Universal Tower Defense can feel overwhelming at first because there are many systems layered on top of each other. Units, traits, evolutions, challenges, virtual realms, and shops all compete for your attention. This guide focuses on what actually matters for beginners and how to progress efficiently without wasting gems, time, or rerolls.
Universal Tower Defense Beginner Guide – Starter Tips
Starter Unit Choice and Early Setup
When you first start the game, you will be asked to choose between Naruto, Goku, or Luffy. This choice does not matter in the long run, as all three are quickly replaced. Pick any of them and move on without overthinking it.
If you previously spent time in the AFK Chamber during early access, you may unlock Roio Oni. This unit is one of the strongest starter options in the game and can carry you through a large portion of early content. If you have him, prioritize using and upgrading him immediately.
After logging in, make sure to claim all release rewards, codes, and rerolls. These give you an early advantage and increase your chances of pulling high-value units.
What Units Beginners Should Aim For
If you manage to pull a secret unit like Sunju Wu, you should immediately focus on rolling traits for him, as he can dominate early and mid-game content. However, secrets are rare, so do not rely on getting one.
For general progression, these unit types are essential:
A strong DPS unit such as Sasuke, Kirao, or similar high-damage characters
A farm unit, specifically Speed Cart, which is critical because it costs nothing to place and generates income while reducing placement costs
At least one support unit, such as Idol, which increases damage and range and is considered one of the best supports in the game
A healer like Ace or Genos, which becomes important in harder stages and challenges
Legendaries like Magma are also useful early on due to AoE damage, pushback, and evolution potential. Debuff-focused units provide strong utility even if their raw damage is lower.
Clearing Story Mode Efficiently
Once you have a basic team, your first major goal is completing Story Mode. If you struggle with stages, lower the difficulty to 75 percent. While rewards are reduced, this allows you to clear the story much faster and unlock critical content.
Completing Story Mode unlocks Legend Stages, Challenges, and Virtual World, which is where real progression begins. Story completion is not optional; it is the foundation of everything else.
Legend Stages and Early Evolutions
Legend Stages are essential for evolving strong units. For example, to evolve Kirao, you need specific map drops. These drops only require a small number of clears, so focus on the exact stages you need rather than farming randomly.
Once Kirao is evolved and has a decent trait, he can solo or heavily carry Virtual World content, making him one of the best early-to-midgame investments.
Virtual World and the Virtual Shop
Virtual World is one of the most important game modes for progression. It functions similarly to story stages but adds a card system that grants powerful buffs.
The Virtual Shop should be maxed out whenever possible. It contains large amounts of gems, trait rerolls, stat rerolls, stat locks, evolution items, and powerful units like Scaramade.
Scaramade is an extremely strong support unit. She provides range buffs, cooldown reduction, damage amplification, slows, stuns, and time-based effects that scale over time. Investing in Virtual World early pays off massively in both power and resources.
Why Kirao Is a Progression Cheat Code
Kirao is one of the strongest units for beginners and beyond. His passives scale based on Virtual Realm paths and allow massive damage increases, cooldown reduction, crit scaling, and debuff immunity depending on your setup.
With the right traits and evolution, Kirao can solo difficult content, including bosses with millions of HP. This makes him an ideal target for early investment if you manage to obtain him.
Challenges You Should Prioritize
Challenges are a core part of progression and should never be ignored.
The 30-minute challenge is extremely valuable because it can reward trait rerolls, large gem payouts, and other high-value resources.
Fragment challenges are essential for evolutions, as most evolved units require specific fragments.
Dragon Guy challenge is especially important for endgame and midgame players, as it offers trait rerolls, gems, gold, and has a pity system for the unit itself.
If you are strong enough to clear challenges consistently, they become one of the best sources of long-term progression.
Understanding Evolutions and Fragments
Almost every evolved unit requires fragments, such as universal fragments or specific element-based fragments. These fragments are mainly obtained from challenges.
Fragments are also used to craft evolution items, meaning challenge farming directly translates into stronger units. Efficient players always keep track of which fragments they need next and focus their farming accordingly.
Traits, Pity, and What to Roll For
Traits heavily influence unit performance. Double traits are possible and can turn an average unit into a monster.
The best general-purpose trait is Ruler, which provides damage, cooldown reduction, and range. It has a pity system at 1250 rolls, making it achievable with consistent play.
Speed Cart benefits most from Fortune traits, which increase income scaling. This trait can take time to roll, but it is worth the investment.
Always use stat locks wisely and avoid rerolling good traits just to chase perfection early on.
Daily Shop, Quests, and Battle Pass
The daily gold shop should be cleared whenever possible. Gold is plentiful, and the items provide strong value.
Weekly and personal quests offer steady rewards and should always be claimed. They are easy to overlook but add up quickly.
The battle pass offers free and paid units. These units are generally not game-breaking, so beginners do not need to worry about missing out if they stay free-to-play.