Case File #skia
C Tier TierSkia Build Guide
Skia is a Lakshana frontline DPS who shines in extended fights where he can keep Fang Thrust rolling. His main weakness is consistency: Fang Thrust must be maintained on a single enemy, and it is usually lost whenever he swaps out to restart the team rotation. That clunkiness, combined with the fact that other units maintain smoother rotations, is why he sits in C-tier.
Strengths
- Strong sustained damage in long fights thanks to Fang Thrust
- Empowered Basic Attacks do most of his damage, so he scales well with on-field time
- Fang Thrust has a built-in interaction with Remora, adding extra Remora instances on locked targets
- Ultimate buffs his own Fang Thrust damage before his real DPS window
- Shadow Hound Chase grants stealth for traversing enemy territory
Weaknesses
- Fang Thrust is clunky to maintain and is easily lost when swapping off
- Needs to stay on-field to capitalize on his rotations, which limits team flexibility
- Damage window is short (roughly 5-10 seconds) and heavily dependent on buffs being pre-stacked
- Rotation consistency is harder than with other DPS units, dragging him down to C-tier
Best Arcs
Ghostly Kite: Increases ATK by 10% and Lakshana DMG to targets affected by Remora and Stain by 10% for 15s after the wearer casts a Redirect Skill. Effect does not stack.
Spider Knowledge Collector: Grants 1 stack of Spider Knowledge when dealing damage with Basic Attacks, up to 8 stacks (max 1 stack every 0.5s). All stacks are consumed when casting Ultimate, increasing the entire team's ATK by 1% for 10s per stack consumed, plus an additional 2% when 8 stacks are consumed.
Best Cartridge
Epic (2): Lakshana DMG +10%. Legendary (4): Increases Crit Chance by 14%; when the team triggers Remora or Stain, the bonus is increased further for 20s.
Best Main Stat: CRIT Rate/DMG or Lakshana DMG Bonus
- Thanks to Skia's ATK% Bonus Module, CRIT Rate is generally the most comfortable main stat, with CRIT DMG a close second depending on substats and weapon.
- If CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG are already in good spots, Lakshana DMG Bonus gains value as a direct damage increase rather than an amplification.
- Prioritize substats in this order: CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, DMG, ATK%, Cycle Intensity.
Module Layout
Required Modules
Bonus: Type III (+10% ATK)
Total Bonus: +40% ATK
Substat Priority
- This layout contains all the pieces needed to activate Street Boxer's 4-piece effect while maximizing the bonus Module bonuses.
- Chase Modules with the substats above to raise Skia's ATK and push his overall damage higher.
Best Teams
Skia works best as the Main DPS in Remora or Stain teams that let him reap the benefits of Shadow Hound Chase and Fang Thrust. Esper Zero provides Sub-DPS damage and triggers Remora, Sakiri handles the buffing, and Fadia supplies damage mitigation while enabling Stain.
Skia
Main DPS
On-field carry who maintains Fang Thrust and deals most of the team's damage.
Zero
Sub-DPS
Secondary damage dealer and the team's Remora trigger.
Sakiri
Buffer
Main buffer for the team, though she does not contribute to the Esper Cycle.
Fadia
Sub-DPS/Support
Provides damage mitigation and enables Stain.
Alternatives
Fadia Skill → Sakiri Hold Skill → Sakiri Ultimate → Esper Zero Skill → Esper Zero Ultimate → Swap to Skia (Remora Trigger) → Basic Attack to trigger Fang Thrust → Skia Skill → Skia Ultimate → Normal Attacks until Shadow Hound Gnaw runs out.
Stack all support buffs before Skia comes in, since his buffed window only lasts about 5-7 seconds.
Most of the team's damage comes from Skia's enhanced Normal Attacks while buffed by Sakiri, Remora triggers, and his own Skill and Ultimate.
- Remora adds extra value for Skia because Fang Thrust applies another instance of Remora on a target that already has it.
- Watch Your Heads! gains bonus Lakshana DMG when Remora or Stain is applied, so keep those effects active.
Skill Priority
The Pack (Ultimate)
Used either at the start of the rotation to boost Fang Thrust damage or at the end as a burst tool. Its main value is the Fang Thrust benefit, so level it third.
Arrest Warrant (Support Skill)
Provides bonus Lakshana DMG.
Shadow Hound Chase (Skill)
His secondary damage source thanks to its passive interval attacks; level it second to boost those hits.
Arresting Art (Basic Attack)
Max this first — the bulk of Skia's damage comes from the consistency and frequency of his Basic Attacks.
Awakening Priority
Unbothered Appearance
A straightforward DMG increase against any opponent affected by Fang Thrust while Skia is in Shadow Hound Chase state. Take it first for maximum uptime during most of his rotations.
Resolution
Increases damage dealt to targets in the Tailed state and extends Tailed by another 6 seconds. Provides up to 40% bonus DMG against Tailed targets and quality-of-life for his rotations.
Solution
Another direct DMG increase against Fang Thrust targets, further amplified when only one enemy is on the field — great for shredding bosses.
Law and Order
In Shadow Hound Chase state, grants CRIT Chance and, more importantly, 50% increased Interruption Resistance — highly valued on an extended On-Field character.
Process of Elimination
Grants bonus DMG to the auto-damage instances from Fang Thrust. Worth picking up once the rest of the build is settled.
Social Contract
Eases target access by increasing enemy hitboxes and slowing them, making Skia's hits easier to land.
How to Play
Skia is a long-window On-Field DPS who wants to enter last, right after his supports have finished their setup. Trigger Fang Thrust, immediately chain Skill and Ultimate to buff the mark and enter Shadow Hound Chase, then unload empowered Basic Attacks before swapping off shortly after his Skill duration ends.
Rotations
- 1Fadia Skill → Sakiri Hold Skill → Sakiri Ultimate → Esper Zero Skill → Esper Zero Ultimate → Swap to Skia (Remora Trigger) → Basic Attack to trigger Fang Thrust → Skia Skill → Skia Ultimate → Normal Attacks until Shadow Hound Gnaw runs out.
- 2Full rotation gives about 5-7 seconds of uptime where Skia deals enhanced damage with buffs and Remora active.
- 3Alternative opening: lead with Skia's Ultimate before the DPS window if you want the Fang Thrust damage amplification active immediately.
Tips
- Support units should start their rotation well before Skia's, since he takes up the most field time.
- Strike opponents just enough to trigger Fang Thrust, then use Skill and Ultimate consecutively — this raises Fang Thrust DMG and enters Shadow Hound Chase simultaneously.
- Keep his combat window to roughly 5-10 seconds and swap off shortly after Shadow Hound Gnaw runs out.
- His Ultimate increases Lakshana DMG done to Fang Thrust targets by 10%, so use it at the start of a damage rotation to buff yourself before the real DPS window.
- Team up with Cosmos characters (Remora) or Psyche characters (Stain); Fang Thrust adds another Remora instance to already-Remora'd targets, and Watch Your Heads! gains 12% extra Lakshana DMG from these effects.
- Shadow Hound Chase lets Skia stealth around opponents as long as he does not attack, which is useful for crossing enemy territory or setting up an ambush.