Build Guide · Top Pick
Viking-Necro-Spartan Build — How Many Dudes
The short version: put Spartan Dude on the front line, Necrodude behind him, and Viking Dude as your damage engine. The Spartan's passive Block protects the team, the Necrodude's free Skeledude gives you a permanent extra body, and the Viking's Berserker Rage turns him into a whirlwind. It's the most reliable all-rounder comp we've found in launch week, and every one of its claims comes from official Dudex stats.
Why These Three Dudes
Spartan Dude — the Protector
Per the official Dudex, Spartan Dude has 140 Max HP (one of the highest in the Warrior family) and Phalanx: a 20% chance to Block incoming Direct Damage aimed at nearby Dudes. He's not just a tank — he's backline insurance. Your squishier Dudes get a shield they didn't have to build for.
Necrodude — the Free Body
Necrodude Summons a Skeledude at battle start and re-summons one 6 seconds after it falls. That's a permanent 5-vs-5 in your favor for the whole fight. The Skeledude is only 80 HP, but every hit it eats is a hit your real Dudes didn't take.
Viking Dude — the Damage Engine
Viking Dude deals 24 DPS (among the highest base DPS in the game) and has a 5% chance per hit to go Berserk: +50% Attack Speed and Run Speed for 3 seconds. In a long fight, that proc snowballs hard — more hits, more procs, more damage.
Full Lineup & Positioning
| Slot | Dude | Role | Why |
|---|
| Front / Center | Spartan Dude | Tank / Protector | 20% Block for nearby Dudes; 140 HP to absorb |
| Front / Flank | Necrodude | Summoner | Free Skeledude body; re-summons every 6s |
| Back | Viking Dude | Damage | 24 DPS + Berserker Rage snowball |
| Flex | Samurai Dude | Damage / Finisher | 25 DPS, dashes to lowest-HP enemy |
| Flex | Vampire Dude | Healer | Bloodsucker Aura lifesteal keeps everyone up |
The two flex slots are negotiable: swap Samurai for Cyborg (single-target execution) and Vampire for Cleric or Medic (raw healing). The core trio is what makes the build work.
Playstyle by Phase
Waves 1–20: Assemble the Core
Pick Spartan and Necrodude first — they make your early fights almost impossible to lose. Fill the bench with Regular Dudes (Mob Mentality scales with your roster) and let them carry until you can afford the Viking.
Waves 20–60: Add Damage & Healing
Bring in the Viking and your flex picks. Prioritize Attack Speed and Attack Power Relics for the Viking (more hits = more Berserk procs). Let Necrodude's Skeledude do the dying.
Waves 60–105: Boss Prep
The official developer guide's endgame advice applies here: stack Toughness, Max HP, or Temporary Health so nobody gets one-shot, grab a Cheat Death option (the Vampire's Bat Wings are the classic), and keep some mobility so you can chase the G.O.A.T. boss at round 105. See our Wave 100+ guide for the full boss-fight plan.
Relic & Trinket Priorities
- Viking Dude: Attack Power, Attack Speed, Crit Chance — feed the Berserk snowball.
- Spartan Dude: Toughness and Max HP — he needs to live to keep Blocking.
- Necrodude: anything — his value is the summon, not his own stats. Undead family Relics (8 per family, per the official guide's Relic-pool breakdown) synergize with the rest of an Undead team.
- Team-wide: Temporary Health sources (Health Potion overheal, the Burner Phone consumable) to prevent one-shots in the mid-game, exactly as the developer guide recommends.
Alternatives If You're Missing a Core
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Viking-Necro-Spartan good for all three Tiers?
Yes — the core strength is that it doesn't depend on a single Relic or Trinket to function. The Block, the summon, and the DPS all come from the Dudes themselves, so the build stays strong as Tier 2 and Tier 3 add new constraints. (The developer guide notes higher Tiers force you to elevate your gameplay — this comp gives you room to learn.)
What should I pick if I want to run an all-Undead team instead?
The official guide explains Family Relic pools: sticking to one Family keeps the Relic pool small and makes your key Dude Relics far more likely to appear. An all-Undead version of this build — Necrodude, Lich, Vampire, Zombie, Frankendude — is a strong variant with massive sustain.
Why does the Skeledude matter so much?
Every fight is 5-vs-5 for you, 5-vs-6 for the enemy. The Skeledude (80 HP, 12 DPS) absorbs hits, blocks projectiles with its body, and gets replaced 6 seconds after falling — a free wall that never costs you Dude Juice.
Sources: Official Dudex — Spartan / Necrodude / Viking entries · Official How Many Dudes Guide (blog.bscotch.net) · Steam Store Page