How to Play: Beginner Guide
Finish the five-wave tutorial, claim free Pow Pow, redeem live codes, learn Cash mid-run, then bank Gems toward Shorty or Medic.
By Bloxron Editorial Team · Last updated
What you need first
Survive a Million Monkeys starts you on a monkey island with a starter gun. Finish the five-wave tutorial, claim free Pow Pow and Grenade upgrades, redeem codes for Gems, then learn V / C / G / X / Q before buying Medic or a mid-tier unlock.
First session steps
Place check, tutorial, free gifts, codes, Cash pacing, Ultimate charge, Gem banking, and four-player co-op.
- Match the place and studio. Join Survive a Million Monkeys on place 99409088950210 from studio gorilla warfare. Wrong places will not share your Gems or codes.
- Clear the five-wave tutorial. Finish the tutorial once. It unlocks the CODES button, teaches the island layout, and grants free Pow Pow plus its first upgrade.
- Claim free starters. Take Pow Pow and its free first upgrade. Grab Survivor's free first Grenade upgrade. Like the game, enable notifications, and join the gorilla warfare group for the lobby SMG gift at the purple gift.
- Redeem live codes. Open lobby CODES (top right). Paste 5MVISITS, 1MVISITS, MONKEYS, and SURVIVE, then check your Gem balance.
- Learn Cash mid-run. Kills pay Cash for this run only. Press V to raise weapon tier, C to raise health tier, G for grenade-style skills, and X for barricades or placements. Cash does not bank to the lobby.
- Charge and spend Ultimates. Ultimates (Q) charge from kills, about every 100 monkeys defeated. Save Q for stacked waves instead of dumping it on thin packs.
- Bank Gems between runs. When you wipe or leave, Gems from waves and kills carry over. Unlock a strong mid or high-tier gun early. You leave Tier 1 quickly in a normal run.
- Join a co-op lobby. Up to four players share a run. The match ends when all players are down. Split roles, then call flanks around the temple.
Controls table
WASD move, Space jump, mouse aim, left click shoot. V raises weapon tier with Cash. C raises health. G and X fire class skills. Q fires the Ultimate after about 100 monkey kills.
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Move | W A S D |
| Jump | Space |
| Aim | Mouse |
| Shoot | Left mouse button |
| Upgrade weapon tier | V |
| Upgrade health | C |
| Class G skill (grenade / medkit / …) | G |
| Class X skill (barricade / turret / …) | X |
| Ultimate | Q |
Cash versus Gems rules
Cash resets every run and funds V / C upgrades plus ability casts. Gems bank permanently for hub weapons, classes, and ability upgrades. Each tier also has a default gun so you can climb without owning every unlock.
Cash is run-only
Earn from monkey kills. Buy weapon tiers (V), health tiers (C), barricades, grenades, and class ability casts. It resets when the run ends.
Gems are permanent
Earn from run results and codes. Spend in the hub on weapons, Gem-priced classes, and ability upgrades. A Cash V bump is not the same purchase as a Gem unlock.
Two weapon layers
Mid-run tier bumps end with that attempt. Hub Gem unlocks give you that gun on future runs. Default guns exist in each tier so you can climb even before unlocking every card.
Mid-run Cash buys
Weapon climbs cost $150 / $750 / $2,500 for Shotgun, Burst Rifle, and Minigun. Health opens near $10. Grenade casts stay near $50 while Barricade cash rises.
| Purchase | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Next weapon: Shotgun | $150 | Tier 2 Cash climb |
| Next weapon: Burst Rifle | $750 | Tier 3 Cash climb |
| Next weapon: Minigun | $2,500 | Tier 4 Cash climb · around wave 20 |
| Health upgrade (start) | $10 | Opens at HEALTH [100]; later steps rise (e.g. $20 at [110]) |
| Grenade cast (Survivor) | $50 | Stays near $50; Barricade cash rises mid-run |
Early Gem spend table
Free kit first, then a 10,000-Gem plan from 1MVISITS, Shorty at 5,450 with upgrade, Medic at 15,000, or AK-47 at 45,000.
| Goal | Spend | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Free kit first | Pow Pow + free upgrade · Survivor Grenade upgrade · lobby SMG gift (+1,000 Gems) | No Gem cost and covers early waves while you learn Cash pacing |
| 10,000 Gems from 1MVISITS | Shorty + L1 (5,450) · or Shotgun L1+L2 (5,000) · or bank toward Medic (15,000) | One clear goal beats drip-spending across every Tier 1 pistol |
| Skip long Tier 1 shopping | Bank toward Shotgun upgrades, AK-47, SCAR, or Minigun / Laser before buying every Tier 1 pistol | A normal run leaves handguns behind quickly; high-tier unlocks pay longer |
| Budget weapon | Shorty: 5,000 Gems unlock + 450 first upgrade (5,450 total → 108 DPS) | Cheap shotgun hop when codes bank enough Gems |
| First class | Medic: 15,000 Gems | Lowest Gem class price; three recovery tools for squads |
| Mid rifle | AK-47: 45,000 Gems (~379.5 DPS) | Strong mid-tier rifle once Cash pacing is stable |
Waves and monkey types
Temple island landmarks, escalating monkey types, Blasting Off explosive bananas, Tier 4 Cash near wave 20, run-and-gun after that, and rising Barricade cash.
- The island has a central stepped temple, stairs, huts, palms, and a helicopter landmark. Barricade lines work best across stair approaches with a retreat path left open.
- Monkey types escalate: standard, larger brutish, red exploding, white, and tougher variants the longer you survive. Explosive banana attacks arrived with the Blasting Off update.
- Cash for Tier 4 weapons commonly lands around wave 20, based on which monkeys spawn. Plan $2,500 for the Minigun climb plus health cash.
- From wave 20 onward, run-and-gun beats camping one spot. Packs close from multiple angles.
- Hardcore mode uses a tougher enemy setup. Practice Standard with a four-player squad first.
- Ultimates charge from kills (~100 monkeys per Q). Hold the bar for dense waves.
- Barricade placement cash rises during a long run (early ~$50s, late hundreds). Read the live button, not the class-panel base of 50.
BOSSES update window
BOSSES is scheduled for October 10, 2026. Read lobby event text and shop prices that day, and leave a Gem buffer for a new unlock.
- BOSSES update is scheduled for October 10, 2026. Read the lobby event panel for start time and rewards after launch.
- Shop prices and kits can change the day it lands. Read the live Classes and Weapons menus before you spend.
- Leave a Gem buffer the night before if you want room for a new unlock.
Beginner tips
Upgrade the gun you fire, unlock higher tiers first, save Cash for pressure waves, use TRY before Gem buys, and stay on Survivor until a class kit is worth the spend.
- Upgrade the gun you are actually firing before shopping for a flashy locked card.
- Unlock higher tiers first. Tier 1 handguns are short-lived in a successful run.
- Barricades and grenades buy space. Do not dump all Cash into one cast on a thin wave.
- Use the shop TRY button before locking a Gem purchase.
- Survivor is enough for first solo clears. Buy a class for the G / X / Q kit you will use all run.
- In co-op, the run ends only when every player is defeated. Revive windows and shared holds matter.
- Keep Cash for the next weapon climb, a health buy, and one ability cast. Those three buttons compete every wave.
Beginner FAQ
What should I do first?
Finish the tutorial, claim Pow Pow and free upgrades, redeem live codes, learn V / C / G / X / Q mid-run, then bank Gems toward a mid-tier gun or Medic.
What are the main controls?
WASD move, Space jump, mouse aim, left click shoot, V weapon tier, C health, G and X for class skills, Q for Ultimate.
How does Ultimate charge?
Defeat about 100 monkeys to charge Q. Ultimates spend the kill charge, not Cash.
Should I buy a class immediately?
No. Use Survivor's free kit first. Compare Medic at 15,000 Gems with high-tier weapon unlocks before you spend.
Does Cash carry to the lobby?
No. Only Gems carry. Spend Cash to survive the current run.
What do mid-run Cash weapon climbs cost?
Recorded next-weapon buttons: Shotgun $150, Burst Rifle $750, Minigun $2,500. Health starts around $10 at HEALTH [100].
Is the game free to play?
Yes. You can unlock weapons and Gem classes without premium. Outlaw and some guns (like RPG) sit on premium or bundle paths.
How do I unlock the codes button?
Complete the five-wave tutorial. Then open CODES in the top-right lobby corner.
When is BOSSES?
Scheduled October 10, 2026. Read the lobby panel for live timing after launch.