Buster "Grumpy Garden Gnome" Guide: 3 Star 3 Fire Barbarian

Hero Review

Buster: The Grumpy Garden Gnome with a Heavy Hand

"Don't let the size fool you. This grumpy, tattooed garden gnome packs a punch that rivals the biggest heroes in the game. Buster isn't just a 3-star hero; he's a 'Mini-Franz' that can revolutionize your Titan scores and Challenge Event rankings. We break down why this Slow mana brawler deserves a spot on your roster, even if his stats are starting to show their age."

Read Full ReviewIn-Depth Analysis & Strategy

Special Skill

Frosty Punches

Mana Speed

Slow

Deals 275% damage to the target and nearby enemies.
Summons an Elf Minion for the caster with 10% HP and 10% attack inherited from the caster.
All damage the target and nearby enemies receive is increased by +24% and a further +2% increase per each Fire shield on the board for 4 turns, up to +40% increased damage.

⚡ Tile Breakpoints Guide

12Base Tiles

10% Bonus

11Tiles

Family Bonus

Monthly Event - Winter

Bonus for 2/3 Unique Heroes:
+2%/ +3% health for Minions inherited from their summoner.
+5%/+10% attack for Minions inherited from their summoner.
The members of this family have additional perks in the Santa's Challenge event.

Passives

No passives found

Aether Power

Dodge

At the start of each battle, this Hero gets 20% chance to dodge Special Skills that deal damage for 6 turns.

In battles with multiple waves, the effect is refreshed at the beginning of each wave.

Talents

Class Talent

Master Wound

After any normal attack, 30% chance to activate the following effects:

Deal 80% of the damage done by the normal attack over 5 turns. If target already has this ailment, the previous ailment's remaining damage is added to the new ailment as additional damage.

Hero Coach Info

Ascension Support

Hero Coach Date

🎓

Not Eligible for Coaching

The Hero Coach event is exclusive to 5★ Legendary heroes. Lower rarity heroes are not eligible for instant ascension.

Visiting Outfitter Info

Get this costume

Visiting Outfitter Date

🎭

No Costumes Available

This hero does not currently have any costumes in the game. As a result, they do not appear in the Visiting Outfitter events.

Matching Legendary Troops

status_effect_attack_addition_legendary_troop

Majestic Minotaur

Serene Brute

Enchanted Ent

Furious Monk

These troops provide full Class Synergy bonuses when equipped on Barbarian heroes of the Red element.

Click here to view the full guide on how to obtain and best utilize these powerful troops!

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

By default, Buster has Slow mana speed, requiring 12 tiles to charge. Equipping troops with a Mana Bonus can reach specific Breakpoints — the exact percentages where your tile count drops — allowing your hero to fire their special skill faster, with less tiles. Additionally, as a Barbarian, this hero can unlock a +2% Mana Bonus through Emblems (Talent Tree). These bonuses can significantly lower the troop level required to reach these breakpoints.

Standard12Tiles

Optimized10Tiles

5★ Mana Troop Set

8 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 28

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 19

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

5★ Mana Troop Set

10 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 19

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

status_effect_defense_reduction_legendary_troop

5★ Mana Troop Set

2 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 20

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Merciless Wizards

Magic Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 11

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 5

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+10%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

Need Bonus:20%

This Troop:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Barbaric Assassins

Mana Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 17

With +2% Emblem Bonus:

LVL 11

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

General Information

Hero Name

Buster "Grumpy Garden Gnome"

Rarity
ElementFire
ClassBarbarian
Mana SpeedSlow
Skill Types
AoE Attackers (Hit-3)Extra Damage Dealers Minions Summoners
SourceMonthly Event - Winter
FamilyWinter Family
Aether PowerDodge
CostumeBase
Release DateDec 1, 2022
Availability
Coach:Dec 1, 2024
HA5:Dec 1, 2024

Ascension Requirements

Tier

Food

Materials

Tier 2Ascension Cost

58K

★★

★

Tier 3Ascension Cost

132K

★★

★★

Limit Break Requirements

Tier

Materials

Limit Break 1Unlock Cost

★★★

LB 1 LevelsTotal Cost

—

Limit Break 2Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★

LB 2 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★

★★★

★★★

★★

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Level				💪
3/50	509	451	825	484
3/55lb1	577	512	935	541
3/60lb2	713	632	1156	653

Strategy

Mana Node

Talent Level

Calculated Bonuses

Attack

+240 & +3%

Defense

+54 & +3%

Health

+172 & +4%

Crit

+2%

Resource Costs

Emblems

383

Master

Food

1,049,664

Iron

630,971

+15

+36

+15

+18

+3%

+18

+2%

+15

+18

+36

+15

+3%

+4%

+50

Community Feedback

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Overall Grade

Overall performance in the current meta

0v0%

Strong

0v0%

Average

0v0%

Weak

0v0%

Terrible

0v0%

Summon Value

Is this hero worth your gems and tokens?

Yes, Absolutely

0v0%

Only if you’re Pay-to-Win

0v0%

Yes, but only when featured

0v0%

Not Really

0v0%

Not at all

0v0%

Copies to Keep

How many copies are worth keeping and leveling?

None

0v0%

1 Copy

0v0%

2 Copies

0v0%

3+ Copies

0v0%

Limit Break Priority

Priority for applying Limit Breaks

LB2 (Alpha)

0v0%

LB1

0v0%

None

0v0%

Emblem Path

General emblem path preference

Sword path (Attack when possible)

0v0%

Shield path (HP and Def when possible)

0v0%

Node Strategy

Specific node priority strategy

Atk > Def > HP

0v0%

Atk > HP > Def

0v0%

Def > Atk > HP

0v0%

Def > HP > Atk

0v0%

HP > Atk > Def

0v0%

HP > Def > Atk

0v0%

Best Def Position

Best placement in a defense formation

Tank

0v0%

Flank

0v0%

Wing

0v0%

None

0v0%

Primary Use (Max 3)

Top scenarios where this hero excels

Raids/War

0v0%

Defense

0v0%

Titans

0v0%

Tournaments

0v0%

Events

0v0%

Farming

0v0%

Visual Design

What do you think of the visual design?

Amazing

0v0%

Refreshingly new

0v0%

It’s ok

0v0%

It could be better

0v0%

Very bad

0v0%

Discussion

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Buster

What element and rarity is Buster in Empires & Puzzles? +

Buster is a 3 star Fire hero (Red) with rare rarity.

What is Buster's special skill? +

Buster's special skill is called "Frosty Punches". Deals 275% damage to the target and nearby enemies. Summons an Elf Minion for the caster with 10% HP and 10% attack inherited from the caster. All damage the target and nearby enemies receive is increased by +24% and a further +2% increase per each Fire shield on the board for 4 turns, up to +40% increased damage.

When was Buster released? +

Buster was released on Dec 1, 2022.

Which family does Buster belong to? +

Buster belongs to the Winter Family. Bonus for 2/3 Unique Heroes:. +2%/ +3% health for Minions inherited from their summoner.. +5%/+10% attack for Minions inherited from their summoner.. The members of this family have additional perks in the Santa's Challenge event.

What is the mana speed of Buster? +

Buster has Slow mana speed.

Hero Review

Buster: The Grumpy Garden Gnome with a Heavy Hand

Special Skill

Frosty Punches

Family Bonus

Monthly Event - Winter

Passives

Aether Power

Dodge

Talents

Master Wound

Hero Coach Info

Hero Coach Date

Not Eligible for Coaching

Visiting Outfitter Info

Visiting Outfitter Date

No Costumes Available

Matching Legendary Troops

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

5★ Mana Troop Set

5★ Mana Troop Set

5★ Mana Troop Set

Merciless Wizards

Barbaric Assassins

General Information

Buster "Grumpy Garden Gnome"

Ascension Requirements

Limit Break Requirements

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Community Feedback

Overall Grade

Summon Value

Copies to Keep

Limit Break Priority

Emblem Path

Node Strategy

Best Def Position

Primary Use (Max 3)

Visual Design

Discussion

Join the Hero Discussion

Council Login Required

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Buster