Newsman Unit Guide Anime Vanguards 7.5 (2025) Worth Your Gems?

Updated by Ankit Babal
August 6, 2025
Gaming

Update 7.5 just dropped in Anime Vanguards, and I’ve been testing the brand new Newsman unit non-stop to figure out if he’s worth your precious gems. After countless matches analyzing his unique crowd-control mechanics and burn zones, I can confidently say that Newsman is one of the most underrated units in this summer update – but there’s a catch that might make you think twice before pulling for him.

Quick Overview: Is Newsman Worth It?

Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, let me give you the bottom line: Newsman excels at crowd control and area denial but struggles against bosses. If you’re looking for a unit that can single-handedly manage waves of adds while your DPS units focus on the big targets, Newsman is your guy.

Aspect	Rating	Details
Crowd Control	10/10	50% slow for 30 seconds on non-bosses
Area Damage	8/10	Thunder cloud burn zones lasting 10 seconds
Boss Damage	3/10	No special effects on boss units
Team Synergy	9/10	Excellent with AoE and high-DPS units
Overall Value	8/10	Meta pick for wave management

How to Get Newsman in Anime Vanguards?

Summon Banner Details

Newsman is part of the Summer Update 7.5 banner pool, which means you’ll need to rely on RNG to add him to your roster. Here’s what you need to know:

Banner Type: Summer Update 7.5 Banner
Pull Method: Use summon tickets or gems
Drop Rate: Standard banner unit rate (not a Vanguard unit like Escanor)
Special Requirements: None – just roll until you get him!

Unlike some of the other new units that require specific missions or achievements, Newsman is purely gacha-based. I recommend saving up at least 5,000-10,000 gems before pulling to increase your chances.

Newsman’s Abilities Breakdown (December 2025)

1. Thunder Cloud Burn

This is Newsman’s signature ability that sets him apart from other crowd control units:

Activation: Every time Newsman attacks
Effect: Creates a thunder cloud at the impact location
Duration: Clouds persist for 10 seconds
Damage: 40% of Newsman’s damage over 6 seconds
Stack Potential: Multiple clouds can overlap for increased damage

What makes this ability incredibly powerful is the persistent area denial it creates. Even after Newsman moves on to attack other enemies, those thunder clouds continue damaging anything that passes through them.

2. Massive Slow on Non-Bosses

This is where Newsman truly shines:

Target: Non-boss enemies only
Effect: Instant 50% movement speed reduction
Duration: 30 seconds (yes, you read that right!)
Coverage: Affects every non-boss hit by Newsman

The 30-second duration on this slow is absolutely insane. Most crowd control units in Anime Vanguards offer slows lasting 3-5 seconds at best. Newsman essentially turns speedy adds into snails for half a minute with a single hit.

3. Damage Profile

Base Damage: Moderate (not a primary DPS unit)
Attack Speed: Average
Range: Good coverage area
Scaling: Benefits significantly from damage buffs due to burn calculations

Meta Uses and Strategy Guide (2025)

Wave Control Master

Newsman’s primary role is managing the endless waves of adds that accompany boss units. Place him near choke points where enemies cluster together, and watch as he creates a killing field of overlapping burn zones while slowing everything to a crawl.

Area Denial Specialist

Strategic placement is crucial with Newsman. I’ve found the most success placing him at turns or narrow passages where enemies are forced to path through his thunder clouds multiple times. This maximizes the burn damage and keeps adds in your kill zone longer.

Team Synergy Combinations

Newsman works exceptionally well with:

High-damage AoE units – They can capitalize on slowed, clustered enemies
Single-target boss killers – Newsman handles adds while they focus bosses
Buffer units – Damage buffs increase both direct damage and burn effects
Other crowd control units – Stack slows for near-immobilization

Newsman vs Other Update 7.5 Units

Let’s compare Newsman to the other new units in Update 7.5:

Unit	Specialty	Boss Effectiveness	Add Clear	Rarity
Newsman	Crowd Control	Low	Excellent	Banner
Escanor	Raw DPS	Excellent	Good	Vanguard (0.005%)
Ali	Versatile	Good	Good	Banner
Quetzalcoatl	Support	Moderate	Moderate	Banner
Hei	Damage	Good	Moderate	Banner
Vermillion	Mixed	Good	Good	Event (Free)
Jin Mori	DPS	Excellent	Good	World Lines Floor 50

Optimal Build and Placement Strategy

Best Traits for Newsman

Divine – Increases overall effectiveness
Monarch – Boosts damage for stronger burns
Reaper – Enhances crowd control duration

Stat Priority

Damage – Directly increases burn damage
Range – Larger coverage for thunder clouds
SPA (Seconds Per Attack) – More frequent cloud generation

Placement Tips

Position near entry points for maximum cloud coverage
Place before sharp turns to force enemies through burn zones
Avoid placing him as your primary boss damage dealer
Pair with at least one dedicated boss killer

Limitations and Weaknesses

No Boss Effect

The biggest limitation is that both the burn and slow effects only work on non-boss enemies. Against bosses like Escanor (Prideful Sin) or the Founding Giant, Newsman becomes a basic damage dealer with no special properties.

Resource Investment

While not as expensive as some mythic units, Newsman still requires significant investment to reach his full potential. You’ll need:

Quality traits (10-50 rerolls)
Good stats (5,000 kills for max potential)
Strategic placement knowledge

Is Newsman Meta in Update 7.5?

After extensive testing, I can confidently say YES – Newsman is absolutely meta for the current Anime Vanguards content. Here’s why:

Wave Management is Crucial – Update 7.5 stages feature heavy add spawns
Burn Zone Synergy – Works perfectly with the new Summer Event mechanics
Long Duration CC – 30-second slows are game-changing
Team Enabler – Makes other units more effective

Advanced Tips and Tricks (December 2025)

Thunder Cloud Stacking

Did you know you can create overlapping burn zones? By positioning Newsman to attack the same area repeatedly, you can stack multiple thunder clouds for exponentially increased damage. I’ve seen setups with 5-6 overlapping clouds absolutely melting waves.

Animation Canceling

Newsman’s attack animation can be canceled by selling and replacing him, allowing for rapid cloud generation in emergency situations. This technique is particularly useful during sudden rush waves.

Event Synergy

In the new Summer Survival Mode, Newsman’s area denial becomes even more valuable. The persistent burn zones help manage the increased enemy density while your team focuses on objectives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Newsman as Primary DPS – He’s support, not a carry
Poor Placement – Maximize choke point coverage
Ignoring Team Composition – He needs damage dealers
Focusing on Boss Stages – He shines in add-heavy content

Final Verdict: Should You Pull for Newsman?

Pull for Newsman if you:

Struggle with wave management
Want a versatile support unit
Enjoy strategic placement gameplay
Need better crowd control options

Skip Newsman if you:

Only care about boss damage
Prefer straightforward DPS units
Have limited gems for pulling
Already have strong crowd control options

Conclusion

Newsman might not have the flashy damage numbers of Escanor or the secret unlock prestige of Jin Mori, but he’s arguably one of the most valuable units in Update 7.5 for actual gameplay. His unique combination of persistent burn zones and extreme slow duration makes him irreplaceable for managing the increasingly difficult waves in Anime Vanguards’ end-game content.

Don’t sleep on this unit just because he doesn’t top the DPS charts. In a game where positioning and crowd control often matter more than raw damage, Newsman proves that sometimes the best offense is making sure enemies never reach your base in the first place.

Ready to revolutionize your wave clear strategy? Start pulling for Newsman now and experience the satisfaction of watching enemies crawl through your perfectly placed thunder clouds. Trust me, once you experience the power of 30-second slows and overlapping burn zones, you’ll never want to play without him again!

Looking for more Anime Vanguards guides? Check out our comprehensive tier list and active codes to maximize your gameplay experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Newsman compare to other crowd control units?

Newsman outperforms most crowd control units due to his 30-second slow duration and persistent burn zones. While units like Itachi (Susanoo) offer burst damage, Newsman provides consistent area control that lasts much longer.

Can Newsman’s burn damage critical hit?

Yes! The burn damage from thunder clouds can critical hit based on your unit’s critical chance stats. This makes critical-focused builds surprisingly effective on Newsman.

Does Newsman work in Infinite Mode?

Absolutely! Newsman excels in Infinite Mode where wave density increases dramatically. His area denial becomes more valuable as enemies cluster together in later waves.

What’s the best team composition with Newsman?

I recommend pairing Newsman with a high-DPS boss killer (like Song Jinwu or Yehowach), an AoE damage dealer (like Divalo), and a buffer unit. This creates a balanced team that handles both adds and bosses effectively.

Is Newsman better than Vermillion for crowd control?

While Vermillion is free from the event, Newsman offers superior crowd control with longer duration slows and persistent damage zones. However, Vermillion provides better overall versatility with some boss damage potential.

Can multiple Newsman units stack their effects?

Yes! Multiple Newsman units can create even more thunder clouds and apply their slows independently. However, the slow effect doesn’t stack in intensity (still 50%), only in application frequency.

Will Newsman remain meta in future updates?

Based on Anime Vanguards’ trend of increasingly complex wave patterns, crowd control units like Newsman tend to remain valuable. Unless they specifically nerf his abilities, he should stay relevant for months to come.