The best partners in our Animon Story tier list aren't specific creatures, but custom builds centering on S-Tier Traits like Big, Fly, and Phase. Because Animon Story is a tabletop RPG about creating your own unique monster, a traditional tier list of pre-made Animons is impossible. Instead, this guide breaks down the most powerful components—Traits, Elements, and Drives—to help you and your GM craft a dominant, S-Tier partner from the ground up.
This ranking is based on three core principles of effectiveness in Animon Story's d6-based system: action economy (getting more or better actions), versatility (having answers to different problems), and raw power (boosting your dice pools for damage and defense).
What Defines an "S-Tier" Animon?
In a game as creative as Animon Story, power isn't just about hitting the hardest. The truly top-tier builds are the ones that give a player the most control over a scene, whether that's through overwhelming force, tactical repositioning, or outright breaking the standard rules of engagement. An S-Tier Animon consistently contributes in and out of combat and makes the Kid it's bonded to feel like a hero.
Our rankings prioritize abilities that manipulate the action economy, provide unconditional bonuses, or offer tactical flexibility that can't be easily countered. A Trait that is always active and useful is almost always better than one that requires a specific, niche setup. The goal is to build an Animon that is not just strong, but consistently effective.
The Definitive Trait Tier List
Traits are the absolute core of your Animon's power. Your choices here will define your partner's role more than anything else. While every Trait can be useful in the right story, some are mechanically far superior to others in a typical campaign. This tier list reflects that mechanical advantage.
| Tier | Traits | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| S | Big, Fly, Phase, Extra Arms | Game-Changers. These Traits fundamentally alter how your Animon interacts with the world. Big is a massive, unconditional +2 bonus to both damage and damage reduction. Fly offers unparalleled mobility, trivializing terrain and many melee-focused enemies. Phase allows you to ignore terrain and attacks entirely. Extra Arms breaks the action economy by allowing an extra interaction or attack. |
| A | Armored, Fast, Elemental Weapon, Sharp Claws, Powerful Legs, Laser | Build Definers. These are the bread-and-butter of powerful builds. Armored is a simple but effective defensive boost. Fast gives you consistent initiative advantage. Elemental Weapon and Sharp Claws are reliable damage boosters. Powerful Legs adds mobility and combat options. Laser is a premier ranged attack with the fantastic Tech element prerequisite. |
| B | Burrow, Tough, Amphibious, Sticky, Web, Camouflage | Solid Role-Players. These Traits are strong and define a specific fighting style. Burrow provides excellent ambush and escape options. Tough makes your Animon harder to take down. Amphibious is campaign-dependent but dominant in its environment. Sticky and Web offer excellent battlefield control. |
| C | Glow, Cute, Tool Appendage, Long, Voice Mimicry | Situational & Narrative. These Traits are often more for flavor or require specific scenarios to shine. They can be very effective with creative thinking but lack the raw, universal power of the higher tiers. Cute can de-escalate situations, but has limited combat use. Tool Appendage is incredibly versatile but depends on GM interpretation. |
Ranking the Elements: Beyond Rock-Paper-Scissors
Unlike in many monster-taming games, Elements in Animon Story are less about a strict hierarchy of weaknesses and resistances and more about the mechanical and narrative flavor they provide. The best Elements are the ones that grant access to the most powerful or versatile Traits.
Top Tier: Tech, Heart, Storm These three Elements stand above the rest due to the sheer utility and power of the Traits they unlock.
- Tech is arguably the best Element in the game. It grants access to premier Traits like Laser, Computer Brain, and powerful armor options. Its theme allows for incredible versatility in problem-solving.
- Heart is the ultimate support Element. It unlocks Traits focused on healing, buffing allies with effects like Rally, and removing negative conditions. A Heart Animon can keep the entire party in the fight.
- Storm excels at area-of-effect (AoE) attacks and battlefield control. Traits like Chain Lightning and Wind Burst can lock down multiple opponents at once, controlling the flow of combat.
Infographic comparing the top three Elements in Animon Story: Tech, Heart, and Storm.
Mid Tier: Insect, Earth, Fire These are powerful and focused Elements that form the core of many damage-dealing or defensive builds.
- Insect offers unique debuffing abilities and movement options through Traits like Exoskeleton and Swarm.
- Earth is the quintessential defensive Element, specializing in tanking with Traits like Rock Armor and environmental control.
- Fire is pure, focused damage. It doesn't offer much subtlety, but its damage-focused Traits are incredibly potent for aggressive builds.
Niche Tier: Water, Plant, Ice These Elements are by no means weak, but they are often more environmentally dependent than the higher tiers. In a campaign that features a lot of water, a Water Animon is S-Tier. In a desert, it's less effective. Their power is conditional, making them slightly less universally optimal choices.
Unlocking Potential: Key Build Synergies
Knowing the best parts is one thing; assembling them into a coherent machine is another. Here are a few examples of S-Tier builds that combine top-tier Traits and Elements for devastating effect.
The "Alpha Striker"
This build is focused on ending fights on the first turn with a single, overwhelming attack. It's a classic glass cannon that sacrifices some defense for pure offensive output.
- Drive: Drive of Passion (for generating Sparks from aggressive play).
- Element: Fire or Storm.
- Core Traits: Big (+2 damage), Sharp Claws (or Elemental Weapon for ranged), and Fast.
- The Synergy: Fast ensures you act first. Big provides a massive, unconditional damage boost that stacks with other Traits. The Drive of Passion rewards you for making big attacks, fueling your next one. You hit first, you hit hard, and you often don't need a second turn.
Comic grid showing the Alpha Striker build using 'Big' and 'Sharp Claws' to defeat an enemy.
The "Untouchable Controller"
Why take damage when you can simply not be there? This build focuses on mobility and action denial, running circles around enemies while controlling the battlefield from a safe distance.
- Drive: Drive of Calculation (for tactical, planned moves).
- Element: Storm or Tech.
- Core Traits: Fly, Phase, and a ranged attack Trait like Laser or Wind Burst.
- The Synergy: Fly keeps you off the ground and away from melee threats. Phase allows you to move through walls and enemy attacks, making you nearly impossible to pin down. From this position of safety, you use your ranged attacks to control the flow of combat, weakening enemies before they can ever get close.
The "Indomitable Guardian"
This build is designed to be an unbreakable wall that protects its Kid and the rest of the party. Its goal is to draw enemy fire and absorb it without flinching.
- Drive: Drive of Protection (for generating Sparks from defending others).
- Element: Earth or Tech.
- Core Traits: Big (+2 damage reduction), Armored, and Tough.
- The Synergy: This is a masterclass in 'stacking defenses.' Big provides a flat damage reduction. Armored provides another layer on top of that. Tough gives you more health to soak any damage that does get through. An enemy might need to deal 6 or 7 damage just to inflict a single point, and the Drive of Protection rewards you for taking those hits for your friends.
Beyond the Basics: Drives and Forms
While Traits are the mechanical core, don't underestimate Drives and Forms. A Drive isn't just a roleplaying cue; it's a mechanical engine for generating Sparks, the resource that fuels your most powerful abilities. The best choice of Drive is one that aligns with your Animon's core build. An Alpha Striker with the Drive of Passion will generate far more Sparks than one with the Drive of Protection.
Annotated Diagram showing an Animon's key features: Fly, Armored, Drive of Passion, and Tech Element.
Evolving to a Champion or Ultimate Form is a major milestone in a campaign. This is your chance to double down on what makes your Animon great. Don't diversify too much. If your Animon is an Untouchable Controller, use the new Trait slots from its Champion Form to enhance its mobility or control options further—don't suddenly add Sharp Claws. Specialization is key to maintaining S-Tier power as the campaign's challenges escalate.
Animon Story FAQ
What is the best Animon in Animon Story? There is no single "best" Animon, because you build them yourself! The best Animon is one created with a strong synergy between its Traits, Element, and Drive. A build focused on the S-Tier 'Big' and 'Fly' Traits will almost always be more effective than a scattered build with C-Tier Traits.
Is the 'Big' Trait overpowered? 'Big' is widely considered the strongest single Trait in the game. The unconditional, passive +2 bonus to both dealing and resisting damage is mathematically potent and always active. Many Game Masters suggest caution when a player takes it, as it can significantly warp the combat balance.
How do I choose the best Drive for my Animon? Match the Drive to your Animon's intended playstyle and role. If you plan to be an aggressive attacker, the Drive of Passion provides the most benefit. If you are building a defender to protect your Kid, the Drive of Protection is the clear choice. The Drive should reward the actions your Animon will be taking most often.
Can I change my Animon's Traits? Yes, but not easily. The primary way to change or add Traits is when your Animon evolves into a new Form (like Champion or Ultimate). This is a significant moment of growth in the story, allowing you to refine your partner's abilities as they become more powerful.
The Final Takeaway
Success in Animon Story isn't about finding a secret, top-tier monster. It's about being a smart architect. By focusing on the foundational principles of action economy, unconditional bonuses, and tactical synergy, you can build a partner that feels truly legendary. Start with a powerful core of S-Tier and A-Tier Traits like Big, Fly, or Armored, choose an Element that complements that strategy, and select a Drive that rewards your intended playstyle. Do that, and you'll have a partner capable of overcoming any obstacle the story throws at you.