Why One Tier List Is Never Enough
A single Anime Expeditions tier list is a useful starting point, but it hides the most important truth about the game: a unit that dominates Story can crumble in Raids, and a unit that carries Raids can be useless in the Time Chamber. That is why this page publishes four separate tier lists — one per major game mode — so you can stop over-investing in units that only look strong on paper.
For the ranking methodology, confidence levels, and how unranked units get promoted, see our main unit tier list guide. This page focuses on the actual placements by mode, with transparent notes on what evidence supports each rank.
How to Read These Tier Lists
Every placement below follows the same confidence system, so you know exactly how much weight to give each rank:
| Tier | Meaning | Required Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| S | Meta-defining in this mode | Verified public stats, multiple clears, patch context |
| A | Strong and reliable | Clear performance evidence across multiple runs |
| B | Usable, situational | Reliable clears of mid-tier content in this mode |
| C | Niche | Fits a specific encounter or comp requirement |
| Watchlist | Insufficient data | Name confirmed but stats or performance unverified |
If a unit is missing from a list entirely, it has not been evaluated for that mode yet. Player experience and community reports fill gaps where official data is still TBA, but every such placement is labeled accordingly.
Story Mode Tier List
Story rewards specialization, element coverage, and cost-efficient early-game clears. Predictable waves and static maps make specialists disproportionately valuable here.
| Tier | Units | Why They Fit Story |
|---|---|---|
| S | Cursed Student (True Love), 8th Sword (Berserker) | Sustained scaling damage and mimicry excel against repeating boss patterns |
| A | Elf Mage (Unleashed), Shadow (Devine), Ice Queen | Strong base kits with reliable element coverage |
| B | Greed, Stone Alchemist, Bounty Hunter | Solid mid-game performers with consistent clears |
| C | Curly Brow, Kid Assassin | Early-game filler; replaced once better options arrive |
| Watchlist | Flame Emperor | Stats unverified; awaiting damage and SPA confirmation |
Story-Specific Notes
- Element counters matter more than rarity. A Legendary with the right element outperforms a Mythic with the wrong one.
- Economy openers carry the early game. Do not skip the economy slot just because your Mythic carry hits hard at max upgrade.
- Cursed Student shines in Story specifically because wave predictability lets you stack Bleed safely into Bat Spirits. See the Cursed Student guide for the full breakdown.
Raid Mode Tier List
Raids punish role gaps. The rankings here weight utility and buff contribution more heavily than raw damage, because a buffer that enables an enrage clear is more valuable than a fourth DPS that does not.
| Tier | Units | Why They Fit Raids |
|---|---|---|
| S | Shadow (Devine), Elf Mage (Unleashed), Cursed Student (True Love) | Hybrid utility, buffs, and bleed-spirit synergy scale into Nightmare |
| A | 8th Sword (Berserker), Ice Queen, Mythic buffers | Strong role coverage for shield phases and AoE adds |
| B | Stone Alchemist, Greed | Reliable secondary DPS or economy in Hard raids |
| C | Bounty Hunter, most Epics | Niche openers; replaced on Nightmare and above |
| Watchlist | Crimson (Brother), Toy Maker | Exclusive rarity confirmed but raid performance unverified |
Raid-Specific Notes
- Buffers rank highest in raids. Player experience ranks them 10/10 for raid importance — see our raid guide for the full role breakdown.
- Shield-phase DPS is non-negotiable. Units that cannot break shields fast enough hard-gate progression regardless of total output.
- AoE cleaners earn their slot on Hard and above where healer adds spawn. Pure single-target units drop a tier in raids.
Time Chamber AFK Tier List
The Time Chamber is the passive reward system. The rankings here reward self-sufficient kits, long range, and sustained output — units that need manual ability timing or tight placement drop significantly.
| Tier | Units | Why They Fit AFK |
|---|---|---|
| S | Cursed Student (True Love), Ice Queen | Self-sufficient scaling and wide coverage over long sessions |
| A | Elf Mage (Unleashed), Greed | Reliable passive output without babysitting |
| B | Stone Alchemist, most Mythic carries | Solid but require occasional attention |
| C | Active-ability-reliant units | Drop a tier because they need manual timing |
| Watchlist | New launch units | AFK-specific performance not yet community-verified |
AFK-Specific Notes
- Self-sufficiency beats burst. A unit that works unattended for 8 hours beats one that needs ability timing every wave.
- Range matters more than peak DPS. Long reach covers waves without repositioning, which you cannot do while offline.
- Trait investment compounds. A well-rolled Legendary outperforms a poorly-rolled Mythic over long sessions.
Final Expedition Tier List
The Final Expedition is a roguelike mode with changing stages and unpredictable enemy types. Versatility and multi-element coverage dominate here — narrow specialists drop hard.
| Tier | Units | Why They Fit Expedition |
|---|---|---|
| S | Cursed Student (True Love), Shadow (Devine) | Hybrid kits and multi-element coverage handle unknown enemy types |
| A | Elf Mage (Unleashed), 8th Sword (Berserker) | Flexible damage profiles across changing stages |
| B | Ice Queen, Greed | Reliable but narrower element coverage |
| C | Single-element specialists | Drop hard because they crumble on bad matchups |
| Watchlist | Most newly released units | Expedition-specific flexibility unverified |
Expedition-Specific Notes
- Versatility is king. A unit that is great in one scenario is a liability when you cannot predict the next stage.
- Multi-element or hybrid units consistently outperform narrow specialists across a full Expedition run.
- Keep a flex slot. Adjust slot 5 based on stage reveals rather than committing to one comp for the entire roguelike.
Cross-Mode Summary: Which Units Hold Value Everywhere?
Units that appear in the S or A tier of multiple mode lists are the safest long-term investments. Based on the four lists above:
| Unit | Story | Raid | AFK | Expedition | Cross-Mode Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cursed Student (True Love) | S | S | S | S | Highest — invest first |
| Elf Mage (Unleashed) | A | S | A | A | Very high |
| Shadow (Devine) | A | S | — | S | High (modes where confirmed) |
| 8th Sword (Berserker) | S | A | — | A | High |
| Ice Queen | A | A | S | B | Solid all-rounder |
If you are deciding where to spend your next batch of gems and trait crystals, prioritize units with broad cross-mode value before narrow specialists.
Why Some High-Rarity Units Rank Lower Than Expected
A common confusion is seeing a Secret or Mythic unit rank below a Legendary. The reasoning is consistent across all four lists:
- Rarity reflects obtainment difficulty, not combat effectiveness. A well-built Epic with the right element can outperform a poorly-positioned Secret.
- Mode fit matters more than raw stats. A unit with peak single-target DPS but no AoE drops hard in raids with add waves.
- Trait scaling can override base stats. A Legendary with an optimal trait can out-damage a Mythic with a poor one.
- Synergy with your existing roster changes the effective value of any placement.
Watchlist: Units Awaiting Full Ranking
Several units appear in trusted data sources but lack the verified performance needed for definitive placement. They will be promoted as community data accumulates post-launch:
| Unit | Rarity | Reason for Watchlist Status |
|---|---|---|
| Flame Emperor | Mythic | Damage, SPA, and range stats unverified |
| Crimson (Brother) | Exclusive | Raid and AFK performance not yet tested |
| Toy Maker | Exclusive | Mode-specific performance unverified |
| Newly launched units | Varies | Standard 2–4 week evaluation window |
FAQ: Anime Expeditions Tier List by Mode
Why do you publish four separate tier lists?
Because a unit that dominates Story can be weak in Raids, and a unit that carries Raids can be useless in the Time Chamber. A single combined tier list hides these mode-specific differences and leads players to over-invest in units that only look strong in one context.
How often are these tier lists updated?
Updates follow patch releases and significant balance changes. Each update includes the date, game version, changed units, movement reasons, and confidence levels — see the main tier list guide for the full patch log policy.
Why is a Secret unit ranked below a Mythic?
Because rarity reflects obtainment difficulty, not combat effectiveness. A Mythic with the right element, optimal traits, and strong mode fit can outperform a Secret unit that is poorly positioned or lacks synergy with the encounter.
Can I trust the rankings before launch data is complete?
Treat S-tier placements as high-confidence and Watchlist placements as preliminary. Every placement is labeled with its evidence basis, so you know exactly how much weight to give each rank. Re-verify against current patch behavior before committing major resources.
What if my favorite unit is missing from a list?
Missing means not yet evaluated for that mode, not weak. Check the Watchlist — if the unit is there, it is awaiting data. If it is absent entirely, it has not been assessed yet and will be added as community testing expands.
Rankings reflect publicly available information and community testing as of July 2026. Launch balance changes can shift the meta significantly — always verify current in-game performance after each patch before committing gems or trait crystals.