Why Your First Pulls Matter in Anime Expeditions
Starting out in a new tower defense RPG can feel overwhelming, especially when banners, currencies, and tier lists hit you all at once. Finding the anime expeditions best starter strategy early saves you hours of wasted gems and regrettable investments. Your first units determine how smoothly Acts 1 and 2 play out, and understanding which units to prioritize gives you a serious edge before you even touch endgame content.
According to community reports from Early Access players, the game rewards informed decision-making from the moment you load in. Between the Beginner Banner and Standard Banner, knowing where to spend your resources makes all the difference. This guide breaks down the anime expeditions best starter picks, reroll tactics, trait optimization, and resource farming so you can progress efficiently.
Beginner Banner Tier List: Top Starter Units
Every new account starts with access to a discounted Beginner Banner featuring a curated pool of units at boosted rates. Player experience indicates this banner offers a limited number of discounted multi-pulls, so you need to make them count.
Here’s how the standout Beginner Banner units rank based on early game performance:
| Rank | Unit | Role | Why They’re Worth Keeping |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirit Archer | Range DPS | Safe, consistent damage with low upgrade cost—ideal for clearing Story stars |
| 2 | Blade Apprentice | Melee DPS | Excellent cleave damage handles swarm-heavy maps in Act 1 |
| 3 | Iron Guard | Tank | Great for stalling leaks while you learn unit placement mechanics |
| 4 | Storm Caller | AoE Magic | Solid area damage for challenge mode previews |
When to Stop Rerolling
The reroll strategy is straightforward but important. Community data suggests you should only reroll if you’re missing an S-tier Legendary and still have cheap or free pulls available.
- Stop rerolling once you pull Spirit Archer or Blade Apprentice
- Do not drain gems on repeated attempts—costs reportedly rise on subsequent pulls
- Push Story mode immediately after securing a top-tier Legendary to start farming Yen
Standard Banner Mythics: What to Target Next
Once your Beginner Banner runs dry, shift focus to the Standard Banner where the game’s most powerful units live. Based on player experience and current meta observations, here are the top Mythic and Secret units worth chasing:
| Tier | Unit | Type | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| S+ | Megumi (Secret) | Banner Secret | Best overall unit in the game—worth dumping every resource into |
| S | Meumia | Mythic DPS | Consistently ranks as the top Mythic pick |
| S | Kimpachi | Mythic DPS | High-tier damage dealer for mid-to-late progression |
| A | Gowther | Mythic DPS/Rewind | The best starter Mythic—strong damage plus rewind utility |
| A | Cursed Student | Mythic | DoT specialist with the optimal Draconic trait (5% roll chance) |
| A | Uta | Mythic Copy/Bleed | Copies attacks from the nearest unit and applies bleed stacks |
| B | Toy Maker | Mythic Summon | Summons adds from the back line—decent but situational |
Gowther stands out as the anime expeditions best starter Mythic because he combines strong DPS output with a rewind mechanic that proves invaluable across Story mode, Challenges, and even early Raid content.
Banner Pity System Explained
| Banner | Pity Threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (Mythic) | ~50 pulls | Guaranteed Mythic at pity |
| Secret (Megumi) | ~400K–500K gems | Reachable within the first week with efficient farming |
Players report that Megumi’s pity sits around 400,000 to 500,000 gems, which sounds steep but is achievable through consistent daily farming within your first week of play.
Building Your Day-One Team
Structuring your first squad correctly sets the foundation for smooth progression through Story and Challenges.
| Slot | Role | Recommended Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary DPS | Spirit Archer or Blade Apprentice |
| 2 | Tank / Secondary DPS | Iron Guard or Storm Caller |
| 3 | Utility / filler | Free tutorial Rare—replace when first Epic arrives |
| 4 | Flex (Act 2+) | Add when dual-lane maps appear |
Pro tip: Do not invest heavily in joke Rares like Training Dummy or Comic Relief variants. They don’t scale past Act 1 wave density. Use them for collection purposes only and funnel your resources into Legendaries and Mythics.
Traits, Equipment, and Evolution Systems
Optimal Trait Rolls
Getting the right trait on your unit dramatically affects performance. Here’s what to aim for:
| Unit | Best Trait | Drop Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursed Student | Draconic | ~5% | Enhances DoT damage |
| Elf Mage | Forsaken | Moderate | Boosts crit and follow-up attacks |
| Most top Mythics | Primordial 0.1% | 0.1% | The gold standard for optimal builds |
| Ichigo | Forsaken | Moderate | Decent follow-up unit but not top tier |
Avoid rolling on support units like Salmon or low-tier picks such as String and Lady Giant—they simply don’t justify the trait investment.
Unit Equipment and Relics
Each unit has a signature equipment piece that grants an additional passive or enhances an existing one. Community findings show these can provide 10–20% damage buffs when equipped alongside standard gear like Kunai.
| Equipment | Unit | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Calamity’s Eye | Gowther | Adds bonus passive damage |
| Promise Ring | Uta | Extra bleed plus two additional spirit summons |
| Megumi’s Equipment | Megumi | Crafted from gray sprites—significant power boost |
Important: Units must be evolved before you can equip their signature gear. Plan your evolution materials accordingly.
Evolution System Breakdown
| Resource | Daily Acquisition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sprites (per challenge) | 2 per run × 10 runs = 20/day | Challenge mode |
| Gray Sprites (shop) | 25 per 24-hour restock | Trade Crystal Shop |
| Evolution Items | 1 per unit per day | Unit-specific quest trials |
Each unit requires 20 sprites to evolve, and since you can earn 20 per day through Challenges, you can reliably evolve one unit daily if you stay consistent.
Resource Farming Guide
How to Farm Rerolls
Rerolls are critical for optimizing your units. Players report collecting over 200 rerolls entirely free-to-play within the first few days.
| Source | Reroll Yield | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Story Hard Mode (3-star clears) | 3 per stage × ~30 stages ≈ 90+ | One-time per stage |
| Daily Challenges | Up to 30/day | Resets every 30 minutes, 10-run cap |
| Weekly Challenge | 50 per week | Weekly reset |
| Infinite Mode (50-wave clear) | 5 per milestone | Repeatable |
| Level Milestones (up to 250) | ~200–300 total | One-time progression |
| Trade Crystal Shop | 25/day | 24-hour restock |
| Event Shops (Headliner, Seb’s) | Varies | Time-limited events |
| Beginner Quests | 10 per completion | One-time |
| Raid Shops | 50 per raid | Limited (may not reset) |
| Battle Pass (free tier) | Moderate | Seasonal |
| Index Collections | Per unit/boss added | One-time |
How to Farm Gems
| Method | Gem Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AFK Story Mode | ~100 per run | Best passive method currently known |
| Story Stage Completion | 400 per stage | One-time reward per stage |
| Index Claims | 250+ per milestone | Claim as you collect units and enemies |
While the community hasn’t pinpointed a single optimal gem farming method yet, running AFK Story modes on repeat remains the most reliable approach for steady gem income.
Units to Avoid Investing In
Not every unit deserves your resources. Based on early access testing:
- Training Dummy — joke Rare, doesn’t scale past Act 1
- Comic Relief variants — entertaining animations, bottom-tier DPS
- Salmon — support slow unit, not worth trait rerolls
- String and Lady Giant — underperform in nearly every mode
- Banner Epics (unless stepping stones) — don’t trait-reroll Epics unless you have surplus event materials
Sell duplicate materials into evolution resources for your first Mythic rather than maxing every Legendary you pull.
FAQ
What is the anime expeditions best starter unit from the Beginner Banner?
Spirit Archer ranks as the top pick due to its safe range DPS and low upgrade cost, making it ideal for clearing Story star missions. Blade Apprentice is a strong alternative for players who prefer melee cleave strategies.
Should I reroll my account on the Beginner Banner?
Only reroll while cheap or free pulls remain available and you lack an S-tier Legendary. Once you secure Spirit Archer or Blade Apprentice, stop rerolling and focus on Story progression to build your gem reserves for Standard Banner Mythic pulls.
How many units do I need for early Story content?
Three solid units will carry you through the early acts. A fourth unit becomes necessary in Act 2 when maps introduce dual-lane splits that require split coverage.
Which Mythic should I target first from the Standard Banner?
Gowther is widely considered the anime expeditions best starter Mythic thanks to his combined DPS and rewind utility. Cursed Student is another excellent pick, particularly if you can roll the Draconic trait for enhanced DoT performance.