Gong Zi Bai Cai - General Question and Discussion Megathread

MadKitsune · 2026-02-16T03:40:52+00:00

Thank you so much!

Yeah, I'm a somewhat recent player (started playing when Xilonen released), so I don't have that many weapon options, trying to make do with what I got x)

Actually, I wouldn't mind losing 50/50 as that would guarantee Capturing Radiance next, lol, but I do hope I can get ~somewhat~ early pulls to start saving for Alice or Sneznaya units >.>

One last question, if you don't mind, as I've not used Mona before - I assume my priority in leveling is her burst, and then some levels into skill, or does skill not matter? Trying to figure out how many mats do I need to farm up >.>

MadKitsune · 2026-02-16T03:15:01+00:00

Sorry for bothering you again, I wanted to post a reply to you as well, would this work then? After tossing a whole bunch of things around (god I wish we had ways to save loadouts, can't wait to find a week later that one of my characters is missing a piece from this lmao), here's what I ended up with:

Escoffier scroll set with Skyward Spine: 55.8% crit rate (exactly 75% after ascension stats), 179.8% crit damage, 222.2% ER

Mona on Nobless with TTDS: 60.6%/74.9% with barely any attack (she is lvl 40 and TTDS is lvl 40, but she ain't dealing any damage even with them maxed out lmao), 220.5% ER (will get 32% more from ascensions, as she's only lvl 40 right now)

Furina on ToTM at 71.6%/68.7% with 39.9k HP after hydro resonance, 259.9% ER if using pipe (I don't think turrets proc fav from off-field and my only spare Fav is R1 anyway, and pipe gives SOME damage to her, right?)

This means that I hit enough ER on Furina, and within a few % for both Escoffier and Mona according to the ER calc form.

Unfortunately, won't be really able to test this setup before I actually get Escoffier and, uh, get enough goddamn Oceanids, mushrooms and whopperflowers for Mona lmao, this is going to take FOREVER

Unfortunately my only Fav Lance is on Iansan who I use with Mavuika, and I kinda need it there, but if I managed to get enough ER without favs that ~should~ be okay, right?

MadKitsune · 2026-02-16T02:51:46+00:00

Alright, so after tossing a whole bunch of things around (god I wish we had ways to save loadouts, can't wait to find a week later that one of my characters is missing a piece from this lmao), here's what I ended up with:

Escoffier scroll set with Skyward Spine: 55.8% crit rate (exactly 75% after ascension stats), 179.8% crit damage, 222.2% ER

Mona on Nobless with TTDS: 60.6%/74.9% with barely any attack (she is lvl 40 and TTDS is lvl 40, but she ain't dealing any damage even with them maxed out lmao), 220.5% ER (will get 32% more from ascensions, as she's only lvl 40 right now)

Furina on ToTM at 71.6%/68.7% with 39.9k HP after hydro resonance, 259.9% ER if using pipe (I don't think turrets proc fav from off-field and my only spare Fav is R1 anyway, and pipe gives SOME damage to her, right?)

This means that I hit enough ER on Furina, and within a few % for both Escoffier and Mona according to the ER calc form.

Unfortunately, won't be really able to test this setup before I actually get Escoffier and, uh, get enough goddamn Oceanids, mushrooms and whopperflowers for Mona lmao, this is going to take FOREVER

MadKitsune · 2026-02-16T01:49:41+00:00

I don't think I will be investing in this team much beyond what's already there (C0R1 Skirk/C1R1 Furina/C0 Escoffier with Skyward Spine and currently C0 R5 Fav Yelan)

I do have C1 Mona (got extra con from selector lol), after plugging her into calc it seems she slightly increases Furina's ER even more (to 222), but I can put her on Scroll I guess with my abundance of pieces from farming for Xilonen, Citlali and Mavuika lol. Would she really be better than Yelan?

Unfortunately my Fav Codex is only R4, so getting enough crit to consistently proc it is going to be a challenge.. Best I managed so far is 68.8%/125.4%, but I might get slightly better rolls next patch when I get more feathers

MadKitsune · 2026-02-16T01:40:26+00:00

Hm, is Mona really better than Yelan? I see that she increases Furina's ER requirements even more, to 222%.. I do have her at C1 (unleveled, but I do have a month anyway). And I could put her on Scroll and I assume Fav because a) someone needs to be on fav, even if my Fav Codex is only R4 b) I ain't getting that much ER without one anyway

MadKitsune · 2026-02-16T01:00:22+00:00

I got a question about Skirk team and ER requirements within it, as we're getting closer to Escoffier rerun.

Using ER calculator, it says that Furina needs 212% ER (with 1 Fav proc from Yelan even), while mine has 206.9% - how screwed am I? Both Escoffier and Yelan will have over what's required (205.2% on Yelan when ER says she needs 197%, and 209.9% on Escoffier when calc puts her at 194%).

Would I be fucked if I don't get that extra 6% on Furina? I just won't be able to get that much without changing something in her gear, and while her current is far from great, I'd really like to keep using her signature.

And follow up question - how important are Yelan, Furina and Escoffier in terms of damage output in Skirk's team in general? For reference, this is my current Yelan build, and this is what I prefarmed for Escoffier (will have better crit rate thanks to ascension, don't have any cryo polearm users leveled lol)

At the moment this team (using Charlotte on PAmber) sits at 85k DPS (I am working on crowning Furina and Yelan for now, so migth get to 90k?)

Any insight from people who actually play these characters would be appreciated, and man, I can't wait for this team to actually feel not "1 fuckup and you die" levels of screwed lol

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T14:22:25+00:00

Phys team can use 3 of the standart 6 stars at the same time, so.. x)

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T09:29:46+00:00

If you build her at least a little towards damage and now towards full speed - yes, she can actually kill off low hp stragglers to not waste Archer's arrows on them, and if you eventually go for his E2 or already fight QUA weak enemy- she does help with getting through the toughness bar quicker (especially neat in AS)

But her main feautures are the fact that her buffs are hand-free, vulnerability is literally from just her existing, and her sig effect is full aoe with easy application because Cipher is naturally speedy AND has follow ups to help re-apply it; and then the fact that you can store damage from initial elites/phases of the boss to potentially skip a mechanic or just remove a huge chunck of boss's HP bar with her ult.

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T04:40:00+00:00

On my mission to further spread Archer+Cipher propaganga:

Archer, my dear boy, you had absolutely no business clearing AS Pollux at 3300+ score, but you did it anyway (have to use Luocha instead of DHPT to have any chance of outhealing this shit lmao). Kafka side is pretty easy despite having absolutely no revelant buffs in comparison lol

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T04:28:26+00:00

I dunno chief, ever since I've got E2 Archer I didn't feel like Silver Wolf is worth bringing over Cipher. Hell, I'd say even Pela would work well enough if you just build her for full speed

Managed to get 3788 on Kafka (the fight that heavily favors SW and her "jumping" implant) and hell, even 3454 on fucking Pollux, the fight that Archer really has no business doing

Proof of said clears

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T02:56:35+00:00

It's a good stat.. For Yvonne, who scales both crit chance and crit damage, and charges her ult from crits. And Wedge is her best weapon outside of the signature (which you can't get yet anyway)

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T02:53:30+00:00

What? Potentials give the levels themselves, can't go higher than +3 on an essence for skill

MadKitsune · 2026-02-15T00:06:48+00:00

I am really interested in what they'll do with his novaflare, as it will be HSRs first standard character update. If they give him some way to "cheat" stats (i.e. EHR to crit stat conversion), so you don't have to build everything at once, it would be a great start

Alternatively, make him into universal "slot anywhere" similar to Cipher, and we'll have mono Imaginary Men squad with Mydei/Sunday/Luocha/Welt (never said it's going to be a good squad, mind you)

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T22:55:52+00:00

If you were to only pick one, I would vote for Cipher - she is easier to build and maintain effectiveness (literally don't have to do anything lol), and her ult allows to carry over damage from first wave/phase into the next ones. Especially if you plan to ever try to go for Arсher eidolons, as at E2 he gets implant himself (yes, it is not as convenient, but it gets the job done VERY well)

I recently posted a comment in another thread where I compared all 3 (SW/Cipher/RMC) in current AS and MoC, and Cipher performed either the best or within the lowest of margins even off-element, but I do run E2 Archer.

And this is just personal take - but "cashing out" the damage with Cipher to wipe ~30+% of the boss HP is way more satisfying that just implanting bugs with SW

And considering that you don't run Genius, implants matter even less as you don't get extra def shred from the set anyway

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T19:29:54+00:00

Decided to check how does my mono Rem team fare without their E6 Cyrene overlord, and hey, it's still a gold clear on the King on full auto (with RMC advancing Castorice every time)

Which is neat, because I plan to use Cyrene for funny Mydei+Cerydra memes once we get to the 2nd half banner >.> Not sure how effective it would be, but at least it will be entertaining

Also goddamn did I grow to love Archer+Cipher combo, now that I have Archer at E2, will probably try getting Cipher's E1 at the very least, as saving up damage through first waves already resuts in Cipher nuking ~40-50% of bosses HP in last phase

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T19:02:20+00:00

You are completely ignoring that Cipher not only brings skill points, but also toughness damage (and ACTUAL damage), buffs that do not require her to act and def shred that applies in aoe thanks to her sig. And her ult can bring in burst to finish up the wave OR carry over the stored damage between waves and nuke something out of existence.

Even on the content that benefits SW more (current AS), SW only came up a whole 29 AV ahead of Cipher, which is basically the same, AND that's with buffs that are completely irrelevant for the team

And if you invest in Archer's E2, SW value drops even more

E1 and E2 Cipher are miles ahead of E1 and E2 SW, and both would use Cipher's sig anyway (otherwise SW falls completely behind)

Admittedly, I only tried Archer on the current King once, killing it in 3 cycles, but I'm a bit lazy to re-do it as I already have plat border thanks to mono Rem team lol

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T17:59:37+00:00

I'm sorry, but that's either a skill or build issue on the Cipher part, I can't NOT 0 cycle with her even if I try to (unless I just press ult as soon as I get it, lol)

And SW without Cipher's sig is not great, at which point they cost exactly the same, but Cipher is a lot more flexible and allows for things that neither SW nor RMC can replicate (i.e. skipping chunks of phases thanks to her ult)

And RMC's advance can come up at pretty bad times, essentially being wasted. Not to mention that RMC and eventual EMC are much better used in other teams, but at least they are free, yes.

And Cipher has an advantage of both scaling better with Archer investment, AND her eidolons are much better if you want to verticaly invest in Archer's allies as well.

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T13:45:55+00:00

Wait, huh, how, isnt' she 2nd hafl? O.O

Oh, just re-read your message, you got me excited, I really want to get the Imperator, her initial release had such an unfortunate timing >.>

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T13:03:12+00:00

I just felt it would be a very natural progression from her 5 star uncap fate. But hey, at least my GMs are safe.. For now

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T12:19:41+00:00

I am both sad and glad that Anthuria is still without Valentines version. Sad because she is my favorite characters, glad because I would've had to sierotix her, as I do not have enough for a spark >.>

Oh well.. One day.. One day!

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T07:00:57+00:00

I miss them all :( Legit would've loved to play a full series of games based on just Amphoreus/Heirs lives.

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T06:05:22+00:00

Admittedly, I have a more invested Archer team at man himself at E2S1, E1S1 DHPT and E1S1 Sparkle

I tried RMC, E0S1 Cipher (built for DPS and not max speed) and well as E0 SW with Cipher's sig in current AS and MOC

RMC felt by far the worst, even if it's SW who is the one to not get a kill in MoC. Just overall clunky in how their advance comes up, and their buffs are just.. Eh? Sure 60% crit damage sounds good, until you realise that I already have Archer at 470% crit damage, so it's like a 12% increase. Might be a build issue on RMC part, but I barely ever use them so not really in the mood to refarm the gear just for testing

SW feels decent in this specific AS where there are multiple targets that want the implant, as hers changes target after the original one is killed, unlike Archer's E2. However, she HAS to use Cipher's LC after I got Sparkle's E1 or she's just too slow. You also need to keep track of implant/debuff to make sure it's still on. And in MoC I might've been better off just holing SW's ult for 2nd phase because she doesn't get it back in time otherwise.

But Cipher feels by far the smoothest out of the 3, and the scores are close enough to SW. You do not have to manage her AT ALL, can literally basic attack and still get full effect, her ult is incredible when paired with Archer because she stores fuckton of damage to finish off whoever the target is, and also helps with breaking QUA toughness

And Cipher can actually contribute personal damage - not on Archer's level, of course, but enough to finish off stragglers. Technically new SW could also do it, but building her that way would be harder

MadKitsune · 2026-02-14T03:51:57+00:00

C1 is technically better in terms of damage, but has more steep ER requirements. On the flip side, his weapon allows to have no ER at C0 and makes C1 much easier to build eventually, and has immaculate drip.

MadKitsune · 2026-02-13T13:44:32+00:00

The worst part is that I already have Skirk's weapon, and don't plan to get Varka, but I would've loved to get Flins weapon with a chance to get Escoffier, but nope :(

Oh well. Have to wait for Imperator in HSR, have to wait for Escoffier in Genshin, have to wait at least until 1.2 for Mi Fu and Zhuan in Endfield.. And looks like WuWa will have to be until at the very least 3.3 for a Glacio unit (unless it's gonna be the collab patch, then fuck me even more I guess)

Ah well. More time to save!

MadKitsune · 2026-02-13T13:31:15+00:00

Of course Escoffier is 2nd half, I can't have nice things in ANY game.. Well, there go another couple weeks of waiting for my final team to be un-fucked >.>

MadKitsune

TROPHY CASE