In Nubby’s Number Factory, you can learn what to do in Glass Tony, strategies and items from the details in this guide.
Nubby’s Number Factory Glass Tony
Glass Tony is widely considered the hardest supervisor in Nubby’s Number Factory. The reason? Item fragility and RNG. In this mode, many items can explode if triggered too often, meaning every decision—what you buy, when you use perks, and even how you play each round—has long-term consequences.
The key to victory? Smart planning, low-frequency activations, and some good ol’ fashioned luck.
Best Item Types for Glass Tony Runs
Certain item trigger conditions are safer and more beneficial in this mode. Here are the best ones to look for:
“Every X Seconds”
These offer the best risk-reward ratio. Items with delayed activation tend to be less likely to blow up, yet still impactful.
Recommended items:
- Flamethrower
- Monstrosity
- Kazoo
- Lobster Claw (particularly powerful due to its rarity and payout)
Avoid: Rubber Chicken – appears to activate too frequently for this mode, but feedback may vary.
“When Nubby Dies”
Items in this category offer early-game gold generation and scaling potential into late rounds.
Top picks:
- Cheese House (great early economy)
- Sea Cucumber (reliable earnings)
- Flaming Skull
- Inflatable Dolphin (excellent later-game scaling)
Uncertain: All-Seeing Pyramid – unclear if peg pops count as multiple activations.
“First Peg Popped” Items
Items with this trigger are fantastic for early momentum and peg manipulation.
Strong choices:
- Poop Butt (early-game MVP)
- Happy Seal
- Yeti
- Uranium Rod
- 3D Glasses (rare but game-changing)
Bonus Tip: “Pass Round Goal”
These can be useful situationally.
- Broken Socket – good filler when better options are unavailable
- Jacks – viable, though not tested deeply
Upgrading Strategy: When to Play It Safe
In Glass Tony mode, upgrading items early can be risky. A safer approach is to:
- Buy duplicate items as backups
- Ice valuable pieces for later use
- Take calculated risks on upgrades around round 30+, particularly with scalable items like Cheese House
Best Perks to Use in Glass Tony Mode
In general, avoid perks that force item activation—they’re more likely to cause blowups. However, one exception stands out:
- Mystery Box – worth grabbing if found, especially from the claw machine
Money Management Tips
Gold is your best friend in this run. Fortunately, Glass Tony mode features cheaper item and food costs, making it easier to stack resources.
Must-Dos:
- Open Café Nubby ASAP
- Spam Strawberries (essentially free if you have at least 1 gold)
- Hotdog Dogs – combo well with Noodles for scaling
- Pickle Rats – excellent for deep item searches when rerolls aren’t enough
Pro Tip: Pants and Finger Puppet can sell for more than their purchase price. Keep an eye on resale values!
General Game Plan for a Winning Glass Tony Run
Early Game (Rounds 1–20)
- Prioritize money generation
- Target: Cheese House, Poop Butt, Sea Cucumber
- Use Squirmy and Finger Puppet only if desperate (higher risk of blowups)
- Hold your Black Market Key—save it for late-game item hunting
Mid Game (Rounds 20–40)
- Open Café Nubby and spam economy food
- Ice strategic items for future use
- Begin shifting focus to scalable items like Flaming Skull
Late Game (Round 40+)
- Use Pickle Rats for targeted rerolling
- Black Market is now safer—look for Jake the Snake and Toy Fish
- Monitor item triggers carefully—avoid over-activation
- Use the “End Round” button if the risk of item explosion is too high
The Power of the “End Round” Button
This underutilized button can be a literal lifesaver. If you’ve already met the round goal or fear triggering a destructive cascade—end the round early. It reduces activation risk and protects your build.
Suggestions for Rebalancing
Even with the perfect setup, Glass Tony can hit you with random item blowups and sudden collapses. Don’t be discouraged—patience and preparation go a long way.
Pro Tip: Treat every run as a lesson. With the right approach and a bit of luck, you’ll eventually triumph.
Glass Tony is a thrilling but frustratingly luck-based challenge. A few rework ideas:
- Lower the item break percentage (5% is brutal)
- Add a grace period after purchase before items can break
- Implement durability indicators for better player feedback
That said, finally beating Glass Tony is incredibly satisfying—especially if it’s your final supervisor challenge.