer.
Q: How do Bird and Pig benefit from Earthworm teleporting?
Starting Bird or Pig toward the back can allow Earthworm to teleport the unit into a more useful position later. This can improve shield, buff, or damage-reduction coverage.