Current unit rankings by role and mode
Anime Expeditions Tier List
Shadow (Divine) is the strongest overall current pick because it combines high damage, permanent summons, crowd control, and a 25% Magical team buff. Use the role lists before the full table: Ramen Guy leads economy, while Salmon Sorcerer is the safest dedicated control support.
| Unit / Evolved Form | Tier | Role | Why it ranks here | Best modes | Best trait | Best equipment | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow→ Shadow (Divine) | S+ | DPS, Support, Summoner, Crowd Control | The team-wide Magical buff and permanent summons make Shadow useful as both the main carry and an amplifier for the rest of the lane. | Story, Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Unbound / Primordial | Hexed Blade / Magic Book | invest |
| 8th Sword→ 8th Sword (Berserk) | S+ | DPS, Crowd Control | High late-wave damage, an aura-style pressure zone, and Berserk scaling reward stages long enough to reach full momentum. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Unbound / Primordial | Hair Bells / Warrior’s Axe | invest |
| Puppet→ Puppet (Telekinetic) | S+ | DPS, Summoner, Crowd Control | Boss marking, a summon, and rewind utility solve damage and lane control at the same time. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Unbound / Primordial | Calamity’s Eye / Magic Orb | invest |
| Cursed Student→ Cursed Student (True Love) | S+ | DPS, DoT, Summoner | Follow-ups and Bleed-fed spirits scale well in long stages, while several viable trait paths let the build match the rest of the team. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Unbound / Draconic / Forsaken | Promise Ring | invest |
| Toy Maker | S+ | Summoner, DPS, Crowd Control | Path summons add both damage and tempo control, giving Toy Maker value even when raw unit attacks are not the only pressure point. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Unbound / Primordial | Match the live damage type before choosing standard gear | invest |
| Crimson→ Crimson (Brother) | S | DPS, DoT | Delayed explosions and ground damage give Crimson strong wave clear, but the limited acquisition route makes availability account-dependent. | Story, Infinite, Raid, Challenge | Unbound / Draconic | Match the live damage type; prioritize Damage and SPA | invest |
| Flame Emperor→ Flame Emperor (Reincarnate) | S | DPS, DoT, Crowd Control | Reliable Burn spread handles packed waves and enables Hollow, making this unit stronger when the team is built around the status effect. | Story, Infinite, Challenge, Expedition | Draconic / Unbound | Emperor’s Attire / Magic Book | invest |
| Salmon Sorcerer→ Salmon Sorcerer (Grade 1) | S | Support, Crowd Control | Slow plus Stagger increases the attack time available to every damage unit, so the benefit scales with the whole team rather than one stat line. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Bolt / Optics | Technique Amplifier | invest |
| Lady Giant→ Lady Giant (Envy) | S | DPS, Summoner, Crowd Control | A strong transformation and repeated follow-ups provide broad damage, while Boulder adds a lane-stalling wall for harder waves. | Story, Infinite, Raid, Challenge | Unbound / Primordial | Boulder / Warrior’s Axe | invest |
| Elf Mage→ Elf Mage (Unleashed) | S | DPS | The evolved spell cycle covers several area shapes and gets a large benefit from equipment that strengthens follow-up attacks. | Story, Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Unbound / Primordial | Elven Battle Staff / Magic Book | invest |
| Ramen Guy | S | Farm | The 50% kill-income bonus accelerates expensive upgrades and makes Ramen Guy the current economy benchmark. | Story, Infinite, Challenge, Expedition | Investor | Income role: do not spend premium combat gear here | invest |
| String Demon→ String Demon (Awakened) | A | Support, Crowd Control, DPS | Cocoon and linked follow-ups are valuable utility, but the unit competes with more direct S-tier control options. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Forsaken / Bolt | Webbed Fruit | hold |
| Reaper→ Reaper (Released) | A | DPS | Critical scaling and relocation are useful in mixed-enemy stages, although the setup needs time and the right equipment to catch the top carries. | Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Forsaken / Precision 2 | Spirit of the Moonblade / Shinigami Sword | hold |
| Hollow→ Hollow (Blaze) | A | DPS, DoT | Hollow becomes much stronger in a Burn team, but without Flame Emperor or another stable Burn source the kit loses its main advantage. | Story, Infinite, Challenge | Draconic / Unbound | Hell’s Flower | hold |
| Forbidden Teacher | A | Support | A straightforward Magical team multiplier remains useful even after the account owns stronger individual damage units. | Story, Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Optics / Bolt | Magic Orb for range; save exclusive gear for its owner | hold |
| The Hero | A | Support | The Hero is the clean Physical counterpart to Forbidden Teacher and stays relevant when the main carry uses Physical damage. | Story, Infinite, Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Optics / Bolt | Magic Orb for range or a low-cost SPA option | hold |
| True Saint→ True Saint (Holy) | A | Support, DPS | Easy-to-use team damage support makes True Saint a good bridge, but late accounts usually replace it with stronger specialized supports. | Story, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Bolt | Use a range or SPA standard item after checking the live damage type | hold |
| Greed | B | DPS | A simple boss modifier can fill an early gap, but Greed contributes less against the waves leading to the boss. | Story, Raid, Challenge | Unbound / Primordial | Match the live damage type; prioritize boss damage uptime | hold |
| Ice Queen | B | DPS, Crowd Control | Freeze and execute damage are useful during progression, but the control is narrower than Salmon Sorcerer’s team-wide time gain. | Story, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Bolt | Prioritize SPA and Range | hold |
| Water Princess | B | Support | Debuff protection is useful in the right encounter but does not improve every stage, making this a matchup pick rather than a default slot. | Raid, Challenge, Expedition | Primordial / Optics | Range-first standard equipment | hold |
| Scissor | B | DPS | Single-target ramp can help on bosses, but switching targets or short waves repeatedly resets the unit’s main advantage. | Raid, Challenge | Bolt / Primordial | SPA-focused standard equipment | hold |
| Stone Alchemist | C | Farm | Useful before Ramen Guy arrives, then usually replaced because the later farm unit produces stronger kill income. | Story, Challenge | Investor | Do not spend premium combat gear | replace |
| Ice Mage | C | Crowd Control | Slow is a helpful early Story tool, but Mythic and Legendary control units provide broader effects and stronger team value. | Story, Challenge | Bolt / Optics | Magic Book / Magic Orb | replace |
| Bounty Hunter | C | DPS | A serviceable early Story body, but the account should avoid heavy reroll or equipment spending before a stronger rarity arrives. | Story | Strength 2 / Speed 2 | Use available standard gear; save rare rerolls | replace |
| Corps Captain | C | DPS | A serviceable early Story body, but the account should avoid heavy reroll or equipment spending before a stronger rarity arrives. | Story | Strength 2 / Speed 2 | Use available standard gear; save rare rerolls | replace |
| Demon Cyborg | C | DPS | A serviceable early Story body, but the account should avoid heavy reroll or equipment spending before a stronger rarity arrives. | Story | Strength 2 / Speed 2 | Use available standard gear; save rare rerolls | replace |
| Nen Hunter | C | DPS | A serviceable early Story body, but the account should avoid heavy reroll or equipment spending before a stronger rarity arrives. | Story | Strength 2 / Speed 2 | Use available standard gear; save rare rerolls | replace |
| Curly Brow | D | DPS | Use for the opening Story route, then replace instead of spending scarce Trait Crystals or equipment rerolls. | Story | Keep the first usable roll; do not chase | Use spare standard gear only | replace |
| Kid Assassin | D | DPS | Use for the opening Story route, then replace instead of spending scarce Trait Crystals or equipment rerolls. | Story | Keep the first usable roll; do not chase | Use spare standard gear only | replace |
| Reishi Archer | D | DPS | Use for the opening Story route, then replace instead of spending scarce Trait Crystals or equipment rerolls. | Story | Keep the first usable roll; do not chase | Use spare standard gear only | replace |
| Thunder Shinobi | D | DPS | Use for the opening Story route, then replace instead of spending scarce Trait Crystals or equipment rerolls. | Story | Keep the first usable roll; do not chase | Use spare standard gear only | replace |
| Rubber Boy | D | DPS | Use for the opening Story route, then replace instead of spending scarce Trait Crystals or equipment rerolls. | Story | Keep the first usable roll; do not chase | Use spare standard gear only | replace |
| Carrot | D | DPS | Use for the opening Story route, then replace instead of spending scarce Trait Crystals or equipment rerolls. | Story | Keep the first usable roll; do not chase | Use spare standard gear only | replace |
Clear one filter or search a shorter unit name.
How to use the ranking
Replace a job, not just a name
Use a broad DPS or Burn route before adding another boss-only unit.
Add sustained DPS, a boss mark, Slow, Stagger, or single-target ramp.
Use Ramen Guy with Investor before spending more on damage rerolls.
Check placement and control. Salmon Sorcerer or Puppet may solve time, not damage.
Investment rule
Invest, Hold, and Replace
Invest Build traits, evolution, and exclusive equipment because the unit solves several modes.
Hold Keep the unit while it covers a real role; spend only enough to maintain the clear.
Replace Use for current Story progress, but preserve scarce rerolls and premium gear.
Player questions
Tier List FAQ
Use the current game panel before spending rare resources on a value that can change.
Who is the best DPS in Anime Expeditions?
Shadow (Divine) is the best overall current choice, while 8th Sword (Berserk), Puppet (Telekinetic), and Cursed Student (True Love) are also top investment targets.
Who is the best support unit?
Salmon Sorcerer (Grade 1) is the safest dedicated control support because Slow and Stagger create more attack time for the whole team. Forbidden Teacher and The Hero are better when the team needs a damage aura for one damage type.
What is the best farm unit?
Ramen Guy is the current economy benchmark because it increases Yen from kills by 50%. Use Investor on it and replace Stone Alchemist once Ramen Guy is available.
Can a trait change a unit tier?
Yes. Unbound can turn a proven low-placement carry into the account centerpiece, while Draconic, Forsaken, Primordial, and Investor are stronger on units whose role matches those effects.
Should I replace every low-tier unit immediately?
Replace Rare and filler Epic units before spending scarce rerolls on them. Hold useful Legendary support or crowd control until the stronger replacement actually covers the same job.