The Complete Turnbound Guide
Master the haunted board game. Tier lists, hero builds, item combos and async PvP strategy for 1TK & Gambit Digital's tile-based autobattler — all data sourced from the Steam release and verified by our team.
Just picked up Turnbound? Read this first.
Most new players lose Chamber 1 not because of bad shop rolls — but because they don't know combat resolves top-right to bottom-left. Three mechanics decide every match:
- 1. Trigger orderTiles fire from top-right corner. Put your kill-piece there.
- 2. AdjacencyMost tiles buff their neighbours. Empty space wastes triggers.
- 3. Async ghostsYou fight saved builds, not live players. Replay every loss.
Turnbound at a glance
Hero Tier List (May 2026)
Full tier list →Sun Wukong
S-Tier · MediumStack weapons in the top-right ignition column to win the coin flip race. Front-load burst before opposing healers come online.
Alice
S-Tier · HardBuild around 1–2 anchor companions, then chain food/drink consumables to fuel repeated triggers. Reroll aggressively in early shops.
Robin Hood
A-Tier · EasyLine bows along a single row, fill the back with quivers and arrow-multiplier trinkets. Keep the grid clean and let triggers cascade.
Game Master (locked)
B-Tier · HardWe will update this entry the moment the fourth hero is unlocked. Bookmark the page.
Top Turnbound Tips
All tips →- Read the trigger order before you place anything. Combat resolves top-right to bottom-left. Anything in the top-right corner fires first — put your fastest kill-piece there, not your tank.
- Buy slots before you buy items. Empty grid space is the most expensive resource in Turnbound. In Chamber 1–2, prioritise expanding the grid over upgrading single tiles.
- Always look at adjacency arrows. Most weapons buff the four (or eight) tiles around them. A B-tier weapon with three buffs adjacent will outdamage an S-tier weapon placed alone.
- Watch your own replays. After every loss, scrub the playback. 80% of losses come from one tile that triggered too late — fix the order, not the tile.
- Reroll the shop, not the hero. Shop rerolls are cheaper than people think. If your trinket pool doesn't match your hero, reroll twice before locking in.
- Trinkets > raw stats. A single combo trinket (e.g. 'every 3rd hit crits') usually beats +20% damage flat. Build the grid around your trinket pick, not the other way round.
Item Tier List Snapshot
| Tier | Items |
|---|---|
| S | Golden Hooped Rod, Cheshire Grin, Heartwood Bow, Cloud Boots |
| A | Mad Tea Set, Quiver of Echoes, Peach of Immortality, Iron Helm |
| B | Plain Dagger, Wooden Shield, Tinker's Tonic, Lantern |
| C | Dusty Coin, Stale Bread, Cracked Mirror |
Turnbound FAQ
What is Turnbound?
Turnbound is a strategic autobattler by 1TK and Gambit Digital. You manage a 7×6 inventory grid of weapons, items and trinkets to escape a haunted board game, battling asynchronous ghost builds left behind by other players.
When did Turnbound release?
Turnbound entered Steam Early Access on January 22, 2026 and launched 1.0 on May 6, 2026. A free demo is also available on Steam.
How many heroes are in Turnbound?
The 1.0 release ships with 4 heroes. Three are confirmed in early access — Sun Wukong, Alice, and Robin Hood — with a fourth slot tied to the Game Master storyline.
Is Turnbound multiplayer?
Yes, but asynchronously. You face recorded 'ghost' builds from other real players in the same chamber, and your own builds get added to the matchmaking pool. Direct duels are available via build-code sharing.
Does Turnbound support Mac and Linux?
Yes. Turnbound runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux per the Steam store page.