MegaBonk Progression Guide: How to Unlock Tiers & Win Runs

If you’ve ever cleared Tier 1 in MegaBonk and then slammed into a wall on Tier 2 or Tier 3, you’re not alone. The game doesn’t hand out permanent stat upgrades like other roguelikes, so progression feels more about knowledge, unlocks, and smart choices than raw grinding.

The trick is understanding the right order to push content so you don’t get stuck wasting Silver or banging your head against impossible runs.

How Progression Works in MegaBonk

MegaBonk has no permanent meta-stat upgrades like many other roguelikes. Instead, progression is tied to unlocking characters, items, tomes, and maps. Each unlock expands your options but can also dilute your pool until you get the Toggler, which lets you turn things off.

The real power comes from learning which tomes and items scale best, farming Silver efficiently, and pushing into higher tiers with the right setups. Expect to lose a lot early. That’s part of the design.

Step 1: Focus on Tier 1 Wins

Your first goal is to beat Forest Tier 1 consistently. Characters like Calcium and Athena are strong picks because of mobility and defense scaling.

Prioritize XP Tome and Damage Tome when possible. Quantity Tome or Attack Speed Tome are also valuable early since more projectiles mean faster clear speed. Don’t chase every XP orb immediately — use Magnet Shrines later for mass collection.

Winning Tier 1 unlocks Silver, new weapons, and access to Tier 2.

Step 2: Build Smart Silver Usage

Silver comes slowly, so don’t waste it unlocking everything at once. If you unlock too many items early, you’ll weaken your pool by spreading drops across bad options.

Save Silver to prioritize strong unlocks like Aura, Aegis, and core tomes. Once you unlock enough, the Toggler will let you disable weaker items or weapons that don’t fit your builds. This is one of the biggest milestones in the game.

Step 3: Pushing Tier 2

Tier 2 introduces faster enemies and tankier mini-bosses. Here, your survival depends on defensive scaling. Always take at least one defensive tome — Armor, Regen, or Shield. Even a small shield makes a massive difference since it regenerates and blocks fatal mistakes.

Your damage should focus on stacking multipliers:

XP Tome for faster scaling.
Luck Tome to find better items.
Damage Tome to stay ahead of scaling mobs.
Cooldown Tome or Quantity Tome if offered.

On-hit items like Unstable Transfusion, Moldy Cheese, and Overpowered Lamp can snowball runs when combined with multi-projectile weapons.

Step 4: Breaking into Tier 3

Tier 3 is where most players get overwhelmed. Exploders, scorpions, and swarms come faster than your build can scale unless you are precise.

To survive Tier 3:

Always scale into one core strategy rather than mixing too much.
Use defensive tomes to tank incoming damage.
Pick items that stack damage multipliers like Gym Sauce, Beefy Ring, and Spiky Shield.
Shrine management becomes essential. Charge Shrines and Magnet Shrines give the biggest boosts in late game.

Characters with scaling passives like Robinette (gold scaling) or Vlad (blood magic) shine in Tier 3 since they reward long runs.

Long-Term Progression Tips

Unlock weapons one at a time, not all at once.
Learn which stats scale best on each weapon. For example, Aura loves Size, while Bone loves Projectile Count.
Don’t ignore defensive stats. Even +5 Shield can mean the difference between dying instantly or shrugging off mistakes.
Use Shrine positioning smartly; remember where Magnet Shrines spawn and come back later for a full XP boost.

Final Blurb

Progression in MegaBonk is linked to learning each tier, building your unlocks in the right order, and saving Silver for the best power spikes. With XP, Damage, and defensive tomes at your core, plus careful shrine usage, you’ll push from Forest Tier 1 all the way into Tier 3 and beyond.

FAQ

How do I beat Tier 1 consistently?

Focus on XP and Damage tomes, keep a safe weapon setup, and use Magnet Shrines instead of chasing every orb. Characters like Calcium or Athena are best early.

Why does unlocking more items make the game harder?

Every unlock adds to the pool, which lowers the chance of rolling the best items. The Toggler unlock later lets you disable weaker drops.

What is the best way to survive Tier 2?

Always take at least one defensive tome. Armor, Shield, or Regen combined with damage scaling keeps you alive long enough to snowball.

How do I clear Tier 3?

Specialize your build around what drops. Don’t mix too many strategies. Prioritize scaling passives, defensive tomes, and shrine usage to keep pace with tougher enemies.