- Primary Goal: Acquire Binding Vow to unlock Sukuna in Anime Final Strike.
- Core Strategy: Utilize Julius and AA units to bypass permanent stun mechanics.
- Key Requirement: No Shanks needed; focus on Black Clover units for DPS.
- Essential Setup: Start at 1x speed, place supports, then switch to 3x auto.
- Critical Tip: Use Smoker for early stun protection and Osa/Aust for buffs.
Understanding the Sukuna Event
The Binding Vow event in Anime Final Strike is notoriously difficult due to the boss's ability to apply a permanent stun effect. Many players assume that owning the Shanks unit is a mandatory requirement to succeed, as he possesses stun immunity. However, this is not the case. By leveraging specific Black Clover units and a precise placement strategy, you can clear the stage and obtain Sukuna without relying on Shanks.
The boss applies a permanent stone/stun effect to almost all units on the field. Only specific units with innate immunity or specific support capabilities can function effectively under this condition.
Video Highlights:
- Demonstrates a full clear run without Shanks.
- Explains the Julius and Smoker placement timing.
- Shows the effectiveness of Black Clover units against the boss.
The Immunity Trio
There are currently three known units in the meta that provide the necessary utility to handle this boss's mechanics. While Shanks is the most popular, the alternatives are viable for free-to-play players or those unlucky with banners.
| Unit Name | Rarity | Role | Immunity Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanks | Mythic | DPS / Hybrid | Full Stun Immunity |
| Julius | Secret / High | Main DPS | Stun Immunity |
| Austa | High | DPS / Support | Stun Immunity |
Optimal Team Composition
To replicate the successful strategy without Shanks, your team composition must center around Julius as your primary damage dealer. He is accessible enough for most active players, especially with the current meta units available in the Elf Invasion. The rest of the team serves to buff Julius or provide temporary stuns to establish your foothold in the early game.
Main DPS
- Julius: The core carry. He must be upgraded quickly to deal significant damage while immune to the boss's stun.
Essential Support
- Smoker: Provides critical early-game stuns to protect your setup phase.
- Osa: Provides buffs to increase Julius's damage output.
Secondary DPS
- AA (Asta): A banner unit that is easy to evolve. He acts as a secondary immune DPS to clean up enemies.
If you lack AA, focus entirely on maxing out Julius. The strategy relies heavily on his ability to solo the wave once properly buffed and protected.
Recommended Loadout
This setup balances early-game survival with late-game damage scaling.
| Slot | Unit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Julius | Main immune DPS carry |
| Support 1 | Smoker | Early game stun control |
| Support 2 | Osa | Attack buffer for Julius |
| DPS 2 | AA | Secondary immune damage |
| Utility | Hammayas | Backline protection |
Step-by-Step Execution Guide
The difference between a failed run and a Binding Vow drop often comes down to the first 30 seconds of the match. Follow this precise deployment order to ensure your units survive the initial barrage.
Initial Speed and Placement
Start the match at 1x speed. Immediately place Julius near the front line. As soon as he is dropped, use your starting gold to upgrade him once. This ensures he has the bulk to survive the first wave while Smoker prepares to stun.
Support and Buffing
Place Smoker behind Julius to stun incoming enemies. Follow up by placing Osa to apply the damage buff to Julius. If you have Hammayas, place them to protect your backline from being overwhelmed before the stun mechanics fully activate.
Deploying AA
Place Triple AA units on the field. If you are running the Naruto buffer, ensure the AAs are within his range. This maximizes their clear speed. Follow this with a second Smoker if your economy allows, to chain stuns.
Max Upgrade and Auto
Max upgrade all your key units (Julius, AA, Smoker). Once everyone is fully upgraded and positioned, activate the Divine skill if available. Switch the game speed to 3x and enable Auto-upgrade for the final Osa or remaining slots.
Late Game Management
Watch the fight. If Julius or AA gets pushed back too far or dies, sell them and re-place them closer to the spawn point. The boss's perma-stun will affect non-immune units, leaving only your Black Clover units standing.
You will know the strategy is working when you see all non-immune units turned to stone (greyed out), while Julius and AA continue to move and attack freely.
Preparation and Requirements
Success in this event requires preparation. Walking in with under-leveled units will result in a failed run, wasting your time and potential energy.
Pre-Run Checklist:
- Julius must be at least Level 1 with initial upgrade ready
- Ensure Smoker is available for early wave control
- Craft or evolve AA unit item if not done yet
- Verify Osa or Aust is in the roster for buffs
- Empty your unit inventory to maximize gold usage
Unit Acquisition Difficulty
Understanding how easy it is to acquire these units helps you plan your grind.
| Unit | Acquisition Difficulty | Farming Location |
|---|---|---|
| Julius | Easy | Elf Invasion (Current Meta) |
| Smoker | Common | Standard Banner / Story Rewards |
| AA | Moderate | Craftable Item / Banner |
| Osa | Easy | Standard Banner |
Rewards and Next Steps
Completing this event grants the Binding Vow, which is the essential item required to unlock or evolve Sukuna. Given Sukuna's dominance in the Anime Final Strike meta, this event is a high priority for all players.
The Binding Vow is a limited-time event item. Prioritize this grind over standard story mode updates to ensure you secure this top-tier character.
Post-Event Strategy
Once you have acquired Sukuna, re-evaluate your team compositions. Sukuna often replaces Julius as the primary DPS in many general content modes, but Julius remains valuable for this specific stun-immunity niche.
| Content | Recommended Unit |
|---|---|
| Infinite Mode | Sukuna (Highest DPS) |
| Stun Boss Events | Julius / Shanks |
| Story Farming | AoE Units (Naruto / AA) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get the Binding Vow for Sukuna without Shanks?
Yes, absolutely. You can use **Julius** and **AA** as your main DPS units. Both have stun immunity or high enough damage output to clear the event while other units are stunned.
Q: Why does my team get stunned immediately?
The boss uses a permanent stun mechanic. You must prioritize placing **Smoker** early to stun the boss and buy time for Julius to start dealing damage. Always start at 1x speed to manage this micro-intensively.
Q: Is Julius better than Shanks for this event?
Shanks is generally considered an 'easy mode' unit due to his stats, but **Julius** is perfectly viable. Julius is easier to acquire for most players and performs exceptionally well when buffed by Osa.
Q: What speed should I play on?
Always start at **1x speed** to place your units correctly. Once your defenses are set and Julius is max upgraded, you can switch to **3x speed** to finish the wave quickly.