How the shop works
After each wave you enter the shop and spend the materials you collected. It offers four slots with a mix of weapons and items. You can buy, lock, reroll or move on to the next wave.
The shop is where runs are won or lost. Every guide we checked treats shop decisions as the core skill of Brotato. Learning its rules pays off immediately.
Locking items
Locking is free and can be done as often as you like. Locked items stay when you reroll and remain in the shop after the next wave. That lets you save up for an expensive item.
A common early tactic is to lock powerful items in the first shops and spend on weapons first. That way you fill your six weapon slots fast without losing the item. Just remember a locked item still costs materials when you buy it later.
Rerolling and reroll costs
A reroll refreshes every slot except the locked ones. Its cost increases with each reroll you perform in the same shop. The base cost also rises as waves go on.
Buying all four items reduces the current reroll cost to zero. The next reroll's price still increases afterward. Dangerous Bunny gives one free reroll per copy and does not raise the next reroll's price.
When each tier unlocks
The first shop only offers tier I items. Shops after waves 2 and 3 offer up to tier II, and shops after waves 4 to 7 offer up to tier III. From the wave 8 shop onward, all four tiers are available.
Because the first shops only show tier I, rerolling there will not find rare items. That is one reason guides suggest spending early materials on weapons instead. Rerolling becomes more valuable once higher tiers unlock.
- Wave 1 shop: tier I only
- Wave 2-3 shops: up to tier II
- Wave 4-7 shops: up to tier III
- Wave 8 shop onward: all four tiers
Guaranteed weapon offers
The first two shops always offer two weapons. Shops in waves three to five guarantee at least one weapon per roll. This makes the opening the best time to fill your weapon slots.
Jawless Paul's shop guide recommends buying only weapons in these shops until all six slots are full. Buying the same weapon raises the chance of seeing it again. That speeds up combining into tier III and IV weapons.
The Ban system
The New Dawn update added a Ban system, unlocked by winning a run on Danger 3 or higher. It lets you block up to eight items per run from appearing. Weapons cannot be banned.
Banning items that never fit your build makes the shop more consistent. It is especially useful for focused builds. A popular creator even used bans to run a challenge with no weapons at all.
Shop tricks experienced players use
Locking an item during the first shops and buying weapons first is a common opener. Buying out all four items for a free reroll is especially strong for economy characters. Dangerous Bunny becomes more valuable as reroll costs climb in later waves.
Character tags matter when you hunt for a specific item. Pick a character whose tags favor that item. The community wiki lists the tags for every character and item.
Shop differences by character
Some characters change the shop itself. Fisherman sees a Bait in every shop for one material. Wounded has health and regeneration items removed from its shops and crates.
Character tags also shift what appears. Lucky sees more luck items, and Explorer's tags favor trees. Read your character card before planning purchases.
Common shop mistakes
Rerolling in the first shop rarely helps, since only tier I items appear. Buying random items before your weapon slots are full slows your build. Spreading weapons across many classes also lowers your odds of upgrades.
Another mistake is ignoring locks. Locking is free, so use it whenever you see an item you want later. Finally, avoid hoarding materials without a target.
A simple shop routine
In the opening shops, buy weapons that match your character and lock any standout item. Once your slots are full, buy items for your main damage stat, Max HP and regeneration. Reroll only when nothing helps and you can afford it.
Spend your materials each shop rather than hoarding them, unless you are saving for a locked item. Avoid items whose drawbacks hurt your build. See Brotato items for what to look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does locking items in Brotato cost anything?
No. Locking is free, and locked items stay through rerolls and the next wave.
How do I get a free reroll in Brotato?
Buy all four items in the shop, or own Dangerous Bunny, which gives one free reroll per copy.
When do tier IV items appear?
All four tiers are available from the wave 8 shop onward.
Should I reroll in the first shop?
Usually not. The first shop only offers tier I items, so materials are better spent on weapons.
How much does a reroll cost?
The cost rises with each reroll in the same shop and with later waves. Buying all four items makes the current reroll free.