Relics are the backbone of character customization in Universal Tower Defense, offering unprecedented power and strategic depth to your gameplay experience. As a seasoned player who has spent countless hours testing every relic combination, I’m excited to share this comprehensive guide that will transform you from a casual player into a relics expert.
In this ultimate guide, you’ll discover everything about the 6 relic sets currently available in the game, learn how to obtain the most powerful pieces, understand the intricate stat systems, and master the art of relic optimization. Whether you’re a beginner just starting your journey or a veteran looking to maximize your endgame potential, this guide has something valuable for everyone.
Quick Overview: Universal Tower Defense Relics
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Relic Sets | 6 (2 per stage) |
| Relic Types | Head, Body, Leg |
| Set Bonus Requirement | 3 matching pieces |
| Main Sources | Story Mode (Body/Leg), Virtual Realm (Head) |
| Best Farming Location | Ninja Forest Nightmare 1000% |
| Upgrade System | Power Ups with chance-based sub-stats |
What Are Relics in Universal Tower Defense?
Relics are special equipment items that you can equip on your characters to dramatically enhance their combat capabilities. Each character can equip three relic pieces simultaneously: one Head piece and two armor pieces (Body and Leg). This system adds incredible depth to character building and allows for highly specialized team compositions.
The beauty of relics lies in their dual benefit system. When you equip relics on a character, they receive immediate stat boosts from the individual pieces, but the real power comes from set bonuses – powerful effects that activate only when you equip a complete matching set of three pieces.
It’s crucial to understand that relics work differently from traits. Traits fundamentally change how your character performs during battles, altering abilities and mechanics, while relics provide direct stat increases and additional effects. The good news? Characters can utilize both systems simultaneously, creating incredibly powerful combinations when optimized correctly.
All Relic Sets in Universal Tower Defense
Currently, Universal Tower Defense features six distinct relic sets, with each stage in the game offering two thematic sets. These sets are inspired by popular anime themes and offer unique bonuses that cater to different playstyles and unit types. Let me break down each set with detailed analysis of their strengths and optimal use cases.
Ninja Forest Sets (Naruto Theme)
Junior Ninja Set
Set Theme: Naruto-inspired ninja equipment
Head Bonus: All buffs increased by 1.1x
Body & Leg Bonus: +5% Base Damage, +10% Wind Damage
The Junior Ninja set is an excellent starting point for new players and remains relevant even in late-game content. The 1.1x multiplier to all buffs is incredibly versatile, benefiting virtually every unit type. The wind damage bonus makes this set particularly effective for units with wind-based abilities.
Best For:
- Beginner to intermediate players
- Units with wind damage abilities
- Hybrid builds that benefit from overall stat amplification
- Players who haven’t yet unlocked higher-tier content
Master Ninja Set
Set Theme: Elite ninja warrior equipment
Head Bonus: 20% DoT increase for 10 seconds after every 5 attacks
Body & Leg Bonus: +5 Base Damage, +10% Dark/Rose/Fire Damage
The Master Ninja set represents a significant power jump from its junior counterpart and is widely considered one of the best sets in the current meta. The DoT (Damage over Time) increase synergizes perfectly with units that have poison, burn, or other periodic damage effects. The multi-elemental damage bonus (Dark/Rose/Fire) makes it incredibly versatile for various team compositions.
Best For:
- Advanced players with access to Ninja Forest content
- DoT-focused units like Spade (Ace)
- Players focusing on damage-over-time strategies
- Endgame content where sustained damage is crucial
Marine Base Sets (One Piece Theme)
Sun God Set
Set Theme: Divine solar-powered equipment
Head Bonus: After every 6 attacks, gain damage buff equal to unit’s range for 7 seconds (1% damage per 1 Range)
Body & Leg Bonus: +5 Base Damage, +10% Light/Water/Ice Damage
The Sun God set offers unique scaling potential based on unit range, making it exceptionally powerful for long-range units. The damage buff stacks with other bonuses and can lead to exponential damage increases for units with high range values. The elemental coverage (Light/Water/Ice) provides excellent flexibility for different team compositions.
Best For:
- Long-range units and support characters
- Players who prefer burst damage patterns
- Teams utilizing elemental diversity
- Content where positioning and range matter
Laughing Captain Set
Set Theme: Joyful pirate captain equipment
Head Bonus: -10% Active Ability Cooldown
Body & Leg Bonus: +5 Base Damage, -5% Attack Cooldown, +5% Range
The Laughing Captain set is a support player’s dream, offering significant cooldown reduction and attack speed improvements. This set shines on units with powerful active abilities, allowing them to cast more frequently and maintain uptime on crucial effects. The range bonus is the cherry on top, improving positioning flexibility.
Best For:
- Support units like Lulu
- Ability-reliant compositions
- Players who value tactical flexibility
- Fast-paced game modes where ability uptime is crucial
Hollowed Moon Sets (Bleach Theme)
Berserk Shingam I Set
Set Theme: Soul reaper battle equipment
Head Bonus: Every 6th attack deals 20% bonus True Damage, ignoring all Resistance
Body & Leg Bonus: +5 Base Damage, +15% Armor Damage
The Berserk Shingam I set is the premier choice for armor shredding and dealing with high-defense enemies. The true damage component is invaluable in late-game content where enemies have significant resistance values. This set excels in Challenge modes and boss fights where breaking through defenses is paramount.
Best For:
- Anti-armor compositions
- Boss fights and high-difficulty content
- Players focusing on raw damage output
- Units with high attack speed to trigger the 6th attack bonus frequently
Ex-Captain Uraharo Set
Set Theme: Strategic scientist equipment
Head Bonus: Refund 5% of Yen spent on upgrading this unit
Body & Leg Bonus: +10 Critical Rate, +25% Critical Damage
The Ex-Captain Uraharo set is the economy specialist, offering unique resource generation through the yen refund mechanic. This makes it incredibly valuable for long game modes like Infinite mode, where resource management becomes crucial. The critical strike bonuses also make it a solid choice for DPS-focused builds.
Best For:
- Economy-focused strategies
- Infinite mode and endurance content
- Critical strike-based compositions
- Players who want to maximize resource efficiency
Relic Main Stats and Sub Stats
Understanding the stat system is crucial for optimizing your relics. Every relic has two types of stats: Main Stats and Sub Stats. These stats provide benefits even if you don’t have a complete set equipped, making individual relic pieces valuable on their own.
Main Stats: The Foundation of Power
Main Stats are the primary source of power for each relic piece. Every relic has exactly one Main Stat, and this stat cannot be changed. Main Stats provide the largest bonuses and should be the primary consideration when evaluating a relic’s quality.
Key Characteristics of Main Stats:
- Exactly one per relic piece
- Cannot be changed or rerolled
- Provide the largest stat bonuses
- Determine the relic’s primary role
Sub Stats: Customization and Depth
Sub Stats offer additional customization options and allow for fine-tuning your character’s performance. Unlike Main Stats, relics can have multiple Sub Stats, and you can unlock more through the upgrade system.
Key Characteristics of Sub Stats:
- Multiple Sub Stats per relic possible
- Provide smaller but stackable bonuses
- Can be unlocked through upgrades
- Allow for specialized builds
Body Relic Stats
Body relics focus on offensive capabilities and are ideal for damage-dealing units.
Optimal Use Cases:
- Damage Main Stat: Primary DPS units
- Crit Damage Main Stat: Critical strike builds
- Hyper Armour Damage: Anti-armor compositions
- DoT Main Stat: Damage-over-time strategies
Leg Relic Stats
Leg relics provide balanced offensive and utility stats, making them versatile for various unit types.
| Possible Main Stats | Possible Sub Stats |
|---|---|
| Damage | Damage |
| Second Per Attack (SPA) | Second Per Attack (SPA) |
| Range | Range |
| Crit Rate | Crit Rate |
| Crit Damage | |
| DoT | |
| Buff Potency | |
| Effect Res |
Optimal Use Cases:
- Damage Main Stat: General DPS improvement
- SPA Main Stat: Attack speed optimization
- Range Main Stat: Positioning and coverage
- Crit Rate Main Stat: Critical strike consistency
Head Relic Stats
Head relics specialize in support and enhancement capabilities, perfect for utility units and team buffers.
Optimal Use Cases:
- Buff Potency Main Stat: Support and buffer units
- Elemental Damage Main Stat: Element-specialized compositions
- Mixed Sub Stats: Versatile utility pieces
How to Upgrade Relics in Universal Tower Defense?
Upgrading relics is a critical progression system that allows you to maximize the potential of your equipment. The upgrade system uses Power Ups, which are consumable items obtained through various gameplay activities. Understanding this system is essential for staying competitive in endgame content.
The Upgrade Process: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Open Your Inventory Navigate to your inventory and locate the relic you wish to upgrade. The inventory interface displays all your acquired relics, their current stats, and upgrade potential.
Step 2: Use Power Ups Click on the desired relic and press the Enhance button. Each Power Up consumed will increase the relic’s stats, making it more powerful. The stat improvements are immediate and permanent.
Step 3: Unlock New Sub Stats This is where the upgrade system gets interesting. Every 3 Power Ups gives you a chance to add a new Sub Stat to the relic. However, this is not guaranteed – there’s a chance the upgrade will fail to add a new stat. This element of chance means you might need to invest more than 3 Power Ups to unlock additional Sub Stats.
Step 4: Continue Upgrading The process doesn’t stop at unlocking Sub Stats. You can continue using Power Ups to improve both the relic’s main stats and the values of its Sub Stats. Higher-level relics have stronger numbers and potentially more Sub Stats, making them significantly more valuable.
Advanced Upgrade Strategies
Power Up Management:
- Save Power Ups for high-rarity relics
- Focus on relics with optimal Main Stats first
- Consider the unit’s role when choosing which relics to upgrade
- Keep some Power Ups in reserve for new relic acquisitions
Sub Stat Optimization:
- Prioritize unlocking Sub Stats that complement the Main Stat
- Consider your team composition when choosing which Sub Stats to pursue
- Remember that Sub Stat values also increase with upgrades
- Some Sub Stats are more valuable for specific game modes
Risk Management:
- The chance-based nature of Sub Stat unlocking means you should budget extra Power Ups
- Don’t invest heavily in relics you might replace soon
- Consider the long-term viability of each relic before committing resources
Best Relics for Different Game Modes
Different game modes in Universal Tower Defense require different approaches to relic optimization. Based on extensive testing and community feedback, I’ve identified the optimal relic strategies for each major game mode.
Story Mode Relic Strategy
Recommended Sets: Junior Ninja, Master Ninja
Focus: Balanced progression and versatility
Story Mode is where most players begin their relic journey, and the Ninja Forest sets offer the best balance of accessibility and power. The Junior Ninja set provides excellent early-game power with its 1.1x buff multiplier, while the Master Ninja set becomes available as you progress and offers superior damage potential.
Key Considerations:
- Focus on completing Ninja Forest acts first
- Prioritize Body and Leg pieces from Story missions
- Save resources for Head pieces from Virtual Realm
- Don’t worry too much about perfect Sub Stats early on
Virtual Realm Relic Strategy
Recommended Sets: Master Ninja, Berserk Shingam I
Focus: Maximum damage output and specialization
Virtual Realm is where the true test of relic optimization begins. The Master Ninja set’s DoT bonuses shine in this mode, especially when paired with units like Spade (Ace). The Berserk Shingam I set’s true damage capability is invaluable against the high-resistance enemies found in Virtual Realm.
Key Considerations:
- Invest heavily in upgrading your best relics
- Focus on units that synergize with your chosen relic sets
- Consider the Ex-Captain Uraharo set for resource management
- Perfect Sub Stat optimization becomes crucial here
Challenge Mode Relic Strategy
Recommended Sets: Berserk Shingam I, Laughing Captain
Focus: Burst damage and ability uptime
Challenge Mode demands specialized relic combinations that can handle specific boss mechanics and time pressure. The Berserk Shingam I set’s armor penetration is essential for dealing with boss defenses, while the Laughing Captain set’s cooldown reduction ensures your crucial abilities are available when needed.
Key Considerations:
- Tailor your relic choices to specific challenge mechanics
- Prioritize relics that complement your unit’s abilities
- Consider mixed sets if full set bonuses aren’t optimal
- Upgrade key relics to maximum levels
Infinite Mode Relic Strategy
Recommended Sets: Ex-Captain Uraharo, Master Ninja
Focus: Resource efficiency and sustained damage
Infinite Mode is a marathon, not a sprint, and your relic choices should reflect this. The Ex-Captain Uraharo set’s yen refund ability becomes increasingly valuable over time, while the Master Ninja set provides consistent damage output that scales well with progression.
Key Considerations:
- Resource generation becomes as important as damage output
- Consider relics that reduce upgrade costs or increase efficiency
- Sustainable damage patterns are better than burst damage
- Long-term upgrade planning is essential
Relic Farming and Acquisition Strategies
Obtaining high-quality relics is a significant time investment, but understanding the most efficient farming methods can dramatically reduce the grind. Based on community research and personal experience, I’ve identified the optimal strategies for relic acquisition.
Optimal Farming Locations
Ninja Forest Nightmare Mode (1000% Difficulty) This is universally recognized as the best farming location for relics in the current meta. The high difficulty level increases the drop rates for Mythic and Legendary relics, making it worth the extra challenge.
Drop Rates for Ninja Forest Nightmare 1000%:
- Master Ninja Coat: Mythic (50% drop chance), Legendary (20% drop chance)
- Master Ninja Pants: Mythic (50% drop chance), Legendary (20% drop chance)
- Junior Ninja Coat: Mythic (20% drop chance), Legendary (10% drop chance)
- Junior Ninja Pants: Mythic (20% drop chance), Legendary (10% drop chance)
Marine Base and Hollowed Moon While these later stages offer different relic sets, they’re generally less efficient for farming due to higher difficulty and comparable drop rates. However, they’re essential for completing your collection and acquiring sets specific to those themes.
Farming Strategy Best Practices
Team Composition for Relic Farming:
- Include at least one strong AoE unit for wave clearing
- Add a support unit for buffs and utility
- Consider a unit with high single-target damage for bosses
- Don’t forget a farm unit if you’re running low on resources
Resource Management:
- Keep a stock of healing items for difficult runs
- Manage your unit upgrades carefully to avoid running out of yen
- Consider the cost-benefit ratio of each farming run
- Sometimes lower difficulty with more consistent runs is better than high-risk, high-reward attempts
Efficiency Tips:
- Focus on one specific relic piece at a time
- Use units that complement the relic set you’re farming for
- Take breaks to avoid burnout during extended farming sessions
- Join farming groups or co-op sessions if available
Common Relic Mistakes to Avoid
After helping countless players optimize their relic strategies, I’ve identified several common pitfalls that can significantly hinder your progress. Avoiding these mistakes will save you time, resources, and frustration.
Mistake #1: Ignoring Set Bonuses
Many players focus solely on individual relic stats without considering the power of set bonuses. While a high-stat individual relic might seem appealing, completing a set often provides significantly more value through the set bonus effects.
Solution: Always prioritize completing sets over individual piece quality, especially in the early to mid-game. The set bonuses are designed to be game-changers and often provide more value than slightly better individual stats.
Mistake #2: Spreading Resources Too Thin
Trying to upgrade multiple relics simultaneously is a recipe for slow progress. The upgrade system requires significant resource investment, and spreading your Power Ups across many relics prevents any single one from reaching its full potential.
Solution: Focus your upgrade resources on 1-2 primary relics per unit. Identify your most important units and their optimal relic sets, then concentrate your upgrades there.
Mistake #3: Neglecting Unit Synergy
Equipping relics without considering how they interact with your unit’s abilities and your team composition is a strategic error. Some relic sets work significantly better with specific units or team archetypes.
Solution: Always consider the bigger picture when choosing relics. Ask yourself: “How does this relic set complement my unit’s role? How does it fit into my overall team strategy?”
Mistake #4: Overlooking Elemental Affinities
Many players ignore the elemental damage bonuses provided by certain relic sets, missing out on significant damage potential when these bonuses align with their units’ elemental affinities.
Solution: Pay attention to elemental damage types and try to match relic bonuses with your units’ natural damage types. The multiplicative nature of these bonuses can lead to substantial damage increases.
Mistake #5: Impatient Upgrade Decisions
The chance-based nature of Sub Stat unlocking can lead to frustration and poor decisions. Many players waste resources trying to force Sub Stat unlocks or abandon good relics too quickly.
Solution: Approach upgrades with patience and a long-term perspective. Understand that some RNG is involved and plan your resource investment accordingly. Sometimes it’s better to wait for better relics rather than forcing upgrades on mediocre ones.
Advanced Relic Optimization Strategies
For players looking to maximize their endgame potential, these advanced strategies will help you squeeze every bit of performance out of your relic system. These techniques are used by top players and can significantly impact your success in high-level content.
Hybrid Set Strategies
While full set bonuses are powerful, sometimes mixing and matching pieces from different sets can yield better results for specific unit roles or game modes. This advanced technique requires deep understanding of both your units and the content you’re facing.
Example Hybrid Build:
- Master Ninja Head (for DoT increase)
- Berserk Shingam I Body (for armor damage)
- Laughing Captain Leg (for attack speed)
This combination provides a balance of sustained damage, armor penetration, and attack speed that might be more effective than any single complete set for certain situations.
Sub Stat Stacking Strategies
Understanding how to stack complementary Sub Stats can lead to exponential power increases. This involves carefully selecting which Sub Stats to pursue and upgrade based on your unit’s role and your overall team composition.
Key Stacking Combinations:
- Crit Rate + Crit Damage: For burst damage builds
- SPA + Range: For coverage and attack speed
- DoT + Buff Potency: For damage-over-time specialists
- Effect Res + Defensive Stats: For tank/support units
Game Mode-Specific Optimization
Different game modes reward different approaches to relic optimization. Tailoring your relic choices to the specific demands of each mode can significantly improve your performance.
Infinite Mode Optimization:
- Prioritize resource generation (Ex-Captain Uraharo)
- Focus on sustainable damage patterns
- Consider defensive Sub Stats for longevity
- Balance between damage output and resource efficiency
Challenge Mode Optimization:
- Maximize burst damage potential
- Prioritize ability cooldown reduction
- Focus on armor penetration and true damage
- Optimize for specific boss mechanics
Virtual Realm Optimization:
- Specialize for specific enemy types
- Maximize elemental damage bonuses
- Consider team-wide buff synergies
- Optimize for wave-clear efficiency
Future-Proofing Your Relic Strategy
The Universal Tower Defense meta is constantly evolving, and anticipating future changes can help you make better long-term decisions with your relic investments. Based on current trends and developer patterns, here are some strategies for future-proofing your relic collection.
Investing in Versatile Sets
Some relic sets have broader applications than others and are less likely to be rendered obsolete by meta shifts. Sets like Master Ninja and Junior Ninja offer versatile bonuses that remain valuable regardless of balance changes.
Recommended Versatile Investments:
- Master Ninja Set (DoT bonuses are always valuable)
- Junior Ninja Set (buff multipliers are universally useful)
- Laughing Captain Set (cooldown reduction is always in demand)
Maintaining a Diverse Collection
While it’s tempting to focus all your resources on one or two “best” sets, maintaining diversity in your relic collection prepares you for meta shifts and different content types.
Collection Strategy:
- Keep at least one complete set of each type
- Maintain upgrade resources for different set types
- Experiment with different combinations in less critical content
- Stay informed about balance changes and meta shifts
Resource Management for Future Updates
Strategic resource hoarding can give you a significant advantage when new content or balance changes arrive. Having a reserve of Power Ups and upgrade materials allows you to quickly adapt to new optimal strategies.
Resource Management Tips:
- Always keep a reserve of Power Ups (at least 50-100)
- Don’t upgrade relics to maximum if better ones might be available soon
- Stay informed about upcoming content updates
- Be ready to pivot your strategy when the meta changes
FAQ
Based on community discussions and player inquiries, I’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions about relics in Universal Tower Defense.
What are the best relics for beginners?
For beginners, I highly recommend focusing on the Junior Ninja set first. It’s relatively easy to obtain from Ninja Forest Story Mode, and the 1.1x buff multiplier is incredibly versatile, benefiting virtually every unit type. As you progress, transition to the Master Ninja set for significantly more power.
Can I mix and match relics from different sets?
Yes, you can absolutely mix and match relics from different sets! However, you’ll only gain the individual piece bonuses, not the powerful set bonuses. Set bonuses only activate when you equip a complete matching set of three pieces. Sometimes, mixing pieces can be optimal for specific situations, but generally, complete sets provide more value.
How do I get Head relics since they don’t drop from Story Mode?
Head relics are obtained from Virtual Realm matches, which become available after progressing through Story Mode. This intentional design means you need to engage with both Story Mode (for Body and Leg pieces) and Virtual Realm (for Head pieces) to complete relic sets.
What’s the fastest way to farm high-quality relics?
The most efficient farming method currently is Ninja Forest Nightmare Mode at 1000% difficulty. While challenging, it offers the best drop rates for Mythic and Legendary relics. Focus on Master Ninja pieces first, as they’re generally considered the best in the current meta.
How important are Sub Stats compared to Main Stats?
Main Stats are significantly more important than Sub Stats, as they provide the largest bonuses and cannot be changed. However, optimal Sub Stats can provide substantial additional power, especially when you have multiple complementary Sub Stats. Prioritize good Main Stats first, then work on optimizing Sub Stats.
Should I upgrade relics immediately or wait for better ones?
This depends on your progression stage. Early to mid-game, it’s worth upgrading good relics immediately as they’ll provide immediate benefits. Late-game, you might want to hold onto resources if you’re close to acquiring potentially better relics. Consider the opportunity cost and your current content needs.
How do I know which relic set is best for my specific unit?
The best relic set depends on your unit’s role, abilities, and damage type. Generally:
- DPS units: Master Ninja or Berserk Shingam I
- Support units: Laughing Captain or Ex-Captain Uraharo
- Hybrid units: Junior Ninja or Sun God
- Consider elemental damage bonuses that match your unit’s damage type
What happens to my relics when new content updates release?
When new content releases, existing relics typically remain viable, but new relic sets may be introduced that could shift the meta. It’s wise to maintain a diverse collection and stay adaptable. Developer balance changes may also affect the relative power of different sets.
How many Power Ups should I save before attempting major upgrades?
I recommend saving at least 20-30 Power Ups before attempting significant upgrade sessions, especially when trying to unlock new Sub Stats. The chance-based nature of Sub Stat unlocking means you might need multiple attempts, and having a buffer prevents frustration.
Are there any hidden mechanics or secrets about relics?
While most relic mechanics are well-documented, some advanced interactions aren’t immediately obvious:
- Certain set bonuses have hidden synergies with specific unit abilities
- Sub Stat effectiveness can vary based on game mode
- Some relic sets perform better in co-op vs. solo play
- Elemental damage bonuses have complex interactions with enemy resistances
Conclusion
Mastering the relic system in Universal Tower Defense is a journey, not a destination. The depth and complexity of the system mean there’s always something new to learn, optimize, or discover. As the game continues to evolve with new content updates and balance changes, staying adaptable and informed will be key to maintaining your competitive edge.
Remember that the best relic strategy is one that works for your specific playstyle, team composition, and progression goals. While this guide provides comprehensive information and recommendations, don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you. The most successful players are often those who understand the fundamentals but aren’t afraid to innovate and adapt.
As you continue your Universal Tower Defense journey, I encourage you to stay engaged with the community, keep up with developer updates, and share your own discoveries. The relic system is complex enough that there’s always room for new strategies and optimizations to emerge.
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