How to Unlock Characters

SHONEN UNLEASHED Character Unlock System

SHONEN UNLEASHED splits its roster into starters, standard unlocks, token premiums, and quest exclusives. Seven characters qualify as starters: Izuku Midoriya, Tanjiro Kamado, Jonathan Joestar, Ichigo Kurosaki, Monkey D. Luffy, Naruto Uzumaki, and Son Goku. You receive one free from a random trio on first launch. The remaining six starters cost 1000 cash each from the character shop.

Non-starter characters cost 2000 cash each — the standard price for most of the expanding roster. Guts and Yuji break this pattern, requiring 100 tokens apiece instead of cash. Saitama sits alone as a quest unlock: win five ranked matches on every starter character to earn him permanently.

Understanding these four unlock categories lets you plan a roster completion route without wasting tokens on characters you could buy with cash, or cash on premiums that only accept tokens.

Starter Characters — Free Pick and 1000 Cash

Your free starter is random among three options each new account sees. You cannot reroll this selection without creating a new account — choose carefully based on comfort and tier list placement. After the free pick, buy missing starters for 1000 cash each until you own all seven.

Starter ownership matters beyond shop completion. Saitama's unlock quest requires five ranked wins on each starter individually. If you never buy Naruto because you dislike his kit, you cannot finish the Saitama quest until you purchase and win ranked games with him.

Budget 6000 cash maximum for the six unpurchased starters. AFK farming, ranked earnings, and season cash rewards make this achievable within one to two weeks of regular play without spending Robux.

• Free: 1 random starter from pool of 3
• 1000 cash: each remaining starter
• Required for Saitama quest completion
• Seven total starters in the roster

Standard Roster — 2000 Cash Characters

Most non-starter fighters cost 2000 cash from the shop. These include fan favorites across multiple anime series represented in SHONEN UNLEASHED. Check our character roster page for the full list and individual kit summaries on the official Trello board.

Prioritize 2000-cash purchases based on tier list placement and personal enjoyment. Buying a top-tier character you dislike playing wastes both cash and the character path XP you need to grind afterward. Rent experience in casual free-for-all before committing if the game offers trial periods during events.

Season end cash rewards of 500 per rank tier above bronze often fund a single 2000-cash purchase outright. Time major buys around season resets when possible.

Guts and Yuji — 100 Token Premiums

Guts and Yuji are the token-exclusive roster members at 100 tokens each. No cash alternative exists — you must earn tokens through ranked wins, kill rewards, daily quests, character path tiers, and season payouts.

At five tokens per ranked win, each premium fighter requires roughly twenty wins minimum — fewer with kill tokens on losses, path rewards, and season bonuses stacked. Most players unlock their first premium within the first two weeks of ranked play.

Decide which premium fits your playstyle using our tier list and Trello kit breakdowns before spending. Tokens are scarce enough that buying the wrong premium delays your second token character by days.

Recommended Unlock Order

Phase one: master your free starter and begin ranked for XP and tokens. Phase two: buy remaining starters for Saitama quest progress as cash allows. Phase three: unlock one token premium that matches your ranked main. Phase four: expand into 2000-cash characters aligned with tier list meta.

Saitama unlock runs parallel to starter purchases — every ranked win on a starter counts toward the five-win requirement. Rotate starters intentionally during ranked sessions rather than treating Saitama as a separate grind after roster completion.