There is a progression. Good tires with Kevlar belts and a slime tube will go a long ways in thorn county. I don't like slime myself, so opt for slightly thicker tubes. Two ways to get there. Thron Proof tubes, or the next size up which do not stretch as much when inflated, so have thicker walls.

Good tires with belts are the number one best preventative.

Tubeless is good, but you are carrying liquid sealing compound in the tire at all times, so as soon as you dismount, it may be gone... All brands of compound are not made equal ...