Update 12 in Anime Vanguards quietly added a mix of grindable units, banner pulls, and a slightly hidden unlock method that a lot of players are still missing. If you’re trying to collect everything without wasting time, here’s a clear breakdown of what actually matters and what you should prioritize first.
New Banner Units (K Shinobi & Mato)
Let’s start with the obvious part — the banner.
Two new units are tied to summons:
- K Shinobi
- Mato
You’ll find them in the summon tab, and there’s nothing tricky here. It’s pure RNG. If you’ve played before, you already know the drill:
- Use your gems
- Roll the banner
- Hope your luck isn’t terrible
One thing worth mentioning: these units are strong, but not mandatory for progression. Don’t burn everything if you’re saving for future updates.
Legend Stage Unit: Pain (4% Drop)
This is where things get interesting.
A new Legend Stage has been added, and it drops:
- Pain (4% drop rate)
Now, 4% might sound painful (and it is), but the stage itself is surprisingly easy if you approach it correctly.
Simple Farming Strategy That Actually Works
You don’t need a full meta team. Just:
- Bring 2 strong DPS units
- Add 1 farm unit
That’s it.
Placement tip:
- Place one unit near each lane
- Focus on areas where enemies teleport (this is important — missing this slows your run)
Once setup is done:
- Farm early
- Upgrade quickly
- Use transformations (like Kuruma-type abilities if you have them)
- Skip waves aggressively when possible
Runs are fast, which makes grinding Pain way less frustrating than it should be.
Battle Pass Units
Update 12 also includes 2 Battle Pass units.
There’s no trick here:
- Play the game
- Earn EXP
- Unlock tiers
If you’re active, you’ll get them naturally. No need to grind anything specific.
Secret Unlock: New Naruto Unit
This is the part most players get confused about.
Yes — there’s a new Naruto unit, and no, you don’t get it from banners.
Here’s how you actually unlock it:
- Go to the new story area
- Find the Hokage building
- Climb to the top
- Talk to Naruto
But before that, you must have:
- Naruto (Six Tails) in your inventory
Important detail:
- You do NOT equip him
- You just need him in your inventory
Once you interact:
- The game will take your Six Tails Naruto
- You’ll receive the new Naruto unit
This is more of an evolution-style unlock rather than a drop.
Memoirs (Passive Boost Items)
Memoirs are another addition in this update.
You can get them from:
- Legend Stages
Some known ones include:
- “Shall No Pain”
- “Trust of Others”
They act like passive boosts or enhancements, and while they aren’t units, they can significantly improve performance — especially in longer runs.
If you’re logging in after the update, don’t just jump into summons.
Here’s the smarter route:
- Grind Legend Stage
- Try to get Pain early
- Farm Memoirs alongside
- Unlock Naruto
- If you already have Six Tails, do this immediately
- Progress Battle Pass
- Passive grind, no rush
- Then Summon
- Use leftover gems wisely
This update is actually pretty well-balanced. It doesn’t force you into spending or heavy RNG — most of the value comes from grinding smart, not grinding hard.
The Legend Stage is the real highlight here. Once you figure out the positioning and pacing, it becomes one of the easiest farms in the game despite the low drop rate.