Anime Vanguards Tier List – Best Units Ranked (May 2026) [Update 12.0]

Updated May 7, 2026: This tier list is up to date with the latest Anime Vanguards Painful Lessons update 12! It consists off the top meta units in the S tier such as Demon Leader (Control), God (Above Heaven), Rogita (Super 4), Ice Queen (Release), Alocard (Vampire King), Gujo (Infinity), Lich King (Ruler) and Song Jinwu & Igros. The team comps have also been updated with respect to the latest meta. All unit information, pros & cons, as well as FAQs have been updated according to Update 12 meta.

Anime Vanguards keeps expanding with Painful Lessons update 12, adding six new Naruto-inspired units, a brand-new Guild System, a new Story as well as, Legend Stages, and much more. This Roblox tower defense tier list covers all available characters across every rarity, including units added since the first anniversary in Update 9, so you can always build the strongest lineup for Infinite Mode, Boss Rush, and story content.

S Tier - Best Units in Anime Vanguards

Unit	Pros & Cons
Demon Leader (Control) [Secret]	+ Her chain-based passive drastically lowers deployment costs, letting you scale your economy much faster than most support units. + Grants a huge global damage boost to Demon Hunter allies, turning already strong carries into late-game monsters. + Provides excellent DPS boost while supporting the entire roster, making her one of the most efficient hybrid support units in the game.
God (Above Heaven) [Secret]	+ Deals devastating AoE burst damage capable of instantly erasing massive enemy waves. + His time-stop mechanics completely halt enemy movement, giving your entire team a breathing room. + Can gain immunity to Status effects, which makes survival a lot easier in the endgame.
Song Jinwu and Igros [Vanguard]	+ Constantly summons shadow soldiers that do not consume placement slots, creating sustained pressure in fights. + The self-sustaining army can tank endlessly without requiring constant micromanagement. + One of the best units for late-game where scaling defenses become more important.
Gujo (Infinity) [Secret]	+ Can apply wide-area stuns and slows, which can provide you with unmatched advantage in fights + Deals sustained damage despite being primarily used as a control unit. + Can dramatically improve survivability with his domain abilities by stopping dangerous waves before they overwhelm defenses.
Lich King (Ruler) [Vanguard]	+ Can generate durable summoned units that create an almost permanent frontline shield. + Allows you to dedicate more unit slots and money toward other DPS units thanks to his autonomous defense. + Can gain useful damage and range buffs whenever this unit resists a Status effect or a debuff.
Rogita (Super 4) [Vanguard]	+ Has the highest single-target damage in the game, making him the ultimate boss killer. + Can damage enemies by exploding, which is useful for clearing waves in late-game stages. + Perfect for dealing with high-health enemies or waves before they become a threat to your base.
Ice Queen (Release) [Vanguard]	+ Can apply AoE freeze effects that can lock enemy waves in place for an extended period of time. + Has incredible synergy with slow but powerful DPS units due to her CC heavy kit. + Performs well against fast-moving enemies by completely shutting them down with slows and debuffs.
Alocard (Vampire King) [Vanguard]	+ Can apply stacking bleed effects across huge areas, allowing him to melt through enemies. + Deals sustained damage that remains incredibly consistent throughout the entire match. + Can weaken multiple lanes simultaneously without requiring constant repositioning.

A Tier Units

Unit	Pros & Cons
Demon Hybrid (Chainsaw) [Secret]	+ His damage skyrockets once his meter fills, allowing him to shred bosses and waves alike. + Bleed detonation mechanics create explosive burst windows capable of wiping clustered enemies instantly. + Reaches absurd damage ceilings when paired with Demon Leader, forming one of the strongest synergies in the game.
Demon Leader [Secret]	+ Provides excellent economy support by reducing early-game deployment costs. + Boosts Demon Hybrid’s damage output, making her nearly mandatory for Demon Hunter comps. + Provides both utility and damage boosts, which makes her a solid unit throughout the match.
Brolzi Super (Wrathful) [Vanguard]	+ Can buff his own damage anytime he lands an attack that crits + Has massive AoE attacks that can completely clear crowded waves in seconds once fully upgraded. + Functions as a terrifying late-game carry capable of dominating endless modes with proper investment.
Conqueror vs Invulnerable [Secret]	+ Can break through enemy armor, which is extremely effective against tanky late-game enemies. + Has a hybrid damage playstyle, which makes this unit useful against multiple enemy types. + Can soften bosses for your main carries to finish quickly, as it attacks continuously regardless of whether any enemy is in front of it or not.
Savior (Rebirth) [Vanguard]	+ Has devastating wave-clearing burst damage that scales extremely well into late-game. + Attacks have a large range that allow him to pressure enemies across wide sections of the map. + One of the best high-investment carries for clearing through difficult late-game stages.
Shinobi Sage (Friendship) [Secret] NEW	+ Boosts the performance of allied shinobi units through its synergy passives. + Has excellent scaling ensuring his team performs well during longer matches. + One of the best units that you can have for late-game progression.
Skele King (Rock) [Mythic]	+ Provides strong ally buffs while simultaneously slowing enemies with Freeze effects. + Functions as an effective support unit that improves overall team survivability. + Provides great utility, making him a staple unit in nearly every team composition.
Diablo (Renacimiento) [Secret]	+ Excels at punishing grouped enemies with high scaling AoE damage. + Has strong mid-to-late game impact capable of wiping difficult waves consistently. + Has excellent map coverage that allows him to maintain pressure on grouped enemies.
Divalo (Requiem) [Vanguard]	+ Can instantly melt through enemies with his strong AoE abilities. + Can slow down enemy momentum with its kit, giving your carries additional attack opportunities. + Provides tactical utility, making him effective even without relying purely on raw damage.
Teacher (Final Stand) [Secret]	+ Becomes dramatically stronger during critical moments, making him ideal for clutch defenses. + Can defend tough waves in the final moments of a battle, making it best for making clutch plays. + Can be a useful unit if you want a secondary DPS unit for making plays.

B Tier Units

Unit	Pros & Cons
Lord Friezo (Emperor) [Mythic]	+ Has beam attacks that provide steady ranged pressure across large portions of the map. + Deals sustained damage, making him dependable throughout most stages. - Lacks the explosive burst or utility needed to compete with top-tier carries.
Iscanur (Pride) [Vanguard]	+ Deals devastating burst damage capable of melting high-health bosses rapidly. + Can apply burn effects that scale well and deal heavy damage to grouped enemies. - His peak effectiveness depends heavily on proper timing and wave pacing.
Pink Villain (Celestial) [Secret]	+ Has strong self-sustain that allows him to hold lanes with minimal outside support. + Her kit comprises offense and survivability, making him a dependable solo defender. - Damage scaling eventually falls behind other late-game carries.
World Destroyer (Old) [Secret]	+ Has wide shockwave attacks that are excellent for clearing weak enemy groups quickly. + Provides great physical AoE support in early to mid-game during busy waves. - Struggles against highly durable bosses without backup support.
Hollowseph (Pure) [Exclusive]	+ Deals strong early-game burst damage, and scales into a great AoE utility provider in the later stages. + Has versatile attack patterns that make him useful in a variety of team comps. - Doesn’t excel in a single category compared to higher-tier units.
Okorun (Turbo) [Exclusive]	+ Has transformations that allow him to adapt to both bosses and wave clearing. + Gains fast attack speeds that help maintain consistent offensive pressure. - Requires careful management to maximize his different combat modes effectively.
Isdead (Romantic) [Secret]	+ Provides freezing and slowing effects for controlling groups of enemy pushes. + One of the more affordable crowd-control options compared to premium stall units. - Her control effects are noticeably weaker than top-tier units.
Agony Shinobi (Force) [Secret] NEW	+ Excellent mid-game carry that performs well in early to mid-game phases. + Has a solid mix of AoE damage and crowd-control utility that keeps waves manageable. - Falls off significantly once stronger late-game units become available.
Student (Enraged) [Secret]	+ Can build up Rage that allows him to unleash devastating temporary burst windows. + Extremely effective at rapidly deleting bosses during enraged phases. - Performance becomes inconsistent when his rage uptime is not utilized or timed properly.

C Tier Units

Unit	Pros & Cons
Savior (Moonless) [Vanguard]	+ Has range scaling that allows him to cover large sections of the map efficiently. + Puts consistent AoE pressure that helps control enemy waves efficiently. - Heavily overshadowed by the much stronger Rebirth variant.
Koguro (Unsealed) [Vanguard]	+ Has rapid multi-hit attacks that are effective for breaking shields and defenses. + Useful support damage dealer against armored enemy formations. - Upgrade costs are extremely expensive compared to his overall impact.
Renguko (Purgatory) [Exclusive]	+ Burn damage becomes highly effective when enemies stay within his attack path. + Deals heavy DoT against clustered enemies moving through chokepoints. - Requires extremely precise positioning for maximum impact
Explosive Demon (Bomb) [Mythic]	+ Has large explosive attacks that deal decent burst damage against grouped enemies. + Has late-game scaling and can perform well with enough investment. - Suffers from an expensive mid-game progression curve.
Cursed Shinobi (Black Flames) [Mythic]	+ Applies black flame effects steadily that can weaken large enemy waves over time. + Deals sustained chip damage during long matches. - Performs inconsistently, as it struggles to finish off bosses before they escape its damage zones.
Deceiver (Monster) [Secret]	+ Has strong early-game utility by providing a strong defensive start that can stall enemy waves. + Can summon monsters that can provide support during early waves. - Scaling drops sharply during late-game content.
Horsegirls (Racers) [Secret]	+ Extremely efficient for early-game defending while farming economy. + Has fast attacks and speed buffs that keep early enemy waves under control. - Has low late-game scaling, which makes this easily replaceable.
Quetzalcoatl (Sun God) [Exclusive]	+ Has exceptional anti-air coverage that completely shuts down flying enemies. + Can apply burn effects and provide strong sustained damage over time. - Has less effectiveness on maps with limited aerial enemy presence.

D Tier - Worst Units in Anime Vanguards

Unit	Pros & Cons
Igros (Elite Knight) [Secret]	+ Has strong early physical damage, making him useful during the opening waves. - Less AoE severely limits its effectiveness in grouped wave stages. - Gets heavily outclassed once stronger shadow synergy units become available.
Astolfo (Rider of Black) [Secret]	+ Has flexible mobility that allows for repositioning during difficult situations. - Overall damage output is underwhelming compared to most DPS units. - Only useful for providing utility, which limits its overall impact.
Ice Manipulator (Admiral) [Mythic]	+ Can slow enemies effectively on large open maps through its utility. - Overall CC is weaker than most utility units. - Map dependency makes its performance inconsistent across different stages.
Company Captain (Hybrid) [Secret]	+ Provides stable physical damage throughout the early and mid game. - Lacks scaling, causing his damage to fall behind stronger late-game carries. - Provides very little utility compared to higher-tier options.
Armored Mage (Requip) [Secret]	+ Buffs self-damage anytime it shifts its location - Her overall DPS is too low to compete with other AoE carries. - There are better DPS units available.

Best Team Comps for Anime Vanguards (Update 12 Meta)

Building the right team in Anime Vanguards is just as important as owning powerful units. A balanced comp consists of 3 DPS units, 2 Utility units, and 1 Support unit, which can make clearing even the hardest runs significantly easier. So, below, we’ve provided the 5 meta team comps in Anime Vanguards update 12 that you can build.

Demon Hunter Team

Unit	Position	How to Use
Demon Hybrid (Chainsaw)	DPS	Use him as your primary carry and fully stack his meter to unlock massive burst damage against bosses and crowded waves.
Rogita (Super 4)	DPS	Place him near the final stretch of the map so he can instantly melt high-health bosses before they reach your base.
Alocard (Vampire King)	DPS	Position him in central lanes to apply bleed effects across multiple enemy groups consistently.
Gujo (Infinity)	Utility	Use his stuns and slows near chokepoints to lock enemies in place and maximize your DPS.
Ice Queen (Release)	Utility	Pair her freezes with Demon Hybrid’s burst windows to completely shut down fast-moving enemies.
Demon Leader (Control)	Support	Deploy her early to reduce costs and massively increase overall team damage scaling.

Shadow Team

Unit	Position	How to Use
Song Jinwu and Igros	DPS	The summoned shadow army can overwhelm enemies while constantly maintaining frontline pressure.
Lich King (Ruler)	DPS	Use him to create a defense line that absorbs damage while supporting your carries.
God (Above Heaven)	DPS	Save his devastating AoE abilities for large enemy waves and dangerous late-game bosses.
Divalo (Requiem)	Utility	Can slow enemy pressure during difficult waves to give your summons more time to overwhelm targets.
Skele King (Rock)	Utility	Keep him near your main carries to provide buffs while slowing enemies with freezes.
Demon Leader (Control)	Support	Boost your overall economy and increase the damage output of your frontline shadow units.

Burn and AoE Destruction Team

Unit	Position	How to Use
Diablo (Renacimiento)	DPS	Place him where enemy groups cluster together so his AoE damage can wipe entire waves.
Iscanur (Pride)	DPS	Use him against tanky enemies and bosses to apply devastating burn damage.
Renguko (Purgatory)	DPS	Position him along long straight paths to maximize his line-based burn damage.
Ice Queen (Release)	Utility	Freeze enemies in place so your burn effects can continuously stack without interruption.
Gujo (Infinity)	Utility	Control enemy movement and prevent waves from crossing your burn damage zones.
Skele King (Rock)	Support	Buff nearby DPS units while adding additional slows to keep enemies trapped inside burn areas.

Beginner-Friendly Team

Unit	Position	How to Use
Hollowseph (Pure)	DPS	Use him as a flexible carry that performs well in both early and late-game phases.
World Destroyer (Old)	DPS	Place him near crowded lanes so his shockwaves can clear weaker enemies quickly.
Student (Enraged)	DPS	Time his rage bursts carefully during boss waves to maximize his damage.
Isdead (Romantic)	Utility	Use his slows and freeze effects to stabilize difficult mid-game waves.
Agony Shinobi (Force)	Utility	Deploy him during the mid-game to provide extra AoE damage and crowd control support.
Demon Leader	Support	Reduce deployment pressure early while increasing the effectiveness of your main DPS units.

Boss Rush Team

Unit	Position	How to Use
Rogita (Super 4)	DPS	Make him your primary boss killer due to his unmatched single-target burst damage.
Savior (Rebirth)	DPS	Use his massive AoE attacks to wipe supporting enemy waves during boss fights.
Brolzi Super (Wrathful)	DPS	Invest heavily into upgrades so he can scale into a devastating late-game carry.
Gujo (Infinity)	Utility	Use his crowd control abilities to stop enemies and create damage windows for your carries.
Divalo (Requiem)	Utility	Manipulate enemy movement speed to prevent bosses from overwhelming your defense line.
Demon Leader (Control)	Support	Boost your economy and increase the overall damage ceiling of your Demon Hunter-focused team setup.

Anime Vanguards Units FAQ

Now that you know more about the Anime Vanguards tier list for units, check out the Anime Vanguards Traits Tier List. For more on the game, check out our entire Anime Vanguards hub here on PGG.

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