Universal Tower Defense Tier List

Hybrid / DPS

• Top-three DPS overall with hybrid flexibility across modes.
• Rapid ramp makes him a premier Challenge carry.
• Shreds armored targets while slowing and amplifying damage taken.
• Only Kriatu EVO outpaces him in Virtual Realm.
• Still solid in Infinite, just not the very best.
• Trait priority: Ruler.

Hybrid / Scaling DPS

• Shadow damage spikes hard once scaling buffs stack.
• Best long-run pick for Infinite; still strong in VR.
• Struggles in fast Challenge waves before scaling.
• Trait priority: Ruler to boost shadow output.

Hybrid / Burst

• Needs time to build Battle Trance before peaking.
• Pairs best with Freeze teams; Shatter bursts frozen targets.
• Can cleanse his own stun, valuable for Infinite.
• Not ideal for Challenges due to slow ramp.
• Trait options: Eternal, Sacred, or Ruler.

Support / Control

• Elite support with reliable stuns and slows.
• Time Gauge stacks translate into heavy burst damage.
• Core pick for Infinite runs.
• Less dominant in VR but strong in Challenges.
• Trait priority: Eternal or Sacred.

Hybrid / Burn

• Best budget Legendary that scales into late game with EVO.
• Among the strongest Fire-element options.
• DoT damage plus Confusion give both DPS and utility.
• Confusion forces backtracking to buy DPS time.
• Trait priority: Fission or Wizard.

Hybrid / Utility

• Steady all-round Hybrid with dependable value.
• DPS/utility trails top Hybrids but stays useful.
• Still a solid VR/Infinite fallback.

Ground / Crit DPS

• Strongest Ground unit and top VR performer.
• Excellent in Challenges as well.
• Damage scales higher with each critical hit chain.
• Duelist trait is the key early pick.
• Extra crit chance largely comes from traits.
• Crit ramp makes him snowball hard late.

Ground / DoT

• Well-rounded across modes even if not #1 anywhere.
• Passive adds hybrid-style utility.
• Strong DoT pressure plus a stun.
• Great for Story grind thanks to easy EVO.
• Trait priority: Wizard.

Ground / Single-Target

• Top-three Ground pick with reliable output.
• Best Story unit (free Day 7) for progression.
• Very strong in Challenges, decent in VR.
• Would spike higher with an EVO like Rule.
• Traits: Eternal or Sacred work best.

Ground / Burst

• Massive Ground DPS; can carry Story if you rush the pass.
• One of the top Challenge units, just behind Berserker.
• Traits: Ruler, Eternal, or Sacred.

Ground / DPS

• Acceptable DPS but lacks standout synergy.
• Solid Story pick thanks to early free unlock.

Ground / Stall

• Lower damage output but offers stalling value.
• Not a priority EVO, still usable.

Ground / Early DPS

• Can perform if beginners invest heavily.
• Falls off vs EVO Legendaries and Mythics later.
• Still a great early-game unit.

Air/Hill / Burn DPS

• Top-two Air/Hill DPS, neck-and-neck with Cyborg.
• Excellent early Story/Legend stages when air is required.
• Still effective in VR and other modes as a quick air answer.
• Trait priority: Astral; premier Burn DoT unit.

Air/Hill / Support

• Unlocked through a quest chain.
• Command-based support that doesn’t auto-attack.
• Heavy stalling plus reliable stuns.
• Beam command adds surprising burst damage.
• Strong in every mode.
• Laughing Captain relic set reduces command cooldowns.

Air/Hill / DPS

• Fills the same Air/Hill DPS role as Spade.
• Differences are mostly minor stats and attack behavior.

Air/Hill / Utility

• Beginner-friendly Air/Hill option.
• Provides light stun utility.

Hill / DPS

• Solid starter Hill unit.
• Respectable early-game DPS.

Hill / Early DPS

• Reliable early Hill pick.
• Good placeholder before Legendaries.

Hill / Early DPS

• Part of the early Hill lineup.
• Bridges the gap until stronger Legendaries.

Hill / Support

• Another beginner Hill unit.
• Works as a short-term bridge pick.

Support / Control

• Command-based support with no direct attacks.
• Heavy stalling to extend DPS windows.
• Reliable stuns for wave control.
• Beam command still hits hard.
• Top-tier across all modes.
• Laughing Captain relic set cuts command cooldowns.

Support / Burn

• Best-value Legendary that stays strong after EVO.
• Top-tier Fire unit with steady DoT.
• Confusion provides high utility by forcing backtracking.
• Confusion buys time for your main DPS.
• Trait priority: Fission or Wizard.

Support / Buffer

• Buffs nearby units with damage or range.
• Etherealize level 6 is a big breakpoint.
• Strongest buffer once your core units are placed.
• Shines in Infinite mode.

Support / DPS

• High damage plus dependable stuns.
• Absolutely worth evolving.
• Meta support-DPS across modes.

Support / Control

• One of the strongest supports available.
• Core for Infinite.
• Not ideal in VR but good in Challenges.

Economy

• Only dedicated Farm unit.
• Fortunate trait priority for faster economy.
• Useful across all modes.