Tower defence fundamentals I wish someone told me sooner

Most tower defence games share a hidden grammar, and once you learn it, hard levels stop feeling random. The first rule is that spacing beats power. A long, winding path where enemies pass your towers many times is worth more than a single overpowered tower at the exit.

Second, know your damage types before you build. Splash damage shreds groups, single-target melts armoured leaders, and slow effects multiply everything else. Reading the wave preview and matching towers to it is the difference between a comfortable clear and a panic.

Third, upgrade before you expand. Two maxed towers usually outperform four weak ones because most games give upgrades a better cost-to-power ratio than new placements. I lost far too many levels before that clicked.

Finally, keep a small reserve of money for the final waves. Boss rounds often need one emergency tower or a targeted ability, and going into them broke has ended many of my runs. Leave yourself an out.