Easy is 20 waves, Medium 30, Hard 40, Insane 50, and CRAZY 60. The badge counts from 18 October 2026 say the steep drop is Easy to Medium, not Medium to Insane. Late waves are the same lane with more pressure, plus enemies that live long enough to reach the back of the path.
When the lane leaks
Work in this order. Changing everything at once teaches nothing.
- Note the wave number on the HUD.
- Look at where the enemy crossed, not only at which unit fired last.
- Upgrade the unit nearest the breach before you place a new one.
- Move a unit so it sees two stretches. Moving is free.
- Only then swap a unit, one change per attempt.
- If you cannot safely Auto Skip, the lane is not holding.
Past wave 30
Hard, Insane, and CRAZY all have a long second half. Cash from the first half has to pay for the second half. A wide formation of low-level units at wave 25 leaves nothing to escalate with. A defense that needs one perfect corner fails as soon as that corner is passed.
If you have moved units, paid upgrades, and the failing wave only shifts by two or three, the roster is the limit. Clear the longest mode you can finish, claim the chest, and summon against a gap you can name: opening damage, coverage, or a late anchor.
Skip discipline
Auto Skip shortens the wait and also shortens the time you have to spend. On City, turn it on after Cameraman is maxed. On a map you have not learned, leave it off until you have seen the first corner and the first spike. A crowded server can also skip the pace for you. If the wave jumps ahead of your cash, toggle skip off for one wave.
Sell an income unit near the final wave only when its next payout cannot arrive in time. That rule came from a filmed Medium clear, not from a developer tooltip.