To show that two sets are equal, show that both satisfy a condition $P$ for which it is known that there exists a unique set $X$ with $P(X)$. What I really have in mind here is to use the uniqueness part of universality. For example, if two arrows to a limit (in some category) have the same compositions with the limiting cones, then they are the same. We can think of these arrows as sets (e.g., in ZFC without urelements), and so we proved that two sets are the same. (In any case, we can restrict attention to $\mathbf{Set}$ where arrows (function) are sets.)

As another example, if a functor $V:A\to X$ is known to creates $J$-limits, and two cones $\nu$ and $\tau$ in $A$ happen to satisfy $V\nu=V\tau=$ a limiting cone in $X$, then $\nu=\tau$.