TABS Strategy guide: Formations, Counters, and Tier Lists

Last Updated on 13 August, 2025

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (TABS) lets you draft ragdoll armies and watch physics-based chaos unfold. So, this guide breaks down game modes, unit classes, campaign basics, sandbox freedom, secret and legacy unlocks, plus expert formations and pro tips. This solves confusion about unit strengths, map-specific secrets, and optimal army compositions, so you can dominate every battle.

• 1. Game Overview
• 2. Game Modes & Core Loop
• 3. Factions & Unit Classes
• 4. Campaign Overview
• 5. Sandbox & Custom Battles
• 6. Secret & Legacy Units
• 7. Advanced Formations & Pro Tips
• 8. Conclusion

1. Game Overview

Developed by Landfall Games, TABS is a physics-driven tactics sandbox where you place units, assign teams, and let battles play out in comedy-of-errors style. Ragdoll physics, varied factions, and community mods keep each encounter fresh.

• Genre: Indie physics–based strategy with ragdoll combat
• Developer & Publisher: Landfall Games
• Publisher: XD Network (Mobile)
• Release: Full launch April 1, 2021 (Early Access from June 1, 2019)
• Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Android & iOS (August 2025)
• Core Loop: Draft units → place formations → simulate battle → adjust tactics

2. Game Modes & Core Loop

TABS offers three primary modes, i.e. Introduction, Legacy, and Simulation. Introduction mode guides you through tutorial levels; Legacy mode revisits classic faction battles; Simulation lets you freely craft any battle from hundreds of units. So, each mode uses the same placement → simulate → review loop, encouraging you to refine formations based on outcome.

1. Introduction: 15 scripted tutorial levels to teach unit basics and physics interactions
2. Legacy: Over 30 faction-themed battles focused on unlocking “Legacy” units
3. Simulation: Sandbox with full roster, so choose armies, adjust budgets, free placement

3. Factions & Unit Classes

Units in TABS are grouped into broad classes, i.e. Melee, Ranged, Cavalry, and Support and divided by faction (Medieval, Ancient, Tribal, Viking, Dynasty, Renaissance, Pirate, Spooky, Western, Legacy). Each class has strengths and weaknesses: melee units excel up-close, ranged units pick off from behind, cavalry charge through lines, and support buffs or heals allied troops.

4. Campaign Overview

The Introduction and Legacy campaigns each consist of pre-set battles that gradually unlock new units. Finishing Legacy mode grants access to the “Legacy” faction, i.e. 16 powerful historical units unlockable by completing specific faction battles. Campaign rewards include free-play access to those unlocked units in Simulation mode.

1. Complete Introduction to learn basic unit interactions and physics quirks
2. Finish each Legacy battle to unlock respective faction’s secret unit
3. Unlock Legacy faction after Legacy campaign for advanced historical warriors

5. Sandbox & Custom Battles

Simulation mode grants full control, i.e. set army budgets, choose any unlocked unit, and place formations anywhere on the map. Custom scenarios let you pit factions head-to-head or create themed battles. Community workshop maps expand the sandbox with terrains, events, and lighting presets.

1. Adjust point budgets to restrict or flood the field with units
2. Experiment with map presets or import workshop maps for variety
3. Use free camera (F) to inspect battle from any angle during replays

6. Secret & Legacy Units

Beyond the main roster, TABS hides 54 secret units and 3 secret maps across standard campaign battles. Activating free-roam (press F) in specific levels reveals glowing interactables. Legacy units (16 total) are unlocked by completing each Legacy campaign scenario. So, both secret and legacy units enrich your army with unique abilities and ragdoll antics

1. Secret Units: 54 hidden across faction maps, so find environmental triggers to unlock
2. Legacy Units: 16 historical warriors unlocked via Legacy campaign completion
3. Secret Maps: 3 hidden battlefields accessed from main menu after finding map triggers

7. Advanced Formations & Pro Tips

Mastering TABS means evolving beyond “blob of peasants” setups. Use staggered shield walls, cavalry flanks, and ranged kill-zones. Diversify points across classes and protect high-value units (like Ballistae) behind sacrificial vanguards. Study ragdoll physics: heavy units knock back groups, while tiny archers pepper enemies through gaps.

1. Shield Wall Formation: Front row of protectors with spearmen behind to maximize piercing damage
2. Porcupine Formation: Spartiate phalanx of pikemen interspersed with ranged units for horde control
3. Flank & Hammer: Speed units on sides to herd foes into central artillery kill zone
4. Budget Diversification: Mix low-cost swarmers with one or two high-cost monsters to drain enemy focus

8. Conclusion

Armed with our breakdown of modes, unit classes, campaign unlocks, secret discoveries, and pro formations, you’re ready to dominate the ragdoll battlefield. Each section is grounded in community-verified sources and practices to ensure your strategies hold up under chaotic physics.

Jump into the Legacy campaign, unlock at least three secret units, then draft a mixed shield-wall and cavalry flank formation in Simulation mode to test your grasp of advanced tactics.