Anime Vanguards How to Get Luffy: Full Gear 5 Guide

Learn how to get Luffy in Anime Vanguards with this complete Gear 5 evolution guide. Step-by-step quest walkthrough, item locations, and pro tips.

Why You Need the Elastic Captain (Cog 5th)

If you're looking for the most powerful unit in Anime Vanguards, look no further than the Elastic Captain (Cog 5th). Inspired by Monkey D. Luffy's Gear 5 transformation from One Piece, this Vanguard-rarity unit is an absolute game-changer. With insane damage output, a unique player-controlled transformation, and the ability to buff your entire team, it's no wonder players are constantly searching for Anime Vanguards how to get luffy guides.

Released as part of the Godly Ascension Update (13.0) on May 31st, 2026, this unit evolves from Elastic Captain (Pirate) through a multi-step questline. The process isn't easy, but the rewards are well worth the effort. In this guide, we'll cover every step, item requirement, and strategy you need to unlock this powerhouse.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting

Before diving into the questline, ensure you have the following:

Evolution Requirements for Elastic Captain (Pirate)

Item	Quantity
Straw Hat	1
Green Essence	30
Yellow Essence	15
Blue Essence	15
Purple Essence	15
Pink Essence	15
Red Essence	15
Rainbow Essence	3
Gold	30,000
Takedowns	5,000

Evolution Requirements for Elastic Captain (Cog 5th)

Item	Quantity
Right Half of the Sun	1
Left Half of the Sun	1
Green Essence	100
Blue Essence	50
Yellow Essence	50
Purple Essence	50
Pink Essence	50
Red Essence	50
Rainbow Essence	5
Gold	100,000

The total gold cost across both evolutions is 130,000 Gold, plus 148,400 Yen for the stat amplifier. Start farming these resources early to avoid grinding later.

Step 1: Start the Elastic Captain Vanguard Quest

Open your Special Tab and look for the Elastic Captain Vanguard Quest. The first step is simple: complete one Bounty Stage. This can be any bounty stage, so pick one you can clear quickly.

After completing the bounty stage, you'll receive a Compass Pose familiar. This item is essential for progressing, as it unlocks the next step of the quest.

Step 2: Equip the Compass Pose on Nami

The Compass Pose familiar has a passive that requires a Navigator to understand. In Anime Vanguards, Nami is the navigator unit. Equip the Compass Pose on Nami, and the next quest step will unlock: a Treasure Map.

Step 3: Obtain the Treasure Map

Head to Flower Country. One of the acts (Act 1, 2, or 3) will appear with a golden lining on the map. Select that act and play through it. The treasure map has a 10% drop chance, so you may need to repeat the stage a few times.

Act	Drop Chance	Notes
Act 1	10%	Check for golden border
Act 2	10%	Check for golden border
Act 3	10%	Check for golden border

Once you have the treasure map, inspect it. You'll see a number 2 and a number 4. This means Stage 2, Act 4.

Step 4: Buy the Item Finder and Dig for the Left Half of the Sun

Go to the Gold Shop and purchase the Item Finder. This tool is essential for locating the dig spot. Now, head to Story Map → Stage 2 (Sent Village) → Act 4 (Sosora Shell).

Once in the stage, you'll see an indicator pointing to a dig spot. Follow it and dig to receive the Left Half of the Sun. The game will display a message: "Half of the sun warms your hand, something stirs in pirate dynasty."

Step 5: Get the Drumstick from Pirate Dynasty

Now, go to Pirate Dynasty. This stage requires you to capture four points. Use a strong unit like Hill Killer to clear enemies quickly. After capturing all four points, Zoro will spawn. Defeat him using ranged attacks to stay safe.

After Zoro falls, Kaido will spawn as an unusual boss. Here's the tricky part: you need to lose to Kaido. Let him defeat you, and you'll receive a Drumstick. The game will say: "A drum begins to call from the floating island."

Step 6: The Boss Rush Stage – Timing the Drums

This is the hardest part of the quest. Head to the Boss Rush Stage. Before entering, mute your music and increase your SFX volume to 50%. You'll need to hear the drum sounds clearly.

Once in the stage, walk up the staircase to find drums. You need to press E three times in perfect sync with the drum sounds. Timing is critical — if you miss, you'll need to try again.

Action	Timing
Press E	Match the drum beat
Press E	Match the second beat
Press E	Match the third beat

When done correctly, you'll see the message: "The drums echo across the island." Zunesha (the giant elephant) will appear at the back of the map.

Step 7: Survive and Defeat Kaido

After Zunesha appears, enemies become faster and tankier. You must survive until Zunesha's cutscene ends and you transform into Gear 5 Luffy. This transformation makes you incredibly powerful.

Pro Tip: Bring Ichigo to this stage. According to player experience, Ichigo's ability to pull leaking units back and instantly max out after revival is a lifesaver. Disable unit cutscenes to avoid distractions.

Once transformed, defeat Kaido to receive the Right Half of the Sun. Congratulations — you now have both evolution items!

Final Evolution and Memoria

Return to the lobby and evolve your Elastic Captain (Pirate) into Elastic Captain (Cog 5th). The evolution consumes all essence stones and gold, but the result is worth it.

You'll also receive the He Laughed Memoria automatically upon evolving. This memoria has unique passives:

Passive	Effect
Moment of Opportunity	Deal 35% more damage to enemies on Repulse lockout
Loveable Captain	Gain meter 30% faster for 20 seconds after using meter
The Banging Drums	Inflict Repulse on enemies leaving Repulse lockout

Unit Overview and Stats

The Elastic Captain (Cog 5th) has a placement limit of 3 and costs 148,400 Yen. Its kit includes:

Sun God's Transformation: Immune to status effects; buffs damage by 50% per ability on cooldown; gives allies Joy
Sun God's Punishment: 300% damage to all enemies (360s cooldown)
Sun God's Thunder: 800% damage to highest HP enemy (360s cooldown)
Cog 4th: De-transforms back to Cog 4th (10s cooldown)

Damage Stats

Attack	Hits	Range	Max DPS
Base Attack	3	24	1,625
Arcade Rush	5	28	2,063
Lightning Pinball	7	36	5,000
Toon Gatling	7	46	8,750
Toon Brawl	7	55	11,111

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to complete the Anime Vanguards how to get luffy quest? A: Depending on your luck with treasure map drops and your skill with drum timing, the quest can take 2–4 hours. Farming essence stones adds additional time.

Q: Can I skip any steps in the evolution quest? A: No, each step is mandatory. You must complete the entire questline to obtain both halves of the sun.

Q: What if I can't find the golden act in Flower Country? A: Check all three acts. The golden border is subtle but visible. If you still can't find it, restart the game or re-equip the Compass Pose on Nami.

Q: Is Elastic Captain (Cog 5th) worth the grind? A: Absolutely. According to community reports, this unit is one of the strongest in the game, with massive damage output and unique team buffs. It's a top-tier choice for endgame content.

Final Tips

Farm essence stones before starting the quest to avoid delays
Use Ichigo for the boss rush stage — player experience confirms it's the safest strategy
Practice drum timing in a quiet environment to avoid missing beats
Check the official Anime Vanguards Wiki for updates on unit balance changes

Now that you know Anime Vanguards how to get luffy, it's time to start your journey. Good luck, and may the drums of liberation guide you to victory!