Honkai: Nexus Anima Level 24 5-Star Pick Guide

Evolution Test note: this guide is based on the beta pool. Treat it as direction, not final release law.

Updated November 10, 2026: Cumulon is now a Strength Anima; the Cumulon advice below reflects that.

Level 24 Is the Least Panic Pick

By Level 24, you should already have two 5-star units and a team that basically works.

That changes how I look at this milestone. At Level 18, you're choosing an anchor. At Level 21, you're usually fixing a weakness. At Level 24, you're mostly adding coverage.

So I wouldn't force a "best overall" answer too hard here. Look at your actual team first.

My Checklist

Before picking, I'd ask three things:

Am I one unit away from a useful Aspect breakpoint?
Is my frontline still being carried by low-rarity units?
Did I skip Mesmerith or Bladehound earlier and now feel that gap?

If one of those answers is obvious, follow that. If not, take the unit you skipped at Level 18.

Evolution Test Ranking

Tier	Anima	Aspect	Role	Best reason to pick it
S	Mesmerith	Hate	Back / Carry	You skipped it and want safer fights
S	Bladehound	Strength	Front / Carry	You need a stronger frontline option
A	Cinechel	Memory	Front / Tank	You still don't have a 5-star tank
B	Cumulon	Strength	Back / Carry	You want a Strength pair with Bladehound

Mesmerith — If You Skipped It

If you made it this far without Mesmerith, your team probably isn't broken. That's important. Do not tear everything apart just to fit it in.

What Mesmerith adds is comfort. The sleep passive helps when fights drag out, when enemies reach your Back row, or when your timing isn't clean. It gives you a little more room to make mistakes.

I'd slot it in as a second Back-row threat, not rebuild the whole account around it.

Bladehound — If You Want Another Way to Fight

Bladehound is the pick if your team feels too dependent on the Back row.

It gives you a more aggressive frontline option and can carry short fights without needing as much babysitting. That doesn't mean it replaces your main team. I see it more as a second formation you can swap into when the fight favors pressure up front.

If you skipped Bladehound at Level 18 and your frontline still feels flimsy, this is the cleanest time to fix it.

Cinechel — If You Somehow Skipped the Tank

If you skipped Cinechel at Level 21 and your frontline is still a patchwork of 3-star units, I'd probably fix that now.

It's not the most exciting Level 24 choice, but a stable front makes every carry look better. Sometimes the "boring" pick is the one you notice most when you remove it.

Cumulon — For Testing, Not Necessity

I still wouldn't call Cumulon a bad unit. I just don't think most teams need it by Level 24.

Aspect support is still the concern. Cumulon is now Strength, and apart from Bladehound the other Strength units are C tier. If you already run Bladehound and want a Strength pair, sure, take it and see how far the build goes. If you're only choosing because it's the last unfamiliar name on the list, I'd skip.

After Level 24

After the third 5-star, most of your progress comes from improving the team you already have: levels, Aspect support, and better low-rarity pieces from Bond Encounters.

The big mistake here is chasing every new unit and ending up with no focused formation. Pick your core, then make that core better.

FAQ

Q: What is the best 5-star pick at Level 24 in Honkai: Nexus Anima?
A: Mesmerith and Bladehound are still the safest Level 24 picks if you skipped either one earlier. Cinechel is the next cleanest option if your frontline still needs a real 5-star tank.

Q: Should I pick Mesmerith at Level 24?
A: Pick Mesmerith if you skipped it at Level 18 and want safer Back-row damage plus crowd control.

Q: Should I pick Bladehound at Level 24?
A: Pick Bladehound if your team still depends too much on Back-row damage and needs a stronger frontline carry.

Q: Is Cinechel worth picking at Level 24?
A: Yes, if you skipped Cinechel at Level 21 and your frontline is still weak. It is less flashy than Mesmerith or Bladehound, but it fixes a real team problem.

Q: Is Cumulon worth picking at Level 24?
A: Cumulon is more of a testing pick in the Evolution Test build. It is now a Strength Anima, and Strength is thin below Bladehound, so most players do not need to force it here.