Black Swan
Yes for DoT—Black Swan is the Arcana carry/support hybrid. Ultimate “Bliss of Otherworld's Embrace” hits every enemy on the field in one cast. Needs Kafka. Best partners: Hysilens / Ruan Mei / Huohuo. Arcana stacks want frequent DoT ticks and EHR. Skip when you lack Kafka-class detonation.
Black Swan is a 5★ Wind Nihility DoT DPS. Skill “Decadence, False Twilight” is the primary in-combat spend. Ultimate “Bliss of Otherworld's Embrace” is the payoff window for damage or team utility. This Phase 1 page covers kit text, gear targets, and pull notes—team comps stay empty until Phase 2.
Overview
Quick Build
Light Cone
Reforged Remembrance
Signature BiS when owned.
Relic Set
Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters (4pc) + Pan-Cosmic Commercial Enterprise (2pc)
Standard Nihility relic direction for Black Swan.
Body
Effect Hit Rate
Main stat
Feet
SPD
Main stat
Sphere / Rope
Wind DMG% · ATK%
Substats
EHR (to threshold) > SPD > ATK% / CRIT
Strengths
- Ultimate “Bliss of Otherworld's Embrace” hits the full field and forces DoT application/detonation in one cast—Pure Fiction waves melt once the status is seeded.
- “Decadence, False Twilight” Blast-hits the main target plus adjacent enemies, so adjacent elites still take meaningful chip without waiting for Ultimate.
- Talent “Loom of Fate's Caprice” Blast-hits the main target plus adjacent enemies—miss the stack conditions and the burst window feels empty.
- When you own “Reforged Remembrance”, Black Swan’s damage or utility ceiling jumps because the cone was written around this kit’s triggers—not a generic path stick.
Weaknesses
- Several Black Swan effects roll “base chance”—without enough Effect Hit Rate, Exposed/Shock/DEF shred simply misses on tanky bosses and the rotation feels empty.
- E0 without “Reforged Remembrance” is still clearable, but the gap versus a signature copy is larger than a single eidolon for most Nihility carries—plan the cone before deep eidolon hunting.
- DoT damage needs other appliers or long-lived statuses on the field—Black Swan alone cannot keep every wave fully stacked without a second DoT partner.
- Spamming “Decadence, False Twilight” every turn without watching Skill Points strands the rest of the team—Black Swan is often the SP sink.
Trace Priority
Decadence, False Twilight carries most of the kit’s damage or utility—level this first.
Bliss of Otherworld's Embrace supports the main rotation—raise after the top priority traces.
Loom of Fate's Caprice supports the main rotation—raise after the top priority traces.
Percipience, Silent Dawn is last priority outside of filling trace materials.
Stat Priority
Open with Technique if it helps, spend Skill to advance the kit’s resource, and hold Ultimate for the damage or buff window. Exact teammate order lands in Phase 2.
Open supports first, then spend the carry’s Skill/Ult inside the buff window. Exact order varies by the team tab above.
Light Cones
5★ · Path cone
Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 0.4%. When the wearer deals DMG to an enemy inflicted with Wind Shear, Burn, Shock, or Bleed, each respectively grants 1 stack of Prophet, stacking up to 4 time(s). In a single battle, only 1 stack of Prophet can be granted for each type of DoT. Every stack of Prophet increases wearer's ATK by 0.05% and enables the DoT dealt to ignore #3[f1]% of the target's DEF.
Why it works —Signature / best-in-slot when owned—passive lines up with Black Swan’s kit triggers.
5★ · Path cone
Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 0.24%. When the wearer deals DMG to an enemy that currently has 3 or more debuffs, increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 0.12%. After the wearer uses their Basic ATK, Skill, or Ultimate, there is a 1% base chance to implant Aether Code on a random hit target that does not yet have it. Targets with Aether Code receive 0.12% increased DMG for 1 turn.
Why it works —Flexible alternative on the same path—equip if you already own it at higher superimposition.
4★ · Path cone
For every debuff the target enemy has, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 0.12%, stacking up to 3 time(s). This effect also applies to DoT.
Why it works —Best accessible option for most accounts—raise superimposition when copies drop.
4★ · Path cone
Increase the wearer's CRIT Rate by 0.08%. The wearer deals 0.24% more CRIT DMG to enemies that are currently Slowed or have reduced DEF.
Why it works —Budget path cone—fine while building the account.
Relics
Team Compositions
Primary DoT detonation team for Black Swan. Kafka, Hysilens, Huohuo are the partners the kit / endgame clears assume first.
Core carry for this shell — owns the damage plan and sets the rotation pace.
Kafka seeds or detonates DoTs — without a second DoT piece the detonation loop stalls.
Hysilens seeds or detonates DoTs — without a second DoT piece the detonation loop stalls.
Huohuo covers healing (and often Energy / cleanse) so the carry can stay on-curve.
Traces & Eidolons
Traces
Deals Wind DMG equal to 84% of Black Swan's ATK to one designated enemy target, with a 77% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of "Arcana" on the target. Additionally, when attacking a target that suffers Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, or Shock, there is respectively a 77% base chance of inflicting 1 extra stack of "Arcana" on the target.
Deals Wind DMG equal to 113% of Black Swan's ATK to one designated enemy target and any adjacent targets. At the same time, there is a 100% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of "Arcana" on the target enemy and the adjacent targets. Additionally, there is a 100% base chance of reducing the DEF of the target enemy and the adjacent targets by 23.8%, lasting for 3 turn(s).
Inflicts Epiphany on all enemies for 2 turn(s). While afflicted with Epiphany, enemies take 30% increased DMG in their turn. Additionally, if enemies are also inflicted with Arcana, they are also considered to be simultaneously afflicted with Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, and Shock. After Arcana causes DMG at the start of each turn, its stacks are not reset. This non-reset effect of Arcana stacks can be triggered up to 1 time(s) for the duration of Epiphany. And the trigger count resets when Epiphany is applied again. Deals Wind DMG equal to 144% of Black Swan's ATK to all enemies.
Every time an enemy target receives DoT at the start of each turn, there is a 73% base chance for it to be inflicted with 1 stack of Arcana. While afflicted with Arcana, enemy targets receive Wind DoT equal to 300% of Black Swan's ATK at the start of each turn. Each stack of Arcana increases this DMG multiplier by 15.0%. Then Arcana resets to 1 stack. Arcana can stack up to 50 times. Only when Arcana causes DMG at the start of an enemy target's turn, Black Swan triggers additional effects based on the number of Arcana stacks inflicted on the target: When there are 3 or more Arcana stacks, deals Wind DoT equal to 225% of Black Swan's ATK to adjacent targets, with a 73% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of Arcana on adjacent targets. When there are 7 or more Arcana stacks, enables the current DoT dealt this time to ignore 20% of the target's and adjacent targets' DEF.
After this Technique is used, there is a 150% base chance for each enemy to be inflicted with 1 stack of Arcana at the start of the next battle. For each successful application of Arcana on a target, inflicts another stack of Arcana on the same target. This process repeats until Arcana fails to be inflicted on this target. For each successive application of Arcana on a target, its base chance of success is equal to 50% of the base chance of the previous successful infliction of Arcana on that target.
Eidolons
While Black Swan is active in combat, enemies afflicted with Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, or Shock will have their corresponding Wind, Physical, Fire, or Lightning RES respectively reduced by 25%.
Is it worth getting?
Modest E1: While Black Swan is active in combat. Helpful padding, not a build-defining unlock.
When an enemy target afflicted with "Arcana" is defeated, there is a 100% base chance of inflicting 6 stack(s) of "Arcana" on adjacent targets.
Is it worth getting?
Kit add-on: When an enemy target afflicted with "Arcana" is defeated. Evaluate against your supports—pull only if that specific clause solves a problem you actually hit.
Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
Is it worth getting?
Skill + Talent levels only (+2). Free if you roll into it; never spend currency aiming for E3.
While in the Epiphany state, enemy targets have their Effect RES reduced by 10% and Black Swan regenerates 8 Energy at the start of these targets' turns or when they are defeated. This Energy Regeneration effect can only trigger up to 1 time while Epiphany lasts. The trigger count is reset when Epiphany is applied again.
Is it worth getting?
Side-grade: Pads Effect RES during the enhanced state. Happy if it drops; not a planned stopping point.
Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
Is it worth getting?
Ultimate + Basic ATK levels only (+2). Skip as a goal—grab it if you overshoot toward E6, never hard-pity for it.
When an enemy target is attacked by Black Swan's teammates, Black Swan has a 65% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of "Arcana" on the target. Every time Black Swan inflicts "Arcana" on an enemy target, there is a 50% fixed chance to additionally increase the number of "Arcana" stacked this time by 1.
Is it worth getting?
Whale ceiling: When an enemy target is attacked by Black Swan's teammates. Only chase if Black Swan is your dedicated Nihility main and E0–E2 already feel finished.
Black Swan is fully usable at E0. Dedicated mains often stop at E0 before chasing higher. First stop: E0. Endgame target: E0.
Alternatives to Black Swan
Not sure Black Swan is right for you? Compare against similar characters to find your best pull.
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