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Deck guide

Dr. Kraut Starter

A deck for newer accounts without a strong 5- or 8-Cost carry yet: pile promotion buffs onto Dr. Kraut until you get something like Pomblaster or Tomato Twister.

CommunityEasyUpdated Nov 04, 2026Game version 3.0.1027

Overview

Strengths

  • Strong early (R1 to R4): board ATK 46% above a typical deck.
  • Strong mid game (R5 to R7): board ATK 28% above a typical deck.
  • Buildable for free: no paid Battle Pass cards.
  • With Variants the score goes from 14 to 43.

Weaknesses

  • Loses to: Apple Sheriff I (area carry), Tomato Twister (grows with every kill) + Sir Rose II, Control: stall the game and win late + Rosen Death, Apple Sheriff II (area carry), Tomato Twister (grows with every kill) + Violet Magus, Tomato Twister (grows with every kill) + Violet Magus.

The 9 cards and why each one is here

C
14 · beats 11% of random decks

The deck as the source plays it.

3Pine GangsterPop GunnerGuaca Sage
5Dr. KrautGlowkeeperPeanut Page
8Floral FriarMuscle MelonAcorn Outlaw
Pine GangsterCost 3 ·
Without it the score barely changes

This Minion gains an extra 5/5/5/20 ATK when promoted.

  • Main piece (★): the plan revolves around it.
  • Works together with: Dr. Kraut, Glowkeeper, Floral Friar.
  • Community tier list, April video (C): Gains ATK when promoted, but no deck makes it work without a specific Blessing. Cost 3 rarely carries.

Don't have it? Use Greenkeeper (score +29.0)

Can be obtained from Harvest Pots, Recruitment, and the U-Pick Farm.

Without it the score barely changes

Fires a volley of 4/5/6/10 bullets at the enemy, each dealing 40% damage.

  • Community tier list, April video (S): S with the slow Variant. Without it (A), its burst still breaks the snail Boss's shields and wins games on that Boss.

Don't have it? Use Turnipette (score +29.0)

Owned by default.

Without it the score barely changes

Ready: Temp increases this Minion's ATK by 80%/80%/80%/120% if it's at 3★.

  • Community tier list, April video (B): Strong pressure in the first rounds and holds well until R6, but needs another carry for the late game.

Don't have it? Use Turnipette (score +29.0)

Can be obtained from Harvest Pots, Recruitment, and the U-Pick Farm.

Dr. KrautCost 5 ·
Without it the score barely changes

When a Minion is promoted, Dr. Kraut gains 1/2/4/12 ATK.

  • Main piece (★): the plan revolves around it.
  • Works together with: Pine Gangster, Glowkeeper, Floral Friar.
  • Community tier list, April video (A): Gains ATK on every promotion and loops in the promotion deck (Princeling, Sister Cherry, Bombercarrot). The Variant gives ATK per 3★ Minion on the board and pairs with 2 Hogsteen at 3★.

Don't have it? Use Headless Jack (score +29.0)

Available on the Glory Track.

GlowkeeperCost 5 ·
Without it the score barely changes

When this Minion is promoted, all other Minions' ATK increases by 2, and it gains ATK +2 for every empty tile on the field.

  • Main piece (★): the plan revolves around it.
  • Works together with: Pine Gangster, Dr. Kraut, Floral Friar.
  • Community tier list, April video (D): Promoting it gives little ATK to the others and merging is expensive. Math Melon gives more for less.

Don't have it? Use Headless Jack (score +29.0)

Can be obtained from Harvest Pots, Recruitment, and the U-Pick Farm.

Peanut PageCost 5 ·
Without it the score barely changes

Increases the ATK of the Minion with the highest ATK by 1/2/4/12 whenever a Minion is promoted.

  • Main piece (★): the plan revolves around it.
  • Community tier list, April video (A): Every promotion gives ATK to your highest ATK Minion. One of the best supports for Orange Bros (a single Orange gets it all) and good in the Kraut deck.

Don't have it? Use Headless Jack (score +29.0)

Can be obtained from Harvest Pots, Recruitment, and the U-Pick Farm.

Without it the score barely changes

4 random Minions gain 1/2/4/16 ATK whenever a Minion is promoted.

  • Works together with: Pine Gangster, Dr. Kraut, Glowkeeper.
  • Community tier list, April video (B): Triggers on promotions (pairs with Princeling) and its Variant buffs 3★ Minions: good in the Kraut deck and with Chomper's summons.

Don't have it? Use Pumpkin King (score +19.0)

Obtained by clearing Adventure Mode 1-3

Without it the score barely changes

Deals 200%/200%/200%/800% damage to the enemy boss.

  • Community tier list, April video (B): Its power is the Variant, which makes it gain ATK. A in a good Blessing week, B otherwise.

Don't have it? Use Pumpkin King (score +19.0)

Available on the Glory Track.

Without it the score barely changes

Deploy: Steals ATK from all Shop Minions, gaining 90% ATK.

  • Core piece of the plan: Buffed shop: Acorn Outlaw.
  • Community tier list, April video (C): Weak on its own: it steals ATK from Shop Minions. With frozen Eggydjinns next to it, it becomes A and hits for thousands. Buy it if you see it.

Don't have it? Use Pumpkin King (score +19.0)

Can be obtained from Harvest Pots, Recruitment, and the U-Pick Farm.

How to play the match

Stack buffs on Dr. Kraut. Glowkeeper and Pine Gangster want promotions, and each promotion also powers up Dr. Kraut and makes Peanut Page buff your highest-ATK Minion (usually Kraut). Pop Gunner and Guaca Sage are cheap, easy to promote and handle Shields and front lines early. Try to get 1 Floral Friar down; the Candlemancer Badge helps you find it. Muscle Melon is strong on Boss rounds. Lady Tulip can replace Acorn Outlaw.

Round by round (simulator pilot)

What the deck builder's simulated player bought and the ATK on the board, against a typical deck. Use it as a reference: the shop changes every match.

  1. R1

    Buys: Muscle Melon

    1
    50ATK · typical deck 31
  2. R2

    Buys: Glowkeeper, Guaca Sage ×2

    211
    82ATK · typical deck 71
  3. R3

    Buys: Glowkeeper, Guaca Sage ×2

    22111
    138ATK · typical deck 109
  4. R4

    Buys: Glowkeeper ×2

    331
    266ATK · typical deck 157
  5. R5

    Buys: Pine Gangster ×3, Pop Gunner

    332111
    310ATK · typical deck 209
  6. R6

    Buys: Acorn Outlaw, Pine Gangster

    333111
    375ATK · typical deck 299
  7. R7

    Buys: Glowkeeper ×2, Pine Gangster, Guaca Sage

    333211111
    451ATK · typical deck 381
  8. R8

    Buys: Guaca Sage ×3, Pine Gangster, Pop Gunner

    333322111
    513ATK · typical deck 467
  9. R9

    Buys: Glowkeeper ×2, Pine Gangster ×2

    333332211
    620ATK · typical deck 558

Card leveling order

How much the deck's score rises with each card at level 10 (the rest at 8), against the same benchmark. Level from top to bottom. Gold: the game's official level table.

  1. Glowkeeper+34.0 score6,000 Gold from 8 to 10
  2. Guaca Sage+24.0 score11,000 Gold from 8 to 10
  3. Pine Gangster+19.0 score6,000 Gold from 8 to 10
  4. Acorn Outlaw+19.0 score6,000 Gold from 8 to 10
  5. Pop Gunner+15.0 score3,600 Gold from 8 to 10
  6. Dr. Kraut+10.0 score3,600 Gold from 8 to 10
  7. Floral Friar+10.0 score6,000 Gold from 8 to 10
  8. Muscle Melon+10.0 score6,000 Gold from 8 to 10
  9. Peanut Page+5.0 score6,000 Gold from 8 to 10

Each card's skill steps up at levels 7 and 10. Focus materials on your deck's cards instead of spreading them. Every level of any card also adds Power Bonus to the whole account.

Official cost of each level (Gold and copies)
Rare
Lv 250 ×2
Lv 3100 ×5
Lv 4150 ×10
Lv 5300 ×25
Lv 6500 ×50
Lv 7800 ×100
Lv 81,200 ×200
Lv 91,600 ×350
Lv 102,000 ×600
Lv 114,000 ×900
Lv 127,000 ×1200
Epic
Lv 5500 ×2
Lv 6800 ×4
Lv 71,200 ×8
Lv 81,600 ×14
Lv 92,000 ×25
Lv 104,000 ×40
Lv 117,000 ×60
Lv 1211,000 ×75
Legendary
Lv 82,000 ×1
Lv 94,000 ×2
Lv 107,000 ×4
Lv 1111,000 ×5
Lv 1216,000 ×6

Variants worth getting

  • Guaca Sage I instead of Guaca Sage: score +29.0Obtained from the Club Shop.
  • Dr. Kraut I instead of Dr. Kraut: score +24.0Obtainable in the Variant Recruit feature.
  • Muscle Melon I instead of Muscle Melon: score +24.0Obtainable in the Variant Recruit feature.
  • Glowkeeper I instead of Glowkeeper: score +15.0Obtainable in the Variant Recruit feature.
  • Floral Friar I instead of Floral Friar: score +15.0Obtainable in the Variant Recruit feature.
  • Pop Gunner I instead of Pop Gunner: score +10.0Obtainable in the Variant Recruit feature.
  • Peanut Page I instead of Peanut Page: score +5.0Obtainable in the Variant Recruit feature.

Against the strong decks

Loses Apple Sheriff I (area carry) · R7Loses Tomato Twister (grows with every kill) + Sir Rose II · R5Loses Control: stall the game and win late + Rosen Death · R7Loses Apple Sheriff II (area carry) · R7Loses Tomato Twister (grows with every kill) + Violet Magus · R6Loses Tomato Twister (grows with every kill) + Violet Magus · R7

Questions

Which card should I level first?

Glowkeeper: taking it to level 10 raises the score by 34.0, more than any other card in the deck.

Can I play it without spending money?

Yes: no card in the deck is from the paid Battle Pass.

Is it worth chasing a Variant?

The best is Guaca Sage I instead of Guaca Sage: +29.0 score. Variants come from Rumble Chess and Variant Recruit (unlocked at 700 Trophies).

What if I don't have Guaca Sage?

Use Turnipette instead (score +29.0). It's the card that matters most: without it the score drops 0.0.

Source and changelog

Community

Discord community chat, September 2026. Abilities checked against the official text. I have not played this deck in a match yet.

Deck builder scores at level 8 (1,000 to 2,199 Trophies), from simulated matches that run until a Captain dies, as in the game. Opponents: 150 random decks and the 6 meta decks the builder generated itself. The fight was calibrated on Oct 10 with my own real matches.

  • Oct 06, 2026: guide rebuilt in the new format (versions, round by round, leveling order, Variants and matchups), with the recalibrated deck builder and APK 2.0.1021 numbers.
  • Sep 30, 2026: deck added to the wiki.