Case File #hotori
S TierHotori Build Guide
Hotori is a Sub-DPS with Burst DPS capabilities. She records her teammates' Skill casts and recasts them upon using her Ultimate. She does not require energy to use her Ultimate, instead relying on a countdown timer that allows her to use it roughly once every 20 seconds (30 seconds if you use her skill). This makes her damage output reliable and consistent, as you know exactly when her rotation will start.
Strengths
- Ultimate does not require energy; instead it recharges over time (~20 seconds), making her rotation predictable and reliable.
- Can record teammates' Redirect and Support Skills and recast them with her Ultimate, adding significant burst damage.
- Time Stop mechanic can freeze enemies and even timers, providing crowd control and utility.
- High burst damage potential, especially when the enemy is Broken.
Weaknesses
- Requires careful skill management: recasting her Skill overwrites the previous recording.
- Only a 5-second window to record skills, and each teammate can be recorded at most once.
- Heavily dependent on teammates to provide Support or Redirect Skills to record.
- F2P Arc option (The Forgotten) has an HP% substat that does not benefit her scaling.
Best Arcs
Time Beyond Time: Increases ATK by 16%. Enters Wastelab and clears current Wastetime when the wearer casts a Redirect Skill. While in Wastelab, allies gain 1 stack of Wastetime each time they use a Redirect or Support Skill, up to 3 stacks. When the wearer uses their Ultimate in Wastelab, they exit Wastelab and consume all Wastetime, increasing Ultimate Crit DMG by 24%, plus an additional 8% per Wastetime consumed. Consuming 3 Wastetime stacks at once grants an extra 12% DEF Ignore for 3s.
Hypervortex: Deals 30% increased Cosmos DMG with the wearer's Redirect Skill and Ultimate. Increases the wearer's Cycle Intensity by 36 for 15s after casting a Redirect Skill. Resets the duration when triggered again.
Popping Candy: Increases ATK by 25% for 10s after the wearer casts an Ultimate. Effect does not stack.
Picture Frame: Increases ATK by 20% when the wearer's HP is above 50%; increases DEF by 20% when HP is below 50%.
Best Cartridge
Epic (2): Cosmos DMG +10%. Legendary (4): Ignores 25% of enemies' DEF for 20s after the wearer casts Ultimate. Effect does not stack.
Best Main Stat: Cosmos DMG Boost or CRIT Rate/DMG
- Get Cosmos DMG Boost if using Marching Beyond Time, as it can provide a good amount of CRIT Rate.
- Otherwise, get CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG based on the substats of your Modules.
Module Layout
Required Modules
Bonus: Type III (+10% Cosmos DMG Bonus)
Total Bonus: +40% Cosmos DMG
Substat Priority
- Shown above is the best Module layout when using the Lost Radiance Cartridge. The layout contains all of the pieces needed to activate Lost Radiance's 4-piece effect, while also maximizing the bonuses from the bonus Module.
- Try to get Modules that have the sub stats listed above to improve Hotori's damage output. Try to get as much CRIT Rate and DMG as you can, although you can prioritize CRIT DMG if you are using Marching Beyond Time.
Best Teams
A Blossom Team is Hotori's best team, as she herself empowers Vita Buds by allowing them to attack even when time is stopped. Partner this with Nanally and Jiuyuan's Blossom buffs, and you will see Vita Pistils flying toward frozen enemies nonstop.
Hotori
Sub-DPS
Zero
Sub-DPS
Nanally
Main DPS
Can substitute with Mint.
Jiuyuan
Support
Can substitute with Sakiri.
Alternatives
Use Nanally and Jiuyuan's Blossom buffs to enhance Vita Buds.
Hotori's Time Stop allows Vita Pistils to keep attacking frozen enemies.
If you do not have Nanally, substitute with Mint to create more Vita Buds.
If you do not have Jiuyuan, use Sakiri for attack buffs, Crowd Control, and Scorch.
Although Hotori cannot contribute to applying Discord, the burst damage from her Ultimate can be empowered when the enemy is Broken, something that Discord teams can do easily.
Aurelia serves as the team's Main DPS, while Sakiri provides support.
Daffodill helps apply Nova and Scorch, which in turn activates Discord.
Once the enemy is Broken, swap to Hotori to deal a huge burst of damage with her Ultimate.
Skill Priority
Misty Moon Style (Basic Attack)
Although you won't be using Hotori's Basic Attack much, improving it will help increase her overall damage output.
Shopkeeper's Authority (Support Skill)
Level her Support Skill last to increase her damage whenever she enters the stage and uses it.
World's Tide (Ultimate)
Prioritize improving Hotori's Ultimate as this is her main source of damage.
Present Replay (Skill)
Improving Present Replay increases its damage output, so prioritize leveling this up second.
Awakening Priority
Flourish
Increases Hotori's damage during Time Stop by up to 36% based on the number of recorded Support Skills or Redirect Skills. Take this Awakening first to give a huge boost to her damage after she uses her Ultimate.
Time Takes Away
Makes Hotori ignore a portion of the enemy's DEF during Time Stop, further increasing her damage output.
All-Seeing
Increases the whole team's damage against solo targets, making it effective when taking down bosses.
Distant Memories
Gives a direct damage increase to Hotori while in Time Stop, so take this next to increase her damage output.
Scattered Relics
Provides a way to quickly charge Hotori's Skill and Ultimate whenever you defeat enemies. As this only works if facing multiple enemies, there is no need to prioritize getting this Awakening early.
Momentary Gaze
Although this Awakening allows you to shorten Hotori's rotation cycle by recovering the energy spent on using Present Replay, its long cooldown makes it hard to recommend getting it early.
How to Play
Hotori is a Sub-DPS who records her teammates' Skills and recasts them with her Ultimate. Her Ultimate recharges over time and stops time, allowing her to deal burst damage while enemies are frozen. Manage her Non-Closed Timepiece to maximize uptime.
Rotations
- 1Wait for Hotori's Non-Closed Timepiece to fill up → Hotori Skill → Use Redirect or Support Skills → Wait for Hotori's Non-Closed Timepiece to fill up → Apply any Debuffs and Buffs → Swap to Hotori → Hotori Ultimate → Hotori Basic Attack Combo x2 → Hotori Finisher → Repeat Rotation
Tips
- Always start fights with Hotori's Skill, not only to deal damage, but also so she can record any used Redirect and Support Skills for a short amount of time.
- Make sure that her Non-Closed Timepiece (the timer) is half-full or full before using her Skill.
- Once Hotori uses her Skill, you have five seconds to record Skills. Quickly swap to your other team members and use their Redirect or Support Skills.
- Up to three Skills can be recorded, with each team member being recorded at most once, with only their most recent Skill being recorded.
- To maximize the effects of this recording, charge everyone's Cycle Energy and perform 3 Support Skills in a row after using Hotori's Skill.
- Once Hotori's Non-Closed Timepiece is full, apply any buffs and debuffs you can before swapping to Hotori and using her Ultimate.
- Upon using Hotori's Ultimate, all recorded Skills are immediately recast in the order that they were recorded. If Support Skills are recast, they also reapply their respective Esper Cycles.
- As soon as the Ultimate's initial animation is finished, Hotori enters an empowered state where time stops and she attacks with a katana. Perform two full combos to fill the Finisher gauge, then attack once more to perform her Finisher.
- Hotori can also stop time outside of combat by holding her Basic Attack button. The duration depends on her Non-Closed Timepiece, with a maximum duration of around 12 seconds.