In the brutal, unforgiving world of They Are Billions , micromanagement is king. However, the Campaign Mode introduced a unique twist to the standard RTS survival formula: . Among the three playable heroes (Calliope, Caelus, and Syndette), Calliope is arguably the most popular, yet the most frequently misused unit in the game.
You are often forced into a tight starting area with limited green space, making farming difficult.
Before we talk about base building, you need to unlearn every habit from standard Ranger play. Calliope is a with the following base stats (un-upgraded):
The Calliope’s genius lies in its high rate of fire and surprisingly low energy cost. Firing multiple projectiles in quick succession, it excels at “crowd suppression”—shredding the health of dozens of infected simultaneously rather than killing one at a time. When paired with a single layer of wooden wall, a single Calliope can hold a chokepoint against early wave compositions that would overwhelm two Ballistae. Its sound profile, while notable, is no louder than a Ballista’s thrum, and its rapid hits stagger and slow advancing enemies, buying precious seconds for repair or ranger support. they are billions calliope build better
Around Day 20-30, you will face the infamous "crunch period" where the waves start becoming significant.
Master the Mechanized Scout: The Ultimate Calliope Build in They Are Billions
: Low physical armor, lower damage per hit than Caelus, and vulnerability to being cornered or surrounded. The Optimal Calliope Talent Build In the brutal, unforgiving world of They Are
Calliope is not an island. If you want to overall, you need to invest campaign research points into upgrades that specifically benefit her.
: Grenades are her "panic button." They do not damage Calliope herself, so a common pro-tip is to throw a grenade at your own feet as a Harpy lunges toward you. Vision & Range
To optimize Calliope, you must prioritize her ability to clear rooms before enemies can close the distance. Her lower health pool compared to Caelus makes "deadly speed" her best defense. Attack Speed is King You are often forced into a tight starting
Do not hoard grenades; use them against large clusters or to instantly delete Harpies that get too close. Note that grenades function like Thanatos rockets and do not cause friendly fire to the hero.
Summary
When opening doors inside infected complexes, do not rush in. Open the door, immediately sprint backward into cleared territory, and let the bottleneck of the doorway work to your advantage. Her rapid fire will shred the incoming line of zombies cleanly. Key Mistakes to Avoid
In the early game, it's essential to focus on expanding your base quickly and efficiently. This build strategy revolves around constructing a few key buildings to provide a solid foundation for Calliope.