True Shadow Monarch is the most involved unit in Roblox Anime Vanguards. Added in the second-anniversary update, it transforms the base Sung Jin-Woo unit into a fully controllable powerhouse with its own leveling system, a Shadow Army you build from scratch, three class trees, and six weapon tiers. Getting it wrong at any step can waste hours of progress, so this guide walks through every unlock requirement and build decision in order.
How do you unlock True Shadow Monarch in Anime Vanguards?
True Shadow Monarch does not drop from any banner. The unlock path runs through a dedicated Player Quest system that takes you from Level 0 to Level 100 before the evolution becomes available.
Step 1: Get Song Jinwu and Igros on your roster
Before you can even start the questline, both Song Jinwu and Igros must be in your roster. Without them, the Player Quest prompt will not appear. Once both units are confirmed, enter the lobby and accept the "Do you want to be a player?" prompt to begin.
Accept the Player Quest prompt
Step 2: Reach Level 100 through quest milestones
The Player Quest tracks progress through Story Quests, boss defeats, and material collection. The path is not linear in one sitting. At Levels 25, 50, 75, and 100, you must return to the lobby and interact with the well to register each milestone. Skipping this interaction stops your progression entirely, so do not overlook it.
Step 3: Clear the Returned Dungeon
Reaching Level 100 puts a Returned Dungeon Key in your inventory. Use it to enter the Returned Dungeon and clear all 10 waves. Bring your strongest damage units here. Units like Holy Deceiver (Dark) and Rogita (Super) are solid choices for getting through the waves efficiently.
Step 4: Complete the evolution
After clearing the dungeon, return to the lobby and sell your base Song Jinwu and Igros. A confirmation prompt reading "Delete the Shadow Monarch?" will appear. Confirm it, and you will be transported to a dimension where interacting with a large glowing orb triggers the evolution cutscene. True Shadow Monarch is your reward.
How to build True Shadow Monarch: stats and leveling
True Shadow Monarch runs on a separate level system from every other unit. Takedowns grant System EXP and System Gold, and the cap sits at Level 100. Each level also awards 1 stat point, giving you 100 total points to distribute across five stats: Damage, Range, Cost, Shadow Damage, and Shadow Cost.
Investing the majority of your stat points into Damage gives the highest return on your unit's personal DPS. Shadow Damage becomes relevant once your Shadow Army is built out, but raw Damage is the safest early investment.
Level milestones also unlock additional Shadow Army slots, which directly expands how many shadows you can field at once.
| Level | Shadow Slot Unlocked |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Shadow Slot 1 |
| Level 10 | Shadow Slot 2 |
| Level 25 | Shadow Slot 3 |
| Level 40 | Shadow Slot 4 |
| Level 60 | Shadow Slot 5 |
| Level 80 | Shadow Slot 6 |
What are the best weapons for True Shadow Monarch?
Unlike passive unit buffs, True Shadow Monarch lets you manually control the unit in combat, so weapon choice directly affects how much damage you deal. There are six weapons available, ranging from free to 15,000 Gold.
Weapon tier selection screen
| Weapon | Effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Venom Fang | Poisons enemies for 30% of unit damage over 8 seconds; each tick stuns for 0.2 seconds, bypassing stun lockout | Free |
| Loyalty Killer | +20% attack damage | 100 Gold |
| Bakura's Dagger | +5% damage per upgrade purchased | 1,000 Gold |
| Monarch's Daggers | +30% damage, -5% SPA, +10% range | 3,000 Gold |
| Dragon's Wrath | Damage bypasses Damage Reduction | 9,000 Gold |
| Daggers of Destruction | +100% critical rate, +30% attack damage | 15,000 Gold |
Daggers of Destruction is the endgame target. The combination of doubled critical rate and 30% bonus damage creates a significant DPS gap over everything below it. For players still progressing, Monarch's Daggers at 3,000 Gold offer a balanced mix of damage, attack speed, and range that holds up through mid-game content.
Venom Fang is worth noting early on. The free poison ticks that also stun enemies provide more utility than Loyalty Killer's flat 20% damage, making it the better free option.
What are the best classes and abilities?
True Shadow Monarch has three class skill trees: Monarch, Pugilist, and Assassin. Each tree approaches combat differently.
- Monarch buffs the entire Shadow Army. If you are building around shadows, this tree amplifies every unit you deploy.
- Assassin focuses on the Monarch's personal combat performance, suited for players who prefer direct engagement.
- Pugilist suits a more hands-on manual combat style.
The Job Change Quest at Level 25 (A-Rank Hunter status required) converts your class to Necromancer. Head to the Charge Gate, fight through the Throne Room Knights, and defeat Igros the Bloodred to complete it. Winning adds Igros to your Shadow Army and unlocks two abilities: Shadow Exchange and Monarch's Domain.
You can equip up to three active abilities at once. Access the menu by interacting with the Song Jinwu and Igros NPC. The full list of available abilities is:
- Stealth
- Quick Silver
- Dagger Rush
- Dragon's Fear
- Bloodlust
- Mutilation
- Ruler's Authority
What is the best Shadow Army for True Shadow Monarch?
Shadows are recruited by defeating specific bosses in Shadow Trials and using Arise after the kill. Failed attempts require you to defeat the boss again before retrying. Additional shadows also come from the First Commander Dungeon.
Here is the recommended Shadow Army lineup and what each unit contributes:
| Shadow | Role |
|---|---|
| Shadow Fang | Primary damage and crowd control |
| Shadow Dragon | Burn damage and damage synergy |
| Shadow Fishman | Stuns and crowd control |
| Ant King | Heavy damage and scaling |
| Shadow Healer | Economy support |
| Shadow Commander | Army-wide buffs |
Shadow Fang and Shadow Dragon carry the damage load. Shadow Fishman handles enemy control alongside Shadow Fang. Ant King scales hard and adds raw power at higher levels. Shadow Healer keeps your economy healthy, and Shadow Commander buffs the rest of the army.
One thing to keep in mind: each Shadow has two passive slots, and the exact performance of every unit depends on which passives you assign. Prioritize passives that complement the shadow's primary role.
How do orbs work and which should you pick?
Orbs let you specialize individual shadows rather than applying a blanket upgrade. There are five orb types:
| Orb | Effect |
|---|---|
| Orb of Power | +50% Damage |
| Orb of Speed | -20% SPA |
| Orb of Sight | +30% Range |
| Orb of Cost | -10% upgrade costs |
| Orb of Retainment | Retains upgrades after a shadow is replaced |
Orb of Power goes on your damage dealers, specifically Shadow Fang, Shadow Dragon, and Ant King. Orb of Speed benefits shadows whose effects trigger on each attack, such as those with stun or burn procs. Orb of Cost pairs well with Shadow Healer and any economy-focused shadow. Orb of Retainment is worth considering if you plan to swap shadows frequently during a run.
Shadow orb assignment menu
Putting it all together
The True Shadow Monarch build rewards players who engage with every system it offers. Work through the Player Quest without skipping the milestone interactions, clear the Returned Dungeon with strong support units, and confirm the evolution only when you are ready to permanently commit. From there, stack Damage stat points early, chase Daggers of Destruction as your weapon goal, build toward the Monarch class tree if your strategy centers on shadows, and fill your Shadow Army slots as quickly as leveling allows.
For more Roblox guides covering other games in the same space, the Anime Vanguards best units tier list is a solid companion read that covers the full unit rankings including Update 11.5 meta picks, which helps you decide which support units to pair alongside True Shadow Monarch in your roster.
