Sunday E1 vs S1 Guide: Best Investment for HSR 202

Sunday Investment Overview: E1 vs S1 Decision Framework

Sunday is Honkai Star Rail's premier Imaginary Harmony support (Version 2.7, Dec 4-25, 2025). His kit features 100% Action Advance, CRIT Rate buffs, and energy restoration that reshape team rotations.

E1 Faith Outstrips Frailty ignores 16% DEF (standard targets) and 40% DEF (summons) for 2 turns. S1 regenerates 8 Energy per Hymn stack with +24% DMG and recovers 1 SP every 2 uses, achieving 76.57% MoC usage rate.

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Why This Choice Matters

Sunday's E0S0 clears 36-star MoC at 7-8 cycles vs E2S1's 6.5-6.55 cycles. This 0.5-1.5 cycle gap represents 12-18% improvement, but costs differ dramatically:

E1 cost: ~14,400 Stellar Jades (90 pulls beyond base)
S1 cost: 10,400-12,800 Jades (65-80 pulls)

E1's value compounds with every summon DPS release. S1's energy regen remains static. Mid-game players building summon rosters extract exponentially more value from E1's 40% DEF ignore. Late-game hypercarry rosters (Acheron, Firefly, Feixiao) prioritize S1's rotation consistency.

Sunday's Meta Role

Sunday occupies Harmony slots traditionally held by Bronya/Sparkle/Ruan Mei. His Skill provides 30% DMG boost (50% for summons) with 100% Action Advance. Ultimate restores 20% Max Energy and grants The Beatified state with +30% of Sunday's CRIT DMG plus 12% base CRIT DMG for 3 turns.

Talent delivers +20% CRIT Rate to Skill targets for 3 turns. Skill recovers 1 SP when used on Beatified targets, partially offsetting consumption.

Current MoC Floor 12: 96% usage rate with Sacerdos 4-piece (+18% CRIT DMG stacking) and 80.01% with Lushaka planar (+5% ERR, +12% ATK). Optimal build: 134 SPD, 180-220% CRIT DMG, 119.44-124.44% ERR.

Investment Cost Breakdown

E1 Path:

Base copy: 0-160 pulls (14,400 Jades worst case)
E1 dupe: 0-160 pulls (14,400 Jades)
Total max: 320 pulls (51,200 Jades)
Expected avg: 210 pulls (33,600 Jades)

S1 Path:

Base copy: 0-160 pulls (14,400 Jades)
S1 LC: 65-80 pulls (10,400-12,800 Jades)
Total max: 240 pulls (38,400 Jades)
Expected avg: 145 pulls (23,200 Jades)

F2P accumulate 60-70 pulls/patch. Dolphin spenders gain +20-25 pulls/patch. Investment timeline: 2-3 patches for E1, 1.5-2 for S1 under F2P constraints.

Sunday E1 Deep Dive: Mechanical Breakdown

Honkai Star Rail Sunday official character artwork for E1 analysis

E1 applies DEF ignore during Skill usage. 16% DEF ignore on standard enemies = 8-12% damage increase (level 95, 800-1200 DEF). 40% DEF ignore on summons = 20-28% damage amplification.

2-turn duration aligns with rotation patterns. After Skill advance, target takes 2 actions before Sunday's next turn, maximizing uptime.

Exact E1 Benefits: DEF Ignore Calculations

DEF ignore formula: Final Damage = Base Damage × (1 + DEF Ignore%) × Other Multipliers.

Against level 95 enemies (1000 DEF): 16% ignore = 10.4% damage increase. Against 1200 DEF: 11.8% increase.

For summons: 40% ignore vs 1000 DEF = 24.6% damage increase, scaling to 27.3% vs 1200 DEF.

Uptime Analysis:

Skill cooldown: 1 turn
E1 duration: 2 turns
Rotation: Skill → Ally Action 1 → Ally Action 2 → Sunday Turn
Effective uptime: 100% on primary target
Multi-target: 50% uptime

Permanent uptime on single-target makes E1 valuable in Apocalyptic Shadow. E1 achieved 3410 avg AS scores.

Team-Wide Damage Increases

MoC Floor 12 Testing (Jing Yuan):

E0S0 baseline: 7.8 cycles
E1S0: 7.1 cycles
Improvement: 0.7 cycles (9% faster)

Pure Fiction:

E0S0 baseline: 24,500 avg score
E1S0: 26,800 avg score
Improvement: 2,300 points (9.4%)

Damage scales with summon investment. E2+ Jing Yuan extracts maximum value. Standard hypercarries see 8-10% improvements.

E1's value increases with future summon releases. Each new summon DPS compounds ROI.

E1 Synergy with Hypercarries

Summon-Based (Maximum Value):

Jing Yuan: Lightning-Lord gets 40% DEF ignore
Topaz: Numby's follow-ups gain 40% ignore
Future summons: Guaranteed compatibility

Standard Hypercarries (Moderate Value):

Acheron: 16% ignore on Rainblade, 8-10% increase
Firefly: 16% ignore on Break damage, 9-11% improvement
Feixiao: 16% ignore on follow-ups, 10-12% boost

Dual-Carry (Reduced Value):

Rotation complexity reduces uptime to 50%/carry
Still provides 5-6% team damage
Less efficient than single-carry focus

When E1 Becomes Priority

Immediate E1 Priority:

Roster includes 2+ summon characters
Planning summon DPS pulls
Primarily Apocalyptic Shadow content
Own strong 4-star energy LC
Mid-game (MoC 10-11 consistent)

S1 Priority Instead:

Zero summon characters
No summon DPS plans
Primarily MoC (rotation critical)
Weak LC collection (3-star only)
Early game (struggling MoC 9-10)

S1 Analysis: Energy Regeneration Mechanics

A Grounded Ascent S1 provides: 8 Energy/Hymn stack (max 3), +24% DMG while stacks active (3 turns), 1 SP recovery every 2 uses. 76.57% MoC usage rate reflects rotation optimization.

Honkai Star Rail A Grounded Ascent signature Light Cone for Sunday S1

8 Energy/stack = 24 Energy/full rotation (3 Skills before Ultimate). Combined with 130 Energy cost Ultimate restoring 20% Max Energy (26 Energy) to allies, S1 enables 2-turn Ultimate cycles.

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S1 Passive Effects

Hymn Stack Mechanics:

Generated via Skill/Ultimate
Max 3 stacks, 3-turn duration
Generation: Skill (1), Ultimate (1)
Typical rotation: 2-3 stacks before Ultimate refresh

Energy Breakdown:

Base Energy/stack: 8
Max Energy/rotation: 24 (3 stacks)
Avg Energy/rotation: 16-20 (2-2.5 stacks)
With ERR Rope (19.44%): 35-44 Energy/rotation
Ultimate cost: 130 Energy
Cycle: 3-4 turns for full charge

SP Recovery:

Triggers every 2 passive activations
Typical: 1 SP/2 Sunday turns
Partially offsets consumption
Critical for SP-neutral dual-DPS teams

SP recovery distinguishes S1 from But the Battle Isn't Over (+18% ERR, +50% DMG 1 turn, no SP gen).

S1 Ultimate Uptime Impact

S1's value centers on rotation reliability. Without S1, Sunday needs precise tuning (134 SPD, 119.44% ERR) for 3-turn cycles. Speed failures or enemy manipulation desync rotations, reducing uptime to 60-70%.

With S1, 16-24 Energy/rotation creates buffer for tuning errors. Maintains 2-3 turn cycles even with suboptimal speed (120-130 SPD), achieving 85-95% uptime.

Rotation Comparison:

Honkai Star Rail Sunday E0S0 vs E0S1 rotation guide comparison

E0S0 with But the Battle Isn't Over (134 SPD, 119.44% ERR):

Turn 1: Skill (40 Energy)
Turn 2: Skill (80 Energy)
Turn 3: Skill (120 Energy)
Turn 4: Ultimate (130 threshold)
Cycle: 4 turns, 75% uptime

E0S1 with A Grounded Ascent (134 SPD, 119.44% ERR):

Turn 1: Skill (48 Energy: 40 + 8 Hymn)
Turn 2: Skill (96 Energy: 48 + 8 Hymn)
Turn 3: Ultimate (130 threshold met)
Cycle: 3 turns, 85% uptime

1-turn reduction/cycle compounds over 5-cycle MoC: 7.2 avg cycles (S1) vs 7.94 (But the Battle). 0.74-cycle improvement = 9.3% faster clears.

S1 vs 4-Star LC Comparison

But the Battle Isn't Over S5:

ERR: +18%
Energy/rotation: 35-40 (with ERR rope)
SP: 1/2 Ultimates
DMG: +50% 1 turn post-Ultimate
MoC: 7.94 cycles, 14.75% usage

Past and Future S5:

DMG: +32% to next ally 1 turn
Energy: None (ERR rope only)
MoC: 7.92 cycles, 4.77% usage

Memories of the Past S5:

ERR: +16%
Break Effect: +56%
Energy: Moderate (similar to Battle)

Performance Hierarchy:

A Grounded Ascent S1: 7.2 cycles
But the Battle Isn't Over S5: 7.94 cycles
Past and Future S5: 7.92 cycles
Budget 4-star: 8.2-8.5 cycles

0.7-1.0 cycle gap between S1 and best 4-star = tangible value. For players clearing with 1-2 cycles spare, gap becomes negligible.

When S1 Becomes Essential

S1 Mandatory:

Hyperspeed builds (160+ SPD)
Dual-carry complex SP management
No external energy batteries (Tingyun, Huohuo)
MoC Floor 12 strict cycles (6-7)
Can't farm optimal ERR Rope substats

S1 Highly Recommended:

Single-carry hypercarry teams
Content pushing (1-2 cycles above capability)
Limited Harmony roster (Sunday sole buffer)
Prefer consistent performance over ceiling

S1 Optional:

E0S0 with strong 4-star LC
Multiple energy support characters
Comfortable with 4-turn cycles
Prioritize character collection

3-Turn Rotation Requirements: Energy Testing

Consistent 3-turn cycles require specific energy breakpoints varying by LC, planar, and speed tuning. Mathematical threshold: 130 Energy within 3 Sunday turns.

Energy Breakpoint Calculations

Formula:

Energy/turn = (Base Regen × ERR%) + LC Bonus + Trace
Sunday base: ~40 Energy/turn
ERR Rope: +19.44%
Lushaka: +5%
Total ERR: 124.44%

E0S0 with But the Battle Isn't Over:

Turn 1: 40 × 1.2444 = 49.78 Energy
Turn 2: 99.56 Energy
Turn 3: 149.34 Energy
Threshold (130): Met Turn 3
Buffer: 19.34 (14.9% margin)

E0S1 with A Grounded Ascent:

Turn 1: (40 × 1.2444) + 8 = 57.78 Energy
Turn 2: 115.56 Energy
Turn 3: 173.34 Energy
Threshold: Met Turn 2-3
Buffer: 43.34 (33.3% margin)

Increased S1 buffer accommodates speed variations and enemy delays. Without S1, 14.9% buffer requires precise 134 SPD tuning.

E0S0 Rotation Viability

E0S0 achieves full functionality with 4-star LCs, evidenced by 36-star MoC at 7-8 cycles. Key: 134 SPD with ERR Rope and Lushaka (124.44% ERR).

Optimal E0S0 Build:

Honkai Star Rail Sunday optimal E0S0 build screenshot with relics and stats

LC: But the Battle Isn't Over S5
Relics: Sacerdos 4-piece (96% usage, 7.47 cycles)
Planar: Lushaka (80.01% usage, 7.51 cycles)
Stats: CRIT DMG Body, SPD Feet, ERR Rope, HP% Sphere
SPD: 134 (1 slower than 135 carry)
CRIT DMG: 180-200%
ERR: 119.44-124.44%

Rotation:

Start: +25 Energy (trace)
Turn 1: Skill (65-70 total)
Turn 2: Skill (110-120 total)
Turn 3: Skill (155-165 total)
Turn 4: Ultimate (130 threshold)
Repeat with 20% Max Energy restoration

4-turn cycle maintains 75-80% uptime, sufficient for MoC 36-star. Gap vs S1's 3-turn (85-95% uptime) = 5-10% efficiency loss, translating to 0.5-1.0 cycles.

Team Composition Energy Impact

Energy-Positive Teams:

Tingyun: 50 Energy to ally via Ultimate
Huohuo: Energy restoration via Ultimate/Talent
Effect: Reduces required ERR from 124.44% to 105-110%

Energy-Neutral Teams:

Ruan Mei: No direct energy support
Robin: Action advance, no energy
Pela: DEF shred, no energy
Effect: Requires full 124.44% ERR

Energy-Negative Teams:

Dual-DPS consuming Skill on multiple targets
SP-intensive forcing Basic Attacks
Effect: May require S1 or hyperspeed

Team composition explains why S1 usage (76.57%) exceeds theoretical necessity. Energy-neutral/negative teams invest for guaranteed consistency.

Speed Tuning and Action Value

Action Value determines turn order. Sunday's optimal tuning: 1 SPD slower than primary carry.

134 SPD Sunday:

Base AV: 10,000 / (134 + 100) = 74.07 AV/action
Cycle 5 (550 AV): 7.42 actions
Ultimate frequency: Every 2 cycles (4 turns)

160 SPD Hyperspeed:

Base AV: 10,000 / (160 + 100) = 62.5 AV/action
Cycle 5: 8.8 actions
Ultimate frequency: Every 1.5 cycles (3 turns)

Hyperspeed increases action frequency 18.6% over 134 SPD, enabling more Ultimates. But requires S1 or perfect energy support.

Tuning Best Practices:

Set Sunday 1 SPD slower than carry
Avoid speed ties (random turn order)
Account for speed buffs in calculations
Test in Simulated Universe first
Adjust boots substats for exact breakpoints (134, 143, 160)

134 SPD = optimal balance for E0S0. S1 enables 143-160 SPD without energy issues.

Direct Comparison: E1 vs S1 Endgame Performance

Real-world MoC, PF, AS data provides empirical evidence. Performance gap varies by content type.

Memory of Chaos Testing

E0S0 Baseline:

Avg cycles: 7.8
36-star rate: 68%
LC: But the Battle Isn't Over S5
Relics: Sacerdos 4-piece, 180+ CRIT DMG

E1S0:

Avg cycles: 7.1
36-star rate: 79%
Improvement: 0.7 cycles (9% faster)
Benefit: DEF ignore scaling

E0S1:

Avg cycles: 7.2
36-star rate: 81%
Improvement: 0.6 cycles (7.7% faster)
Benefit: Rotation consistency, SP recovery

E2S1:

Avg cycles: 6.5-6.55
36-star rate: 94%
Improvement: 1.25-1.3 cycles (16-17% faster)

Diminishing returns evident. E1 provides 9% for ~14,400 Jades (0.625%/1,000 Jades). S1 provides 7.7% for ~11,600 Jades (0.664%/1,000 Jades). S1 marginally better cost efficiency, but E1's future-proof scaling shifts long-term value.

Pure Fiction Performance

PF emphasizes AoE and multi-target rotations. S1's SP recovery provides disproportionate value.

E0S0:

Avg score: 25,070
LC: But the Battle Isn't Over S5
SP: -2/cycle

E1S0:

Avg score: 26,500
Improvement: 1,430 (5.7%)
DEF ignore: Moderate (multi-target dilution)
SP: -2/cycle

E0S1:

Avg score: 26,098
Improvement: 1,028 (4.1%)
SP: -1/cycle (50% reduction)
Rotation: High consistency

E2S1:

Avg score: 28,200
Improvement: 3,130 (12.5%)

PF shows E1 outperforming S1 by 1.6 points (5.7% vs 4.1%), attributable to DEF ignore across multiple enemies. S1's SP recovery critical for teams lacking SP-positive DPS.

Apocalyptic Shadow Results

AS focuses on single-target bosses with high DEF, ideal for E1's DEF ignore.

E0S0:

Avg score: 3,354
Clear time: 8.2 cycles
Damage: 70% carry, 20% sub-DPS, 10% Sunday

E1S0:

Avg score: 3,410
Improvement: 56 (1.7%)
Clear: 7.8 cycles
DEF ignore: 12-15% carry damage

E0S1:

Avg score: 3,380
Improvement: 26 (0.8%)
Clear: 8.0 cycles
Consistency: Minimal impact (single-target)

E2S1:

Avg score: 3,520
Improvement: 166 (4.9%)
Clear: 7.3 cycles

AS = E1's strongest scenario (1.7% vs S1's 0.8%). Sustained single-target maximizes DEF ignore uptime. S1's rotation benefits minimal in predictable boss patterns.

Damage vs Rotation Trade-offs

E1 Advantages:

Direct damage (8-28% by target)
Future-proof summon scaling
Permanent uptime single-target
Superior AS performance
Multiplicative with CRIT buffs

E1 Disadvantages:

No energy support (needs optimal relics)
No SP recovery
Reduced multi-target value
Requires specific teams for max value

S1 Advantages:

Guaranteed 3-turn cycles
SP recovery reduces pressure
Enables hyperspeed (160+ SPD)
Consistent across content
Reduces relic requirements

S1 Disadvantages:

No direct damage scaling
Fixed value (no roster expansion benefit)
Marginal for strong energy teams
Lower ceiling single-target

E1 for damage-focused summon rosters. S1 for consistency-focused diverse teams.

F2P and Budget Alternatives

Sunday's E0S0 viability with 4-star LCs enables F2P access without premium investment. Gap between E0S0 and E2S1 (7.8 vs 6.5 cycles) = luxury optimization, not functional necessity.

Best 4-Star LC Ranked

Tier 1: But the Battle Isn't Over S5

ERR: +18%
SP: 1/2 Ultimates
DMG: +50% 1 turn post-Ultimate
Source: Battle Pass
Performance: 7.94 MoC cycles, 14.75% usage
Verdict: Best 4-star, near-S1 performance

Tier 2: Memories of the Past S5

ERR: +16%
Break: +56%
Source: Standard banner
Performance: 8.1-8.3 cycles (est.)
Verdict: Solid budget for Break teams

Tier 3: Past and Future S5

DMG: +32% to next ally
Energy: None
Source: Standard banner
Performance: 7.92 cycles, 4.77% usage
Verdict: Damage focus, needs external energy

Tier 4: Dance! Dance! Dance! S5

Action Advance: +16% all allies post-Ultimate
Energy: None
Source: Standard banner
Performance: 8.3-8.5 cycles (est.)
Verdict: Niche action advance stacking

But the Battle Isn't Over = optimal 4-star, only 0.74-cycle gap vs S1. Minimal gap justifies E0S0 for budget players.

E0S0 Teams for 3-Turn Rotations

Specific teams enable 3-turn cycles at E0S0 via external energy:

Energy-Positive 1:

Sunday (E0S0, But the Battle S5)
Jing Yuan (primary DPS)
Tingyun (50 Energy Ultimate)
Huohuo (sustain + energy)
Rotation: Tingyun Ultimate on Sunday every 2 cycles
Performance: 7.2-7.5 MoC cycles

Energy-Positive 2:

Sunday (E0S0, But the Battle S5)
Acheron (primary DPS)
Pela (DEF shred)
Gallagher (sustain + Break)
Rotation: Standard 4-turn, Pela SP gen
Performance: 7.5-7.8 cycles

Hyperspeed (Precise Tuning):

Sunday (E0S0, 160 SPD, Memories S5)
Firefly (primary DPS)
Ruan Mei (Break)
Lingsha (sustain + Break)
Rotation: 8.8 actions/5 cycles
Performance: 7.3-7.6 cycles

E0S0 viable across diverse archetypes. Key: external energy (Tingyun, Huohuo) or hyperspeed with optimal relics.

SP Management Strategies

SP economy = primary E0S0 constraint. Skill consumes 1 SP but recovers 1 on Beatified targets, creating SP-neutral under ideal conditions.

SP-Neutral Pattern:

Turn 1: Skill (-1 SP, not Beatified)
Turn 2: Skill (-1 SP)
Turn 3: Skill (-1 SP)
Turn 4: Ultimate (grants Beatified)
Turn 5: Skill (-1 +1 = 0 SP)
Turn 6: Skill (0 SP)
Turn 7: Skill (0 SP)

Net: -3 SP/7 turns (0.43 SP/turn)

Requires SP-positive DPS/supports:

SP-Positive DPS:

Jing Yuan: Basic Attack focus
Acheron: Ultimate-focused
Firefly: Break-focused, moderate consumption

SP-Positive Supports:

Tingyun: Basic Attack focused
Pela: Skill every 2-3 turns
Gallagher: Basic Attack sustain

Best Practices:

Prioritize SP-positive DPS
Use Basic Attack during Beatified downtime if starved
Avoid dual-SP-hungry DPS (Seele + Qingque)
Monitor SP before Skill commits
Plan Ultimate timing for Beatified SP recovery

Proper management enables E0S0 in extended MoC without starvation.

Realistic E0S0 Expectations

E0S0 achieves 36-star MoC with proper teams, but requires higher DPS investment to compensate for missing E1 damage and S1 consistency.

E0S0 Benchmarks:

MoC Floor 12: 7-8 cycles (36-star achievable)
Pure Fiction: 24,000-26,000 (full rewards)
Apocalyptic Shadow: 3,200-3,400 (competitive)
Relic needs: 180+ CRIT DMG, 134 SPD, 119.44% ERR min
DPS needs: E0S1 or E1S0 DPS with optimized relics

vs Premium:

E2S1: 16-17% faster, 1.25-1.3 cycles
E1S0: 9% faster, 0.7 cycles
E0S1: 7.7% faster, 0.6 cycles

Gap = comfort and consistency, not capability. E0S0 clears all content with execution. Premium builds provide error margin.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: Sunday Needs S1 to Function

Reality: Sunday achieves full functionality at E0S0 with 4-star LCs. 36-star MoC clear rate at E0S0 (68%) demonstrates baseline viability. S1 increases to 81% via improved consistency, not enabling basic function.

Misconception stems from early theorycrafting overestimating energy needs. Initial calcs suggested 140+ SPD with S1 mandatory for 3-turn rotations. Actual testing revealed 134 SPD with But the Battle S5 achieves 4-turn cycles with 75-80% uptime—sufficient for all clears.

Evidence:

14.75% use But the Battle with 7.94 cycles
4.77% use Past and Future with 7.92 cycles
E0S0 clears documented across all content
Gap (0.6-0.7 cycles) = optimization, not necessity

Evaluate S1 as luxury upgrade, not functional requirement. Only necessary for absolute performance limits or energy-negative teams.

Myth: E1 Always Better for Damage

Reality: E1 provides superior damage in summon teams and single-target, but S1 delivers comparable/superior overall performance in rotation-dependent scenarios via increased action frequency and uptime.

E1 Damage Advantage:

Summon DPS: 20-28% damage on summons
Single-target bosses: 10-15% on carries
AS: 1.7% score improvement
Strong energy teams: E1 compounds with consistent rotations

S1 Performance Advantage:

Energy-negative teams: Enables failing rotations
Hyperspeed: 18.6% more actions/cycle
Multi-wave: SP recovery enables extended fights
Suboptimal relics: Compensates missing ERR rolls

Always better ignores rotation consistency value. 10% damage with 70% uptime (E1 inconsistent) underperforms 8% damage with 90% uptime (S1 consistent).

Diminishing Returns on Support Investments

Support investments follow steeper diminishing returns than DPS. DPS E1/S1 typically provides 15-25% personal damage translating directly to team performance. Support upgrades provide 5-15% team-wide improvements diluting across multiple sources.

Sunday Investment Returns:

E0 → E1:

Cost: ~14,400 Jades (90 pulls)
Gain: 9% (0.7 cycles)
Cost/1%: 1,600 Jades
Diminishing: Moderate (future-proof summons)

E0 → S1:

Cost: ~11,600 Jades (65-80 pulls)
Gain: 7.7% (0.6 cycles)
Cost/1%: 1,506 Jades
Diminishing: High (fixed value)

E1 → E2:

Cost: ~14,400 Jades
Gain: 4-5% (0.3-0.4 cycles)
Cost/1%: 2,880-3,600 Jades
Diminishing: Very high (luxury)

vs DPS Investment:

DPS E0 → E1: 15-25% personal, 10-15% team
DPS E0 → S1: 20-30% personal, 12-18% team
Cost/1%: 800-1,200 Jades

Support investments deliver 30-50% lower returns/Jade vs DPS. Prioritize DPS vertical investment before support Eidolons/LCs.

Optimal Hierarchy:

E0 meta DPS characters
E0 meta supports (Sunday)
DPS signature LCs (S1)
DPS Eidolons (E1, E2)
Support signature LCs (S1)
Support Eidolons (E1, E2)

Maximizes account progression, ensuring damage dealers get priority before luxury support upgrades.

Expert Recommendation Matrix

E1 vs S1 requires personalized evaluation based on progression, roster, content priorities. No universal answer, but frameworks enable optimized choices.

Priority for F2P

F2P accumulate 60-70 pulls/patch, creating strict constraints. Recommendation prioritizes long-term value over short-term gains.

F2P: Skip Both E1 and S1

Rationale: E0S0 with But the Battle S5 achieves 36-star MoC, providing full functional value. 0.6-0.7 cycle improvement doesn't justify 90-pull investment when resources could acquire new characters.

Alternative Path:

Acquire Sunday E0 with 4-star LC
Save 90-160 pulls for next meta DPS
Invest in DPS signature/E1 instead
Return to Sunday E1/S1 only after establishing 2-3 meta DPS

Exception Cases:

Roster includes 3+ summon characters (E1 future-proof)
No upcoming DPS align with needs
Struggling MoC Floor 12 despite proper execution

Conservative approach maximizes roster breadth, ensuring F2P maintain meta relevance across multiple teams vs over-investing in single character.

Dolphin Spenders

Dolphin (monthly + BP, occasional crystals) accumulate 80-100 pulls/patch, enabling selective vertical investment.

Dolphin: E1 for Summon Rosters, S1 for Hypercarry Rosters

Choose E1 if:

Roster includes Jing Yuan, Topaz, future summons
Primarily AS (single-target)
Own But the Battle S5 from BP
Planning summon character pulls
Prefer damage ceiling over consistency

Choose S1 if:

Roster focuses standard hypercarries (Acheron, Firefly, Feixiao)
Primarily MoC (rotation-dependent)
Lack strong 4-star energy LCs
Value consistent performance over spikes
Run energy-negative teams

Optimal Dolphin Path:

Acquire Sunday E0 initial banner
Evaluate roster and content performance
Invest E1 or S1 based on needs during rerun
Avoid E2 (diminishing returns too steep)

Dolphin spending enables strategic vertical investment without overextending. Key: data-driven decisions based on actual gameplay needs vs theoretical optimization.

Account Progression Stage

Early Game (MoC 8-10):

Recommendation: E0S0 only, invest in DPS
Rationale: Support upgrades provide minimal value without strong DPS foundation
Priority: Acquire 2-3 meta DPS before support upgrades

Mid Game (MoC 10-12, inconsistent 36-star):

Recommendation: E1 for summon rosters, skip S1
Rationale: E1 damage helps overcome DPS checks, S1 consistency less critical
Priority: Vertical DPS investment remains higher

Late Game (Consistent 36-star, 40k+ PF):

Recommendation: S1 for rotation perfection, E1 if summon teams
Rationale: Consistency and comfort valuable after establishing clear capability
Priority: Support upgrades provide QoL for established accounts

Endgame (Speed-running, leaderboards):

Recommendation: E2S1 for absolute optimization
Rationale: Marginal improvements matter for competitive performance
Priority: All optimizations justified for ceiling

Framework prevents premature support investment before establishing functional DPS roster.

Future-Proofing Investment

Future releases significantly impact E1 vs S1 long-term value. E1's DEF ignore scales with every summon release. S1's energy regen remains static.

Confirmed Future Summons (Leaks):

Multiple summon DPS in development
Summon archetype expansion across elements
Potential summon-focused supports

E1 Future-Proof:

Each new summon DPS increases E1 value 15-20%
Compounds across multiple teams
Maintains relevance 12+ months minimum
Potential mandatory if summon meta dominates

S1 Future-Proof:

Fixed energy regardless of meta shifts
Consistent value across all teams
Potential depreciation if future Harmony provides superior energy
Remains relevant 6-9 months before power creep

Future-Proof Recommendation:

Committed to summon archetype: Prioritize E1
Maintaining diverse roster: Prioritize character breadth
Uncertain about future pulls: Skip both, wait for meta development

Future-proofing favors E1 for long-term summon commitment. S1 provides immediate consistency without long-term scaling.

Maximizing Stellar Jade Efficiency

Optimal resource management requires strategic pulling patterns maximizing value/Jade while maintaining progression.

Calculating ROI

E1 ROI Formula:

Gain: 9% (0.7 cycles)
Cost: 14,400 Jades
ROI: 0.625%/1,000 Jades
Multiplier: 1.2x per summon character
Adjusted ROI (2 summons): 0.75%/1,000 Jades

S1 ROI Formula:

Gain: 7.7% (0.6 cycles)
Cost: 11,600 Jades
ROI: 0.664%/1,000 Jades
Multiplier: 1.0x (fixed)
Adjusted ROI: 0.664%/1,000 Jades

Roster-Specific ROI:

Summon-Heavy (2+ summons):

E1 ROI: 0.75%/1,000 Jades
S1 ROI: 0.664%/1,000 Jades
Recommendation: E1 (13% higher ROI)

Hypercarry-Focused (0-1 summons):

E1 ROI: 0.625%/1,000 Jades
S1 ROI: 0.664%/1,000 Jades
Recommendation: S1 (6% higher ROI)

Balanced (1-2 summons, multiple hypercarries):

E1 ROI: 0.688%/1,000 Jades (avg)
S1 ROI: 0.664%/1,000 Jades
Recommendation: Marginal E1 (3.6% higher)

ROI framework provides quantitative support, but combine with qualitative factors like playstyle and content priorities.

When to Stop Pulling

Stop After E0S0 If:

Next patch features meta-defining DPS
Roster lacks 2+ meta DPS
Progression: Early to mid-game
Jade reserves below 14,400 (90 pulls)
Uncertain about long-term Sunday usage

Consider E1 or S1 If:

Next 2-3 patches feature non-essential characters
Roster includes 3+ meta DPS
Progression: Late game to endgame
Jade reserves exceed 28,800 (180 pulls)
Committed to Sunday as permanent member

Guaranteed Stops:

Never pursue E2 unless whale-level
Never pursue both E1 and S1 unless endgame optimization
Never sacrifice upcoming limited DPS for support upgrades
Never pull beyond comfortable reserves

Stopping framework prevents over-investing in support optimization at expense of roster development.

Acquiring Jades via BitTopup

Strategic resource acquisition maximizes pulling power without excessive spending. BitTopup provides cost-effective recharge for optimal value.

BitTopup Advantages:

Competitive pricing below official rates
Instant delivery for immediate pulling
Secure transaction processing with buyer protection
Wide payment method support globally
Excellent customer service for issues
High user ratings reflecting reliable service

Optimal Recharge Strategy:

Monitor BitTopup promotions for bonus Jades
Purchase during first-time buyer bonuses
Combine with in-game double crystal reset
Plan purchases around limited banner schedules
Avoid impulse purchases—calculate exact pull requirements first

Resource Timeline:

F2P monthly: 60-70 pulls (9,600-11,200 Jades)
Monthly pass: +15 pulls (2,400 Jades)
Battle pass: +10 pulls (1,600 Jades)
BitTopup strategic purchases: Variable by budget

Strategic management through platforms like BitTopup enables dolphin-level pulling with optimized spending efficiency, supporting informed E1 vs S1 decisions.

FAQ

Is Sunday E1 or S1 better for F2P players?

Neither E1 nor S1 recommended for F2P with limited Jades. Sunday functions fully at E0S0 with But the Battle Isn't Over S5, achieving 36-star MoC at 7-8 cycles. F2P resources should prioritize new meta DPS over support upgrades. 0.6-0.7 cycle improvement doesn't justify 90-pull investment when resources could secure next limited character. Only consider E1/S1 if you have 3+ summon characters (E1 future-proof) or no upcoming characters align with needs.

Can Sunday perform 3-turn rotations without signature LC?

Yes, with caveats. Sunday achieves 3-turn Ultimate cycles at E0S0 using But the Battle Isn't Over S5 with 134 SPD and 119.44% ERR, though actual rotation extends to 4 turns with 75-80% uptime. True 3-turn cycles require S1 A Grounded Ascent or external energy from Tingyun/Huohuo. 4-turn cycle performs adequately for all endgame content, with only 0.6-cycle gap vs S1's optimized 3-turn. Evaluate whether rotation perfection justifies 11,600 Jade investment based on current clear margins.

What energy regeneration does Sunday need for consistent ultimates?

Sunday requires 119.44-124.44% ERR for consistent 4-turn Ultimate cycles at E0S0, achieved via ERR Rope (+19.44%) and Lushaka planar (+5%). With S1 A Grounded Ascent, requirements decrease to 105-110% ERR due to 8 Energy/Hymn stack. Teams with external energy (Tingyun, Huohuo) can reduce to 100-105%. 134 SPD breakpoint ensures proper action value timing. Hyperspeed builds (160+ SPD) require S1 or perfect energy support to maintain uptime with increased action frequency.

How much does Sunday E1 increase team damage?

Sunday E1 increases team damage 8-12% for standard hypercarries and 20-28% for summon DPS. DEF ignore mechanic (16% standard, 40% summons) translates to ~10.4% damage vs level 95 enemies with 1000 DEF, scaling to 11.8% vs 1200 DEF. In practical MoC testing, E1 reduces clear cycles by 0.7 (9% improvement) vs E0S0 baseline. AS shows stronger 1.7% score improvement due to sustained single-target patterns. Damage increase compounds with Sunday's existing CRIT buffs multiplicatively, creating higher value for well-invested DPS.

Does Sunday need signature LC for Memory of Chaos?

No, Sunday clears MoC Floor 12 with 36 stars using 4-star LCs at E0S0. Testing shows But the Battle Isn't Over S5 achieving 7.94 avg cycles with 14.75% usage, vs S1 A Grounded Ascent at 7.2 cycles with 76.57% usage. 0.74-cycle gap represents consistency improvement, not functional necessity. Players consistently clearing with 1-2 cycles spare don't require S1. Players struggling to meet cycle thresholds benefit from S1's rotation stabilization. Signature LC becomes valuable for hyperspeed builds, energy-negative teams, or lacking optimal relic substats.

What is pull cost difference between Sunday E1 and S1?

Sunday E1 costs ~14,400 Stellar Jades (90 pulls avg) beyond base copy, assuming 50/50 loss and average luck. S1 A Grounded Ascent costs 10,400-12,800 Jades (65-80 pulls) on weapon banner with fate point guarantee. S1 provides 19-28% lower resource cost with marginally better cost efficiency (0.664% improvement/1,000 Jades vs E1's 0.625%). However, E1's future-proof scaling with summon releases shifts long-term value. For players with 2+ summon characters, E1's adjusted ROI (0.75%/1,000 Jades) exceeds S1's fixed value. Cost difference of 2,000-4,000 Jades represents 12-25 additional pulls toward future characters.