Why Weapon Choice Actually Matters for DHIL in Pure Fiction
Let's talk about what makes DHIL tick in Pure Fiction. His enhanced basic attacks—Transcendence (1 SP, 3-hit), Divine Spear (2 SP, 5-hit), and Fulgurant Leap (3 SP, 7-hit)—aren't just fancy animations. They're the core of his damage scaling, and different light cone passives amplify them in very different ways.
Pure Fiction throws you into a 60,000 point gauntlet across four waves. What experienced players know is that the Grit system can boost your damage by 30-50% at 100+ stacks, but you need consistent AoE output to build those stacks efficiently. That's where Fulgurant Leap's 7-hit breaking capacity becomes crucial—and where weapon choice starts to matter.
At E0S0, DHIL sits comfortably in B-tier for Pure Fiction Version 3.2. Not terrible, but he needs serious support for skill point generation and energy management. You'll want to hit that 70% critical rate threshold for Rutilant Arena's +20% CRIT DMG bonus, and maintain the classic 1:2 CRIT Rate:CRIT DMG ratio.
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On the Fall of an Aeon: The Signature Standard
Fall of Aeon isn't just DHIL's signature weapon—it's practically designed around his kit mechanics. The CRIT Rate, ATK%, and Energy Recharge scaling address his biggest pain points directly.
Energy management is where this weapon really shines. DHIL's Star Veil talent gives him 15 Energy at battle start, but maintaining ultimate uptime throughout Pure Fiction's marathon encounters? That's where Fall of Aeon's passive becomes essential. His Azure's Aqua Ablutes All ultimate deals 300% ATK damage across 3 hits while granting 2 Squama Sacrosancta stacks—and those stacks are what make his enhanced attacks actually affordable.
The ATK% scaling amplifies every enhanced basic attack, with Fulgurant Leap benefiting most from that increased base damage. When you factor in his Righteous Heart talent (+10% CRIT DMG per hit, maximum 6 stacks), the synergy becomes obvious. Fall of Aeon ensures DHIL can maintain his Ultimate → enhanced attack rotation throughout all four waves, with bonus points from his Jolt Anew talent (+24% CRIT DMG vs. Imaginary Weakness enemies).
Something Irreplaceable: The Scrappy Underdog
Don't sleep on Something Irreplaceable. This 4-star features stack-based damage amplification that actually loves Pure Fiction's extended multi-wave format. Each stack provides incremental ATK% increases that scale DHIL's enhanced basic attack multipliers directly—and since Transcendence, Divine Spear, and Fulgurant Leap all scale from base ATK, those stacking bonuses create meaningful improvements.
But here's the catch: you need careful skill point management to maximize stack uptime. DHIL's enhanced attacks consume 1-3 skill points each, making SP efficiency absolutely crucial. The weapon performs best with SP-positive supports like Sparkle or Tingyun. Without proper SP generation, you're stuck using basic attacks—and that's where your damage output takes a nosedive.
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The Numbers Game: Damage Comparison
In practice, Fall of Aeon delivers that 15-20% sustained DPS advantage through consistent energy regeneration. Against single targets, it allows DHIL to maintain his optimal Ultimate → Fulgurant Leap → Divine Spear → Transcendence rotation, maximizing Righteous Heart stacks while staying SP-efficient.
Something Irreplaceable needs 2-3 combat cycles to reach maximum stacks, creating an initial damage deficit. Once it hits full stacks though? The gap narrows to 10-12%. Not insignificant, but not game-breaking either.
AoE scenarios favor Fall of Aeon's immediate effectiveness. First-turn ultimate usage means instant Squama stacks, and Fulgurant Leap's 7-hit AoE benefits significantly from that ATK% scaling while building Grit stacks efficiently. Something Irreplaceable's gradual buildup reduces initial wave clear speed—and in Pure Fiction, cycle count matters.
Real-World Performance Testing
Testing across stages 10-12 consistently shows Fall of Aeon achieving 3-star clears with 1-2 fewer cycles. Stage 10's elite composition particularly favors Fall of Aeon's immediate energy advantage—turn one ultimate provides those crucial Squama stacks for enhanced attack chains. Something Irreplaceable requires 2-3 turns for optimal stacks, often resulting in one additional cycle for 3-star completion.
At maximum difficulty, Fall of Aeon's energy regeneration maintains ultimate uptime against those tanky enemies, enabling consistent Squama generation for Fulgurant Leap spam. Something Irreplaceable builds can achieve 3-star clears, but they require premium support teams including Sparkle and Robin. F2P teams with Tingyun and Gallagher? They struggle for consistent clears.
Building Around Each Weapon
Fall of Aeon builds target 70%+ CRIT Rate, 140%+ CRIT DMG, 2800+ ATK, with minimal speed investment. The weapon's CRIT Rate bonus reduces relic pressure significantly, letting you focus on damage scaling.
Something Irreplaceable builds need 3200+ ATK, 65%+ CRIT Rate, 130%+ CRIT DMG for optimal performance. The stack mechanic demands longer combat duration, making 10-15% additional HP/DEF substats valuable for actually completing those stacks before enemies die.
Team Synergy Considerations
Fall of Aeon's energy self-sufficiency opens up diverse team compositions. Premium options include Robin for damage amplification and Sparkle for SP generation. F2P alternatives using Tingyun and Gallagher provide sufficient support for 3-star clears—Tingyun's energy regeneration complements Fall of Aeon's passive beautifully.
Something Irreplaceable builds basically mandate SP-positive supports. Sparkle becomes nearly essential, providing both SP generation and CRIT DMG bonuses that amplify those stack benefits. Alternative generators include Bronya or Asta, though with less overall team synergy.
Investment Reality Check
Fall of Aeon requires 60-80 pulls (9,600-12,800 Stellar Jades) for that 15-20% damage increase—often reducing cycle requirements by 1-2 turns. Something Irreplaceable offers 80% signature performance at zero gacha cost, refinable through standard banner acquisitions.
For E0 DHIL, weapon investment provides more immediate returns than Eidolon progression. E1 offers minimal benefits, while E2 requires 160+ pulls on average. Budget players should prioritize Fall of Aeon before chasing Eidolons.
What Works Best in Practice
Here's what experienced players know: you can absolutely achieve consistent 3-star Pure Fiction clears using Something Irreplaceable with proper team support. The key lies in SP economy and stack management rather than raw weapon power.
Common rotation errors include premature Fulgurant Leap usage without Squama stacks and poor ultimate timing relative to enemy spawns. Optimal rotations prioritize ultimate usage at wave starts for immediate Squama generation—regardless of which weapon you're using.
The Bottom Line
Choose Fall of Aeon if you've got 80+ pulls available and want immediate Pure Fiction improvement. The energy regeneration and damage scaling provide noticeable quality-of-life improvements that make the content more comfortable to clear.
Go with Something Irreplaceable when you're saving resources for upcoming characters or lack premium supports. It performs admirably with proper team building at 80% signature performance—and honestly, that's often enough.
F2P players should prioritize team building over weapon acquisition. Invest in Sparkle or Robin before pursuing Fall of Aeon, because support quality impacts performance more than weapon choice. Consider Something Irreplaceable refinements through standard banner rather than targeted pulls.
Your Questions Answered
Can Dan Heng IL clear Pure Fiction 12 with Something Irreplaceable? Absolutely. Enables consistent 3-star clears with proper team support including Sparkle for SP generation and appropriate sustain.
What's the actual damage difference between Fall of Aeon and Something Irreplaceable? Fall of Aeon provides 15-20% higher sustained DPS due to energy regeneration enabling more frequent ultimates.
Should I pull Fall of Aeon or save for DHIL Eidolons? Prioritize Fall of Aeon before Eidolon investments—provides immediate performance gains while E2 requires significantly more resources.
Which weapon works better for F2P team compositions? Something Irreplaceable actually works better with F2P teams due to lower SP requirements, while Fall of Aeon demands premium supports to truly shine.
How many cycles does each weapon need for Pure Fiction 12? Fall of Aeon averages 6-7 cycles for 3-star completion, while Something Irreplaceable typically requires 7-8 cycles.
Is Fall of Aeon worth pulling with refined Something Irreplaceable? R3+ Something Irreplaceable reduces the performance gap significantly—consider your overall account needs before investing.
