Updated June 4, 2026: This tier list is up to date with the latest Anime Vanguards Godly Ascension Update 13! It consists of 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.
New units from Update 13 have been added across the A, B, and C tiers. The team comps section has been updated to reflect the Update 13 meta, and a note on DMCA model changes is included below. All unit information, pros & cons, as well as FAQs have been updated accordingly.
Anime Vanguards reached a new milestone with the Godly Ascension Update 13, a One Piece-themed expansion that added six new units, a rebuilt Odyssey mode, and three fresh game modes: Pirate Dynasty, Rift, and an expanded Boss Rush. 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, Rift clears, Boss Rush, and story content.
Note on DMCA model changes (Update 13): Several unit models were retired in this update following copyright complaints from anime license holders. Affected units currently display as blank squares in-game. This does not change their stats, traits, or tier placement. If you own one of the affected units, pick up a DMCA Voucher from the Gold Shop to transfer that unit's Traits and Stats to another unit of the same rarity. The developers have indicated redesigned models will arrive in a future update.
Anime Vanguards Tier List - All Units Ranked
⇓ META UNITS ⇓
Demon Leader Control
God Above Heaven
Song Jinwu and Igros
Gujo Infinity
Lich King Ruler
Rogita Super 4
Ice Queen Release
Alocard Vampire King
⇓ VERY GOOD UNITS ⇓
Demon Hybrid Chainsa
Demon Leader
Brolzi Super Wrathfu
Conqueror vs Invulne
Savior Rebirth
Shinobi Sage Friends
Skele King Rock
Diablo Renacimiento
Divalo Requiem
Teacher Final Stand
Elastic Captain (Cog 5th)
⇓ DECENT UNITS ⇓
Lord Friezo Emperor
Iscanur Pride
Pink Villain Celesti
World Destroyer Old
Hollowseph Pure
Okorun Turbo
Isdead Romantic
Agony Shinobi Force
Student Enraged
Bounty Hunter (King of Hell)
Beast Pirate (Half-Dragon)
⇓ MID UNITS ⇓
Savior Moonless
Koguro Unsealed
Renguko Purgatory
Explosive Demon Bomb
Cursed Shinobi Black
Deceiver Monster
Horsegirls Racers
Quetzalcoatl Sun God
Scrap Pirate (Metal)
⇓ WEAK UNITS ⇓
Igros Elite Knight
Ice Manipulator Admi
Company Captain Hybr
Armored Mage Requip
Astolfo Rider of Bla
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 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 an 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 in late game. + Attacks have a large range that allows 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] | + 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. |
 Elastic Captain (Cog 5th) [Vanguard] NEW | + Pirate ally damage climbs steadily as Wanted stacks accumulate, so placing him near a Repulse-heavy frontline pays off in both wave clear and boss damage. + The Cog 4th and Cog 5th swap gives you a built-in flexibility that most single-form carries lack, letting you adjust to different wave timings mid-match. - Reaching this form requires completing two separate evolution questlines, so casual players may find the investment cost difficult to justify early. |
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] | + 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. |
 Bounty Hunter (King of Hell) [Secret] NEW | + Burn and Bleed stacks compound quickly on grouped enemies, and the Wanted application on Burning targets means a well-timed rotation deals noticeably more than the raw numbers suggest. + Passive resource bonuses such as tripled Boss Bounty Mission rewards and doubled Rift Shard gains make him genuinely worth slotting in dedicated Rift runs, even if his raw combat numbers fall short of the top tier. - Outside of Rift and Boss Bounty, his economy passives do nothing, which makes him a conditional pick rather than a broadly meta one. |
 Beast Pirate (Half-Dragon) [Secret] NEW | + Obtained through Rift gameplay, making it a natural fit for players already running that mode regularly. + Holds its own against mid-game waves and benefits from the Pirate synergy buffs that Elastic Captain (Cog 5th) applies. - Rift-locked acquisition and average solo damage output keep it out of contention for general-purpose runs. |
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. |
 Scrap Pirate (Metal) [Mythic] NEW | + Completes the Pirate unit set introduced in Update 13 and provides a budget entry point into the Pirate synergy lineup. + Handles early wave pressure without requiring significant upgrade investment. - Neither its damage ceiling nor its utility justifies a roster slot once stronger Pirate or non-Pirate carries become available. |
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 13 Meta)
Building a balanced roster in Anime Vanguards matters as much as owning powerful units outright. A standard comp runs 3 DPS units, 2 Utility units, and 1 Support unit. With Update 13 introducing Pirate Dynasty and Rift as dedicated game modes alongside the expanded Boss Rush, some comps now work better in specific contexts than others. The five builds below represent the strongest general-purpose and mode-specific options in the current meta.
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
Update 13 Godly Ascension added six new units: Elastic Captain (Cog 5th), Bounty Hunter (King of Hell), Beast Pirate (Half-Dragon), Scrap Pirate (Metal), Cat God (Battlepass), and Reasonable Person (Battlepass). Elastic Captain (Cog 5th) and Bounty Hunter (King of Hell) are obtained through Evolution Quests, Beast Pirate (Half-Dragon) drops from Rift gameplay, and Cat God and Reasonable Person are tied to the new Battlepass season.
Several unit models were removed in Update 13 due to DMCA copyright complaints from anime license holders. The units still function normally with full stats and traits intact. To recover your investment, grab a DMCA Voucher from the Gold Shop, which lets you transfer that unit's Traits and Stats to another unit of the same rarity. Redesigned models are expected in a future update.
Both are new game modes added in Update 13. Pirate Dynasty is a limited event mode tied to the Elastic Captain and Bounty Hunter evolution questlines. Rift is a separate repeatable mode where players face Rift-specific bosses and earn Rift Shards used to obtain units like Beast Pirate (Half-Dragon). Bounty Hunter (King of Hell) doubles Rift Shard gains, making it especially valuable for players grinding Rift content.
Elastic Captain (Cog 5th) requires completing two separate Evolution Quests. First, summon Elastic Captain from the Special Banner (0.5% rate, pity at 400) and complete the Elastic Captain questline to reach Elastic Captain (Pirate). Then complete the Cog 5 Evolution Quest, which involves the Pirate Dynasty mode and collecting the two halves of the Sun item. The full chain also requires 5,000 Takedowns before the final evolution step.
Complete the Ichiga (Savior) Evolution Quest to obtain Savior (Moonless). Finishing the final step of the quest also rewards you with a profile banner and title.
The Level Editor lets players design and share custom maps. Talk to the Cat NPC in the lobby to access it. You can customize track layouts, apply unit restrictions, and adjust a range of settings including Mutators added in Update 13, before publishing your creation to the community.
Monarch trait is best for most DPS and support units as it provides massive buffs to summoning and damage output.
Serialization is a progression system for Shiny Gods. Shiny Gods have a 0.5% chance of becoming Serialized, adding enhancement layers on top of standard upgrades. It was introduced in Update 9.0.
Birb is the best all-around familiar for improving a unit's damage output. Some units have dedicated optimal familiars, such as Gujo's Glasses for Gujo, Sukono's Finger for Sukono, and Vampire's Seal for Alocard (Vampire King).
Unobtainable units such as Lich King (Ruler), World Destroyer, Horsegirls (Racers), and Armored Mage can no longer be summoned or earned through events. They are only accessible through the trading system, which is available to players at Level 50 and above.
Now that you know where every unit lands in the Update 13 Anime Vanguards tier list, check out the Anime Vanguards Traits Tier List to fine-tune your roster further. For codes, evolution guides, and everything else, visit our full Anime Vanguards hub here on PGG.
