S+ Tier
Chen Qianyu
PhysicalGUARDSword
Advanced Builds
S
sub_dpsphysicalvulnerability_applicatorcrowd_controlfree_unit
Chen Qianyu earns a top placement because she repeatedly applies Vulnerability through the Lift effect of her Battle and Combo skills, which physical teams can convert into Crush or Breach. She is also handed out for free and brings handy base-management perks, though her own damage output is only average and depends on allies capitalizing on the stacks she creates.
endgamesub dpsendgamephysicalvulnerabilityburstcombo_cooldownlate_game
This endgame setup treats Chen Qianyu as a physical sub-DPS whose rotation fuels the whole team. Rapid Ascent gives her a stat line and Twilight proc that reward her Ultimate-centric damage pattern, while the Qingbo set accelerates her combo skill cooldown and layers Skill DMG buffs on top of every cast. The armour and kit pieces add Agility, Strength and Physical DMG so her own hits stay relevant, and the shorter cooldown on her follow-up attack means more Vulnerability stacks available for allies to consume with Crush or Breach. The result is a build that trades raw personal numbers for a constant supply of debuff windows, which is exactly what physical lineups need from her.
Weapon
Gear
skill_dmg_and_combo_cooldown
armor
swordmancer heavy armor t1
gloves
qingbo gauntlets
core 1
qingbo positioning kit t1
core 2
qingbo positioning kit t1
1agility2strength3physical_dmg_boost4skill_dmg_boost
Explanation
Rapid Ascent is picked first because her damage is concentrated in her Ultimate, so its Twilight effect and attribute boost pay off on the button that matters most.
Glorious Memory is a solid substitute if you have it from the Protocol Pass weapon supply, trading the attribute boost for a straight Agility increase.
Sundering Steel and Aspirant are the budget picks: their Agility, Physical DMG and conditional buffs all function with her kit, they simply sit below the top options.
Swordmancer Heavy Armor supplies the Agility and Strength foundation, while the Qingbo gloves and both positioning kits complete the set bonus that speeds up her combo skill.
Notes
- Qingbo lowers her Combo Skill cooldown, letting her fire Soar to the Stars more often and hand out extra Vulnerability windows.
- The set also stacks Skill DMG each time a combo skill fires, which suits the constant skill cycling in this build.
- Rapid Ascent's Twilight proc and its Ultimate-friendly stat line line up with her burst-focused damage spread.
early gamesub dpsbeginnerearly_gamebudgetagilityphysical
A low-investment loadout for players who are still progressing. Chen Qianyu scales off Agility first and Physical DMG second, so Sundering Steel plus the Roving MSGR set covers both with gear that is easy to obtain. The set grants a flat Agility increase and a Physical DMG bump that stays active while her HP is healthy, and the two Gyro kits layer extra attack on top. It does not shorten her combo cooldown the way Qingbo does, so Vulnerability output is slower, but it keeps her functional as a secondary physical damage dealer until the better pieces drop.
Gear
agility_and_physical_dmg
armor
roving msgr jacket
gloves
roving msgr fists
core 1
roving msgr gyro
core 2
roving msgr gyro
1agility2physical_dmg_boost
Explanation
Sundering Steel is the natural starter sword because its Physical DMG, Agility and Combative bonuses match the three things she needs most at low investment.
Roving MSGR is chosen over Qingbo here simply because it is the accessible set that still converts directly into her damage stats.
The jacket and fists carry the set effect while the two Gyro kits contribute extra attack, making the full four-piece cheap to assemble.
Once Qingbo pieces become available, this build is meant to be replaced by the endgame configuration.
Notes
- Roving MSGR hands out a large flat Agility boost, which is the attribute she leans on the hardest while leveling.
- The set's conditional Physical DMG increase while above 80% HP is easy to keep alive during early content.
- Both Gyro kits add attack on top of the set effect, so she stays usable without any rare gear.
Build Insights
Chen Qianyu slots into physical compositions as a secondary damage dealer whose real job is feeding status effects. She opens windows by lifting targets with her battle skill and then following up with her combo skill whenever something becomes Vulnerable, handing Crush or Breach opportunities to her allies. She should be built like a damage dealer regardless of whether she is the operator you control, because her numbers still matter for clearing waves, and her Ultimate gives her a cheap area burst. Position her so her dash-based combo skill can sweep through clustered enemies, and keep a physical main damage dealer next to her to spend the stacks she generates. Outside combat she is worth fielding as a base operator for manufacturing and growth chamber bonuses.
Core Mechanics
- Her Ascending Strike battle skill is an uppercut that deals Physical damage and Lifts the target, setting up Vulnerability.
- The combo skill Soar to the Stars triggers whenever an enemy becomes Vulnerable, dashing through enemies to deal damage and Lift them, but it is gated by a 16-second cooldown.
- Because Vulnerability is only useful when consumed, her value rises when teammates can Crush or Breach lifted targets.
Scaling
- She scales primarily with Agility and Strength, plus Physical DMG and general Skill DMG bonuses.
- Her damage profile leans on her Ultimate, so bonuses to Ultimate DMG and Ultimate energy gain improve her ceiling noticeably.
- Early on she performs fine with budget gear, but she needs a physical team built around consuming her stacks to feel strong.
Character Notes
Chen Qianyu is a 5-star Physical Sword Guard from Endfield Industries who works best as a secondary damage dealer in physical teams. Her identity revolves around creating Lift and Vulnerability states that teammates can consume for Crush or Breach, which makes her a force multiplier rather than a carry. She is generous to build because she is available through headhunting and as a quest reward, and she doubles as a useful base operator for manufacturing and growth chamber assignments. Expect modest personal damage in exchange for consistent debuff pressure and a cheap area Ultimate.
Playstyle
- Open with Ascending Strike to Lift and mark targets, then follow immediately with the combo skill for a second Lift.
- Her combo skill only activates once an enemy turns Vulnerable and has a 16-second cooldown, so plan the follow-up instead of spamming it.
- Hold her Ultimate for Staggered enemies so the burst lands during the damage window, and consider Ultimate DMG or energy efficiency stats to fire it more often.
- Watch for enemies charging attacks marked by a red ring and interrupt with one of her active skills, since she generates more Stagger this way than most operators.
Strengths
- Applies Vulnerability repeatedly through the Lift on both her battle skill and combo skill.
- Free to acquire and useful outside combat thanks to her manufacturing and growth chamber base skills.
- Cheap, hard-hitting Ultimate that works well as an area burst.
- Strong Stagger generation when interrupting enemy charge-ups.
Weaknesses
- Personal damage is only average and she needs allies to convert her stacks into real value.
- The 16-second cooldown on her combo skill limits how often she can reapply Vulnerability.
- Her battle skill shares team SP cost and cannot be chained freely.
Team Guide
bestphysical_teamburst_team
This is Chen Qianyu's strongest home base: a pure Physical lineup where her heavy Vulnerable stacking fuels Crush and Breach finishers. At 100 SP she can bank two Vulnerable stacks on her own, which keeps the physical damage amplifiers active almost constantly.
Lifeng acts as a second Vulnerable source through his Battle Skill and Ultimate, while Pogranichnik is the anchor SP generator who also applies Breach and boosts allies with Fervent Morale. The main DPS slot can be filled by Endministrator, Da Pan, or Mi Fu, all of whom trigger Crush and lean on Chen to build the stacks they consume.
Lifeng acts as a second Vulnerable source through his Battle Skill and Ultimate, while Pogranichnik is the anchor SP generator who also applies Breach and boosts allies with Fervent Morale. The main DPS slot can be filled by Endministrator, Da Pan, or Mi Fu, all of whom trigger Crush and lean on Chen to build the stacks they consume.
Explanation
Chen's high Vulnerable application makes Crush and Breach easy to land, which is the core of any physical team's damage.
Lifeng doubles down on Vulnerable generation, so you rarely run out of stacks to consume.
Pogranichnik supplies SP while adding Breach and the Fervent Morale buff, lifting the whole squad.
Endministrator, Da Pan, and Mi Fu are interchangeable finishers that reward a stack-rich setup.
Strengths
- Very high uptime on Vulnerable makes Crush reliable.
- Multiple Vulnerable sources mean less downtime waiting on cooldowns.
- Fervent Morale plus Breach create strong burst windows.
Weaknesses
- Needs careful Combo Skill sequencing so stacks aren't wasted.
- Depends on SP generators to sustain fast rotations.
Rotation
- 1Open with Pogranichnik's Ultimate to set up Fervent Morale and begin regenerating SP for the rest of the sequence.
- 2Use Lifeng's Ultimate to add a Vulnerable stack, then follow with Chen's Combo Skill. Hold off on Mi Fu's Combo Skill until Lifeng's second Knock Down has landed.
- 3Cast Chen's Battle Skill to reach four Vulnerable stacks, then use Pogranichnik's Battle Skill to apply Breach.
- 4Use Lifeng's Battle Skill to add another Vulnerable stack and apply Physical Susceptibility.
- 5Trigger Mi Fu's Combo Skill for a second Physical Susceptibility, then activate Pogranichnik's Combo Skill to restore SP.
- 6Perform a Final Strike with Mi Fu, then use Lifeng's Combo Skill to gain Link.
- 7With Link active, use Mi Fu's Ultimate to consume it, shifting her Battle Skill to Move 2 and adding a Vulnerable stack.
- 8Trigger Chen's Combo Skill, then cast her Battle Skill to rebuild to four Vulnerable stacks.
- 9Use Mi Fu's Battle Skill to trigger Crush and transform her next Battle Skill into Move 3.
- 10Use Mi Fu's Battle Skill once more to execute Move 3 and finish the burst.
Open with buffs, stack Vulnerable with Chen and Lifeng, apply Breach, then cash out with Mi Fu's Crush finishers while cycling Chen's skills twice.
early gamebeginnerlow_investmentf2p
A budget friendly setup for players still assembling their roster. Chen Qianyu pairs naturally with Endministrator because her Lift effects feed extra Vulnerability that Endministrator then converts into big damage. Estella rounds the team out by providing a solid physical damage buff through her Combo Skill, and Alesh, if you happen to draw him, keeps skills cycling as an SP generator.
This composition is meant to carry you through the early game until stronger 6-star Operators come along, so it prioritizes accessibility over peak output.
This composition is meant to carry you through the early game until stronger 6-star Operators come along, so it prioritizes accessibility over peak output.
Explanation
Chen's Lift-based Vulnerability stacking pairs neatly with Endministrator's damage conversion.
Estella adds a straightforward Physical damage buff via her Combo Skill.
Alesh smooths rotations as a 5-star SP generator, keeping the team's skills online.
Ideal while you're missing stronger 6-star Operators in the early game.
Strengths
- Low investment and easy to assemble from accessible units.
- Chained Combo Skills keep Vulnerability flowing into Endministrator's damage.
Weaknesses
- Lower ceiling than a fully built 6-star composition.
- Relies on drawing Alesh for smooth SP generation.
Rotation
- 1Begin by applying Cryo Infliction through Estella's Battle Skill or Alesh's Ultimate, then use Alesh's Battle Skill to consume those stacks and force Solidification.
- 2Once Solidification is up, use Estella's Combo Skill to apply Vulnerability via Lift plus Physical Susceptibility, and drop her Ultimate if it's ready for an extra stack.
- 3Follow up with Endministrator's Combo Skill to apply Originium Crystals; use the Ultimate if available to consume them for bonus burst, otherwise continue the chain.
- 4Trigger Chen's Combo Skill for another Vulnerable stack, then use Alesh's Combo Skill to recover SP.
- 5Cast Chen's Battle Skill for one more Vulnerable stack, then spend your SP on Endministrator's Battle Skill to consume everything with Crush.
- 6Wait for SP to regenerate, then repeat Endministrator's Battle Skill to consume Vulnerable and trigger Crush again.
Inflict Cryo then convert it with Alesh for Solidification, chain Combo Skills across Estella, Endministrator, and Chen to pile up Vulnerability, then consume the stacks with Endministrator's Crush.
Team Insights
Chen Qianyu is a support who manufactures Vulnerable stacks so her team can cash them in with Crush and Breach. She performs best in mono-Physical squads where every member contributes to the same damage plan. Build around other Vulnerable sources such as Lifeng and SP generators like Pogranichnik or Alesh so rotations stay fast. When your account is still growing, she can anchor a cheaper Endministrator-centered lineup and still deliver solid stacking for the team to exploit.
Synergy Patterns
- Chen and Lifeng stack Vulnerable together, so the team rarely runs out of stacks to spend.
- Pogranichnik generates SP and applies Breach, supporting physical damage and buffing allies with Fervent Morale.
- In the early game, Estella's Cryo Infliction lets Alesh apply Solidification, which opens up all Combo Skills.
- Crush finishers (Endministrator, Da Pan, Mi Fu) want Chen to keep four Vulnerable stacks up before cashing out.
Tips
- Keep Chen at 100 SP so she can hold two Vulnerable stacks at once.
- Sequence Combo Skills one after another to chain Vulnerability and avoid wasting stacks.
- Use Ultimates to extend stack windows right before a Crush or Breach finisher lands.
- In the early game, prioritize SP generation so Chen and Endministrator can keep cycling.
Availability
v1.5Headhunting banners and story quest reward (Break the Siege)Confidence: 86%
Featured Banners
Basic HeadhuntingNew HorizonsGood Morning From Your Dawnstar
Potentials
- Shadowless: increases damage dealt to enemies below 50% HP by 20%.
- Heirloom Martial Arts: grants Agility +15 and Physical DMG dealt +8%.
- Dual-Wielding Swordmancer: raises the damage multipliers of Ascending Strike, Soar to the Stars and Blade Gale to 1.1 times their base values.
- Improvised Chi Xiao: reduces the Ultimate energy cost of Blade Gale by 15%.
- Bonded with the World: shortens the cooldown of Soar to the Stars by 3 seconds.
Best Gifts
Eureka TeaboxFrontiers WatchTidestone SpecimenCosmic Gate PuzzleFin-n-ChipsChubby Lung Fangxing MemorabiliaFowlbeast Paper KiteDer Schwingende Gentleman Classical Album
The Eureka Teabox is her favorite gift and gives the largest trust gain; the remaining items work as acceptable substitutes when the teabox is unavailable.
A specialist operator within Endfield Industries, Chen Qianyu earned her combat skill through intensive training from a very young age. Those who know her describe her as endlessly optimistic and stubbornly resilient, someone who keeps her footing no matter how grim the situation becomes. Her shared Lung heritage and family name with Arknights' Chen Hui-chieh have led many to speculate about a connection between the two, though whether the resemblance is meaningful remains unconfirmed.