A Novaflare Marathon (Part 5): Ruan Mei has Made a Breakthrough (Fanmade and Newly Formatted)
(As this format comes from the template that I have used, and it is the template that they designed, I give full credit to jas [happy_ice_cream] from Guoba Certified's Discord community.)
Profile (Keywords)
Keywords of Ruan Mei’s Novaflare: Universality and Break is in Harmony, Pioneer of Supporting Break, Thanatoplum Rebloom Detonation, Allies Equals Assistants and Research Subjects, Madly Into Science
Gameplay Notes (Changes and Additions)
Caution—This section is for those that seek the TL;DR of my ‘Ruan Mei Novaflare.’ If you are still willing to thoroughly read and understand my ‘Ruan Mei Novaflare,’ then feel free to take an appreciated journey.
= Ultimate’s: While the Ultimate’s field is active, allies’ attack will inherit 50% of the Toughness Reduction of Ruan Mei’s Basic ATK and do a ‘Weakness Type ignore’ at 25% of the original Toughness Reduction value. The ‘Weakness Type ignore’ can stack with other Toughness Reduction effects that also ignore Weakness Type. Moreover, Thanatoplum Rebloom’s Break DMG is now 100%. When an ally attacks an enemy that has triggered Thanatoplum Rebloom by attempting to recover from Weakness Break, their attack will do a ‘Kafka Skill-adjacent target detonation’ on Thanatoplum Rebloom. Furthermore, the Ice Break DMG that Ruan Mei deals via Talent is increased by 10%, and its fixed Toughness Reduction is increased by 5.
= Talent’s: The team’s SPD buff is now 20%, and Ruan Mei gets a 10% SPD buff. Under the condition that the attack of an ally reduces the enemy target’s Toughness, Ruan Mei will deal 20% Ice Break DMG that deals 5 fixed amount of Toughness Reduction. If the enemy target’s Toughness is reduced to 50% or less, the Ice Break DMG that Ruan Mei will deal is increased by 10%. Moreover, Ruan Mei’s Ice Break DMG will do a ‘Tribbie,’ wherein it will prioritize the Highest HP enemy. Furthermore, the Break DMG that Ruan Mei deals when an ally breaks an enemy target’s Weakness is now 140%.
= Major Traces’:
A2’s: The teamwide Break Effect buff is now 40%. Under the condition that her Break Effect is 180% or higher, Ruan Mei’s Basic ATK’s Toughness Reduction is increased by 75% and ignores Weakness Type to reduce the enemy target’s Toughness.
A4’s: Ruan Mei will regenerate 1.5 flat Energy for every instance of Thanatoplum Rebloom triggering via enemies attempting to recover from Weakness Break.
A6’s: Under the condition that its teamwide DMG buff is at its max, the Skill will give a teamwide 14% Break DMG dealt buff.
= Eidolons’:
E1’s: The teamwide Def ignore buff is now 25%.
E2’s: The Ice Break DMG that Ruan Mei deals via Talent is now 60% and the fixed amount of Toughness Reduction it deals is now 15.
E4’s: The Trace "Inert Respiration’s" Toughness Reduction increase for Ruan Mei’s Basic ATK is now 150%.
E6’s: The increase for The Talent's Break DMG multiplier is now 220%. Moreover, Thanatoplum Rebloom’s Break DMG multiplier is now 150%. Furthermore, when it comes to ‘Thanatoplum Rebloom detonation,’ allies will now do a ‘Kafka Skill-primary target detonation.’
Character Abilities
Values that change with Level are given at Level 1/10/12 (1/6/7 for Basic ATK).
Basic ATK | Threading Fragrance
Single Target | Energy Regeneration 20 | Toughness Reduction 10 | SP +1
Deals Ice DMG equal to 50%/100%/110% of Ruan Mei's ATK to a single target enemy.
Skill | String Sings Slow Swirls
Support | Energy Regeneration 30 | Toughness Reduction N/A | SP -1
After using her Skill, Ruan Mei gains Overtone, lasting for 3 turn(s). This duration decreases by 1 at the start of Ruan Mei's turn. When Ruan Mei has Overtone, all allies' DMG increases by 32% and Weakness Break Efficiency increases by 50%.
Ultimate | Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream
Support | Energy Regeneration 5 | Energy Cost 130 | Toughness Reduction 5
Ruan Mei deploys a field that lasts for 2 turns. The field's duration decreases by 1 at the start of her turn.
While the field is active, the Ice Break DMG that Ruan Mei deals via Talent is increased by 5%/10%/16%, and its fixed Toughness Reduction is increased by 5. Moreover, the Toughness Reduction dealt by allies’ attacks will inherit 50% of the Toughness Reduction of Ruan Mei’s Basic ATK.
While inside the field, all allies' All-Type RES PEN increases by 15%/25%/27%, and their attacks apply Thanatoplum Rebloom to the enemies hit and will reduce Toughness even when attacking enemies that don't have the corresponding Weakness Type, with the effect equivalent to 25% of the original Toughness Reduction value. This can stack with other Toughness Reduction effects that also ignore Weakness Type.
When these enemies attempt to recover from Weakness Break, Thanatoplum Rebloom is triggered, extending the duration of their Weakness Break, delaying their action by an amount equal to 20% of Ruan Mei's Break Effect plus 10%, and dealing Break DMG equal to 80%/100%/104% of Ruan Mei's Ice Break DMG. Furthermore, when an ally attacks an enemy that has triggered Thanatoplum Rebloom by attempting to recover from Weakness Break, their attack will immediately produce DMG equal to 40%/50%/52% of the original DMG of Thanatoplum Rebloom’s Break DMG.
Enemy targets cannot have Thanatoplum Rebloom re-applied to them until they recover from Weakness Break.
Talent | Somatotypical Helix
Support | Energy Regeneration 0 | Toughness Reduction N/A
The team's and Ruan Mei’s SPD are increased by 18%/20%/20.4% and 8%/10%/10.4%, respectively. When the attack of an ally reduces the enemy target’s Toughness, Ruan Mei will deal 10%/20%/26% Ice Break DMG that deals 5 fixed amount of Toughness Reduction. When this effect breaks the targeted enemy’s Toughness, triggers Ice Weakness Break effect.
When the attack of an ally is not oriented as Single Target, the Ice Break DMG that is dealt by Ruan Mei will prioritize the enemy target that has the highest HP among the hit enemy targets.
If the enemy target’s Toughness is reduced to 50% or less, the Ice Break DMG that Ruan Mei will deal is increased by 5%/10%/16%. When an ally Break an enemy target’s Weakness, Ruan Mei deals to this enemy target Break DMG equal to 70%/140%/152% of her Ice Break DMG.
Technique | Silken Serenade
Enhance | Energy Regeneration 0 | Toughness Reduction N/A
After using the Technique, gains Silken Serenade. At the start of the next battle, automatically triggers the Skill for 1 time(s) without consuming Skill Points.
In Simulated Universe, when Ruan Mei has Silken Serenade, the team actively attacking enemies will always be regarded as attacking their Weakness to enter battle, and this attack can reduce all enemies' Toughness regardless of Weakness types. When breaking Weakness, triggers Weakness Break Effect corresponding to the attacker's Type. For every Blessing in possession up to 20 Blessing(s), additionally increases the Toughness-Reducing DMG of this attack by 100%. After breaking an enemy target's Weakness, additionally deals to the enemy target Break DMG equal to 100% of Ruan Mei's Ice Break DMG.
Bonus Abilities (Traces)
A2 Bonus Ability | Inert Respiration
Increases Break Effect by 40% for all allies. If Ruan Mei’s Break Effect is 180% or higher, her Basic ATK’s Toughness Reduction is increased by 75% and ignores Weakness Type to reduce the enemy target’s Toughness. When breaking Weakness, triggers the Ice Weakness Break effect.
A4 Bonus Ability | Days Wane, Thoughts Wax
Ruan Mei regenerates 5 Energy at the start of her turn. Moreover, Ruan Mei will regenerate 1.5 Energy for every instance of Thanatoplum Rebloom triggering via enemies attempting to recover from Weakness Break.
A6 Bonus Ability | Candle Lights on Still Waters
In battle, for every 10% of Ruan Mei's Break Effect that exceeds 120%, her Skill additionally increases allies' DMG by 6%, up to a maximum of 36%. When the skill reaches its maximum DMG dealt increase for allies, the Skill will additionally increase allies’ Break DMG dealt by 14%.
Eidolons
Eidolon 1 | Neuronic Embroidery
While the Ultimate's field is deployed, the DMG dealt by all allies ignores 25% of the target's DEF.
Eidolon 2 | Reedside Promenade
The Ice Break DMG that Ruan Mei deals via Talent is increased by 40%, and the fixed amount of Toughness Reduction it deals is increased by 10.
Eidolon 4 | Chatoyant Éclat
The Trace "Inert Respiration’s" Toughness Reduction increase for Ruan Mei’s Basic ATK is increased by 75%. Moreover, when an enemy target's Weakness is Broken, Ruan Mei's Break Effect increases by 100% for 3 turn(s).
Eidolon 6 | Sash Cascade
Extends the duration of the Ultimate's field by 1 turn(s). The Talent's and Thanatoplum Rebloom’s, which is applied while the Ultimate’s field is active, Break DMG multiplier additionally increases by 220% and 50%, respectively. Furthermore, the immediate producing of DMG of the original DMG of Thanatoplum Rebloom’s Break DMG done by allies is increased by 25%.
Explanation and Conclusion
It is expected, but still unfortunate, that Ruan Mei, the OG Break Support, can be put into retirement when it comes to supporting the Break archetype. Currently, she, at best, is the third Break Support choice or even the fourth, if considering HMC’s (Harmony Trailblazer) potent Break/Super Break buffs.
Ruan Mei’s Weakness Break Efficiency and Break Effect buffs still have their worth in Break, but when it comes to her Thanatoplum Rebloom that is applied via ally attack, this effect is merely a bonus now, not something worthy of immediate necessity. This is due to The Dahlia’s Skill that allows Break units to deal Super Break DMG, provided that their attack reduces the targeted enemy’s Toughness. Therefore, there is no need to extend an enemy’s Weakness Broken state if allies will, ‘bruteforce’, deal Super Break DMG. In regard to her teamwide DMG buff, it has worth in non-Break, but for Break? It is the opposite. Furthermore, unlike The Dahlia’s entire kit and Fugue’s Basic ATK, which is enhanced, and Ultimate, Ruan Mei’s only Toughness Reduction is her Basic ATK’s.
As for non-Break, they still appreciate Ruan Mei’s universal buffs of All-Type RES PEN, DMG bonus, and SPD. It is generally only in Apocalyptic Shadow that her Break-oriented buffs are appreciated. This is because Weakness Break Efficiency helps in quickly reducing the enemies’, most especially the boss’, Toughness. An example is pairing her with Phainon in this game mode because it is known that Phainon’s Toughness Reduction can go high. Even then, they are not getting the full experience of Ruan Mei’s supporting capabilities.
So, with what I have assessed, I, most likely for the first time, will be making Ruan Mei the subject of an ‘Improving experiment.’ Through this experiment, her Ultimate’s field will basically allow allies, non-Break and Break alike, to deal Break DMG—more Break DMG if it is Break—via Ruan Mei’s increased Ice Break DMG, which has its fixed amount of Toughness Reduction also increased; inheriting 50% of Ruan Mei’s Basic ATK’s Toughness Reduction; a ‘Weakness Type ignore’ buff that is 25% of the original Toughness Reduction value, which can stack with other Toughness Reduction effects that also ignore Weakness Type; and a ‘Kafka Skill-adjacent target detonation’ on Thanatoplum Rebloom, which is now 100%. Furthermore, Ruan Mei’s Talent gives a SPD buff to herself and her allies, and it serves as the starting point for the dealt Ice Break DMG, which gets a starting increase when the enemy target’s Toughness is at 50% or lower. As for her major traces, they buff Ruan Mei’s buffing capabilities, the uptime of Ruan Mei’s Ultimate, Ruan Mei herself, and her allies altogether.
To conclude, I must say that with this ‘Improving experiment,’ or Novaflare, Ruan Mei will be the last but definitely not the least Support for Break. Why? Well, she just ‘amps up’ the Break that has already been jointly ‘amp up’ by The Dahlia and Fugue. As for her supporting non-Break, she basically makes them ‘Quasi-Break’ with her entire kit. In being improved, I am intrigued as to what epiphanies Ruan Mei will reach in continuing her research regarding Aeons and how to become an Aeon.