Axel is an Exclusive-rarity Fire unit added to Universal Tower Defense Z in Update 4.25. Every one of his attacks applies Burn, a debuff that steadily drains an enemy’s health over time. His evolved form is built around a partnership with Shiro (Complete), which unlocks a Synchro Clash finisher that hits a wide area for heavy damage.
Quick answer: Reach Tier 29 of the Blitz pass free reward track to claim Axel, then take him to the Evolutions NPC with the required Fragments, Footballs, a Fire Tornado, and 25,000 Gold to unlock Axel (Striker).
Axel unit basics in Universal Tower Defense Z
Axel wields the Fire Element and costs 1,600 Yen to deploy on the map. He works as a solid damage dealer on his own, but his full value comes out after evolution when he can chain his fire attacks with Shiro’s ice attacks.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Exclusive |
| Element | Fire |
| Added in | Update 4.25 |
| Spawn cost | 1,600 Yen |
| Evolved form | Axel (Striker) |
| Best pairing | Shiro (Complete) |
How to get Axel from the Blitz pass
Axel is a Blitz pass reward, the same source as Shiro. The standard version sits at Tier 29 of the free reward track, while the Shiny version sits at Tier 29 of the premium reward track.
You know it worked when Axel appears in your unit inventory and can be selected for deployment. The Shiny version only shows up if the premium track is active on your account.
How to evolve Axel into Axel (Striker)
To evolve, speak to the Evolutions NPC, select Axel, gather the materials below, and press the “Evolve!” button. The evolution turns him into Axel (Striker).
| Item | Amount | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Fragment | 4 | Virtual Merchant, Challenge maps, Legend Stage Acts |
| Petal Fragment | 6 | Virtual Merchant, Challenge maps, Legend Stage Acts |
| Burning Fragment | 12 | Virtual Merchant, Challenge maps, Legend Stage Acts |
| Football | 10 | Universal Football Event map |
| Fire Tornado | 1 | Event shop for 5,000 Football Currency |
| Gold | 25,000 | Reward for completing levels |
Fragments can be bought from the Virtual Merchant using Gold or earned by clearing Challenge maps and Acts in the Legend Stage. Footballs come from completing the Universal Football Event map, and each clear also grants Football Currency, which you spend to buy the Fire Tornado from the event shop.
Axel (Striker) passives and how the Burn stacks
Axel (Striker) is a Burn-focused DPS unit. His kit rewards keeping multiple Burn instances on the same target, and his output scales up when he holds the Ball versus when he does not.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fire Ball | Hitting an enemy inflicts Burn for 10% Damage every second across 15 seconds. |
| Last Resort | Each attack adds 10% charge to a meter. At 100%, every half SPA he applies a 50% Damage AoE Burn over 7 seconds to all enemies in range, with each pulse draining 10% of the meter. |
| Hissatsu | Every Burn instance on an enemy raises Burn damage by +25%, up to 3 instances. |
| Blazing Forward | Holding the Ball lets Burn stack up to 3 instances (Astral can exceed the cap). Without the Ball, Burn becomes 1.5x more potent. |
Note: Because Hissatsu multiplies damage per Burn stack, the goal is to keep three Burn instances active whenever possible. Blazing Forward decides how you reach that cap depending on whether Axel currently holds the Ball.
Pairing Axel (Striker) with Shiro (Complete)
The standout reason to evolve Axel is the Cross-Fire Kick. When Axel (Striker) sits alongside Shiro (Complete), his wave of fire merges with Shiro’s wave of ice through the Synchro Clash mechanic, dealing heavy damage across a large area. Axel still performs well as an independent damage dealer, but the paired attack is where he reaches his ceiling, so build toward both units if you want the full combo.
