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What are Anima
Anima are the creatures at the center of Honkai: Nexus Anima. They're made of Aspect energy, fragments of the Nexus that scattered across the world when the Sundering fractured the Old World's energy network. Each Anima embodies a specific Aspect and has a specific Trait that defines its battlefield role. Players collect, train, and deploy them in Nexus Battles, but they also serve as companions, mounts, and exploration tools outside of combat.
Starting Anima
Every player receives 5 Anima during the tutorial:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
A dog-like pudding creature. Striker / Satiation. Kiana's companion. Bounce ability for reaching high places | |
Pupanoo | A ramen-themed seal. One of the cute food-inspired designs that define the game's aesthetic |
Nomnom | Has an obstacle destruction skill for breaking environmental barriers during exploration |
Vulberry | Has NPC interaction abilities, its cake-smearing ability increases NPC favorability |
Rimechime | An ice-themed chime creature that rounds out the starter team's elemental coverage |
These five give new players a functional team covering basic Traits and Aspects, plus utility skills for the exploration mechanics they'll encounter in the opening hours.
Classification
Every Anima has two classification attributes. Their Aspect (one of the known categories like Light, War, Love, Pride, Memory, Satiation) is a faction or affinity, granting synergy bonuses when multiple Anima of the same Aspect are deployed together. Their Trait (one of 11 categories like Striker, Protector, Cherubim, Gladiator) determines their battlefield behavior. What position they fight in, how they deal damage, and what utility they provide. See the full Aspects and Traits article for the complete breakdown.
Energy and ultimates
In Auto-Chess Combat, each Anima has a blue energy bar that fills during battle. When the bar is full, the Anima unleashes its ultimate ability. A powerful attack or effect unique to that creature. Energy generation rate varies by Anima and can be boosted by certain Kardia leaders (like Nanafey, whose "Small-Town Girl" principle increases energy regeneration for the highest-MP ally).
Design philosophy
HoYoverse splits Anima designs into two categories. "Q-style Cute Types" are round, chubby, and cartoon-like. "Cool and Stylish Types" have more detailed, standout designs like Lepinamel and Damasque.
A large number of Anima have food-themed designs, giving the roster a distinctive visual identity. This wasn't accidental. The developers leaned into the food motif as a deliberate aesthetic choice:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Pupanoo | A seal with a ramen bowl on its head |
Bobabirb | A penguin styled after bubble tea, complete with a straw |
Mimoo | A cat shaped like a milk carton |
Pomparrot | A parrot with a pomegranate body |
Hamburgoof | A hamburger creature |
Frigull | A French-fry seagull that can carry players for aerial glides |
The food designs play well with the game's warm, casual atmosphere. They're designed to be cute first and battle-ready second.
How to get them
Anima acquisition depends on their rarity:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
3-star and below | Found through open-world "Bond Encounters." Blue and purple-tier Anima can be captured directly while exploring. These cannot be obtained repeatedly for evolution |
4-star | Purchasable once with accumulated in-game rewards. Also available through high-difficulty encounters, Gym Challenges, and events |
5-star | Available through gacha pulls in Kardia-limited pools. Duplicates can evolve a 5-star Anima up to 6 times. Also purchasable from the Aspect Gem store (800 Gems each) |
Gold-tier | Obtained by completing specific quests |
Progression
Anima level up automatically based on the protagonist's level rather than requiring individual grinding for each creature. Attribute training uses readily available materials. Each Anima has three gear slots for equipment found in the open world. A system called "Nexus Threads" is temporary consumable boosts acquired through quests, giving pre-battle stat bonuses.
During the first beta test (the Nexus Bond Test), 66 Anima were available, 32 fully revealed with details, and 34 shown only as silhouettes. The full roster at launch will be larger.
Named Anima
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Striker / Satiation. A dog-like pudding creature. Kiana's companion. Bounces to reach elevated platforms | |
Scorscythe | Gladiator / War. A dragon with a bladed tail that transforms into a scythe. Perpetually seeks battles |
Plumelune | Cherubim / Beauty. A healer/support creature |
Damasque | Mascot / Change. Provides team-wide passive bonuses. Classified as "Cool and Stylish" |
Bladehound | Striker / Strength. Blade's companion. A mechanical wolf with an aggressive design |
Hothead / Hate. Parayaya's companion. Available as a 5-star from the store for 800 Aspect Gems at Level 24 | |
Waxula | Dark Aspect. Armand's companion |
Bunmareen | A jellyfish-bunny hybrid that glows like a jellyfish but lives on shore |
Frigull | Carries players for aerial glides during exploration. French-fry themed seagull |
Nomnom | Has an obstacle destruction skill for breaking environmental barriers |
Vulberry | Has NPC interaction abilities. Its cake-smearing ability increases NPC favorability |
Pupanoo | A ramen-themed seal. One of the 5 starting tutorial Anima |
Rimechime | An ice-themed chime creature. One of the 5 starting tutorial Anima |
Bobabirb | A bubble tea penguin with a straw |
Mimoo | A milk carton cat |
Pomparrot | A pomegranate parrot. 5-star, available from the Aspect Gem store at Level 21 |
Hamburgoof | A hamburger creature. 5-star, available from the Aspect Gem store at Level 18 |
Lumehart | 5-star, available from the Aspect Gem store at Level 24 |
Puddliking | A stronger variant of Puddlipup, summoned by Kiana's "Man's Best Friend" Kardia ability |
Beyond combat
Anima are not just battle units. They serve as life companions and exploration tools. Players can ride mountable Anima that fly or gallop across terrain. Each Anima has a unique exploration skill. There are also social interactions: playing on seesaws, racing, feeding, and attending gatherings. See Mini-Games and Exploration for more details.