Ultimate Universal Tower Defense Tier List: Units, Traits & Relics

Updated on December 15, 2025: Added how to get Lulu in his entry below (Meta Air/Support).

The world of Universal Tower Defense is full of strategic challenges, and the best units can make all the difference between victory and defeat. Whether you’re focusing on offense, defense, or support, choosing the right units from the five categories—Hybrid, Hill, Ground, Support, and Farm—is crucial. This guide will walk you through the standout choices for each role, diving into specific game modes, traits, and relics. Ready to strategize? Let’s explore the Universal Tower Defense tier list!

Universal Tower Defense Unit Tier List

Think of this tier list as your strategic roadmap. Below, I’ll break down each unit, revealing why it holds its spot in the rankings and the game modes where they truly shine. While I won’t focus heavily on progression since any unit can advance with proper upgrades and traits, I will highlight their strengths in Nightmare, Infinite, Challenges, and Virtual Realm.

Stat & Evo Assumptions: This ranking assumes you’ve upgraded units with solid stats from the Traits NPC and are considering their EVO versions if applicable. Non-EVO units should be viewed as a tier below their EVO counterparts. For instance, the base Admiral is a fair Ground unit but shines as a Support with hybrid capabilities.

Best Relics: A list of the best relics for all units will follow the tier list.

Meta/S-Tier Hybrid

S-Tier Hybrid	Rankings Explained
Berserker (Enraged)Mythic	• Top 3 DPS overall and highly flexible across game modes. • Dominates Challenge mode with quick ramp-up. • Decent for Infinite, but not the top pick. • One of the best for VR, right after Kriatu EVO. • Best Trait: Ruler.
Jinoo (Monarch)Banner Secret	• Also a top DPS unit with shadows inflicting massive damage. • Exceptional for Infinite, slow to scale in faster modes like Story. • Pairs well with Eternal and Sacred traits.
Dragon Guy (Silverite)Challenges Secret	• Thrives in slower modes for scaling but not ideal for Challenges unless you lack better options. • Solid choice for Infinite and VR. • Strong combinations with Eternal, Sacred, or Ruler traits.
Scarlet Maid (World)Get from Virtual Shop	• Offers stunning abilities and high DPS with Time Gauge stacks. • Essential for Infinite, decent for Challenges. • Best with Eternal and Sacred traits.
Admiral (Magma)Legendary EVO	• Budget-friendly, strong late-game unit with DOT damage. • Acts as a support by causing Confusion. • Prioritize Fission or Wizard traits.

A-Tier Hybrid

A-Tier Hybrid	Rankings Explained
Mob (100%)Mythic	• A solid unit that provides great hybrid capabilities, although with lower DPS. • An alternative option for VR and Infinite.

Meta/S-Tier Ground

S-Tier Ground	Rankings Explained
Kriatu (Cheater)Mythic	• The best ground unit and a must-have for VR. • Great for Challenges, ramping up damage as he crits. • Pair with Duelist trait for increased crit damage.
Ronin Obito/Rogue OniExclusiveDay 7 Daily Reward	• A top ground unit for Challenges and fair for VR. • Gains strength with potential EVO upgrades.
Sasku (Chakra)Mythic	• A versatile unit that excels in several modes with decent utility. • Good for grinding Story with easy EVO.
Rule (ROOM)ExclusiveBattlePass Reward Level 50	• High DPS that carries in Story. • A top unit for Challenges, especially when paired with good traits.

A & B-Tier Ground

A-Tier Ground	Rankings Explained
Footballer (Ego)ExclusiveBattlePass Reward Level 25	• Good DPS but lacks synergy with units. • Works well for Story with swift accessibility.
Shakumira EVOLegendary EVO	• Low DPS yet offers some support. • Not the top EVO choice but has its merits.
GenLegendary	• Adequate for beginners; can improve significantly with investment. • While good, it gets outperformed by stronger units.

Meta/S-Tier Air/Hill

S-Tier Air	Rankings Explained
Spade (Donut)Mythic	• A top-tier Air/Hill DPS unit, excellent for early stages. • Helpfully versatile across different game modes.
LuluQuest SecretCheck out the Quest >	• Check our Lulu/Lelouch Quest Guide for unlocking details. • An Air/Hill support unit that specializes in controlling enemies and dealing decent damage. • Ideal for all modes, and a great synergy with the Laughing Captain relic set.
Cyborg (Fearless)Mythic	• Similar DPS and flexible between game modes, distinct with various attack styles.

A & B-Tier Air/Hill

A-Tier Air	Rankings Explained
ZoraLegendary	• A good starter Air/Hill unit with stun abilities.
PebbleLegendary	• A solid beginner Hill unit with acceptable DPS.
Great Early Game Air/Hill Units	• The ideal starter package for Hill units, perfect before accessing Legendaries.

Meta/S-Tier Support

S-Tier Support	Rankings Explained
LuluQuest SecretCheck out how to unlock him>	• Check our Lulu/Lelouch Quest Guide for unlocking. • An exceptional support unit that controls the battlefield. • Offers stalling and decent damage output. • Excellent in all game modes, especially with the Laughing Captain relic.
Admiral (Magma)Legendary EVO	• A top budget choice maintaining effectiveness throughout the game. • Outstanding as both damage dealer and support with Confusion skill.
Miku (Super Star)Mythic	• Buffs all surrounding units with damage or range benefits. • Best positioned after placing other units, maximizing effectiveness.
Shunks (Conqueror)Mythic	• Merges damage with stun capabilities, perfect for EVO. • Essential for all game modes.
Scarlet Maid (World)Get from Virtual Shop	• A must-have for Infinite. • While not the best for VR, still useful in Challenges.

Farm

Farm	Rankings Explained
FastcartEpic	• The only Farm unit available. • Focus on getting the Fortunate trait quickly. • Applicable in every game mode.

Best Relics in Universal Tower Defense

Let’s break down the best relics along with their bonuses and the units that benefit the most from them.

Set & BonusHead	Set & BonusBody/Legs	Best Units
Junior NinjaHead• Buff increase by 10%	Junior NinjaBody/Legs• +5% Damage• +10% Wind Damage	Wind Units that align with Miku (Super Star) or other buff units
Master NinjaHead• Every 5 attacks increases DOT damage by 20% for 10s	Master NinjaBody/Legs• +5% Damage• +10% Dark/Rose/Fire Damage	Units dealing DoT effects e.g., Admiral (Magma)
Sun GodHead• Gains a damage buff equal to its range every 6 attacks for 7 seconds (1 Range = 1% Damage)	Sun GodBody/Legs• +5% Damage• +10% Light/Water/Ice Damage	Light, Water, Ice units with high attack speed like Kriatu
Laughing CaptainHead• -10% Active Ability Cooldown	Laughing CaptainBody/Legs• +5% Damage• -5% Cooldown• +5% Range	Ideal for any DPS unit with an active ability like Lulu
Berserk ShinigamiHead• Every 5th hit buffs the next attack for 20% True Damage that ignores resistances	Berserk ShinigamiBody/Legs• +5% Damage• +15% Armor Damage	Perfect for armor shred units like Berserker
Ex Captain UraharoHead• Refund 5% of Yen spent on upgrades	Ex Captain UraharoBody/Legs• +10% Critical Rate• +25% Critical Damage	Excellent for Mythics and Secrets with the Duelist Trait

That wraps up the Universal Tower Defense tier list and guide! Don’t miss out on our handy Universal Tower Defense codes for some fantastic freebies. Got your own strategies? Share your thoughts below!