Before Update 1.0, the five units to prioritize are Shadow (Divine), 8th Sword (Berserk), Dark Mage, Elf Mage, and Puppet, with Cursed Student, Itachi, Toy Maker, and Razor Jaw as the best backup projects.
Anime Expeditions is still in the Update 0.5 meta, so this prep list is about flexible power more than chasing every new limited unit. The next update is expected to bring a new game mode and possibly raid-style content, which makes carry damage, AoE coverage, slows, debuffs, and shield answers the safest things to build now.
- Ranked pre-Update 1.0 unit priorities
- Shadow (Divine) is the first unit to finish
- 8th Sword (Berserk) is the AoE carry to stack next
- Dark Mage should use the lightning-form damage setup
- Elf Mage covers the storm mage slot
- Puppet adds Puppet’s Mark damage support
- Backup units to build after the top five
- Trait and stat prep before Update 1.0
Ranked pre-Update 1.0 unit priorities
| Rank | Unit/build focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow (Divine) as the best all-around carry/support project |
| 2 | 8th Sword (Berserk) for full AoE, follow-ups, and slow |
| 3 | Dark Mage in lightning form for maximum damage |
| 4 | Elf Mage for storm mage coverage |
| 5 | Puppet for placement damage and Puppet’s Mark |
This order is built for pre-Update 1.0 prep, not just the easiest units to use today. Prioritize units that can carry across modes, scale with better traits, or add utility that still matters if the next update shifts the damage meta.
Shadow (Divine) is the first unit to finish
Shadow (Divine), also known as Megumi, is the safest first priority because he does not rely on one narrow matchup to be useful. He brings strong damage, Mahoraka spirit summon value, stun, and bleed, which gives him a role whether the next update leans into waves, bosses, raids, or mixed enemy types.
The best reason to build him before Update 1.0 is flexibility. Secret units like Shadow are the kind of accounts-wide investment that can survive a patch better than a lightly built limited unit, especially when new content asks for both damage and control.
Do not spread your best rerolls too thin before he is ready. Get Shadow (Divine) built first, then decide how hard to chase the more specialized projects below.
8th Sword (Berserk) is the AoE carry to stack next
8th Sword (Berserk) should be your second major build because he covers the cleanest damage profile on this list: full AoE, area damage, and follow-up attacks. That makes him a strong carry when a mode throws dense waves at you instead of only one high-health target.
His biggest utility bonus is the permanent 15% slow. A slow that stays active adds value even when raw DPS is not enough, because it gives the rest of your lineup more time to finish enemies before leaks become a problem.
For investment, keep the focus broad and efficient: attack and crit are the natural places to push him first. He is one of the units worth real trait and stat attention instead of leftover gear.
Dark Mage should use the lightning-form damage setup
| Slot | Setup |
|---|---|
| Unit state | Maxed Dark Mage |
| Attack setting | None |
| Form | Lightning form, not ice form |
| Weapon | Normal scepter |
| Items | Magic Book plus three Swords from Hell |
Dark Mage gets the most specific build treatment because his damage setup is clear: max him, set his attack to none, and use lightning form instead of ice form. Built this way, he is one of the highest-damage options available in the current pre-1.0 setup.
KEY!
This is the build to copy if you want Dark Mage as a pure damage project before Update 1.0. The important part is not just the item stack, but the combination of attack set to none and lightning form, since swapping into ice form changes what this setup is trying to do.
Finish Shadow and 8th Sword before over-investing in every limited unit; their Secret-unit scaling and flexible kits are more likely to stay useful when Update 1.0 changes the mode priorities.
Elf Mage covers the storm mage slot
Elf Mage is the storm mage slot to prepare if your team still needs strong magical AoE coverage. She fits especially well when your account already has top carries and just needs another high-value damage type for future mode variety.
She is not as mandatory as Shadow, 8th Sword, or Dark Mage, because Update 1.0 may introduce a stronger storm unit. That does not make her weak; it just means she is the easiest top-five slot to replace if the new update directly upgrades this role.
Unbound is nice here, but it is not required if you can run her with Forsaken. Build her when your core carries are already stable, or when storm coverage is the missing piece in your lineup.
Puppet adds Puppet’s Mark damage support
Puppet rounds out the top five because the unit brings more than raw damage.
The bigger reason Puppet belongs here is Puppet’s Mark. Enemies affected by it take 20% more damage, which turns Puppet into a team damage amplifier rather than just another DPS slot.
That makes Puppet a strong flex pick for Update 1.0 prep. If the new content has bulkier enemies, boss waves, or raid-style targets, a damage-taken debuff can make your best carries hit noticeably harder.
Backup units to build after the top five
| Unit | Use |
|---|---|
| Itachi | Shreds shields with Black Fire, making him useful if Update 1.0 adds shield-heavy enemies. |
| Cursed Student | Scales through AoE-copy play and can run Forsaken, though Unbound changes the build path. |
| Toy Maker | Removes leaks, but is mainly an Unbound project if you have trait rolls to spend. |
| Razor Jaw | Brings crit, follow-ups, stagger, Shinigami Sword, and either Swords from Hell or Enhanced Katana. |
Once the main five are handled, the next projects should cover problems your team might still struggle with: shields, leaks, copy-scaling, crit follow-ups, and stagger. These units are worth building next, but they should not steal your best rerolls before the core carries are ready.
Cursed Student is the biggest honorable-mention debate. Long-term Mythic rankings favor him heavily because copying other units’ AoE can scale well with stronger teams, but for this specific pre-Update 1.0 list, Dark Mage gets the top-five slot because his lightning-form damage setup is more concrete right now.
Trait and stat prep before Update 1.0
You do not need perfect rolls on every slot before the update lands. Epic stats are workable, and builds in Anime Expeditions can be mixed by mode, enemy type, and the specific job a unit needs to fill.
Spend hardest on the units most likely to stay relevant across new content: Shadow (Divine), 8th Sword (Berserk), and the Dark Mage lightning setup. After that, round out coverage with Elf Mage, Puppet, and the honorable mentions your account is missing.
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