Quick answer
Use Story for core progression, Raids and Challenges for targeted objectives, Expeditions after level 20 for its Payload route loop, Tournament modes for competition, and Sandbox for testing.
Progressive modes
Story
Story is the primary learning and account-progression path. Use it to understand placement, lane coverage and upgrade timing while moving toward later unlocks.
Raid
Raids are targeted team checks with their own reward goals. Prepare for the encounter instead of assuming a Story formation will transfer unchanged.
Challenge
Challenges add constraints or focused objectives. Read the modifier, then choose units that solve it rather than forcing the highest-rarity roster.
Expeditions
Expeditions unlock at level 20. Protect a Payload through route nodes, coordinate a shared placement limit and use the Hub to improve future runs.
Competitive modes
Tournament
Tournament shifts attention from basic clearing to score, speed or another competitive measure. Optimize only after the underlying team is consistent.
Global Tournament
Global competition adds a broader leaderboard context. Rules and scoring can change, so check the current interface before investing around one strategy.
Other mode
Sandbox
Use Sandbox to inspect placement, range, timing and interactions without treating one test as complete proof for every map.
Choose the next mode
Ask what the account needs now: experience, an unlock, a material, a unit path, practice or competition. The correct mode is the one that advances that objective with a team capable of finishing it consistently.
Frequently asked questions
Which Anime Expeditions mode should beginners play?
Begin with Story for account progress and mechanics, then enter side modes when they provide a resource or unlock your team specifically needs.