Shadow Trials is a real-time arena mode added in the 2nd Anniversary update for Anime Vanguards, where you fight as the Monarch and build an army of extracted shadows. You beat challenge bosses to arise shadows, clear Gates for relics, and finish a Job Change Quest to become a Necromancer.
Quick answer: Own the True Shadow Monarch (Transcendent Song Jinwu), enter the Shadow Trials circle in the lobby, arise shadows by beating trial bosses, reach Level 25 / A-Rank Hunter, then defeat Igros the Bloodred at the Charge Gate to unlock the Necromancer class.
Requirement to enter Shadow Trials
Only players who command the True Shadow Monarch can enter. This is the Transcendent evolution of Song Jinwu and Igros, obtained through the Player Quest. Without it, the Shadow Trials circle in the lobby will not let you in.
Interact with the Shadow Trials circle to open the menu. You can descend into the Returned Dungeon alone or in a team of up to four players using the Create and Join buttons.
Inside the mode your character is locked into the Monarch model, armed with dual daggers. You will see the arena layout with the challenge bosses arranged around it.
Arising shadows from challenge bosses
Each boss in the arena can be fought to extract its shadow into your army. The lineup includes Goblin, Bear, Tank, Shadow Fang, Shadow Fishman, Destruction Shadow, and Strongest Shadow. Defeat a boss, then use the Arise attempts to pull its shadow.
You get up to three Arise attempts per boss defeat. The success chance rises with each attempt, and harder difficulties give better odds. Clear a shadow on Hard rather than Normal to improve your pull rate.
| Attempt | Normal odds | Hard odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5% | 10% |
| 2nd | 10% | 15% |
| 3rd | 15% | 20% |
If all three attempts fail, a message reads “Arise failed (3/3). The shadow fades away” and you have to beat the boss again. Stay on one boss until it arises before moving to the next, since rank-ups depend on your collection.
When a pull lands, a “[shadow] has arisen” notification confirms it, and the shadow appears in the Shadows tab of the System menu as a usable unit.
Building your shadow army and abilities
Open the System menu with the J hotkey to manage your loadout. You can field three shadows at first, assigned to army slots, and a fourth slot unlocks after the Job Change. Shadows fight alongside you and level up when you spend Essences to train them.
Essences come from beating bosses in the trial. Assign a shadow to an open army slot, then spend Essences to raise its level and strengthen it for later fights.
Interact with the Song Jinwu and Igros NPC to open the Abilities menu. You can equip up to three active skills at once. Options include Quick Silver, Ruler’s Authority, Mutilation, Stealth, Dragon’s Fear, Bloodlust, and Dagger Rush.
You can buy and upgrade weapons at Takaroda’s Shop with Gold earned from takedowns and quests. Weapons range from the free Venom Fang up to Daggers of Destruction at 25,000, with Monarch’s Daggers in the middle as a strong early-to-mid pick.
Clearing Gates for relics and essences
Gates are run-based dungeons with randomized room encounters. You pick boons as you advance that grant temporary buffs for the current run. Available boons include Soul Harvest, Vigor, Sharpened Edge, Iron Skin, and Fleetfoot.
Finishing a Gate grants Gold and EXP, as well as Relics you can equip permanently. These Relics aren’t obtainable by arising regular Gate enemies, so complete the rooms to get them. Examples include the B-Grade Orb of Greed and Momentum, plus the A-Grade Holy Water of Life.
Relics provide passive effects that alter your stats. In the Relics menu, duplicates or unwanted pieces can be broken down into Mana Crystals or reforged to change their stats.
Gate access scales with your Hunter Rank, which climbs from D-Rank through C, B, and A as you meet each rank’s requirements by arising shadows and clearing difficulties.
Job Change Quest: Unlock the Necromancer class
The Job Change Quest unlocks once you reach Level 25 and A-Rank Hunter. The quest is accepted at the Charge Gate and pits you against Igros the Bloodred.
You know it worked when the Necromancer class unlocks and the rewards are granted. Completion opens Army Slot 4, Shadow Exchange, Monarch’s Domain, and Monarch’s Presence, and adds Igros as an army shadow.
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Trait Rerolls | x50 |
| Memoria Shards | x50 |
| Monarch levels | +2,000 |
| Gold | +50 |
| Shadow XP | +50 |
| Titles / cosmetics | Necromancer title and aura |
Arise every boss and keep upgrading your weapon before taking the Igros fight. The throne room waves hit hard, and a fully built shadow army plus strong daggers makes the final kill far easier.
