Starting strong is one of the most important parts of Garden Tower Defense. Picking the right starter unit can make the difference between clearing waves with ease or struggling early on.
To figure out the best option, a creator tested every starter unit in the game on Insane Mode. The challenge was simple: survive long enough to earn $2000 and place down a powerful “Hell Root” unit.
Each unit was judged on its cost, damage, cooldown, ease of use, and overall effectiveness in the early game. Here’s the complete breakdown of how every starter ranked.
Unit Rankings & Reviews
- Tomato ($100) – A+
Extremely cheap and reliable. Easy to spam and surprisingly effective for its cost. - Sawflower ($200) – A
Solid early damage and easy to level up, but its range is limited. - Radish ($200) – A++
A hidden powerhouse. After a few upgrades, it becomes incredibly strong. - Pomegranate ($300) – F
Weak damage, very slow, and overall useless as a starter. - Onion ($150) – C
Decent if spammed, but not ideal compared to stronger options. - Lumberjack ($500) – D
Too expensive for the early game and not worth the cost. - Cactus – Skipped
Deemed too terrible to even test. - Cabbage ($150) – S+ (God Tier)
Amazing damage and fire rate. One of the best starters and stands out above most others. - Strawberry ($200) – C
Takes too much effort to be effective. Not recommended. - Potato ($300) – Low C
An okay choice for beginners but struggles against stronger waves. - Pineapple Cannon ($400) – Low B / C
High AoE damage but crippled by a very slow cooldown. - Gnome ($250) – B
A cheap and dependable option. - Farmer ($250) – A+
Surprisingly strong. Deals great damage and held up extremely well in testing. - Eggplant ($300) – C
Damage is okay, but cooldown issues make it underwhelming. - Stem Strike ($400) – L (Fail)
Too costly with poor returns. The test run failed using this unit. - Slap Leaf ($400) – C
Strong damage but terrible upgrade costs. Not starter-friendly. - Cherries ($350) – High C / Low B
Pretty good, but still allowed a lot of damage through. - Lawnmower ($700) – A
A special case. Works well as a backup placed at the end of the track but map-dependent. - Electric Beetroot ($200) – S+ (Ultimate God Tier)
The undisputed best unit in the game. Strong enough to carry early waves alone. Rare and highly sought after.
The Electric Beetroot takes the crown as the best starter unit in Garden Tower Defense. It’s powerful, efficient, and can single-handedly carry your early game. However, not everyone has access to it due to its rarity.
If you don’t have the Beetroot, other excellent starter choices include the Cabbage, Radish, and Farmer. These units are cost-efficient, deal great damage, and can keep your defenses strong until you can afford higher-tier options. No matter which unit you choose, starting with the right strategy is the key to surviving Insane Mode.