- Anime Vanguards Armin: Evolve this unit into Monarch Armin to unlock game-changing support buffs and transformation capabilities.
- Placement Buff: Provides a 10% upgrade cost reduction and a 20% damage boost to units placed in his designated circles.
- Active Ability: Transforms the player into a Nuclear Giant that deals map-wide damage based on your highest-damage unit in range.
- EX Raid Utility: Grants status effect and debuff immunity to the unit taking the Colossal Titan's damage during the active window.
- Strategic Value: Essential for clearing high-difficulty EX Raids where standard DPS units struggle without cost-reduction support.
Monarch Armin: The Anime Vanguards Armin Unit Overview
The latest Attack on Titan update has introduced the highly anticipated anime vanguards armin evolution, officially known as Monarch Armin. This unit shifts the meta by combining passive cost reduction, raw damage buffs, and a massive map-wide transformation active. Unlike standard DPS units that rely solely on raw scaling, Monarch Armin acts as a force multiplier for your entire team.
Video Highlights:
- Placement Buff Mechanics: How to utilize the designated circles to lower upgrade costs by 10% and boost damage by 20%.
- Nuclear Giant Transformation: A showcase of the Colossal Titan transformation, which deals 60% of your highest unit's damage per step.
- EX Raid Viability: Why this unit is considered mandatory for clearing the newest high-difficulty end-game content.
While Monarch Armin does not deal direct damage through standard attacks, his utility lies in his ability to manipulate the battlefield. He is unsellable once placed, meaning players must plan their layouts carefully. He features a high initial placement cost and expensive upgrade paths, but the return on investment is unmatched when paired with top-tier DPS units.
Always place Monarch Armin early in the match to start generating placement circles. These circles are key to saving Yen on your expensive late-game DPS upgrades.
Monarch Armin Abilities & Buff Mechanics
Monarch Armin operates on a unique set of mechanics that distinguish him from traditional support units. Instead of buffing units within a standard range circle, he creates specific placement zones on the track. Understanding how these zones interact with your team is crucial for maximizing your defensive setup.
Placement Buff Zones
Every time you place Monarch Armin or upgrade him, he designates a placement location near the track within his range. Any unit placed inside this designated circle receives two major benefits:
- Upgrade Cost Reduction: Reduces the upgrade cost of the placed unit by 10%.
- Damage Buff: Increases the placed unit's damage output by 20%.
Once a unit is placed in the designated zone, the circle is consumed. If you activate Monarch Armin's active ability, any unused placement zones are removed from the map.
Nuclear Giant Transformation
His active ability, Nuclear Giant, transforms the player into a Colossal Titan. This ability has a 600-second cooldown and operates under the following rules:
- Damage Scaling: The Titan takes on the highest damage stat of any unit currently within Monarch Armin's range.
- Map-wide Damage: Every step the Titan takes deals 60% of that highest damage stat to all enemies on the map.
- Debuff Immunity: The unit whose damage is copied becomes completely immune to status effects and debuffs for the duration of the active ability.
| Upgrade Level | Upgrade Cost (Yen) | Base Damage | SPA (Seconds) | Range | Buff Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Evolved | 1,500 | 0 | 12.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Upgrade 1 | 2,500 | 0 | 12.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Upgrade 2 | 4,000 | 0 | 11.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| Upgrade 3 | 6,500 | 0 | 11.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
| Max Upgrade | 12,000 | 0 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Because the Nuclear Giant transformation scales directly with the highest damage unit in Monarch Armin's range, activating the ability without a high-DPS unit nearby will result in minimal damage output.
Evolution Requirements & Upgrade Steps
To transition your base Armin unit into his Monarch form, you must gather specific evolution materials from the Attack on Titan event stages and EX Raids. The process requires a mix of exclusive event drops and standard crafting resources.
Obtain Base Armin
Summon the base Armin unit from the standard recruit banners using your Gems. Ensure you lock the unit to prevent accidental selling or feeding.
Farm EX Raids for Colossal Serum
Participate in the new EX Raid stages to obtain the Colossal Serum. This item is a mandatory evolution material and has a guaranteed drop rate on successful hard-mode clears.
Collect Titan Shards
Clear the Attack on Titan event stages to collect Titan Shards. You will need a total of 50 shards to complete the evolution recipe.
Evolve at the Crafting NPC
Navigate to the Evolve NPC in the main lobby, select Armin, deposit the required materials along with 15,000 Gold, and confirm the evolution to unlock Monarch Armin.
| Material Name | Quantity Required | Primary Source | Drop Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colossal Serum | 1 | EX Raid Reward | Guaranteed (Hard Mode) |
| Titan Shards | 50 | Event Stages | Common Drop |
| Red Crystals | 10 | Daily Challenges / Crafting | High |
| Gold | 15,000 | Story Mode / Infinite Mode | Guaranteed |
If you are struggling to clear the EX Raid for the Colossal Serum, join public lobbies with high-level players. Monarch Armin is highly sought after, and many players are willing to carry support setups to guarantee a clear.
Strategic Placement & Team Synergy
Deploying Monarch Armin requires a different tactical approach compared to standard damage dealers. Because his placement circles appear near the track around him, his own positioning dictates where your buffed DPS units must go.
Frontline Buffing
Place Armin near the start of the track to buff your early-game defenders, allowing you to secure cheap upgrades during early waves.
Mid-Track Synergy
Position Armin at major track intersections. This ensures his placement circles land in areas where your high-damage AoE units can cover multiple lanes.
Late-Game Scaling
Save his active transformation for boss waves. Ensure your highest damage unit is fully upgraded and positioned inside Armin's range before transforming.
When building a team around Monarch Armin, focus on pairing him with units that have high raw scaling but expensive upgrade costs. The 10% discount quickly adds up when upgrading mythical and secret units.
| Target Unit | Synergy Rating | Buff Impact | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gohan (Beast) | Excellent | High raw scaling amplified by 20% | Place Gohan directly in Armin's first circle |
| Song Goku | Good | Reduces expensive mid-game upgrades | Use Goku to hold the lane while Armin scales |
| Alucard | Excellent | Maximizes map-wide sweep potential | Activate transformation when Alucard is at max stacks |
| Standard Supports | Low | Minimal benefit from damage boosts | Position supports outside Armin's buff zones |
Pairing Monarch Armin with Gohan (Beast) allows you to bypass the steep cost curve of Gohan's final upgrades, saving thousands of Yen during critical waves.
Progression Checklist & Goals
To make the most of Monarch Armin in your runs, aim to complete the following progression milestones. This checklist ensures you have optimized both his level and his team composition for end-game content.
Monarch Armin Optimization Goals:
- Evolve base Armin into Monarch Armin using the Evolve NPC
- Level Monarch Armin to maximum level using food units
- Test placement circle layouts in Infinite Mode to master zone positioning
- Time the Nuclear Giant active transformation to clear Wave 50 boss spawns
- Equip Monarch Armin with speed-boosting or range-boosting relics
Equip range-boosting relics on Monarch Armin. Increasing his base range expands the area where he can place buff circles, giving you more flexibility on tight maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I sell Monarch Armin during a match?
No, Monarch Armin is unsellable once placed on the map. You must plan your placement carefully, as you cannot reposition him later in the run.
Q: How do I maximize the damage of the Nuclear Giant active?
Ensure your highest damage unit is positioned within Monarch Armin's range circle. The transformation copies that unit's damage stat, so upgrading your primary DPS before activating the transformation is essential.
Q: Do the placement buffs stack if I have multiple Armin units?
No, the 10% upgrade cost reduction and 20% damage buff do not stack on the same unit. A unit can only benefit from one placement circle at a time.
Q: How do I evolve the anime vanguards armin unit into Monarch Armin?
You must collect 1 Colossal Serum from EX Raids, 50 Titan Shards from AoT event stages, 10 Red Crystals, and 15,000 Gold, then combine them at the Evolve NPC.
Keep track of the 600-second cooldown on the active ability. In standard matches, you will likely only get to use the transformation once or twice, so save it for the final boss waves.