Anime Expeditions Tier List — Best Units
Release-meta unit rankings for Anime Expeditions — S+ through D tiers, DPS and support splits, and how traits, evolution, and mode goals move a unit up or down.
By Bloxron Editorial Team · Last updated
Update 0.5 meta favors evolved, well-traited carries — including limited Villain Banner units. Rankings assume role fit — forcing a DPS into a support slot will skew results.
How units are ranked
- Damage consistency from story into harder endgame content.
- Boss pressure, crowd control, or economy value beyond raw rarity.
- How much a unit depends on rare traits or strict support partners.
- Whether the unit still pulls weight once stronger boxes start forming.
What each tier band means
| Band | Assumes | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| S+ / S | Evolved, traited, and map-geared | Still strong in raids and long boss waves. |
| A | Strong kit but narrower fit | Often need the right partner or mode to match higher tiers. |
| B | Mid-story bridges | Fine until a Mythic or Secret covers the same role. |
| C / D | Roster fillers | Level if needed, but skip evolution mats and rare traits. |
S+ Tier
7 picksAccount-defining carries — worth traits, evolution, and exclusive gear.
- Crow (Black Fire)
- Dark Mage (Sovereign)
Shadow (Divine)
8th Sword (Berserk)
Puppet (Telekinetic)
Cursed Student (True Love)
Elf Mage (Unleashed)
S Tier
7 picksStrong specialists that anchor finished teams in story, raids, or economy.
- Razor Jaw (Hunter)
Crimson (Brother)
Salmon Sorcerer (Grade 1)
Lady Giant (Envy)
String Demon (Awakened)
Reaper (Released)
Ramen Guy
A Tier
7 picksReliable picks that clear well but usually need support or fall off later.
Flame Emperor (Reincarnate)
Hollow (Blaze)
Toy Maker
Forbidden Teacher
The Hero- Cursed Immortal (Black Sun)
True Saint (Holy)
B Tier
4 picksFine for mid-story — replace once Mythic or Secret options show up.
Greed
Ice Queen
Water Princess
Scissor
C Tier
6 picksEarly roster fillers. Do not sink evolution mats or rare traits here.
Stone Alchemist
Ice Mage
Bounty Hunter
Corps Captain
Demon Cyborg
Nen Hunter
D Tier
6 picksTutorial-tier units — swap out as soon as anything better drops.
Curly Brow
Kid Assassin
Reishi Archer
Thunder Shinobi
Rubber Boy
Carrot
DPS rankings
| Tier | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meta DPS | Crow, Dark Mage, Shadow, 8th Sword, Puppet, Cursed Student, Elf Mage | Long fights, boss waves, and evolved passives online. Crow / Dark Mage need Villain Banner investment. |
| Solid DPS | Razor Jaw, Flame Emperor, Lady Giant, String Demon, Reaper, Hollow, Crimson, Toy Maker, Cursed Immortal | Good damage with the right team setup or mode. |
| Skip for DPS | True Saint, Bounty Hunter, Corps Captain, Demon Cyborg, Nen Hunter, Curly Brow, Kid Assassin, Reishi Archer, Thunder Shinobi, Rubber Boy, Carrot | Placeholders unless you have nothing else. |
Support rankings
| Tier | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meta support | Salmon Sorcerer, Puppet, Shadow, String Demon, Forbidden Teacher, The Hero | Slow, marks, team buffs, or magical aura value. |
| Useful support | Razor Jaw, True Saint, Toy Maker, Ice Queen, Water Princess, Ice Mage, Ramen Guy, Stone Alchemist | Situational control, shields, or economy. |
| Skip for support | Greed, Scissor, Bounty Hunter, Corps Captain, Demon Cyborg, Nen Hunter, Curly Brow, Kid Assassin, Reishi Archer, Thunder Shinobi, Rubber Boy, Carrot | No meaningful team-wide value. |
Using the list without wasting mats
- Pick investments, not instant deletes — lower tiers still clear early story.
- Keep economy and control slots, not just damage names.
- Check traits and evolution before writing a unit off on base form alone.
- One-mode teams can rank units differently than a general list.
How tier value shifts by mode
| Mode goal | What to prioritize | Typical shift |
|---|---|---|
| Story push | Stable wave clear | Bridge units can stay longer if maps keep moving. |
| Raids | Boss pressure + control | Pure story fillers fall off in long fights. |
| Villain Invasion | Limited banner carries + coin farm | Crow and Dark Mage jump; permanent roster still clears if you skip the banner. |
| Long-wave farming | Scaling carries + economy | Ramp units rise; burst-only picks slide. |
Where to spend resources first
Early account
One carry + one supportDo not spread upgrades across five units. Keep one slot flexible so you can swap a weak piece without resetting.
Mid account
Traits and evolution on proven coresOnce story is stable, spend crystals and sprites on units that still matter in raids. Villain Coins stay on the Villain Banner if you are chasing Crow.
Late account
Mode swaps and gear polishRankings matter less than build context. A small swap can beat a full rebuild.
Keep building vs stop spending
| Signal | When you see it | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Keep building | Unit still solves a role your team cannot replace | Traits, gear, and evolution stay on the table. |
| Pause spending | A new pull covers the same job with less investment | Finish story with the placeholder, then swap. |
| Stop investing | Unit needs heavy mats just to stay average | Save sprites and crystals for the next candidate. |
FAQ
Is this tier list for evolved units?
Mostly yes. Placements assume sensible upgrades, evolved forms where relevant, and traits that match the unit's job. Limited 0.5 units also assume their Villain exclusive gear when available.
Should I pull the Villain Banner instead of Gem banners?
Only if you want Crow, Dark Mage, Razor Jaw, or Cursed Immortal. Those units are limited and use Villain Coins. Keep Gem pulls for the permanent roster if you are still missing a story carry.
Can a lower-tier unit still help me?
Absolutely. Lower-tier units can still be good bridge pieces for story if they solve a role your box is missing right now.
What moves a unit up or down?
Traits, evolution, exclusive gear, and the mode you are farming are the main reasons a unit can outperform or underperform its base reputation.