Update 21 brought Anime Adventures back with a Summer 2026 event, new Secret units, and Soaring enemies that only hill units can reach. Those changes reshuffled the meta, and the tier lists from guide sites and YouTube creators now disagree on which units deserve your gems.
This Anime Adventures tier list ranks units by how consistently current Update 21 rankings put them at the top, then checks each pick against the new mechanics.
You will find the full tier list, the reasoning behind every S+ unit, the best picks for each game mode, a six-slot team template, and a verdict on each new unit. If you plan to spend Robux on gamepasses or trait rerolls, a Roblox top-up from GamsGo is a cheaper way to refill your balance.
Anime Adventures Tier List for Update 21
The chart below gives the full Update 21 ranking at a glance, from S+ units you can build a team around down to B-tier fillers.
The table groups every ranked unit by tier, with damage dealers and support or control units in separate rows.
| Tier | Role | Units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S+ | Damage |
Elyssia (Abyssal) |
Illusionist (Transcended) |
Shinobi (Eternal) |
Fused Hero | |
| Support |
Snow Reaper (Final) |
Chuuni (Delusion) | ||||
| S | Damage |
Supreme Being (Sovereign) |
Violentine (Brutal Angel) |
Dark Mage (Fallen Star) |
Spider (Immolation) |
Sky God (Rumble) |
Explosion Mage (Archdemon) |
Dracula (Unholy King) | |||||
| Support |
Zombie (Risen) |
Phoenix (Mythic Flames) |
Commander |
Elfy (Sylph) |
Griffin (Reincarnation) | |
| A | Damage |
Fishi (Obsession) |
Captain (God) |
Legendary Assassin (Prime) |
Vengeful Swordsman (Sky Reaver) |
Griffin (Darkness) |
Shadow Sorcerer (Ritual) |
Ghost-kun (Bound) |
Menace (Terror) |
Berserker (Rage) |
Rudo (Prodigy) | ||
Troy Flame (Rage) |
Somber (Buzzsaw) |
Dreamer (Visionary) |
Elf Mage (Aura) |
Honey (Hive) | ||
| Support |
Word Mage (Script) |
Water Goddess (Holy) |
Switchblade (Deception) |
Operator (Room) |
JIO (Over Heaven) | |
Idol (Star) |
Bloodcry (Fallen) |
Wind Dragon | ||||
| B | Damage |
Iron Sentinel (Arsenal) |
Bubblegum (Ultimate) |
Kansai |
Endeavor (Hellflame) | |
| Support |
Armored Crusader (Noble) | |||||
Units missing from the table either sit below B tier on most current lists or have not been ranked by enough sources since Update 21 went live.
How Are the Units Ranked?
Anime Adventures tier lists rarely agree after a big patch, so this one starts from consensus instead of a single opinion. We compared five tier lists published or updated between October 30 and November 8, 2026, including one that combines the Update 21 rankings of eight YouTube creators, and placed each unit where most of those lists put it.
The factors below shaped the reasoning for each unit in this guide.
| Factor | What We Check | Why It Matters in Update 21 |
|---|---|---|
| List agreement | How many current lists put the unit in their top tier | Update 21 split opinions, so agreement filters out one-off picks |
| Evolved form | The fully evolved and upgraded version of each unit | Base forms fall well short of the ranks shown here |
| Soaring coverage | Whether the unit can hit Soaring enemies from a hill | Soaring waves ignore anything placed on the ground |
| Support value | Buffs, debuffs, and crowd control the unit adds | Summon and element buffs carry the strongest current teams |
| Cost and access | Placement cost and how hard the unit is to get | Cheap, reachable units matter most for new and returning players |
Traits are left out on purpose, because a top trait can lift almost any unit, and the traits section further down covers them separately.
Each tier follows a simple rule:
- S+: in the top tier of at least four of the five lists, so you can build a whole team around it.
- S: in the top tier of most lists that rank it, which makes it a safe investment.
- A: strong, but most lists place it one step below the top, or only one or two lists rank it so far.
- B: second or third tier on most lists, useful until you own something better for the same slot.
When lists split evenly, the unit takes the lower tier, and only brand-new Update 21 units may reach S with fewer than three lists behind them.
Who Is the Strongest Unit in Anime Adventures?
Snow Reaper (Final) is the strongest unit by community agreement, since it is the only unit all five current lists place in their top tier, while Elyssia (Abyssal) is the strongest pure damage dealer. Six units reach S+ in total, and each one below comes with its role, its weak spot and the units that bring out its best.
Elyssia (Abyssal)
Elyssia (Abyssal) is the carry most Update 21 teams are built around. Every creator who rated it in the eight-creator roundup put it at the top, and its summons deal steady damage across a wide area. Here is how it fits into a team:
 S+ | Role | Main damage dealer through summons |
| Best At | Wave clear in long stages | |
| Weak Spot | Cannot hit Soaring enemies | |
| Pairs Well With | Zombie (Risen) for summon buffs, Water Goddess (Holy) for Water damage and Soaring cover |
Elyssia comes from the Special banner's Mythic pool, and whichever team you build around it needs at least one hill unit so Soaring waves do not slip through.
Illusionist (Transcended)
Illusionist (Transcended) can win long stages almost on its own. It instantly kills weakened enemies and can stun the whole map, bosses included, which keeps it near the top of almost every current list. Here is its profile:
 S+ | Role | Magic damage dealer for hill or ground spots |
| Best At | Long stages and Infinite Mode | |
| Weak Spot | High placement and upgrade cost, so it starts slowly in short stages | |
| Pairs Well With | Chuuni (Delusion) and Elfy (Sylph), which both raise Magic damage |
Because it can stand on a hill, a fully upgraded Illusionist (Transcended) also covers Soaring waves, which few other S+ carries can do.
Shinobi (Eternal)
Shinobi (Eternal) was already a top burn dealer before Update 21, and the new Phoenix support made it stronger. Phoenix marks enemies so burn damage on them rises by 300%, and Shinobi's steady burns get the full benefit. Here is its profile:
 S+ | Role | Burn damage dealer |
| Best At | Infinite Mode and Story stages | |
| Weak Spot | Loses much of its Update 21 boost without Phoenix on the map | |
| Pairs Well With | Phoenix (Mythic Flames) and Spider (Immolation) for a full burn team |
Its evolution from Shinobi (Awakened) needs Ninja Scrolls from the Rain Village Legend Stages, so farm those before you spend gems hunting the base unit.
Fused Hero
Fused Hero is the fusion of Carrot (Ultra) and Vego (Mage II), and once unlocked it delivers some of the highest raw damage in the game. Four of the five lists still rank it at the top, even with one clear weakness in Update 21. Here is its profile:
 S+ | Role | Fusion damage dealer |
| Best At | Long Infinite runs and boss damage | |
| Weak Spot | Struggles against Soaring enemies | |
| Pairs Well With | Commander and Griffin (Reincarnation) as buffers, plus a hill unit for Soaring waves |
Since it needs two evolved units, Fused Hero is a long-term goal rather than a first target for returning players.
Snow Reaper (Final)
Snow Reaper (Final) slows and freezes enemies while dealing steady area damage, which buys time for every other unit on the map. It also costs less to field than most top-tier units, so it slots into almost any lineup. Here is its profile:
 S+ | Role | Control with sustained area damage |
| Best At | Holding dense waves and bosses in place | |
| Weak Spot | Steady rather than burst damage, so it still needs a carry beside it | |
| Pairs Well With | Carries whose damage ramps over time, such as Legendary Assassin (Prime) |
Snow Reaper (Final) drops from Dungeon chests, and during the Summer event the Dungeon key comes from the Summer Merchant.
Chuuni (Delusion)
Chuuni (Delusion) is a Magic support that stacks extra Magic damage taken on enemies. Four of the five lists rank it at the top, and it hits hardest in boss fights. Here is its profile:
 S+ | Role | Magic damage amplifier |
| Best At | Boss stages and Magic-heavy teams | |
| Weak Spot | Adds little to teams that deal mostly Physical damage | |
| Pairs Well With | Sky God (Rumble), Explosion Mage (Archdemon), and Illusionist (Transcended) |
Chuuni (Delusion) came from the Fool's Hunt event and can be traded, so a trade is the realistic way to add one now.
Which S and A Tier Units Are Worth Investing In?
S tier units are safe investments that most lists rank at the top, while A tier units are strong picks with a narrower job. The table below gives the role and the main reason behind each placement.
| Unit | Tier | Role | Why It Ranks Here | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Supreme Being (Sovereign) | S | Damage | Strong area damage and Shade summons, though expensive to build |
 | Violentine (Brutal Angel) | S | Damage | Easy to max and still strong after its Update 21 nerf |
 | Dark Mage (Fallen Star) | S | Damage (Hybrid) | Full-area damage that handles Flying and Soaring enemies from a hill |
 | Spider (Immolation) | S | Damage | Burn damage that gains a big boost from Phoenix |
 | Sky God (Rumble) | S | Damage | New Secret with high base damage that scales with Chuuni (Delusion) buffs |
 | Explosion Mage (Archdemon) | S | Damage | New Secret whose stacking buffs turn its area blasts into nukes, but it cannot hit Soaring |
 | Dracula (Unholy King) | S | Damage | Summons an army that shines in raids and long fights |
 | Zombie (Risen) | S | Support | Buffs the damage and range of every summon on the map |
 | Phoenix (Mythic Flames) | S | Support | Marks enemies for 300% more burn damage and hits Soaring from a hill |
 | Commander | S | Support | Physical damage buffer that is cheap to place |
 | Elfy (Sylph) | S | Support | Large Magic damage boost with a high placement cap |
 | Griffin (Reincarnation) | S | Support | Global damage buff that stacks with other buffers |
 | Fishi (Obsession) | A | Damage | Hits hard against high-HP targets and stuns bosses at full insanity, but is weaker against low-HP waves |
 | Captain (God) | A | Damage | Top boss killer that also covers Soaring, and the first Update 21 Artifact is built for it |
 | Legendary Assassin (Prime) | A | Damage (Ground) | Damage ramps up with sustained attacks and slows its targets |
 | Vengeful Swordsman (Sky Reaver) | A | Damage | Extra Magic damage with guaranteed crits and resistance penetration |
 | Griffin (Darkness) | A | Damage | Damage scales with yen sacrifices, which pays off in long Infinite runs |
 | Shadow Sorcerer (Ritual) | A | Damage | Strong damage alongside its Mahoraga summon |
 | Ghost-kun (Bound) | A | Damage | Multi-hit wave clear that breaks shields |
 | Menace (Terror) | A | Damage | Bonus damage and crits against bleeding enemies, plus stuns |
 | Berserker (Rage) | A | Damage | Area damage with bleed for mid and late waves |
 | Rudo (Prodigy) | A | Damage | Solid damage from the level 50 Battle Pass reward |
 | Troy Flame (Rage) | A | Damage | True damage on every fifth hit gives it quick boss burst |
 | Somber (Buzzsaw) | A | Damage (Ground) | Strong ground damage, especially with a top trait |
 | Dreamer (Visionary) | A | Damage (Hill) | High-damage hill option for Soaring waves |
 | Elf Mage (Aura) | A | Damage (Hill) | Backup hill damage for Soaring stages |
 | Honey (Hive) | A | Damage (Hill) | Beginner-friendly hill unit that covers Soaring waves |
 | Word Mage (Script) | A | Support | Steadily lowers enemy elemental resistance by up to 80 |
 | Water Goddess (Holy) | A | Support (Hill) | Boosts nearby Water damage and hits Soaring enemies |
 | Switchblade (Deception) | A | Support | Applies a permanent damage-taken debuff |
 | Operator (Room) | A | Control | Stalls waves by teleporting enemies backward |
 | JIO (Over Heaven) | A | Control | Dependable control slot for long runs |
 | Idol (Star) | A | Support | Reliable all-round damage buffer |
 | Bloodcry (Fallen) | A | Support | Big buff for Bleed units such as Menace (Terror) and Berserker (Rage) |
 | Wind Dragon | A | Support | Meta-level buffer that now shows a mark on the units it buffs |
If an A-tier unit fills a gap your team has, such as Soaring cover or a boss killer, it is often a better pickup than another S-tier carry.
When Are B-Tier Units Still Useful?
B-tier units will not carry endgame content, but a few still earn a slot while you build your roster. The table shows where each one helps.
| Unit | Role | Still Useful For | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Armored Crusader (Noble) | Control | Taunting and slowing enemies to stall a wave |
 | Iron Sentinel (Arsenal) | Damage (Hill) | Easy early answer to Flying and Soaring enemies |
 | Bubblegum (Ultimate) | Damage (Hill) | Backup Soaring coverage when no better hill unit is free |
 | Kansai | Damage (Ground) | Early ground damage while you work toward S tier carries |
 | Endeavor (Hellflame) | Damage (Ground) | Filler ground damage for Story stages |
Replace each of these as soon as you own a stronger unit for the same slot, since none of them keeps up in Infinite Mode or late Summer Hunt waves.
What Are the Best Units for Each Game Mode?
Each mode rewards something different, so the best lineup shifts with it. The table below lists what each mode rewards and the top picks for it.
| Mode | What It Rewards | Best Damage Picks | Best Supports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite Mode | Damage that keeps scaling across many waves | Illusionist (Transcended), Fused Hero, Supreme Being (Sovereign), Griffin (Darkness) | Commander, Griffin (Reincarnation), Elfy (Sylph) |
| Summer Hunt | Area damage across 50 waves with card picks and weather shifts | Explosion Mage (Archdemon), Elyssia (Abyssal) | Zombie (Risen), Chuuni (Delusion) |
| Raids and boss stages | Single-target burst and boss control | Captain (God), Fishi (Obsession), Troy Flame (Rage), Dracula (Unholy King) | Chuuni (Delusion), Snow Reaper (Final) |
| Story and Challenges | Quick, cheap clears with Soaring coverage | Violentine (Brutal Angel), Honey (Hive), Iron Sentinel (Arsenal) | Commander, Water Goddess (Holy) |
Challenges and Infinity Mansion no longer require story progress in Update 21, so returning players can jump straight into the modes that drop evolution items and free units such as Troy Flame (Rage).
Which Units Can Hit Soaring Enemies?
Soaring enemies are the biggest Update 21 change. Only Hill and Hybrid units standing on a hill can damage them, so a Hybrid unit placed on the ground cannot touch them. Regular Flying enemies changed as well: every unit can now attack them, but ground units deal 50% less damage to fliers and cannot apply crowd control to them.
The units below are the most reliable answers to Soaring waves, followed by three top picks that cannot reach them.
| Unit | Tier | Hits Soaring | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illusionist (Transcended) | S+ | Yes, on a hill | Strongest carry that can cover Soaring once upgraded |
| Dark Mage (Fallen Star) | S | Yes, on a hill | Hybrid full-area damage against Flying and Soaring |
| Phoenix (Mythic Flames) | S | Yes, on a hill | Covers Soaring while amplifying burn damage |
| Captain (God) | A | Yes | Rated good against Soaring and the best boss killer of the group |
| Water Goddess (Holy) | A | Yes, hill unit | Also buffs Water carries like Elyssia (Abyssal) |
| Honey (Hive) | A | Yes, hill unit | Good beginner pick |
| Iron Sentinel (Arsenal) | B | Yes, hill unit | Easiest early option |
| Elyssia (Abyssal) | S+ | No | Needs a hill partner |
| Fused Hero | S+ | Struggles | Needs a hill partner |
| Explosion Mage (Archdemon) | S | No | Needs a hill partner |
Run at least one unit from the top half of this table in every lineup that might face Soaring waves, and place it close to where those waves spawn.
What Is the Best Farm Unit in Anime Adventures?
Bulby is the best farm unit in Anime Adventures, and C.E.O. is the best second farmer or budget pick. Farm units give up their damage to generate yen every wave, which lets you upgrade your carries far sooner. Here is how the two compare:
| Farm Unit | What It Does | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Bulby | Deals no damage but generates yen every wave, from about 1,800 at base to 10,000 at max upgrade | Long runs such as Infinite Mode and Summer Hunt |
| C.E.O. | A second farm unit, and the strongest long-run teams use it next to Bulby | Beside Bulby, or alone until you own Bulby |
On short stages, skip farm units entirely because the extra yen arrives too late to pay for itself, and on long runs a Golden trait (+20% Farm Money) stretches that income further.
How Do You Build a Meta Team in Update 21?
Update 21 gives every player six unit slots, so a full team now has room for two damage dealers, two buffers, a control unit, and a farm or flex slot. The strongest teams in current creator videos center on Elyssia (Abyssal) for summon damage and Zombie (Risen) to buff those summons. The template below shows one way to fill each slot:
| Slot | Role | Top Pick | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Main carry | Elyssia (Abyssal) | Violentine (Brutal Angel) |
2 | Soaring cover on a hill | Dark Mage (Fallen Star) | Iron Sentinel (Arsenal) |
3 | Damage buffer | Zombie (Risen) | Commander |
4 | Element buffer | Water Goddess (Holy) | Word Mage (Script) |
5 | Control | Snow Reaper (Final) | Operator (Room) |
6 | Farm or flex | Bulby on long runs | Captain (God) on boss stages |
Swap the element buffer to match your main carry: Water Goddess (Holy) suits Water carries like Elyssia (Abyssal) and Fishi (Obsession), while Chuuni (Delusion) and Elfy (Sylph) suit Magic carries like Sky God (Rumble).
Which New Update 21 Units Are Worth Summoning?
Update 21 added three Secret units, three limited Mythics on the Summer banner, and two units you earn through the Battle Pass and Infinity Mansion. The table sums up where each one comes from and whether it deserves your resources.
| Unit | Rarity | Where to Get It | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky God (Rumble) | Secret | Sky God's Portal, a reward from summer Sky Portals; higher portal tiers raise the drop chance | Farm it for S tier Magic damage |
| Explosion Mage (Archdemon) | Secret | Explosion Mage's Portal from Summer Hunt | Farm it for S tier area damage, then add Soaring cover |
| Phoenix (Mythic Flames) | Secret | Summer banner Secret slot, which players report is Phoenix | Great if it drops, but too rare to plan around |
| Fishi (Obsession) | Mythic, limited | Summer banner, then evolve | Best of the three summer Mythics for damage |
| Water Goddess (Holy) | Mythic, limited | Summer banner, then evolve | Worth it for Water teams and Soaring cover |
| Armored Crusader (Noble) | Mythic, limited | Summer banner, then evolve | Skip unless you need a dedicated staller |
| Word Mage (Script) | Mythic | Special banner Mythic pool, then evolve with a Wordy Book and 7,500 takedowns | Strong resistance shredder for most teams |
| Rudo (Prodigy) | Battle Pass reward | Battle Pass level 50 | Worth claiming if you are leveling the pass anyway |
| Troy Flame (Rage) | Mythic | Infinity Mansion this season | Free boss burst worth collecting |
Explosion Mage (Archdemon) and Sky God (Rumble) are the best value of the update, since you earn them by playing instead of spending SummerPearls or Gems.
If you do summon, know the banner rules first. Here is how the two main banners compare:
| Summer 2026 Event | Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per Summon | 150 SummerPearls | 50 Gems |
| Mythic Rate | 0.25%, split between Fishi, Water Goddess, and Armored Crusader | 0.5% during the 2x Mythic rate-up |
| Pity | Featured Mythic within 400 summons | Featured Mythic within 400 summons |
| Secret Rate | 1 in 40,000, no pity | 1 in 400,000 |
SummerPearls come from Summer Hunt runs, with a 5% bonus for each extra party member up to 25%, and the Celestial Compass from code CELESTIALCOMPASSU21 lets you choose the next Mythic you pull from the Special banner.
Do Traits Change Where a Unit Ranks?
Traits are not part of this tier list, but a top trait can lift an A-tier unit close to S-tier. Anime Adventures has 18 traits, and the rare ones below are the ones worth rerolling for.
| Trait | Effect | Roll Chance | Best On |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unique | +300% damage, +10% range, -10% cooldown, max 1 placed | 0.1% | A carry you only place once |
| Divine | +20% damage, +20% range, -10% cooldown | 0.2% | Any main damage dealer |
| Golden | +30% damage, +10% kill money, +20% farm money | 0.15% | Farm units such as Bulby |
| Celestial | +10% damage, +10% range, 20% extra true damage per hit | 0.36% | Damage dealers that face tanky enemies |
| Reaper | +15% damage, +25% damage against bosses | 0.8% | Boss killers such as Captain (God) |
| Sniper | +25% range | 2.5% | Supports, so their buffs reach more units |
Each reroll costs a Trait Reroll Token or Star Remnants (creators report five Remnants per try on a Mythic or Secret unit), and the new trait replaces the old one, so stop as soon as you land a keeper.
Star Remnants drop from Star Golems during Starfall weather, while Reroll Tokens come from summer quests and shop bundles. The game also sells rerolls and gamepasses for Robux, and our Robux prices guide shows what each amount costs before you buy.
Conclusion
The Update 21 meta rewards complete teams more than single units. Build around one S+ carry, add a hill unit for Soaring waves, then fill the buffer slots to match your carry's element or damage type.
Rankings move quickly once creators test units after a balance patch, so revisit your lineup whenever a new update lands. If you also play other anime tower defense games on Roblox, our Anime Expeditions tier list covers that meta too.
When you need Robux for gamepasses or rerolls, a Roblox top-up on GamsGo helps your budget go further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anime Adventures Still Active in 2026?
Yes. Gomu released Update 21 on November 1, 2026, the first major content update since the Fool's Hunt update in April 2025. It added the Summer 2026 event, new Secret and Mythic units, Soaring enemies, and six unit slots for every player, and a follow-up balance patch landed within a week.
Why Do Unit Names Differ Between Tier Lists?
Anime Adventures gives each unit its own name, while many YouTubers use the anime character it is based on. Explosion Mage is often called Megumin, Captain (God) is called Usopp, and Fused Hero is called Vegito. Some sites also spell names differently, such as Elfy and Leafy for the same unit.
Is the Tier List the Same as the Value List?
No. A tier list ranks how well a unit performs in battle, while a value list ranks what it is worth in trades. Trade value depends on demand, rarity, and whether the unit can still be obtained, so a limited unit can trade far above its tier, while a strong but easy-to-get unit often trades below it.
Is Anime Adventures the Same Game as Re://Adventures?
No. Re://Adventures is a separate Roblox tower defense game built on Anime Adventures nostalgia. It reuses familiar unit names such as Commander, Bulby, and C.E.O., but its roster and balance are its own, so its tier lists and team advice do not carry over to Anime Adventures.
Should You Evolve a Unit Before Judging It?
Yes. This tier list ranks evolved, fully upgraded units, and base forms play well below those ranks. Most evolutions need Star Fruit from Challenges and 7,500 takedowns with the unit plus unit-specific items, so check the requirements before spending gems on a unit you cannot evolve yet.
Related Articles:
