u/blackwaltz9

It's going to take at least a month to get a halfway decent 4pc of the new stellar swirl set. All the calcs I see are for the new set, which is cool and all but no one is going to have that ready for a while.

In the meantime, what's her best option: VV or GD?

VV gives cryo shred, which won't benefit her at all but will benefit Odette and Cryo Traveler damage I guess. It also gives 20% stellar swirl bonus.

GD just gives her a flat 180 EM (I'm assuming one other anemo character on the team).

Atk scalers have multiple options (including multiple support weapons and artifacts that provide an Atk buff to characters other than the wielder), whereas the only HP buffer in the entire game is C2 Xilonen. Def scalers are in the same boat, though they do technically have Gorou.

So why is this? Well I think it's because Atk is a pure damage stat, whereas a Def or HP buff would provide not only a damage buff to certain characters, but defensive utility to everyone. Think about it, if a character came out that buffed HP by 20k, that's essentially a shield (without interruption resistance). So while Atk buffers only benefit Atk scalers, an HP buffer would benefit the entire roster, either as a pure defensive support or one who also provides offensive support for Neuvillette, Furina, Mualani, etc.

This could make for a really interesting kit, in my opinion, but clearly something hoyo is afraid of exploring for reasons I don't understand. We have very strong characters like Ineffa and Nicole who provide defensive utility plus damage utility, but replace their 20k shield with a 20k flat HP buff and they effectively do the exact same thing, no?

That being said, when thinking about an HP buffer for Neuvillette teams, I realized he has a big problem: his (C1) teams require two hydro reactions for him to operate at max potential. If Furina is on the team already, that means the HP buffer would need to be a non-hydro character. This is not very likely in my opinion. The unfortunate thing for Neuvillette is that if there ever was an HP buffer, it's virtually guaranteed they would be hydro and that means at best, he has to sacrifice either his third stack or replace Furina. Either way, he has to trade something for it, rather than just getting a straight upgrade.

I hope we get an HP buff version of Nicole/Bennett one day. I hope this hypothetical character is not hydro. I hope this character is not tied to some faction gimmick that makes them not work well on Neuvillette teams. Unfortunately I think we've missed the boat on any of this ever being a reality.

Everyone is saying she wants the new superconduct set now but I thought the 4pc effect only works while on field?

Btw, what are her best alternatives for a superconduct team? Just 2pc Atk?

Or will they just release a stellar Ineffa in 7.0? With all the buffs it's got me thinking maybe there will be no dedicated electro off-fielder for stellar conduct so Yae Miko is who they intend you to play in these teams?

My Citlali is C0 full EM/ER build. Her personal damage is 0 and her shield strength is not that great, despite being full EM.

I looks at Nicole's weapon and I see that it provides basically the same buff (26% damage bonus to on-fielder) as her own sig, but it also gives an ER refund to the wielder when you create a shield, which is pretty nice for Citlali in Stygian.

The caveat is that you have to build Citlali full ATK, which means her shield becomes cosmetic, essentially. But it kind of already is so...is anyone else thinking about grabbing this weapon for Citlali? It feels like a strict upgrade over her own sig (unless she's C1, since EM effects her quills).

My understanding is that she is basically a buffer for anemo, hex DPS units, i.e. Varka and to a lesser extend, DPS Venti. But what can she do for other characters? (other than ttds + VV)