The Battle Cats is one of those mobile casual games  that stands out with its quirky charm and surprisingly deep strategy. You control an army of strange but adorable cats as they march across a world full of weird enemies. With its easy-to-learn mechanics, this game welcomes players of all ages. But despite its simple surface, there’s a lot to understand if you want to succeed in this cat-filled conquest.

If you’re just starting, you might feel overwhelmed by the number of cats, resources, and stages. Don’t worry, though—this beginner’s guide will give you the basics you need to kick off your journey. Whether it’s leveling up your cats, managing resources like cat food and XP, or learning how to make the best use of your time, this guide has you covered.

Let’s begin!

Understanding the Battle System

At first glance, The Battle Cats has a straightforward battle system, but there’s more depth than meets the eye. Knowing how to make the most of each mechanic will help you progress through tougher stages and get the most out of your cat army.

Here’s how the combat works in this game:

1. Summoning Cats

The core of the game revolves around deploying cats to battle by tapping on their icons. Each cat costs a certain amount of “money” to summon, which generates automatically during the battle. The longer the battle lasts, the faster this money regenerates, allowing you to summon more powerful cats later on. Here’s how the process works:

• Deploying Cats: Tap the cat’s icon, and it will instantly spawn at your base. It then marches toward the enemy base.
• Cat Wallet: Your wallet (on the top right) can be upgraded during a battle by spending money. This is essential for summoning more expensive and powerful cats in later stages of the game.
• Cat Placement Strategy: Different cats have unique roles. For example, Tank Cats are good for defense, while Axe Cats focus on offense. Deploying them based on the situation helps ensure a balanced approach, where the Tank Cats hold the line while attackers do damage from behind.

2. Cat Cannon 

The Cat Cannon is your base and main defensive tool, and should be used strategically. It can help buy you time when enemies are overwhelming your cats or getting too close to your base.

• Cooldown Management: The Cat Cannon has a cooldown period after each use. This means you’ll need to carefully decide when to fire it, making sure it’s available for the moments that matter most.
• Firing the Cannon: The cannon is most effective when dealing with large waves of weaker enemies or when stunning tougher enemies to slow them down. Don’t waste it on small threats or single enemies unless it’s absolutely necessary.

3. Base HP and Enemy Base Defense

Your goal in each stage is to destroy the enemy’s base while protecting your own. Each base has a set amount of HP, and the battle ends when one side’s base reaches zero.

• Enemy Base: Once your cats reach the enemy base, they’ll automatically start attacking it. But be aware that damaging the enemy base often triggers stronger enemies to spawn.
• Defense Strategy: Keep a close eye on your own base HP. If enemies get too close, use your Cat Cannon or summon defensive units to protect it.

4. Special Abilities and Knockback

As you unlock more advanced cats, many will have special abilities like slowing down enemies, knocking them back, or freezing them in place. Knowing how and when to use these abilities can help turn the tide in difficult battles.

• Knockback: Some cats have the ability to knock back enemies, creating breathing room for your cats to regroup.
• Status Effects: Look for cats that can inflict status effects on enemies. These are especially useful against tough boss enemies that can otherwise overwhelm your forces.

Mastering the battle system requires more than just tapping cats. With the right timing, team composition, and use of abilities, you’ll be able to overcome even the toughest enemies.

Building and Leveling Your Cat Army

One of the most fun parts of The Battle Cats is building your team of top tier cats. As you advance, you’ll unlock new cats that you can add to your squad. Some cats are better suited for defense, while others are powerful attackers. A balanced team with a mix of both is essential for success.

At the start, you’ll rely heavily on basic cats like the Tank Cat and Axe Cat. Make sure to level them up as much as possible using the XP you gain from completing stages. As you get deeper into the game, you can unlock even stronger cats and evolve them. Many cats evolve at level 10, and some can even unlock a True Form later on, making them significantly more powerful. Always prioritize upgrading your most useful cats first. Try to avoid spreading XP too thinly across too many cats early on, as this can leave you without strong fighters when you need them most.

Managing Resources – Cat Food and XP

In The Battle Cats, managing your resources effectively is key to advancing through tougher stages. The two most important resources you’ll come across are cat food and XP. Both have unique uses and strategies that can help you progress faster if used wisely.

Here’s a quick look at the most important resources in the game:

1. Cat Food

Cat food is a premium currency in The Battle Cats, and it’s important to save it for the right moments. The best use of cat food is for pulling rare and powerful “uber” cats during special events. Uber cats can be game-changers, and spending cat food during guaranteed uber events gives you the best value.

• Don’t Waste Cat Food on Stage Replays: It might be tempting to use cat food to retry a tough level, but it’s much smarter to save it for these guaranteed events. Almost every stage will eventually reappear, so there’s no need to spend this precious currency to speed things up.
• Save for Events: Wait for events where 1,500 cat food guarantees an uber cat. Spending your cat food at the right time will give you stronger cats that can help you in the long term.

2. Experience Points

XP is the backbone of your progress in The Battle Cats because it’s used to level up your cat army. Early on, you’ll feel like you have plenty of XP, but as you advance and unlock more powerful cats, you’ll quickly see how fast it depletes.

• Prioritize Core Cats: Focus on leveling up your key cats, such as your basic fighters like Tank Cat and Axe Cat. This ensures that your core team remains strong enough to deal with tougher stages.
• XP Farming: XP becomes even more critical in later stages, so make sure to participate in XP farming events, especially the weekend stages that offer great XP boosts.

1. Power-Ups and Treasure Radars

While not as vital as cat food or XP, power-ups and treasure radars can give you an edge in specific situations.

• Power-Ups: Use them sparingly, as they can be costly to acquire. Focus on using power-ups when you’re stuck on a particularly hard stage or event where the rewards are worth it.
• Treasure Radars: These are helpful for guaranteeing treasure drops from stages. You’ll want to use them when farming for critical treasures that will boost your overall cat army, especially in the early chapters.

Managing your resources efficiently will make a huge difference as you progress through The Battle Cats. The more you play, the better you’ll get at knowing when to save and when to spend.

Taking Advantage of Treasures

As you move through the story, you’ll notice that each stage can reward you with treasures. These treasures are incredibly important because they provide passive boosts to your cats and base, making it easier to progress through the game. Treasures come in three tiers—bronze, silver, and gold—with gold being the best.

You should aim to collect all the gold treasures in the first three chapters of the Empire of Cats before moving on to the next adventure. Gold treasures make your cats stronger and allow you to earn more XP from future stages. Don’t rush through the chapters; taking the time to gather these treasures will make things much easier in the long run.

Progressing Through the Game

The Battle Cats offers a variety of game modes, each with its own unique challenges and mechanics. As a beginner, it’s best to focus on progressing through the early stages and familiarizing yourself with the core modes. Each mode introduces different types of enemies and stage goals, so knowing what to expect will help you move forward efficiently.

Here’s a breakdown of the main game modes:

• Empire of Cats: The main saga available from the start. It contains 3 chapters with 48 stages each. The main goal is to collect Treasures, which give powerful passive bonuses. It’s important to gather all Treasures in each chapter before progressing to the next to maximize your cat army’s strength. Zombie Outbreaks are introduced later in the game, adding more complexity to previously cleared stages.

• Into the Future: Unlocked after clearing Chapter 1 of Empire of Cats. This mode also consists of 3 chapters, with 48 stages each, but introduces Alien Enemies, which are much tougher than standard enemies. Alien enemies can be countered by collecting Treasures that reduce their strength, so prioritize gathering those. Into the Future also introduces Timed Score Rewards, where the faster you clear a stage, the better the rewards.

• Cats of the Cosmos: Unlocked after completing Chapter 1 of Into the Future. Like the other sagas, it contains 3 chapters with 48 stages each. The key challenge in this mode is Starred Alien Enemies, which have higher magnification than normal Aliens and are not affected by anti-Alien Treasures from Into the Future. You’ll need to collect specific Treasures in Cats of the Cosmos to reduce their power and make progress.

• The Aku Realms: A special mode unlocked after completing specific conditions in Empire of Cats. This mode introduces Aku Enemies, which are especially tough due to their ability to weaken your cats with Aku Altars. These stages demand careful strategy, as your cats will be weakened unless you manage to disable the altars.

Each of these modes offers unique enemies and strategies, making progression varied and challenging. However, as you move forward, the core mechanics—deploying the right cats, collecting Treasures, and timing your attacks—remain essential. By focusing on clearing chapters and collecting all the Treasures, you’ll be well-prepared for tougher modes like Into the Future and Cats of the Cosmos.

Special Events and Rare Cats

Throughout the game, there will be regular events that give you a chance to earn rare and uber cats. These cats can make a huge difference, especially in tougher stages. Keep an eye out for guaranteed uber events, where you can spend 1,500 cat food to ensure you get a powerful uber cat. These events are the best time to spend your hard-earned cat food.

Aside from rare cat capsules, you can also unlock special event cats by completing limited-time stages. These cats aren’t always the most powerful, but they often have unique abilities that can help you in certain situations. Always check the event calendar and try to participate in these limited-time opportunities when you can.

Starting out in The Battle Cats can feel overwhelming with all the different cats, stages, and resources to manage. But if you take your time, focus on upgrading the right cats, and manage your resources wisely, you’ll find yourself progressing smoothly through the game. Remember, it’s a game designed to be played at your own pace, so there’s no rush.

And for those who prefer playing on a bigger screen, Enjoy playing The Battle Cats on PC or laptop with BlueStacks. With keyboard controls and enhanced graphics, you can enjoy commanding your feline army with even more precision. Download BlueStacks today and take your cat army to the next level!