Squad Building & Relationships Guide

Why Squad Building Matters

Attack on Titan 3's squad system makes team composition a strategic layer, not an afterthought. Your deployed allies affect mission grades, combat survivability, and reward efficiency across Story Mode and Exterior Scouting. Combined with the friendship system, squad building is the single highest-return investment outside direct gear upgrades.

This guide covers priority affinity targets, mission-type squad templates, friendship farming routes, and synergy pairs that unlock the strongest combo attacks for your custom Scout.

Priority Affinity Targets

Mikasa Ackerman: Top-tier DPS with exceptional aerial combo speed. Max affinity unlocks devastating paired attacks and reliable independent AI that clears lesser Titans without commands. Priority one for combat-focused players.

Levi Ackerman: Precision specialist with the fastest combo chains in the roster. Slightly less independent than Mikasa but unmatched for focused weak-point assaults on aberrant Titans and boss sub-phases.

Armin Arlert: Tactical support with thunder spear expertise. Essential for boss encounters and supply-dependent missions. Lower direct DPS but high strategic value.

Jean Kirstein: Balanced all-rounder with squad buff abilities. Good secondary investment for players who want versatile team support without extreme specialization.

Additional characters provide niche value. Invest based on personal preference after core priorities reach mid-to-high affinity.

Mission-Type Squad Templates

Story Mode (general): Mikasa + Armin + flexible third slot. Covers DPS, support, and tactical versatility for varied mission objectives.

Exterior Scouting (elimination): Mikasa + Levi + Jean. Maximum DPS output for quota-clearing missions with combo chain potential.

Exterior Scouting (rescue): Jean + defensive character + Armin. Prioritize civilian protection and Titan distraction over kill speed.

Nine Titans boss: Mikasa + Armin + highest-affinity remaining character. DPS, thunder spear support, and flexible third role for supply delivery or distraction.

Adjust templates based on your affinity levels — mid-affinity Levi outperforms max-affinity niche characters in most scenarios.

Friendship Farming Routes

Deploy target characters in every mission until affinity reaches desired tier. Exterior Scouting missions are the most efficient farming method due to repeatability and shorter mission lengths compared to story chapters.

Between missions, give preferred gifts at camp — each character has favorite item types that provide bonus affinity. Complete optional friendship missions as they unlock for large affinity jumps.

Camp dialogue choices that favor specific characters provide smaller affinity boosts. Choose responses aligned with your priority targets during simultaneous conversations.

Combo Synergies and Advanced Tips

Mikasa + custom Scout combos excel at aerial chain attacks — deploy together for missions requiring sustained multi-target DPS. Levi + Scout combos focus on single-target burst for boss sub-phases.

Rotate squad members during friendship farming to raise multiple affinities simultaneously. Exterior Scouting missions with rotating deployment slots (if available) accelerate breadth over depth.

Check our tier list for updated character rankings and the roster page for individual ability details at launch.