Story is the safest place to learn a new account and the clearest place to target standard and unit-specific equipment. Clear every Act in the current map to open the next map, but inspect Stage Info before farming: the documented map pool does not prove that every item drops from every Act. Use the equipment compendium for item effects, then check the team composition guide and placement guide before a difficult first clear.
Story map and drop index
Story Mastery drop index
Named unit gear belongs to the map’s Mastery route, not every normal Story Act. Confirm the live chance and pity card before farming; the Act-by-Act normal Story distribution has not been reliably captured.
The map relationships are documented, but do not infer a normal Story drop percentage from a Mastery pool. Act bosses and difficulty multipliers remain live fields.
Act and boss index status
The drop index above is complete at the documented map-pool level. A dependable Act-by-Act boss list still needs a current in-game capture. The rows below show that gap explicitly so an old test Act, a guessed anime villain or another game’s stage order is never presented as Anime Expeditions data.
To complete a missing row, select the map and difficulty, copy the visible Act label, open Stage Info, and record the boss and reward preview before entering. A video thumbnail or the source anime is not enough evidence for a boss name.
What the equipment drops are for
- Standard equipment can be used by different units and provides general stat or damage-type bonuses.
- Unit equipment only works on its matching character. Current equipment documentation says most matching pieces also require the unit to be evolved.
- A drop is not automatically best in slot. Compare its rolled stats and passive with the unit’s job, then test it in Sandbox.
- If the matching unit is not in your active team, finish map progression before spending hours chasing its exclusive item.
First-clear route
Placement that works on most Story maps
Place the opener where it covers a bend or a section the enemies cross for a long time. Put the main area carry where multiple sections overlap. Save a strong position farther down the route for the boss carry, then place support only when its aura reaches an upgraded damage dealer.
Do not fill every placement immediately. One upgraded carry is often more useful than several low-upgrade units, and unused placements preserve the flexibility to answer a flying, fast, armored or resistant wave shown by the stage UI.
How Challenges differ
Challenges use familiar combat but add a displayed rule or restriction. The July 16 map guide confirms Story and Challenge access to the documented maps and says Challenge clears add XP and other resources. Current item documentation also lists Gems and Gold among Challenge sources, while the equipment guide names Challenges as a source of Equipment Rerolls.
That confirms reward categories, not a permanent reward amount. The selected Challenge card is the only safe place to copy the current quantity, modifier and expiry.
Challenge decision index
Track drops without inventing a rate
Record the map, Act, difficulty, result and item after each run. Ten or twenty personal clears can tell you which stage is better for your account, but that sample is not an official global percentage. Recheck Stage Info after an update because the pool can move even when the map name stays the same.
Official Story preview
The official teaser shows Story presentation and map combat. Use the current Stage Info panel for the live Act, boss and rewards.
Story and Challenge FAQ
How many Acts are in each Story map?
The July 16 map list confirms that every Act in the previous map must be cleared to unlock the next map, but it does not publish a stable Act count. Read the map selector rather than copying an old test number.
Which boss is on each Act?
A complete current boss index was not available from the official description or the published map list. Open Stage Info for the selected Act; do not infer the boss from the anime inspiration alone.
Where do Equipment Rerolls come from?
Current equipment records list Challenges and the Gold Shop. They report a 2,500 Gold shop price, but the shop panel should be checked after every update before treating that price as permanent.
Should I farm Story or Challenges?
Farm Story for a displayed map item, a first clear or star progress. Choose a Challenge when its modifier is manageable and its current preview gives a better answer to your bottleneck.