Mastering Universal Tower Defense: Top 5 Tips for New Players

Prioritize Top-Tier Banner Summons

Your journey to power begins with the right units. When you head to the summoning area, always keep an eye on the middle banner. The most crucial units to summon for are Kenpachi, Kuriato, Ace, and Sasuke.

These are considered some of the best banner units currently available in the game, offering significant advantages in battles. Avoid the side banners if your goal is to acquire these specific powerhouses. Focus your summoning efforts here to build a strong foundation for your team.

Etherealize Your Units for Boosts and Passives

Beyond just acquiring units, you need to enhance them. Etherealizing is a critical process that unlocks your units' full potential. By sacrificing duplicate units, you can 'etherealize' your main unit, granting them stars.

Each star provides unique buffs and unlocks powerful passive abilities. For example, income generators like Fastcart can gain increased income percentage, while damage units like Cyborg Disciple receive boosts to their core stats. Don't underestimate this feature; it's vital for pushing through tougher challenges.

Equip Matching Relics for Synergistic Power

Relics are another layer of customization that significantly impacts your units' performance. These items, acquired by playing story missions, provide various perks. The key is to equip relics that 'correspond' to your unit's strengths.

For instance, a unit like Kuriato, who relies on critical hits, would benefit greatly from relics that increase crit rate. Units like Ace might need damage-over-time buffs, while others could use hyper armor damage boosts. Pay attention to 'full set perks' where equipping two matching relics provides an additional powerful bonus.

Claim Your Level Milestones Rewards

As you progress and gain levels, don't forget to visit Rogue Oni (the Level Milestones NPC). This character offers valuable rewards for reaching specific level benchmarks, usually every five levels.

These rewards can include currency, resources, and even trait shards. Regularly checking and claiming these milestones is a free and easy way to stock up on essential items that will aid your development. Don't let these free rewards go to waste!

Maximize Challenge Drop Boosts with Friends

Challenges are a fantastic source for rare drops, but you can significantly increase your chances of success and rewards by bringing friends along. When starting a challenge, you'll notice a 'Friend Drop Boost' indicator.

By inviting other players to your party, you can increase your drop chance by up to 60% with three additional teammates. Even one or two friends can provide a substantial boost. Always try to play challenges with a full party to make the most of your efforts and acquire those elusive items faster.

Bonus Tip: Farm Story Mode on Hard or Nightmare

For those seeking the best relics and a consistent stream of rewards, replaying story mode missions on higher difficulties is highly recommended. Specifically, tackling stages on 'Hard' or 'Nightmare' difficulty significantly increases the likelihood of obtaining valuable relics.

While 'Easy' mode is good for initial progression, the real treasures lie in the more demanding challenges. Combine this with the challenge drop boosts mentioned earlier, and you'll be gearing up your units with top-tier relics in no time.