Watanabe: Astral

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A frame specially designed to control spacecraft. It was used by Watanabe when he served in the Task Force. · Rank: A-Rank · Class: Attacker · Element: Physical (50%) Dark (50%)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Information

A frame specially designed to control spacecraft. It was used by Watanabe when he served in the Task Force.

Specialty

Agility - Able to transport across space instantly.
Mixed Damage - Able to deal Physical and Elemental DMG.

Element

Physical (50%) Dark (50%)

Watanabe

Astral

Activation Date

12 Apr

Height

185cm

Weight

76kg

Vital Fluid Type

O

Mental Age

26

Stat

Review

HP

1544

DEF

215

ATK

345

CRIT

145

Rank

A-Rank

Class

Attacker

Weapon

Dagger

Signature

Peacemaker

Faction

Forsaken

Gift

MRE Ratns.

Optimal Weapon: Peacemaker

Extra DMG Bonus increases by 10%. Dark DMG increases by 10% while under Cosmic Wave state.

Memory Builds ◇ Watanabe: Astral

A list of recommended builds for Watanabe: Astral can be found here. Each tab represents one build — click the tabs below to view each one.
See here for more information about Ultima Awakening and resonance slots.

Disclaimer: Memories displayed here are arranged so that their stats are optimized based on their varying values in different positions.
However, it's more cost-effective to arrange all 2-piece sets in top slots for easy swapping between builds, even if stats aren't optimized.

Memory Placement

01	02	03
04	05	06
Bathlon x4 / Cottie x2

Memory Resonance

Note: Top and Bottom Resonance Slots can be assumed to be resonated to x6 of the below effects unless specified in orange.
Top Resonance Slot (1):
Ex — Precision Attack: ATK +15, CRIT +15

Bottom Resonance Slot (2):
Signature - Supernova Blast: Signature Move Level + 1

Key Notes

• Watanabe: Astral's main build
• Ultima Awakening Set

Usage

• Phantom Pain Cage
• War Zone
• Norman Revival Plan
• High difficulty content

Details

• DPS set with more frequent Signature Moves
• Recommended if you're planning to get Luna: Laurel, as Astral won't have much use in competitive content in that case.
• Any mix of Signature Move/Core Passive Memory Resonance works.
• Leap set

Memory Placement

01	02	03
04	05	06
Bathlon x4 / Darwin x2

Memory Resonance

Note: Top and Bottom Resonance Slots can be assumed to be resonated to x6 of the below effects unless specified in orange.
Top Resonance Slot (1):
Ex — Precision Attack: ATK +15, CRIT +15

Bottom Resonance Slot (2):
Cosmic Wave: Core Passive +1

Key Notes

• Alternative DPS set

Usage

• Phantom Pain Cage
• War Zone
• Norman Revival Plan

Details

• DPS set
• Darwin offers slightly higher damage compared to Cottie.
• Leap set

Weapon Resonance ◇ Watanabe: Astral

Recommended 6★ weapon resonances for Watanabe: Astral can be found here listed in order of priority.

1. Dead Line Timing

Gain 2 extra random signal orbs upon deployment, and 3 signal orbs of the same color every 45s (also gain signal orbs on standby).

2. Matrix Lightning

After EX Dodge (triggering Matrix), Movement Speed is greatly increased and all enemies' Extra DMG Reduction is decreased by 10% in Matrix.

3. Glorious Afterglow

Final ATK of the weapon increases by 30% for 8s upon a 3-ping. Duration resets upon a repeated trigger.

Priority

HIGH:

• Dead Line Timing
• Matrix Lightning

MEDIUM:

• Glorious Afterglow

Notes

Minimum recommended amount: 2

• Glorious Afterglow sometimes replaces Deadline Timing in Phantom Pain Cage.
• Leave Glorious Afterglow for last.
• Focus on Tank and Support/Amplifier resonances first before unlocking the third Attacker resonance.

Skills & Passives

Red Orb

	Comet Tail — Ping Red Orb
	Hops back and throws darts in a fan-shaped area, dealing Physical DMG. Trailblade can be triggered immediately after pinging. (Dark DMG instead on a 3-Ping.) - Darts deal 200% / 400% / 600% Physical DMG based on the number of orbs pinged.

Yellow Orb

Celestial Centrifuge — Ping Yellow Orb

Automatically uses a 3-Ping version of this attack upon switch-in. Switch-in fulfills the first half of this character's Core Passive. Spins forward into the air, draws in, and slashes at surrounding targets, dealing Physical DMG. Upon landing, strikes nearby targets for Physical DMG. (Dark DMG instead on a 3-Ping.) - Spins and slashes for 40% / 80% / 120% Physical DMG based on the number of orbs pinged. - The landing strike deals 50% / 100% / 150% Physical DMG based on the number of orbs pinged.

Blue Orb

	Meteoric Strike — Ping Blue Orb
	Shifts behind the target and attacks, dealing Physical DMG. (Dark DMG instead on a 3-Ping.) - Deals 150% / 300% / 450% Physical DMG based on the number of orbs pinged.

Basic Attack

	Death Star — Tap Basic Attack
	Slashes at the target, dealing Physical DMG. After dodging or pinging a Red Orb, Basic Attacks will trigger Trailblade, dealing Physical DMG. - The slashes deal 600% Physical DMG. - Trailblade deals 200% Physical DMG.

Core

	Cosmic Wave
	Core Passive — Any 3-Ping + Ping Red Orb Pinging a Red Orb after any 3-Ping transforms Watanabe: Astral into a shadow that launches consecutive attacks in front of him, dealing Dark DMG. Enters Enhanced Shadow Form at the end of the attack. - Each hit deals 60% Dark DMG. Core Passive — Enhanced Shadow Form + Tap Basic Attack In Enhanced Shadow Form, Basic Attacks and Trailblade deal Extra Dark DMG. - Basic Attacks deal 300% Extra Dark DMG. - Trailblade deals 100% Extra Dark DMG for 5s.

Signature

	Signature - Supernova Blast
	Signature Move — 100 Energy + Tap Signature Transforms into shadow to assassinate the target, dealing Dark DMG. - Each attack deals 600% Dark DMG.

QTE

	Shadow Cross
	Dives at the target, splitting into shadows upon landing and attacks again, dealing Dark DMG. - Each attack deals 300% Dark DMG.

Leader

	Leader - Nameless Shadow
	Increases Dark DMG of all members by 10%. Increases ATK of all Attacker Omniframes in the team by 5%.

Class

	Attacker
	Extra DMG Bonus increases by 20%.

Awakening

	Ultima Awaken
	Gains 3 Signal Orbs when entering battle.

SS-Rank

	Killing Floor
	After hitting an enemy with a Blue Orb skill, Watanabe: Astral's Extra DMG Bonus against the target increases by 10% over the next 4s.

SSS-Rank

	Chaser
	After hitting an enemy with Trailblade, Watanabe: Astral's Extra DMG Bonus against the target increases by 10% over the next 4s.

SSS+ Rank

	Fallen Star
	Dark DMG increases by 20% while Core Passive is active.

Hidden Skill

Cosmic Wave

→

Any 3-Ping

Red Ping

Technique

When pinging a Red Orb after any 3-Ping, transforms into shadow and launches consecutive attacks to deal Dark DMG at the area ahead. When finished, enters enhanced shadow form that allows Basic Attacks to deal additional Dark DMG and Chasing Blade to deal additional Dark DMG. Lasts 5s.

Character Leap

This character's Leap is implemented during the Cinder Burns patch.

Meteor Reverberation

	Meteor Reverberation
	Base DMG of Meteor Strike increases by 20%. Level 9: Pulls in nearby enemies during a Blue 3-ping. Level 18: After a Blue 3-ping, the Extra DMG Bonus of Shadow Blade increases by 20% for 4s. Using Meteor Strike in the Enhanced Shadow Form extends its duration by 1s.

Satellite Blade

Satellite Blade

When Trailblade hits the target in Enhanced Shadow Form, it will leave two Shadow Blades on the target and restore 100 Dodge Gauge. Each Shadow Blade deals 120% Dark DMG (up to 6 Shadow Blades can stack on each target). Level 9: When Cosmic Wave is triggered, its Base DMG increases by 50% for each additional Red Orb pinged. Base DMG of Trailblade increases by 20% during Enhanced Shadow Form. Level 18: After dodging or pinging a Red Orb in Enhanced Shadow Form, press and hold Basic Attack to unleash Dark Blade that deals 150% Dark DMG for each Shadow Blade on the target. When the 6th hit of Dark Blade is triggered, its damage increases to 300% and the duration of Enhanced Shadow Form extends by 2s.

Collapsed Origin

	Collapsed Origin
	Dark DMG increases by 10% during Supernova Burst. Level 9: Freezes the duration of Enhanced Shadow Form while casting Supernova Burst. Signature Move's base DMG increases by 15%. Level 18: When Supernova Burst is unleashed in Enhanced Shadow Form, each time it deals DMG, an additional hit that deals 150% Dark DMG will be added.

How to play

Astral - Fundamentals

• Any 3-Ping + Red Orb Ping triggers Cosmic Wave (Core Passive)
  • The Red Orb Ping can be cast at any point after the 3-Ping (other orbs can be pinged in-between if needed, and there is no time limit within which you must cast the Red Orb Ping after the 3-Ping)

• After performing either a dodge or any Red Orb Ping, including ones used to trigger Cosmic Wave, press Basic Attack to perform Trailblade, a lunging stab that also functions as an excellent gap closer

• After the Cosmic Wave attack finishes, Astral enters Enhanced Shadow Form for 5 seconds, during which Basic Attacks and Trailblade both deal additional Dark DMG
  • The amount of time Enhanced Shadow Form has remaining is represented by the slowly draining on-screen meter

Astral - Additional Information

• Cosmic Wave completely replaces the Red Orb Ping used to activate it, so from an orb efficiency standpoint, it is usually preferable to activate Cosmic Wave with a Red Orb 1-Ping or 2-Ping when possible before Astral is leaped
  • Once Astral's Satellite Blade (Core Passive Leap) is leveled to at least 9, this no longer applies, and Cosmic Wave will deal increased damage if triggered by a Red Orb 2-Ping or 3-Ping

• If Astral is close enough to a target, his Blue Orb Ping will teleport him to the opposite side of the target, allowing him to avoid enemy attacks when strategically used

• Astral automatically performs a free Yellow Orb 3-Ping when switched in during combat, allowing for a quick activation of Cosmic Wave with any additional Red Orb Ping

• Astral will still take damage during Cosmic Wave, despite his model disappearing during the animation
  • That said, Cosmic Wave can be dodge-canceled almost immediately upon activation, allowing Astral to get the full damage of Cosmic Wave off while still being able to avoid enemy attacks and access his Trailblade follow-up
  • In a similar manner, Cosmic Wave can also be canceled almost immediately into Signature Move

• Trailblade is considered a Basic Attack, and can thus be used alongside Astral's Basic Attacks to regenerate Signal Orbs when weaved in-between other actions in short enough intervals

Astral - Leap Adjustments

• During Enhanced Shadow Form, each Trailblade performed will restore 100 Dodge Gauge and attempt to embed 2 Shadow Blades in the target hit
  • Every Shadow Blade successfully embedded in a target will deal an additional hit of Dark DMG
  • Up to a maximum of 6 Shadow Blades can be embedded in any given target, and attempts to embed additional Shadow Blades will not result in any additional Dark DMG hits until those Shadow Blades are cleared
  • Shadow Blades do not have a duration and remain embedded if Astral is swapped off-field

• Against a target with embedded Shadow Blades, during Enhanced Shadow Form, hold Basic Attack after performing either a dodge or any Red Orb Ping to unleash Dark Blade, causing Dark DMG for each embedded Shadow Blade and clearing all embedded Shadow Blades from the target
  • With 6 embedded Shadow Blades, Dark Blade will deal extra Dark DMG on its final hit and extend the duration of Enhanced Shadow Form, so for optimal damage output, Dark Blade should be cast on targets with 6 embedded Shadow Blades
  • Astral is invulnerable while unleashing Dark Blade, so this can also be used strategically on targets with any number of embedded Shadow Blades to negate incoming attacks

• Astral's Blue Orb 3-Ping now gathers nearby enemies, extends the duration of Enhanced Shadow Form, and causes Shadow Blades to deal more damage for the next 4 seconds

• Astral's Signature Move now deals increased damage, and should be cast during Enhanced Shadow Form for the additional Dark DMG hits

Related Frames

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