You've spent hours grinding Gems. You finally hit that Mythic or Secret portal. Then, you head over to a Discord server or a wiki to check an Anime Adventures tier list, only to realize the unit you just maxed out is ranked "C-Tier" for Infinite Mode. It hurts. We've all been there.
But here is the thing about those rankings: they change faster than a developer update on a Friday night.
Most people treat these lists like objective truth, but Anime Adventures is a game of synergy and specific map mechanics. A unit that sits at the top of a general ranking might be completely useless if you don't have the right "buff" units to support it. If you're looking for the meta, you have to look past the letter grades.
The Meta Shift: Why Tier List Anime Adventures Rankings Fluctuate
The game moves in cycles. When a new update drops—let's say an expansion focused on a new series like Jujutsu Kaisen or Bleach—the power creep is real. Old staples that used to carry you through Story Mode suddenly feel like they're throwing wet paper towels at enemies.
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Take a look at units like Gojo (Six Eyes) or Urizu. At their peak, they weren't just "good"; they were mandatory for high-wave Infinite runs. If you didn't have them, you weren't competing on the leaderboards. Simple as that. But then, a balance patch hits. Or maybe a new unit with a better "Bleed" or "Burn" mechanic arrives. Suddenly, that "S+" unit is gathering dust in your inventory.
This isn't just about raw damage numbers. It's about Utility.
A lot of players overlook "slow" and "stun" units because their DPS (damage per second) looks pathetic on paper. If you're only looking at a tier list that ranks by damage, you're going to lose. You need units that manipulate enemy movement. Without a reliable stunner, even the highest damage dealer in the game will eventually let a fast-moving boss slip right through your defenses.
Understanding the "Secret" Tier
The real gap in any Anime Adventures tier list isn't between A and B; it's between Mythics and Secrets. Secret units are notoriously hard to get. We are talking about 0.01% drop rates or grueling quest lines. Because they are so rare, many lists overrate them simply because of their "flex" value.
Don't fall for the trap of thinking a Secret unit is always better than a high-tier Mythic.
Actually, some "Evo" (Evolved) Mythics outperform base-level Secrets in terms of cost-efficiency. If you are playing a match where money is tight, dropping a massive, expensive Secret unit might actually lose you the game because you can't afford the upgrades fast enough. You've gotta manage the economy. If you can't afford the level 7 upgrade that grants the "Full AOE" (Area of Effect), that unit is basically a paperweight for those crucial mid-game waves.
The Support Pillars
You cannot talk about rankings without mentioning Erwin or Wendy. These aren't your flashy damage dealers. They don't have giant explosions that fill the screen. But they are the reason those big hitters work.
- Erwin (Smith): His damage buff is legendary. In the community, he's often called the "King of Support." If he isn't at the top of your list, the list is wrong.
- Oshi (Idol): Economy is everything. If you aren't farming money effectively, you can't place your heavy hitters.
- Speedwagon: Similar to Oshi, he’s about the cash flow.
Honest talk: a team of six S-tier damage units will lose to a team of three A-tier damage units plus three S-tier supports every single time.
Damage Types and Elemental Weaknesses
If you're stuck on a specific stage, your Anime Adventures tier list might be failing you because it doesn't account for damage types. Some enemies have resistances. Some have shields that only break with specific hit counts.
Hybrid units—those that can hit both ground and air—are generally ranked higher for a reason. There is nothing worse than having a "God Tier" ground unit and watching a group of flying enemies waltz straight into your base because you forgot to bring an anti-air option.
We also have to talk about Bleed, Burn, and Poison.
Over-time damage (DoT) is the secret sauce for bosses with millions of health. While your main attacker hits for 50,000, a well-placed DoT effect can tick away a percentage of the boss's health every second. That's why units like Akaza or specific versions of Sasuke stay relevant far longer than their base stats suggest. They provide "Percent Health" damage, which scales. As the enemies get tougher, the units actually get better.
Common Mistakes When Following Online Rankings
People tend to get "tunnel vision" on the top three units. "If I don't have Alucard or Milim, I can't play," they say. That’s just not true.
The middle of the pack is where the most creative gameplay happens. Many "A-tier" units are incredibly viable if you pair them with the right Relics. Since the introduction of the Relic system, you can bridge the gap between a mid-tier unit and a top-tier one by boosting specific stats like Range or Attack Speed.
Also, ignore the "Shiny" hype. A Shiny unit looks cool and has a slight stat bump, but it rarely changes the fundamental ranking of the character. Don't spend all your Gems chasing a Shiny version of a B-tier unit when you could be pulling for a base-level S-tier. It's a waste of resources.
Synergy is the Unspoken Rule
You have to look for "Leader Skills." Some units give a 10% or 15% buff to every other unit of the same category (like "Magic" or "Sword User"). If you build a team around a specific Leader Skill, your "lower tier" units will actually output more damage than a disorganized pile of "S-tier" units.
It’s about the math. A 15% global buff across six units is a massive amount of hidden power that doesn't show up on a standard 1-to-1 comparison chart.
The Reality of Infinite Mode vs. Story Mode
A huge point of confusion is that a unit can be S-tier in Story Mode and F-tier in Infinite.
In Story Mode, you need speed. You need units that are cheap to place and can wipe out early waves before the enemies reach the end of the short path. In Infinite, the early waves don't matter. It's all about the "Late Game." You need units that have massive range and "Infinite Scaling" capabilities.
If you are using a Story Mode Anime Adventures tier list to try and climb the Infinite leaderboards, you're going to have a bad time. You need to categorize your units based on the task at hand.
- Story/Event Farming: Cheap, fast attackers with decent AOE.
- Infinite Mode: High-cost, massive damage, heavy slows, and percentage-based DoT.
- Raids: High single-target DPS to melt bosses quickly.
How to Build Your Own Ranking System
Stop looking for a single image to tell you how to play. Instead, look at your own roster and ask these three questions:
- Who is my Money Maker? (You need at least one, usually two for Infinite).
- Who is my Crowd Control? (Slows, freezes, or stuns).
- Who is my Boss Killer? (High single-target or DoT).
If you have those three covered, the rest of your slots can be filled with whatever "High Tier" damage units you happen to own.
The game is constantly evolving. New "Aura" mechanics or "Blessings" can flip the meta on its head in a single afternoon. Staying flexible is better than holding onto a unit just because some YouTuber said it was the best three months ago.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
Instead of blindly following the latest list, take your top five units into a testing range or a low-level Infinite map. Watch their "Placement Cost" versus their "Damage Output" at upgrade level 3. This is usually the "sweet spot" for most units.
If a unit feels clunky or takes too long to get its AOE, swap it out.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check the Update Logs: See if any of your "S-tier" units were stealth-nerfed. It happens more often than you'd think.
- Focus on Evolutions: Never judge a unit by its base form. Almost every top-tier character requires an Evolution item to actually reach its potential.
- Join the Discord: The "Theory-crafting" channels are where the actual math happens. You'll find spreadsheets there that are way more accurate than a simple letter-grade graphic.
- Prioritize Buffers: If you have Gems, spend them on getting a solid support like Erwin or Oshi before you go chasing the newest "Flashy" damage dealer. They are the backbone of every successful endgame team.
The meta will move. Your favorite unit will eventually be outclassed. But if you understand why a unit is ranked high—whether it's the hit-box, the elemental type, or the buff synergy—you'll be able to build a winning team regardless of what the current Anime Adventures tier list says.