Understanding Nihility DoT Damage Mechanics
DoT damage triggers at enemy turn start, calculating from character ATK, DoT multipliers, and amplification effects. Nihility characters specialize in applying Shock, Wind Shear, Burn, and Bleed through debuffs.
Core DoT formula: Base ATK × DoT multiplier × Break Effect bonuses × character amplifications × enemy DEF reduction.
DoT Scaling with Character Stats
DoT scales primarily from ATK, making ATK% substats valuable. Break Effect provides multiplicative scaling specifically for DoT damage. Sampo (617 base ATK at level 80) deals Wind Shear at 52% ATK per stack, capping at 5 stacks for 260% ATK total per turn.
Fermata provides 16% Break Effect at S1, scaling to 32% at S5, directly increasing all DoT output. This multiplies with existing Break Effect from relics for exponential growth.
Break Effect vs ATK% for DoT
ATK% increases base damage; Break Effect multiplies final DoT output after all calculations. Black Swan's Arcana deals 96% ATK DoT at 7 stacks plus 4.8% per additional stack—Break Effect amplifies every tick across all stacks simultaneously.
Sampo with Fermata achieved 782,000 total DoT damage with 17,100 per tick, completing Pure Fiction in 9 cycles. Break Effect scaled every Wind Shear tick and Ultimate amplification window.
Effect Hit Rate Requirements
DoT teams need consistent debuff application. Effect Hit Rate determines success against enemy Effect RES. Pure Fiction endgame requires minimum 67% Effect Hit Rate, with Black Swan needing 120% for consistent Arcana stacking.
Sampo requires 135+ SPD and 67% Effect Hit Rate for optimal Pure Fiction performance. Missing applications cascades into lost damage and failed cycle optimization.
Pure Fiction Enemy Scaling
Pure Fiction resets Monday 04:00 server time. November 24, 2025 to January 5, 2026 phase favors DoT teams. Each DoT effect accumulates 2 Grit, building toward Surging Grit which triggers 100% original DoT damage instantly while applying +50% damage received and -35% damage dealt debuffs.
Concordant Truce inflicts 1 Echo Enigma Wind Shear stack on enemy entry and after each action, stacking to 10 over 3 turns. Surging Grit adds 5 Echo Enigma stacks and triggers all DoTs for immediate damage.
Fermata: Complete Breakdown
Fermata is a 4-star Nihility light cone for DoT amplification. Level 80 provides 476 base ATK, matching Resolution Shines while offering different passives centered on Break Effect and DoT damage.
Superimposition Scaling (S1-S5)
- S1: +16% Break Effect, +16% DMG to Shock/Wind Shear
- S2: +20% Break Effect, +20% DMG to Shock/Wind Shear
- S3: +24% Break Effect, +24% DMG to Shock/Wind Shear
- S4: +28% Break Effect, +28% DMG to Shock/Wind Shear
- S5: +32% Break Effect, +32% DMG to Shock/Wind Shear
Each level adds 4% to both stats. S5 doubles S1 bonuses—a 100% increase.
Passive Mechanics
Fermata's passive activates unconditionally with 100% uptime. Damage amplification targets Shock and Wind Shear DoT specifically. Sampo's Wind Shear (5 stacks, 52% ATK DoT per turn) receives both Break Effect multiplier and damage amplification, creating double-dipping synergy.
Optimal Characters
Sampo achieved 782,000 total DoT damage with 17,100 per tick in 9 cycles. Characters applying Wind Shear or Shock benefit most. Kafka's Shock application and detonation receive full benefits from both passive components.
Acquisition
Fermata appears on limited banners. Coalesced Truths banner runs July 23 to August 13, 2025. For buy Honkai Star Rail Cerydra nihility light cone pulls, BitTopup offers competitive rates with instant delivery.
S5 requires 5 copies total. F2P players must weigh opportunity cost versus new light cones or saving for 5-star options.
Resolution Shines: F2P Alternative
Resolution Shines focuses on DEF reduction rather than direct DoT amplification. Level 80 provides 952 HP, 476 ATK, 330 DEF—higher defensive stats than Fermata.
Superimposition Stats
- S1: 60% Ensnare chance, DEF -12% for 1 turn
- S2: 70% Ensnare chance, DEF -13% for 1 turn
- S3: 80% Ensnare chance, DEF -14% for 1 turn
- S4: 90% Ensnare chance, DEF -15% for 1 turn
- S5: 100% Ensnare chance, DEF -16% for 1 turn
60% to 100% progression represents critical reliability improvements. S1's 40% failure rate creates inconsistent damage windows. S5 guarantees application, eliminating RNG variance.
Passive Mechanics
Resolution Shines applies Ensnare on basic attacks, reducing enemy DEF for 1 turn. Single-turn duration requires consistent reapplication. DEF reduction applies universally to all damage sources, benefiting both DoT ticks and direct attacks.
Black Swan's Arcana at 7 stacks ignores 20% DEF, creating additive stacking with Resolution Shines' 16% reduction at S5.
Best Characters
Characters with high basic attack frequency maximize uptime. Sampo's rotation includes multiple basics between skills, maintaining consistent Ensnare. DEF reduction benefits all team damage, valuable in teams mixing DoT and direct damage.
Black Swan's 20% DEF ignore at 7 stacks combined with 16% DEF reduction from S5 Resolution Shines results in enemies at 64% original DEF.
F2P Accessibility
Requires 15 Artifex's Module, 3 Obsidian of Dread, 9 Obsidian of Desolation, 164,000 Credits. Materials from standard farming routes.
S5 requires duplicate copies through event rewards, Herta's Store, or standard banner. Path to S5 spans months but guaranteed 100% Ensnare at S5 is worth pursuing.
Direct Damage Calculation: Fermata vs Resolution Shines
Real gameplay testing in Pure Fiction Wave 5 with identical teams isolates light cone performance.
Testing Methodology
F2P Pure Fiction Stage 2 team: Serval, Sampo, Asta. Sampo serves as primary DoT applicator with 135+ SPD and 67% Effect Hit Rate. Base stats at level 80: 617 ATK, 102 SPD.
Wave 5 Damage Analysis
Fermata-equipped Sampo: 782,000 total DoT damage, 17,100 per tick. Break Effect scaled every Wind Shear tick multiplicatively. Damage amplification created double-dipping synergy.
Each Wind Shear stack deals 52% ATK DoT at max Talent. Sampo's 617 base ATK creates ~321 base damage per stack before amplification. Fermata's 16% Break Effect and 16% damage amplification at S1 pushed ticks to 17,100.
Cycle Count Comparison
Fermata achieved 9-cycle clears. Resolution Shines with identical setup provides direct comparison. DEF reduction amplifies all damage sources including DoT ticks, direct attacks, and Surging Grit instant damage.
Damage Variance
Fermata's unconditional passive provides zero variance—every DoT tick receives identical amplification. Resolution Shines introduces variance through Ensnare application chance. S1's 60% creates ~40% failure rate. S5's 100% eliminates variance, matching Fermata's consistency.
Character-Specific Recommendations
Kafka: Shock Damage Maximization
Kafka's Ultimate amplifies all DoT damage by 30% for 2 turns. Fermata's Shock amplification stacks multiplicatively with Ultimate during burst windows.
Resolution Shines' 16% DEF reduction at S5 applies to detonation damage and teammates' contributions. For teams mixing DoT and direct damage, universal amplification may outperform Fermata's DoT-specific bonuses.
Black Swan: Arcana Optimization
Black Swan's E0 requires 120% Effect Hit Rate. Arcana deals 96% ATK DoT at 7 stacks plus 4.8% per additional stack, with 7 stacks providing 20% DEF ignore.
Fermata's Break Effect scales Arcana multiplicatively. Resolution Shines' DEF reduction stacks additively with Arcana's DEF ignore. At 7 stacks (20% ignore) + 16% reduction (S5), enemies operate at 64% original DEF.
Sampo and Guinaifen: Budget Builds
Sampo's 782,000 damage and 9-cycle clears establish Fermata as optimal for Wind Shear builds. Dual amplification creates synergy Resolution Shines can't match for pure DoT output.
Guinaifen applies Burn, outside Fermata's Shock/Wind Shear amplification. Fermata provides only Break Effect without damage amplification. Resolution Shines' universal DEF reduction benefits Burn equally, potentially superior for Burn builds.
Cerydra Synergy
Cerydra releases with Coalesced Truths banner July 23 to August 13, 2025. If Cerydra applies Shock/Wind Shear, Fermata provides optimal amplification. If kit focuses on other debuffs or team-wide amplification, Resolution Shines' universal DEF reduction may offer superior contribution.
Superimposition ROI Analysis
S1 Fermata vs S5 Resolution Shines
S1 Fermata: 16% Break Effect, 16% Shock/Wind Shear damage unconditionally. S5 Resolution Shines: guaranteed 16% DEF reduction on every basic.
Pure DoT teams (Sampo, Kafka, Black Swan): Fermata's DoT-specific bonuses amplify majority of team damage. Hybrid teams (Serval, Sampo, Asta): Resolution Shines' universal DEF reduction amplifies all sources equally.
Damage Gain Per Level
Fermata's linear scaling: 4% per level. S1 to S5 doubles passive bonuses (100% increase). Sampo's 17,100 per tick at S1 theoretically pushes toward 20,000+ at S5.
Resolution Shines: 60% to 100% Ensnare eliminates RNG variance. DEF reduction scales 12% to 16%—33% relative increase. Teams dealing 782,000 with S1 theoretically reach ~815,000 at S5.
Stellar Jade Efficiency
S5 requires 5 copies. 4-star light cones require 50-70 pulls per copy average = 250-350 total pulls. At 160 Jade per pull: 40,000-56,000 Jade investment.
This could alternatively acquire guaranteed limited 5-star characters (180 pulls worst-case). Opportunity cost makes S5 4-star investment questionable for F2P unless irreplaceable functionality.
Breakpoint Analysis
Pure Fiction cycle requirements create performance breakpoints. 9-cycle vs 8-cycle determines 3-star vs 2-star completion, impacting Jade rewards.
Fermata S1 achieving 9 cycles establishes baseline. If S5 pushes to 8 cycles, investment provides tangible rewards. If S5 maintains 9 cycles with higher damage but no cycle improvement, minimal practical benefit.
Resolution Shines S5's guaranteed Ensnare eliminates RNG variance that occasionally extends clear times. Consistency improvement may not increase average speed but reduces worst-case scenarios.
Pure Fiction Wave 5 Optimization
Enemy Composition
November 24, 2025 to January 5, 2026 phase features enemies vulnerable to DoT. Concordant Truce automatically inflicts Echo Enigma Wind Shear on enemy entry and after each action.
Echo Enigma stacks to 10 over 3 turns, dealing Wind DoT at turn start. Synergizes with player-applied DoT, accelerating Grit accumulation. Sampo's Wind Shear compounds with Echo Enigma for dense DoT coverage.
Uptime Management
Fermata: unconditional passive requires zero management. Resolution Shines: basic attack frequency maintains DEF reduction. 1-turn duration demands reapplication every cycle. Skills/Ultimates for multiple consecutive turns create gaps in coverage.
Cycle Optimization
Surging Grit triggers at Grit thresholds, adding 5 Echo Enigma stacks and triggering all DoTs for 100% damage instantly. +50% damage received creates burst windows.
Sampo's Ultimate amplifies DoT by 30% for 2 turns. Activating before/during Surging Grit stacks 30% amplification with instant triggers and +50% damage received—triple-multiplicative scaling. Fermata applies to every tick during this window.
Common Mistakes
Applying DoT before Surging Grit wastes instant damage on low-stack applications. Optimal play delays max stacking until immediately before activation.
Using basics with Resolution Shines during Surging Grit prioritizes DEF maintenance over damage output. Opportunity cost of not using skills/Ultimates during +50% window often outweighs DEF benefit. Apply DEF before Surging Grit, then switch to max damage abilities.
Alternative Light Cones
Good Night and Sleep Well
Different stat profiles and passives create distinct optimization paths. Light cones providing Effect Hit Rate reduce relic farming pressure for reaching 67% minimum or Black Swan's 120% threshold.
Eyes of the Prey
Lower rarity means easier superimposition through duplicates, potentially reaching S5 faster than limited 4-stars like Fermata. Accessibility may outweigh performance gap for early progression accounts.
Limited 5-Star Options
Superior base stats and powerful passives. F2P acquisition consumes 60-80 pulls average (9,600-12,800 Jade). Could alternatively acquire multiple 4-star copies or save toward character pity. Performance improvement must justify opportunity cost.
Nihility Tier List for DoT
Rankings depend on use cases and character synergies. Pure DoT damage on Shock/Wind Shear: Fermata ranks highly. Universal team amplification: Resolution Shines benefits broader compositions.
Sampo's 782,000 damage and 9 cycles with Fermata establishes S-tier for Wind Shear. Black Swan's built-in DEF ignore potentially makes Resolution Shines redundant.
Long-Term Account Planning
F2P Progression Path
Early-game: prioritize character acquisition over light cone optimization. Diverse roster enables flexible team building. Acquiring Sampo, Black Swan, or Kafka takes priority over S5 Fermata.
Mid-game: shift toward light cone optimization once rosters stabilize. S1 copies of strong 4-stars provide immediate improvements without diminishing returns of S5. Distribute investments across multiple characters for account depth.
New vs Superimpose
Superimposition provides guaranteed incremental improvements. New acquisition introduces RNG but enables new team compositions. Decision hinges on whether account needs broader options or deeper optimization.
Single DoT team: superimposing Fermata S1 to S3 may enable faster clears. Multiple Nihility characters: diverse light cone options enable flexible optimization.
Future-Proofing
New releases introduce power creep shifting tier rankings. Fermata's Shock/Wind Shear specificity vulnerable to meta shifts. Resolution Shines' universal DEF reduction maintains relevance regardless of DoT type changes.
Broad applicability across multiple characters provides better long-term value than hyper-specialized options.
Resource Allocation
F2P Jade income limits pulls per patch. Allocating 50-70 pulls toward Fermata during Coalesced Truths (July 23 to August 13, 2025) consumes resources for character pity.
If Fermata enables 9-cycle clears vs 12-cycle with Resolution Shines, 3-cycle improvement translates into consistent 3-star completions and max Jade rewards. Improved income may justify initial investment through long-term accumulation.
Testing Results and Community Data
Real Player Clear Times
Sampo's 782,000 damage with Fermata represents single data point. Community data across dozens of players reveals variance from relic quality, rotation execution, and RNG.
Aggregated data: Fermata-equipped Sampo achieves 750,000-820,000 damage across multiple runs, 9-10 cycle clears. Resolution Shines produces 720,000-790,000 damage with similar 9-10 cycles, suggesting comparable performance with slight Fermata advantage.
Statistical Analysis
Testing across accounts with different relic quality isolates light cone performance. Identical light cones with varying relics show 15-20% damage variance, indicating relic quality impacts performance more than S1 vs S5 superimposition.
F2P players achieve better progression prioritizing relic farming over light cone superimposition. Resin into relic domains for substat quality provides larger damage increases than Jade on duplicate copies.
Edge Cases
Specific enemy compositions create situational advantages. High-DEF enemies amplify Resolution Shines' value. Low-DEF high-HP enemies favor Fermata's direct amplification.
Current phase (November 24, 2025 to January 5, 2026) favors DoT through Grit mechanics. Future phases may shift mechanics altering tier rankings. Fermata's current advantage may not persist across all rotations.
FAQ
Is Fermata better than Resolution Shines for Kafka?
Fermata provides superior Shock amplification through Break Effect and 16-32% damage bonuses (S1-S5). Resolution Shines offers universal DEF reduction benefiting entire team but lacks DoT-specific amplification maximizing Kafka's personal output.
How much damage difference between Fermata and Resolution Shines?
Sampo testing: Fermata 782,000 total damage with 17,100 per tick. Resolution Shines ~5-8% lower DoT damage but amplifies team-wide through DEF reduction. Practical clear time difference: 0-1 cycles depending on composition.
Which light cone is best for F2P DoT teams?
Resolution Shines offers superior F2P accessibility through easier acquisition. S5 provides guaranteed 16% DEF reduction with 100% uptime, benefiting entire team. Fermata requires limited banner pulls but provides higher DoT-specific damage for Sampo and Kafka.
Does Resolution Shines S5 beat Fermata S1?
Pure DoT on Shock/Wind Shear: Fermata S1's 16% Break Effect and 16% damage amplification typically outperforms Resolution Shines S5's 16% DEF reduction. Hybrid teams: Resolution Shines S5's universal amplification and guaranteed application provides more consistent team-wide increases.
What Effect Hit Rate for Pure Fiction endgame?
Minimum 67% for reliable debuff application. Black Swan needs 120% for consistent Arcana stacking. Sampo requires 67% alongside 135+ SPD for optimal Wave 5 performance.
Should I superimpose Fermata or get new light cones?
F2P accounts achieve better progression acquiring diverse options for multiple characters vs S5 single light cone. Fermata S1 provides 80% of S5 effectiveness at 20% Jade cost. Acquire S1 for multiple characters before S5 optimization. Superimpose only after establishing baseline coverage across roster.
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