New Year 2026 Selector Overview
Event runs December 30, 2026 to January 14, 2026. New Year Guaranteed Recruit (until January 22) guarantees one Pilgrim after 10 recruits. Pilgrim selector pool: Modernia, Scarlet: Black Shadow, Scarlet, Snow White, Rapunzel, Noah, Harran, Isabel.
Wish List system unlocks after 40 Regular Banner summons, requires 20 units configured. Snow White: Heavy Arms banner (January 1-22) features 4% SSR rate, 1% rate-up, 200 Gold Mileage pity.
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Character Pool Analysis
Top Tier:
- Scarlet: Black Shadow: Rating 9.5, superior sustained damage, best burst uptime
- Modernia: Rating 9, Burst III, 15-second duration, unlimited radius targets
Specialized Roles:
- Snow White: Single-target burst
- Rapunzel: Healing/survival utility
- Harran: Niche faction requirements
Modernia excels in multi-target scenarios, campaign waves, area damage bosses. Synergizes with Burst I/II supports for flexible compositions.
Resource Requirements
Free Resources (85+ pulls):
- New Year's Mail: 30 pulls
- Event missions: 55 pulls
- CD-Keys: 50+ vouchers
- 14 Days Login Event: December 30, 2025 - January 20, 2026
Post-Acquisition Investment:
- Skill books for burst/passive skills
- Overload gear (attack%, crit rate, crit damage)
- Core Dust for leveling
- 160 Synchro wall: Five MLB SSR units at Level 200
Double rewards (Interception, Simulation Room, Daily Missions) January 1-7 provide 40% more materials.
Modernia Meta Standing 2026
Modernia maintains Rating 9, below top-tier units (Liter, Naga, Crown, Red Hood at 10) but competitive with Privaty and Cinderella (9.5). Her 15-second burst exceeds most competitors, unlimited radius eliminates target caps.
Strengths:
- Campaign Chapters 20-25: Multi-wave clearing
- Consistent burst uptime
- Flexible team compositions
Limitations:
- Boss-focused chapters favor single-target DPS
- PvP Arena: Outperformed by Red Hood, Scarlet: Black Shadow
- Union Raid/Solo Raid: Viable but not optimal
Performance by Mode
Campaign: 20-30% faster clear speeds on multi-wave stages vs single-target alternatives. Boss chapters show limited advantage.
Union Raid (January 2-8): Moderate damage in multi-part bosses, requires Union Level 3.
Solo Raid Season 33 (January 8-15): Viable option, not score ceiling.
PvP/Special Arena: Occasional value in specific rotations, rarely ranking-decisive.
Investment ROI
Skill books demand priority on Burst Skill for 15-second damage window. Standard DPS overload gear priorities apply. ROI timeline: 3-6 months for full investment recovery.
Early-game: Immediate campaign acceleration Endgame: Flexibility vs specialized alternatives trade-off Alternative acquisition: Wish List system enables gradual access
3.5 Anniversary Predictions
Historical patterns (1.5, 2.5 Anniversaries) suggest:
- Limited Pilgrim units 10-15% stronger in specialized scenarios
- Special selector tickets
- Two-week primary banner + reruns
- 200 Gold Mileage pity (28,000-30,000 gems single pity)
Power creep threatens Modernia's Rating 9 position, but unlimited radius provides niche protection. Anniversary units likely address current meta gaps.
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Decision Framework by Account Stage
Early Game (Chapters 1-15)
Pick Modernia if:
- Need immediate campaign acceleration
- Unlocking Synchro Device (Chapter 4-15)
- Lack Burst III unit
- Can't accumulate 28,000+ gems for anniversary
Area damage speeds progression, unlocks systems faster. Resource scarcity makes anniversary participation challenging regardless.
Mid Game (Chapters 16-25)
Balance factors:
- Roster functionality: Struggling = pick now, progressing = save
- Can accumulate 15,000-20,000 gems before anniversary (partial budget)
- 160 Synchro wall approaching: Plan MLB investments
- Specific campaign walls vs steady progression
Endgame (Chapter 26+)
Save for Anniversary if:
- Pursuing competitive rankings
- Functional roster covers core roles
- Rating 9 insufficient for optimization goals
- Using Wish List for gradual acquisition
Modernia rarely appears in top-tier PvP compositions. Competitive players gain minimal ranking improvement.
Modernia vs Saving: Value Comparison
Immediate Impact:
- Campaign: 20-30% faster multi-wave clears
- PvP: Minimal ranking improvement
- Boss battles: Moderate damage, encounter-dependent
- Tribe Tower: Consistent multi-enemy floor value
Long-term Considerations:
- Meta durability: 6-12 months before displacement
- Investment lock-in: 3-6 months recovery
- Alternative paths: Wish List after 40 summons
- Power creep vulnerability at Rating 9
Resource Management: Dual Participation
F2P Gem Income (60-90 days):
- Daily missions: 100 gems/day
- Weekly Arena: 200-400 gems
- Monthly login: ~2,000 gems
- Events: 3,000-5,000 gems
- Total: 12,000-15,000 gems (partial anniversary budget)
85+ free pulls don't consume gems. Selector usage doesn't impact gem reserves directly.
Low-spender optimization:
- Monthly subscriptions increase flexibility
- Bonus Recruit: 10 claims at 1000 Exchange Points (December 31, 2025 - December 31, 2026)
CD-Key Resources (Valid until January 22, 2026)
Redemption: Notice → Event Notice → CD-Key Portal → Enter code → Redeem → Claim Mailbox
- 2026EATBETTER: Advanced Recruit Vouchers + materials
- 2026LETSDANCE: Modules
- PUNYQUEEN: Advanced Recruit Voucher ×10
- NIKKECHRISTMASPARTY: Advanced Recruit Voucher ×10 + Growth Set 24h ×1 + Ultra Boost Module ×50
Double rewards January 1-7: Maximize Interception, Simulation Room, Daily Missions farming.
Alternative Selector Options
Scarlet: Black Shadow (Rating 9.5):
- Superior sustained damage
- Best for boss encounters
- Single-target optimization
Rapunzel:
- Healing/survival for damage-intensive stages
- Specialized role, limited general use
Duplicates for Core Units:
- MLB system requires multiple copies
- 160 Synchro wall: Five MLB SSR at Level 200
- Consolidate power vs roster expansion trade-off
- Wish List enables gradual duplicate acquisition
Common Mistakes
Avoid:
- FOMO-driven claims without evaluating account needs
- Ignoring progression stage requirements
- Overlooking team composition gaps (need Burst I/II supports)
- Neglecting resource investment capacity
- Disregarding faction bonuses/elemental coverage
Consider:
- Existing roster synergies
- Skill book/gear demands on under-invested units
- Seven Dwarves faction bonuses
- Elemental advantages in content
Expert Recommendations
Pick Modernia Now If:
- Struggling Chapters 15-25
- Lack quality Burst III DPS
- Have strong Burst I/II supports
- Minimal PvP interest
- Early-game account (universal benefit)
Save for Anniversary If:
- Comfortable campaign progression
- Functional roster covers core roles
- Competitive content focus
- Sufficient gem reserves (15,000+)
- Endgame account prioritizing rankings
Hybrid Strategy
F2P: Prioritize immediate needs, guaranteed value over RNG speculation.
Low-spenders: Claim selector + maintain 12,000-15,000 gem anniversary budget through subscriptions.
Competitive players: Save for meta-defining anniversary units, Modernia offers minimal PvP improvement.
60-Day Action Plan
Immediate (by January 22):
- Redeem all CD-Keys
- Maximize double rewards (January 1-7)
- Complete 14 Days Login Event (through January 20)
Mid-term:
- Track gem accumulation toward 28,000 pity target
- Calculate realistic income (Arena rank + events + dailies)
Long-term:
- Monitor anniversary announcements
- Adjust based on revealed unit capabilities
- Flexible planning over speculation
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Combine efficient purchasing with in-game farming during double rewards period. Balanced management enables selector + anniversary participation without compromising progression.
FAQ
Is Modernia still meta in 2026? Rating 9 positions her strong but below top-tier (Red Hood, Liter, Naga, Crown at 10). Unlimited radius Burst III provides unique multi-target value. Viable for general content, faces competition in endgame optimization.
When is 3.5 Anniversary expected? March-April 2026 (60-90 days after January 14 event end), based on 1.5/2.5 Anniversary patterns. Two-week primary banner with new limited Pilgrims expected.
What's in New Year 2026 Selector? Eight Pilgrims: Modernia, Scarlet: Black Shadow (Rating 9.5), Scarlet, Snow White, Rapunzel, Noah, Harran, Isabel. Prioritize roster gaps over tier rankings.
Gems needed for Anniversary? 28,000-30,000 for single pity (200 Gold Mileage system). Multiple limited units require 56,000+ for dual pity.
Should beginners pick Modernia? Yes. Chapters 1-15 gain maximum value from immediate acquisition. Area damage accelerates progression, unlocks systems faster, provides quality Burst III for team composition.
Can you get Modernia from regular banners? Yes, via Wish List (unlocks after 40 Regular Banner summons, requires 20 units configured). Provides gradual acquisition but selector offers immediate access.
