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Astra Yao
“My song… is with you.”
Character Description:
Astra Yao is a S-Tier Ether Support character who specializes in providing some “Off-Field” damage and buffing the squad’s DMG. She is also the first character to provide some form of healing, which is something that the game has been severely lacking. Her kit is a tad wordy but, once you’ve managed to cut through it all, she’s an excellent support who can power up any teams she’s on.
Character Materials:
Certification Seal: Support Series (4/32/30)
Element Chip: Ether Series (25/75/250)
Expert Challenge Drop: Higher Dimensional Data: Thunderous Dragon (60)
Notorious Hunt Drop: Finale Dance Shoes (9)
Character Abilities:
Basic Attack
Basic Attack: “Capriccio”
3 hit attack string, all of which do Ether DMG. During the 3rd hit, hold the Attack Button to charge, drawing in enemies and expanding the attack range for a stronger attack. After using other skills, you can hold the Attack Button to initiate the 3rd hit directly.
Basic Attack: Interlude
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, press the Attack Button to activate. Release a Tremolo, which deals Ether DMG to an enemy in front of Astra. A Quick Assist will be triggered when this Skill hits an enemy.
Basic Attack: Chorus
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, press the Attack Button during a Perfect Dodge to activate.
Launch 4 Tremolo at enemies in front of the Astra, dealing Ether DMG. A Quick Assist will be triggered when this Skill hits an enemy and Astra is invulnerable while using this Skill
Basic Attack: Finale
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, hold the Attack Button to activate. Release a Tremolo that deals Ether DMG and exit the Idyllic Cadenza state. Upon activation of this Skill, gain the buff from Core Passive: “Graceful Andante”.
If Astra has enough Energy, Consume Energy to follow up with 1 Tremolo and 3 Tone Clusters. This follow up Tremolo attack is considered an EX Special Attack.
Dodge
Dodge: “Mini Waltz”
Generic Dodge skill. Nothing special.
Dash Attack: “Lunar Eclipse Melody”
The Dash Attack itself is basic, but you can drag the Stick/Joystick to move while you perform the attack.
Dodge Counter: “Umbrella Waltz”
Generic Dodge Counter. Nothing special.
Assist
Quick Assist: “One Luminous Sky”
Generic Quick Assist. Nothing special.
Evasive Assist: “Two Hearts”
Generic Evasive Assist. Nothing special. Remember, Evasive Assist is the Vital View (time slow) Assist.
Assist Follow-Up: “Three Lifetimes of Fate”
Generic Assist Follow-Up. Nothing special. This attack fires an energy beam forwards.
Special Attack
Special Attack: “Windchimes & Oaths”
Move, release a Tremolo, and enter the Idyllic Cadenza state. During activation, you can control how you move with the Stick/Joystick.
Hold the Special Attack Button to charge during activation, drawing enemies in and following up with 1 to 4 Tremolos depending on the charge duration. A Quick Assist will be triggered when this Skill hits an enemy. Astra is invulnerable while using this Skill.
Idyllic Cadenza
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, Astra and all squad members gain increased DMG and CRIT DMG. While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, Astra cannot move but pressing the Attack Button will activate Basic Attack: Interlude, and pressing the Dodge Button will activate a Dodge. After triggering a Perfect Dodge, press the Attack Button to activate Basic Attack: Chorus.
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, Astra’s Anti-Interrupt Level is increased and the DMG she takes is reduced by 40% (she’s sturdier and it’s harder to knock her out of her attacks). After switching to another character, Astra will remain on the field and become Invulnerable. When switching back to her, she will automatically follow up with Special Attack: “Windchimes & Oaths”.
You can exit the Idyllic Cadenza state by holding down the Attack Button and activating Basic Attack: Finale or by holding down the Dodge Button.
Chord
Astra will gain 1 Chord for every 25 Energy she has.
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, when Astra has Chords, a Quick Assist can be triggered in the following situations.
- When the active character’s attack hits an enemy, once every 3 seconds.
- When the active character’s heavy attack hits an enemy, once every 1 second.
When other characters in the squad switch in through a Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, Astra will consume 25 Energy and Release 1 Tremolo. This Tremolo attack is considered an EX Special Attack.
After Astra triggers a Quick Assist, quickly press the Assist Button to switch characters and trigger a Precise Assist, which causes Astra to follow up with 3 Tone Clusters. When other characters in the squad switch in through a Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, they will automatically trigger a Precise Assist.
Chain Attack
Chain Attack: “Tipsy Concerto”
After the Skill, Astra will enter the Idyllic Cadenza state. Apart from that, generic Chain Attack.
Ultimate: “Fantasian Sonata”
Channel energy into a blast to deal Ether DMG and restore HP to all squad members. After this Skill, Astra enters the Idyllic Cadenza state, and the next 2 Quick Assists will be replaced with Chain Attacks.
Core
Core Passive: “Graceful Andante”
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, when other characters switch in through a Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, and when Astra expends Energy to release a Tremolo, both Astra and the incoming character’s ATK will be increased. The maximum potential ATK increase is 1200. This effect lasts for 20 seconds and can be extended up to 30 seconds with repeated triggers.
Additional Ability: “Moonlit Frenzy”
When another character in your squad is an Attack or Anomaly character:
When Energy is consumed to trigger a Precise Assist or Basic Attack: Finale, Astra will additionally follow up with 1 Tremolo and 3 Tone Clusters.
Mindscape Cinema:
1: 12-Tone Equal Temperament
When Astra’s attacks hit an enemy, the target’s All-Attribute RES is reduced by 6%, stacking up to 3 times and lasting 30 seconds. Repeated triggers will refresh the duration. – Buffs and debuffs. Can you say overkill?
Upon entering the battlefield, Astra immediately gains 1000 Decibels. When activating her Ultimate, all squad members gain 1 stack of Song of Protection for 60 seconds. When attacked by an enemy, consume Song of Protection to grant Invulnerability for 1 second. – So, free Ultimate and a shield on top of the heal. Nice.
2: Art of Greed
The ATK buff from Astra Core Passive: “Graceful Andante”is further increased by 19%, with an increased potential maximum of 400. While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, when other characters switch in through the previously mentioned methods (I’m not listing them all again), Astra will additionally follow up with 1 Tremolo and 3 Tone Clusters. This effect can trigger once every 3 seconds. – So, that’s a max potential of 1600, 3 Tremolos, and 9 Tone Clusters. That’s a lot of pretty lights flying around.
3: Interwoven Staff Notation
Increase all Skill levels by 2.
4: “Hair Upon Your Nape”
For 15 seconds after activating Chain Attack or Ultimate, Astra can trigger a Chord-based Quick Assist even if she does not have Chords. When the attack hits an enemy, the interval to trigger a Quick Assist is reduced to 1 second.
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, when other characters enter the field via a Quick Assist, they will receive different buffs based on their specialty. This effect can be triggered once every 3 seconds for the entire squad. – No love for her fellow Supports though.
- Attack: The next Quick Assist heavy attack on an enemy will deal extra DMG equal to 300% of Astra’s ATK.
- Anomaly: The next Quick Assist will have 50% increased Anomaly Buildup.
- Stun: The next Quick Assist will inflict 50% increase Daze.
5: Proxy and Silk String
Increase all Skill levels by 2.
6: We Are the World
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, the DMG multipliers for Tremolo and Tone Clusters will increase to 200% of the original value and the CRIT Rate for them will be increased by 80%. When triggering a Precise Assist, Astra will automatically follow up with the charged 3rd hit of Basic Attack: Capriccio, with an 80% increased CRIT Rate. This effect can trigger once every 10 seconds. – Well that’s rather busted.
Gameplay Overview:
Astra kit is rather wordy and full of redundancies so let’s try and break it down a bit more succinctly. Basically, she has a special state that she can enter (Idyllic Cadenza) after using her Special Attack, Ultimate, or by taking part in a Chain Attack. While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, she can’t move but she can still Basic Attack and Dodge and she buffs the squad’s DMG and CRIT DMG.
If she is in this Idyllic Cadenza state, when you switch characters, she will stay on the field and provide free Quick Assist prompts if she has Chords (1 Chord per 25 Energy she has). If you switch characters via Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist while Astra is in the Idyllic Cadenza state, she will deal damage to a nearby enemy and buff her own and the incoming character’s ATK.
So, in short, you want to keep her in the Idyllic Cadenza state as much as possible and switch your characters often. You’ll have to manage her Energy so that she can provide the free Quick Assist prompts. Also, something to remember, after using her Ultimate, the next 2 Quick Assists (including the free ones she provides) will be replaced with Chain Attacks. Oh, and her Ultimate heals the squad, which is nice.
Drive Discs:
Best: Astral Voice 4/Swing Jazz 2
Her entire gameplay is all about Quick Assist and Energy, so this combo is definitely the way to go.
Decent: Astral Voice 4/Hormone Punk 2
If you think your Energy Regen is good enough and you are having trouble reaching her Core Passive’s threshold, then use this one.
Viable: Swing Jazz 4/ Astral Voice 2 or Hormone Punk 2
Not the best option, though still viable. Use if you have but replace with one of the other suggestions ASAP.
Stats:
- ATK: You’ll probably need to get ATK on 4-6 Drive Discs to reach her Core Passive’s threshold. She doesn’t really need any other offensive stat anyway.
- Energy Regen: If you can reach her Core Passive’s threshold with just ATK on Drive Discs 4 and 5, then use 6 for Energy Regen.
W-Engines:
S-Tier:
Best: Elegant Vanity
Her personal W-Engine. Helps with reaching her Core Passive’s threshold, Energy Generation, and buffs the team’s DMG. What more could you ask for?
Good: Weeping Cradle
The standard banner Support W-Engine. Potentially pretty good. However, it all hinges on how the game defines “Off-Field”. If Astra is considered as being “On-Field” while she’s in the Idyllic Cadenza state, then this W-Engine is crap for her.
A-Tier:
Best: The Vault
Solid option. Provides good Energy Regen and a DMG buff for the team.
Good: Kaboom the Cannon
Good option. Doesn’t help with Energy in any way but can provide a decent amount of ATK, which double dips. Provides the whole squad with increased ATK, and since Astra’s ATK is increased, her Core Passive’s ATK buff is also increased, thus increasing the buffed squad member’s ATK even further.
Decent: Slice of Time
This one is the one you go for if you are having Energy issues. If not, go for one of the other two.
Teams:
Zhu Yuan
The obvious first choice. If you have a team now that revolves around Zhu Yuan, it’s likely that you have Nicole as the support. If so, just switch out Nicole for Astra and watch the team’s overall damage output increase. You could also have both Nicole and Astra as supports for Zhu Yuan if you wanted.
Miyabi
Miyabi, Astra, and the Anomaly character of your choosing. I would suggest Burnice. This would provide double “Off-Field” damage for Miyabi.
Harumasa
You would still need an Amomaly or Stun character. I’d suggest Burnce but anyone will do. Harumasa’s DPS is a little low and Astra can go a long way to improving it.
Final Thoughts:
Astra is a very good Support, probably one of the best in the game. She can drastically increase the ATK your main DPS, as well as increase the DMG and CRIT DMG of the squad overall. She is, potentially, a bit Energy-hungry but that’s speculation until we’ve had time to test her out, and she may take a little time to get the hang of, with how all her abilities interact with each other.
That said, if you can get the hang of her, she will greatly improve the damage of any team she’s in. And she’s the first healing character in the game, which is a very nice addition. I’d say that pulling for her is a wise decision and she’s likely to be relevant for some time.
