User:Bamiji/Guide to the Gallery/Shion
History
Release Version: 1.0.100 (Launch) / Jan 28, 2019
Shion is one of the six 5★s that the game initially had. Back then was a much simpler time, without a lot of the systems and mechanics that are common today. As far as anyone was concerned, all it took to be a top dps option was to have a standard XL (200%) single target (elemental) attack--the highest possible multiplier originally. Bonus points if you could debuff enemy resistance to improve damage for the whole team too. Shion had both of those and it didn't stop there. Said 200% skill in his case was also triple-hit, so while the damage was roughly the same, the AF gain from it was that much better than single-hit skills, especially in cases where you could hit a weakness.
However, after a fair while, the introduction of Zones reducing the significance of multi-hit skills, and higher than standard multipliers eventually becoming commonplace, removed much of a spotlight from him. And when the first manifests came around, Suzette got a 4x increase to her damage potential, while Shion got two 1-turn buffs for PWR & SPD, with the PWR not even being on his primary damage skill, making it virtually unusable outside of AF. He was still notably competent even back then, but with his manifest "wasted" future outlook wasn't looking too bright for him. And with how relativity is easily exaggerated by fearful gacha players, perception of him got worse than it even deserved to be.
Then on one random update, WFS revealed they'd be giving upgraded manifests to characters who already had them. Suzette's was released first, solo, and she became notably stronger than she already was (even though literally no one was asking for Suzette buffs). It waited to be seen how Shion's would be handled. Would we get a repeat of last time with him getting the short end of the stick? or would WFS finally put tired memes to rest?
They chose the latter.
Skills
| Skill Name | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Itto-Ryu: Flash | ignorable |
| Itto-Ryu: Storm | ignorable |
| Itto-Ryu: Dragon | Default: With just 80% chance to debuff Phys Res -25% and also being Non-type, you mostly won't miss using this skill much, but the Phys Res debuff can still be good for its damage support in some setups.
Manifest: Now also buffs his PWR by 35% for 1 turn, while the debuff is same as before. The PWR buff makes it more worth using for setup now, but mainly limited to Another Force due to its 1 turn duration. True Manifest: The Phys Res debuff is finally guaranteed and upped to a 30% debuff. The skill now also comes with a 30% PWR debuff adding defensive support to it as well. The PWR buff is upped to 3 turns duration, allowing this skill to be a solid setup move for him for offensive/defensive purposes in general, albeit still depending on your team and the scenario as the effects aren't too rare. |
| Fire Cut | ignorable |
| Light Shower | ignorable |
| Ember Swallow | ignorable |
| Scarlet Tengu | 80% chance for Fire Res -25% from a Fire/Slash skill--pretty good overall but resistance debuffs are very common so keep the situation in mind for if this is worth spending an action on. |
| Phoenix Slash | Default: Standard 200% single-target, but with triple hit.
Manifest: Manifest upgrades generally come with 50% added to damage multipliers, so the skill did improve but.. stacking SPD buff doesn't really change much outside of allowing a few more actions in AF potentially. True Manifest: Finally gets an actual damage increase condition. For the small cost of spamming it, from the third use onwards it will have a 1752% multiplier when used consecutively, which is pretty high-end. The skill now having an inherent 100% crit rate also enables more flexibility for his use as dps. Although, somewhat ironically, now that this skill provides the firepower for him to post-AF nuke in recent content, the SPD buff will make it a bit difficult to outspeed him with extra damage support effects before he can act, but this is fairly manageable with a number of gear options for SPD control now. |
Overview
Before True Manifest, Shion doesn't provide a lot of contribution for stronger teams. Still, he can still provide multi-hit AF gain against early content like before, and his resistance debuffs can help in providing a damage increase to the party.
With True Manifest (currently unreleased in global), he's a very strong fire/slash dps that works well for beginners and longtime players alike (although, acquiring the True Manifest as a newer player might take a while). Anywhere you'd want single-target fire or slash damage, he can make a good fit. And by virtue of his dps skill being triple hit, he can also work well for no-zone AF strategies against enemies with weakness to it, which not every dps can do. You will mostly just want to plan around not having to change skills often with him if you want to him to use him as a primary damage dealer, otherwise his multiplier will reset and have to build back up again. But in honesty, even the second use still has an 876% multiplier so it's not that big of a deal.
How to Play
Fairly straightforward. Use Itto-Ryu:Dragon for setup if it makes sense to, then spam Phoenix Slash till things are dead.
Notable Gear
Despite the fact that his True Manifest will not need to be equipped to enable his skill upgrades once unlocked, its new passives (PWR +30 & Critical Damage +20%) will generally make it the best option for him if focused purely on damage.
Another consideration is to use Indomitable Katana to make him easier to outspeed with support effects when setting up post-AF nukes for him.
Notable Teammates
Nothing too special here, any fire/slash/katana/physical damage support will do. But in general, if you have the options among support choices for him, you can bias faster ones if using him for nuke strats.
