Theorylytics

Arlan vs Firefly

Arlan vs Firefly — two Destruction characters competing for the same roster slot.

TL;DR — Quick Pick

Pick Arlan if…

  • You need a Lightning Destruction unit and Arlan's kit matches your account gap.
  • You prefer Main DPS gameplay over Firefly's Break DPS identity.
  • Situational—Arlan is an HP-cost Lightning Destruction starter.

Pick Firefly if…

  • You need a Fire Destruction unit and Firefly's kit matches your account gap.
  • You prefer Break DPS gameplay over Arlan's Main DPS identity.
  • Yes for Super Break—Firefly remains a top Fire Break carry.
Verdict

Arlan and Firefly are both Destruction investments that answer different account needs. Arlan (Lightning, Main DPS) shines when Situational—Arlan is an HP-cost Lightning Destruction starter.. Firefly (Fire, Break DPS) is the better commit when Yes for Super Break—Firefly remains a top Fire Break carry.. Compare signature builds, team requirements, and your existing supports before pulling either.

At a Glance

Arlan
Stat
Firefly
Lightning
Element
Fire
Destruction
Path
Destruction
4★
Rarity
5★Winner
Main DPS
Primary role
Break DPS
MoC: B · PF: B · AS: B
Endgame ratings
MoC: S · PF: A · AS: SWinner
CRIT Rate ≥ CRIT DMG
Scaling focus
CRIT Rate ≥ CRIT DMG
Lightning + Destruction
Playstyle
Fire + DestructionWinner
Moderate
Team flexibility
Moderate
Sunday / Robin / Natasha
Best support shell
Fugue / The Dahlia / Lingsha
A Secret Vow — Accessible Destruction cone—superimpose when possible.Winner
F2P Light Cone
On the Fall of an Aeon — Accessible Destruction cone—superimpose when possible.
Excellent
E0 viability
Excellent

Strengths & Weaknesses

Arlan

Strengths
  • “Frenzied Punishment” dumps a huge single-target Lightning multiplier into one elite—boss and Apocalyptic Shadow checks are where this Ultimate earns its trace levels.
  • Skill “Shackle Breaker” spends HP as a deliberate self-damage cost—this is the spend that keeps the rotation honest.
  • Talent “Pain and Anger” Based on Arlan's current missing HP percentage—miss the stack conditions and the burst window feels empty.
Weaknesses
  • HP-spend skills mean Arlan can soft-lock if sustain is weak or if a healer tops them up at the wrong time and breaks a low-HP / Charge condition.
  • As a 4★ Destruction unit, Arlan is easy to gear for early/mid game but usually loses the niche race to a modern limited option once that banner is built.
  • Spamming “Shackle Breaker” every turn without watching Skill Points strands the rest of the team—Arlan is often the SP sink.

Firefly

Strengths
  • Ultimate “Fyrefly Type-IV: Complete Combustion” enters Complete Combustion with full action advance, SPD, and Break-boosted Enhanced attacks—most of the kit’s damage lives inside that window, not on filler Basics.
  • Skill “Order: Aerial Bombardment” spends a large HP chunk to refund Energy and advance action—the rotation wants controlled self-damage, not panic healing that cancels the state.
  • Talent “Chrysalid Pyronexus” scales DMG Reduction with low HP and locks max reduction in the burst state—survivability is written into the damage plan, not bolted on later.
Weaknesses
  • E0 without “Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest” is still clearable, but the gap versus a signature copy is larger than a single eidolon for most Destruction carries—plan the cone before deep eidolon hunting.
  • HP-spend skills mean Firefly can soft-lock if sustain is weak or if a healer tops them up at the wrong time and breaks a low-HP / Charge condition.
  • Firefly wants Break Effect supports and Toughness bars that can actually be broken; into awkward weakness line-ups the Complete Combustion / Break loop loses most of its damage.

Shared Team Members

With Arlan

Tingyun is the Advance / DMG amp — time their Skill/Ult for the carry’s damage window.

With Firefly

Tingyun amps Break Effect / action value so Toughness bars die on schedule.

With Arlan

Pela applies DEF shred / vulnerability so the carry’s multipliers actually land.

With Firefly

Pela enables Super Break / Toughness pressure rather than a generic CRIT Harmony slot.

Best Builds (Signature)

Arlan

Light Cone

On the Fall of an Aeon

Relics

Band of Sizzling Thunder (4pc) + Inert Salsotto (2pc)

Body

CRIT Rate%

Feet

ATK%

Sphere

Lightning DMG%

Rope

ATK%

Substats

CRIT Rate ≥ CRIT DMG > ATK% > SPD

Firefly

Light Cone

Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest

Relics

Scholar Lost in Erudition (4pc) + Inert Salsotto (2pc)

Body

CRIT Rate%

Feet

ATK%

Sphere

Fire DMG%

Rope

ATK%

Substats

CRIT Rate ≥ CRIT DMG > ATK% > SPD

Who Should You Pull?

Arlan
Pull Arlan if…
  • You need a Lightning Destruction unit and Arlan's kit matches your account gap.
  • You prefer Main DPS gameplay over Firefly's Break DPS identity.
  • Situational—Arlan is an HP-cost Lightning Destruction starter.
  • Ultimate “Frenzied Punishment” Blast-hits the main target plus adjacent enemies.
  • “Frenzied Punishment” dumps a huge single-target Lightning multiplier into one elite—boss and Apocalyptic Shadow checks are where this Ultimate earns its trace levels.
Arlan Full Guide
Firefly
Pull Firefly if…
  • You need a Fire Destruction unit and Firefly's kit matches your account gap.
  • You prefer Break DPS gameplay over Arlan's Main DPS identity.
  • Yes for Super Break—Firefly remains a top Fire Break carry.
  • Ultimate “Fyrefly Type-IV: Complete Combustion” enters Complete Combustion with full action advance, SPD, and Break-boosted Enhanced attacks.
  • Firefly is a stronger general pull priority for your roster.
Firefly Full Guide