iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Short answer: build a small team that can clear your current map instead of chasing rarity. A practical community route is to save gems for the permanent 2× damage upgrade and then the 2× coins upgrade, use Speedy, Stacky and Mighty as an early King-map formation, and replay the highest stage you can clear consistently. Treat that lineup, the gem prices and the map milestones as an unofficial starting route: the game is still being updated, and no current developer tier list establishes one objectively best beginner monster.
Summoner’s Greed is an idle tower-defense game in which you summon, place and upgrade monsters. The Google Play listing also advertises offline resource collection, ads and in-app purchases, and shows an update dated 25 September 2026. That continuing update cycle is why your live client should have the final word on costs, descriptions and difficulty.
What to invest in first
Early progress is usually limited by two things: a team that cannot finish the next wave and a resource budget spread across too many monsters. Spend on the smallest group that solves the immediate problem. Community beginner guides converge on three practical choices:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Speedy as part of the support around your main damage source.
- Mighty as the other core unit in that support-plus-damage arrangement.
- Stacky as a third unit in the suggested King-map formation.
The Earlygame guide specifically places Stacky between Speedy and Mighty on the King map. The updated beginner guide likewise tells new players to prioritize Speedy and Mighty around a main damage dealer. These are community recommendations, not balance guarantees. Use the monsters’ current in-game descriptions and your own wave results to confirm that the arrangement helps in your version.
#1 Best Overall
- WIDE SCREEN COMPATIBILITY — PHONE TO TABLET: X5 Lite is a versatile phone controller that stretches up to 213mm to fit iPhone 15/16, most Android phones, iPad mini 6/7, and compatible Android tablets. Secure Type-C connection keeps gameplay stable and responsive.
- MOBILE, CLOUD & REMOTE GAMING: Play supported mobile games like Zenless Zone Zero, or stream console and PC games through Xbox Game Pass, Steam Link, Moonlight, and remote play. Enjoy physical controls wherever you play.
- HALL EFFECT STICKS — PRECISE CONTROL: GameSir Hall Effect sensing sticks deliver smooth 360° control for accurate aiming, movement, and camera adjustments. Built for fast-paced mobile games and streamed console or PC titles.
- LIGHTWEIGHT & ERGONOMIC — 135.4G: At just 135.4g, X5 Lite stays lightweight during extended gaming. Ergonomic, laser-engraved textured grips provide a secure, comfortable hold at home or on the go.
- CUSHIONED MEMBRANE CONTROLS — COMFORTABLE & QUIETER: Cushioned membrane buttons and triggers provide comfortable feedback for repeated inputs while keeping operation quieter. Ideal for extended sessions or gaming in shared spaces.
Do not interpret “best monsters” as “highest rarity.” A Mythic or Legendary that costs more gold than your account can sustain, occupies a role you already have covered, or fails to clear the next map is a worse early investment than a cheaper unit that lets you farm reliably.
How to spend your first gems
Gems are most valuable when they improve every future run. The Earlygame community guide recommends buying the permanent 2× damage upgrade first and the permanent 2× coins upgrade second, rather than spending those early gems on Epic-to-Legendary summons. It states prices of 500 gems and 1,000 gems respectively; those figures are guide claims and should be checked against the shop in your current client before you plan around them.
| Order | Community recommendation | Guide-stated price | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Permanent 2× damage upgrade | 500 gems | Raises the damage output of future teams and can make a previously stalled map farmable. | Confirm the current price, whether the upgrade is still permanent, and which damage sources it affects. |
| 2 | Permanent 2× coins upgrade | 1,000 gems | Improves the gold returned by later farming, accelerating monster and skill upgrades. | Check the live shop label and whether the multiplier applies to the maps and modes you are farming. |
| 3 | Summons or other gem purchases | Not stated | Consider them after the account-wide upgrades and a functioning core team are in place. | Compare the pull’s role and upgrade cost with the bottleneck that is stopping your next clear. |
The order is a way to compound future earnings and damage, not a rule enforced by the game. If your shop has changed, follow the current description. Keep a reserve rather than spending every gem immediately; a new upgrade, event or map requirement can change the best use of a small balance.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhere gold should go
Gold is not only a monster-leveling currency. The community reference lists monster upgrades, player skills and Seller offers as competing uses, and the Gold reference notes that monster costs vary by unit. Before confirming an expensive level, open that monster’s upgrade screen and compare the displayed price with the benefit it gives your current stage.
- Fund the core clear. Raise the few monsters that are actually holding a lane, amplifying damage or dealing the damage that ends waves. Avoid leveling every newly summoned unit to the same point.
- Check player skills only when they solve the same bottleneck. A skill that lets your current team survive or finish a boss can be a better purchase than a marginal level on a reserve monster; a skill with no immediate effect on your stuck wave can wait.
- Evaluate Seller offers deliberately. Gold spent on an offer is gold unavailable for a guaranteed level. Buy only when the offer addresses a present shortage and the trade does not delay the next meaningful upgrade.
- Keep a written target. Note the next level or skill that would let you clear the next map, then farm until you can pay for it. This prevents small impulse purchases from consuming the entire run’s income.
Some progression thresholds can also involve power stones. Because requirements differ by unit and system, read the threshold shown in the client instead of assuming that gold alone unlocks every level.
Using Speedy, Stacky and Mighty as a starter formation
The suggested three-monster setup is useful because it gives a new account a compact core rather than a full roster of underpowered units. The community route places Stacky between Speedy and Mighty on the King map. Start there, then watch which lane fails and adjust one position at a time; a placement that works on one map can be inferior when enemy paths or wave timing change.
Rank #2
- Bluetooth Controller for iPhone & Android: Mocagen mobile gaming controller Compatible with all iPhone models (including 18/17 series) and Android devices. Pairing steps: 1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and go to the pairing screen. 2. Press and hold the Home button for 3 sec until LED4 flashes. 3. Find "XBOX Wireless Controller" on your phone and tap to pair. Quick reconnect: After first pairing, simply press the Home button once (with Bluetooth on) to reconnect
- Play Most Controller-Compatible Games: This iPhone game controller supports cloud gaming (e.g., Xb*x Game Pass, GeForce NOW), Xbox Remote Play, emulator games, and native mobile games (e.g., Apple Arcade). Enjoy effortless control and play Fortnite, Call of Duty, Roblox, Genshin Impact, and many more anytime, anywhere. Note: Controller only works with games that support controller input, and does not support PS Remote Play
- 5M-Cycle Lifespan & Zero Drift: MC1 mobile gaming controller features a Hall-effect joystick with a 5M cycle lifespan, 2.5x longer than standard carbon-film sticks. Its innovative electromagnetic induction technology ensures drift-free operation, enabling precise character control in intense games and significantly extending this phone game controller durability
- Ergonomic Grip Design: The handle is ergonomically shaped with a l*ser-engraved texture for anti-slip and enhanced grip, effectively reducing fatigue during long gaming sessions. The scientifically designed joystick and button layout ensures smooth operation. Whether for personal use or as a gift, it delivers a more comfortable and healthier gaming experience
- 7-Color RGB Light Ring & 600mAh Battery: The mobile game controller features a 7-color adjustable light ring on the joystick(ABXY button lights can be turned off, but their colors are not adjustable). The lighting is vibrant yet eye-friendly. The built-in 600mAh battery provides up to 6 hours of battery life in brightness mode — enough for a full day of gaming
| Monster | How community advice uses it | Placement or investment approach | Limit of the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedy | Part of the support around the main damage dealer. | Use it in the core formation and test whether its current effect increases the team’s wave-clearing output. | The guides do not establish a universal rank for every map or the latest balance version. |
| Stacky | Third member of the suggested King-map starter lineup. | Try placing Stacky between Speedy and Mighty as the Earlygame guide describes, then change the position only if the lane results show a problem. | The placement is a guide-specific route, not a developer requirement. |
| Mighty | Prioritized with Speedy around a principal damage source. | Invest when its next upgrade improves the wave or boss that is blocking progress. | Its value depends on your current level, costs and the map in the live client. |
Do not read the table as a claim that these three are the only viable beginners’ monsters. It is a focused experiment that limits spending while you learn the maps. If another unit clearly clears the next stage for less gold, use that evidence from your account.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
A practical early progression route
The Earlygame guide describes a route through the King map, then Ragefist Chieftain Normal, followed by Joint Revenge Normal. It also gives level suggestions, but those milestones are guide-specific and are not developer-confirmed requirements for the current build.
1. Establish a repeatable King-map clear
Place Speedy, Stacky and Mighty in the suggested order, start with the levels your account can afford, and run the map several times. A stage is “farmable” only if the team clears it without frequent manual rescue or an outcome that depends on an unusually favorable run. Record the wave at which damage, survival or placement fails; that tells you whether the next gold purchase belongs to a damage unit, support unit or player skill.
2. Test Ragefist Chieftain Normal
Once the King-map formation clears reliably, attempt Ragefist Chieftain Normal. Do not force the attempt because a guide names it as the next milestone. If the boss or a late wave stops you, return to the strongest stage you can complete consistently and buy the upgrade that directly addresses that failure.
3. Move to Joint Revenge Normal
After the Ragefist Chieftain step, the same guide suggests Joint Revenge Normal as a farming destination. A separate beginner guide also recommends repeating Joint Revenge when a wave blocks progress. The practical rule is broader than the map names: farm the highest stage that is dependable, not the highest stage you can barely finish once.
4. Reassess after every major upgrade
Rerun the previously blocked map after a damage multiplier, core-monster level or relevant skill purchase. If the clear is now reliable, move your farming loop forward. If it is not, do not respond by leveling five additional monsters; identify the exact wave and spend on the smallest change that can pass it.
Rank #3
- Officially licensed by Xbox. Bluetooth connection. Supports Xbox Cloud Gaming.
- Officially supported by Apple. Compatible with Apple and Android devices. Stretchable design fits most phones (100–170mm in length).
- Hall Effect Joysticks and Triggers - Upgraded. Robust and long-lasting. Offering higher precision and sensitivity.
- Tactile bumpers and D-pad, 2 Pro back paddle buttons, Xbox button, and wear-resistant metal joystick rings for more ways to play.
- Support 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 on mobile.
How to farm gold efficiently
Gold farming is a reliability problem before it is a speed problem. A spectacular stage that fails often produces less usable gold than a slightly easier stage that finishes every run. Use this loop:
- Choose the highest campaign map your core team clears repeatedly.
- Run it long enough to see whether the same wave fails or whether the result is stable.
- Spend the accumulated gold on the next core upgrade, player skill or clearly worthwhile Seller offer.
- Repeat the map after the purchase and move up only when the clear remains dependable.
The store listing says the game provides offline resources, so claim the accumulated resources when you return and fold them into the same upgrade plan. The listing does not establish a universal offline rate, and rates can change; do not assume that idling a difficult stage is better than actively replaying an easier reliable one.
If you have purchased the 2× coins upgrade described by the community guide, verify in the current shop and results screen how it is applied. Keep the multiplier’s actual behavior tied to the live client rather than assuming that every mode pays at the same rate.
Recommended Free Tools
What “orbs” or evolution gems mean for a new account
Players often use “orbs” as a general term for upgrade currencies, but the game has multiple resources. First identify the icon and name shown beside the currency you mean. Gold, gems, power stones and evolution-related materials are not interchangeable.
The community Monster Evolution reference presents evolution-gem farming as a later-game system connected to challenge modes. That means a beginner should normally concentrate on campaign progress and a dependable team before diverting effort to evolution farming. Unlock conditions and reward quantities should be checked in the current client; the reference does not establish that every new account has immediate access to the same challenge or payout.
If you mean evolution gems
- Progress through campaign content until the challenge-related system is available in your version.
- Read the mode’s unlock text and reward preview before spending stamina, attempts or other resources.
- Farm the challenge only when the expected reward is worth the time and your team can clear it consistently.
- Do not sacrifice the core gold-farming loop for an evolution currency that cannot yet improve your immediate stage.
If you mean another orb currency
Use the in-game help text or the item’s detail panel to determine its purpose. The available community material does not provide a complete current table of every orb type, drop rate or map, so a precise universal farming route would be misleading.
Rank #4
- Expanded Screen Compatibility: Stretchable up to 213mm, fitting iPad Mini 6/7 and Android tablets; Compatible with iPhone 15/16 and Android devices; Ultra-stable Type-C connection ensures lag-free gaming across all supported screen
- Mobile Gaming Compatibility: Lets you play most of the games you want. Supports Xbox Game Pass, Zenless Zone Zero, cloud gaming, Steam/Moonlight streaming games, and remote play
- Hall Effect Sticks: GameSir Hall Effect sensing sticks deliver 360° seamless pinpoint control, provide the precision and durability that mobile gamers demand
- Ergonomic and Lightweight Design: Stay comfortable during long gaming sessions with the X5 Lite. Weighing just 135.4g, its lightweight design and ergonomically laser-engraved textured grips ensure a secure, comfortable hold for hours of gameplay
- Cushioned and Durable Membrane: The X5 Lite is equipped with cushioned and durable membrane triggers and buttons. The cushioned feedback provides a comfortable experience while ensuring quieter operation
How to choose a Mythic or Legendary target
No current developer-authored beginner tier list was identified, and community recommendations can lag behind balance updates. Instead of selecting a name from an old ranking, evaluate any Mythic or Legendary you obtain or consider on four axes.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Question | What to inspect | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|
| What battlefield role does it fill? | Damage, support, stalling or control, as described in the current monster screen. | Prefer a role that fixes the next wave rather than duplicating a unit you already use effectively. |
| What does the next upgrade cost? | Gold, power stones and any other displayed material; costs vary by monster. | Compare the full cost with the upgrade on your current core team. Rarity alone does not pay the bill. |
| Does it improve current progression? | Whether it changes the map, boss or wave that currently stops you. | Invest when you can connect the unit to a specific clear or a more reliable farming stage. |
| Is the information current? | Version notes, current description, map behavior and shop values in your client. | Trust the live game over an undated tier list, especially after a recent update. |
A five-question pull check
- Can I describe the unit’s job in one sentence?
- Which monster would receive less investment if I level this one?
- What is the displayed cost of its next useful upgrade?
- Will that upgrade help the next blocked wave or boss?
- Can I still afford the core team and the next farming milestone afterward?
If you cannot answer those questions, keep the unit uninvested while you learn its effect. A high-rarity summon can remain a reserve until your account has the gold and materials to use it well.
When summoning is worth more than upgrading
The Earlygame guide specifically advises against using early gems on Epic-to-Legendary summons before buying the two shop upgrades. That does not mean summons are never useful. Consider a summon after the permanent upgrades and a stable core when all of the following are true:
- Your current team clears its farming map reliably.
- The next core upgrade is either unaffordable for a long time or produces less progress than a new role would.
- You have checked the summon’s current cost and understand what resources future upgrades require.
- You are comfortable delaying a guaranteed level or skill purchase for a chance-based result.
If any condition is false, preserve the gems. The opportunity cost is the guaranteed account-wide improvement you could buy later.
Common early mistakes and fixes
Spreading gold across the whole roster
Symptom: many monsters have modest levels, but no lane survives the final waves. Fix: pause reserve upgrades and concentrate on the smallest formation that can clear your current farm.
Chasing rarity without checking role
Symptom: a Mythic or Legendary is on the field, yet the same wave still fails. Fix: read its current description, identify the missing role and compare its actual upgrade cost with Speedy, Stacky, Mighty or your existing damage dealer.
Best Value
- Compatible with Android devices and fits mobile devices ranging from 100mm to 170mm in length.
- Hall Effect Joysticks and Triggers
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light and tactile.
- 2 Pro back paddle buttons
- Profile button. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings. Turbo function.
Farming a map you cannot clear consistently
Symptom: gold income varies sharply because the run often stalls. Fix: drop back to the strongest reliable stage, buy one targeted upgrade, then test the harder map again.
Using gems on summons before permanent upgrades
Symptom: the roster grows but account-wide damage and coin income remain unchanged. Fix: check whether the shop still offers the 2× damage and 2× coins upgrades described by the community guide, and verify their live prices before saving or spending.
Assuming guide level targets are mandatory
Symptom: you grind to a stated level even though your version clears earlier, or you fail because your version needs more. Fix: use wave results and the current upgrade screen as the breakpoint. Community level suggestions are routes, not developer requirements.
Version and source checks before you commit
The Google Play listing for Summoner Greed: Idle TD Heroes is marked updated 25 September 2026 and describes offline resources, ads and in-app purchases: view the listing. Because updates continue, check the monster descriptions, shop prices, map modifiers and challenge unlocks after installing an update.
For the community route, consult the Earlygame guide and the updated beginner guide. For reference on unit costs, see the Monsters category; for gold uses, see the Gold page; and for evolution systems, see Monster Evolution. These are community-maintained references, so use them to form a plan and the live client to confirm it.
A simple decision rule for every purchase
Before spending gold, gems or a rare currency, ask: Will this purchase make my next reliable clear possible, or make the farming stage I already clear pay back faster? If the answer is no, hold the resource. That rule naturally leads a new account toward the Speedy–Stacky–Mighty experiment, the two account-wide gem upgrades when they are still available, and a progression path from a dependable King-map clear through Ragefist Chieftain Normal and Joint Revenge Normal without pretending that any one lineup is permanently best.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
