Overview
Traits define an Anima's combat role on the auto-chess battlefield. There are eleven known Traits in Honkai: Nexus Anima. Each Anima has exactly one Trait, which is independent of its Aspect. When multiple Anima sharing the same Trait are deployed together, Trait synergies activate at specific breakpoints (typically 2, 4, 6, or 8 matching units).
Trait List
Traits define what an Anima does in battle. Each Trait has a fixed number of creatures assigned to it, which limits how many of each role are available for team building:
Trait | Effect |
|---|---|
Striker (4 Anima) | Single-target physical damage dealers. Their job is to delete specific high-priority enemies |
Blaster (3 Anima) | AoE damage specialists with DoT effects, knockback, and stun capabilities |
Gladiator (6 Anima) | Duelists with strong 1v1 performance, often featuring self-healing or crowd control immunity |
Protector (3 Anima) | Frontline tanks that absorb damage and defend the backline |
Mastermind (4 Anima) | Utility units that set traps, summon additional allies, buff teammates, and alter the battlefield terrain |
Hothead (4 Anima) | Crowd control focused, specializing in forced displacement and group taunts |
Cherubim (3 Anima) | Pure healers and buff providers for team sustain |
Explorer (4 Anima) | High-mobility units focused on capturing objectives |
Mascot (1 Anima) | A rare role providing passive team-wide stat bonuses. Only Damasque is currently known to hold this Trait |
Biggun | Found in beta datamines. Likely a heavy damage or siege role based on the name |
Spook | Found in beta datamines. Likely a stealth or disruption role |
Building with Traits
Because Traits and Aspects are independent systems, team building involves balancing both. A player might want four Protectors for the defensive Trait synergy while also ensuring those Protectors cover enough Aspects to trigger Aspect synergies. Stacking Protectors, for example, grants increasingly powerful defensive buffs as the breakpoints are reached.
The augment system (Nexus Hextech) can modify Trait interactions by artificially creating synergies between units that would not normally share a Trait.
Team Composition
Good team composition comes from finding the right balance between Aspect synergies and Trait coverage. You need tanks (Protectors or Gladiators) to protect your backline, damage dealers (Strikers, Blasters) to win fights, and support (Cherubim, Masterminds) to keep the team functional. The Kardia leader's Exclusive Principle adds another variable. The 6 assistance slots let you pad synergy counts with bench Anima that contribute their Aspect tags without taking a deployment slot.
Example Anima by Trait
Trait | Example Anima |
|---|---|
Striker | Puddlipup, Bunmareen, Mushgloomini, Eggluvs |
Blaster | Cumulon |
Gladiator | Inkifoal, Scorscythe, Magisdrake, Marshalbird, Mimoo, Chocllamour |
Protector | Apollinis, Felinoxie, Inkicorn |
Explorer | Taileep, Pupanoo, Chimaura, Foalhardy |
Hothead |