Picking the wrong carry in Anime Vanguards can stall a run before the first boss even spawns, and that is exactly why the SS tier earns its ranking through real performance numbers. This ranking of Anime Vanguards SS tier units compares raw damage, attack range, and ability uptime so you can spot the carry that actually clears Infinite, Raid, and Dungeon waves instead of looking impressive on paper. We have also layered in S, A, B, C, and D tier data pulled from community testing so you know which units to invest in next and which to bench entirely.
Why the SS Tier Dominates Every Game Mode
Anime Vanguards SS tier units sit at the top because they combine three things that lower ranks struggle to balance: high burst damage, reliable ability uptime, and a kit that does not collapse when the enemy roster shifts. Most SS picks clear the screen in one cast and then reset their cooldowns fast enough to repeat the cycle on the next wave, which is why top placements in the Anime Vanguards tier list almost always include two SS carries plus one support.
Core Stats That Separate SS From the Rest
The table below shows the typical ceiling values for a fully ascended SS carry compared against the average S, A, and B tier unit at the same level. Numbers reflect community-reported results from the current patch and may shift with future balance changes.
| Stat | SS Tier (avg ceiling) | S Tier (avg ceiling) | A Tier (avg ceiling) | B Tier (avg ceiling) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw DPS per wave | 95,000+ | 60,000–80,000 | 35,000–55,000 | 15,000–30,000 |
| Ability cooldown | 14–22s | 24–32s | 30–40s | 35–50s |
| Attack range | Full lane / Global | 70–85% lane | 50–65% lane | 30–45% lane |
| Uptime in 5-min run | 80–92% | 65–75% | 50–60% | 35–45% |
| Boss DPS contribution | Tier-defining | Strong | Situational | Negligible |
The spread between SS and B tier in raw DPS is roughly 3x to 6x, which is why a single SS carry can outperform a full bench of B units in any long run. The shorter cooldown column matters even more than raw damage because uptime is what turns burst into sustained pressure on Infinite waves.
How Uptime Is Calculated in Practice
Uptime is the percentage of a run where a unit is actively dealing damage or applying buffs, including animation locks, target swaps, and idle frames between enemies. Community testers use a 5-minute Infinite wave as the benchmark because it forces every carry to handle multiple enemy types, density spikes, and boss transitions. An SS carry that hits 85% uptime is dealing damage for roughly 4 minutes and 15 seconds out of every 5-minute window, while a B tier unit at 40% uptime is only contributing for 2 minutes, leaving a 3-minute gap that other units must cover or your base will collapse.
The Current SS Tier Unit Rankings
The ranking below focuses on the most recent patch and weighs performance across Infinite Mode, Raid Bosses, and the hardest Dungeon floors equally, rather than letting raw DPS from Infinite carry a unit. Each entry lists the role (DPS, Support, Hybrid), one key ability, and the exact scenario where the unit pulls ahead of its peers — for example, a S-tier unit that only wins during boss-rush Infinite waves but falls behind in Raid burst windows, compared with an SS-tier pick that stays top-three across all three modes.
Tier 1: Universal Carries
These three units are the safest first-pick options in any mode because their kits handle mixed waves, single-target boss races, and AoE clears without needing a perfect supporting bench. Picking any of them at slot 1 lets newer players skip the usual 5–10 minute reroll grind and head straight into Infinite waves, where their 16-second beam cooldown, 8-second summon uptime, and 90-degree cleave arc each patch a different weakness that lower-tier anime vanguards s tier units leave exposed during early placement.
| Rank | Unit | Role | Best Mode | Signature Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Born (Ultra Instinct) | Burst DPS / Boss killer | Infinite, Raid | One-shot screen clear on cast |
| 2 | Sage Mode Striker | Sustained AoE | Infinite, Dungeon | Highest sustained uptime |
| 3 | Buso Awakening Blade | Hybrid melee/range | Raid, Dungeon | Mixed range and target swap |
Star Born (Ultra Instinct) is the current frontrunner for the title of Anime Vanguards best damage unit because its awakening passive converts every 3rd auto attack into a global beam that ignores defense. The ability cooldown sits near the bottom of the SS bracket at 16 seconds, and the beam itself hits 120,000+ damage against a single target, which shreds Raid bosses faster than any other unit in the game.
Sage Mode Striker is the safer pick when the enemy density stays high for several minutes because its sustained damage does not depend on a single big cast. The summon from the signature ability lingers on the field for 8 seconds and ticks for 4,200 damage every 0.5 seconds, which keeps the lane clear while the carry cycles back to full energy.
Buso Awakening Blade is the hybrid option that covers both the lane and the boss when you cannot afford to swap units mid-wave. Its dash gap closer pulls it onto backline enemies, and the follow-up cleave hits every enemy in a 90-degree arc, which is enough to catch stragglers in Dungeon rooms where enemies spawn in clusters rather than straight lines.
Tier 2: Mode-Locked Carries
These units are SS-ranked but only pull their weight in one or two specific modes, which is why they are usually drafted as the third or fourth bench slot behind a Tier 1 universal carry. For instance, a Raid-focused burst carry like Domain Expansion Caster spikes only during the enrage window, so swapping it into Infinite mode wastes its cooldown stacking, while a lane-clear specialist such as Bankai Scythe cannot match the sustained single-target pressure that Tier 1 SS universals apply across every encounter. Picking a mode-locked carry too early in your draft pool also blocks the flex slot you would normally reserve for swapping into A or B tier counters when the lobby calls for niche utility instead of raw burst.
| Rank | Unit | Role | Best Mode | Signature Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Domain Expansion Caster | Boss DPS | Raid | Burst window aligns with boss enrage |
| 5 | Thunderclap Archer | Ranged AoE | Infinite | Pierces through frontline tanks |
| 6 | Bankai Scythe | Lane clear | Dungeon | Cleaves whole rooms in one spin |
For a full list of where these SS units sit relative to the rest of the roster, the Anime Vanguards unit list keeps an updated ranking that includes the recent balance passes and any newly added carries that the community has rated as SS worthy.
S Tier Units Worth Pairing With Your SS Carry
Anime Vanguards S tier units are not benchwarmers; they are the support pieces that make an SS carry truly unkillable. A typical Infinite run uses one SS carry for raw damage plus two S tier units for buffs, debuffs, or lane coverage. The right pairing often pushes your effective team DPS up by 30–45% compared to running the SS carry alone, which is why a draft that ignores the S bracket usually plateaus around wave 40 on Infinite.
| Unit | Role | Best Pairing | Buff Provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinity Buff Butler | Support | Any SS carry | +25% attack speed aura |
| Gravity Crush Tank | Tanker | Star Born | Slows enemies 35% on hit |
| Spirit Bomb Cooker | Support | Sage Mode Striker | +40% ability damage aura |
| Pierce Lance Rider | Ranged | Buso Awakening Blade | +15% crit chance for lane |
Infinity Buff Butler is the most universal S tier unit in the game because its attack speed aura stacks with every other buff source, including the standard star upgrade bonus. Pairing it with Star Born raises the beam tick rate from 4 hits per second to 5 hits per second, which translates to roughly 25,000 extra DPS per wave without any other changes.
If you want a fuller view of how these S tier units fit into team compositions, the Anime Vanguards meta tier list breaks down the exact support pairings that competitive players are running on the current ladder.
A, B, C, and D Tier Units: When to Use and When to Bench
Anime Vanguards A tier units are strong enough to clear Story content and early Infinite waves but they start falling off around wave 25 where enemy health scales past their burst window. They are also the best budget options for newer players who have not yet unlocked an SS carry, so they are worth keeping at least one or two of on your roster.
Anime Vanguards B tier units are farm-friendly picks that are best used for resource stages or as temporary fills while you grind for an SS unit. Their lower uptime means they are not reliable for boss races, but they can hold a lane long enough for a single DPS carry to do the real work.
Anime Vanguards C tier units are niche picks that only work with very specific team compositions, such as a debuff stacker that requires three other units to apply the matching elemental tag. Without the right draft, they underperform even B tier units, so they are usually benched unless the player is running a meme comp or a themed challenge.
Anime Vanguards D tier units are the ones to avoid in any progression run. They are kept mostly for collection completion or for trade value, which is why the trading market treats them as filler currency; the Anime Vanguards trading values page lists them near the bottom of any fair trade chart.
At a Glance: All Tiers Compared
| Tier | Best Use Case | Investment Priority | Trade Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS | Endgame carry | Maximum | High |
| S | Support carry | High | Medium-high |
| A | Mid-game fill / Story clear | Medium | Medium |
| B | Resource stages | Low | Low |
| C | Niche / themed comps | Skip | Filler |
| D | Collection only | Skip | Filler |
For the deeper context on which of these units scale into the late game, the Anime Vanguards tier list 1.5 adds the patch-specific carry ratings that matter if you are climbing the Infinite ladder right now.
How to Build Around Your SS Carry
Once you have picked an SS carry, the next step is building a draft that covers its weaknesses. Every SS carry has at least one blind spot, and ignoring that spot is the most common reason that top-ranked teams still leak on wave 50+ Infinite runs.
Step 1: Identify Your Carry's Weakness
Pull up the unit's ability description and look for two things: a long cast animation and a single-target lock. If the carry has both, you need a tank in front of it and an AoE support behind it. If the carry has only one of those, a single support unit is usually enough.
Step 2: Pick a Tank or Buffer as the Second Slot
Most SS drafts use a 1-1-2 layout: one carry, one tank or buffer, and two flex slots. The tank holds the lane while the carry cycles through cooldowns, and the buffer amplifies the carry's output. Avoid stacking two carries in slots 1 and 2 because they will both draw the same enemy aggro and starve each other of energy.
Step 3: Fill Flex Slots With Match-Cycle Supports
The flex slots should cycle between two units that counter the current wave's enemy type. For example, if the wave is heavy on flying enemies, swap in a ranged unit with air-targeting during the second half. If the wave shifts to armored bosses, swap in a debuffer that strips defense. Flex slots are also where you slot an S tier support like Infinity Buff Butler to keep the attack speed aura active across swaps.
Step 4: Save Your Awakening for the Final Wave
The awakening boost is strongest when the carry is already at full energy and the wave is dense, so saving it for wave 40+ is usually better than popping it on wave 10. Community data shows that awakening during a low-density wave wastes roughly 30% of the bonus damage because fewer enemies are on the field to take the hits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a unit SS tier in Anime Vanguards?
A unit earns SS ranking when its raw damage, ability cooldown, range, and uptime all sit in the top bracket of the current patch, and the kit can handle mixed waves without a perfect supporting bench. Most SS units also bring a secondary effect like a slow, a debuff, or a global beam that lower tiers cannot replicate.
Which SS unit is the best damage unit right now?
According to community data, Star Born (Ultra Instuct) currently holds the title of Anime Vanguards best damage unit because its awakening passive adds a global beam that ignores defense, and the cooldown is short enough to fire on every other wave. It tops the Infinite leaderboard and the Raid boss kill timers as of the current patch.
Are S tier units still worth investing in?
Yes, S tier units are essential because they provide the attack speed, ability damage, and crit chance auras that turn a good SS carry into a top-tier run. Most endgame drafts use one SS carry plus two S tier supports, and skipping the S bracket usually caps your team at wave 40 on Infinite.
Should I keep B or C tier units at all?
Keep one or two B tier units for resource farming and Story mode, but C tier units are not worth the bench space unless you are building a specific themed comp. D tier units are best left in the collection screen or traded away for higher-value picks.