EVO Defense Merge TD is one of those tower defense games that looks simple for the first five minutes and then quietly starts punishing you for every bad habit you brought in from other TD games. The merge system alone changes how you should think about placement, upgrades, and even when not to improve your units. If you play it like a normal merge TD, you will struggle. If you slow down and understand how the game wants you to play, it becomes much smoother.
This guide is aimed at brand-new players and early-game progression.
Active Codes (Launch Codes)
Before you even touch gameplay, redeem the codes. They matter early.
Main Code (Works for Everyone)
EVODEFENSE2026
Gives silver hammers and early resources.
Pre-Registration Code (May or May Not Work)
PRE777
This one worked for players who pre-registered on the official site. Some players report it works, some don’t. There’s no harm in trying.
Redeem codes from the Redeem option in the menu. All caps matters.
Understanding the Core Loop (Why This Game Feels Different)
At its core, EVO Defense Merge TD is about:
- Filling your board efficiently
- Controlling enemy movement, not just damage
- Delaying merges instead of rushing them
- Letting synergies do the work rather than raw power
Unlike most merge TD games, merging is a gamble. When you merge two identical units, you don’t get an upgraded version of that unit. You get a random unit from your current lineup. This single design choice changes everything.
Unit Types Explained (Early Game Focus)
You will see multiple unit categories, but early on, your lineup will be limited. That’s normal.
Ice Mage (Mandatory Early Game Unit)
This is easily the most important early-game unit.
Why Ice Mage matters:
- Slows enemies
- Can freeze enemies with the right enhancement
- Buys time, which is more valuable than damage early on
Early waves don’t overwhelm you with health, they overwhelm you with movement. Ice Mage fixes that problem. You should always have at least one Ice Mage on the board early, and honestly, having multiple is even better.
If you see an enhancement that allows Ice Mage to freeze enemies for two seconds, take it every time. No hesitation.
Cannon / Bomb Mage (AOE Carry)
This unit throws large AOE bombs and clears waves efficiently.
Why it’s strong:
- Massive AOE damage
- Handles grouped enemies
- Complements Ice Mage perfectly
Ice Mage slows them down. Cannon deletes them. Simple, effective synergy.
Poison Archer (Shroom / Advanced Archer)
If you pull this early, replace the basic archer immediately.
Why it’s better:
- Applies poison damage
- Consistent DPS over time
- Excellent value even at low merge levels
You don’t need many of them. Even one or two can carry a surprising amount of damage across an entire wave.
Knight (Trap Unit for Beginners)
This is where many new players mess up.
The Knight looks strong, but:
- Extremely short range
- Poor early positioning
- Needs enemies to already be close
That means early game, the Knight does almost nothing unless your defenses are already failing. It becomes better later when enemies stack up near your base, but early on, it’s usually a bad summon.
Avoid building around Knights early.
Athena (Support – Situational)
Athena boosts attack speed, but only for a few attacks.
Why she feels weak early:
- Buff duration is short
- Needs strong DPS units to feel impactful
- Underwhelming at low levels
She isn’t useless, but she’s not beginner-friendly. Early game, raw control and AOE matter more.
The Biggest Beginner Mistake: Merging Too Early
This deserves its own section.
When you start a run, do not merge immediately.
You must:
- Fill every single platform on the board first
- Make sure you have coverage across the map
- Only then consider merging
Why this matters:
- Merging removes two units and gives one random unit
- You can lose crucial control units like Ice Mage
- Empty platforms mean lost DPS and wasted time
Think of merging as a late-stage optimization tool, not an early upgrade system.
Smart Merging Strategy (How to Not Ruin Your Run)
Merging isn’t bad. Rushing it is.
Keep these rules in mind:
- Never merge if it will remove your only Ice Mage
- Avoid merging core utility units unless you have backups
- Merge when you have excess units, not when you’re desperate
Also, remember that merges interact with board tiles.
Some tiles provide bonuses like:
- Increased damage
- Attack speed
- Special merge effects
If you’re merging units, always choose the tile carefully. Your highest-tier unit should be on the strongest tile available. Merging blindly on a bad tile is throwing value away.
Enhancements: Pick What Matches Your Board
Enhancements are powerful, but only if they match what you’re actually using.
Common beginner mistake:
Upgrading bomb damage when you’re about to merge away all bomb units.
Before choosing an enhancement, ask:
- Do I have multiple copies of this unit?
- Will I still have this unit after future merges?
- Does this help control enemies or just add damage?
Top priority enhancements early:
- Freeze effects (Ice Mage)
- AOE damage boosts
- Slow and control effects
- General damage boosts that apply broadly
Board Control > Damage (Early Philosophy)
You don’t win early runs by killing enemies faster.
You win by not letting them move.
Slows, freezes, and AOE all multiply each other. A single Ice Mage can be worth more than two pure DPS units if it allows your bombs and poison to tick longer.
If enemies never reach the mid-lane, you’re playing correctly.
Final Beginner Loadout Recommendation
If possible, aim for something like:
- 1–2 Ice Mages
- 1 Cannon / Bomb Mage
- 1 Poison Archer
- Flexible slot (extra Ice Mage or DPS)
Don’t stress about perfection. Stability matters more than optimization early.
EVO Defense Merge TD rewards patience. The game actively punishes impulse decisions, especially merging out of habit. If you slow down, fill your board, respect control units, and only merge when you have breathing room, the difficulty curve feels fair instead of frustrating.
