Welcome to the most comprehensive anime reverse wiki available for the strategic phenomenon Reverse: 1999. As we move through 2026, the game continues to captivate players with its unique "Timekeeper" narrative and deep tactical card-based combat. Whether you are a new player trying to understand the mysterious "Storm" or a veteran looking for the latest Arcanist tier lists, this anime reverse wiki serves as your primary database for all things Arcanum. Developed by Bluepoch, this title has redefined the turn-based RPG genre by blending historical aesthetics with high-quality anime art and complex storytelling. In this guide, we will break down the core mechanics, the best characters to pull for, and how to survive the era-shifting anomalies of the 20th century.
Understanding the World of Reverse: 1999
The setting of Reverse: 1999 is central to its gameplay and appeal. In this universe, magic is known as Arcanum, and those who practice it are called Arcanists. The world is plagued by a phenomenon called "The Storm," which occurred on the final day of 1999. Instead of progressing into the new millennium, time began to reverse, causing different eras to shift and disappear.
As the player, you take on the role of Vertin the Timekeeper. Vertin is the only individual naturally immune to the effects of the Storm, allowing her to travel through different time periods—such as the Roaring Twenties or the 1960s—to find other Arcanists and investigate the truth behind the world's collapse.
Key Factions and Entities
| Faction | Alignment | Primary Goal |
|---|---|---|
| St. Pavlov Foundation | Neutral/Order | To study Arcanum and protect humanity from the Storm. |
| Manus Vindictae | Antagonist | An Arcanist-supremacist group seeking to accelerate the Storm. |
| Vertin's Team | Protagonist | A group of Arcanists working to solve the mystery of time reversal. |
💡 Tip: Pay close attention to the "Storm Syndrome" indicators in the story. These hallucinations often hint at the specific era Vertin is currently navigating, which can affect the environmental challenges you face.
Core Gameplay Mechanics: Incantations and Moxie
The combat in Reverse: 1999 revolves around a card-shuffling mechanic. Each Arcanist you bring into battle (up to four) contributes unique Incantation cards to your hand. These cards are used to attack, buff allies, or debuff enemies.
Card Star Levels and Merging
One of the most important strategies to master is card merging. When two identical cards of the same star level are adjacent in your hand, they automatically merge into a higher-level version. This increases the damage and often adds secondary effects like "Stun" or "Dispel."
| Star Level | Action Cost | Moxie Gain | Effect Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Star | 1 Action | +1 Moxie | Base damage/effect. |
| 2-Star | 1 Action | +2 Moxie | Increased damage + bonus utility. |
| 3-Star | 1 Action | +3 Moxie | Maximum damage + enhanced utility. |
⚠️ Warning: Manually moving a card to force a merge costs one "Action Point" for that turn. Only do this if the resulting 2-star or 3-star card is essential for survival or finishing a boss.
Unleashing Ultimates
Every Arcanist has an Ultimate skill that can only be used once their Moxie gauge is full (usually 5 points). Ultimates are game-changing abilities that can wipe out entire enemy waves or provide massive healing. Successfully merging cards is the fastest way to build Moxie and reach your Ultimate before the enemy does.
Top Tier Arcanists to Recruit in 2026
The roster of Arcanists is vast, categorized by their Afflatus (Elements): Beast, Plant, Star, Mineral, Spirit, and Intellect. Choosing the right elemental advantage is crucial for clearing high-level content like the UTTU Gathering or the Somnambulism stages.
Best 6-Star Arcanists
| Arcanist | Afflatus | Role | Why They Are Top Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiu Niangzi | Mineral | Main DPS | Provides unmatched follow-up attack damage and self-buffing. |
| Tooth Fairy | Star | Healer/Support | Reduces enemy Critical Resistance while providing massive team heals. |
| 6 | Intellect | Support/Debuffer | Automatically applies random debuffs to enemies and buffs to allies every turn. |
| An-an Lee | Plant | Support/Sub-DPS | Her unique "Exorcism" mechanic allows her to upgrade her own cards for free. |
| Isolde | Spirit | Support/Burn DPS | Essential for "Burn" focused teams, providing consistent damage over time. |
Arcanist Progression and Psychubes
To keep up with the increasing difficulty of the main story chapters, such as Tristes Tropiques or Paradise Regained, you must invest in your characters' growth. This anime reverse wiki recommends focusing on three main areas: Insight, Resonance, and Psychubes.
- Insight: This is the equivalent of "Ascension." Increasing an Arcanist's Insight level unlocks new passive skills and raises their level cap. Insight III is the goal for all core team members.
- Resonance: A grid-based system where you place various shapes (Ideas) to boost specific stats like Attack, HP, or Critical Rate.
- Psychubes: These are equippable items that act like weapons. They provide a base stat boost and a unique passive effect.
Recommended Psychubes for 2026
- Brave New World: Excellent for Ultimates-heavy attackers.
- That Inquisitive Dear: The gold standard for healers like Tooth Fairy or Medicine Pocket.
- Hopscotch: Perfect for Arcanists who excel at clearing multiple small enemies.
- Long Night Ahead: A specialized Psychube for defensive units.
💡 Tip: Always check the Reverse: 1999 Official Website for the latest patch notes, as Bluepoch frequently balances Psychube effects and introduces new Arcanists that can shift the meta.
Managing Your Wilderness
Outside of the intense tactical battles, the Wilderness offers a peaceful retreat within Vertin's suitcase. This mode allows you to build a custom island using hexagonal tiles. While it seems cosmetic, the Wilderness is a vital source of passive resources.
- Vigor: Placing buildings and decor increases your Wilderness Vigor, which in turn boosts the output of your resource buildings.
- Dust and Sharpodonty: These are the primary currencies needed to level up Arcanists. A well-optimized Wilderness can provide a significant amount of these daily.
- Bond: Placing Arcanists in the Wilderness allows you to increase their Bond level, unlocking new lore entries and voice lines.
Strategic Tips for The Storm
Surviving the Storm requires more than just high-level characters; it requires tactical foresight. As you progress into the 2026 content, keep these strategies in mind:
- Elemental Counters: The Afflatus system provides a 30% damage bonus. Never ignore the elemental wheel. Beast beats Plant, Plant beats Star, Star beats Mineral, and Mineral beats Beast.
- Action Economy: You only get a limited number of actions per turn. Prioritize heals and shields if your HP is below 50%, even if it means delaying an attack.
- Status Ailments: Many bosses in the later chapters are immune to "Control" (Stun/Freeze). In these cases, focus on "Stats Down" debuffs or "Poison/Burn" stacks to whittle them down.
- The Tuning System: Vertin herself can assist in battle using Tuning skills. These allow you to reshuffle your hand or instantly upgrade a card without using an action point.
FAQ
Q: What is the "Storm" in the anime reverse wiki context?
A: In Reverse: 1999, the Storm is a temporal phenomenon that causes time to flow backward. It erases people and objects from the current era, "reversing" the world to a previous point in history. Only the Timekeeper, Vertin, is immune to its effects.
Q: Is Reverse: 1999 free to play friendly?
A: Yes, the game is quite generous with its "Clear Drop" currency. While 6-star Arcanists are powerful, many 4-star and 5-star characters (like Sonetto or Bkornblume) are incredibly viable for end-game content if built correctly.
Q: How do I get more Psychubes?
A: Psychubes can be obtained through the "Pawnshop" using currency earned from the "Pneuma Analysis" daily stages. You can also receive them as rewards during limited-time event stories.
Q: Can I play Reverse: 1999 on PC?
A: Absolutely. While it was originally released for iOS and Android, a dedicated PC client is available that offers enhanced graphics and keyboard shortcuts for card selection, making it a great way to experience the high-fidelity anime art.