Tsutomu Animus Spotlight

Tsutomu, the Masou Blade, is a hard-hitting single-target DPS who brings not only raw power but also disruptive debuffs.

With guaranteed crits against debuffed enemies, buff-stealing utility, and a powerful combo of Anti-Heal and Buff Block, Tsutomu stands out as one of the most potent nukers in Etheria: Restart. His playstyle is ideal for players who want a clean, controlled burst option that also dismantles enemy sustain.

In this Article, we are going to be breaking down the best ways to utilize Tsutomu, and how to gear him for the best possible results.

Skill 1 – Drifting Clouds

Deals 240% damage to a single target. If the enemy has any debuff, the attack guarantees a critical hit thanks to his passive Insight. This significantly reduces gear requirements and allows you to stack more offensive stats elsewhere.

Skill 2 – Vanishing Shade

Hits twice for 160% damage each. Each hit has a 60% chance to steal one random buff from the enemy. This is incredibly useful in PvP and boss fights where enemies often have multiple buffs. It’s also a great way to prep the enemy for a Skill 3 detonation.

Skill 3 – Lunar Blitz

Strikes twice for 140% each. If the last hit crits (which is guaranteed if the target has a debuff), it applies Anti-Heal and Buff Block for 2 turns at 100% chance when maxed. These debuffs are rare and powerful—especially against healing-heavy teams or buff-reliant bosses.

Skill 1 – Highest Priority

• Guarantees crits vs. debuffed enemies at max.
• Increases damage to 240%.
• Lowers the need for crit rate, letting you stack more attack/crit damage.

Skill 3 – Second Priority

• Increases damage and raises the chance for Anti-Heal + Buff Block up to 100%.
• Excellent value in PvE boss fights and PvP control.

Skill 2 – Last Priority

• Boosts damage and buff steal chance to 60%.
• Useful utility, but the damage scaling isn’t as high as the others.

Tsutomu is best built as a pure glass cannon—his kit revolves around striking hard and fast. He fits well in teams that can apply consistent debuffs (to trigger his Insight passive) and ideally protect him while he sets up his kill windows.

Great partners include debuff-heavy supports like Withered Shadow Sania or controllers like Lily.

Early Game Module Sets:

• Onslaught Set – +45% ATK➤ Pure power boost for maximizing damage across all skills.
• Swift Rush – +35 Speed➤ Lets him go earlier and take advantage of her Strike Prep stealing mechanics.

Mid to Late Game Upgrades:

• Keeneye – +18% Crit DMG, and first 3 hits of a turn deal 25% / 15% / 5% bonus➤ Perfect for burst builds, especially when comboing Skill 3 into Skill 2.
• Harvest Set – +10% ATK and ignore 30% DEF on high-HP targets➤ Great against tankier enemies and cleave teams.
• Bramble Set – +10% DEF, 25% chance to counter with basic attack➤ Pairs well with his healing to give unexpected survivability and turns.

Main Stats

• Attack% / Crit Damage / Crit Rate (depending on gear quality)
• Crit Damage x2 + Attack or Crit Damage + Attack x2 as an ideal late-game combo

Sub Stats

• Crit Rate (only enough to support non-debuffed scenarios)
• Crit Damage
• Attack
• Speed (for turn tuning)
• Effect Accuracy (to help land Anti-Heal and Buff Block)

Early Game Shells:

• Agent Lizard – Consistent and easy to get
• Unbridled Science (Shadowrunner) – Provides bonus Strike Prep
• Budo Panda (Apate) – General utility option for sustain and flexibility

Mid to Late Game Shells:

• Twilight Knight (Phoebe) – Helps reduce incoming damage
• Crossroads (Whitney) – Enhances healing based on her Skill 1 mechanics
• White Fang (NikoNana) – Provides additional damage sustain synergy
• Count (Asarte) – Top-tier PvE and PvP utility; favorite among experienced players

Pros

• Guaranteed crits vs. debuffed enemies thanks to Insight
• Anti-Heal + Buff Block combo is extremely rare and powerful
• Buff steal adds value in both PvP and PvE
• Lower gear threshold due to crit-guarantee
• Great single-target burst damage

Cons

• Squishy – Requires protection to stay on the field
• Needs team support – Reliant on teammates to apply debuffs early
• No AoE – Focuses solely on single-target elimination
• Can fall off if not properly tuned for timing and support