Case File #hotori
S Tier TierHotori Build Guide
Hotori is a Sub-DPS with Burst DPS capabilities, as she can record her teammate's Skill casts and recast 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, making her damage output reliable and consistent.
Strengths
- Deals reliable and consistent damage with no energy requirement for her Ultimate.
- Can stop time, freezing enemies and halting all ongoing timers, including those in Beyond the Rails.
- Gains a powerful burst window after her Ultimate, with an empowered katana combo and Finisher.
- Synergizes well with Blossom teams by allowing Vita Buds to attack during Time Stop.
Weaknesses
- Requires teammates to use skills so Hotori can record them; poor rotation if teammates are energy-starved.
- Reusing Hotori's Skill overwrites previous recordings, which can waste a good setup.
- F2P Arc option (The Forgotten) provides an HP% substat that doesn't scale with her damage.
- Cannot apply Discord on her own, limiting her effectiveness in Discord teams to burst windows only.
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
- If using Marching Beyond Time, choose Cosmos DMG Boost since the Arc provides extra CRIT Rate. Otherwise, pick CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG based on your Module substats.
Module Layout
Required Modules
Bonus: Type III (+10% Cosmos DMG Bonus)
Total Bonus: +40% Cosmos DMG
Substat Priority
- This layout activates Lost Radiance's 4-piece effect while maximizing the Cosmos DMG bonus. Prioritize CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG substats, with CRIT DMG slightly favored when using Marching Beyond Time.
Best Teams
A Blossom Team is Hotori's best team, as she powers up Vita Buds by letting them attack even during Time Stop. Combined with Nanally and Jiuyuan's Blossom buffs, Vita Pistils will constantly fly toward frozen enemies.
Hotori
Sub-DPS
Records teammate skills and bursts with her Ultimate during Time Stop.
Zero
Sub-DPS
Provides additional damage and supports the Blossom setup.
Nanally
Main DPS
Creates Vita Buds and benefits from Hotori's Time Stop.
Jiuyuan
Support
Provides Blossom buffs and healing to sustain the team.
Alternatives
Start with Hotori's Skill to record teammate skills, then set up Blossom with Nanally and Jiuyuan.
Charge Hotori's Non-Closed Timepiece, then swap in and use her Ultimate to freeze enemies and deal burst damage.
Use Sakiri's Crowd Control and Scorch instead of Jiuyuan if you need more offensive utility.
- Hotori allows Vita Buds to attack even while time is stopped, making this team uniquely strong.
Although Hotori cannot apply Discord herself, her Ultimate's burst damage is greatly amplified when enemies are Broken, which Discord teams do easily. Aurelia serves as the main damage dealer, Sakiri supports, and Daffodill applies Nova and Scorch to trigger Discord.
Hotori
Sub-DPS
Bursts after the enemy is Broken.
Daffodill
Sub-DPS
Applies Nova and Scorch to activate Discord.
Aurelia
Main DPS
Deals consistent damage and helps break enemies.
Sakiri
Support
Provides support and additional utility.
Focus on breaking the enemy's guard using the team's standard rotation.
Once the enemy is Broken, swap to Hotori and use her Ultimate to unleash a massive burst of damage.
Keep the enemy under Discord effects with Daffodill to extend the Burst window.
- Hotori doesn't apply Discord but benefits from the broken state; use her as a burst finisher.
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 or Redirect Skills. Take this first for a huge burst boost.
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 for boss fights.
Distant Memories
Gives a direct damage increase to Hotori while in Time Stop, so take this next to improve her burst.
Scattered Relics
Provides a way to quickly charge Hotori's Skill and Ultimate whenever you defeat enemies. This only works well against multiple enemies, so it can wait.
Momentary Gaze
Shortens Hotori's rotation cycle by recovering energy spent on Present Replay, but its long cooldown makes it less valuable early.
How to Play
Wait for Hotori's Non-Closed Timepiece to charge, activate her Skill to record teammate skills, then use her Ultimate when the timer is full. After the Ultimate animation, perform two Basic Attack combos and use the Finisher. Her Time Stop freezes enemies and also halts all other timers.
Rotations
- 1Wait for Non-Closed Timepiece to fill → Hotori Skill → Use Redirect/Support Skills → Wait for timer to fill → Apply Buffs/Debuffs → Swap to Hotori → Ultimate → Basic Attack Combo x2 → Finisher → Repeat.
Tips
- Start fights with Hotori's Skill when the Non-Closed Timepiece is at least half-full.
- After using her Skill, quickly use up to three Support or Redirect Skills from teammates within 5 seconds.
- Do not recast Hotori's Skill if it already has recorded skills, as this overwrites the previous recording.
- Before using her Ultimate, apply buffs and debuffs to maximize damage.
- Use Hotori's Time Stop outside combat to pause timers in Beyond the Rails or other time-sensitive content.