The Tonoko Style is one of the initial Styles players will frequently encounter in Volleyball Legends, belonging to the Common rarity tier (green indicator). It is inspired by the character Ryūnosuke Tanaka from Haikyuu!!, known for his power as a wing spiker. In the game, Tonoko reflects this partially with a decent Spike stat, but suffers from significant weaknesses in other key areas, resulting in a low overall ranking.
- Rarity: Common (62.5% base spin chance for any Common style)
- Inspiration: Ryūnosuke Tanaka (Haikyuu!!)
- Primary Roles: Basic Spiker / Starter Style / Placeholder
Tonoko possesses a distinct stat distribution with one notable strength offset by critical weaknesses:
- Block: 5 (Moderate)
- Bump: 5 (Moderate)
- Dive: 4 (Low) – Limits defensive save potential.
- Jump: 5 (Moderate)
- Serve: 5 (Moderate)
- Set: 2-3 (Extremely Low) – Note: Sources differ slightly on the exact value (2 or 3). Makes setting highly unreliable.
- Speed: 3 (Very Low) – Severely hinders movement and positioning.
- Spike: 7 (Good / Above Average) – Its only standout positive stat, allowing for reasonably powerful hits.
Analysis: Tonoko’s profile is defined by its Good Spike (7), offering some offensive capability rare among Common styles. However, this is heavily undermined by Extremely Low Set (2-3) and Very Low Speed (3), making it difficult to get into position or contribute outside of direct attacks. Its defensive capabilities are also limited by Low Dive (4) and only moderate stats elsewhere.
Gameplay Role
Given its stats, Tonoko fits into a very limited role:
- Primary Role: Basic Spiker. Relies entirely on teammates providing good sets near its position due to its inability to set effectively or move quickly.
Playing effectively with Tonoko means maximizing its only advantage (Spike) while heavily mitigating its weaknesses:
- Focus Solely on Spiking: Your main goal is to hit the ball hard when given the opportunity. Position yourself anticipating where the set will go.
- Anticipate, Don’t React (Due to Low Speed): With Speed at only 3, you cannot rely on quick reactions. You must predict where the play will develop and move preemptively to be in a position to spike. This requires strong game sense.
- Rely Entirely on Teammates: You need teammates who can handle serves, defense (bumps/dives), and especially setting. Tonoko cannot function effectively without good setup from others due to its abysmal Set (2-3) stat.
- Avoid Other Roles: Do not attempt primary setting or extensive defensive coverage. Stick to the front row spiking role whenever possible.
- Understand Limitations: Even with perfect setup, the moderate Jump (5) might limit spiking angles compared to styles with higher jumps. The Spike (7) is good for a Common style but will be outclassed by higher-tier spikers.
How to Get Tonoko Style
Acquiring Tonoko (Common) is extremely easy:
- Normal Spinning (High Chance): As part of the 62.5% Common pool, Tonoko will frequently appear from standard Style spins using Yen or Spin items.
- Lucky Spins (Cannot Obtain): Lucky Spins exclude Common styles and thus cannot yield Tonoko.
- Starter Style: It may be provided automatically or obtained within the first few spins for new players.
- Codes: Codes granting Normal Spins or Yen can indirectly lead to obtaining Common styles like Tonoko.
- Tier: Tonoko is consistently placed in the lowest tiers, typically C-Tier or even E-Tier (“worst of the worst”) by community analyses. This reflects that its single strength (Spike) does not outweigh its critical weaknesses (Speed, Set, Dive).
- Comparisons:
- vs. Other Commons: While its Spike (7) is higher than most Commons (e.g., Hinoto’s 5, Yamegushi’s 3, Haibo’s 2), its Very Low Speed (3) and Extremely Low Set (2-3) make it arguably less versatile or reliable than balanced options like Hinoto (all 5s) or even the slightly better setter Saguwuru (Set 7, Speed 5).
- vs. Higher Tiers: Completely outclassed. Rare styles like Iwaezeni offer better offensive stats with fewer crippling weaknesses, and Legendary/Godly/Secret spikers (Uchishima, Butoku, Sanu) operate on a different level entirely.
Conclusion
The Tonoko Style is a Common rarity style in Volleyball Legends, inspired by Ryūnosuke Tanaka. Its only notable feature is a Good Spike (7) stat for its tier, but this is severely undermined by Very Low Speed (3) and Extremely Low Set (2-3). Consistently ranked at the bottom (C/E Tier), Tonoko functions as a basic, highly limited spiker, requiring significant compensation from teammates and proactive positioning from the user. While extremely easy to obtain, players are strongly advised to replace Tonoko with almost any other style, especially those from Rare or higher tiers, as soon as possible for a substantial improvement in overall gameplay effectiveness.
