Anime Vanguards Tier List (Update 8.5 – September 2025)

Anime Vanguards continues to dominate Roblox’s anime tower defense scene, and with Update 8.5 (September 2025) the meta has shifted once again.

This update introduced the new eDPS (effective DPS) system, balance tweaks, and a handful of new units, shaking up how players rank their best lineups.

If you’ve been wondering which units are worth your resources and which ones are better left in storage, this Anime Vanguards Tier List (Update 8.5) is for you. We’ve broken down every major unit into SS, S, A, B, and C tiers, with full details on rarity, role, deployment cost, and total upgrade cost.

Whether you’re grinding Story Mode, pushing waves in Infinite, or battling it out in Tournaments, this guide gives you the clarity you need.

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How This Tier List Works

We ranked units across five tiers based on overall performance after the 8.5 update:

• SS Tier – Meta-defining units. The absolute best, capable of carrying teams on their own.
• S Tier – Strong but slightly less dominant. Shine with proper support and strategy.
• A Tier – Reliable and versatile. Great fillers, but often outclassed by higher tiers.
• B Tier – Situational. Usable in niche cases, but not worth heavy investment.
• C Tier – Weak and outdated. Starter units or gimmicks with little competitive value.

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What Changed in Update 8.5

Update 8.5 was more than just a balance patch. Here are the key changes that affect rankings:

• eDPS System – Instead of rewarding units for spammy AoE damage, the new effective DPS stat favors consistent damage against high-value targets. This shift boosted some hybrid and support units while lowering the rank of pure AoE spammers.

• Unit Adjustments – Several Secrets and Exclusives received stat tuning. Some became cheaper to deploy, while others had their scaling rebalanced.

• Tournament Rule Changes – Unit bans were lifted, making flexibility more important than ever.

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SS Tier – Meta Defining Units

These are the absolute strongest picks in Anime Vanguards Update 8.5.

They not only top the eDPS charts after the September patch, but also bring unique utility like map-wide buffs, crowd control, or boss shredding that no other units can replicate.

If you pull one of these, they deserve a permanent slot in your roster.

Why They’re SS Tier

• eDPS Advantage: With the new calculation system, these units consistently land damage on high-priority targets rather than padding stats on trash mobs.

• Cost Efficiency: Even though many are expensive to max out, their impact per Yen spent is unmatched.

• Team Synergy: Most SS tier units double as both damage and support, which means fewer wasted slots in your lineup.

SS Tier Units

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Key Notes:

Song Jinwu & Igros: Still the king of Infinite mode. High cost but scales like no other when maxed. A unit that defines the late-game meta.

Yehowach Almighty: The backbone of most high-end teams. His support skills pair perfectly with SS-tier DPS units, making him irreplaceable.

The Falcon of Light: Unique because of its low entry cost. You can drop it instantly for value, and it still buffs allies while doing respectable damage.

Gujo Infinity: Crowd control is rare in this meta, but Gujo’s CC remains relevant, especially with the new eDPS rules.

The King Apostle: Not quite as overwhelming as Song Jinwu, but his mix of damage and support puts him above all S-tier choices.

The Struggler Rampage: Specializes in boss killing. Costs a lot to max out but melts high-HP enemies faster than almost anyone.

Smith John: Reliable all-rounder. Not the flashiest, but consistency and strong DPS output justify SS placement.

Arin Rumbling: Extremely expensive, but in longer runs (especially Infinite), his scaling makes him worth every Yen.

Sukono: Hybrid role gives him flexibility. Can deal damage while providing crowd control when your team needs balance.

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S Tier – Strong but Not Meta Defining

S Tier units are powerful enough to carry story chapters, contribute heavily in Infinite runs, and even compete in tournaments. They just don’t have the same game-breaking presence as SS units. In most cases, they either lack flexibility, require more investment to shine, or get outclassed when paired against the very best.

Why They’re S Tier

• High Damage but Situational: They dish out great DPS but might struggle against bosses or unique enemy types.

• Strong Team Additions: When paired with an SS unit, these can make your lineup feel complete.

• Cost vs Output Tradeoff: Some are cheaper than SS tier but plateau earlier; others are expensive without bringing utility.

S Tier Units

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Key Notes:

Conqueror vs Invulnerable: A reliable DPS with solid range and damage scaling. Doesn’t quite reach SS levels due to lack of utility, but pairs nicely with global buffers.

Goblin Killer Trapper: Great against hordes and excels at burst damage. Cheaper to max out compared to others, which makes him budget-friendly.

Hei Black Dragon: Hybrid attacker with built-in crowd control. Strong early-mid game unit, but late-game scaling keeps it just shy of SS tier.

Leo Fangs: Impressive damage potential but suffers from high total cost. If you can manage your economy, he’s a late-game monster.

Slime King: Tanky and reliable DPS, but lacks the burst speed needed to handle boss waves. Still excellent in Story mode.

GG Possessed: Pure damage powerhouse with one of the highest max DPS in the tier. Problem is the price tag—you’ll be starving your economy.

Quetzalcoatl Sun God: A unique support-DPS hybrid. Strong buffs plus respectable attack, though not enough to warrant SS placement.

Vigil Power: Flexible and efficient, but doesn’t have standout traits to compete with SS monsters.

Gear Boy Hungry: A Mythic that’s cheap to deploy and useful in early stages. Scales poorly compared to SS and top S picks.

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A Tier – Reliable but Outclassed

A Tier units are solid performers. They can carry you through Story and early Infinite, but they often lack the explosive power, utility, or scaling to keep pace with SS or S picks.

Still, they’re excellent fillers when you don’t have the top-tier roster.

A Tier Units

Key Notes:

These units work best as budget anchors when you’re missing SS/S tier picks.

Shinra Inferno and Shogun’s Wrath are straightforward carries.

Yuta adds utility with curses but lacks raw power.

Ice Queen and Titan Guard provide niche tank/CC roles but aren’t core meta.

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B Tier – Decent but Situational

B Tier units are usable, but only if you’re limited in roster. They often need trait RNG or very specific team comps to shine. Great for experimentation, but they’ll hold you back in late-game scaling.

B Tier Units

Key Notes:

• Most B Tier units are early-game fillers or story-mode helpers.

• Electric Ninja and Spirit Archer are cheap but fall off quickly.

• Samurai Blaze and Chaos Monk hit hard but scale poorly.

• Rock Golem and Wind Dancer provide stalling, but with low damage impact.

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C Tier – Not Worth the Investment

C Tier units are considered out of meta. They’re overshadowed in every role and waste precious slots. Good for collection value or casual play, but not recommended for competitive or Infinite modes.

C Tier Units

Key Notes:

• These are basically starter fodder units.
• They’re cheap, but their stats don’t scale at all.
• Most players retire them after the first few levels.

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SEE ALSO:

Anime Vanguards Codes

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Final Words

The Anime Vanguards Update 8.5 Tier List (September 2025) shows how much the meta has shifted after the eDPS system update. Units like Song Jinwu & Igros and Yehowach Almighty dominate, while budget-friendly picks like Goblin Killer Trapper and Shinra Inferno help fill gaps.

If you’re new, focus on S and A tier units while saving gems for SS-tier banners. If you’re competitive, SS-tier is mandatory, with S-tier supports to balance your roster.