Welcome to UTD Tools (Beta). Explore the new simulators in Tools.
UTD logo

Raids Mode – UTD Guide (Boss Mechanics, Team Roles, Relics, Consistent Clears)

Co-op endgame mode focused on boss mechanics, team roles, and consistent clears.

Mode FitDPSUpgrade PlannerTeam Validator
Table of contents

Raids Mode is UTD’s co-op focused endgame: instead of beating normal waves, your goal is to defeat raid bosses with larger health pools, tougher mechanics, and higher punishment for weak team roles. If Boss Rush is a short burst check, Raids are a sustained execution check—you need stable damage, reliable debuffs, and clean control timing across longer fights.

This guide explains how Raids typically work, how to prepare your roster, what roles matter most, and how to build teams that clear consistently (not just “one lucky carry”). It’s written for both newer players who just unlocked Raids and advanced players optimizing clear speed and reliability.

Unlock & Entry Requirements

Raids are usually unlocked after meaningful Story progression and/or a minimum player level (patch-dependent). They are designed around players who already have:

  • A few upgraded units with decent traits/relics,
  • Basic understanding of placement and upgrade pacing,
  • At least one support option (buffer/debuffer/control).

Recommended readiness:

  • One main boss DPS carry (single-target or high uptime).
  • One debuffer (damage taken increase / defense shred / vulnerability).
  • One support buffer (range/attack speed/cooldown aura) if you have one.
  • One control unit (slow/stun/time-stop) for dangerous boss windows.
  • Optional: a cleanup AoE unit if the raid spawns adds.

Raids punish “all DPS” teams. You need damage, but you also need uptime and survivability through mechanics.

Gameplay Rules & Loop

What Raids are

Most raid formats share these traits:

  • One or multiple bosses with very high HP compared to normal modes.
  • Bosses may have phases (new mechanics at certain HP thresholds).
  • Spawns may include adds (extra enemies) that can overwhelm you if ignored.
  • There is often a time limit or pressure mechanic (soft enrage, increased speed, or escalating damage).

The core loop

  1. Establish the arena: set up your kill zone and support coverage early.
  2. Get your carry online: upgrade your main DPS to a stable state fast.
  3. Apply debuffs: keep boss damage amplification active as often as possible.
  4. Respect mechanics: don’t waste ultimates into shields, invulnerability, or phase transitions.
  5. Stabilize adds (if present): avoid losing the run to side pressure.
  6. Finish clean: save a final burst cycle for the last phase.

Why raids feel different from Boss Rush

Boss Rush is often “kill fast or lose.” Raids are “kill correctly and consistently.” Many raid failures happen because:

  • a team lacks debuffs and takes too long,
  • adds are ignored and leak,
  • supports are placed too far to cover the kill zone,
  • control is mistimed, so the boss walks through or triggers a wipe window.

Raids reward players who treat their team like a system—not a collection of units.

Rewards

Raids are typically a primary source of high-value progression rewards, depending on patch:

  • Raid-linked crafting materials (for evolutions or special upgrades),
  • Higher-tier rewards compared to normal Story farming,
  • Sometimes unique drops or currencies tied to raid clears.

Best for

  • Targeted farming of high-value materials.
  • Proving your endgame readiness.
  • Group play and coordinated optimization.

Not ideal for

  • Casual solo farming (though some raids can be soloed with strong rosters).
  • Fast gem-only farming (Story loops may be faster per minute).

Difficulty & Scaling Notes

Raid difficulty is driven by:

  • Boss HP and defensive traits,
  • Phase mechanics (shields, invulnerability, summons),
  • Add pressure (leaks, overwhelm),
  • Any strict timer or enrage effect.

If there are raid tiers (Normal/Hard/etc.) or a difficulty slider:

  • Start with a farm tier you can clear reliably with >90% success.
  • Push higher tiers only when your team can handle mechanics without panic upgrades.

Avoid inventing exact boss HP numbers unless verified in your dataset. For calculators, use manual checkpoint inputs (example: “Boss HP = 2,000,000”) and compare time-to-kill.

Strategy

Early Setup (Opening Phase)

Goal: build a kill zone with full support coverage.

  • Place your main carry where it has maximum time-on-target (long straight or corner).
  • Place buffers so their aura covers the carry and secondary DPS.
  • Place debuffers where they can reach the boss early and maintain uptime.
  • If adds spawn immediately, use a cheap AoE unit to stabilize until your carry ramps.

Early checklist

  • Carry + debuff online before the boss reaches your core kill zone.
  • Supports positioned to cover your key damage towers.

Mid Fight (Phase Changes & Add Pressure)

Goal: stay stable through mechanics.

  • Watch for phase transitions: many bosses gain speed, shields, or summon adds at HP thresholds.
  • Don’t blow all your money instantly. Keep a reserve for:
    • emergency upgrades,
    • placing an add-control unit,
    • repositioning supports to maintain coverage.

Mid-fight decision rule

  • Boss too slow to die → improve debuff uptime and buff coverage before adding more DPS.
  • Adds are the issue → dedicate one slot to AoE clear and/or control.
  • Boss outruns your kill zone → add stall/control or adjust placement for more uptime.

Final Phase (Execution & Burst)

Goal: finish without throwing the run.

  • Save a burst cycle for the final phase: ultimates, temporary buffs, and debuff windows.
  • If the boss becomes briefly invulnerable, delay your burst.
  • If the raid has a timer, you must shift from “safe” to “commit damage” at the right time.

Reliable finish pattern

  1. Stabilize adds.
  2. Ensure debuffs are active.
  3. Trigger buffs + ultimates together when the boss is in full coverage.
  4. Use control to keep the boss inside range for the burst window.

Team Building

New Player Loadout (4 Slots)

A realistic starter raid team structure:

  1. Main Boss DPS Carry

    • Single-target or high uptime DPS.
    • Prioritize upgrades here first.

  2. Debuffer (Boss Amplifier)

    • Damage taken increase / shred / vulnerability.
    • Even a modest debuff often beats adding another mid DPS unit.

  3. Add Control (AoE or Splash)

    • Prevents summons from overwhelming your base.
    • Can be a lower-cost tower upgraded only when needed.

  4. Flex: Buffer or Control

    • Buffer if your carry is strong and you want faster clears.
    • Control if your raid boss needs stall for dangerous windows.
    • Coverage (anti-air) only if raid adds include flying enemies.

Beginner principle: carry + debuff + add control + one utility.

Advanced Player Blueprint (6 Slots)

A consistent meta framework:

  1. Main carry (boss killer)
  2. Secondary DPS (backup burst or AoE)
  3. Debuffer (mandatory)
  4. Buffer (aura support)
  5. Hard control (stall/time-stop/slow)
  6. Flex tech slot:
    • extra debuff (if stacking exists),
    • shield break / armor ignore (if applicable),
    • map-specific coverage (air adds, cleanup).

Trait & relic priorities (high-level)

  • Carries: damage/attack speed traits; relic set bonuses that increase uptime and burst.
  • Buffers: range/cooldown to keep auras active and covering the kill zone.
  • Debuffers: cooldown/range to maximize debuff uptime.
  • Control: cooldown/range to increase the frequency and area of stall.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

  • Mistake: Everyone brings only DPS

    • Fix: enforce roles. A raid team needs debuff + buffer + control.

  • Mistake: Supports placed outside the kill zone

    • Fix: move supports so the aura covers the carry and the main lane.

  • Mistake: Ignoring adds

    • Fix: reserve one slot or one placement for add clear. Adds end raids more often than bosses.

  • Mistake: Bursting into invulnerability/shields

    • Fix: learn the phase timing. Burst only when the boss is exposed and debuffed.

  • Mistake: No money reserve

    • Fix: keep cash for emergency upgrades and phase transitions.

Advanced Optimization Tips

  • Role checklist before queueing: carry, debuff, buffer, control, add clear.
  • Kill zone engineering: choose one primary lane segment and build everything around it.
  • Debuff uptime tracking: your “effective DPS” is often limited by debuff downtime.
  • Co-op coordination: stagger control so the boss stays in range longer without overlapping stuns wastefully.
  • Speed clears: once stable, optimize upgrade order for fastest time-to-kill, not maximum peak DPS.

Calculator Shortcuts

  • Mode Fit (Raids): model your raid boss HP and compare time-to-kill across builds (manual inputs).
  • DPS Calculator: evaluate carry trait/relic swaps.
  • Upgrade Planner: choose the fastest upgrade path to get “carry online.”
  • Team Validator: ensure your lineup covers debuff/control/add clear roles.

FAQ

Q1: Can I solo raids?
Some raids can be soloed with strong rosters, but Raids are balanced for co-op. Solo success usually requires very high carry strength plus stable add control.

Q2: Why do raids fail even with high DPS units?
Because raids are uptime-based: missing debuffs, poor buff coverage, adds, and mistimed bursts can reduce real DPS dramatically.

Q3: What’s the most important support role?
A debuffer. Amplifying boss damage often beats bringing another mid DPS unit.

Q4: Should I always run a farm/economy unit?
Not always. Many raids are shorter or have different economy pacing. If a farm delays your carry upgrades, it can reduce your clear chance.

Q5: Why does my calculator TTK differ from in-game?
Real fights include movement, phase downtime, add pressure, and imperfect buff/debuff uptime. Use calculators for comparisons and breakpoints.