Our Universal Tower Defense Z tier list ranks every unit across five roles for Update 4.0. Rankings are based on DPS output, versatility across game modes, survivability, team synergy, and scaling with etherealization and relics. This guide provides detailed analysis of each tier and recommendations for every player level.
Ranking Criteria
We evaluate units using five weighted criteria:
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|
| DPS Output | 30% | Damage per second in wave clear and boss fights |
| Versatility | 25% | Effectiveness across Story, Raids, Challenges, Infinite |
| Survivability | 15% | HP pool, defense, and revival mechanics |
| Team Synergy | 20% | How well the unit fits into common team compositions |
| Scaling | 10% | Performance with upgrades and etherealization |
How We Score Units
Each criterion is scored from 1-10, then weighted to produce a composite score. Here is how the scoring translates to tier placement:
| Composite Score | Tier | Interpretation |
|---|
| 9.0-10.0 | S | Meta-defining — build your team around these |
| 7.5-8.9 | A | Excellent role specialists — strong in the right team |
| 6.0-7.4 | B | Reliable mid-game carries — good but replaceable |
| 4.0-5.9 | C | Niche value — useful in specific situations |
| Below 4.0 | D | Replace as soon as possible — placeholder only |
Tier Placement Methodology
Our tier placement process involves multiple data sources and verification steps:
| Step | Method | Data Source |
|---|
| 1 | Raw DPS testing | In-game damage meters and community testing |
| 2 | Mode-specific evaluation | Performance data across all 5 game modes |
| 3 | Trait synergy analysis | Testing each unit with optimal and suboptimal traits |
| 4 | Etherealization scaling test | Before/after performance at each etherealization level |
| 5 | Community verification | Cross-reference with Reddit, Discord, and YouTube consensus |
S-tier units are the best in their role. Build your team around these:
| Unit | Role | Best Trait | Key Strength | Best Mode |
|---|
| Joyful Captain | Hybrid | Ruler | Flexible placement + AoE DPS | All modes |
| Ancient Mage | Hill | Ruler | Best range + burst damage | Story + Raids |
| Pirate King | Ground | Ruler | Highest sustained DPS | Story + Infinite |
S-Tier Analysis
Joyful Captain is the most versatile unit in UTDZ. As a Hybrid, it can be placed on both Hill and Ground positions, giving it unmatched flexibility. Its AoE attacks clear waves efficiently, and with the Ruler trait (+200% DMG), it becomes the strongest all-rounder in the game. Fully etherealized Joyful Captain with Fused Warrior relics is the gold standard for team building.
Ancient Mage dominates the Hill position with the longest range in the game and burst damage that melts bosses. Its elevated placement gives it path coverage that Ground units cannot match. Sacred trait is an excellent alternative to Ruler due to its cost reduction.
Pirate King is the king of sustained Ground DPS. For Story Mode and Infinite Mode farming, no Ground unit matches its consistent output. Pair with a Farm unit for sustained economy and a Support unit for multiplicative damage buffs.
S-Tier Investment Priority
| Priority | Unit | Investment | Return on Investment |
|---|
| 1 | Joyful Captain | Evolution + Ruler + Full Etherealization | Highest — used in all content, never benched |
| 2 | Pirate King | Evolution + Ruler + Mythic Etherealization | Great — Story/Infinite farming backbone |
| 3 | Ancient Mage | Evolution + Sacred/Ruler | Good — Hill specialist for Raids and Virtual Realm |
A-Tier Units — Strong Picks
A-tier units are excellent in the right team composition. They are top-tier role specialists:
| Unit | Role | Best Trait | Key Strength | Niche |
|---|
| Super Roku (Enraged) | Hybrid | Duelist | Burst damage specialist | Raid boss encounters |
| Ultiorra (Oblivion) | Hill | Sacred | Exceptional range + sustain | Long-range coverage |
| Shunks (Conqueror) | Ground | Prodigy | Devastating AoE attacks | Wave clearing |
A-Tier vs S-Tier Comparison
| Metric | S-Tier | A-Tier | Difference |
|---|
| DPS (with Ruler) | 100% | 75-80% | 20-25% gap |
| DPS (without Ruler) | 70% | 65-70% | Smaller gap |
| Versatility | All modes | 2-3 modes | Niche specialists |
| Value without etherealization | High | Medium | S-tier better early |
| Etherealization scaling | High | Medium-High | S-tier scales better |
| Relic dependency | Medium | High | A-tier needs specific relics to match S |
Despite the overall gap, A-tier units can outperform S-tier in specific scenarios:
| Scenario | Better A-Tier Unit | Why It Beats S-Tier |
|---|
| Raid boss with Duelist Super Roku | Super Roku (Enraged) | +35% Boss DMG from Duelist trait stacks multiplicatively |
| Long-range Hill coverage maps | Ultiorra (Oblivion) | Sustain outperforms burst in extended fights |
| Massive wave clearing | Shunks (Conqueror) | AoE radius exceeds Pirate King's splash |
B-Tier Units — Reliable Mid-Game Carries
B-tier units are solid picks that carry you through mid-game content:
| Unit | Role | Best Trait | Key Strength | Upgrade Path |
|---|
| Zora | Hybrid | Prodigy | Balanced stats + flexible | Replace with S-tier when possible |
| Sasuke | Ground | Duelist | Strong single-target for bosses | Good for Raid specialists |
| Ace | Hill | Wizard | Good range + elemental damage | Upgrade to Ancient Mage |
B-Tier Investment Guide
B-tier units are your workhorses until you obtain S-tier replacements. The key question is how much to invest:
| Unit | Recommended Investment | Gems Cost | Time to Replace | Reasoning |
|---|
| Zora | Evolution 1 + Prodigy trait | 200K | 1-2 weeks | Just enough to carry mid-game |
| Sasuke | Full Evolution + Duelist | 500K | 2-4 weeks | Duelist makes him Raid-viable |
| Ace | Evolution 1 only | 100K | 1-3 weeks | Minimal investment — replace fast |
When to Stop Investing in B-Tier
| Signal | Action | Reason |
|---|
| You pull Joyful Captain | Stop investing in Zora | Zora is now a bench unit |
| You pull Ancient Mage | Stop investing in Ace | Ace is strictly worse |
| You need Raid specialists | Consider keeping Sasuke with Duelist | Duelist Sasuke is niche-viable |
| You obtain any S-tier unit | Shift all resources to S-tier | S-tier investment compounds better |
C and D-Tier Units — Situational or Replace
C-tier units have niche value; D-tier units should be replaced as soon as possible:
| Tier | Description | When to Use | When to Replace |
|---|
| C | Niche units with situational value | Specific modes or team comps | When you get A-tier or higher |
| D | Starter/filler units | Day 1 when you have nothing | Immediately upon getting any B+ unit |
Common C and D-Tier Units
| Unit | Role | Tier | Niche Use | Replace With |
|---|
| Basic Starter units | Various | D | First 30 minutes of gameplay | Any B-tier or above |
| Non-evolved low-rarity pulls | Various | C-D | Temporary wave clear | Farm unit with Fortunate |
| Outdated event units | Various | C | Collection value only | Current event equivalents |
Best Units by Game Mode
| Mode | Best Unit (S-Tier) | Best A-Tier Alternative | Key Requirement |
|---|
| Story Mode | Joyful Captain (Hybrid) | Super Roku | AoE damage for wave clear |
| Raids (Boss) | Pirate King (Ground) | Sasuke (Duelist) | Boss damage specialist |
| Challenges | Joyful Captain (Hybrid) | Zora | Flexible team composition |
| Infinite Mode | Pirate King (Ground) | Shunks (AoE) | Sustained DPS + survivability |
| Virtual Realm | Ancient Mage (Hill) | Ultiorra | Range coverage |
Mode-Specific Team Compositions
| Mode | Recommended Team (6 Slots) | Strategy |
|---|
| Story Mode | Joyful Captain + Pirate King + Farm + Support + any 2 | AoE clear + sustained DPS + economy |
| Raids | Pirate King + Super Roku (Duelist) + Support + Farm + any 2 | Boss DPS focus with Duelist stacking |
| Challenges | Joyful Captain + 2 flexible DPS + Support + Farm | Maximum flexibility for varied conditions |
| Infinite Mode | Pirate King + Ancient Mage + Joyful Captain + Farm + Support + 1 | Best sustained DPS from all positions |
| Virtual Realm | Ancient Mage + Joyful Captain + Support + Farm + 2 flex | Range coverage + flexible fill |
Role-Specific Tier Lists
Best Hybrid Units
| Rank | Unit | Tier | Best Trait | Placement |
|---|
| 1 | Joyful Captain | S | Ruler | Hill or Ground |
| 2 | Super Roku (Enraged) | A | Duelist | Hill or Ground |
| 3 | Zora | B | Prodigy | Hill or Ground |
Best Hill Units
| Rank | Unit | Tier | Best Trait | Range Rating |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Mage | S | Ruler | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | Ultiorra (Oblivion) | A | Sacred | ★★★★★ |
| 3 | Ace | B | Wizard | ★★★ |
Best Ground Units
| Rank | Unit | Tier | Best Trait | DPS Rating |
|---|
| 1 | Pirate King | S | Ruler | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | Shunks (Conqueror) | A | Prodigy | ★★★★ |
| 3 | Sasuke | B | Duelist | ★★★ |
Best Farm Units
| Rank | Unit | Tier | Best Trait | Income Bonus |
|---|
| 1 | Fortunate-trait Farm | A | Fortunate | +20% Gems |
| 2 | Standard Farm | B | Any | Base rate |
Update 4.0 Tier List Changes
Update 4.0 brought significant changes to the tier list. Here is what shifted:
| Change | Previous Tier | New Tier | Reason |
|---|
| Joyful Captain | S | S (unchanged) | Still the best all-rounder |
| Ancient Mage | A | S | Range buff + new Raid content favors range |
| Pirate King | S | S (unchanged) | Sustained DPS still unmatched |
| Super Roku (Enraged) | A | A (unchanged) | Burst specialist — no changes |
| Ultiorra (Oblivion) | B | A | SPA reduction + range buff in 4.0 |
| Shunks (Conqueror) | B | A | AoE radius increase makes wave clearing viable |
What Update 4.0 Changed for Each Role
| Role | Buff/Nerf | Impact | Key Changes |
|---|
| Hybrid | Neutral | No major changes | Joyful Captain still dominant |
| Hill | Buffed | Range and SPA improvements | Ancient Mage and Ultiorra both improved |
| Ground | Neutral | Pirate King unchanged | Shunks got AoE buff |
| Support | Minor buff | Slight healing increase | Support role still underpopulated at S-tier |
| Farm | Neutral | No changes | Fortunate still mandatory |
Advanced Tips for Tier List Usage
Understanding the Gap Between Tiers
| Gap | DPS Difference | Practical Impact | Investment Implication |
|---|
| S vs A | 20-25% | Noticeable in endgame content | Invest in S-tier first, A-tier as supplement |
| A vs B | 15-20% | Significant for competitive content | B-tier is fine for casual, upgrade for raids |
| B vs C | 20-30% | Major gap in all content | Replace B-tier when possible, C-tier ASAP |
| C vs D | 30-50% | Massive gap | D-tier units are placeholders only |
Trait Impact on Tier Placement
Traits can effectively shift a unit's tier placement. A well-traited A-tier unit can compete with an un-traited S-tier unit:
| Scenario | Effective Tier | Reason |
|---|
| S-tier unit, no trait | A-tier performance | Missing 100-200% DPS from Ruler/Sacred |
| S-tier unit, Ruler trait | S-tier+ performance | Full potential unlocked |
| A-tier unit, Ruler trait | S-tier performance | Trait closes the 20-25% gap |
| A-tier unit, no trait | B-tier performance | Without traits, A-tier underperforms |
| B-tier unit, Ruler trait | A-tier performance | Good traits can elevate B to A |
This is why trait investment on your best units is often more impactful than pulling for new units. A Ruler-trait Joyful Captain outperforms any un-traited unit in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the tier list updated?
We update after every major patch and balance change. Minor adjustments are made weekly based on community feedback. Update 4.0 brought several tier shifts — check back after each patch.
Should I only use S-tier units?
No — team composition matters more than individual tier. A balanced team of A-tier units often outperforms S-tier DPS with no support. See our team building guide for composition tips.
Are lower-tier units useless?
Not at all. B-tier units are reliable mid-game carries, and C-tier farm units are essential for economy. Even D-tier units serve as placeholders early on. Every unit has a role in your progression journey.
Does the meta change often?
The meta shifts with each major update. Check the official Discord for patch notes, and revisit our tier list after every update. Update 4.0 saw Ancient Mage and Ultiorra rise in the rankings.
How much should I invest in A-tier units?
Invest enough to make them effective in their niche — Evolution + best available trait + Mythic Etherealization. Avoid spending Secret shards on A-tier units, as those should be reserved for S-tier.
Can I clear all content without S-tier units?
Most content is clearable with a well-built A-tier team. The hardest Raid tiers and Infinite Mode wave 100+ may require S-tier units, but Story Mode, Challenges, and most Raids are achievable with A and B-tier compositions.