Knowing how to upgrade weapons in Be The Final Boss is the difference between reaching Wave 25 with a tier 1 starter weapon and reaching Wave 50 with a fully upgraded Tier 5 Tempest. Weapons cost coins — the same coins that fund your skill tree and Population nodes — so every coin you spend on a weapon upgrade is a coin you are not spending elsewhere. This weapon upgrade guide gives you a coin-economy framework, a per-wave upgrade order, and a weapon path recommendation so you never waste coins on premature upgrades. Master the framework and you will reach Tier 5 Tempest within a typical session of late-game play.
The framework rests on three principles: focus on one main weapon, upgrade only at wave milestones, and match weapon tier to skill tree investment. Focusing on one weapon prevents the coin-spreading trap that delays every upgrade path. Upgrading only at milestones (Wave 5, 15, 25, 40) prevents premature upgrades that waste coins on under-used tiers. Matching weapon tier to skill tree investment ensures that your coin investment is in balance with your Population and Castle Defense spending.
The Coin Economy Framework
Your coin wallet is the resource that funds every permanent upgrade in Be The Final Boss, including skill tree nodes, weapon tiers, and armor unlocks. Spending coins efficiently requires understanding three coin sources, three coin sinks, and the per-wave coin income curve. Once you understand these, the upgrade decisions become obvious.
Coin Sources
Coins are earned from three primary sources, in roughly this order of magnitude: wave rewards (50-200 coins per wave), hero kills (5-20 coins per hero), and code redemptions (200-1,000 coins per code). The wave rewards are the most reliable source, while hero kills scale with your weapon tier and minion strength. Code redemptions are sporadic but high-value; always redeem the active code betheboss for 500 instant coins.
| Coin Source | Per-Wave Income | Per-Match Income | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave rewards | 50-200 coins | 1,500-3,000 coins | Very High |
| Hero kills | 30-100 coins | 800-1,500 coins | High |
| Code redemptions | N/A | 500-1,500 per code | Sporadic |
| Event rewards | 50-200 coins | 500-2,000 coins | Event-based |
Coin Sinks
Coins are spent on three primary sinks, in roughly this order of magnitude: skill tree nodes (50-500 coins per node), weapon tier upgrades (500-8,000 coins per tier), and armor unlocks (1,000-3,000 coins per piece). The skill tree is the largest sink overall because it includes the Population branch, which is mandatory for late-game play. Weapon tier upgrades are the second largest sink. Armor unlocks are the newest sink from the UPD2 patch.
| Coin Sink | Per-Upgrade Cost | Total Cost to Max | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill tree Population | 100-500 per node | ~3,000 coins | Mandatory |
| Skill tree Castle Defense | 200-500 per node | ~2,000 coins | High |
| Weapon tier upgrades | 500-8,000 per tier | ~13,500 coins | High |
| Skill tree Economy | 150-300 per node | ~1,500 coins | Medium |
| Armor unlocks | 1,000-3,000 per piece | ~10,000 coins | Medium |
Per-Wave Coin Income Curve
Your coin income grows linearly with the wave number, because wave rewards scale with wave difficulty and hero kills scale with hero count. The table below shows the typical coin income per wave, plus the cumulative coin balance at each milestone wave.
| Wave | Coin Income | Cumulative | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 50-100 | 250-500 | Starter phase |
| 6-10 | 100-150 | 750-1,500 | Tier 2 unlock |
| 11-15 | 150-200 | 1,500-2,500 | Tier 3 unlock |
| 16-20 | 200-250 | 2,500-4,000 | Tier 3 upgrade |
| 21-25 | 250-350 | 4,000-6,000 | Tier 4 unlock |
| 26-30 | 300-400 | 6,000-9,000 | Tier 4 upgrade |
| 31-40 | 400-500 | 10,000-15,000 | Tier 5 unlock |
| 41-50 | 500-700 | 15,000-22,000 | Tier 5 upgrade |
The Recommended Weapon Upgrade Path
The recommended weapon upgrade path is Starter → Stormbringer → Arclight → Tempest, which is the multi-target damage type upgrade path that handles every wave composition. This path costs 13,500 coins total and is achievable within a typical Wave 40+ run. Alternative paths exist for specific play styles, but the multi-target path is the most universal.
Path Step 1: Starter to Tier 1 (Free)
The starter weapon is granted for free when you first join a match and remains your main weapon through Wave 5. The Blaster is the recommended starter weapon for its balanced firing rhythm, but the Cannon and Zapper are situational picks for damage-focused or AOE-focused play. No coins are spent at this step.
Path Step 2: Tier 1 to Tier 2 (Wave 5, 500 Coins)
At Wave 5, you unlock the Tier 2 weapon slot and should spend 500 coins to unlock the Stormbringer. The Stormbringer is a multi-target weapon with chain lightning that handles the Wave 6-10 hero roster efficiently. This is the first coin investment in the weapon upgrade path and should happen immediately at Wave 5 to maximize the Stormbringer's value.
| Tier 2 Unlock Cost | Wave | Recommended Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| 500 coins | 5 | Stormbringer (multi-target) |
Path Step 3: Tier 2 to Tier 3 (Wave 15, 1,500 Coins)
At Wave 15, you unlock the Tier 3 weapon slot and should spend 1,500 coins to upgrade the Stormbringer to Tier 3. The Tier 3 Stormbringer gains the chain lightning + slow combination, which is the right counter for the Storm Knight and other mid-game threats. This is the second coin investment and should happen immediately at Wave 15.
| Tier 3 Unlock Cost | Wave | Recommended Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 coins | 15 | Stormbringer Tier 3 (multi-target + slow) |
Path Step 4: Tier 3 to Tier 4 (Wave 25, 3,500 Coins)
At Wave 25, you unlock the Tier 4 weapon slot and should spend 3,500 coins to evolve the Stormbringer into the Arclight. The Arclight is the strongest pre-Tier-5 multi-target weapon and handles the Siege Golem wave composition with ease. This is the third coin investment and should happen immediately at Wave 25 to maximize the Arclight's value.
| Tier 4 Unlock Cost | Wave | Recommended Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| 3,500 coins | 25 | Arclight (multi-target Tier 4) |
Path Step 5: Tier 4 to Tier 5 (Wave 40, 8,000 Coins)
At Wave 40, you unlock the Tier 5 weapon slot and should spend 8,000 coins to evolve the Arclight into the Tempest. The Tempest is the strongest weapon in the game and the foundation of every Endless Mode build. This is the fourth and largest coin investment; save your coins from Wave 25-39 specifically for this upgrade.
| Tier 5 Unlock Cost | Wave | Recommended Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000 coins | 40 | Tempest (multi-target Tier 5) |
Weapon Upgrade vs Skill Tree Priority
The most common coin-economy mistake is spending all coins on weapon upgrades while neglecting the skill tree. The recommended balance is roughly 60% skill tree, 30% weapons, 10% armor for the typical run. The exact balance depends on your play style, but the Population skill tree branch must be maxed before you start investing heavily in weapons.
| Investment Type | Recommended Share | Priority Order |
|---|---|---|
| Skill tree (Population + Castle Defense) | 60% | First |
| Weapon tier upgrades | 30% | Second |
| Armor unlocks | 10% | Third |
Why Population Comes First
Population is the single largest survivability lever in the game, and it unlocks more minion slots. Without Population, your minion formation cannot grow to the 8-minion cap that late-game waves demand. Max Population first, then weapons. A Tier 3 weapon with 8 minions outperforms a Tier 5 weapon with 4 minions in nearly every scenario.
Why Weapons Come Second
Weapons come second because they scale with tier rather than count. A Tier 5 weapon deals 9x the damage of a Tier 1 weapon, but you can only fire one shot at a time. By contrast, 8 minions deal 8x the damage of a single minion, and they fire continuously. The skill tree scales the army; the weapon scales the BOSS. Scale the army first.
Why Armor Comes Third
Armor comes third because the armor system is the newest mechanic and not yet fully balanced. The UPD2 patch introduced armor tokens and a damage-reduction system, but the optimal armor build is still being discovered by the community. Spend 10% of your coins on armor exploration but do not commit heavily until the meta stabilizes.
When to Spend Coins on Weapons
Spend coins on weapons only at the four milestone waves: Wave 5 (Tier 2 unlock), Wave 15 (Tier 3 unlock), Wave 25 (Tier 4 unlock), Wave 40 (Tier 5 unlock). Spending coins between milestones is wasteful because the next milestone tier supersedes your current weapon. The exception is the inter-wave window after a milestone, where spending the milestone's coin investment immediately is correct.
| Milestone Wave | Spend Immediately? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wave 5 | Yes | Tier 2 unlock is the first weapon investment |
| Wave 15 | Yes | Tier 3 unlock compounds multi-target damage |
| Wave 25 | Yes | Tier 4 unlock is mandatory for Siege Golem |
| Wave 40 | Yes | Tier 5 unlock is the foundation of Endless Mode |
| Between milestones | No | Save coins for the next milestone tier |
Common Coin-Spending Mistakes
The three most common coin-spending mistakes are: spending coins on multiple weapons instead of focusing on one, spending coins between milestones instead of saving, and spending coins on weapons before maxing Population. Each mistake costs you roughly 20-30% of your coin efficiency, which delays the Tier 5 unlock by 5-10 waves. Avoid them all and you will reach Tempest within the typical Wave 40-45 window.
| Mistake | Cost of Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Spreading coins across multiple weapons | 30% efficiency loss | Pick one main weapon path |
| Spending between milestones | 20% efficiency loss | Save coins for milestone waves |
| Weapons before Population | 25% efficiency loss | Max Population first |
Weapon Upgrade Order by Wave Range
The right weapon upgrade order changes with the wave range because the threats shift. Early game, focus on the Tier 2 unlock at Wave 5. Mid game, focus on the Tier 3 and Tier 4 unlocks at Wave 15 and Wave 25. Late game, focus on the Tier 5 unlock at Wave 40.
Early Game Weapon Upgrades (Waves 1-10)
In the early game, spend your coins on the Tier 2 unlock at Wave 5 (Stormbringer, 500 coins) and then save the rest for the Tier 3 unlock. Do not spend coins on weapon upgrades between waves; save them for the next milestone.
| Early Game Wave | Recommended Spend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Wave 5 | 500 coins (Tier 2 unlock) | 500 |
| Wave 10 | Save for Tier 3 | 1,000 |
Mid Game Weapon Upgrades (Waves 11-25)
In the mid game, spend your coins on the Tier 3 unlock at Wave 15 (Stormbringer Tier 3, 1,500 coins) and the Tier 4 unlock at Wave 25 (Arclight, 3,500 coins). These two unlocks are the largest mid-game coin investments and should be planned in advance.
| Mid Game Wave | Recommended Spend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Wave 15 | 1,500 coins (Tier 3 unlock) | 3,000 |
| Wave 25 | 3,500 coins (Tier 4 unlock) | 6,500 |
Late Game Weapon Upgrades (Waves 26+)
In the late game, spend your coins on the Tier 5 unlock at Wave 40 (Tempest, 8,000 coins). This is the largest single coin investment in the game and should be planned across multiple runs if necessary.
| Late Game Wave | Recommended Spend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Wave 40 | 8,000 coins (Tier 5 unlock) | 14,500 |
Alternative Weapon Paths
The multi-target upgrade path is the recommended choice for most BOSSes, but alternative paths exist for specific play styles. The AOE path is the alternative for BOSSes who focus on clustered waves, and the single-target path is the alternative for BOSSes who focus on priority heroes.
The AOE Path: Zapper → Pyroclast → Meteor → Cataclysm
The AOE path uses the Zapper (Tier 1 AOE) → Pyroclast (Tier 3 AOE) → Meteor (Tier 4 AOE) → Cataclysm (Tier 5 AOE). This path is best for BOSSes who face high-density clustered waves and want to maximize per-shot radius. Total cost is similar to the multi-target path.
| Path Step | Wave | Coin Cost | Weapon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 2 | 5 | 500 | Zapper Tier 2 |
| Tier 3 | 15 | 1,500 | Pyroclast |
| Tier 4 | 25 | 3,500 | Meteor |
| Tier 5 | 40 | 8,000 | Cataclysm |
| Total | - | 13,500 | - |
The Single-Target Path: Frostbite → Voidcleaver → Voidcleaver Mk2 → Void Sovereign
The single-target path uses the Frostbite (Tier 2 single-target) → Voidcleaver (Tier 3) → Voidcleaver Mk2 (Tier 4) → Void Sovereign (Tier 5). This path is best for BOSSes who focus on priority heroes and checkpoint bosses. Total cost is similar.
| Path Step | Wave | Coin Cost | Weapon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 2 | 5 | 500 | Frostbite |
| Tier 3 | 15 | 1,500 | Voidcleaver |
| Tier 4 | 25 | 3,500 | Voidcleaver Mk2 |
| Tier 5 | 40 | 8,000 | Void Sovereign |
| Total | - | 13,500 | - |
When to Switch Paths
Switching paths is worthwhile when your current path's damage type no longer matches the wave composition. If you are using the multi-target path but facing a wave of pure single-target priority heroes, switch to the single-target path temporarily. The switch should be permanent only if you commit to the new path for the rest of the run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fully upgrade weapons in Be The Final Boss?
The full multi-target weapon upgrade path costs 13,500 coins total: 500 for Tier 2, 1,500 for Tier 3, 3,500 for Tier 4, and 8,000 for Tier 5. This is roughly the coin income of a typical Wave 40 run.
Should I focus on weapons or skill tree in Be The Final Boss?
Spend 60% of coins on skill tree, 30% on weapons, 10% on armor. The Population skill tree branch must be maxed before you start investing heavily in weapons. A Tier 3 weapon with 8 minions outperforms a Tier 5 weapon with 4 minions in nearly every scenario.
When should I upgrade my weapon in Be The Final Boss?
Upgrade at the four milestone waves: Wave 5, Wave 15, Wave 25, Wave 40. Spending coins between milestones is wasteful because the next milestone tier supersedes your current weapon.
What is the best weapon path for beginners in Be The Final Boss?
The multi-target path (Starter → Stormbringer → Arclight → Tempest) is the best beginner path because multi-target weapons handle every wave composition. The recommended first weapon upgrade is the Tier 2 Stormbringer at Wave 5 for 500 coins.
Can I switch weapons mid-run in Be The Final Boss?
Yes, you can switch weapons any time from the Weapons menu. Switching is worthwhile when the current weapon's damage type no longer matches the wave composition. The switch should be temporary — switch back to your main weapon once the wave composition returns to normal.