Understanding Stage 12 Mechanics and Enemy Lineups
Stage 12 requires two unique teams to defeat separate encounters within 10 cycles without character defeats for 3-star completion. The stage rotates bi-weekly with different enemy configurations and Memory Turbulence buffs.
Category Mistake phase (Oct 27, 2025 - Dec 8, 2025):
- Node 1 Wave 1: Furiae Praetor + The Ascended
- Node 1 Wave 2: Flame Reaver of the Deepest Dark
- Node 2 Wave 1: Sweet Gorilla + Aurumaton Spectral Envoy
- Node 2 Wave 2: Ichor Memosprite Judge of Oblivion
Monkey Business phase (Dec 8, 2025 - Jan 19, 2026):
- First-half Wave 1: The Ascended + Cyclonic Swarm Mother
- First-half Wave 2: Stellaron Hunter Sam
- Second-half Wave 1: Noontide Gryphon + Ichor Memosprite Winged Serpent
- Second-half Wave 2: Borisin Warhead Hoolay
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Memory Turbulence Buff Mechanics
Memory Turbulence stacks up to 10 hits from weakness attacks on Elite/Boss enemies, adding 1 stack per Weakness Break action. Each stack deals 1 True DMG to a random enemy at cycle start. The buff grants 40% DMG Boost to allies with summons and their summons, making summon-based DPS exceptionally powerful.
Boss Stat Breakdowns
Flame Reaver/Ichor Judge:
- Base HP: 3,631,241
- Speed: 174
- Toughness: 240
- Effect RES: 40%
Furiae Praetor:
- Base HP: 2,011,149
- Speed: 174
- Toughness: 160
- Effect RES: 30%
The Ascended:
- Base HP: 1,229,035
- Speed: 158
- Toughness: 140
Critical mechanics:
- Bosses take 50% reduced damage when not Weakness Broken
- Bosses take 50% increased damage when Weakness Broken
- Weakness Break triggers immediate 20% HP loss and 200% action delay
- Bosses lose 60 Toughness when shields/summons are defeated
Why 4-Star Sustain Characters Excel
Stage 12's 10-cycle limit prioritizes damage output over extended survival. The objective no downed characters requires preventing knockouts, not maintaining perfect HP bars. Four-star sustains like Gallagher and Permansor Terrae deliver necessary protection without monopolizing team resources.
Investment Requirements
Speed benchmarks:
- Shield sustains: 140-150 Speed
- Healers: 120-130 Speed
Stat targets:
- Shield characters: 1,200+ Defense, HP secondary
- Healers: 3,000+ HP, 140-160% Energy Regeneration Rate
- Break Effect sustains: 150-200% Break Effect, 2,800+ HP
Functional 4-star sustains need +12 relics with correct main stats and 2-3 relevant substats per piece—achievable after 2-3 weeks farming Cavern of Corrosion.
Complete 4-Star Sustain Character Analysis
Gallagher: Break Effect Sustain
Gallagher provides healing through Besotted debuff application, triggering healing when debuffed enemies are attacked. Zero skill point consumption while maintaining team HP.
Optimal build:
- Break Effect: 150-200%
- Speed: 140-150
- Defense: 1,000+
- HP: 2,800+
- Relic set: Thief of Shooting Meteor
Pros: Skill-point-efficient, contributes Break damage Cons: Delayed healing response, requires frequent enemy attacks
Lynx: Pure Healing and Cleanse
Lynx delivers highest raw healing among 4-star sustains. Unique cleanse capability removes debuffs, critical against DoT-heavy encounters where DoT equals 50% of unblocked damage.
Optimal build:
- Energy Regeneration Rate: 150-170%
- HP: 3,200+
- Speed: 120-130
- Relic set: Passerby of Wandering Cloud
Pros: Highest healing output, debuff cleanse Cons: Zero damage contribution, high skill point consumption
March 7th Imaginary: Taunt Tank
March 7th redirects enemy attacks while providing shields to protected allies. Enables hypercarry strategies where single DPS receives both offensive buffs and defensive protection.
Optimal build:
- Defense: 1,400+
- HP: 2,800+
- Speed: 135-145
- Relic set: Knight of Purity Palace
Pros: Enables fragile hypercarries, strong single-target protection Cons: Struggles against AoE-heavy encounters
Permansor Terrae: Universal Shield Provider
Team-wide shielding with minimal skill point investment. Most universally applicable 4-star sustain.
Optimal build:
- Defense: 1,300-1,500
- HP: 2,600+
- Speed: 140-150
- Relic set: Knight of Purity Palace
Pros: Team-wide protection, skill-point-efficient Cons: No healing capability once shields break
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Proven Team Compositions
F2P Accessible Teams
First-half: Archer, Xueyi, Trailblazer Ice, Lynx
- Archer: Main DPS
- Xueyi: Quantum damage, Toughness depletion
- Trailblazer Ice: Shields, Taunt
- Lynx: Team healing
Second-half: Dan Heng, March 7th Imaginary, Asta, Permansor Terrae
- Dan Heng: Hypercarry DPS
- March 7th: Shield + protection
- Asta: Speed/ATK buffs
- Permansor Terrae: Team-wide shields
Summon-Optimized Teams
Exploit 40% DMG Boost to summon characters. Documented 1-cycle clears: Castorice (E0S1), Evernight (E0), Tribbie (E0), Hyacine (E0).
4-star adaptation: Summon-generating 4-star DPS + Tribbie + Hyacine/Permansor Terrae
Dual DPS Balanced Compositions
Pattern: Two DPS + one support + one 4-star sustain
Example: Anaxa, Sunday, Cerydra, Permansor Terrae
- Distributes damage across multiple sources
- Permansor Terrae protects both DPS simultaneously
- Balanced skill point economy
Relic Optimization
Main Stat Priority
Body:
- Shield sustains: Defense%
- Healers: HP%
- Gallagher: HP% (Break teams) or Defense% (traditional)
Feet:
- All sustains: Speed (except Lynx can use HP%)
Planar Sphere:
- Shield sustains: Defense%
- Healers: HP%
Link Rope:
- Ultimate-dependent: Energy Regeneration Rate
- Skill-based: Defense%/HP%
- Gallagher (Super Break): Break Effect
Best-in-Slot Relic Sets
Knight of Purity Palace (Permansor Terrae, March 7th):
- 2pc: 15% Defense
- 4pc: 20% shield absorption, Energy when shielded allies attacked
Passerby of Wandering Cloud (Lynx):
- 2pc: Outgoing Healing Boost
- 4pc: Skill point regeneration on ultimate
Thief of Shooting Meteor (Gallagher):
- 2pc: Break Effect + Energy Regeneration
- 4pc: Additional Energy when Weakness Breaking
Substat Breakpoints
Speed: 15-20 total Speed from substats (3-4 rolls) Defense: 30-40% Defense from substats (6-8 rolls) Energy Regeneration Rate: 20-30% ERR from substats (3-5 rolls)
Light Cone Selection
Top 4-Star Options
Trend of the Universal Market (March 7th):
- S5: 32% Defense + 16% Defense when hit
Post-Op Conversation (Lynx):
- S5: 24% healing boost + 16 Energy per ultimate
Landau's Choice (Budget taunt tanks):
- Increased aggro + damage reduction
- Available through Herta's Store
Free Light Cones
Shared Feeling (Lynx):
- S5: 20% healing boost
- From Trailblaze Mission rewards
Day One of My New Life (Universal):
- Defense scaling + damage reduction
- Early-game rewards
Superimposition Priority
Prioritize DPS Light Cones first. Exception: Post-Op Conversation gains substantial value from Superimposition due to Energy Regeneration scaling—prioritize to S5 for Lynx.
Combat Execution Strategy
Opening Rotation
Cycle 0:
- Permansor Terrae: Use skill immediately for team-wide shields
- March 7th: Apply shield to primary DPS
- Lynx: Hold skill for reactive healing after damage
- DPS: Focus fire lowest Toughness enemy (The Ascended: 140 vs Furiae Praetor: 160)
- Build Memory Turbulence stacks across both enemies
Phase Transition Survival
Before defeating Wave 1 final enemy:
- Ensure sustain abilities ready for Wave 2
- Maintain 3-4 skill points
- Have ultimates charged
Against Flame Reaver (Node 1 Wave 2):
- Clear summons before boss actions
- Each summon defeated reduces boss Toughness by 60
Exploiting Weakness Break Windows
When bosses enter Weakness Broken state:
- 50% increased damage taken
- 20% immediate HP loss
- 200% action delay
- 2-3 turn damage window
Align all DPS ultimates, enhanced skills, and support buffs with Weakness Break windows.
Against Ichor Judge: Use shields for sustain due to 50% damage reduction when not Weakness Broken.
Against Sam: Hitting 5 times with offensive Skills regenerates all Skill Points and triggers 50% Increased DMG. Spend points aggressively.
Managing Hoolay's Moon Rage
Inflicting Weakness Break on Hoolay during Moon Rage blocks Lupine Chase, Calls, and Bloody Gleam abilities. Reserve Toughness-depleting abilities for Moon Rage phases. The 200% action delay often prevents Hoolay from acting during Moon Rage entirely.
Advanced Optimization
Speed Tuning
Optimal turn order: Sustain → Support → DPS
Action Value formula: 10,000 / Speed = Action Value per turn
Speed ranges:
- Sustains: 140-150 Speed (67-71 AV)
- Supports: 130-140 Speed (71-77 AV)
- DPS: 120-130 Speed (77-83 AV)
With action advancers like Sunday, sustains require 155-165 Speed.
Energy Management
Energy generation rates:
- Skills: 30 Energy
- Basic attacks: 20 Energy
- Being hit: 5 Energy
Ultimate timing:
- Phase transitions
- Weakness Break windows
- Emergency recovery (HP below 30%)
Emergency Recovery
When team HP drops below 30%:
- Use sustain ultimates immediately
- DPS switch to basic attacks for skill points
- Apply defensive buffs/shields
Against Hemotort Decapitation (5,000 DMG):
- Shields must absorb full damage OR
- Characters need 5,000+ HP to survive
DoT management: Cleanse DoT when DoT damage per turn exceeds healing per turn.
Common Mistakes
Skill Point Starvation
- Maintain minimum 2-3 skill points
- Have one character operate skill-point-positive
- Don't use sustain skills when unnecessary (shields at 80%, HP at 90%)
- Against Sam: Spend points aggressively (5 Skills regenerates all points)
Target Priority Errors
Multi-enemy waves:
- Defeat Cyclonic Swarm Mother first to clear Mirage Fizzle Kid summons
- Focus Elite enemies before Bosses (lower HP pools)
- Attack enemies matching your element for maximum Toughness damage
Overhealing vs Proactive Shielding
Optimal sequencing: Shields before damage, healing after damage
- Permansor Terrae shields before boss ultimates
- Lynx heals after unavoidable damage
- Shield sustains can't recover lost HP
- Healing sustains waste value when overhealing
Rewards Breakdown
36 stars across all Memory of Chaos:
- 800 Stellar Jade
- 600 Jade Feather
- 120,000 Credits
Stage 12 specific rewards:
- 24 Traveler's Guide
- 12 Refined Aether
- 24 Lost Crystal
- 96 Lucent Afterglow
- 120,000 Credits
Progression value:
- 800 Stellar Jade = half a limited character pull
- Over patch cycle (6 weeks): 2,400 Stellar Jade (15 pulls)
- Saves 420 Trailblaze Power bi-weekly (1.5 days natural regeneration)
- 15-20% faster roster development vs stopping at Stage 11
FAQ
Can you beat Stage 12 without Huohuo or Aventurine?
Yes. Stage 12 is completely clearable using 4-star sustains like Gallagher, Lynx, March 7th, and Permansor Terrae. Requires proper building (correct relic main stats, adequate Speed, appropriate Light Cones) and strategic execution (Weakness Break timing, skill point management, target priority).
Which 4-star sustain is best for Stage 12?
Permansor Terrae offers most universal application with team-wide shields and minimal skill point consumption. Gallagher excels in Break Effect compositions. Lynx performs best against debuff-heavy encounters. March 7th enables hypercarry strategies. Optimal choice depends on your DPS roster and enemy configuration.
What are minimum stats for clearing Stage 12 with 4-star sustains?
Shield sustains: 1,200+ Defense, 2,600+ HP, 140-150 Speed. Healing sustains: 3,000+ HP, 140-160% Energy Regeneration Rate, 120-130 Speed. Break Effect sustains: 150-200% Break Effect, 2,800+ HP, 140-150 Speed. Assumes +12 relics with correct main stats and 2-3 relevant substats per piece.
How do I manage skill points with 4-star sustains?
Maintain 2-3 skill points minimum. Have one team member operate skill-point-positive. Use sustain skills reactively—shield when shields drop below 30%, heal when HP drops below 60%. Against Sam, spend points aggressively (5 offensive Skills regenerates all points).
What relics should I use on 4-star sustains?
Knight of Purity Palace for shield sustains (Permansor Terrae, March 7th). Passerby of Wandering Cloud for healing sustains (Lynx). Thief of Shooting Meteor for Break Effect sustains (Gallagher). Prioritize Defense% body and Speed feet for shield sustains, HP% body and Speed feet for healers, Energy Regeneration Rate ropes for ultimate-dependent characters.
How important is Weakness Break timing?
Critical. Bosses take 50% increased damage when Broken, lose 20% HP immediately, and suffer 200% action delay. Against Hoolay, Weakness Break during Moon Rage blocks dangerous abilities. Memory Turbulence stacks from Weakness Breaks provide 40% DMG Boost to summon characters. Coordinate team attacks to trigger simultaneous Weakness Breaks.
