Nicole
Nicole is an essential A-rank support who provides invaluable utility through heavy DEF shred and Ether DMG amplification. Her ability to group enemies while enabling massive team damage makes her a staple for any account running Ether-based squads.
Nicole acts as a versatile Support Agent who generates energy fields to pull enemies together while applying significant debuffs. By consuming bullets via Basic and Dash attacks, she enhances her combat effectiveness and triggers core mechanics. Her primary value stems from inflicting a substantial 40% DEF shred alongside a 25% Ether DMG bonus, effectively amplifying the damage output of the entire squad.
Overview
Quick Build
W-Engine
The Vault(S5)
S-rank — Energy Regen, best in slot
Disk Set
Moonlight Lullaby(4-PC)
4-PC · Best in slot
Disk 4
ATK% = Anomaly Proficiency
Main stat
Disk 5
Ether DMG% > ATK%
Main stat
Disk 6
Energy Regen = ATK%
Substats
Anomaly Proficiency = ATK% > PEN = FLAT ATK
Strengths
- High DEF shred debuff
- Effective crowd control pulling enemies
- Strong Ether damage amplification
- High-frequency anomaly application
- Generates significant Decibel for the team
Weaknesses
- Requires active reloading to maintain peak utility
- Defensive capabilities rely on perfect dodge timing
- Energy management is critical for field uptime
- Positioning-dependent for maximum grouping
- Performance heavily tied to Additional Ability requirements
Skill Priority
Primary damage source.
EX delivers strong damage.
Chain burst.
Passive enhancement.
Negligible.
Stat Priority
Start with EX Special to group enemies, then swap to main DPS to capitalize on the 40% DEF shred.
Use Ultimate for group pull and team-wide Energy recovery, then trigger Quick Assist to bring in your main carry.
Review and adjust rotations based on your specific team composition.
W-Engines
S-Rank W-Engines
Energy Regen
While off-field, Energy Regen increases by 0.6/0.75/0.9/1.05/1.2 per second. Attacks from the equipper enhance the squad's DMG against a struck target by 10/12.5/15/17.5/20% for 3 seconds. During this period, this effect is further increased by 1.7/2/2.5/3/3.3% every 0.5s, up to a maximum additional increase of 10.2/12/15/18/19.8%. Repeated triggers only refresh its duration without refreshing the DMG increase effect. Passive effects of the same name do not stack.
Why it works —Weeping Cradle (S1) offers superior PEN ratio scaling for higher output potential.
A-Rank W-Engines
Energy Regen
Dealing Ether DMG using an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate increases all squad members' DMG against the target by 15/17.5/20/22/24% and increases the equipper's Energy Regen by 0.5/0.58/0.65/0.72/0.8 per second for 2s. Passive effects of the same name do not stack.
Why it works —The Vault (S5) provides necessary Energy Regen to maintain frequent EX Special activation.
Energy Regen
When any friendly unit in the squad attacks and hits an enemy, all friendly units' ATK increases by 2.5/2.8/3.2/3.6/4% for 8s, stacking up to 4 times. The duration of each stack is calculated separately, and each friendly unit can provide 1 stack of the buff. Passive effects of the same name do not stack.
Why it works —Kaboom the Cannon (S5) is a reliable alternative providing consistent Energy regeneration.
Energy Regen
Any squad members' Dodge Counter, EX Special Attack, Assist Attack, or Chain Attack respectively generates 20/23/26/29/32 (Dodge) | 25/28.5/32/35.5/40 (Special) | 30/34.5/39/43.5/48 (Assist) | 35/40/45/50/55 (Chain) more Decibels and generates 0.7/0.8/0.9/1/1.1 Energy for the equipper. This effect can trigger once every 12s. The cooldown for each type of attack is independent of others. Passive effects of the same name do not stack.
CRIT Rate
Whenever the equipper's attack triggers an Attribute Counter effect, all squad members' CRIT Rate against the struck enemy increases by 12/13.5/15.5/17.5/20% for 12s. The bonuses triggered by the same type of passive effects do not stack.
B-Rank W-Engines
![[Reverb] Mark II](/_next/image?url=%2Fzzz%2Fw-engines%2Freverb-mark-ii.png&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_7nf99CdjzekhTXFkkY95RyLEo3au)
Energy Regen
Launching an EX Special Attack or Chain Attack increases all squad members' Anomaly Mastery and Anomaly Proficiency by 10/12/13/15/16 for 10s. This effect can trigger once every 20s. Passive effects of the same name do not stack.
Disk Drives
Disk 4
ATK% = Anomaly Proficiency
Disk 5
Ether DMG% > ATK%
Disk 6
Energy Regen = ATK%
Disk 4
ATK% = Anomaly Proficiency
Disk 5
Ether DMG% > ATK%
Disk 6
Energy Regen = ATK%
Disk 4
ATK% = Anomaly Proficiency
Disk 5
Ether DMG% > ATK%
Disk 6
Energy Regen = ATK%
Team Compositions
Nicole
Support
Miyabi
Anomaly
Nangong Yu
Stun
High-usage endgame shell featuring Nicole, Miyabi, Nangong Yu. Built around Nicole's Support role with teammates covering stun, buffs, or secondary damage.
Primary Support — owns the damage / utility identity of this squad.
Secondary Anomaly / Disorder partner that amplifies Nicole's damage windows.
Opens stun windows so Nicole can dump burst damage safely.
Skills & Mindscapes
Skills
After hitting an enemy with a Special Attack, EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate, Nicole can reload, enhancing her Basic Attack and Dash Attack. When her enhanced bullets or Energy Field hits an enemy, the target's DEF is reduced by 20% for 3.5s.
When another character in your squad shares the same Attribute or Faction: When Nicole's Core Passive: Mechanical Case applies a debuff to an enemy, all squad members deal 25% more Ether DMG to the target for 3.5s.
Unleashes up to 3 strikes, dealing Physical DMG.
After using a Special Attack, EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate, Nicole can reload, and her Basic Attack and Dash Attack are enhanced, increasing the power of her bullets.
A rapid dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. Drag the [Moving] to dodge, then hold [Dodge] to reload while dodging, enhancing Basic Attacks and Dash Attacks up to 8 times.
When dragging the [Moving] during a dodge, press [Basic Attack]: Dashes in the target direction and strikes nearby enemies, dealing Physical DMG. When not dragging the [Moving] during a dodge, press [Basic Attack]: Vaults backward and launches a ranged strike against enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance her Basic Attack and Dash Attack, up to 8 times.
Dodge backwards and send a ranged strike at enemies in front, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance Basic Attack and Dash Attack up to 8 times.
Unleashes a ranged strike against enemies in front, dealing Ether DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance Basic Attack and Dash Attack up to 8 times.
A powerful ranged strike, generating an energy field that pulls enemies towards its center to deal Ether DMG. Hold [Special Attack] down to charge up this attack, during which a small energy field is generated at the muzzle as Energy is consumed, dealing bonus DMG to enemies nearby. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. A Quick Assist is triggered when this skill hits an enemy. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance Basic Attack and Dash Attack up to 8 times.
Unleashes a powerful ranged strike at enemies in a small area, generating an energy field that pulls enemies towards its center to deal Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. A Quick Assist is triggered when this skill hits an enemy. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance Basic Attack and Dash Attack up to 8 times.
Unleashes a powerful ranged strike at enemies in a small area, generating an energy field that pulls enemies towards its center to deal Ether DMG. When using this skill, other squad members recover 10 Energy. The next character to switch in gains an additional 20 energy. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. A Quick Assist is triggered when this skill hits an enemy. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance Basic Attack and Dash Attack up to 8 times.
Charge forward and bombard enemies, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Parries the enemy's attack, dealing massive Daze. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Dodge backwards and send ranged strikes at enemies in front, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. Automatically reloads after the attack to enhance Basic Attack and Dash Attack up to 8 times.
Mindscapes
The DMG and the Anomaly Buildup inflicted by Nicole’s EX Special Attack increases by 16%. For each additional 0.1s of charging when Nicole activates her EX Special Attack, the duration of the energy field created at the target location increases by 0.15s.
Is it worth getting?
Significant boost to Anomaly buildup and field duration.
Nicole recovers 5 Energy when Core Passive: Mechanical Case's debuff is triggered. This effect can trigger once every 15s.
Is it worth getting?
Useful tempo upgrade — smoother resources, stun windows, or rotation uptime.
Basic Attack, Assist, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2
Is it worth getting?
Skill-level bump only — fine on the path to higher Mindscapes, not a pull goal by itself.
When Nicole uses her EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate, the diameter of the energy field generated at the target location is increased by 3m.
Is it worth getting?
Useful tempo upgrade — smoother resources, stun windows, or rotation uptime.
Basic Attack, Assist, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2
Is it worth getting?
Skill-level bump only — fine on the path to higher Mindscapes, not a pull goal by itself.
When Nicole’s energy fields deal DMG to an enemy, all squad members CRIT Rate against that enemy increases by 1.5%, stacking up to 10 times, and lasting 12s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.
Is it worth getting?
Provides excellent team-wide CRIT Rate buffs.
Nicole is viable and competitive at M0. First stop: M2. Endgame target: M2.
Alternatives to Nicole
Not sure Nicole is right for you? Compare against other Support agents to find your best pull.
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