Honkai: Nexus Anima Beginner Progression Guide
A beginner's roadmap for Honkai: Nexus Anima — catching and building Anima, using Aspect synergy and Trait roles, and clearing the early auto-chess fights.
New to Honkai: Nexus Anima? It’s a creature-collector with a formation-based auto-chess battle system: you catch Anima across the Planes, then position them on a grid where they fight automatically based on their Trait (combat role) and Aspect (synergy identity). Here’s how to think about your first hours.
Note: the game is in closed beta, so systems and balance can change. Recommendations here are general and compiled from public coverage — treat numbers as illustrative until launch.
Catch broadly, build narrowly
Catch as many Anima as you can while exploring — coverage gives you options — but commit your upgrade materials to a small, focused line-up rather than spreading them thin. A few well-built Anima clear more than a roster of half-built ones.
Understand Trait roles
Your formation needs a mix of roles, not five of the same. There are five Traits:
- Blaster (13 Anima): area damage, damage-over-time, and crowd control. Scales on attack power.
- Explorer (22 Anima): the deepest role on the roster. Aspect bonuses treat it as offensive in some cases and durable in others, so what it gives you depends on the Aspect you build around.
- Mascot (13 Anima): scales on Max Health alongside Protector, so it holds a position rather than trading damage.
- Mastermind (16 Anima): traps, summons, and buffs that control the field. Scales on MP.
- Protector (18 Anima): a tank that shields your damage dealers and soaks incoming damage.
A simple early formation: a damage Trait (Blaster or an offensive Explorer), a Protector to keep it alive, and a Mastermind for control.
Lean on Aspect synergy
Each Anima has an Aspect — a concept like Light, Dark, Love, or Hate. Fielding multiple Anima of the same Aspect appears to grant shared bonuses, so a formation that shares an Aspect (or two) is stronger than a random spread. Use the formation planner to check your Aspect spread before you invest.
Where to spend early resources
- Level one core damage Anima to the current cap first.
- Build one sustain Anima (a Protector) so you survive longer fights.
- Then round out control with a Mastermind or a second damage role.
Bottom line
Catch widely, build one synergistic formation, and finish it before you branch out. Check the Anima dex for who’s been revealed and the tier list for early community read on the roster.