Anime Run Kingdom Tier List (March 2026) Best Units Ranked!
I’ve been grinding Anime Run Kingdom since launch, and let me tell you – picking the wrong units will absolutely destroy your progression. After testing every single character through raids, PvP, and endgame content, I’ve created the most comprehensive tier list that’ll save you hundreds of hours of wasted resources.
This isn’t just another generic ranking – I’ve analyzed stats, cooldowns, synergies, and real-world performance across ALL game modes. Whether you’re a beginner trying to build your first team or a veteran optimizing for solo raids, this guide has everything you need to dominate in 2026.
Anime Run Kingdom Tier List 2026 – Best Units
SSS Tier – The Absolute Meta Breakers
| Unit | Position | Type | Key Stats | Special Abilities | Why They’re Broken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeza (Full Power) | Back | Magic | ATK: 9850, HP: 7200 | Supernova (400% DMG), Rage Stacking | Easiest evolution via raids, insane DPS scaling |
| Shadow | Middle | Bomber | ATK: 9200, HP: 6800 | Ultimate Nuke (+50% DMG per cast) | Best non-evo DPS, ignores 30% DEF |
| Agua | Back | Heal | ATK: 4200, HP: 8500 | Team Heal + Crit Buff | Essential for all content, solo heal capability |
| Zura | Front | Magic/Tank | HP: 12000, DEF: 850 | Elizabeth Summon (65% DMG reduction) | Best tank in game, enables solo raids |
| Bokki | Back | Support | ATK: 5000, HP: 7000 | ATK SPD + Cooldown Reduction | Game-changing support, mandatory for endgame |
S Tier – Elite Powerhouses
| Unit | Position | Type | Key Stats | Special Abilities | Investment Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11th Kenpaki (TYBW) | Front | Charger | ATK: 8500, HP: 9000 | Bankai Mode, Low HP = More DMG | Scales incredibly with proper support |
| Zawa (Bandana) | Middle | Ambush | ATK: 8800, HP: 7500 | Stacking Crit (up to 40%), Bleed | Consistent DPS monster |
| Sesoke (Curse Mark) | Front | Charger | ATK: 8200, HP: 8500 | 2s Stun, Bonus Stats | Amazing CC + damage combo |
| Cokeku (Angel SSJ3) | Front | Charger | ATK: 8400, HP: 8800 | Spirit Bomb, 2s Daze | Short cooldowns, reliable damage |
| Byekuya (TYBW) | Back | Magic | ATK: 8900, HP: 6500 | AoE Bleed Stacking | Melts groups, scales with bleeds |
| Kiwido (Star King) | Front | Charger | ATK: 8000, HP: 9200 | Double Strike, Freeze | Battlepass evo, easier to max |
| Azuno (Stacia) | Middle | Magic | ATK: 7800, HP: 7000 | Heal Every 3rd Cast, DEF Shred | Hybrid DPS/support flexibility |
A Tier – Solid Core Units
| Unit | Position | Type | Key Stats | Special Abilities | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weguto (Majin SSJ2) | Middle | Bomber | ATK: 8100, HP: 7200 | Massive Nuke Damage | Mob clearing specialist |
| Huffy (Snake Man) | Front | Defense | HP: 11000, DEF: 780 | Starting Buffs (+25% all stats) | Pure tank alternative |
| RukiRuki (TYBW) | Middle | Magic | ATK: 7500, HP: 6800 | 50% ATK SPD Slow, Freeze | CC specialist for tough content |
| Epsolon | Front | Defense | HP: 10500, DEF: 820 | +30% DEF Passive, Bleed | Shadow Garden synergy tank |
| Freerun | Middle | Magic | ATK: 7700, HP: 6500 | Electrocute Stun (scaling duration) | Best non-evo CC unit |
| Smush | Front | Charger | ATK: 7900, HP: 9000 | 50% HP Revival Once | Self-sustaining frontliner |
| Eyehawk | Middle | Ambush | ATK: 8200, HP: 6000 | 10% Dodge, High Base ATK | Pure DPS, no frills |
B Tier – Situational Picks
| Unit | Position | Type | Key Stats | Special Abilities | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norato (Sage Mode) | Back | Range | ATK: 6800, HP: 5500 | Cooldown Reduction Over Time | Bond completion only |
| Soonade | Back | Heal | ATK: 3800, HP: 7500 | Heal + Debuff Cleanse | Budget Agua replacement |
| Broccoli Z | Front | Defense | HP: 9500, DEF: 700 | Team Shield on Skill | Early game tank option |
| Alpho | Middle | Ambush | ATK: 7000, HP: 6200 | Team Dodge Buff (+20%) | Shadow Garden teams |
| Yurr | Middle | Ambush | ATK: 7300, HP: 5800 | %HP Bleed (capped) | Was bugged, now average |
C Tier – Avoid Unless Desperate
| Unit | Position | Type | Key Stats | Special Abilities | Why They’re Low Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gone | Front | Charger | ATK: 6500, HP: 7000 | One-time Revive AoE | RNG-based damage, unreliable |
| Liveua | Middle | Ambush | ATK: 6200, HP: 5000 | 1.5s Electrify | Too squishy, weak damage |
| Redward | Front | Charger | ATK: 6000, HP: 7200 | Basic Bleed Application | No evolution, falls off hard |
| Astra | Front | Defense | HP: 8000, DEF: 650 | Status Immunity, Stacking Buffs | Underwhelming utility |
| Sword | Front | Charger | ATK: 6800, HP: 6500 | Ignores DEF, Single Target | Poor stat distribution |
| Delto | Front | Charger | ATK: 5800, HP: 6800 | Execute Damage (low HP enemies) | Worst event unit available |
Detailed Unit Analysis – Everything You Need to Know
SSS Tier Deep Dive
Breeza (Full Power) – The Raid Destroyer
I cannot stress enough how broken Full Power Breeza is right now. This evolution single-handedly changed the raid meta because of one simple fact – you can farm ALL his evolution materials from raids themselves. While other S-tier evolutions require 5-15 hours of stage grinding, Breeza’s materials drop naturally as you progress.
His Rage mechanic stacks up to +20% ATK over time, and when you hit full Rage, that Supernova ability absolutely deletes everything on screen. I’m talking 400% damage multiplier that ignores most defensive buffs. Pair him with Bokki for cooldown reduction and watch him spam nukes like there’s no tomorrow.
Pro tip: Even base Breeza is worth using while you farm his evolution. He’s that good.
Shadow – The Non-Evolution King
Here’s what makes Shadow absolutely insane – he doesn’t need an evolution to compete with maxed-out SSS units. His ultimate nuke ability gains +50% damage with each cast (capping at 400%), and he naturally ignores 30% of enemy defense. That’s not even counting his bomber-type advantages.
I’ve seen Shadow units carrying entire teams through content they have no business clearing. The fact that he’s an event unit makes him even more valuable since you’re not gambling with summons.
Build priority: Double attack gear, maximize his nuke potential.
Agua – The Mandatory Healer
Simply put – you cannot raid without Agua. She’s the only healer who can solo sustain an entire team while also providing offensive buffs through crit rate increases. Every other healer in the game feels like a budget version of what Agua does naturally.
Her healing scales incredibly well with investment, and unlike other supports, she doesn’t fall off in late game. If anything, she becomes MORE essential as content gets harder.
Team comp rule: If you don’t have Agua, you need two healers. Period.
Zura – The Immortality Tank
Zura’s Elizabeth summon is legitimately broken. 65% damage reduction for your ENTIRE TEAM is something no other tank can replicate. I’ve soloed raids with just Zura, Agua, and a decent DPS because Elizabeth makes your team practically immortal.
What’s crazy is that Zura also deals respectable damage for a tank. You’re not sacrificing offense for defense – you’re getting both.
Investment tip: Double defense/HP gear. The tankier Zura is, the longer Elizabeth stays alive.
Bokki – The Enabler
Bokki might not have flashy damage numbers, but she’s the glue that makes every team composition work. Her ATK speed buffs and cooldown reduction turn good units into broken ones. Breeza becomes a machine gun, Shadow nukes twice as often, and even mid-tier units feel S-tier with Bokki’s support.
Synergy note: Bokki + any S-tier DPS = instant endgame viability.
S Tier Breakdowns
11th Kenpaki (TYBW) – The Berserker
Kenpaki is all about risk vs reward. The lower his HP, the more damage he deals. When he hits Bankai mode at max rage, his skill damage goes through the roof. I’ve seen properly supported Kenpaki units hitting harder than some SSS tier characters.
The skill ceiling here is high though. You need to manage his HP carefully and time your heals perfectly. Not for beginners, but devastating in experienced hands.
Optimal setup: Pair with Agua for clutch heals and Bokki for faster Bankai activation.
Zawa (Bandana) – Mr. Consistent
What I love about Bandana Zawa is his reliability. Every skill use grants +10% crit rate (up to 40%), and his bleed damage is consistent across all content types. No RNG, no complicated mechanics – just pure, sustainable DPS.
His evolution is grindy but worth every minute. Once maxed, he’s your go-to for any content where you need guaranteed damage output.
Grinding tip: Farm his evolution stage during 2x events for efficiency.
Sesoke (Curse Mark) – The Stunlock Master
2-second stuns on a short cooldown with massive damage? Yes please. Curse Mark Sesoke trivializes so much content it’s almost unfair. Bosses that normally one-shot your team just stand there eating damage while stunned.
He’s a bit squishy for a front-liner, but with Zura’s protection, he becomes an absolute menace. The bonus stats at battle start help his early game presence too.
Warning: Don’t use him as your only tank. He needs support to truly shine.
Cokeku (Angel SSJ3) – The Spirit Bomb Specialist
Angel Cokeku builds up Ki over time for a devastating Spirit Bomb finisher. What makes him special is the combination of consistent damage (very short cooldowns) and burst potential. The 2-second daze on his regular skill buys time for his ultimate to charge.
He’s particularly strong in longer fights where his Spirit Bomb can be used multiple times. Raids, boss battles, survival modes – anywhere endurance matters.
Positioning tip: Keep him alive long enough for 2-3 Spirit Bombs and watch the magic happen.
Byekuya (TYBW) – The Bleed Queen
Byekuya turns the battlefield into a damage-over-time nightmare. Her AoE attacks have extremely high bleed proc rates, and the bleeds stack with each other for exponential damage growth. In mob-heavy content, she’s unmatched.
The only downside is her longer cooldowns and competition for the back row position. You might need to choose between her and other supports/healers.
Synergy pick: Pairs amazingly with other bleed units like Sesoke or Epsolon.
Kiwido (Star King) – The Accessible Evolution
Here’s the thing about Star King Kiwido – his evolution materials come from the Battle Pass at level 50. No grinding stages for hours, no RNG drops, just hit BP50 and evolve. That accessibility alone makes him S-tier for most players.
Performance-wise, he brings everything: double strikes, freezing, built-in crit rate, and solid base stats. He might not be the absolute best at anything, but he’s great at everything.
F2P note: Even without premium BP, base Kiwido is worth building.
Azuno (Stacia) – The Flex Pick
Azuno is the Swiss Army knife of units. Every third skill cast heals your team, she shreds defense by 23%, and her damage is respectable for a hybrid unit. She fills gaps in team compositions beautifully.
Where she really shines is in content where you can’t bring dedicated healers and DPS. Limited unit challenges, specific team requirements – Azuno makes impossible teams possible.
Build variety: Can be built for damage, support, or balanced depending on needs.
A Tier Analysis
Weguto (Majin SSJ2) – The Mob Deleter
When you need to clear waves of enemies fast, Majin Weguto is your guy. His nuke damage is specifically tuned for multi-target destruction. Not the best for single-target boss fights, but unmatched for farming and wave-based content.
His evolution is annoying to farm, but the payoff for mob stages is worth it. I use him specifically for event farming where speed matters more than sustained DPS.
Huffy (Snake Man) – The Traditional Tank
Snake Man Huffy does one thing really well – he doesn’t die. Starting with +25% to all stats gives him incredible early battle presence, and his shields are substantial. He’s the tank you use when you don’t have Zura yet.
The main limitation is that his buffs decrease over time, making him weaker in extended fights. Still solid, just not Zura-level broken.
RukiRuki (TYBW) – The Tempo Controller
50% attack speed reduction is no joke. RukiRuki can make hyperaggressive bosses feel like they’re moving in slow motion. Combined with her freeze mechanics, she’s the ultimate pace controller for difficult content.
The trade-off is lower personal DPS compared to pure damage units. You bring RukiRuki for utility, not for big numbers.
Epsolon – The Shadow Garden Tank
If you’re running Shadow Garden compositions, Epsolon is mandatory. Her +30% DEF passive stacks with the faction bonuses, creating an incredibly sturdy frontline. The bleed on her skills is just icing on the cake.
Without Shadow as your main DPS though, she’s just a good tank rather than a great one. Very composition-dependent.
Freerun – The Starter’s Best Friend
For players who haven’t farmed evolutions yet, Freerun is a godsend. Her electrocute stuns get longer with each cast, eventually reaching permanent lockdown territory. She bridges the gap between early and late game beautifully.
Just remember she gets outclassed by evolution units eventually. Use her to farm better units, don’t make her your endgame plan.
Smush – The Cockroach
Smush just refuses to die. That 50% HP revival gives him a second life in every battle, and his base skill damage is surprisingly high. He’s perfect for content where survival matters more than optimization.
The revival only works once though, so extended battles expose his limitations. Great for progression, less great for farming.
Eyehawk – The Simple DPS
Sometimes you just need damage without complications. Eyehawk delivers exactly that – high base attack, decent skills, 10% dodge for survivability. No setup required, no complex mechanics, just consistent damage output.
He won’t wow you with big plays, but he won’t let you down either. The definition of reliable.
B Tier Insights
Norato (Sage Mode) – The Disappointment
For how much work his evolution requires, Sage Mode Norato is shockingly mediocre. His cooldown reduction mechanic takes too long to matter, and his damage can’t compete with easier-to-obtain units. Only worth it for Team 7 bond completion.
Skip unless: You absolutely need him for a specific team synergy.
Soonade – The Budget Healer
When you’re starting out and Agua won’t drop from summons, Soonade keeps you alive. Her debuff cleanse is genuinely useful in certain fights. Just don’t invest too heavily – she’s a stepping stone, not a destination.
Broccoli Z – The Starter Tank
Free from early rewards and surprisingly tanky for a welfare unit. Broccoli Z teaches you the basics of tanking without requiring massive investment. His team shields help new players survive their first real challenges.
Replace him as soon as you get Zura or Huffy, but appreciate him while he’s useful.
Alpho – The Shadow Garden Support
That 20% dodge chance buff for the whole team is unique and potentially powerful. In a full Shadow Garden team with Shadow and Epsolon, Alpho completes the synergy triangle. Outside that specific comp? She’s pretty mediocre.
Yurr – The Fallen Star
RIP to the bug that made Yurr SSS tier for about a week. Now that she’s fixed, her %HP bleeds (which are capped) just can’t compete with real DPS units. Still usable for beginners who pull her early, but don’t chase her in summons.
C Tier – Why They Fail
Gone – The RNG Nightmare
That revival mechanic sounds cool until you realize the damage is RNG-based and often whiffs completely. Inconsistency is death in a game about optimization. His cooldowns are also painfully long for what he provides.
Liveua – The Paper Ambusher
Lowest HP in her class, mediocre damage, short stun duration – Liveua fails at everything an ambush unit should do. She dies to random AoE attacks that other units shrug off. Complete waste of resources.
Redward – The “Almost Good” Unit
Recent buffs helped, but not having an evolution in 2026 meta is a death sentence. His kit isn’t bad, just completely outclassed by units that can evolve. Classic case of power creep victim.
Astra – The Confused Tank
Status immunity sounds great until you realize most dangerous attacks aren’t status effects. His stacking buffs take too long to matter, and his damage is laughable for a hybrid unit. Doesn’t excel at anything.
Sword – The Misplaced DPS
A front-row DPS with back-row defensive stats. The DEF-ignoring mechanic can’t save him from being deleted instantly in higher content. Fundamental design flaw that no amount of gear can fix.
Delto – The Event Mistake
Honestly feels like the devs forgot to finish her kit. Execute damage that barely works, defense shred that’s too weak to matter, and stats that make even C-tier units look good. Worst event unit by far.
FAQ – Your Burning Questions Answered
What’s the best starter team composition for F2P players?
I recommend starting with Broly (free tank), Freerun (solid early DPS with CC), and Agua (if you can pull her) or Soonade as a budget healer. Add Shadow from the event shop as soon as possible, then work toward getting Zura from summons. This gives you a balanced team that can clear most early to mid-game content while you farm for better units.
Should I summon for units or save for specific banners?
Always save for rate-up banners featuring SSS or S-tier units. The general pool is too diluted with C-tier units to waste gems on regular summons. Shadow and event units provide enough DPS while you wait for Agua/Zura/Bokki rate-ups. Patient players progress faster than impulsive summoners.
How important are evolution units compared to base mythics?
Evolution units are generally 40-50% stronger than their base forms, but the grind is real. Breeza (Full Power) is the exception since his materials come from raids you’d be doing anyway. For most players, a well-built base mythic team can clear 90% of content. Only evolve units you’ll use long-term.
What’s the optimal gem spending priority?
First priority: Summon for Agua and Zura (core units you can’t replace). Second: Battle Pass if you’re willing to spend – Kiwido/Azuno evolutions are much easier than grinding. Third: Event refreshes for Shadow/Epsolon. Never spend gems on: regular banner summons, stamina refreshes, or cosmetics until you have your core team.
Which units should I prioritize for trait rerolls?
SSS and S-tier DPS units benefit most from perfect traits. Shadow, Breeza, and Zawa should be your first targets for trait tickets. Tanks and healers are less trait-dependent – focus on gear for them instead. Don’t waste trait tickets on anything below A-tier.
Is the Battle Pass worth it for progression?
Absolutely, if you can afford it. The Kiwido evolution materials at level 50 save you 10+ hours of grinding, plus you get summon tickets, gems, and trait rerolls along the way. It’s the best value purchase in the game for serious players.
How do Shadow Garden team compositions work?
Shadow Garden teams require Shadow (DPS), Epsolon (tank), and ideally Alpho (support) for full faction bonuses. The synergy provides +15% stats to all Shadow Garden units. It’s one of the strongest faction combos, especially since Shadow is already SSS-tier individually.
What’s the minimum team power for attempting raids?
Solo raids require approximately 150k team power with proper composition (Zura, Agua, Bokki + 2 DPS). For party raids, you can contribute meaningfully starting at 100k power. Focus on unit synergy over raw power – a well-built 120k team outperforms a random 180k team.
Conclusion – Your Path to Domination
Building the perfect team in Anime Run Kingdom isn’t about having every SSS-tier unit – it’s about understanding synergies and investing wisely. Start with the core trio of Zura (tank), Agua (healer), and Shadow (DPS), then expand based on your playstyle and available resources.
Remember: even C-tier units can carry you through early game, but don’t waste evolution materials on anything below A-tier. Focus on the long-term meta, be patient with summons, and always prioritize units that excel in multiple game modes.
This tier list will evolve as new units release and balance patches hit, but the fundamental strategies remain the same. Invest in versatility, build around synergies, and never underestimate the power of proper team composition over individual unit strength.
Now get out there and show everyone why your team deserves to be at the top of every leaderboard!