Best Class in Save the Krusty Krab

What to buy first at every Doubloon budget, for solo players and crews, with the reasoning behind each pick.

Reviewed October 21, 2026GuideUnofficial fan guide

Quick answer

SpongeBob (2,500 Doubloons) is the strongest class because he cooks two patties at once and auto-flips them. For your first purchase, buy Jim (150 Doubloons): faster cooking plus three Kelp Shakes helps every run. In a co-op crew, Mr. Krabs and Gary add the most team value.

Our pick at every budget

These recommendations come from each class’s listed perks and starting items, not from a measured win rate. Prices are in Doubloons.

Budget	Buy	Why
Under 150	Fred	Play Fred and claim tasks. The +15 starting energy is enough while you learn.
150	Jim	25% faster patties plus three Kelp Shakes. The best value in the game.
300	Sandy	Two extra tray slots means fewer trips once orders get big on Day 8.
850	Patrick	Starts with an Orb of Confusion, the counter for Man Ray and the Tattletale Strangler.
1,700	Mr. Krabs	An extra table and +10% cash for the whole crew. Best in a full group.
2,500	SpongeBob	Cooks two patties at once and auto-flips them. The endgame cook.

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Enter your Doubloons and how you play. The pick updates as you type.

Our pick for you

Sandy (Line Cook)

Carry more per trip. Shines from Day 8, when trays get busy.

300 Doubloons · 2 extra tray slots

Also within budget

Next goal: Patrick at 850 Doubloons, so you need 550 more. How to earn them

Best classes for solo

Solo, you do every job, so pick perks that save you time everywhere. Jim and SpongeBob speed up the grill, the station you visit most. Sandy cuts delivery trips, and Patrick brings his own answer to the Day 6 and Day 9 threats. Team-only perks like Gary’s revive or Mr. Krabs’ crew cash bonus are worth much less alone.

Best classes for co-op

Split the jobs, then pick classes that make your job faster:

Grill: SpongeBob or Jim.
Register: Squidward earns +2 dollars on every order taken.
Drinks and fires: Pearl pours faster and carries a fire extinguisher.
Support: Gary’s Magic Conch revives a downed crewmate for free; Mr. Krabs boosts the whole crew’s cash.
Security: Larry’s water gun pops the Dirty Bubble.

What high-day players say

In YouTube comments, players who’ve pushed past Day 40 and Day 60 rate Jim very highly. One player who maxed Jim at Day 61 said he “may be better than SpongeBob”, and others report that a level 3 Jim cooks patties almost instantly. Players also report a Night Shop upgrade that adds auto-flip without SpongeBob. We haven’t confirmed either yet, but both point the same way: Jim is a strong long-term pick, not just a starter.

Is SpongeBob worth 2,500 Doubloons?

For players who love cooking, yes. Two patties at a time and auto-flipping removes grill fires, the most common cause of lost stars. He doesn’t stop fryer fires from Coral Bits, though, and the cheaper Jim gets you a good part of the benefit. Buy Jim first, then save.

Leveling matters too

Every class levels up with XP, from 300 XP (Fred) to 5,000 XP (SpongeBob) for level 2. Playing one class a lot makes it stronger, so it’s fine to stick with a cheaper class you like.

Best class FAQ

What class should I buy first?

Jim, at 150 Doubloons. Faster cooking and three Kelp Shakes help in every run.

Which class is best against villains?

Patrick, because he starts with an Orb of Confusion. Larry's water gun is the best Dirty Bubble counter.

How many Doubloons do all classes cost?

8,410 Doubloons for all nine paid classes.

Sources

Full stats are on the class database.