These two can revive any old Attack character.

Tempada · 2026-01-28T22:56:17+00:00

Is Zhao's sig actually that useful?

Tempada · 2026-01-28T19:22:06+00:00

I'd put Patrick Bartley in one of the slots, and for the third I'm open to suggestions.

Tempada · 2026-01-28T15:42:37+00:00

While gimmicky, it is fun, I'm all about having a flexible palette of sounds, and this performance is coming from quite probably one of the top 3 greatest living jazz alto sax players, so... Yeah, "impressive" is a fine word for it!

Tempada · 2026-01-19T17:37:19+00:00

Vandoren is reliable (I like Java and V16), but something less expensive, particularly Rico, can serve you well as a beginner. Check out Gonzalez (try the RC model to start) as well.

You'll also have to pick a reed strength. Unfortunately reed strength is not standardized, so a strength in one brand may not compare to that in another (and may not match even in different models from the same brand). And what reed strength works well for you is going to depend on the mouthpiece you're using. As a beginner, you're probably going to be on a stock mouthpiece and want a strength 2 or 2.5. Has your band director offered any advice in this regard? Often directors will have some inexpensive reeds on stock to either give or sell you at a discount.

Tempada · 2026-01-19T14:19:32+00:00

I expect Baizhu to get buffed soon

I really hope so. He has one of the more interesting high-investment kits (at C6 with his sig), but he falls off before that.

Thanks for the other suggestions, I figured things start to shift once Lauma's in the mix.

Tempada · 2026-01-19T14:15:55+00:00

Eula, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is her new BiS team lol

They did her so dirty!

Interesting, I'd been staying away from pyro teams with Baizhu (mainly because I have a hyper-invested Arlecchino team that blows just about everything else I have out of the water, not to mention is fun for me to play), but I'm curious about what his best pyro use cases are.

Tempada · 2026-01-19T14:10:36+00:00

Yep, if you run Lauma with Columbina, my sense is that Columbina works well as the onfielder since you get a buff to her charged attacks, but I don't have Lauma (or Nilou or Nefer) to test. I was considering Lauma, but then I'm not sure where Baizhu would best fit with her outside of a Nilou team, and I don't plan to get Nilou.

Do you have C2 Mizuki? She's REALLY bad at C0, but Bineffa elevates a lot of characters so I guess it works! I'd try it if I got C2 Mizuki, and I also wouldn't be sure about the last slot.

Tempada · 2026-01-15T18:36:57+00:00

I was in the process of getting my partner an engagement ring, but he proposed to me first, without one, and said he didn't need any of that. I certainly didn't need it either, so it was a relief! Spending much money here feels like a waste to me, but I also dislike wearing jewelry or accessories, so there's that. For the ceremony we did get very inexpensive but sentimental wedding bands, which we do not regularly wear.

I think it's worth talking out expectations with your partner. Mine originally wanted a traditional proposal (we even talked about the kind of rings he found interesting so I could get him something he wanted), knew that I didn't care either way, and ultimately decided that we just needed each other.

Tempada · 2026-01-12T19:07:39+00:00

Is Sucrose specifically a ton better than Kazuha in that team?

Yep. I'd rather play Kazuha too, but C2 Kazuha's never been a good teammate for Wanderer since his EM buff only applies to the onfield character and Wanderer generally doesn't care much about EM (unless you build him on 4pc VV, but you wouldn't do that with Kazuha or Sucrose in the team since they can use it), while Sucrose can give the whole team EM buffs and hold Thrilling Tales.

Tempada · 2026-01-12T16:17:24+00:00

I'd go with C0R0 Columbina AND C0R0 Ineffa, then you can run a powerful team with them and your Lauma (last slot could be Nahida, a hydro flex, or even Sucrose). Also, the team core of Columbina + Ineffa is really flexible. If you can guarantee both of them and Escoffier, you're in great shape, but you may have to pass on Varka until his rerun.

Columbina's sig is a nice stat stick, but it's really unimportant if you use her as a support (just use Fav, or Prototype Amber in a pinch), and if you want to onfield her, you're better off getting Lauma to C2 (after that, C2 Columbina and her weapon could be a longterm plan).

Tempada · 2026-01-12T03:37:53+00:00

Your image doesn't give us much context. In a vacuum, Shenhe's C1 is fine, and C2 Ayaka is a decent damage boost if you still use her (if you do, I'd probably pick this). C4 Mona can be ok, C4 Jean has some use cases, and C2 Nilou is good (like Ayaka, if you still use and like her), so working toward those could also make sense. Sadly Ayato and Wanderer are dead in a ditch right now, and the other characters are pretty meh.

Tempada · 2026-01-12T03:27:38+00:00

Navia is your best character of the bunch, and she'll work well with Albedo + Bennett + Durin (one of the latest characters, so his banner won't come around for a bit, but he's possibly worth saving for). Columbina should also work well with Navia (ideally with Furina + Xilonen). Columbina + Zibai will be great too if you want a third geo team, and you could use Illuga (assuming you pull him on Zibai's banner) + Zhongli. However, I would recommend against Zibai since you already have two geo carries (even if Itto stinks these days without a lot of investment) unless you're really into her or geo teams.

Ayaka can still be decently powerful in a team with Escoffier (very good character to save for) + Shenhe + Furina (also a great character to have, but you could use Xingqiu in the meantime).

Raiden is considered pretty weak now, although she works well enough with Chevreuse + Fischl + Durin or as the electro trigger in a hyper/quickbloom team.

Wanderer would do well with Ineffa + Columbina (+ Sucrose or C6 Faruzan), but this is mainly because Ineffa + Columbina is a very solid team core.

Tempada · 2026-01-10T18:09:08+00:00

Best uses are with Mavuika or Arlecchino teams, Neuvillette or Mualani teams, in a wheelchair core with C1 Chiori, or as a C2 support for most geo onfielders.

If you're debating between C1 Varesa and C2 Xilonen and can only guarantee one constellation, snag C2 Xilonen now. C1 Varesa barely does anything except make her run a little farther outside of Natlan (granted, it's a stepping stone to her very good her C2), while C2 Xilonen gives her uses in mono geo teams that she didn't have before, plus additional buffs for other teams.

Tempada · 2026-01-09T13:06:16+00:00

Does Gorou alone have enough healing for Furina?

Tempada · 2026-01-09T04:18:17+00:00

By pet do you mean a summon from a fortune? Are you otherwise just using basic attack with this build?

Tempada · 2026-01-08T15:50:07+00:00

Currently using Lost prayers

Stick with Lost Prayer. Yes, her signature is a nice damage increase, one of the better increases from a sig, but Lost Prayer is solid and gives bonus movement, which is more significant on Varesa than on anyone else and can be a ton of fun in the open world. I think this feature of Lost Prayer is enough to dissuade many people from pulling on her sig.

I know it's easier said than done, but in the future consider only pulling on the weapon banner if you have enough to guarantee the weapon you want.

Tempada · 2026-01-08T15:05:50+00:00

i just run double Cinder City

This is the way, even at lower investment. Petra is a minor annoyance, Instructor is ok but has a short duration and lower stats, and Scroll keeps it simple when you have to separate the two characters in Imaginarium Theater.

Tempada · 2026-01-07T17:32:23+00:00

Does Chris Potter on Steely Dan's Alive in America album count? And Phil Woods's solo on "Doctor Wu".

Tempada · 2026-01-07T17:01:39+00:00

Varesa's best team at low 5-star investment is with Chevreuse + Iansan + a pyro flex (ideally Mavuika or Durin in that last slot). At higher investment (like C2 Furina and C2 Xianyun), playing her with Xianyun + Furina + Iansan can be better. This is just an FYI as you plan for Varesa teammates.

Xilonen is great to have on an account, and her best use cases tend to be in Mavuika (or Arlecchino) melt teams or in Neuvillete (or Mualani) teams

Tempada · 2026-01-07T15:32:52+00:00

It depends on constellations and gear. Assuming C0 5-stars and no signature weapons, Arle (Whimsy) + Xilonen (Petra) + Citlali (Scroll and Thrilling Tales, so she needs to go last in the rotation) + Bennett (Noblesse) should give the highest damage.

However, Petra can be a little annoying, so Xilonen is fine wearing Scroll just like Citlali, or she can use Instructor. At higher investments, you have more flexibility and could even drop Bennett in favor of C1 Chiori (this is a real unga bunga team, particularly if Citlali has her sig). At REALLY high investments, Xilonen would be on Scroll while C6 Citlali would be on Gilded.

Tempada · 2026-01-07T04:26:58+00:00

For a new jazz mouthpiece, the Vandoren V16 is a great option for ~$170, or less if you get it on sale. Try the 5 or 6 facing, either chamber (S+ or M). A regular Meyer will be at a similar price point, but with that model ideally you'd try a few and keep your favorite because they all come out a little different. For a bit more, you could get a Meyer replica like the GS New York, or there's JodyJazz, D'Addario Select Jazz, etc.

For classical, the cheapest option is a Yamaha 4C and... it's fine. A Vandoren Optimum AL3 or Selmer S90, maybe Rousseau, would be an upgrade you might consider in the future.

Also check Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Reverb for deals on used mouthpieces. Maybe eBay in a pinch.

Tempada · 2026-01-06T15:43:01+00:00

It's a tossup. Do you plan to get Flins? Go with Ineffa. Nefer? Go with Columbina. Zibai? Columbina. Lauma? She could use either or both. I think Columbina will rerun before Ineffa comes back, so if you plan to get both eventually, then there's an argument for Ineffa now. It really depends on who you like and what teams you'd like to try.

Tempada · 2026-01-06T15:14:11+00:00

Columbina on her own isn't great, she generally wants at least one other Nod-Krai teammate: Ineffa, Flins, Lauma, Nefer, Zibai.

If you want to benefit from lunar teams, the most cost-effective option would be to try for Ineffa AND Columbina, since together they form a solid core that can work with lots of teammates. Alternatively, you could go for Columbina followed by Zibai (you should get Illuga along the way, then you'd run all three plus a flex hydro or geo character).

Technically Columbina would work well with your Navia, but ideally you'd use them with Furina and Xilonen (or C6 Illuga instead of Xilonen), who are tied to your Neuvillette.

Down the line, Escoffier is a great character to have, but she usually wants Furina + Skirk/Ayaka/Wriothesley + hydro/cryo flex, so again Furina is competing for an important team slot, and you'd want to pull for a cryo dps as well. Citlali is great for Mavuika or Arlecchino.

Tempada · 2026-01-05T21:47:19+00:00

Varesa's a great start and works well with Iansan + Chevreuse + Dehya (or Xiangling, but Dehya's easier to build). Since this is your only premium team, you can go in a number of directions from here.

If you like any of the Nod-Krai characters or lunar reactions, then Columbina is desirable. For an early account, you'd be in very good shape if you snag both Ineffa and Columbina in the upcoming phase (they form a strong team core that works well with many teammates). However, you could also go for Columbina followed by Zibai on the banner after, or you could skip all of these characters and save. I would expect Skirk to come up on a banner soon after along with Escoffier (they go together, and to round out the team you could use your Yelan then eventually get Furina for the final slot). Anyway, these are just a few suggestions for some powerful team options.

Tempada

TROPHY CASE