# Strategy

> Build advice for tibo.dog grounded in the game data, with every tip labelled as verified data or inference.

Source page: https://tibodog-wiki.vercel.app/strategy · Wiki updated 5 Nov 2026, 21:46 UTC · Game version 75 (`main-CSuyb4iv.js`, data synced 5 Nov 2026, 21:45 UTC)

Strategy advice is **inference** unless marked **Verified**: it is reasoning from the game's numbers, not developer guidance. No official tips have been published by the developer as of 2026-11-05.

## Know the clock

- **Verified**: a run counts as survived at 20:00, when [The Harvester](/bosses/harvester) arrives; there is no win screen and the run goes on. Boss HP is multiplied ×3 from minute 16, ×4 from 18 and ×6 from 20 (`bosses.hpSteps`).
- **Verified**: from 20:00, enemy HP and damage use five-minute phases, with stronger cycles every 20 minutes (see [Enemy scaling](/enemy-scaling)). Each boss you beat raises a [Spud Forge](/points-of-interest#spud-forge) that sells a limit break.
- **Inference**: plan for a strong single-target or elite-damage source by minute 15 to handle the boss HP steps. Save gold for forges if you plan to keep going.

## Plan evolutions around catalysts

- **Verified**: an evolution needs the base weapon at max level (8) plus its catalyst; see [Evolutions](/evolutions).
- **Verified**: these catalysts unlock three or more recipes, so one passive slot can serve several evolutions:

| Catalyst | Recipes |
|---|---|
| [Starch Plating](/passives/starch-plating) | [Cast Iron](/weapons/cast-iron), [Hash Bulwark](/weapons/hash-bulwark), [Rösti Storm](/weapons/rosti-storm), [Fry Volcano](/items/fry-volcano) |
| [Hot Sauce](/passives/hot-sauce) | [Gratin Arc](/weapons/gratin-arc), [Spicy Hot Potato](/weapons/spicy-hot-potato), [Spudzooka](/weapons/spudzooka), [Bonfire Spud](/items/bonfire-spud) |
| [Masher Grip](/passives/masher-grip) | [Taproot Eruption](/weapons/taproot-eruption), [Mash Avalanche](/weapons/mash-avalanche), [Tater Minigun](/weapons/tater-minigun), [Meteor Russet](/items/meteor-russet) |
| [Fertilizer](/passives/fertilizer) | [Big Fry](/weapons/big-fry), [Overgrowth](/weapons/overgrowth), [Potato Patch](/weapons/potato-patch) |
| [Slow Cooker](/passives/slow-cooker) | [Cold Storage](/weapons/cold-storage), [Eternal Sprouts](/weapons/eternal-sprouts), [Glacier Spud](/items/glacier-spud) |
| [Four-Eyed Spud](/passives/four-eyed-spud) | [Factory Reset](/weapons/factory-reset), [Loaded Dice](/weapons/loaded-dice), [All-Seeing Spud](/items/all-seeing-spud) |
| [Spud Sneakers](/passives/spud-sneakers) | [Ghee Glide](/weapons/ghee-glide), [Railfry](/weapons/railfry), [Salt Flats](/weapons/salt-flats) |
| [Rotten Spud](/passives/rotten-spud) | [Landmine Harvest](/weapons/landmine-harvest), [Moon Cleaver](/weapons/moon-cleaver), [Kaboom Spud](/items/kaboom-spud) |
| [Big Bowl](/passives/big-bowl) | [Mashquake](/weapons/mashquake), [Stand Mixer](/weapons/stand-mixer), [Magma Croquette](/items/magma-croquette) |
| [Root Network](/passives/root-network) | [Pressure Cooker](/weapons/pressure-cooker), [Spud Grid](/weapons/spud-grid), [Storm Tot](/items/storm-tot) |

- **Inference**: pick weapons whose catalysts overlap so your 6 passive slots cover more evolutions.

## Cooldown has a cap

- **Verified**: cooldown reduction is capped at 60% (`cooldownCap`). Past that, more [Chives](/passives/chives) or [Chive Charm](/items/chive-charm) does nothing.

## Crit and dodge have diminishing returns

- **Verified**: crit chance and dodge use `x / (1 + x)`. [Hot Sauce](/passives/hot-sauce) at level 5 gives 0.30 crit points = 23% crit chance, not 30%. Each extra point is worth less.
- **Verified**: crit damage starts at ×2 and [Sour Cream](/passives/sour-cream) adds +0.2 per level.

## Curse is a trade

- **Verified**: each curse you *take* (a Moldy Shrine you accept, or Nightmare's starting curse) adds extra elites and bosses; the curse stat itself (also raised by Rotten Spud and Cursed Crown) makes pests tougher and raises XP and gold gain by 50% of its value, but adds no elites or bosses. See [Curse](/curse).
- **Inference**: take curse when your build already clears comfortably and you want faster levels; avoid it on a shaky run.

## Protect Tibo

- **Verified**: [Waffles](/dogs/corgi) freezes nearby enemies, [Moss](/dogs/collie) pushes them back, [Barrel](/dogs/saint-bernard) heals when health is low, [Link](/dogs/pomeranian) blocks a hit.
- **Verified**: [Frying Pan](/weapons/frying-pan) and [Hash Brown Shield](/weapons/hash-brown-shield) are defensive weapons (`reflect` / `guard` behaviour); [Starch Plating](/passives/starch-plating) adds 20 armor per level.
- **Inference**: damage totals at the end of a run undervalue these, because their value is damage you did not take.

## Early economy

- **Verified**: [Potato Magnet](/passives/potato-magnet) (+25% pickup range per level) and [Fertilizer](/passives/fertilizer) (+8% XP gain per level) speed up levelling; [Fertilizer](/passives/fertilizer) is also a catalyst for [Big Fry](/weapons/big-fry) and [Overgrowth](/weapons/overgrowth).
- **Inference**: economy picks pay off most early; late in a run a damage or defence pick is usually worth more.

## Use the map

- **Verified**: biomes differ in gold and XP multipliers (up to ×1.4 gold in [Coin Laundromat](/biomes/coin-laundromat) and ×1.2 XP in [Crop Circle](/biomes/crop-circle)) and in hazards. See [Biomes](/biomes).
- **Verified**: the [Spud Whetstone](/points-of-interest#spud-whetstone) levels up a weapon, the [Seed Vault](/points-of-interest#seed-vault) gives rerolls, a skip and a banish, and the [Frenzy Fryer](/points-of-interest#frenzy-fryer) gives 20 s of ×1.4 fire rate.

## Sources

Game version 75: `main-CSuyb4iv.js` / `boot-CPW8VVmR.js` / `sim-BkfBhQfw.js` from https://tibo.dog/, researched 2026-11-05. See [Versions & updates](/versions).
- Game config and formulas in `sim-BkfBhQfw.js`