True Shadow Monarch is a powerful evolution of Sung Jin-Woo added in the second-anniversary update of Anime Vanguards. This version comes with its own progression system, Shadow Army, class skill trees, weapons, and abilities, giving players more ways to improve their combat performance.
Unlike regular units that you obtain from banners, True Shadow Monarch requires you to complete a special Player Quest with 100 levels. You also need to clear a dedicated dungeon before completing the evolution. This guide explains how to unlock True Shadow Monarch, choose the best weapons and classes, level up its stats, and build a strong Shadow Army.
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How to Get True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards
To unlock True Shadow Monarch, you must complete the Player Quest and clear the Returned Dungeon. Before starting, make sure you already have Sung Jin-Woo and Igros in your roster, as both are required to progress through the questline.
The Player Quest contains 100 levels with different objectives, including completing Story Quests, defeating bosses, and collecting materials. You will also need to return to the lobby at certain milestones to continue your progression. Follow these steps to unlock the evolution.
1. Start the Player Quest
First, enter the lobby with Sung Jin-Woo and Igros available in your roster. Look for the prompt that asks, “Do you want to be a player?” and accept it to begin the special questline.
Your progression starts at Player Level 0. From there, you must complete the assigned objectives to gain levels and unlock the next stages of the quest. Make sure you have both required units before starting, as missing either one can prevent you from progressing through the evolution requirements.
2. Reach Player Level 100
Continue completing the Player Quest objectives until you reach Level 100. During this process, you must return to the lobby at four important milestones: Levels 25, 50, 75, and 100.
At each milestone, interact with the well in the lobby to continue the questline. Simply reaching the required level is not enough if you forget this interaction, so check the well whenever you reach one of these levels. Continue completing the next set of objectives until you reach Player Level 100 and receive the Returned Dungeon Key.
3. Clear the Returned Dungeon
Once you reach Player Level 100, check your inventory for the Returned Dungeon Key. Use the key to enter the dungeon, where you must defeat all 10 waves to complete the challenge.
Bring strong damage units to make the fight easier, especially units such as Holy Deceiver (Dark) and Rogita (Super). A team with high damage output can help you clear the waves more efficiently and reduce the risk of getting stuck during the final encounters.
4. Complete the True Shadow Monarch Evolution
After clearing all 10 waves, return to the lobby and prepare to complete the evolution. You will need to sell your base Sung Jin-Woo and Igros, which triggers a confirmation prompt asking, “Delete the Shadow Monarch?”
Select Yes to continue. You will then be transported to another dimension, where you must interact with the large glowing orb in front of you. After the following cutscene, you will receive True Shadow Monarch.
Important: Do not rush through the final confirmation. The evolution permanently consumes the selected base unit, so make sure you understand the consequences before proceeding.
How to Build True Shadow Monarch in Vanguards
Unlocking True Shadow Monarch is only the first step. To get the most out of this unit, you need to develop its System levels, distribute stat points, choose suitable weapons, unlock class upgrades, and build an effective Shadow Army.
Each part of the build contributes to its overall performance. A strong weapon improves its direct damage, while the right Shadow Army and class upgrades help you deal with larger groups of enemies and tougher bosses.
True Shadow Monarch Stats and Leveling Guide
True Shadow Monarch has a separate progression system that allows it to reach Level 100. Unlike ordinary unit leveling, this system rewards you with System EXP and System Gold through takedowns.
Each level also grants one stat point, allowing you to customize the unit according to your preferred build. Reaching higher levels unlocks additional Shadow Army slots, making leveling an important part of improving your overall performance.
Shadow Army Slot Unlock Levels
You can unlock up to six Shadow Army slots as you progress through the System levels.
- 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
The final slot becomes available at Level 80, so you do not need to reach Level 100 just to unlock the entire set of six slots. However, continuing to Level 100 is useful because it provides additional stat points for improving your build.
Best Stats to Upgrade
True Shadow Monarch has five stats that you can improve using the points earned from leveling.
- Damage: Increases the unit’s direct damage output.
- Range: Improves the distance at which the unit can attack.
- Cost: Adjusts the unit’s deployment cost.
- Shadow Damage: Improves the damage dealt by your shadows.
- Shadow Cost: Adjusts the cost associated with your shadows.
For a straightforward damage-focused build, prioritize Damage. Investing most or all of your available points in this stat is a recommended approach if you want to maximize the unit’s direct attack potential.
However, you can also invest in Shadow Damage if your strategy depends heavily on your Shadow Army. Consider your preferred playstyle before spending your points.
Best Weapons for True Shadow Monarch
Weapons are an important part of the True Shadow Monarch build because they provide direct combat bonuses. You can manually control the unit, making weapon effects especially useful when you want to increase damage or take advantage of specific combat mechanics.
There are six weapon options listed for True Shadow Monarch, ranging from the free Venom Fang to the expensive Daggers of Destruction. Each weapon offers a different effect, so your choice should depend on your available Gold and progression stage.
All True Shadow Monarch Weapons and Effects
- Venom Fang — Free: Applies poison that deals 30% of the unit’s damage over eight seconds. Each poison tick also stuns enemies for 0.2 seconds, bypassing the stun lockout.
- Loyalty Killer — 100 Gold: Increases attack damage by 20%.
- Bakura’s Dagger — 1,000 Gold: Provides an additional 5% damage for every upgrade purchased.
- Monarch’s Daggers — 3,000 Gold: Increases damage by 30%, reduces SPA by 5%, and increases range by 10%.
- Dragon’s Wrath — 9,000 Gold: Allows attacks to bypass enemy damage reduction.
- Daggers of Destruction — 15,000 Gold: Grants a 100% critical-rate increase and increases attack damage by 30%.
Which Weapon Should You Choose?
Daggers of Destruction is the main endgame target because its critical-rate and damage bonuses can significantly improve your damage output. It is an expensive option, though, so you may need to progress through the system before purchasing it.
For early and mid-game progression, Monarch’s Daggers is a strong alternative. Its damage, SPA, and range bonuses provide a balanced improvement without requiring as much Gold as the final weapon. If you are just starting, you can use Venom Fang for its free poison and stun effects while saving for a better weapon.
Best Classes and Abilities for True Shadow Monarch
True Shadow Monarch has three class paths: Monarch, Pugilist, and Assassin. Each tree offers different upgrades, allowing you to focus on Shadow Army support or other combat styles depending on your needs.
For a build centered on summoning and strengthening shadows, the Monarch tree is the recommended choice. Its upgrades are designed to support the Shadow roster, making it a natural fit if you want to take advantage of the unit’s unique mechanics.
All Available Active Abilities
You can equip up to three active abilities at a time through the Abilities menu. To access this menu, interact with the Sung Jin-Woo and Igros NPC and select the abilities you want to use.
The seven available abilities are:
- Stealth
- Quick Silver
- Dagger Rush
- Dragon’s Fear
- Bloodlust
- Mutilation
- Ruler’s Authority
Since you can equip only three abilities simultaneously, choose the ones that fit your build and combat needs. If you focus on direct damage, prioritize abilities that support your offensive approach. You can also adjust your selection depending on the enemies or content you are facing.
How to Unlock the Necromancer Class
Another important milestone is the Job Change Quest, which becomes available after you reach Level 25 and achieve A-Rank Hunter status.
To complete the quest, head to the Charge Gate and accept the challenge. You must fight through the Throne Room Knights before facing Igros the Bloodred. Defeating him completes the trial and changes your class to Necromancer.
Completing this quest also adds Igros the Bloodred to your Shadow Army and unlocks two abilities: Shadow Exchange and Monarch’s Domain. This makes the Job Change Quest an important step for players who want to develop their Shadow-focused build.
Best Shadow Army Roster for True Shadow Monarch
The Shadow Army is one of the main reasons True Shadow Monarch is powerful. Shadows can deal additional damage, apply crowd control, provide buffs, and support your economy during a match.
Since you can unlock up to six Shadow slots, choosing the right combination is important. A balanced roster can help you maintain damage while controlling enemies and supporting the rest of your team.
Recommended Shadow Army Setup
- Shadow Fang: Main damage dealer with crowd-control potential.
- Shadow Dragon: Provides burn effects and damage synergy.
- Shadow Fishman: Helps control enemies through stuns and crowd control.
- Ant King: Deals heavy damage and benefits from scaling.
- Shadow Healer: Supports the economy.
- Shadow Commander: Provides buffs to improve the team’s overall performance.
This lineup combines damage, crowd control, and support effects. Shadow Fang and Shadow Dragon serve as major damage sources, while Shadow Fishman helps control enemies that might otherwise overwhelm your defenses.
Ant King adds another strong damage option, and Shadow Healer supports the economy. Shadow Commander rounds out the roster with buffs. Keep in mind that the final results also depend on the two passives you choose for each Shadow, so adjust your setup based on the available options.
Best Orbs for True Shadow Monarch’s Shadows
Orbs allow you to customize individual shadows by improving specific stats or adding useful effects. Choosing the right orb for each Shadow can make your roster more effective without requiring you to change the entire lineup.
There are five orb options listed for this build, each serving a different purpose.
All Available Orbs and Their Effects
- Orb of Power: Increases damage by 50%.
- Orb of Speed: Reduces SPA by 20%.
- Orb of Sight: Increases range by 30%.
- Orb of Cost: Reduces upgrade costs by 10%.
- Orb of Retainment: Preserves upgrades when a Shadow is replaced.
Which Orbs Should You Use?
Orb of Power is the recommended choice for your main damage dealers because its 50% damage bonus can significantly improve their offensive output. Equip it on shadows such as Shadow Fang or Ant King if you want to focus on dealing more damage.
Orb of Speed is another useful option for shadows that benefit from attacking more frequently. Meanwhile, Orb of Cost works well for economy-focused units because it reduces upgrade expenses. Orb of Sight is suitable for shadows that need extra range, while Orb of Retainment is useful if you regularly replace shadows and want to preserve their upgrades.
True Shadow Monarch is a progression-focused unit in Anime Vanguards that requires more work to unlock than a regular banner unit. You must complete the 100-level Player Quest, clear all 10 waves of the Returned Dungeon, and finish the final evolution sequence before you can start developing its full potential.
For a strong starting build, prioritize Damage stat points, work toward Daggers of Destruction, focus on the Monarch class tree, and create a balanced Shadow Army. Once you have unlocked the additional slots and selected suitable orbs, you can further improve your damage and support options to build a more effective True Shadow Monarch.