Evolve and Master the Best Secret Unit in Anime Vanguards
The Grind is Real, but Love Train is HERE!
Stop scrolling and look at this beauty! After countless hours farming 'Planet Namek Act 4' and battling RNG for the Corpse Legs, it finally happened: the Valentine (Love Train) evolution is complete.
If you are a base Valentine owner and you’ve been hesitant about starting the quest line, this image is your sign. We are not just talking about a damage upgrade; we are talking about map-wide clone control and that game-changing 700% damage swap mechanic. Don't let your secret unit gather dust—get the showcase stats in our full guide!
If you’ve spent some time playing Anime Vanguards, you already know how rare and exciting it feels to pull a Secret unit. It’s one of those moments where you just sit back and think, “Yeah, today was a good day.” But getting Valentine is not just a normal win—it’s a big one. And if you take the time to evolve him into Valentine (Love Train), you’re unlocking something way more powerful than you might expect.
This unit has been talked about a lot, even in 2026, and for good reason. It’s not just about high damage—it’s about how different and game-changing his abilities are. In this guide, we’ll go through what makes Valentine so special, how he performs in real matches, and whether the long grind to evolve him is actually worth it.
Who is Valentine in Anime Vanguards?
Valentine is a Secret rarity unit, which already puts him in a very exclusive group. He’s inspired by a well-known character from anime, and his design and abilities reflect that powerful and strategic style.
When you first get him, he’s strong—but honestly, he doesn’t feel complete. He can deal good damage and help in most modes, but you’ll quickly notice that he’s missing something. That’s because his true power is locked behind a special evolution.
To unlock his full potential, you need to complete the Holy Corpse questline. This is not a simple upgrade—you actually have to collect multiple items and complete specific tasks. But once you finish it and evolve him into Love Train, everything changes.
He goes from being just another strong unit to becoming one of the most unique and powerful units in the game.
Valentine (Love Train): What Makes Him So Strong?
The main reason people still use Valentine in 2026 is not just because of his damage—it’s because of how his abilities work. He doesn’t follow the usual rules of tower defense units.
1. “Another Me” Passive Ability
This is the ability that really defines Valentine.
Every time Valentine gets 30 kills, he gains a charge. You can use that charge to create a clone of himself.
Now here’s the interesting part—these clones are not weak copies. They actually use the same range as the main unit.
That means you can place one Valentine and still cover multiple paths on the map. Instead of using two or three units, you can rely on clones to do the job.
This is extremely useful in maps where enemies come from different directions. It gives you more control without taking extra unit slots.
2. Ticket to Ride (Defense Ability)
If you’ve played high-level stages, you know how annoying status effects can be. Getting stunned, burned, or slowed at the wrong time can completely ruin your run.
Valentine (Love Train) solves this problem.
He is completely immune to status effects, which already makes him very reliable. But it doesn’t stop there—he can also send those effects back to enemies.
So if an enemy tries to debuff him, he redirects it and gets a damage boost at the same time (up to 30%).
This makes him one of the safest and most dependable units, especially in Raids and late-game content.
3. The 700% Damage Swap Trick
This is where things get really crazy.
If you are using the Vanguard Familiar (American Flag), you unlock a special mechanic called Election Won.
Here’s how it works:
- You create a clone using Valentine’s ability
- Then you sell the main unit
- The clone becomes the “main” Valentine
When this happens, he gets a massive 700% damage boost and becomes invulnerable for a short time.
In simple terms, this is like pressing a “delete” button on bosses. If used at the right moment, it can completely turn the game in your favor.
How to Evolve Valentine
Evolving Valentine is not quick or easy. You can’t just use normal evolution items—you need to collect parts of the Holy Corpse.
Here’s the basic order:
- Heart – This starts the quest
- Torso – Drops from “Sturdy” enemies
- Legs – Found in Sand Village (from Puppet enemies)
- Arms & Eyes – Usually bought in the Raid Shop using horseshoes
- Skull – Final step, requires 46 boss kills using Valentine
This last step is where most players get stuck.
Helpful Tip:
If you want to finish the boss kills faster, play Planet Namek Act 4. It has multiple bosses in one run, so you can complete the requirement much quicker.
Performance in Different Game Modes
So how does Valentine actually perform when you use him?
Story Mode
In normal Story stages, Valentine feels almost too strong.
Once you start using his clones, it becomes very hard for enemies to pass through. Even maps with multiple paths become easy to control.
His cost is also reasonable, so you can place and upgrade him early in the game.
Infinite Mode and Raids
This is where Valentine really proves his value.
In Infinite mode, enemies get stronger over time, and many units start to struggle. But Valentine’s abilities—especially the 700% damage boost—help him stay useful even in late waves.
His AoE attacks also make sure that large groups of enemies are handled easily.
In Raids, his immunity to status effects makes him one of the safest picks. You don’t have to worry about stuns or debuffs ruining your setup.
Is He Worth the Grind?
Let’s be honest—the grind for Valentine (Love Train) is long. You’ll need patience, luck, and a lot of farming.
But the result is absolutely worth it.
This is not just a unit with high damage. It’s a unit that changes how you play the game. The clone system, the defensive abilities, and the damage tricks all make him feel unique.
Valentine (Love Train) is easily a top-tier meta unit in 2026.
If you already have him, don’t ignore him. Take the time to complete the quest and unlock his full power. Once you do, you’ll see why so many players still rely on him.
Quick Stats
- Rarity: Secret
- Placement Cost: Around $1,200
- Attack Type: AoE (Circle)
- Best Traits: Solar or Ethereal
- Main Strength: Map control and boss damage
