After grinding through every island and clearing Infernal Castle to floor 70+, I’ve tested every shadow in Arise Crossover. Some are worth the grind. Others are traps that waste your time. Here’s the definitive tier list.
How Shadows Work
Quick refresher on the shadow system:
- Arise enemies after defeating them to add them to your army
- Shadows have ranks: E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, G, N, N+
- Higher rank = higher level cap = more damage
- You can upgrade shadows by collecting copies of each rank (E through S) and combining them
The tier list below ranks shadows by their maximum damage potential at peak rank. An S-tier shadow at G rank will destroy anything a C-tier shadow can do.
S-Tier Shadows (Best)
These are the endgame shadows. If you have any of these at G or N rank, you’re set.
Monarch
Location: Infernal Castle Floor 30+
Max Rank: N+ (only shadow that can reach N+)
Why S-Tier:
- Highest damage ceiling in the game
- Only shadow that can reach N+ rank
- Dominates all content at max rank
- Worth every hour of grinding
Monarch is THE shadow to chase. At N+ rank, nothing comes close. The grind is brutal (floor 30+ in Infernal Castle), but the payoff is unmatched.
Magma
Location: Infernal Castle Floor 50 Boss
Max Rank: N
Why S-Tier:
- Second highest damage potential
- Floor 50 boss drop
- N rank achievable through farming
- Melts through dungeons
Magma requires clearing floor 50 six times to collect six G versions, then upgrading to N rank. Painful grind, incredible reward.
Snow Monarch
Location: Snow Island (near Mori Island)
Max Rank: N
Why S-Tier:
- Third best shadow overall
- Easier to farm than Magma
- N rank is achievable
- Excellent for raids
Snow Monarch is the most accessible N-rank shadow. Farm six G ranks on Snow Island and upgrade. Still a grind, but more forgiving than Infernal Castle.
Time King
Location: Special Dungeons
Max Rank: SS
Why S-Tier:
- Best SS-only shadow
- Insane damage at max level
- Easier to obtain than N-rank shadows
- Great stepping stone to endgame
Time King can’t reach G or N rank, but at SS it still outperforms most shadows. Perfect for players not ready for the Infernal Castle grind.
Ziru (Beru)
Location: Jedu/Ant Island
Max Rank: G
Why S-Tier:
- The Ant King from Solo Leveling
- Best G-rank shadow
- 3+ quadrillion HP at max
- Fan favorite for a reason
Ziru is the shadow everyone wants. At G rank, it’s a monster. The drop rate is low, so prepare to farm Ant Island extensively.
A-Tier Shadows (Great)
Excellent shadows that carry you through mid-to-late game.
| Shadow | Location | Max Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murcielago | Faceheal Town (Boss) | SS | High damage, Bleach-inspired |
| Mifalcon | Brum Island (Boss) | SS | Solid mid-game boss shadow |
| Sky | Dragon City | SS | Top island shadow |
| Green | Dragon City | SS | Great damage scaling |
| Turtle | Dragon City | SS | Tanky with good DPS |
| Wind | Special Dungeons | SS | Versatile attacker |
| Hurricane | Dungeons | SS | Strong AoE damage |
Why A-Tier?
These shadows are your workhorses. They can’t reach N rank, but at SS they’re powerful enough to clear most content. Murcielago and Mifalcon especially are worth farming multiple copies for upgrades.
B-Tier Shadows (Good)
Solid mid-game options that help you progress.
| Shadow | Location | Max Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golyne | Mori Town | SS | Good damage dealer |
| Gosuke | Mori Town | SS | Reliable attacker |
| Diablo | Mori Town | SS | Slime-inspired, decent DPS |
| Ika | Nipon Town | SS | Consistent performer |
| Zere | Nipon Town | SS | Solid all-rounder |
| Heaven | Nipon Town | SS | Good for dungeons |
| Dor | Grass Village (Boss) | SS | First real boss shadow |
| Sortudo | Lucky Kingdom | SS | Luck-themed, decent damage |
| Michille | Special Areas | SS | Niche but useful |
Why B-Tier?
These shadows get the job done. They’re not endgame material, but they’ll carry you through islands and mid-tier dungeons. Dor especially is a great early boss shadow that stays relevant longer than expected.
C-Tier Shadows (Situational)
Use these while farming for better options.
| Shadow | Location | Max Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ant Queen | Ant Island | SS | Decent but outclassed by Ziru |
| Genji | Faceheal Town | SS | Bleach-inspired, average damage |
| Fyakuya | Faceheal Town | SS | Similar to Genji |
| Luryu | Faceheal Town | SS | Lowest Faceheal shadow |
| Vermillion | Leveling City (Boss) | SS | First boss, falls off fast |
| Light Admiral | Brum Island | SS | Outclassed by Mifalcon |
| Eminel | Brum Island | SS | Average performer |
| Shark Man | Brum Island | SS | Decent early option |
Why C-Tier?
These shadows are stepping stones. Vermillion is your first boss shadow and feels amazing early, but gets outclassed quickly. Same with the Faceheal Town shadows - they’re fine until you get Murcielago.
D-Tier Shadows (Early Game Only)
Replace these as soon as possible.
| Shadow | Location | Max Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crow | Grass Village | SS | Weak damage ceiling |
| Blossom | Grass Village | SS | Falls off fast |
| Snake Man | Grass Village | SS | Early game filler |
| Largalgan | Leveling City | SS | Starter brute |
| Anders | Leveling City | SS | Starter shadow |
| Longin | Leveling City | SS | Spear attack, weak scaling |
| Daek | Leveling City | SS | Very weak |
| Gonshee | Leveling City | SS | Starter shadow |
| Soondoo | Leveling City | SS | Weakest shadow |
| Ant Soldier | Ant Island | SS | Outclassed by everything |
Why D-Tier?
These are your starter shadows. They help you learn the game but become irrelevant by mid-game. Don’t waste upgrade materials on them.
How to Get G-Rank Shadows
Any shadow can become G rank. Here’s how:
- Collect all ranks (E, D, C, B, A, S) of the same shadow
- Upgrade to SS at the Shadow Upgrader
- Farm G-rank dungeons or Double Dungeons for G-rank drops
- Alternatively: Collect 6 SS copies and upgrade to G
G-rank shadows have a max level of 250 and significantly higher damage than SS.
How to Get N and N+ Rank Shadows
Only three shadows can reach N rank:
| Shadow | How to Get N Rank |
|---|---|
| Monarch | Collect 6 G-rank Monarchs from Infernal Castle Floor 30+, upgrade at G Shadow Upgrader |
| Magma | Defeat Magma 6 times on Floor 50, collect G versions, upgrade to N |
| Snow Monarch | Farm 6 G-rank Snow Monarchs on Snow Island, upgrade to N |
N+ Rank: Only Monarch can reach N+ rank. Requires even more grinding at high Infernal Castle floors.
Shadow Priority Guide
Early Game (Leveling City → Grass Village)
- Arise everything you can
- Get Vermillion from Leveling City boss
- Farm Dor from Grass Village boss
- Replace starter shadows ASAP
Mid Game (Brum Island → Faceheal Town)
- Get Mifalcon from Brum Island boss
- Farm Murcielago from Faceheal Town boss
- Start upgrading to SS rank
- Attempt A-rank dungeons
Late Game (Dragon City → Infernal Castle)
- Farm Dragon City shadows (Sky, Green, Turtle)
- Push Infernal Castle for Monarch
- Work toward G-rank upgrades
- Chase Ziru on Ant Island
Endgame
- Farm Monarch to N+ rank
- Get Magma from Floor 50
- Farm Snow Monarch to N rank
- Max out your top 6 shadows
Team Building Tips
Best 6-Shadow Team (Endgame)
- Monarch (N+)
- Magma (N)
- Snow Monarch (N)
- Ziru (G)
- Time King (SS)
- Murcielago (SS)
Best Budget Team (Mid Game)
- Murcielago (SS)
- Mifalcon (SS)
- Dor (SS)
- Sky (SS)
- Green (SS)
- Turtle (SS)
Best Starter Team
- Vermillion (any rank)
- Dor (any rank)
- Best 4 shadows you have
Common Mistakes
- Upgrading D-tier shadows - Save materials for better units
- Ignoring boss shadows - Always arise island bosses
- Rushing to Infernal Castle - Build your team first
- Destroying good shadows - Keep copies for upgrades
- Not farming dungeons - Best shadows come from dungeons
More Arise Crossover Content
- Arise Crossover Codes - 110+ free codes
- Arise Crossover Guide - Beginner’s progression guide
