Theorylytics
IceHarmonySupport★★★★★ 5-Star

Ruan Mei

Published Jul 20, 2026 · Updated v3.x
Content Ratings
Memory of ChaosA
Pure FictionA
Apocalyptic ShadowA
Should You Pull?YES

Yes—Ruan Mei is still a top Break/universal Harmony. Ultimate “Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream” deploys a team Zone with RES PEN / Break-oriented amp. Best with Firefly / Boothill / Rappa / Xueyi / Kafka. Break Effect + Weakness Break Efficiency; shines in Break and generalist cores. Skip when both sides already have limited Harmonies covering Break.

Ruan Mei is a 5★ Ice Harmony Support. Skill “String Sings Slow Swirls” is the primary in-combat spend. Ultimate “Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream” 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.

IceHarmonySupport5★Threading FragranceString Sings Slow Swirls

Overview

Quick Build

Light Cone

Past Self in Mirror

Signature BiS when owned.

Relic Set

Messenger Traversing Hackerspace (4pc) + Broken Keel (2pc)

Standard Harmony relic direction for Ruan Mei.

Body

HP%

Main stat

Feet

SPD

Main stat

Sphere / Rope

HP% · ERR%

Substats

SPD > ERR / HP% / effect as needed

Strengths

  • Ultimate “Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream” Ruan Mei deploys a Zone that lasts for 2 turns—time it for the carry’s damage window instead of casting on cooldown out of habit.
  • Skill “String Sings Slow Swirls” After using her Skill, Ruan Mei gains Overtone, lasting for 3 turn(s)—this is the spend that keeps the rotation honest.
  • Talent “Somatotypical Helix” Increases SPD by 11.0% for all teammates (i.e., excluding this unit)—ignore it and Ruan Mei plays like a worse generic Harmony unit.
  • Technique “Silken Serenade” hits every enemy on the field in one cast—skipping it is free damage left on the table.

Weaknesses

  • Buff windows on “Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream” are short—casting them when the carry cannot attack wastes the CRIT DMG/ATK amp for a full cycle.
  • Ruan Mei’s Skill is often the expensive part of the rotation; SP-negative teams force Basic ATKs and you lose the advance/amp that made the unit worth playing.
  • Spamming “String Sings Slow Swirls” every turn without watching Skill Points strands the rest of the team—Ruan Mei is often the SP sink.
  • If “Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream” is still offline at the end of a MoC cycle, the build is usually Energy/ERR or rotation order—not a missing CRIT roll.

Trace Priority

1
SkillHighest

String Sings Slow Swirls carries most of the kit’s damage or utility—level this first.

2
UltimateHigh

Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream supports the main rotation—raise after the top priority traces.

3
TalentMedium

Somatotypical Helix supports the main rotation—raise after the top priority traces.

4
Basic ATKLow

Threading Fragrance is last priority outside of filling trace materials.

Stat Priority

1
SPD160+ / team breakpoint
2
Energy RegenERR rope online
3
HP / DEFComfort survivability
4
Effect Hit / ATKKit-dependent
Rotation basics
General

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.

Supports online

Open supports first, then spend the carry’s Skill/Ult inside the buff window. Exact order varies by the team tab above.

Light Cones

1
Past Self in Mirror

5★ · Path cone

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 0.6%. When the wearer uses their Ultimate, increases all allies' DMG by 0.24%, lasting for 3 turn(s). If the wearer's Break Effect exceeds or equals 1.5%, 1 Skill Point will be recovered. At the start of each wave, all allies regenerate #5[f1] Energy immediately. Abilities of the same type cannot stack.

Why it works —Signature / best-in-slot when owned—passive lines up with Ruan Mei’s kit triggers.

2
But the Battle Isn't Over

5★ · Path cone

Increases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 0.1% and regenerates 1 Skill Point when the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally. This effect can be triggered once after every 2 uses of the wearer's Ultimate. When the wearer uses their Skill, the next ally taking action (except the wearer) deals 0.3% more DMG for 1 turn(s).

Why it works —Flexible alternative on the same path—equip if you already own it at higher superimposition.

3
Carve the Moon, Weave the Clouds

4★ · Path cone

At the start of the battle and whenever the wearer's turn begins, one of the following effects is applied randomly: All allies' ATK increases by 0.1%, all allies' CRIT DMG increases by 0.12%, or all allies' Energy Regeneration Rate increases by 0.06%. The applied effect cannot be identical to the last effect applied, and will replace the previous effect. The applied effect will be removed when the wearer has been knocked down. Effects of the same type cannot be stacked.

Why it works —Best accessible option for most accounts—raise superimposition when copies drop.

4
Past and Future

4★ · Path cone

When the wearer uses their Skill, the next ally taking action (except the wearer) deals 0.16% increased DMG for 1 turn(s).

Why it works —Budget path cone—fine while building the account.

Relics

Messenger Traversing Hackerspace
SMessenger Traversing HackerspaceBest in SlotFarmable
HarmonySupport
2PCIncreases SPD by 6%.
4PCWhen the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally, SPD for all allies increases by 12% for 1 turn(s). This effect cannot be stacked.
Default cavern direction for Harmony Support builds on Ruan Mei. Swap only if a more specialized set clearly matches a unique kit trigger.
Broken Keel
SBroken Keel
Planar
2PCIncreases the wearer's Effect RES by 10%. When the wearer's Effect RES is at 30% or higher, all allies' CRIT DMG increases by 10%.
Planar set aimed at Ruan Mei’s usual combat pattern—farm alongside the cavern set.
Rutilant Arena
ARutilant ArenaFarmable
PlanarFlex
2PCIncreases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 8%. When the wearer's current CRIT Rate reaches 70% or higher, DMG dealt by Basic ATK and Skill increases by 20%.
Alternate planar while farming the preferred ornament set—or when the team already supplies the primary planar’s buff.

Team Compositions

Ruan Mei enabling Black Swan. Black Swan, Kafka, Huohuo complete the dot shell.

Character Synergy
Black Swan
Black SwanDoT DPS

Black Swan seeds or detonates DoTs — without a second DoT piece the detonation loop stalls.

Ruan Mei
Ruan MeiSupport

Enabler / amp piece this page is built around — keep their buffs or debuffs online every cycle.

Kafka
KafkaDoT DPS

Kafka seeds or detonates DoTs — without a second DoT piece the detonation loop stalls.

Huohuo
HuohuoHealer

Huohuo covers healing (and often Energy / cleanse) so the carry can stay on-curve.

Traces & Eidolons

Traces

Basic ATKThreading Fragrance

Deals Ice DMG equal to 140% of Ruan Mei's ATK to one designated enemy target.

Single TargetIce
SkillString Sings Slow Swirls

After using her Skill, Ruan Mei gains Overtone, lasting for 3 turn(s). This duration decreases by 1 at the start of Ruan Mei's every turn. When Ruan Mei has Overtone, all allies' DMG increases by 40.0% and Weakness Break Efficiency increases by 50%.

SupportIce
UltimatePetals to Stream, Repose in Dream

Ruan Mei deploys a Zone that lasts for 2 turns. The Zone's duration decreases by 1 at the start of her turn. While inside the Zone, all allies' All-Type RES PEN increases by 30.0% and their attacks apply Thanatoplum Rebloom to the enemies hit. When these enemies attempt to recover from Weakness Break, Thanatoplum Rebloom is triggered, extending the duration of their Weakness Break, delaying their action by an amount equal to 20% of Ruan Mei's Break Effect plus 10%, and dealing Break DMG equal to 60% of Ruan Mei's Ice Break DMG. Enemy targets cannot have Thanatoplum Rebloom re-applied to them until they recover from Weakness Break.

SupportIce
TalentSomatotypical Helix

Increases SPD by 11.0% for all teammates (i.e., excluding this unit). When allies Break an enemy target's Weakness, Ruan Mei deals to this enemy target Break DMG equal to 150.0% of her Ice Break DMG.

SupportIce
TechniqueSilken Serenade

After using the Technique, gains Silken Serenade. At the start of the next battle, automatically triggers the Skill for 1 time(s) without consuming Skill Points. In Simulated Universe or Divergent Universe, when Ruan Mei has Silken Serenade, the team actively attacking enemies will always be regarded as attacking their Weakness to enter combat, and this attack can reduce all enemies' Toughness regardless of Weakness types. When breaking Weakness, triggers Weakness Break Effect corresponding to the attacker's Type. For every Blessing in possession (up to a max of 20 Blessings will be taken into account), additionally increases the Toughness Reduction of this attack by 100%. After breaking an enemy target's Weakness, additionally deals to the enemy target Break DMG equal to 100% of Ruan Mei's Ice Break DMG.

EnhanceIce

Eidolons

1
E1
2
E2
3
E3
4
E4
5
E5
6
E6
E1Neuronic Embroidery

While the Ultimate's Zone is deployed, the DMG dealt by all allies ignores 20% of the target's DEF.

Is it worth getting?

Support comfort: Adds DEF ignore or shred on the enhanced hit. E0 already does the job—E1 is luxury.

E2Reedside Promenade

While Ruan Mei is on the field, all allies increase their ATK by 40% when dealing DMG to enemies that are Weakness Broken.

Is it worth getting?

Kit add-on: While Ruan Mei is on the field. Evaluate against your supports—pull only if that specific clause solves a problem you actually hit.

E3Viridescent Pirouette

Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

Is it worth getting?

Ultimate + Talent levels only (+2). Free if you roll into it; never spend currency aiming for E3.

E4Chatoyant Éclat

When an enemy target's Weakness is Broken, Ruan Mei's Break Effect increases by 100% for 3 turn(s).

Is it worth getting?

Side-grade: When an enemy target's Weakness is Broken, Ruan Mei's Break Effect increases by 100% for 3 turn(s). Happy if it drops; not a planned stopping point.

E5Languid BarretteSkip

Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.

Is it worth getting?

Skill + Basic ATK levels only (+2). Skip as a goal—grab it if you overshoot toward E6, never hard-pity for it.

E6Sash Cascade

Extends the duration of the Ultimate's Zone by 1 turn(s). The Talent's Break DMG multiplier additionally increases by 200%.

Is it worth getting?

Whale ceiling: Extends the duration of the Ultimate's Zone by 1 turn(s). Only chase if Ruan Mei is your dedicated Harmony main and E0–E2 already feel finished.

Ruan Mei is fully usable at E0. Dedicated mains often stop at E0 before chasing higher. First stop: E0. Endgame target: E0.

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