Hold the Door Zombie Defense Pre-Match & Mid-Run Loadout Checklist

Run this checklist before you queue into Hold the Door: Zombie Defense and again at wave 10, before Rusty Queen on Mine, and before any skip chain on Subway. It encodes the same role system as the Tower Tier List without copying turret names from other games. If a box stays unchecked, fix it before spending currency or voting skip.

Pre-match — lobby (30 seconds)

Map and goal

• Squad agreed on map: Lava Pit (learning / farm), Mine (boss check), or Subway (split lanes)
• Squad agreed on goal: first clear, Rusty Queen kill, or deep wave push
• Everyone opened Beginner Builds or Late Game Comps matching the goal

Team roles assigned

• Economy — one player owns early slot unlocks and upgrade timing
• Splash main — one player owns primary lane merge coverage
• Splash side / flex — assigned on Subway or when preview shows split lanes
• Support slow — one player owns path-front slows for runners and bosses
• Boss single-target — assigned for Mine / Rusty Queen; optional early on Lava Pit
• Door captain — one player calls repairs and skip safety (can merge with economy on small squads)

Account prep

• Checked Updates for patch date since last session (~July 30, 2026 last known API update)
• Checked Codes — no required code to play, but redeem verified strings before spending boosts
• Read Getting Started if anyone is first-time on controls or UI

Pre-wave 1 — placement

Door HP / tankiness

• Team knows current door HP baseline and first reinforcement cost
• Door captain has currency reserved for first door upgrade by wave 6–8 (public lobbies)
• No one spends entire wallet on wave 1 units before door plan is spoken

Unit slots filled (by role, not name)

• Economy archetype placed in a rear safe slot (survives early leaks)
• Splash archetype placed on primary merge — not only at the door
• Support slow placed at front of path splash uses — clump before clear
• Boss DPS placed only if map goal requires Mine / late waves — not at expense of splash on Lava Pit
• Flex slot decided: duplicate splash, second economy, or early boss only if squad agreed

Coverage geometry

• Every active lane at wave 1 has a unit that can reach it (see Tower Tier List splash bands)
• Lava Pit — open lane merge has splash overlap
• Subway — side spawn has at least A-tier splash plan before wave 8
• Mine — corridor choke identified for support + splash stack

Mid-run — wave 10 checkpoint

• First door reinforcement purchased or scheduled this wave band
• Splash main received first meaningful upgrade before boss luxuries
• Support slow still covers front path — not sold for quick cash
• Economy still producing — no full stall for one maxed unit
• Side lane (Subway) confirmed uptime if that map is active
• Squad agreed skip vote threshold (many groups use door HP 60%+ and dual splash OK)

Boss ready — Rusty Queen (Mine)

• Wave preview read — boss wave identified before last skip
• Boss single-target at invest tier from Late Game Comps — not base tier
• Support slow confirmed boss-effective on path front
• Splash still clears add waves between boss phases — boss DPS is not solo plan
• Door tier 2+ or repair fund ready before enrage
• Door captain not mid-upgrade on personal units when boss spawns
• Skip chain paused until boss kill or squad wipe call

Skip-vote discipline

• Splash main confirmed uptime in chat before skip
• Side splash (if needed) confirmed uptime before skip
• Support slow duration covers transition wave
• Door HP above squad threshold
• Boss DPS player not mid-upgrade on boss preview
• Door captain ready to repair during skipped wave if leak happens
• One caller owns skip — not five simultaneous votes

Post-wipe review (30 seconds)

• Which checkbox failed first? (door / splash / boss / support / economy / skip)
• Wrong map for current comp? (Lava Pit vs Mine vs Subway)
• Patch changed costs since Updates date?
• Re-read one wiki page tied to failure: Beginner Builds, Tower Tier List, or Guides

Quick reference — role vs map

Map	Never skip this checkbox	Common wipe cause
Lava Pit	Splash on merge	Greedy boss DPS before density control
Mine	Boss DPS + support on Rusty Queen	Door repairs during enrage
Subway	Side lane splash	Skip chain while side one tier short

How this tool connects to the wiki

• Tier List Hub — explains why each role tier matters
• Tools Hub — other planning pages as we add them
• Events — extra rows during limited-time buffs

Print mentally, not literally — run the boxes in chat if your squad uses voice. Thirty seconds here beats re-queue rage after a door wipe everyone saw coming.

Printable-style summary

Copy into Discord before queue:

Map: __________  Goal: __________
Economy: ______  Splash main: ______  Side/flex: ______
Support: ______  Boss DPS: ______  Door captain: ______
Door upgrade by wave: ______  Skip OK if HP > ______%
Rusty Queen plan (Mine): Y / N

Fill names with roles, not copied turret names from other Roblox games. Your unlocks change; roles do not.