Anime Vanguards Unit Tier List: The Only Rankings That Matter (July 2026)

Every tier list ranks units by "power." This one ranks them by what actually wins games: wave-clear consistency, boss DPS, placement cost efficiency, and how hard they fall off in later stages. If a unit isn't here, it's not worth your gems.

By Aion Ren · · 7 min read
Patch notes: Updated for Update 12 (June 2026). Balance changes shifted several A-tier units up. If you're reading this after August 2026, check the hub for the latest version.

What This Tier List Actually Measures

Four metrics, weighted by game mode:

  1. Wave-clear efficiency (35%): How many enemies a unit kills per placement cost. In story mode, this is everything.
  2. Boss DPS (30%): Single-target damage output. Determines whether you clear the final wave or wipe at 95%.
  3. Cost-to-value ratio (20%): Can you afford this unit in the early game, or is it a late-game luxury that leaves you broke on wave 5?
  4. Mode versatility (15%): Does the unit work in story, raids, AND infinite mode, or is it a one-trick?

S-Tier: The Meta-Definers

Build your team around these. If you have two S-tier units at max level, you can clear any story stage in the game.

UnitTypeCostWhy S-Tier
Gojo (Awakened)Hybrid AoE/Boss1,200Infinity passive nullifies damage from every third wave. Hollow Purple deletes entire lanes. The most overturned unit in the game and it's not close. If you have him, you build around him.
Sukuna (King of Curses)Boss Killer1,500Malevolent Shrine hits everything on screen. Single placement clears waves 15-25 solo in most story stages. Expensive, but the only unit that justifies its cost purely through boss damage.
Eren (Founding Titan)Wall/Tank1,000Highest HP pool by a factor of 3. Founding Titan form blocks two lanes simultaneously. Essential for infinite mode past wave 50 — without him, your defense crumbles. Not flashy. Irreplaceable.

A-Tier: The Backbone

Won't solo-carry but will never let you down. Most competitive teams run 2-3 A-tier units alongside their S-tier carries.

UnitTypeCostBest Use
Tanjiro (Sun Breathing)Hybrid DPS800Best cost-to-damage ratio in A-tier. Hinokami Kagura melts demon-type enemies. Place him mid-lane and forget.
Luffy (Gear 5) AoE Stun900Bajrang Gun stuns everything in radius for 3 seconds. Doesn't do top-tier damage, but those 3 seconds of CC are the difference between leaking 2 enemies and leaking 20.
Naruto (Baryon Mode)Speed DPS1,100Fastest attack speed in the game. Melts low-HP swarms that overwhelm slower units. Falls off against bosses — pair with Sukuna or Gojo.
Ichigo (True Bankai)Burst DPS1,300Massive burst damage with long cooldown. Perfect for raid bosses where you need one huge damage window. Mediocre in story mode — save him for raids.

B-Tier: The Budget Heroes

Use these while saving for S/A-tier units. Some are genuinely good; all are replaceable.

UnitCostVerdict
Goku (SSJ Blue)650Solid all-rounder. Kaioken doubles DPS for 10s. Gets outscaled by wave 20+ but carries early-to-mid game reliably. Good starter unit, bad endgame unit.
Deku (Full Cowling)500Cheapest competent AoE. Place two on opposite lanes for early wave coverage. Falls off a cliff after wave 15. Replace ASAP.
Levi (Ackerman)550Spins in a circle hitting everything. Decent wave clear, zero boss damage. The definition of "fine."

C-Tier & Below: Don't Waste Your Gems

  • Kirito (Dual Wield): High single-target DPS but dies in two hits. You'll spend more money replacing him than he earns.
  • Sakura (Byakugou): Healer. Sounds useful. Isn't. In a game where enemies either die fast or overwhelm you, healing doesn't solve either problem.
  • Asta (Anti-Magic): Debuffer. Again: sounds useful. The debuff reduces enemy defense by 10%. Eren (Founding Titan) blocks the lane entirely. See the problem?

Quick Team Template: The 1-2-3 Formula

For any game mode, build your team like this:

  • 1 S-tier carry (Gojo or Sukuna) — your win condition
  • 2 A-tier supports (Tanjiro + Luffy is the budget meta) — wave clear + crowd control
  • 3 flexible slots — farm units (early), second DPS (mid), Eren (late/infinite)

This template clears every story stage through Update 12. Raids need adjustments (more burst DPS, drop the farm units). Infinite mode needs Eren and as much AoE CC as you can afford.

FAQ

Is Gojo still worth it after the Update 12 nerf?

Yes. The nerf reduced Infinity's uptime from 50% to 33% — noticeable but not crippling. He went from "absolutely broken" to "still the best unit in the game." If you have him, use him.

What's the best unit for a F2P player?

Tanjiro (Sun Breathing). 800 cost, top-tier wave clear, and his evolution materials drop from story stages you'll farm anyway. Max him first.

Should I pull for the new banner unit?

Depends on the unit. Check back here — we update this tier list within 48 hours of every new unit release.