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Build around the fight in front of you, not a supposedly universal best lineup: check the activity and any stage buff, use fighters you have developed, then weigh role coverage, Synergy effects, and formation. Team size depends on where you are playing and how far you have progressed, so an early five-fighter setup is not a rule for every mode.
Start with the activity and its deployment limit
The game is promoted as 5-vs-5, but that shorthand does not describe every deployment context. In a Netmarble update dated April 16, 2026, Story Stage deployment expanded from five to nine fighters, with additional slots unlocking as players progress. Netmarble also described deck creation using five to 25 different fighters and formations; that deck range is not the number sent into every individual stage. Check the current in-game formation screen, since later updates may change these details. Netmarble’s official game overview and the April 16, 2026 update provide the relevant context.
Read the encounter before choosing fighters
For challenge content, Netmarble’s official tips advise checking the active stage buff and choosing matching Sun, Moon, or Star fighters where applicable. The same guidance recommends well-leveled fighters and useful Synergy effects. Treat these as encounter-specific priorities: a lineup that suits one buff or enemy setup may not be the right one for another. Netmarble’s challenge tips
Balance roles without treating a formula as law
If your roster is small and you need a starting point, a third-party BlueStacks guide suggests one tank, two damage dealers, one support, and one flexible slot. This is a practical example, not an official team requirement or a proven best lineup. Use the flexible slot to address a particular enemy, strengthen a useful Synergy, or add damage or durability where the fight calls for it. The appropriate mix depends on available fighters and the content you are tackling. BlueStacks’ formation guide
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Compare your available options
When several fighters could fill a slot, compare them on the factors that matter for the current fight rather than choosing by name alone:
- Encounter coverage: Does the lineup have enough durability, damage, and support for this opponent?
- Synergy: Which available fighters and pets contribute to a useful effect, and does the current in-game threshold activate it?
- Stage buff: Does the selection match an active Sun, Moon, or Star buff where relevant?
- Development: Are the candidates leveled enough to contribute? Netmarble’s challenge guidance specifically favors well-leveled fighters.
- Formation capacity: Are you using the deployment slots currently unlocked for this activity?
Synergy is a composition factor, not a reason to overlook the stage itself. An official forum event notice describes activation with two or more fighters and pets sharing a Synergy, but thresholds and effects can change; verify the current details in-game instead of relying on an old event notice. Official challenge tips and the official Synergy event notice
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Adjust placement and roster after a failed attempt
If a lineup loses, revisit the stage buff and enemy setup first. Then try changing a fighter, adjusting placements, or shifting the flexible slot before repeating. Netmarble’s Google Play listing encourages adapting to fights with different placements and combinations; specific role-position suggestions in third-party guides are advice, not universal rules. Netmarble’s Google Play listing
As Story Stage progression unlocks more deployment slots, reassess the full formation instead of assuming an early five-fighter setup remains suitable. The documented increase to nine applies to the April 16, 2026 update; check the game for the current limit and any subsequent changes. Netmarble’s update announcement
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Why there is no universal best lineup
The available official guidance points toward adapting fighters and placements to the fight, while deployment capacity also varies with activity and progression. No single lineup is established as best for every mode, stage, enemy, and account roster. A balanced team is therefore the one that meets the current encounter’s needs with the fighters you have developed—not a fixed list to copy regardless of context.
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