Anime Vanguards Best Units: Top 6 Must-Have Picks (Update 13.5)

With the release of Update 13.5, the meta in Anime Vanguards has been completely shaken up. New Vanguard Familiars and balance changes have elevated some units from good to absolutely game-breaking. Whether you're grinding Legend Stages or pushing through the new infinite game mode, knowing which units to prioritize is essential. We've analyzed the latest patch notes and community tests to bring you a definitive ranking of the Anime Vanguards best units you need right now.

This guide goes beyond a simple tier list. We'll break down each top-tier unit, explain why their new Familiars make them so powerful, and give you the optimal setups to maximize their potential. From the king of crowd control to a literal god of damage, here are the must-have units for your roster.

The Ultimate Anime Vanguards Tier List for Update 13.5

The competitive landscape has shifted. While raw damage is always important, utility and synergy are now king. The introduction of new Familiars has turned several units into absolute powerhouses. Below is our ranking of the top six units you should target.

1. Sukuna (Gojo Versuna): The Undisputed Damage King

It should come as no surprise that Sukuna, the Gojo Versuna unit, sits at the top of our list. According to player experience, this unit is in a league of its own. In testing, a maxed-out Sukuna effortlessly deletes enemies with health pools in the billions. We're talking about a boss with 2.6 billion HP getting destroyed in seconds with the right support.

• Why He's Broken: His base damage output is so astronomically high that he redefines what's possible. Content that was once considered difficult becomes trivial.
• Optimal Setup: This unit absolutely requires the Monarch trait to reach its full potential. Pair him with a Devoted Demon for a damage buff and a support like Alocard for slow.
• Synergy: Unlike other units, Sukuna doesn't need complicated setups. He is the setup. Just place him, buff him, and watch the map clear itself.

If you only invest in one unit for raw power, make it Sukuna. He is the current pinnacle of the Anime Vanguards best units.

2. Esconor (Pride): The Autoplay Demon

Esconor is the definition of efficiency. His main purpose is to be placed alone and serve as an "autoplay demon," capable of clearing a vast majority of the game's stages without any support. This makes him invaluable for farming and grinding materials.

• Why He's a Must-Have: For the majority of stages, Esconor is more than enough. He saves you time and effort, allowing you to farm resources while you focus on other tasks.
• Optimal Setup: Like Sukuna, the Monarch trait is highly recommended for Esconor. His Familiar is also a priority, as it significantly boosts his solo capabilities.
• Countering Shields: A common concern is shielded enemies. The community suggests pairing Esconor with a unit like Moira or using a "Doctor 4" setup, which allows him to bypass shields entirely.

Esconor’s value lies in his reliability and efficiency. He's not just a strong unit; he's a quality-of-life upgrade for any player.

3. Fon: The Map-Wide Nuke (Limited)

Fon is a limited-time unit that offers a completely unique playstyle. His power comes from stacking "Flame Stacks," which are gained every time he is buffed. Once he reaches 12 stacks, he can unleash a devastating map-wide nuke that deals 10% of an enemy's HP as damage.

• How to Use Him: The key to Fon is "gigabuffing" him. You want as many buffs as possible applied to him as quickly as possible. Units like Armored Mage are fantastic for this purpose.
• Damage Potential: According to player reports, a perfectly optimized Fon can hit nukes for over 150 million damage. This makes him one of the best units for clearing waves of tough enemies or chunking down bosses.
• Optimal Setup: The Monarch trait is mandatory for Fon. His Familiar is also crucial, as it simplifies his stacking mechanic, allowing him to gain stacks without losing range.

Fon is a high-skill, high-reward unit. If you can master his buff-stacking mechanic, he will become your go-to solution for the hardest content in the game.

4. Raging Oni (Akuma): The Focused Destroyer

Raging Oni is the premier single-target damage dealer. His unique mechanic, "Focus," allows him to build up a meter and then unleash a massively empowered attack. This is amplified even further by his optimal Familiar.

• Key Mechanic: The "X Focus" ability consumes 100% of his focus meter to make his next attack deal significantly more damage (reports suggest up to 300% more). After using it, he gains a massive crit rate buff.
• Optimal Familiar: The Black Spirit is essential for Raging Oni. This Familiar allows him to generate focus at an incredible rate, letting him spam his empowered attacks.
• Optimal Trait: While the Monarch trait is ideal, the community notes that Raging Oni can function well with a good trait like Solar. However, for maximum damage output, Monarch is the goal.

Raging Oni is your go-to unit for taking down bosses with massive health pools. He may not clear entire maps, but nothing can match his single-target damage.

5. Merleiona: Infinite Scaling for Endless Modes

Merleiona is a fantastic pick for the new infinite game mode. Her power comes from a passive that allows her to stack damage infinitely as long as there are enemies in her range.

• How Her Familiar Changed Her: Her new Vanguard Familiar is a game-changer. Previously, you had to toggle an ability on and off to manage her range, which was clunky and inefficient. Now, she can stack damage infinitely without any drawbacks.
• Best Use Case: She excels in any mode with a constant stream of enemies, particularly the new infinite game mode. The longer the match goes on, the stronger she becomes.
• Optimal Setup: She doesn't have a dedicated Memoria yet, so you can use a placeholder like the Yamamoto Memoria. The Monarch trait is recommended to boost her base stats and damage.

Merleiona is a fantastic investment for players who enjoy long, challenging game modes. Her infinite scaling makes her a ticking time bomb of damage.

6. Newsman (Forecast): The Ultimate Support

Newsman is the only support unit on this list, and for good reason. He is a traitless unit that provides unparalleled crowd control, making him a valuable asset to any team.

• His Core Ability: Newsman slows non-boss enemies by 50% for 30 seconds with every attack. This effectively turns them into snails, giving your DPS units plenty of time to eliminate them.
• His Vanguard Familiar: This is what makes him a must-have. His Familiar allows his slow to also affect bosses. Furthermore, it adds a "Bubbled" effect that inflicts a 10% burn and can be applied alongside other damage amps.
• Optimal Setup: The best part about Newsman is that he doesn't require the Monarch trait to be effective. A simple trait like Solar will work perfectly fine, as his value comes from his utility, not his damage.

Newsman is the glue that holds a team together. He provides safety and consistency, allowing your heavy hitters to do their job without being overwhelmed.

Build Comparison Table

To help you decide where to invest your resources, here is a quick comparison of the top three units' optimal builds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the single best unit in Anime Vanguards? A: Currently, Sukuna (Gojo Versuna) is widely considered the best unit in the game due to his unparalleled damage output, capable of deleting enemies with billions of HP. He is the top of the Anime Vanguards best units list.

Q: Is the Monarch trait essential for every top-tier unit? A: While highly recommended for DPS units like Sukuna, Esconor, and Fon, it is not essential for support units like Newsman. For him, any good trait like Solar will work, as his primary value is his crowd control.

Q: How do I get the Vanguard Familiars for these units? A: Vanguard Familiars are typically obtained through specific events, limited-time summons, or end-game content associated with the update. Check the official Anime Vanguards Roblox game page for current events.

Q: Is Fon worth investing in even though he is a limited unit? A: Absolutely. Fon is a limited-time unit with a unique map-wide nuke mechanic that can deal over 150 million damage. If you have the chance to obtain him, he is a top-tier investment that will carry you through the hardest content.