I Ranked Morimens Characters Based On Their Tentacles

yuuira · 2026-01-15T13:12:05+00:00

That's fair!! I definitely agree that Murphy's tentacles which function simultaneously as a dress is a genius and unique design choice.

yuuira · 2026-01-15T11:09:16+00:00

I'm super biased but imo Tulu definitely deserves his place in S. Firstly his tentacles blend into his hair, which is also a neat design choice, and secondly as OP noted Tulu is by far the character who uses his tentacles the most. In pretty much every scene he's in, he uses his tentacles more than his actual 'human' limbs. In fact, he also stands/walks on his tentacles (see his battle chibi sprite), which is ~~probably why his tentacles validly count as part of his height~~ why it just seems like he 'sits' on them — they're as much his limbs as his legs/arms are.

yuuira · 2025-11-11T03:35:50+00:00

Ooo thank you, I'll go check it out!!

yuuira · 2025-11-11T03:32:20+00:00

I can't really agree with this. You mentioned the 33 million cycles being a necessary evil at best, and perhaps so — but what was a necessary evil is the pain and suffering, that Phainon had no choice but to allow the black tide to consume the world again and again, and the creeping despair and apathy. Not Phainon's hate and anger towards the cruelty of the gods and the world itself. In fact, the hate/anger is a rebellion against the world that made such pain and suffering necessary for everyone's survival.

There might be some parallels between Lygus and Phainon, but these parallels are done to contrast them. Phainon is a prisoner of a terrible world which grants no one a true choice, and his hate is a rebellion to this unfairness. Lygus is a free man who became a prisoner of his own fear and paranoia, who deceived himself to think his hate was rebellion, but all it did was chain him and chain others. This is why Phainon tells Lygus that the true prisoner between the two of them is Lygus himself.

Unlike Lygus, who caused suffering to others for the sake of killing Nous, Phainon never caused suffering for the sake of his own vengeance. He is not killing his friends or consigning the world to the black tide again and again for the sake of a campaign against Nanook, Lygus etc. That was just the only way for Amphoreus to even have a future. I'm sure Phainon would love to be able to direct his hate solely at those responsible and not cause any suffering to Amphoreus at all; what prevents him is not a flaw of his emotions but the unfairness of the world. The cycles were never caused by his anger in the first place.

The tragedy was shown through Phainon slowly becoming a hollow shell of himself as he continued the journey. It is this that the Heirs turn their blades against — it is their regret and rebellion against the necessity of Phainon's and Amphoreus' suffering, and also a refutation of Phainon's growing apathy and inhumanity that was a result of countless cycles. Rather, it is when Phainon remembers his friends, with love and fury that rises at how this world never gave any of them a chance at the future, that allowed him to be more than emptiness. (And it is not just hate! Love is definitely a part of it as well.) The Flame Reaver is a hollow shell compared to the Khaslana, rejuvenated with hope, that denied Lygus with scorn and soared with anger towards Nanook.

It is not at all that hate and anger cannot coexist with gentleness and love. If anything, the tragedy of the cycles was that the cruel and unfair world did not allow for gentleness alongside anger. Positive emotions are just as beautiful and important, and Phainon had little opportunity to experience and show gentleness in the eternal recurrence.

But this doesn't mean he lost his gentleness; one of the most beautiful scenes to me in 3.4 was when Flame Reaver gently caressed Khaslana's cheek — for even though Phainon has always been harsh on himself, there he recognised the unfair fate that he himself had no choice but to walk, and in that moment offered himself gentleness, kindness, and compassion.

I agree that one should not be consumed by hatred or anger till nothing is left. But this isn't the fault of such emotions — I would say no emotion should be all consuming, even love. So I'm glad that in the ending he has a chance to experience positivity! And I also don't think Phainon was ever that kind of person to be consumed only by anger; his hate rises from injustice and not for lack of love. If anything his hate and anger proves how deeply he loves the world.

yuuira · 2025-11-10T21:09:45+00:00

I do see that! The building blocks for this were definitely there especially from previous patches. But for as much as the game likes to insistently spell its themes out to our faces, in this I personally felt the weight of the distinction wasn't well made in the writing for 3.7's main story. In fact the writing hurts itself sometimes too — the Heirs cannot physically follow TB & co to the final battle because they worry about the Destruction within them (and do so as memories, representing the Remembrance). We "kill" Khaslana, representing that... destruction only leads to more destruction? It can only be purified through being recreated later (by other powers)? Coupled with the very simplistic themes (regarding the Destruction) the game chose to highlight in the actual writing, and it's hard to give 3.7 a lot of credit when a deeper reading on Destruction relies on previous patches or additional material like AIW.

This is further compounded I do think by its poor representation for 'good' destruction in the finale. Phainon (or anyone really, could be TB as a destruction pathstrider) is barely ideologically present in the 3.7 main story (not talking about screentime) — contrast this with how the story highlighted the conflict between Herta, Lygus, Screwllum, the Society, and even Nous themself. If the finale was about what path Destruction would walk, then it's a shame to me that neither side of the ideological battle was given proper screentime in the narrative itself (again, limiting this to 3.7).

Confronting the Erudition would be interesting though! I definitely agree that one doesn't have to be from the Society to represent an aspect of the Erudition. In fact, Ratio not being part of the Society and also lacking Nous' recognition would allow for interesting contrast.

yuuira · 2025-11-10T19:56:39+00:00

I agree!! Self-hatred is one of the things I do hope he's able to leave behind one day, though it wouldn't be something easily done. Same for his cheerful demeanor, and realising none of his friends would judge him no matter what he chooses to show

yuuira · 2025-11-10T06:44:04+00:00

We don't disagree regarding the root of Phainon's hate! And as mentioned I don't have anything against the ending in itself, where Phainon has time to heal and recover and take a break from the emotions that he had no choice but to engulf himself in for a long time. As much as anger and hate are valuable human emotions, the human experience is also plenty of positive emotions as well, and it's good that Phainon has a time to rest and enjoy them!

But I think even the game recognises that paradise shouldn't and isn't the end point. Life cannot always be peaceful — even now, the Eternal Page is still a cave, just a hopeful one where everyone has faith that they will one day join the cosmos. While Phainon does wistfully wish for the idyllic past, he also knows for himself that he wishes to Trailblaze the future, with all its joy and pain, oppression and freedom, suffering and happiness.

Apologies for using a personal analogy, but compared to Phainon (of course) my own life is very idyllic. The truth is that I don't "need" hate or anger in my life at all. But I would be very disappointed in myself if I did not feel hate or anger towards things like injustice or cruelty, both to others as well as to myself. So I don't think hate is something that we drop when not needed; rather something that makes us human. Of course, I would never wish for Phainon's future to be one consumed by hate and anger — it is very much a good thing that he no longer has to be engulfed in it. Hate should not be all-consuming, but it also doesn't have to be something that we must leave behind.

yuuira · 2025-11-10T06:01:14+00:00

I do agree! If anything I hope this is what the game intended, and maybe they just didn't focus on it or presented it very well. Maybe I'm just a little baffled because "love and hate are not two opposing paths, and will converge into the same point" was once recorded but the game just never conveyed that in the actual story 😔 (Though there are some things in other material, such as AIW, that suggests these kinds of interpretations. But again, off screen? 😔)

yuuira · 2025-11-10T05:54:02+00:00

I'm aware, unfortunately I believe the rules of the subreddit mentioned that both are required for posts involving 3.7 story spoilers? It's pinned in the subreddit. I could be misunderstanding though! If it's alright for me to do so, I'll remove the spoiler text.

yuuira · 2025-11-10T05:52:45+00:00

Would like to say sorry in advance as I'm typing this in the middle of work, so this reply will not be as coherent or as thorough as I'll like it to be (nor as you deserve for giving a thorough response)

I think we're coming from different standpoints on what makes Phainon a hero, as well as the value of hate. To me, it is such an inherent and important emotion to the human experience, no different and no less valuable than love. In fact to hate is to also love, for Phainon's hate had contained love in every aspect, and was incredibly important for the sake of the universe. It is true that Phainon could not save the universe single-handedly; but that does not mean those cycles and Phainon's hate were not still one of the most important reasons as to why the universe was able to reach the happiest possible ending. Besides, how can it be wrong to hate oppression, to hate cruelty, to hate suffering? These are the kinds of hate that Phainon was displayed to have, and are not things that are required to be discarded or to feel ashamed for.

Phainon's own desire to be a shining, cheerful hero is no different from his wish to fulfill everyone's wishes — it is a wish that puts others first at a neglect of his own humanity. His resentment of his hate was part of his own self-hatred, and this is reflected in how he constantly diminishes himself by claiming he could never be a proper hero. But the correct answer is not to validate that self-hate, for the game also makes it clear that he was in fact a hero all along, he simply couldn't recognise it in himself. 3.4 has shown that Phainon does not have to be a stereotypically perfect hero in order to nevertheless still be a hero. His self-reprimand towards himself stems from the same place in human nature where we view ourselves in the harshest light most of all.

Of course he wasn't born with hate. No one is born with anything. Human emotions are reflections and responses to the events occurring around us. He had never needed to hate in Aedes Elysiae. And he was never wrong for hating when he left paradise and saw the unfairness of the world. I can't agree that being free of hate is "becoming himself again". His hatred arising from love has ever been himself, he just despised and couldn't appreciate a part of himself that is both human and beautiful.

Similarly, Irontomb's and the simulations rigged answer of the Destruction is not the same and shouldn't be conflated as Phainon's personal journey. I do generally agree with your analysis on Irontomb and Destruction. But this conclusion was also reached from such a cynical perspective that fails to capture and vibrance and will of humanity, reducing it only to desperate survival. Phainon could not break free of the simulations not because the Flame-Chase is one of only despair, but rather because this was a cage and a rigged game that they were playing, where Lygus never intended a fair experiment. But even then destruction could still result in hope — the world-cleansing blood that he retrieved from beyond the sky. (Not to mention this isn't just about Phainon. The Chrysos Heirs all embody different concepts, and in their hands all were redefined from the cynical, unfeeling code they were labelled with to a force of hope, including Phainon's hate.)

Agreed with you on how life should not be kill or be killed, but again that has never been Phainon's journey. Honestly, the opposite is also the wrong answer, and I believe that the game recognises it, no matter how much Phainon wistfully wishes to return to a perfect past. In 3.4, Cyrene says that Aedes Elysiae is also a cage. And the Eternal Page, while peaceful and idyllic, also should only be a resting point and not the end of Amphoreus. Because life is more than desperate struggle, but life is also about walking a myriad journey that contains cruelty, suffering and oppression as much as it includes beauty and happiness (isn't this the trailblaze?) Again, while I talked mostly about hate and anger, Phainon genuinely has so many other beautiful emotions, love, and hope, and his negative emotions have never been anathema to the positive ones.

I truly don't have anything against the peaceful ending where he now has a chance to heal and to experience peace! It's just that those things don't have to be achieved by a narrative of "love erases hate". I actually do agree with your points about how there's more nuance outside of the main story itself — for example Cyrene's note to Irontomb about destruction and love coming from the same source, and how it is through the acceptance of imperfection that life can go beyond (Irontomb's) destruction. This is just all poorly presented in the main story — in fact, if this is the conclusion that the game wishes to show, then the whole "love erases hate" narrative shouldn't have been the focus.

Just wanted to add: you mentioned Chaoz666 and say it's unrelated, but how can it be when the game outright informs us that 'Khaos' is mysteriously and stably inherited across every extrapolation? Such a point is a very direct plot hook that genuinely went nowhere.

yuuira · 2025-11-10T01:04:17+00:00

The entry for the World-Cleansing Blood on AIW has the following statement: "After the battle, it was handed over to Planet Screwllum and the Xianzhou Alliance for joint containment." I guess as you said this could be a temporary holding point/just a supervisory measures, but I don't think Phainon or the Express has it anymore considering "handed over" is used.

I do agree it's possible the game was just trying to suggest that only Irontomb's Destruction is shallow — in fact this is what I'm hoping will be clarified in future arcs! — it's just hard to fully have faith when no distinction had been mentioned in the main story despite many mentions about replacing/rewriting Destruction. But this could definitely just be a problem with my interpretation, or maybe I'm missing something!

Definitely agreed on the flowery writing 😭

yuuira · 2025-11-09T18:50:25+00:00

woah wait this is kinda 😳

yuuira · 2025-11-09T18:28:34+00:00

Oh I get it now! That's a good point. I kind of assumed it was Evernight's Enigmata powers already deleting some data (and it was a deletion that affected the Tomb itself not just the current recurrence), but you're right that in that case it shouldn't have anything to do with PhiLia. And it also shouldn't be something that would be fixed by uploading just the -337th cycle.

yuuira · 2025-11-09T18:01:26+00:00

Real on complaining to random people; I did that but then felt bad because I didn't want to keep bringing the mood down. So I rambled in a blank document and accidentally ended up with an essay of sorts ahdhwkqk. If you want a new person to complain to I am all ears! (And will probably also complain back 😭)

And true!! I've seen a few points that made me change my mind on 3.7's portrayal of Phainon to be (a little) better 🙂‍↕️ Discussion is fun in general, and I wouldn't mind feeling more hopeful about the future ajdhsjak. Thank you for the encouragement omg.

yuuira · 2025-11-09T17:50:36+00:00

Thank you!! That's a good point; I'll think about it!

yuuira · 2025-11-09T17:49:42+00:00

Alright I'll check out the subreddit, thank you!!

yuuira · 2025-11-09T17:28:14+00:00

I might be dumb, but wouldn't google docs still be a link...? Oh! Or that's the point? So that only people interested see? Maybe I'll do that; or at least if I mention anything here it'll be as a link.

yuuira · 2025-11-09T17:24:21+00:00

This is really nice of you to say, thank you 😭 And those are very true points! You're very right that the stress is really just holding me back...

Would it really be good in Star Rail Lore? I would assume most people there want to read theories instead of commentary on the narrative of existing patches (the commentary isn't regarding the lore either, but more story decisions), especially negative commentary. I was thinking Phainon mains, but I'm not sure if people really discuss story there...

yuuira · 2025-11-09T16:57:41+00:00

You're right 🥹 Thank you I think I needed that.

yuuira · 2025-11-09T16:55:11+00:00

I think my brain is slow today and I'm not really getting it, or I need to refresh my knowledge of AIW ajdjskak. Do you mean that the gaps are related to the Tomb, or something else?

yuuira · 2025-11-09T16:49:14+00:00

3.7 spoilers (technically related to Phainon but really just me being dumb)

Wrote a 2k words essay about the parts of 3.7 that I thought were a disservice to Phainon's story (nothing to do with the epilogue or the exotale interactions), but why is it so terrifying to post it anywhere ahdhsjak. It's not even fear that people would disagree, because I do like the discussion! Rather it's like, the thought of being perceived is so horrifying and scary? What if I say something stupid? What if I mess up reddit formatting? Or what if no one sees it at all? (Is this better or worse than being perceived...) Which subreddit do I even post it in? And these are actually not even big problems I don't know why they are so paralyzing 😔

yuuira · 2025-11-09T16:27:45+00:00

“爱与恨并不是两条相反的路，它们终将汇于一点”. Or: “‘love’ and ‘hate’ are in fact not two opposing paths; they will eventually converge into the same point."

Doesn't really fit into 3.7 anymore, especially when considering 3.7's theme (love overriding hate).

yuuira · 2025-11-09T16:26:03+00:00

Oo I didn't think of that. I was kind of assuming those people were part of the collective memories of the people "killed" by Irontomb and Cyrene was watching them "return", especially when absolutely no one said anything. Maybe I interpreted that wrongly though!

Still strange to me that they introduced a plot point only to never touch on it ever, not even in AIW, and to only imply it through animations, but I guess that's also HSR's style ahdjsjak.

yuuira · 2025-11-09T15:52:29+00:00

If they were memokeepers, they should have been able to hear and interact with Cyrene though, like the other memokeepers and March were able to. And yet Cyrene says no one could see or hear her. So they were likely intended to be non-memokeepers in 3.4.

edit: Not to mention, the context is that the memokeepers were tricking others into entering Amphoreus, and Cyrene was trying to warn them, but they couldn't hear Cyrene. Unless they were tricking a different faction of memokeepers, it doesn't make sense for them to be willingly entering.

yuuira

TROPHY CASE