The Battle Cats Tier List

If you’re familiar with bots on discord like Packpack, you may be aware of the concept of DPS Graph or Surge Theory, which in dummy terms is basically depicting a unit’s average DPS (with surge luck accounted for) on a graph.

(Above, an example of level 60 Dasli DPS Graph)

DPS Graphs will be ignored when assessing units.

This is because DPS Graphs are heavily flawed. The core problem of DPS Graphs is that they tend to overgeneralize a unit’s offensive output. More specifically, DPS graphs severely undermine the offensive potential of surge units with higher level surges.

DPS in itself is already not a consistent depiction of a unit’s offensive output, as certain units are meant to burst huge damage. An example would be Lasvoss vs Shishilan, where both at no talents carry a peak DPS of about 9000, whereas Shishilan has much higher standing range. But to say Shishilan has superior offense would be obviously wrong, as it ignores Lasvoss’s emphasis on his huge singular damage, which is where most of his value as a nuker lies.

DPS Graphs pretty much averages an average. This is primarily focused on surges, where the surge spawn location is averaged and the hitbox of surge is accounted for when presenting a unit’s DPS on a graph. By boiling down a surge attackers attack cycle by averaging their surge spawn location and their damage, you create a result where most surge attackers are depicted to be considerably weaker than what their actual in-game results show.

In Dasli’s case, the DPS graph is showing that a level 60 Dasli has 22K peak DPS that is only achievable at 300 range, which is obviously bullshit due to the surge being fully capable of covering that area as well as other locations. It’s a statistical average that poorly illustrates where Dasli’s peak DPS can land in actual gameplay.

This is why you get very funky comparisons such as non-UT Ganesha having higher DPS than Dark Kasli, Bikiniluga having relatively strong DPS throughout a wide area, and Akira having equal piercing damage to Asukasli. Many of these comparisons and statements are either very loosely, or completely disconnected from actual game results.

DPS Graphs also ignore one of surge’s greatest strengths: damage uptime. One reason why surge is such an amazing ability is how they persist on the field, damaging enemies the moment they come into contact with the hitbox which creates extremely powerful control, especially when clearing peons which in turn creates amazing synergy with other attackers (particularly melee like Can Can and Balrog). DPS Graph doesn’t account for this, and rather focuses on the spread of surges over their longevity/ impact they provide on the field.

This is not to deny the existence of DPS Graph/ Surge Theory. It is very true that due to the nature of surges, DPS can vary in different locations. I recommend giving the Surge Theory document a read, it provides more insight into DPS on surge units. I just don’t recommend basing your assessment on a unit’s offense primarily on DPS Graphs, rather it should be used as confirmation or a curveball in the process.

This is just a personal opinion, but it is really upsetting to see a lot of the discord community (particularly the once operational Public Battle Cats Fandom) utilize DPS graphs to skew unit stats and spread misinformation about many units whether they are aware of it or not. I’m personally a believer that while DPS graphs have utility, it’s caused a lot more damage to the community due to its tendency to overgeneralize units (particularly surge and LD units) to an extreme degree.

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