The Disguising Mask is a Vanguard Familiar in Anime Vanguards that turns Smith John and his evolution, Lord of Shadows, into a heavy single-target and boss threat. It arrived with the Extermination Event Part 2 update and drops from a fixed-loadout trial stage, so it does not rely on rare pull chances.
Quick answer: Clear the Smith John Unit Trial in Planet Namak Act 1 Story mode. The Disguising Mask is a guaranteed drop for finishing the stage, then equip it to Smith John or Lord of Shadows from the Familiar menu.
How to get the Disguising Mask Vanguard Familiar
The Disguising Mask comes from the Smith John Unit Trial, one of the new trial stages tied to the Extermination Event. You reach it through the Story menu rather than a portal or a shop.
Note: Vanguard Familiars cannot be Corrupted or Rerolled, and each one works on a single designated unit. The Disguising Mask is locked to Smith John and Lord of Shadows only, so it cannot be moved onto other characters.
What the Disguising Mask does
Equipping the Disguising Mask grants three passive abilities. Insanity in Power delivers the flat damage jump, while Becoming Nuclear and Overpowering Presence reshape how Smith John’s kit stacks and holds buffs.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Insanity in Power | Gains 3,000% Damage. |
| Overpowering Presence | Buffs Damage by 0.5% and Range by 0.2% for every enemy hit by an attack (resets on attack). Anytime this unit swaps, it buffs its own damage by 50% for 60 seconds. |
| Becoming Nuclear | All Range Atomic now starts at 100% damage per swap instead of 50%. When All Range Atomic is used, the unit buffs itself by that activation’s damage amplification for 60 seconds, and the buff is kept through swaps. Assassination now deals 1,000% damage to the highest HP target. |
How to play Lord of Shadows with the mask
The familiar amplifies the unit’s existing plan instead of changing it. The standard line still applies. Trigger All Range Atomic the moment a boss spawns, then let the retained damage amplification carry through swaps for the full 60 seconds.
Because All Range Atomic now opens at 100% damage per swap instead of half, and Assassination lands 1,000% damage on the highest HP enemy, the mask leans hard into boss and high-health targets. Overpowering Presence adds stacking damage and range as attacks connect, and every swap layers another 50% damage buff on top. Together these push Lord of Shadows into a viable spot in the current meta without any downside to the usual rotation.
Frequently asked questions
Which unit uses the Disguising Mask?
It equips to Smith John and his evolution, Lord of Shadows, and no other unit.
Is the drop guaranteed?
Yes. Clearing the Smith John Unit Trial hands over the Disguising Mask every time, so there is no drop-rate grind.
Can it be Corrupted or Rerolled?
No. Like all Vanguard Familiars, it cannot be Corrupted or Rerolled and stays fixed to its one designated unit.
