Theorylytics

Koumei vs Lavos

Same Support / Healer fantasy — which support kit fits your squad and mission rota?

TL;DR — Quick Pick

Pick Koumei if…

  • You want the squad gap filled by Koumei's vibe — Test your luck with the dice-maiden.
  • You'd rather build around Omamori than live in Lavos's Transmutation Probe loop.
  • Your builds lean status effects and Koumei's passive extends that plan.

Pick Lavos if…

  • You want the squad gap filled by Lavos's vibe — The serpents of Lavos encourage him as he transmutes the battlefield.
  • Koumei's pitch (“Test your luck with the dice-maiden”) isn't what you're missing — Transmutation Probe is.
  • You value Lavos's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.
Verdict

Both fill the Support / Healer lane. Lean Koumei for status-duration amplification and Omamori; lean Lavos for orb economy and Transmutation Probe. Mission Usefulness is a wash — decide on kit feel and passive, not the rating table.

At a Glance

Koumei
Stat
Lavos
Support / Healer
Role
Support / Healer
MaduraiMadurai
Aura
NaramonNaramon
Match the priority to your main ability
Mod Priority
Match the priority to your main ability
Kumihimo
Kit Opener
Ophidian Bite

Mission Usefulness

Mission
Koumei
Lavos
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption
Strong
Strong
Mobile Defense / Excavation
Excellent
Excellent
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs
Situational
Situational
Spy / Rescue / Nightmare
Situational
Situational
Open World / Bounties
Strong
Strong
Long-Range Gunplay / Eidolon-Style Content
Weak
Weak

When Each Shines

Koumei

  • Omamori carries mid-mission casts; Bunraku is the density payoff.
  • Status-heavy weapons in hand — Koumei's passive makes those procs earn their keep.
  • Missions that reward committing to Koumei's full ability loop instead of dabbling.

Lavos

  • Transmutation Probe carries mid-mission casts; Catalyze is the density payoff.
  • Long holds where energy comfort matters — Lavos's loop stays online without babysitting orbs.
  • Missions that reward committing to Lavos's full ability loop instead of dabbling.

Mod Scaling Focus

Koumei

Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.

STR
Raises damage and effect potency across Koumei’s Strength-scaling abilities.
DUR
Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Koumei if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
RNG
Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Koumei is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
EFF
Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.

Lavos

Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.

STR
Raises damage and effect potency across Lavos’s Strength-scaling abilities.
DUR
Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Lavos if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
RNG
Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Lavos is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
EFF
Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.

Who Should You Pull?

Koumei
Pull Koumei if…
  • Status duration is how your weapons scale and Koumei extends that plan for free.
  • Your favorite clear starts on Kumihimo and ends on Bunraku — Koumei is built for that arc.
  • Lavos's Transmutation Probe loop asks for a different muscle memory than you want to practice.
  • Madurai on the aura slot matches the school you're already building weapons around.
  • Potato + Forma budget this month has Koumei's name on it.
Koumei Full Guide
Lavos
Pull Lavos if…
  • Energy / health orb rooms are common in your rota and Lavos gets more mileage out of every pickup.
  • Squad comps where someone has to own tile clear alone — Lavos is the frame you trust for that job.
  • Koumei can stay on the shelf; Lavos is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
  • Even after Helminth, Vial Rush and later abilities are still the reason Lavos earned potato.
  • Your endgame loadout screen should show Lavos before it shows another same-role experiment.
Lavos Full Guide