Anime Vanguards Best Units Tier List (Update 13.0) – Top Picks Ranked

Find the Anime Vanguards best units for Update 13.0. Complete tier list with S to C rankings, top team comps, and expert farming tips.

Why You Need a Reliable Tier List for Anime Vanguards

Anime Vanguards keeps evolving, and with each update the meta shifts. Whether you're grinding the story, tackling Worldlines, or pushing weekly challenges, knowing which units to invest in can save you hours of wasted resources. That's where a well-researched ranking of the Anime Vanguards best units comes in. The right picks let you clear tough stages faster, dominate in co-op, and climb leaderboards without constant rerolls.

In this guide, we break down every major unit by performance, utility, and scaling potential as of Update 13.0 (the Gear 5 Luffy update). We've cross‑referenced official wiki data, community reports from the Anime Vanguards Fandom, and video playthroughs to give you the most accurate Anime Vanguards best units tier list available today.

How We Ranked the Units

Our tier list evaluates units on four key criteria:

  • Damage Output – Raw DPS and burst potential against bosses and crowds.
  • Utility – Crowd control, buffs, debuffs, and special effects (e.g., stuns, slows, armor break).
  • Versatility – How well the unit performs across story, Worldline, weekly, and event modes.
  • Scaling & Investment – Cost to upgrade and long‑term viability.

We’ve placed units in five tiers: S, A, B, C, and D. Within each tier, units are listed alphabetically – not by internal ranking. The meta is constantly shifting, so we've focused on the most stable performers as of June 2026.

The Complete Anime Vanguards Best Units Tier List (Update 13.0)

S‑Tier – Absolutely Dominant

These are the cream of the crop. If you have any of these units, build them immediately. They excel in virtually every game mode.

UnitRoleWhy It’s S‑Tier
Agony Shinobi (Force)All‑rounder / HybridCurrently the #1 unit overall. Fits any team, insane damage scaling, and near‑permanent uptime on its abilities.
Gear 5 Luffy (Awakened)Burst DPS / Boss KillerThe new update’s star. Massive AoE stun on skill 2, followed by a nuke that deletes bosses in seconds.
Gujo (Infinity)Crowd Control / SupportBest in class for stuns and slows. His time‑stop ability can lock down entire waves, giving your DPS free reign.
Ice Queen (Release)Crowd Control / Area DenialSlows and freezes enemies in a huge radius. Pairs perfectly with single‑target nukers.
Zoro (Ashura)Story / Worldline CarryAmazing early‑game value; placed immediately and deals consistent damage. Excels in story and weekly challenges.

Player Experience: Many veteran players on the wiki agree that Agony Shinobi (Force) is the single most flexible unit you can own. One commenter noted, "He works in every team comp – I haven’t taken him off my line‑up since Update 12."

A‑Tier – Excellent Alternatives

A‑Tier units are still top‑tier performers. They may lack the universal fit of S‑Tier but shine in specific roles.

UnitRoleKey Strengths
Gojo (Six Eyes)DPS / DebufferHuge single‑target damage plus enemy defense reduction. Ideal for boss rushes.
Luffy (Gear 4 Snakeman)AoE DPSClears mob packs quickly. Slightly outclassed by Gear 5 but still very viable.
Naruto (Six Paths)Hybrid / Team BuffProvides attack speed and damage buffs to allies. Excellent in co‑op.
Tanjiro (Sun Breathing)Mid‑range DPSGood sustained damage and self‑heal. Reliable for long fights.
Vegeta (Super Saiyan Blue)Ranged BurstHigh burst potential but requires good positioning.

These units can carry you through almost all content if you don’t have the S‑Tier picks. Many speed runners use A‑Tier units to complement their core team.

B‑Tier – Solid but Situational

B‑Tier units are workable. They clear normal and most hard stages, but they start to fall off in extreme content (Infinite mode, high‑level Worldlines).

UnitWhy B‑Tier
Eren (Attack Titan)Good AoE but slow startup. Lacks utility against bosses.
Mikasa (Ackerman)High mobility but low durability. Dies quickly in long fights.
Ichigo (Bankai)Decent all‑rounder – outclassed by S and A tiers in pure damage.
Kirito (Dual Blades)Fun to use; short reach makes it tough against crowds.
Killua (Godspeed)Excellent speed but weak base stats. Needs heavy investment to shine.

If you’re just starting out, B‑Tier units can help you farm resources for better summons. Don’t invest too many upgrade materials into them unless a future buff arrives.

C‑Tier & D‑Tier – Avoid at High Levels

These units are either outdated or have very narrow niches. They might work for early game, but in Update 13.0 they will hold you back.

UnitScoreReason
Sakura (Healer)CHealing is too weak to matter; damage is negligible.
Yamcha (Wolf Fang Fist)DAbysmal stats even after evolution.
Zenitsu (Sleeping)CGreat when asleep, but waking up cancels his high DPS. Hard to manage.
Shinra (Devil's Footprints)CSlow animations and low AoE. Outclassed by every A‑Tier unit.

Community Reports: Several YouTube tier list videos (Update 13) recommend skipping C‑Tier units entirely. As one creator put it, “Only use D‑Tier if you’re doing a challenge run – you’ll gimp your progress otherwise.”

Best Team Compositions (Update 13.0)

The right synergy can push a good team into god‑tier territory. Here are three proven lineups.

1. The Universal Core (Works in Any Mode)

SlotUnit
Main DPSAgony Shinobi (Force)
Secondary DPSGear 5 Luffy (Awakened)
Crowd ControlGujo (Infinity)
Utility / FlexZoro (Ashura)
Healer / SupportAny A‑Tier buffer (e.g., Naruto Six Paths)

This setup balances raw damage, control, and survivability. Swap Zoro for Ice Queen if you need extra freeze.

2. Boss Rush Build (Max Single‑Target)

SlotUnit
Burst DPSGojo (Six Eyes)
Main DPSGear 5 Luffy (Awakened)
DebufferTanjiro (Sun Breathing)
Stun LockGujo (Infinity)
CleanupAgony Shinobi (Force)

Focus on reducing the boss’s stats and then hitting with your hardest hitters.

3. Story / Weekly Challenge Budget Build

SlotUnit
Early Game CarryZoro (Ashura)
AoE ClearLuffy (Gear 4 Snakeman)
SupportNaruto (Six Paths)
FlexAny B‑Tier unit you own

This lineup costs little to upgrade and can clear normal and hard story modes with proper placement.

How to Farm the Best Units

Getting an S‑Tier unit often requires luck, but you can boost your odds.

  • Summon strategically: Save your gems for rate‑up banners. The Gear 5 Luffy banner (Update 13) had a boosted 5% drop rate for top units.
  • Use evolution stones wisely: Upgrade only S or A‑Tier units to their final forms. Stones are rare.
  • Complete daily challenges: They drop summon tickets and premium currency.
  • Trade duplicates: The game’s trading system lets you exchange extra copies of units you don’t need for a random higher‑tier pull.

For a complete list of active codes that give free summons, check the official Anime Vanguards Wiki. Codes refresh often, so bookmark that page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single best unit in Anime Vanguards right now?

As of Update 13.0, Agony Shinobi (Force) is unanimously considered the best unit. It has excellent damage, fits any team, and scales incredibly well. The community tier lists from both the official wiki and YouTube creators all place it at the top of S‑Tier.

Are S‑Tier units mandatory for endgame content?

Not strictly, but they make your life much easier. You can clear most hard content with a well‑built A‑Tier team like Gojo + Gear 4 Luffy + Gujo. However, for the hardest Worldlines and Infinite Mode, investing in at least two Anime Vanguards best units is strongly recommended.

How often does the tier list change?

Every major update (every 4–6 weeks) shifts the meta. For example, Update 12 introduced buffs to Naruto and Tanjiro that pushed them into A‑Tier. We update this guide after each patch to reflect the latest changes.

Can I use low‑tier units to farm for better ones?

Yes. Early on, B‑Tier units like Eren or Ichigo are fine for grinding story mode. Use them to collect summon tickets and gems until you can pull a top‑tier unit. Once you have an S‑Tier, retire the lower tier immediately.

Final Thoughts

Knowing which Anime Vanguards best units to prioritize is the difference between breezing through content and hitting a wall. Focus on building Agony Shinobi, Gear 5 Luffy, Gujo (Infinity), and Ice Queen if you can get your hands on them. For story mode, Zoro and Gear 4 Luffy are reliable budget picks.

Remember, the meta evolves – always double‑check the latest patch notes and community tier lists before committing resources. Bookmark the official Anime Vanguards Wiki for the most up‑to‑date unit stats and reroll guides.

Happy summoning!