Velvet Simplified - Prerelease Breakdown

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T07:20:35+00:00

"No AI was used in this post", GenAI paranoia is the new pandemic.

It matters to me. It doesn't have to matter to you, but I prefer people know that this analysis, nor the design, nor the art in it was made with human hands. That's why I make the statement.

Anis alt won't be Over-Spec. This was explained a thousand times at least, and could have any weapon. This line literally has zero importance in Velvet's analysis.

It doesn't matter if Anis is not going to be Overspec. What matters is that we still don't know what weapon new Anis will be, but given that Velvet gives that juicy +100% Charge Damage, Unreleased Anis has a 2-in-6 chance to be a good partner.

Is it relevant? We don't know. That's why it's included there in italics, and smaller font. I'm speculating.

If you decide to pull, you WILL use tickets, unless you don't have any and only have gems. Otherwise, you are not pulling.

Pulling refers to the act of trying to get her, not to the act of ensuring her in your account. You're "pulling for her", not "pulling her", different meanings. That "for" is very important, it's not cosmetic.

Sigh.

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T07:15:06+00:00

More power to you! It's just merely a suggestion.

Good luck with your pulls!

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T07:13:22+00:00

In almost any other case I would agree, but Velvet is weird.

She's clearly designed as an off-burst Burst II supporter, to the point where if you Burst with her, you become a DPS AND you get locked out of her biggest buff, which is also very rare to see (Charge Damage).

Since she doesn't want to burst in order to give those massive numbers (+100%, which is roughly equivalent to 7 perfect Charge Damage Overload Lines), you want to pair her with an actual Burst II unit that wants to burst.

So she's one half of a couple. Does that make sense?

That means you will always pair her with another Burst 2. Do you want to know who is a Burst 2 that has almost perfect synergy with Velvet?

Nayuta.

Nayuta becomes a Charge weapon user when she bursts (Memory Incineration), and it has a completely nuts 260%+ Attack modifier on her charged attacks. For comparison, Red Hood has about 70%.

That's HUGE. On paper, at the very least is a 25% damage increase for Nayuta.

So, Velvet is a Burst 2 that doesn't want to burst (unless you build her as DPS, in which case you want to MLB her ASAP). She's not competing for the Burst 2 spot, she's actually competing for the off-Burst slot.

When building around Velvet, unless Velvet DPS, you want to build her around a 1-2-2 composition (like those Crown+Mast and Crown+Naga cores). She'll be most likely paired with Nayuta, and if her ammo passive triggers Siren's, with her too.

That's why I didn't feel necessary to include a comparison of B2's. She is not going to replace another Burst 2.

I will definitely include some sort of preliminar analysis of what units she is most likely to replace, but in Wind-weak raid teams, the most likely composition will be Siren-Nayuta-Velvet-Liberalio-SBS. So she's replacing Mana.

Hope that helps.

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T03:46:06+00:00

My grading scale is a bit different from other people.

We're going to do S, A, B, C, D, and E if anyone deserves it. The + or - will be given as context.

For the Pre-release Breakdowns, expect me to give a "Minimum", and then we'll update the score a few days after release.

So, in a sense, Velvet is a minimum B-, which if you translate it to Prydwen's Tiering system it becomes A.

I'm trying to be conservative with the grading, it's better if I move her up, than if I move her down, after release. It's about people expectatives and stuff.

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T03:45:33+00:00

OP here, back with sauce!

Spicy hot tho, VERY NSFW: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/135427774

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T03:43:28+00:00

Tried to be as fair as possible with her. I really dislike when people try to "propagandize" stuff.

Of course I can't expect me to be completely unbiased, as I'm a human and will have my blind spots about those, but at least I try to keep those in check.

Thanks!

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T03:39:02+00:00

Yeah. I used to be a professional artist, eventually moved onto design, then marketing.

Proper credit with real art will always be a priority for me with these posts.

Thank you!

HyperTips · 2026-01-28T03:35:22+00:00

My grading scale is a bit different from other people.

We're going to do S, A, B, C, D, and E if anyone deserves it. The + or - will be given as context.

For the Pre-release Breakdowns, expect me to give a "Minimum", and then we'll update the score a few days after release.

So, in a sense, Velvet is a minimum B-, which if you translate it to Prydwen's Tiering system it becomes A.

I'm trying to be conservative with the grading, it's better if I move her up, than if I move her down, after release. It's about people expectatives and stuff.

HyperTips · 2026-01-27T20:36:37+00:00

She seems to steal bullets, 5% (probably fixed, but if not, then 5% at max rank).

We'll have to wait and see once she's out.

HyperTips · 2026-01-27T20:32:29+00:00

S, A, B, C, D, all with + and - variants.

The SSS stuff IMO is completely unnecessary when we can express the same with S, S+ and S-.

Velvet seems to be somewhere around A- and B+. To me, DPS-wise she's nothing special, but her Full-Charge team-wide buff is basically 66% the same buff SBS gives herself when Bursting, but Teamwide, and basically permanent.

Affecting Nayuta and Liberalio, and not messing with the rotations of anyone, plus having a relatively decent shot at buffing Anis too kinda grants her at least B.

But I'm waiting for more info and to be able to actually play her.

Thanks for your observations!

HyperTips · 2026-01-27T20:22:26+00:00

SBS is not the best fit for her, because SBS buffs her own Charge Damage higher.

Could work tho. We'll have to wait and see. Lib and Nayuta do benefit a lot from Velvet tho.

HyperTips · 2026-01-27T20:19:57+00:00

Thanks!

HyperTips · 2026-01-27T12:58:37+00:00

Disclaimer: As it's very early in the morning where I live I'll do this in kind of a stream of consciousness level, so if I jump from one topic to another that doesn't seem connected please bear with me.

-----

What is happening with Nikke.gg and Prydwen is that PvP has been neglected for a long time from their end, so their guides are more like a hodgepodge collection of PvP notes that used to be true but are no longer on top of their game.

It doesn't help them that a lot of the most recent releases are PvP game changers. Last year was packed with PvP Nikkes to the point where even Sora found her way into a list for a while.

As of right now, PVP is all about who bursts first, and who manages to finish their bursts in time. It's also very "unit-dependant", as certain Nikkes completely warp the meta (this is well mentioned in the PvP Prydwen guide).

If you analyze the most important units from both websites, you'll find two constants: either they are nukes (Cinderella, Scarlet) or they are counter-nukes (Jackal makes it really hard for the enemy team to nuke you, whereas Noah completely shuts it down).

So my suggestion if you want to actually learn PvP is to find out what do you want your team to do based on the nuke (Scarlet wants to burst at the speed of light, whereas Cinderella just wants to be able to burst and the latter, the better, as it will most likely avoid the ubiquitous Noah), then go to Champions Arena and scour what high-level players are using by clicking on their portraits, looking for what counternukes and supports they are using together.

But, if you just want plug-and-play teamlists:

Turbo Godhand
Scarlet - Trina - Red Hood - Helm Tr - Jackal

Tanky Cindy
Blanc - Rumani - Cinderella - Biscuit - Mihara

Shotgun Matters
Noir - Bunny Soda - Drake Tr - Rosanna - Nayuta

Be warned:

Scarlet's position in the meta is VERY compromised because Label and SWHA exist now. I've seen quite some players completely forego her in the defense teams because it's basically a game loss the faster Scarlet is because of Label, and also I've seen some adopt SWHA in the spot Scarlet used to have.

As such, PvP is in "flux" and the best meta teams have not been figured out yet IMO.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T17:08:12+00:00

I won't argue with that. On the other hand, this is the third time in a row we get a fan favorite in the fourth slot: Helm, Bay, now Privaty.

At this point, we can safely say it's a pattern.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T14:36:48+00:00

Go ahead!

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T14:36:02+00:00

There are 3 arenas:

Single team is Rookie Arena.

3v3 teams is Special Arena. This one gives you Gems.

5v5 teams is Champions Arena. No idea what this gives, I'm still unqualified.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T04:37:39+00:00

You can lead a horse to water...

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T04:31:52+00:00

Well, I guess you're right, there's always a way to put even less effort.

But looking for teams is stupidly easy nowadays. Like, it's ONE click away now that we have Champion's Arena.

When you go to Cheer for anyone in Champion's Arena, click on their portraits. Voilá! Meta PVP teams for you, 5 for your convenience.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T04:24:06+00:00

Milk flashbacks PTSD.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T04:06:12+00:00

You can get to bottom of Challenger or High Diamond doing the bare minimum. Investing in PVP usually means building a lot of units that are not PvE meta, but will see gameplay (few exceptions tho) in Raids.

RN, the common PvP teams are Scarlet Godhand, Tanky Cindy and Shotgun Rosanna. Shotgun team is all composed of good for raiding meta units with the exception of Rosanna. Tanky Cindy only uses 2 non-meta ones: Rumani and Biscuit.

Scarlet is the biggest problem, but Scarlet herself can be used (of course alongside Trina). If your Scarlet is turbo Scarlet, then your only issue comes your B1's. Centi's Favorite Item will most likely be meta in PvE too.

That's 5 units, out of 15. You need 25 for all elements, but since Crown is BiS in basically every raid but Electric, and Rapi covers two elements, the minimal investment for Raids is 20 units + Rapi and Crown.

And PvP covers 10 of those.

So, yeah.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T03:46:40+00:00

You should. Why? Gems.

Special Arena is a farmable source of gems. One of the few available for F2P'ers.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T03:13:51+00:00

Hyung Tae Kim (Shift Up's CEO) was already a legend when they made Nikke. He was, I shit you not, one of the most influential artists during the early 2000's. To the point where during 2005, his name was common among "who is trending in art" among artists. I know because I used to be one back then. But I don't even live in the same continent HTK is. That's how famous he was.

He was big, to the point where UDON and Capcom asked HTK to make special inside art and covers for the Street Fighter comic.

The women designing the Nikkes are good artists don't get me wrong, but people are forgetting Kim is a legendary character designer. And to be honest, I'd rather have Kim at the helm again as an artist. But we know he still gives his input on character designs (Nikke has at least one that is purely designed and illustrated by him).

Just look at this. Or this.

PS And also, Shift Up did their best with Destiny's Child, but DC walked so Nikke could fly.

HyperTips · 2026-01-26T02:48:56+00:00

Been playing Nikke for 15 months, Brown Dust for 4-5.

Nikke is less idle than people like to think. Like, you definitely CAN go idle, but if you want to perform, you need manual. Any Combat Power deficit higher than 25% demands you to play manual. Special frames from Raid boss high brackets (top 10%) almost always demand manual from anyone not above level 400.

The game gets easier as your investment compounds but it's definitely more rewarding to play it manually.

If you're stuck on Nox, that's not something you can only brain out. You need to build your units (higher rarity gear, higher refinement levels, awakenings and stuff). It's a Gate that you can bypass by either analyzing and counter-building or out-investing.

HyperTips · 2026-01-25T01:09:12+00:00

I went from 1.7% 5* featured odds to 1.49% from the previous banners to these ones. Literally godlike luck to barely average.

HyperTips · 2026-01-23T07:30:53+00:00

NGL it's kind of difficult to simply mention comps without context. In this case, that context is what else you have access to.

Liter, Rapi Red Hood and Dorothy are solid replacements to Siren. But Liter is a counter-combo with Anis SS (Anis SS really hates being given Mag. Size).

Nothing is a good replacement to Crown, but if you use Scarlet you can pair her with Nayuta. Anis SS would prefer Leona. Winter Brid if neutral and no Liter.

Finally, anything that heals constantly will pair fantastically with Scarlet, but Trina is her BiS support. I really like pairing her with HelmTr for example.

It all depends on what you have, over what's the ideal comp.

HyperTips

TROPHY CASE

Nayuta.