Task Bar Hero Guide · Nugem Studio · Free on Steam
Task Bar Hero Guide
Unofficial Task Bar Hero Guide for TBH — the pixel idle hack-and-slash that runs in your Windows taskbar while you work.
Up to three heroes auto-battle dungeon waves, drop loot, and level up in the background. This Task Bar Hero guide covers beginner tips, builds, tier lists, the Rune Tree, Hero-dric Cube crafting, pets, and farming routes.
Last updated: June 2026
6 Hero Classes197 Rune Nodes5,760 Gear Items120 StagesTaskbar Idle ARPG
6Heroes
61Monsters
120Stages
214Skills
197Rune nodes
8Pets
Quick navigation
Task Bar Hero Guide — navigation
Use this Task Bar Hero guide to jump to beginner walkthroughs, tier lists, heroes, runes, pets, and stages.
⚔️Heroes & Builds
All six Task Bar Hero classes, base stats, and per-hero build pages.
🏆Tier Lists
Class rankings and best three-hero parties for farming and bosses.
🌳Rune Tree
197-node Rune Tree branches and recommended unlock order.
🧊Hero-dric Cube
Synthesis, alchemy, crafting, and gear rarity tiers in TBH.
🐾Pets
Eight Task Bar Hero pets, 5,000-kill unlocks, and farm stages.
👾Monsters & Stages
61 enemies, 120 stages, three acts, four difficulties.
✨Skills
214 active and passive skills across all six heroes — free respec.
💰Steam Market
Trading Ship listings and Immortal gear tips for Task Bar Hero.
New player
Task Bar Hero Guide — what to do first
This Task Bar Hero guide starts with stable idle runs — progress depends on heroes gathering loot in the background without deaths or inventory stalls.
Day one: pick Knight or Ranger (or Sorcerer) in your only slot — Knight is the forgiving tank most beginner guides recommend; Ranger clears faster. Immediately claim the free Priest DLC from Steam.
Once you unlock Formation slots, run Priest plus two DPS — often Knight + Priest + Ranger for stability, or Priest + Ranger + Sorcerer for push vs farm. For power rankings (Priest S-tier early push, Knight weak solo pusher), see the hero tier list.
Task Bar Hero Guide — first-session route
Your opening hours in this Task Bar Hero guide follow a systems tutorial — build a party that survives idle runs before chasing late-game damage numbers.
| Window | Priority | Avoid |
|---|
| 0–30 min | Dock window, Auto-retry on; pick Knight or Ranger; claim Priest DLC | Skipping Priest claim or ignoring Formation |
| 30–120 min | Rune Tree lv3; unlock slot 2; add Priest — aim for Knight + Priest + Ranger | Spreading gold before Formation slots |
| 2–6 hours | Three-role party: tank + sustain + ranged/AoE damage | Over-investing in temporary weapons |
| 6–10 hours | Compare rune direction, stage efficiency, Cube synthesis | Blind rune spending without a branch plan |
Task Bar Hero Guide — core loop at a glance
- Dock the window → pick heroes → enable Auto-retry → let the party farm waves in the background.
- Equip upgrades, lock keeper gear (Alt+Click), and alchemize junk into gold at the Hero-dric Cube.
- Spend gold on Rune Tree nodes — especially Formation slots — and free skill respecs on each hero.
- Push acts with Soul Stones, revisit cleared stages via the Blue Portal, and trade Immortals on the Trading Ship.
Search answers
Task Bar Hero Guide — quick answers
Starter class, party comps, rune priority, and pet farming — answered in this Task Bar Hero guide with links to full walkthroughs.
Best Task Bar Hero party comps: beginner route vs meta tiers
Once you have three Formation slots, Knight + Priest + Ranger is the safest beginner trio. For endgame push, swap to Knight + Hunter + Priest — see the builds guide for F2P and farming variants.
| Layer | Party | Best for |
|---|
| Beginner (3 slots) | Knight + Priest + Ranger | Safest idle comp — matches most walkthroughs. |
| Beginner alt | Knight + Priest + Sorcerer | More AoE — common free-to-play trio. |
| Tier push | Priest + Hunter + Ranger | Act 1–2 boss push when Priest is online. |
| Tier farm | Sorcerer + Ranger + Hunter | Wave clear speed — swap setup on boss walls. |
| Boss shield | Knight + Priest + Ranger | Knight tanks; Priest heals; Ranger finishes. |
Best starter class: day-one pick vs who to power up
Layer 1 — day one (one slot): choose Knight, Ranger, or Sorcerer. Knight or Ranger are the usual first picks — Knight absorbs mistakes; Ranger farms chests faster. Claim free Priest DLC before you grind. Layer 2 — power ranking: Priest is S-tier for early push once in your party; Knight is C-tier as a solo pusher but still valuable as a tank in three-hero comps.
| Question | Answer | Notes |
|---|
| First hero slot | Knight or Ranger | Knight = forgiving; Ranger = faster clears. Sorcerer = AoE option. |
| First DLC action | Claim Priest (free) | Essential healer + party buffs — not your day-one pick, but priority #1. |
| Early push power | Priest (S-tier) | Heals, Sanctuary, boss burst — see hero tier list. |
| Knight early tier | C-tier pusher | Weak solo push ~lv1–20; strong boss shield later. |
| Three-slot starter | Knight + Priest + Ranger | Aligns with our beginner guide and tier-list comps. |
Task Bar Hero rune priority: slots first, then economy
The Rune Tree unlocks at hero level 3 with 197 permanent nodes bought using gold. Layer 1 — priority: Rune of Command for Formation slots 2 and 3 (after War 100g + Growth 200g prerequisites). Layer 2 — while saving for the 150,000g third slot, buy boss Wealth and Repose offline nodes instead of hoarding every coin.
| Priority | Branch / node | Why |
|---|
| 1 | Rune of Command | Unlock hero slots 2 and 3 — biggest power spike. |
| 2 | Repose / offline | Eight-hour offline gold and XP cap. |
| 3 | Far North automation | Quality-of-life chest handling once stable. |
| 4 | Gold & XP nodes | Fuel synthesis and further rune purchases. |
| 5 | Rune of Awakening | Extra active skill slot — mid-game scaling. |
Task Bar Hero pets: account-wide passives
Eight pets grant bonuses whether equipped or not — the slot is cosmetic. Most unlock after 5,000 online kills of a specific monster; three come from the Supporter DLC.
| Pet | Bonus focus | Notes |
|---|
| Watcher | +Gold from kills | Strong early economy pet. |
| Bat | Chest + EXP | Unlocked from early Act 1 farming. |
| Dragon | Chest, gold, EXP | Best all-rounder — long grind. |
| DLC pets | Boss chest / EXP / gold | Supporter pack — optional. |
Featured guides
Task Bar Hero Guide — featured walkthroughs
Deep-dive articles from this Task Bar Hero guide hub — beginner route, tier list, rune priority, and systems explainers.
Task Bar Hero Beginner Guide
First 10 hours: dock the taskbar window, Formation slots, Auto-retry farming, Cube basics, and free Priest DLC.
New playerLast updated: June 2026
Read guide →Task Bar Hero Hero Tier List
Early vs mid/late class rankings, best three-hero parties, and farming vs boss-push picks.
Tier listLast updated: June 2026
Read guide →Task Bar Hero Rune Tree Guide
Rune priority and unlock order: Rune of Command hero slots, economy detours, offline Repose, and Awakening timing.
ProgressionLast updated: June 2026
Read guide →Hero-dric Cube Guide
Alchemy, synthesis, crafting, and when to upgrade gear rarity without wasting materials.
CraftingLast updated: June 2026
Read guide →Task Bar Hero Mechanics
Idle loop, offline rewards, difficulty scaling, and how background combat works on PC.
SystemsLast updated: June 2026
Read guide →FAQ
Task Bar Hero Guide — FAQ
Is Task Bar Hero really free?
Yes — the base game is free on Steam. Priest is a free DLC hero; Hunter and Slayer are paid DLC. All core progression systems are available without paying.
Do I need to watch the game constantly?
No. Combat is automatic once your party is deployed. Enable Auto-retry so failed stages retry or step back. Offline rewards cap at eight hours of gold and XP (no chests).
What is the best free party?
Beginner route (three slots): Knight + Priest + Ranger — the standard stable trio. Tier view: Priest is the early push MVP; Sorcerer is the best farmer; Knight is a tank/shield slot, not a strong solo carry early. See the beginner guide for unlock order and the hero tier list for rankings.
When does the Rune Tree unlock?
At hero level 3. Prioritize Formation slot nodes before spreading gold across combat stat branches.
How do I unlock the second and third hero slots?
Spend gold on Rune of Command nodes in the Rune Tree (South branch). Slots unlock from the tree — not from buying extra classes.
What is the Hero-dric Cube?
The Cube unlocks around hero level 4. It handles alchemy (junk to gold), synthesis (nine items to higher rarity), and later crafting tabs as you progress.
Does Task Bar Hero work while I am away from the PC?
Yes, with limits. Offline rewards grant gold and XP for up to eight hours while the game is closed — chests do not drop offline. Keep Auto-retry on for active idle farming.
Unofficial Task Bar Hero Guide — not affiliated with Nugem Studio or Valve. Game values may change during the launch window; verify in-game after patches.
