Debuts in the Aeon Reforged patch.
· Rank: S-Rank
· Class: Tank
· Element: Fire (90%) Physical (10%)
This character is currently unreleased in Global.
In addition, while this character's frame name is official, it is subject to change upon Global release.
Information
— —
Specialty
Resistance Reduction - Able to reduce Elemental Resistance of enemies. Burst - Deals massive DMG in a short time.
ATK increases by 10%. Gain 3 Red Orbs upon activating Paradigm: Assault; gaining at most 6 Red Orbs this way for each time Watanabe enters the battlefield. Watanabe can immediately use Infernal Eruption after pinging Red Orbs.
A list of recommended builds for Watanabe: Epitaph 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.
After the Memory Effects revamp that occurs in Polaris Bond, Shakespeare's further reduction of Fire Resistance and additional damage dealt in exchange for Cottie's enabling quicker casting of Signature Moves grants the best of both worlds in terms of speed and damage.
In short, this set balances speed and damage by favoring the use of Shakespeare over Cottie after Shakespeare's revamp.
Any Resonance in Bottom Resonance Slot (2) that offers ATK + 15 or Signature Move suffices
Weapon Resonance ◇ Watanabe: Epitaph
Recommended 6★ weapon resonances for Watanabe: Epitaph can be found here listed in order of priority.
1. Diode Torch
Inflicts Embers effect upon dealing Fire damage. Embers: reduces the target's Fire resistance by 8% for 8s. Repeated triggering refreshes the duration.
2. Resonant Echo
The duration of effect inflicted by Tank class skill increases to 8s.
3. Incandescence
Weapon's final ATK is increased by 15% at the start of battle. No duration limit.
Priority
HIGH:
Diode Torch
MEDIUM:
Resonant Echo
LOW:
Incandescence
Notes
Minimum recommended amount: 1
If Watanabe: Epitaph is used as a solo DMG dealer and not regularly swapped out (which is highly not recommended to do so), Dead Line Timing will have the highest priority to cover up for Watanabe: Epitaph's lack of self sustainability.
Skills & Passives
Red Orb
Blazing Drive — Ping Red Orb
Uses the hook to jump upwards, then performs slashing attacks, dealing Fire DMG. Watanabe gains Super Armor while performing this skill. If Watanabe uses this skill precisely the moment before being attacked, he will trigger parry and nullify incoming DMG. Tapping Basic Attack while performing this skill triggers Scorching Bombardment. Performing a 3-Ping triggers Rampart, granting a shield equal to 30% of Watanabe’s maximum HP. Repeatedly triggering Rampart refreshes the shield. - Deals a total of 240% / 480% / 720% Fire DMG based on the number of orbs pinged. - Consecutively pinging orbs changes Watanabe’s moves when performing this skill. Watanabe continuously slashes using the Pioneer’s Blade in conjunction with the hook, dealing a total of 240% / 480% / 720% Fire DMG.
Thermal Erosion — Ping Blaze Orb Continuously swings the blade to generate flames, pulling in nearby enemies, dealing Fire DMG and inflicting Scorching Invasion that reduces the target's Fire Resistance onto enemies hit by this attack. If Watanabe uses this skill precisely the moment before being attacked, he will trigger parry, nullifying incoming DMG and gaining Super Armor and 60% DMG Reduction. Gain 1 stack of Thermal Superconductivity and 12 Energy upon performing this skill. Thermal Superconductivity increases the Base DMG of Flaming Purgation. - Deals a total of 1200% Fire DMG. Scorching Invasion reduces the target’s Fire Resistance by 25% for 8s.
Yellow Orb
Fiery Siphon — Ping Yellow Orb
Consecutively spins and slashes, pulling in nearby enemies and dealing Fire DMG. - Deals a total of 230% / 460% / 690% Fire DMG based on the number of orbs pinged.
Blue Orb
Smelting Glimpse — Ping Blue Orb
Automatically uses a 3-Ping version of this attack upon switch-in. Kicks the enemy away, then spins and slashes, dealing Fire DMG. - Deals a total of 220% / 440% / 660% Fire DMG.
Basic Attack
Scalding Blades
Basic Attack — Tap Basic Attack Alternates between using the Pioneer’s Blade and gun to perform combination attacks, dealing Physical DMG. Deals Fire DMG instead while Paradigm: Assault is active. - Deals a total of 496% Physical DMG. - Deals a total of 646% Fire DMG while Paradigm: Assault is active.
Scorching Bombardment — Possess Live Ammunition + Tap Basic Attack If Watanabe has Live Ammunition when performing Basic Attack, he will consume 1 point of Live Ammunition to fire at the enemy, dealing Fire DMG, gaining 1 Blaze Orb and 4 Energy. If Watanabe already has 3 Blaze Orbs when performing this skill, firing at the enemy will not consume Live Ammunition and no Blaze Orb or Energy will be obtained. - Firing at the enemy deals 280% Fire DMG.
Core
Warrior's Reflex
Composite Structure While Paradigm: Patrol is active, Watanabe can only ping Yellow or Blue Orbs and Basic Attacks only generate Yellow or Blue Orbs. After activating Paradigm: Assault, Watananbe can only ping Red Orbs or Blaze Orbs and Basic Attacks only generate Red Orbs.
Engine Optimization — Any 3-Ping or enter Matrix Gain 1 point of Live Ammunition upon a 3-Ping. Maximum points of Live Ammunition: 3. Gain 1 Blaze Orb upon entering Matrix. Watanabe can hold up to 3 Blaze Orbs at once. Any excess Blaze Orbs will be converted to Signal Orbs of a random color.
Firewalker — Paradigm: Assault is active + Hold Dodge Watanabe uses the hook to pull in the target from a distance, dealing Fire DMG. If the target cannot be grabbed, Watanabe himself will rush towards them instead. Gains Super Armor and 40% DMG Reduction while performing this skill. Using Basic Attack or the Red Orb skill while pulling in the enemy can immediately trigger parry. -Deals a total of 40% Fire DMG.
Reprisal — Trigger parry Successfully parrying an attack triggers Rampart, granting a shield equal to 30% of Watanabe’s maximum HP, dealing Fire DMG and inflicting Scorching Invasion that reduces the target’s Fire Resistance on the enemies. Repeatedly triggering Rampart refreshes the shield. When triggering this skill, enter Matrix if not on cooldown. - Deals a total of 360% Fire DMG. Scorching Invasion reduces the target’s Fire Resistance by 25% for 8s.
Infernal Eruption — Paradigm: Assault is active + Possess 3 points of Live Ammunition + Hold Basic Attack Uses the hook to hover in the air, then dive downwards to attack, pulling in nearby enemies and dealing Fire DMG. This will consume 3 points of Live Ammunition. While performing Infernal Eruption, Watanabe is invincible, but cannot use Flaming Purgation. Gains 12 Energy upon performing this skill. - Deals a total of 1350% Fire DMG.
Signature
Hyper Reversal
Core Release — Consume 15 Energy + Tap Signature Move Watanabe releases the energy stored in his core to activate Paradigm: Assault. Time Lag Calculation is triggered while performing this skill. Deals Fire DMG to enemies in the area upon using this skill and inflicts them with Scorching Invasion which reduces the target’s Fire Resistance. - Deals a total of 600% Fire DMG. Scorching Invasion reduces the target’s Fire Resistance by 25% for 10s.
Flaming Purgation — Consume 100 Energy + Tap Signature Move Performs interleaved attacks against enemy lines, dealing Fire DMG. After the attack, Watanabe generates Searing Bulwark that continuously damages enemies. Activate Paradigm: Patrol upon performing this skill. Time Lag Calculation is triggered while performing this skill. - The interleaved attacks deal 1800% Fire DMG. Every stack of Thermal Superconductivity increases the Base DMG of Flaming Purgation by 50%. Maximum Thermal Superconductivity stacks: 3. Searing Bulwark bombards the target for 42% Fire DMG every 3s for 12s. Every bombardment attack leaves behind flames that deal 20% Fire DMG every 0.5s for 3s.
QTE
Pincer Besiegement
Consecutively spins and slashes to pull in nearby enemies, dealing Fire DMG, and inflicting them with Scorching Invasion which reduces the target’s Fire Resistance. - Deals 600% Fire DMG. Scorching Invasion reduces the target’s Fire Resistance by 25% for 8s.
Leader
Guardian's Aegis
Fire DMG of all team members increases by 10%. DMG of Tank Omniframes increases by 5%.
Class
Tank
Attacks reduce the target's Extra DMG Reduction by 20% for 5s.
Awakening
Ultima Awaken
Gains 3 Signal Orbs when entering battle.
SS-Rank
Moment of Onslaught
Level 1 — Unlocked at S5 Upon using Infernal Eruption or Thermal Erosion, trigger all available QTEs.
Level 2 — Unlocked at SS Every time Watanabe enters the battlefield, accumulating 3 stacks of Thermal Superconductivity for the first time grants 70 Energy. Extra DMG Bonus increases by 30% while Paradigm: Assault is active. Gain 3 stacks of Thermal Superconductivity upon using Infernal Eruption.
SSS-Rank
Break the Siege
Level 1 — Unlocked at SS3 Fire Resistance reduction effect of Scorching Invasion inflicted by Watanabe increases by 10%. Gain 1 Blaze Orb upon using Infernal Eruption.
Level 2 — Unlocked at SSS Increases animation speed while consecutively performing Thermal Erosion. Maximum stacks of Thermal Superconductivity increases to 6. Increases the buff effect granted by each stack of Thermal Superconductivity by 5%. When Watanabe successfully parries an attack for the first time upon entering the battlefield, additionally gains 1 Blaze Orb. Fire Resistance reduction effect of Scorching Invasion inflicted by Watanabe: Epitaph increases by 10%. Reduces swap cooldown of all party members by 3s.
SSS+ Rank
Leader's Wings
Level 1 – Unlocked at SSS3 Extra DMG Bonus of Flaming Purgation increases by 35%.
Level 2 — Unlocked at SSS6 Extra DMG Bonus of Infernal Eruption increases by 35%.
Level 3 — Unlocked at SSS+ Extra DMG Bonus of Thermal Erosion and 3-Pings increases by 35%.
