The Dark Scepter is a Secret-tier piece of Unit Equipment in Anime Expeditions, added with the Villain Update (0.5) on July 25th, 2026. It is built specifically for one unit, the Dark Mage (Sovereign), and it changes how that unit fights by rewriting its passive abilities around Lightning and Ice magic.
Quick answer: Farm the Crow Hideout stage. The Dark Scepter drops there, and it can only be equipped on the Dark Mage (Sovereign).
Where the Dark Scepter drops
The Dark Scepter comes from Crow Hideout. That location is the only listed source for the equipment, so runs there are the path to getting it. Because it is a Secret rarity item, expect it to be an uncommon drop rather than a guaranteed one, and plan on repeated clears.
Which unit can use the Dark Scepter
The Dark Scepter is locked to the Dark Mage (Sovereign). It will not slot onto any other unit, so you need that unit before the equipment does anything for you. Its designation matches the required unit, which is why the two are meant to be paired.
Its main substats are Range and SPA. Rolling the equipment can give between +1% and +5% Range and between -1% and -5% SPA. Lower SPA means the unit attacks more often, so both stats push toward more frequent hits over a wider area.
Dark Scepter stats and passives
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Unit Equipment |
| Rarity | Secret |
| Required unit | Dark Mage (Sovereign) |
| Main substats | +1% to +5% Range, -1% to -5% SPA |
| Source | Crow Hideout |
| Released | July 25th, 2026 (Villain Update 0.5) |
The Scepter replaces the Dark Mage (Sovereign)’s original passive with two magic-based effects that trigger when you switch magic type.
Lightning Orbs
Switching to Lightning Magic summons an Arc of Lightning on the path inside the unit’s range. Enemies touching that arc take 50% of the unit’s current damage every 1 second, giving steady area damage to anything that walks through it.
Ice Barrage
Switching to Ice Magic adds Freeze on attack, which stops a target from moving or acting for 2 seconds and carries a 10-second cooldown. Regular attacks also build Frostbite, gaining 1 stack per hit up to a cap of 15 on each enemy.
Once an enemy reaches 15 Frostbite stacks, your next attack against a frozen target shatters it. The shatter unfreezes the enemy and deals 25% extra damage in a small 5-range area around it.
How to confirm you have it
After a Crow Hideout run, open the Items menu and switch to the Equipment tab. The Dark Scepter will show as a Unit Equipment with the description “Dark Mage’s Unit Equipment.” From there, you can equip it onto the Dark Mage (Sovereign), and its icon will appear on the unit once it is attached.
Note: If the Scepter is not appearing after several runs, the most likely reason is drop variance rather than a mistake on your end, since Secret equipment is not guaranteed each clear. Keep the required unit ready so you can slot the equipment as soon as it drops.
