Spade (Ace) Guide
Master the Firepillar specialist - Mythical Hill DPS with armor-penetrating burn and full-map AoE coverage.
The Pyrokinetic Paradigm: Understanding Spade
In the evolving meta-game of Universal Tower Defense, where difficulty scaling shifts from health-based obstacles to defense-based mitigation, Spade (modeled after Portgas D. Ace from One Piece) emerges as the premier solution to the "Defense Scaling Crisis." His unique design philosophy—injecting inevitability through Damage over Time (DoT)—ensures damage delivery regardless of enemy mitigation.
As a Mythical rarity Hill DPS unit with Fire element affinity, Spade represents the optimal bridge between early-game accessibility and late-game viability. His transformation from single-target projectile to full-map AoE Firepillar at Upgrade 7 exemplifies the dramatic power spikes that define UTD's upgrade economy. Combined with his 100% armor-penetrating burn mechanic, Spade remains "future-proof" regardless of how enemy defense scales in future updates.
Rarity
Mythical
Element
Fire
Role
Hill DPS
Placement Limit
3 Units
The Burn Mechanic: True Damage Mastery
Spade's defining characteristic lies in his passive burn ability, which operates on "True Damage" principles in UTD. Unlike standard damage calculation (reduced by enemy defense), burn damage bypasses mitigation entirely, making it invaluable against high-defense bosses and late-wave content.
Burn Formula Analysis
Technical Specifications:
Trigger: On Attack
Potency: 60% of Spade's Attack Stat
Duration: 4 seconds (4 ticks total)
Tick Rate: 1 tick per second
Penetration: 100% Armor Bypass
The Solar Feedback Loop
Spade possesses a secondary passive creating a positive feedback loop: "Solar" or "Ignite" buff. When attacking burning targets, he gains +30% damage and +30% range. This fundamentally changes target prioritization and creates multiplicative scaling with multiple Spades.
Solar Optimization Strategy
With three Spades deployed:
- 1. Spade A attacks Boss → Boss now Burning
- 2. Spade B attacks Boss → Gains +30% Damage/Range (Boss burning)
- 3. Spade C attacks Boss → Gains +30% Damage/Range (Boss burning)
Maximize by desynchronizing attacks or relying on 4s burn duration for 100% buff uptime
Damage Calculation Example
Against 80% Damage Reduction Boss:
Standard Unit: 20% effective damage
Spade Hit: 20% of 2,400 = 480 damage
Spade Burn: 100% of ~1,440 damage (4 ticks)
Total Effective: 480 + 1,440 = 1,920 damage
Potency
60% Attack
Duration
4 seconds
Tick Rate
1 tick/sec
Armor Penetration
100%
Upgrade Progression: The Three-Phase Evolution
Spade's power curve exhibits distinct breakpoints where his tactical function fundamentally shifts. Understanding these phases is crucial for resource allocation and strategic timing across different game stages.
Phase 1: Deployment
Situational PriorityLevel: Level 0 | Investment: 1,000 Yen
Damage: Low (Projectile)
Expensive for early game but viable opening play. Burn application immediately provides utility against weak enemies.
Phase 2: Mid-Game Bridge
High PriorityLevel: Upgrade 1-6 | Investment: ~5,000-15,000 Yen
Damage: ~300 DPS (Upg 6)
Upgrade 4 (Firebomb) most common parking spot at 1,100 damage. Efficient for clearing Runner waves while focusing economy.
Phase 3: The Apex
Maximum PriorityLevel: Upgrade 7 (Firepillar) | Investment: ~40,000-50,000 Total
Damage: ~2,400 per hit
Transforms to Full Map AoE summon. 42.9 range covers massive area. Slow attack rate (7.5s) offset by infinite efficiency against clumped waves.
Upgrade 6 vs. Upgrade 7 Controversy
Advanced players often debate keeping Spade at Upgrade 6 (Rapid Fire) versus progressing to Upgrade 7 (Firepillar):
Upgrade 6 (Rapid Fire)
DPS: ~300 DPS (excluding burn)
Attack Speed: Faster than max upgrade
Best for: Damage cap bosses, shield-breaking scenarios
Upgrade 7 (Firepillar)
Damage: ~2,400 per hit (Full AoE)
Range: 42.9 units (Massive coverage)
Best for: Clumped waves, late-game scaling
Acquisition Protocol: The Mythical Challenge
Check Banner Rotation
Spade appears in the Standard Banner with estimated 0.03%-0.25% drop rate depending on banner type. Verify his availability before summoning to avoid statistical inefficiency.
Accumulate Gems for Pulls
Expected pulls for Mythical: ~400-1000 pulls (depending on banner). At 50 gems/pull, calculate 20,000-50,000 gem budget. Use active codes: SorryEA2! (5,000), 40kCCU! (4,000), YT10k! (2,000).
Execute Summoning Strategy
Use reroll method for efficiency: create new account, redeem all codes, mass-summon until Spade acquired. Mythical drop rates require patience or significant gem investment.
Confirm Spade Identity
Verify Mythical rarity, Fire element, Hill classification, and initial Burn application on attacks. Lock unit to prevent accidental sale during material gathering.
Initial Strategic Placement
Deploy on Hill near U-turn for maximum range coverage. Single Spade can cover multiple track loops. Early placement maximizes exposure time for economic efficiency.
Economic Reality Check:
Drop Rate: 0.03%-0.25% (banner dependent)
Expected Pulls: 400-1000 pulls
Gem Cost: 20,000-50,000 gems
Alternative: Use Spade as primary carry to complete "Power of Kings" quest for Lelouch
Strategic Deployment: The Burn & Turn Composition
Spade's true power emerges through synergistic team composition. The "Burn & Turn" meta composition represents the gold standard for Infinite Mode waves 50-100, leveraging Spade's AoE capabilities alongside crowd control and buffering units.
Optimal Team Composition
Lelouch (Lulu)
ControllerReverse Walk + Collision physics creates enemy clumping for maximum Firepillar efficiency
Critical - Enables the Burn & Turn composition
Genos (Cyborg)
Sub-DPSDeals 40% bonus damage vs burning targets. Acts as "detonator" to Spade's "primer"
High - Direct damage amplification from Spade's burn
Law (Rule)
Buffer10% cooldown reduction + 20% damage buff. Reduces Firepillar cooldown from 7.5s to ~6.75s
High - Multiplicative damage buffs stack with Solar passive
Shanks (Shunks)
Global Buffer+20% damage when Boss spawns. Perfect timing for Raid Boss encounters
Medium - Boss-specific but extremely powerful
Damage Multiplier Calculation
Full Composition Buffs:
Base Damage: 2,400
Multipliers: 1.3 (Solar) × 1.2 (Law) × 1.2 (Shanks) = 1.872
Result: ~4,500 raw damage + ~2,700 burn true damage
Cooldown: Reduced by Law's 10% (7.5s → 6.75s)
Three-Phase Deployment Strategy
Early Game (Waves 1-15): Economy Focus
Deploy 1 Spade on Hill near U-turn. Upgrade to Level 4 (Firebomb) for 1,100 damage efficiency. Invest remaining cash in Speedwagon farms.
Mid-Game (Waves 16-35): Framework Building
Deploy Lelouch near Spade range end. Place Law and Shanks adjacent to Spade. Upgrade all Spades to Level 6 for maximum attack speed before heavy tanks arrive.
Late Game (Waves 36+): Maximum Output
Upgrade all Spades to Level 7 (Firepillar). Manual Lelouch control for Reverse Walk timing. Ensure Shanks buff ready for Boss spawns. Deploy Genos for burning target amplification.
Trait Optimization and Evolution
Trait Priority Ranking
S-Tier: Astral
MaximumMassive Range and Damage increase
Spade max range: 42.9. Astral potentially covers 100% of map, ensuring 100% burn uptime
A-Tier: Duelist
High+25% Crit Rate, +20% Range, +35% Boss Damage
35% Boss Damage separate multiplier. Against Raid Bosses (primary threat), arguably better than Astral
B-Tier: Wizard
MediumIncreases Elemental (Fire) Damage
Enhances burn tick damage. Good general upgrade but lacks specific synergies
Evolution: "Ace Evolved"
Spade's evolution transforms him into "Ace Evolved" with significant power increases:
- Visual Enhancement: Elaborate aura featuring "Entei" fire sphere effects
- Stat Buffs: 20-30% Base Damage increase, extended Burn duration
- Requirements: Max level Spade, Fire Spirit Tokens (Fire Raids), evolution materials (Demon Fruit fragments, Mythical tokens)
- Priority: Evolution provides substantial power spike—max base unit before attempting
Economic Analysis: Cost vs. Performance
Cost Per Damage (CPD) Breakdown
Total Investment (3 Max Spades): ~50,000 Yen
Total DPS Output: ~7,200 Raw Damage every 7.5s + 3 Burn stacks
Raw DPS vs. Kirito: Spade appears inferior (slower attack speed)
Effective CPD vs. High Defense: Spade superior (armor penetration)
The Effective CPD Against Bosses
Against 80% Damage Reduction Boss:
Kirito: 20% of displayed damage
Spade: 20% of hit damage + 100% of burn damage
Conclusion: Spade most economically efficient for high-wave content
Investment Verdict
Spade solves the mathematical problem of enemy defense scaling. His True Damage burn ensures viability long after other Mythicals fall off due to damage mitigation. He is a mandatory acquisition for Raid and Infinite Mode content.
Conclusion: The Foundation of High-Level Meta
Spade (Ace) represents more than a "strong" unit—he is a foundational pillar of Universal Tower Defense's high-level meta. By solving the mathematical problem of enemy defense scaling through his armor-penetrating burn mechanic, he remains viable across all content types regardless of future balance updates.
His evolution from single-target projectile to full-map Firepillar AoE exemplifies UTD's upgrade economy philosophy: dramatic power spikes that reward sustained investment. Combined with the "Burn & Turn" composition leveraging Lelouch's crowd control, Spade transforms standard defenses into efficient kill boxes capable of handling infinite wave scaling.
While the initial investment (40,000-50,000 Yen total for three maxed units) appears substantial, the cost-per-damage efficiency against high-defense targets makes him economically superior to alternatives. For players progressing through Raids or Infinite Mode, Spade is not merely recommended—he is mandatory.
Final Directive: Acquire Spade immediately, upgrade methodically, and let the fires of Inevitability incinerate all who stand in your path.
Quick Reference
Upgrade Milestones
Lvl 0:
Projectile + Burn
Upg 4:
Firebomb (1,100 dmg)
Upg 6:
Rapid Fire (300 DPS)
Upg 7:
Firepillar (Full AoE)
Best Traits
S: Astral
Max Range/Damage
A: Duelist
+35% Boss Damage
B: Wizard
Elemental Boost