Squad Rush advanced tips: road patterns, stars and coins
Once you can finish stages, these tips help you win all 36 stars and earn coins faster. The big ones: the roads in Squad Rush follow a pattern you can learn, the 25-squad star is easiest at the first ×2 gate, and a just-in-time door is the best coin source in the game. The patterns below come from how the game builds its roads, so they work in every stage.
Read the road pattern
Every road is built the same way. Once you know it, you can steer before you even see the numbers.
- Gate pairs come in a loop of six: +5 or −3, then +6 or +12, then ×2 or −3, then +5 or −3, then +6 or +12, then ×3 or −3. Then it starts again.
- The best gate stays on the same side for three pairs, then switches. In stages 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 the first three best gates are on the right. In stages 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 they are on the left.
- Crates always stand on the same side for the whole stage: on the left in stages 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, and on the right in stages 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. They come after every second gate pair.
- One robot waits after each gate pair, and it switches sides every pair. The kinds take turns in the same order: standing, weaving, armoured, lane-marking.
- Gold cages and scout pads come after the 1st, 4th, 7th gate pair and so on, on opposite sides, and they swap sides each time.
- Golden boxes are always in the middle, in the stretch after the 3rd and the 6th gate pair.
| Pair | Best gate | Other gate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +5 | −3 |
| 2 | +12 | +6 |
| 3 | ×2 | −3 |
| 4 | +5 | −3 |
| 5 | +12 | +6 |
| 6 | ×3 | −3 |
The numbers are where each gate starts. Shoot the best gate to raise it. More on gates in number gates and squad size.
Reach 25 squad members early
The Grow to 25 squad members star counts the biggest your squad ever was in the run, so you only need to touch 25 once.
Even with no upgrades, the first three best gates get you there: 5 friends, +5 makes 10, +12 makes 22, and ×2 makes 44. Shoot the gates on the way and you arrive at the ×2 gate with even more. After that, you can lose friends and still keep the star, as long as you win.
What breaks this plan: hits before the ×2 gate. Watch for the robot after each pair and the crates on that stage's crate side.
Win all three stars in one run
The game keeps your best number of stars from a single winning run. So you must dodge every hit and reach 25 in the same run.
- Reach 25 early with the gate pattern above.
- Switch to the Narrow column for the rest of the stage. It is the safest shape for dodging.
- Shoot robots before they reach you, or pass them on the far side.
- Remember: red gates and strikes the convoy truck takes don't count as hits. Crates, robots, crowd robots and red lanes do.
- In the big bot fight, take short steps out of each red lane and come straight back.
In stage 12, a run with Retry this phase can't win the no-hit star, so play that one from the start.
Earn the most coins
| Coin source | Best way to use it |
|---|---|
| Just-in-time door | 30 coins for every robot stopped, plus ten seconds of power. Never slam early. |
| Last stand | Fight both extra waves when your squad is big: 20 + 40 + 60 = 120 coins, and the door is ready again for every wave. |
| No-hit bonus | +30 on every win, even on a replay. |
| 25-squad bonus | +20 on every win, even on a replay. |
| Stage reward | Replays pay the full reward again, from 120 to 400. |
| Losing | You still get your road coins and up to 35 for distance. A try is never wasted. |
Last stands are in stages 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11. With a big, upgraded squad, those are good stages to replay for coins. All prices are on the Workshop, coins and stars.
Use the power boosts
You get ten seconds of extra power from each golden box and from a just-in-time door. During those ten seconds, every shot is half again as strong. Use them:
- Right after a golden box, aim at the next plus gate: it grows faster.
- Right after a perfect door, finish the rest of the crowd quickly.
The best blaster for each job
| Job | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Robot crowd at the door | Flame or Rockets | Flame is very strong up close; rockets hit a group |
| Shield robots and armoured robots | Laser | Laser does full damage through shields |
| A long row of robots | Laser | Goes through up to 8 robots |
| Big bot | Rapid, or your strongest long-reach blaster | Flame can't reach the big bot |
| Growing gate numbers | Any with high power | Gates grow with damage, not with the number of shots |
Switch with C, X or Weapon. All blaster numbers are on the blasters page.
Scouts: when are they worth it?
Scouts take a third of your squad away for eight seconds. They come back with 4 extra friends and 20 coins, minus one scout for each hit you take meanwhile.
- Send them when the road ahead is clear and your squad is big enough to keep shooting.
- Skip them right before a big moment or a tough robot, or when you are chasing the no-hit star.
- The gold cage on the other side is free friends with no risk.
Get ready for stages 4 and 8
The big bots at the end of stage 4 (The Greenway Warden) and stage 8 (Sunstone Stronghold) are much tougher than the ones before. Replay earlier stages for coins and buy a few levels of Stronger blasters and Starting squad first. The health of every big bot is on how to beat every big bot.
Clearing the stage 12 finale
- Part 1, Shield network: three SHIELD RELAY robots stand on the left, in the middle and on the right. Shoot one at a time and dodge the red lanes between them.
- Part 2, The last rescue: a rescue with a door. Let all six gold recruits cross, then wait for the yellow button.
- Part 3, Core overload: the core moves and marks two lanes at a time. Follow it with your shots and keep your steps short.
- If you lose, Retry this phase starts you at the part you reached, with the same blasters. Use it to practise each part.
More games to try
Like fast arcade action? The Shanghai Roadster guide is all about arcade stunt racing.
See also
- Beginner tips: the basics, if you skipped them.
- All 12 stages: what each stage holds.
- Robots, crates and red lanes: every danger and how much it costs.
- Back to the Squad Rush guide, or play Squad Rush.
