Tatari horde skills: Leveling Guide & Team Setup Tips

The Horde Invasion mode gives each Tatari a separate progression path built around its base skill and three Horde-specific upgrades. Tatari gain stat increases with each level, while new skills are learned at levels 3, 5, and 7. This makes leveling order more important than simply deploying the highest number of units available.

The skill system applies across a Tatari’s evolutionary line. Evolved forms become stronger through their improved statistics and form-specific base skill, but their Horde level-up skills remain the same. This allows you to plan a skill route around a Tatari family instead of rebuilding your strategy every time the unit evolves.

Video Highlights:

• Formation planning for T2, T3, and mixed-progression teams
• Why Monkey level 7 can become a major area-damage breakpoint
• How Deer, Butterfly, Sunflower, and Cheer Spring fit into a core team
• Ways to balance damage, support, control, and survivability

The current Horde format features three rounds, up to 25 waves per round, and four difficulty levels. Boss waves and randomized Chips can change which skills or roles have the greatest value. For example, a damage boost for one element can make an offensive Tatari more attractive, while defensive effects can support a slower setup.

The available Horde skill data shows how dramatically the system can expand a Tatari’s purpose. Zapup begins with chain lightning, then gains extra bolt effects, a periodic ally summon, and finally wide-area damage over time. Clucky follows a more supportive path, mixing offensive seeds with healing and continuous recovery.

These examples show two useful design patterns:

• Scaling damage: The skill adds more targets, wider coverage, or persistent damage.
• Hybrid utility: The Tatari gains healing or support while retaining offensive pressure.

The base skill should still influence deployment decisions. A Tatari with a strong normal attack can be useful before its first Horde upgrade, while a unit whose best effect arrives at level 7 may need protection and resource support.

Reading the Skill Path

Zapup’s path favors players who want repeated lightning pressure. Its level 3 effect improves attack variance, level 5 adds another source of chain damage, and level 7 creates persistent area pressure. That progression rewards keeping Zapup active long enough to reach its final upgrade.

Clucky is more flexible. Its early upgrade can contribute damage or healing, while level 5 gives it a clearer support identity. Level 7 expands both sides of the kit, making Clucky useful in formations that need sustain without giving up all offensive output.

The skill table should be read as a progression map rather than a strict ranking. Horde Chips can favor a particular element, damage pattern, or defensive setup. A Grass damage bonus may improve Clucky’s offensive value, while a defensive Chip may make its healing more important than its damage.

A strong Horde team is not just a list of individually powerful Tatari. It is a coordinated formation where each unit covers a specific need. The formation guidance emphasizes a recurring core of Monkey, Deer, Butterfly, Cheer Spring, and Sunflower, with the remaining slots adjusted for damage, defense, debuffs, and team support.

Monkey is a key offensive investment when it can reach level 7, particularly because its bouncing attack can deliver substantial area damage. Deer contributes piercing damage and can be positioned according to which unit should receive a directional buff. Butterfly, Seal, and Tideon support control-focused setups through effects such as sleep or debuff application.

A two-player team should divide responsibilities instead of duplicating every support effect. One player can handle Panda and another defensive unit, while the partner focuses on Bird, Pig, or additional damage. The exact assignment is flexible, but communication prevents both players from spending formation slots on the same type of support.

Position also affects skill value. The formation reference recommends changing Deer or Monkey placement based on the direction of an Ash Lava buff. Bat can be positioned to benefit an ally rather than itself, and Earthworm teleporting can help move Bird or Pig into a more useful lane after deployment.

Use this route when entering a Horde run with a clear damage carry and several support units. The goal is to unlock meaningful breakpoints without weakening the formation by overspending on one unit too early.

Chips should influence the route after they appear. Photosynthesis and Bounty Hunter improve access to energizers, while elemental Form Chips increase damage for matching Tatari. Glass Cannon raises attack but reduces maximum health, so it favors teams with enough protection to absorb the tradeoff.

Before starting a serious attempt, confirm that your team has a clear carry, at least one source of support, and a plan for the final upgrade. The event allows repeated attempts during its active period, but daily placement rewards are based on your best result and later improvements.

The current format uses 25 waves or 750 kills per round, with Boss Zobos appearing at the end of waves. A run can also include up to three Chips per player, so the final build may change significantly from the opening formation.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Leveling every unit evenly: This can leave the team without a meaningful level 5 or level 7 carry.
• Ignoring support coverage: Damage units may underperform if they lack protection, healing, or attack buffs.
• Copying positions exactly: Formation lanes depend on buff direction, boss location, and teammate assignments.
• Forcing one element: Chips may make another element more efficient during the current run.
• Moving units without a reason: Relocation can affect support range, buff targets, and control coverage.

For reference, the horde section documents the current event structure, Chip effects, wave rules, and the Horde skill framework. Use it alongside your in-run observations, especially when a seasonal update changes available buffs or difficulty behavior.