Universal Tower Defense launches with a strong roster of units, but not all of them are worth chasing when you first start the game. Early decisions matter a lot, especially if you want smooth story clears, easier challenges, and faster overall progress.
This guide focuses on the top five must-have units you should aim for as soon as possible, based on damage, utility, and how realistic they are to obtain at launch. Also check out our Universal Tower Defense Codes & Tier List for more rewards!
Honorable Mentions
Before jumping into the top five, there are a few units that are extremely good but don’t fully qualify as “must-have” for most players.
- Sun Jin-Woo This is arguably the strongest unit in the entire game. The only reason he is not in the top five is because he is a banner secret unit. You cannot reliably target him early on, as getting him depends heavily on luck. If you pull him, you are set for almost all content.
- Miku Miku is a solid buffer unit. She boosts nearby units and plays a similar role to classic support buffers in other tower defense games. Very useful, but not essential at the start.
- Speed Cart Speed Cart is the best and only true farm unit early on. It generates strong cash with very few upgrades and is highly recommended for all modes. While not in the top five list, it is still a core utility unit.
Top 5 Must-Have Units
5. Lelouch
Lelouch is a powerful secret unit that offers damage, utility, and support value. He is difficult to obtain due to a long questline and level requirements, but the payoff is worth it. If you plan ahead and complete his quest efficiently, he becomes one of the strongest units you can own early-to-mid game.
Best for:
- Utility-heavy stages
- Mixed DPS and support roles
- Long-term progression
4. Ace
Ace is one of the best banner units available at release. Once evolved, he becomes a full AoE hill unit with burn damage that bypasses armor and elemental defenses. Even before evolution, his AoE range and burn scaling make him extremely effective.
Why Ace is strong:
- Full AoE damage
- Burn ignores armor and special defenses
- High damage with only three placements
Ace is easy to obtain compared to secret units, making him one of the best early-game investments.
3. Ragna
Ragna is a challenge reward unit with a low drop chance, but his DPS places him near the top of almost every tier list. While difficult to farm solo, coordinated teams can clear the challenge reliably.
Key strengths:
- Extremely high DPS
- Strong performance in late-game content
- Secret-tier power level
If you can handle the challenge grind, Ragna is absolutely worth it.
2. Kenpachi
Kenpachi earns the second spot because of how easy he is to get compared to his power level. He is a full AoE hybrid unit with insane passives that reduce armor and increase damage taken by enemies in his range.
Important notes:
- Always limited to one placement
- Best for story, challenges, and legend stages
- Incredible value for early and mid-game
Despite the placement limit, Kenpachi’s raw impact makes him a must-have unit.
1. Scarlet Maid
Scarlet Maid is the strongest must-have unit at release. She offers top-tier DPS, hybrid attacks, and powerful support passives that increase damage taken by enemies. While her ability can speed up enemies, the massive damage boost more than compensates.
Why Scarlet Maid is number one:
- One of the highest DPS units in the game
- Hybrid damage with wide AoE
- Strong support effects stacked with raw damage
She is difficult to obtain through the Virtual Shop mode, but her power level makes her worth the grind.
If you want the best possible start in Universal Tower Defense, focus your resources wisely. Early on, aim for Ace or Kenpachi, then work toward long-term goals like Scarlet Maid, Ragna, and Lelouch. While secret units may take time, building toward them early will pay off in every game mode. With the right units and smart upgrades, progression becomes much faster and far more enjoyable.