Project P.I.T.T. Early Upgrades Tier List
What to sticky and unlock first so rubber ducks keep feeding The Maw for profit.
This early upgrades tier list is for Project P.I.T.T. demo players and day-one full-release interns who just started feeding rubber ducks into The Maw. Ranks focus on sticky tools upgrades and unlock order funded by Maw feeding plus discovery. If you need gadget comparisons after everything unlocks, switch to the Tools Tier List. For systems detail without letters, read Upgrades and Physics Tools.
Ranking rules
We grade upgrades by how fast they create a self-stable lane, how much they raise combo uptime, and how well they survive the walk back to crafting. Discovery unlocks that open sticky behavior on core tools outrank novelty gadgets. Boxes and bulk feeding matter, but early ranks assume ducks first—see Rubber Ducks and Products—with container notes pointing to Boxes and Containers.
S tier — sticky the spine
Sticky panels for the Maw lane. Panels are architecture. A sticky chute and funnel keep every other upgrade honest. Without them, fans and launchers decorate chaos.
Sticky primary motion tool (fan or piston). Pick one continuous mover and make it stick. A drifting fan is a fake automation build. This is the upgrade that lets you restock ducks while The Maw still hears a stream.
Combo-focused Maw approach sticky. Soft shelf panels or magnet assists that cluster ducks before entry. Profit is chains, not lonely splashdowns—pair with How to Chain Combos.
These S picks turn Getting Started into a real shift. Do them before shopping for toys.
A tier — throughput and control
Launcher unlock + early sticky aim. When hand tosses fail appetite checks, a sticky launcher with a soft landing shelf is A-tier. Hard rim shots without recovery drop to B until panels exist.
Magnet clustering upgrade. Magnets are A when ducks spray. They are lower if your panel lane already keeps a tight corridor.
Remote access once the line spans rooms. The remote jumps to A as soon as walking breaks combo rhythm. In a single-room fan lane it can wait.
Staging pad expansion for upcoming boxes. If discovery or Maw progress telegraphs containers, widening sticky staging early is A-tier foresight. Details on Boxes and Containers.
B tier — strong mid-early
Second motion tool. A piston after a sticky fan (or the reverse) helps burst feeds. Buy after the spine is sticky.
Sticky broom at the worst jam. B-tier because it saves time but does not create profit alone. Still better than ignoring chronic pileups.
Minor sticky on recovery panels. Excellent quality-of-life after the main chute works.
Discovery detours that unlock sticky options. Always take discovery walks, but do not abandon feeding to chase every poster. Balance with Maw income as explained on Upgrades.
C tier — later early-game
Golf club sticky priority. The club is clutch, not a feeder. Sticky it after lanes survive alone unless your entire style is putter comedy.
Cosmetic or redundant tool unlocks. Extra launchers before sticky aim on the first one. Novelty gadgets that do not move ducks into The Maw.
Overbuilt corkscrew panels. Fun, fragile, and hungry for rebuilds. Save for after Automation Builds basics pay out.
Suggested purchase order
- Enough panels to form a lane.
- Sticky those panels.
- Sticky your fan or piston.
- Cluster help (magnet or shelf panels).
- Launcher when appetite demands range.
- Remote when distance hurts.
- Broom sticky at the jam corner.
- Golf club and luxuries last.
Validate the order with a short test: craft a duck buffer, walk away for a cycle, and listen for combo feedback. Silence means your early upgrades are lying to you. Fix geometry with help from How to Automate and Controls before spending the next Maw payout.
Demo and release caveats
The Steam and itch.io demo covers phase-one duck production and early sticky upgrades—perfect for this list. The full game launches August 19, 2026; larger Maw phases and stranger products will reshuffle mid tiers. Track dates on Release Date and Demo and re-check this page after major unlocks. Soft facility tips that affect upgrade value sit on Tips and Secrets.
Cross-links
- Sibling ranks: Tools Tier List
- Hub: Tier List Hub
- Systems: Upgrades
- Builds: Automation Builds
- Tools index: Tools Hub
- Items: Items Hub
- Guides: Guides Hub
Sticky the spine first. Let The Maw fund the fireworks later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about the demo, The Maw, and launch day.
What is the single best early upgrade?
Sticky panels that define your Maw lane, followed immediately by sticky on your main fan or piston.
Should I sticky the golf club early?
Usually C-tier priority. It is a clutch tool—sticky core lane tools first.
When does the remote become worth it?
When your line spans enough distance that walking between triggers breaks combo rhythm.
Does discovery beat Maw feeding for early upgrades?
No. Do both. Feeding funds progress; discovery surfaces options. Starving The Maw slows everything.
Where do I go after early upgrades?
Read the Tools Tier List and Automation Builds, then refine combos with the How to Chain Combos guide.