100 Waves Later is a wave survival game where you fight zombies with different classes and weapons. Wastelander is the best class. Shotguns dominate the meta. Pathfinder's Super Skill scaling carries late game. Most players wipe around wave 40-60 because they don't understand perk stacking.
I've been grinding this game since it was called Zombie RNG. The core loop is simple: survive waves, collect weapons, upgrade perks, fight bosses every 10 waves. But the class and perk system has depth that most guides miss. This covers everything from your first run to pushing wave 100+.
How the Game Works
You spawn in a lobby, pick a class, and enter the arena. Zombies come in waves. Kill them all to advance. Every 10 waves, a boss spawns.
Between waves you can:
- Buy weapons from the shop
- Upgrade perks
- Revive teammates
- Reposition
The game ends when everyone dies or you beat wave 100. Most runs end around wave 40-60 for new players.
Classes Overview
Classes define your playstyle. Each has three perk levels that unlock as you play.
| Class | Playstyle | Unlock Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor | Starter class | Free |
| Wastelander | Extra weapons, ammo scaling | 1500 Scrap |
| Pathfinder | Super Skill focus, mobility | 1500 Scrap |
| Engineer | Turret placement | Free (Day 7 login) |
| Boxer | Melee only, high damage | 1000 Scrap |
| Juggernaut | Tank, slow but durable | 1000 Scrap |
| Warrior | Melee hybrid | 800 Scrap |
| Scavenger | Extra Scrap farming | 500 Scrap |
| Sharpshooter | Pistol specialist | 500 Scrap |
| Pyro | Fire damage | 800 Scrap |
Buy Wastelander first. It's the strongest class for both solo and co-op. The extra weapon slot alone makes it S-tier.
Best Classes Ranked
S-Tier
Wastelander - The meta pick. Level 1 perk gives +1 weapon slot. Level 3 perk gives massive ammo scaling. You can run three weapons covering all ranges. In late game, your ammo reserves let you spam without reloading.
Pathfinder - Super Skill specialist. Level 2 and 3 perks give chances for double Super Skills. In long runs, you'll have 4-5 Super Skills active at once. The mobility dash also helps with positioning.
Engineer - Free turrets that deal permanent damage. No babysitting required. The turrets scale with waves and never die. Best "set and forget" class.
A-Tier
Boxer - Removes your weapon slots but gives you fists that hit like trucks. Requires good connection (latency matters for melee). Level 2 perk gives lifesteal, making you nearly unkillable if you keep punching.
Juggernaut - Tank class. Slower movement but way more health. Good for learning the game since you can take hits. Falls off in late game when damage outscales your HP.
B-Tier
Warrior - Melee hybrid. Can use weapons but gets melee bonuses. Jack of all trades, master of none. Boxer does melee better.
Scavenger - Extra Scrap from kills. Good for farming, bad for pushing high waves. Use it when you're grinding currency, not when you're trying to reach wave 100.
Pyro - Fire damage over time. Sounds cool but the numbers don't compete with Wastelander's raw output.
C-Tier
Sharpshooter - Pistol specialist. Pistols are the weakest weapon type. Don't main this class.
Survivor - The starter class. No special perks. Replace it as soon as you can afford Wastelander.
The 100 Waves Later Tier List has detailed breakdowns for each class.
Weapons Guide
Weapons drop from waves and can be bought between rounds. You start with a basic pistol.
Weapon Types
| Type | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Shotguns | High burst, good spread | Short range |
| Rifles | Balanced, reliable | Nothing special |
| Pistols | Fast fire rate | Low damage |
| Lasers | Pierce enemies | Ammo hungry |
| Melee | No ammo needed | Must be close |
| Snipers | High single-target | Slow fire rate |
Best Weapons
Incendiary Shotgun - Fire stacks melt bosses. One magazine can kill most bosses if you land all shots. S-tier for boss waves.
Plasma Pump Shotgun - High damage per shot, good range for a shotgun. Can solo carry to wave 100+.
Gatling Laser - Pierce lets you hit multiple zombies. Great for clearing hordes. Eats ammo fast, so pair with Wastelander.
Greatsword - Best melee weapon. Wide swings, high damage. Boxer + Greatsword is a classic combo.
Auto Shotgun - Faster fire rate than Pump. Less damage per shot but more forgiving if you miss.
Weapons to Avoid
Pistols - All of them. The damage doesn't scale well. Even Sharpshooter can't make pistols viable in late game.
Basic Rifle - The starter rifle is fine early but gets outclassed fast. Replace it by wave 20.
Perk System
Perks are class-specific bonuses that unlock as you level up during a run.
How Perks Work
Each class has three perk levels:
- Level 1 - Unlocks early, usually a passive bonus
- Level 2 - Mid-game unlock, stronger effect
- Level 3 - Late-game unlock, build-defining
You also get Bonus Perks from other classes. These are weaker versions of their main perks but let you mix abilities.
Best Perk Combos
Pathfinder + Wastelander Level 3 - The meta build. Pathfinder's Super Skill scaling plus Wastelander's ammo and weapon bonuses. You'll have multiple Super Skills active while never running out of ammo.
Engineer + Wastelander Level 1 - Turrets plus extra weapon slot. Your turrets handle trash mobs while you focus bosses with three weapons.
Juggernaut + Boxer Level 2 - Tank with lifesteal. Nearly unkillable in melee range. Good for learning the game.
Perk Priority
When spending Scrap on perks:
- Max your main class first
- Grab Wastelander Level 1 (extra weapon slot)
- Grab Pathfinder Level 2-3 if running Super Skill builds
- Everything else is situational
Wave Strategy
Early Waves (1-20)
Focus on:
- Getting a decent weapon drop
- Saving Scrap for perks
- Learning zombie patterns
Don't buy weapons from the shop yet. Drops are random but free. The shop weapons cost Scrap you need for perks.
Zombies are slow and weak. Use this time to practice positioning.
Mid Waves (21-50)
This is where most players struggle. Zombie health spikes and bosses hit harder.
Tips:
- Have at least one shotgun by wave 30
- Start investing in perks
- Stick with teammates in co-op
- Save Super Skills for boss waves
If you're dying here, your build is probably wrong. Check that you're using a meta class and prioritizing the right perks.
Late Waves (51-100)
Zombie density gets insane. You need:
- Maxed perks
- Multiple strong weapons
- Good positioning
- Teammate coordination (in co-op)
Positioning matters more than gear. Find chokepoints where zombies funnel toward you. Shotguns destroy grouped enemies.
Boss waves are the real threat. Save your best ammo and Super Skills for every 10th wave.
Boss Guide
Bosses spawn every 10 waves. They have massive HP and special attacks.
General Boss Tips
- Focus fire with teammates
- Save Incendiary Shotgun for bosses
- Keep moving to avoid attacks
- Don't panic and waste ammo
Boss Patterns
Wave 10 Boss - Easy. Basic attacks, low HP. Good practice for later bosses.
Wave 20 Boss - Faster attacks. Start kiting if you're low HP.
Wave 30 Boss - First real challenge. Has AoE attacks. Spread out from teammates.
Wave 50 Boss - Major HP spike. Bring your best weapons. This is where unprepared teams wipe.
Wave 100 Boss - The final boss. Requires a coordinated team or a perfect solo build. Pathfinder + Wastelander combo shines here.
Solo vs Co-op
Solo
Harder but possible. You need:
- Wastelander or Pathfinder
- Self-sustaining build (lifesteal or high damage)
- Perfect positioning
Solo runs are good for learning mechanics without relying on teammates.
Co-op
Easier and more fun. Class synergies matter:
- Engineer turrets + Wastelander damage
- Juggernaut tank + Pathfinder DPS
- Multiple Wastelanders stacking damage
Communication helps. Call out boss spawns, coordinate Super Skills, revive teammates quickly.
Common Mistakes
Buying weapons instead of perks. Perks scale your entire run. Weapons are temporary. Prioritize perks.
Ignoring Wastelander. Even if you want to play other classes, Wastelander's Level 1 perk (extra weapon slot) is worth grabbing as a bonus perk.
Standing still. Zombies swarm. Keep moving, especially in late waves.
Wasting Super Skills on trash. Save them for bosses or emergency situations.
Playing Sharpshooter. Pistols are bad. The class is bad. Don't do it.
Not reviving teammates. In co-op, a dead teammate means less damage and more zombies targeting you. Revive fast.
Progression Path
New Player (0-10 hours)
- Play Survivor to learn mechanics
- Save Scrap for Wastelander (1500)
- Unlock Wastelander
- Push to wave 50 consistently
Intermediate (10-30 hours)
- Unlock Pathfinder (1500)
- Learn perk combos
- Push to wave 70-80
- Experiment with other classes
Advanced (30+ hours)
- Master Pathfinder + Wastelander combo
- Push wave 100
- Try challenge runs (solo, off-meta classes)
- Help newer players in co-op
Settings and Controls
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | WASD |
| Shoot | Left Click |
| Reload | R |
| Switch Weapon | 1, 2, 3 |
| Use Super Skill | Q |
| Interact | E |
Turn on auto-reload. One less thing to think about during intense waves.
Earning Scrap Fast
Scrap unlocks classes and perks. Here's how to farm it:
- Survive longer - More waves = more Scrap
- Kill everything - Each zombie drops small amounts
- Boss kills - Big Scrap payouts
- Daily rewards - Login bonuses
- Codes - Free Scrap from 100 Waves Later Codes
Scavenger class gives bonus Scrap but sacrifices combat power. Use it for farming runs, not pushing.
More 100 Waves Later Content
The 100 Waves Later Codes page has free Scrap codes. For class and weapon rankings, check the 100 Waves Later Tier List.
Similar Games
Anime Last Stand has similar wave defense mechanics with anime units. Dead Rails is another wave survival game with class systems. For pure tower defense, Anime Vanguards is worth checking out.
