Nova vs Uriel
Same Support / Healer fantasy — which support kit fits your squad and mission rota?
TL;DR — Quick Pick
Pick Nova if…
- You're sold on Nova's fantasy (Harness antimatter) more than another Support / Healer option.
- Uriel's pitch (“To fight as the Heretic of Xata is to have demons at your back”) isn't what you're missing — Wormhole is.
- You value Nova's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.
Pick Uriel if…
- You're sold on Uriel's fantasy (To fight as the Heretic of Xata is to have demons at your back) more than another Support / Healer option.
- Nova's pitch (“Harness antimatter”) isn't what you're missing — Demonium is.
- You're buying into Uriel's passive — uriel commands, empowers, and protects three unique demons.
Verdict
Both fill the Support / Healer lane. Lean Nova for orb economy and Wormhole; lean Uriel for Demonium and Demonium. Mission Usefulness is where they split: Steel Path (Excellent vs Strong — edge Nova).
At a Glance
Nova
Stat
Uriel
Support / Healer
Role
Support / Healer
NaramonAura
MaduraiMatch the priority to your main ability
Mod Priority
Match the priority to your main ability
Null Star
Kit Opener
Infernalis
Mission Usefulness
Mission
Nova
Uriel
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption
Winner
Mobile Defense / Excavation
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs
Spy / Rescue / Nightmare
Open World / Bounties
Long-Range Gunplay / Eidolon-Style Content
When Each Shines
Nova
- Wormhole carries mid-mission casts; Molecular Prime is the density payoff.
- Long holds where energy comfort matters — Nova's loop stays online without babysitting orbs.
- Nova shines on tile clears where ability damage — not just weapons — carries the pack.
Uriel
- Demonium carries mid-mission casts; Brimstone is the density payoff.
- Fights where Heat stays painted on packs so Uriel's Affinity-Range Strength passive stacks.
- Dense spawns where Uriel's cast cadence outpaces gun-only clears.
Mod Scaling Focus
Nova
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 Nova’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Nova if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Nova is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
- EFF
- Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.
Uriel
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 Uriel’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Uriel if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Uriel is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
- EFF
- Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.
Who Should You Pull?
- Energy / health orb rooms are common in your rota and Nova gets more mileage out of every pickup.
- Squad comps where someone has to own tile clear alone — Nova is the frame you trust for that job.
- Uriel can stay on the shelf; Nova is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
- Nova rates higher on Steel Path holds (Excellent vs Strong) — that rota is where you actually play.
- Your endgame loadout screen should show Nova before it shows another same-role experiment.
- Demonium into Brimstone is the cast story you want to master — not a random subsume mashup.
- Your favorite clear starts on Infernalis and ends on Brimstone — Uriel is built for that arc.
- Nova's Wormhole 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 Uriel's name on it.