The Winter Event update in Universal Tower Defense brings major balance changes and four new units that shake up the current meta. Some older units moved down, others gained value, and a few new additions instantly became top-tier picks.
If you are unsure which units are worth investing in right now, this guide breaks down the latest META tier list, explains why certain units are strong, and helps you decide what to use for late-game and event content. Also check out our Universal Tower Defense Codes & Tier List for more rewards!
META Tier List Summary
S+ Tier (Best Units Right Now)
- Ice Empress (SS)
- Janglu
These units define the current meta and work extremely well together.
S Tier (Very Strong, Slightly Situational)
- Bambee
- Migumin
Powerful units, but they require setup, etherization, or team support.
A Tier and Below
Other units remain usable, but they are clearly outperformed by the ones above in Winter Event content and late-game stages.
Bambee – Flexible Hybrid DPS Unit
Bambee is one of the most versatile units in the game. She can apply almost every major status effect, making her useful in many team setups.
Why Bambee Is Strong
- Can burn, freeze, stun, slow, and apply radiation
- Damage over time deals massive total damage
- Active ability doubles her damage output
Weaknesses
- Needs E2 to be reliable
- Requires specific team elements to unlock effects
- Needs preparation and correct placement
Bambee shines when built correctly, but she is not beginner-friendly.
Migumin – High-Risk Nuke Hybrid
Migumin is powerful but inconsistent. Her value comes from her massive nuke ability at high etherization.
Strengths
- Insane 1,000% nuke at E6
- Ignores shields and hits enemy HP directly
- Strong against hyper-armored enemies
Downsides
- Very expensive to upgrade
- Slow attack speed
- Debuffs herself after using her nuke
- Can accidentally buff enemies
She is strong in skilled hands, but not a must-have unless you plan to invest heavily.
Ice Empress (SS) – Best Unit of the Update
Ice Empress is widely considered the best unit introduced in this update. She brings damage, crowd control, buffs, and summons all in one kit.
Why Ice Empress Is META
- Freezes enemies on hit and on entry
- Gains damage per frozen enemy
- Can instantly execute low-HP enemies
- Buffs nearby ice units
- Summons massive waves of ice soldiers
Her summon ability alone can clear waves and act like a full nuke. Even though her base damage is not high, her passives and abilities make her dominant.
Janglu – Best Healer DPS Unit
Janglu is currently the best healing-focused DPS unit and pairs perfectly with Ice Empress.
Key Strengths
- Scales with critical rate
- Enters a powered-up state with bonus damage and crit
- Applies freeze and bonus damage to frozen enemies
- Active ability hits for up to 500% damage at E6
Janglu becomes a monster when built with crit-focused traits and works extremely well with freeze-based teams.
Best Unit Synergy Right Now
The strongest combo in the Winter Update is:
- Ice Empress (SS) + Janglu
Freeze control from SS allows Janglu to trigger her boosted damage consistently, creating massive burst and wave clear.
The Universal Tower Defense Winter Event update clearly favors hybrid units with strong passives and crowd control. Ice Empress stands at the top of the meta, while Janglu dominates the healer-DPS role. Bambee and Migumin are still strong but require more setup and investment.
If you want to progress faster in the Winter Event and late-game modes, prioritize units that freeze, summon, or scale with etherization. The meta may change again, but for now, these units define the strongest strategies in Universal Tower Defense.