Farming Strategies (Materials & XP) — Brotato Guide

Maximize your Material and XP gains in Brotato with these farming strategies. Bolster your economy from early waves to late-game for Danger 5 wins.

Maximizing your Material and XP gains is crucial for unlocking new characters, weapons, and reaching those elusive Danger 5 wins. This section details efficient farming strategies, from early-game boosts to late-game optimization.

Early Game Material & XP Boosts (Waves 1-5)

The initial waves are your prime opportunity to snowball your economy and level up quickly. Focus on items that provide immediate returns.

• Prioritize Material Gain:
  • Picky (Tier 1 Item): This is an absolute must-buy if it appears early. +1 Material for every 10 enemies killed. Even one of these can net you significant extra Materials by Wave 5.
  • Bag (Tier 1 Item): +2 Material per wave. A consistent, reliable income source. Stack these if possible.
  • Fertilizer (Tier 1 Item): +1 Material for every tree on the map. Excellent on maps with high tree density, like the Forest. Grab a few early to capitalize on natural map features.
  • Shady Potion (Tier 2 Item): +1 Material for every 10 enemies killed, but -1 HP regen. The HP regen penalty is often negligible in early waves, making this a strong Material gain item.
• XP Acquisition:
  • UFO (Tier 2 Item): +10% XP gain. A fantastic early pickup to accelerate your leveling. More levels mean more stats and more item slots.
  • Brain (Tier 1 Item): +5% XP gain. Cheaper than UFO, and stackable. Grab these whenever you see them.
  • Small XP Potions (Consumable): These drop randomly from enemies. Always pick them up! They provide a small, immediate XP boost.
• Aggressive Playstyle: Clear waves as quickly and efficiently as possible. More enemies killed means more potential Material and XP drops. Don't be afraid to take calculated risks to clear large groups.

Mid-Game Material & XP Scaling (Waves 6-15)

As the game progresses, you'll want to transition from flat gains to percentage-based increases and more specialized items.

• Material Scaling:
  • Crown (Tier 3 Item): +15% Material gain. This is a significant boost and should be a priority once your base Material income is established.
  • Gentle Alien (Tier 3 Item): +10% Material gain, +1 HP regen, -2% damage. The damage penalty is often worth the Material boost, especially if you have good defensive stats.
  • Debit Card (Tier 4 Item): +25% Material gain, but you lose 10% of your Materials at the end of each wave. This is a high-risk, high-reward item. Only take it if you're confident in your ability to spend down your Materials each shop phase, or if you have an overwhelming Material income.
• XP Scaling:
  • Wisdom (Tier 3 Item): +20% XP gain. The best XP item in the game. Prioritize this heavily.
  • Alien Baby (Tier 2 Item): +10% XP gain, +1 HP regen, -1% damage. A solid mid-game XP boost with a minor downside.
• Weapon Synergy: Certain weapons can indirectly boost your farming. Weapons with high area-of-effect (AoE) or rapid fire can clear waves faster, leading to more drops. Consider weapons like the SMG, Shotgun, or Flamethrower for efficient wave clear.

Late Game Optimization & Character Specifics (Waves 16+)

By the late game, your build should be largely established. Focus on refining your farming and leveraging character strengths.

• Material Dump: If you find yourself with an abundance of Materials, consider buying items that provide long-term benefits or fill gaps in your build, even if they aren't direct Material gain items. Examples include:
  • Stat-boosting items: Power Generator (Damage), Medikit (HP Regen), Padding (Armor).
  • Legendary Items: These often have powerful, unique effects that can turn the tide of a run. Don't be afraid to spend big if a good one appears.
• Character-Specific Strategies:
  • Farmer: This character is built for farming. His starting bonus of +20% Material gain and the ability to plant trees (which provide Materials with Fertilizer) makes him the king of economy. Prioritize Fertilizer and any other Material gain items.
  • Lucky: While not directly a Material or XP farmer, Lucky's increased luck stat leads to more item drops and rarer items, which can indirectly lead to better farming items appearing.
  • Explorer: Starts with a Picky and gains Materials from trees. Similar to Farmer, prioritize Fertilizer and map-clearing efficiency.
  • Economist: Gains 5 Materials for every 100 Materials unspent at the end of a wave. This encourages a different spending pattern – save up for big purchases rather than spending everything immediately. This can be tricky to manage but very rewarding.
• Map Exploitation:
  • Forest: High tree density makes Fertilizer incredibly potent.
  • Wasteland: Fewer trees, so Fertilizer is less effective. Focus on enemy-kill based Material gains like Picky and Shady Potion.

Advanced Tips & Tricks

• Reroll Wisely: Early game, rerolling for a Picky or Bag can be worth it. Later on, only reroll if you have a specific item in mind or if the shop is particularly bad.
• Shop Management: Don't be afraid to buy items you don't immediately need if they are cheap and offer a Material or XP boost. You can always sell them later for a partial refund if you need the space or Materials.
• Balance is Key: While farming is important, don't neglect your defensive and offensive stats. A dead Brotato earns no Materials. Find a balance between investing in farming items and ensuring your survival.
• Experiment: Different builds and characters will have different optimal farming paths. Don't be afraid to try new strategies and see what works best for your playstyle.