The Frost S-Tier Wu Chang costume returns to Identity V's Illusion Hall during Chinese New Year 2026, alongside the Frozen Core A-Tier accessory. With S-Tier pull rates at 1.5-2% requiring 150-250 pulls (15,000-25,000 Echoes), strategic budgeting is essential. F2P players farm 11,104-12,504 Echoes between December 2025-January 2026, while the full December 2025-April 2026 window offers 35,000-45,000 farmable Echoes total. This guide covers exact release timing, pull calculations, and player-specific strategies.
Wu Chang 'Frost' S-Tier Release Window: Confirmed Schedule
Frost S-Tier Wu Chang enters Illusion Hall during CNY 2026, running late December 2025 through April 2026.
Season 40 starts December 18, 2025. Illusion Hall rotation includes:
December 18: Wintry Wish A-Tier Soul Weaver
December 25: Mr. Hyde A-Tier Nightmare
December 30: Lock Core A-Tier Mechanic
December 31: Femme Fatale A-Tier Dream Witch, Werther A-Tier Lawyer
January 1, 2026: BLK.ELI A-Tier Seer, Trembling Chord A-Tier Prisoner, Hearts Aligned S-Tier accessory Seer
January 8: Parish Boy Acrobat
January 15: So Long at the Fair Barmaid
January 22: Edward Beneath the Crown Knight
April 2, 2026: Dazzling Lone Wolf Prospector
Season resets occur Thursdays at 08:00 UTC+8. First three ranked matches post-reset provide double rewards—critical for F2P farming.
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Complete Wu Chang 'Frost' Skin Breakdown
Frost S-Tier transforms Wu Chang's dual persona with ice-themed aesthetics affecting both White Guard (Xie Bi'an) and Black Guard (Fan Wujiu). Features include crystalline elements, frost particle effects, winter color palettes, enhanced animation sequences, modified sound effects, and unique visual trails during movement and teleportation.
S-Tier costumes typically cost 2888 Echoes direct purchase, but limited gacha releases operate differently. Maintains identical hitboxes and gameplay mechanics to default Wu Chang—no pay-to-win advantages. Distinctive visual effects may impact psychological gameplay.
Frozen Core A-Tier accessory complements Frost with matching themes. Standard A-Tier cost: 1388 Echoes. First-week 15% discount reduces to 1178 Echoes, saving 210 Echoes. Discount window lasts 7 days, ending 08:00 UTC+8 on day 8.
Complete CNY set (Frost S-Tier + Frozen Core A-Tier): 4376-5276 Echoes total.
Essence Budget Planning: Pull Rates & Pity Mechanics
CNY banner rates:
S-Tier: 1.5-2%
A-Tier: 7-9%
Individual A-Tier items: 3.5-4.5%
Frost S-Tier Wu Chang pull expectations:
Standard 2% rate: 150-200 pulls = 15,000-20,000 Echoes
Lower 1.5% rate: 200-250 pulls = 20,000-25,000 Echoes
A-Tier accessory: 25-40 pulls = 2500-4000 Echoes
F2P earnings:
Monthly average: 1500-2500 Echoes
December 2025-January 2026: 11,104-12,504 Echoes (110-125 pulls)
December 2025-April 2026: 35,000-45,000 Echoes total
December-January farming provides only 44-50% of S-Tier guarantee requirement. Extended April 2026 window allows F2P players to reach guarantee threshold through pure farming with consistent daily engagement.
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Best Budget Plans by Player Type
F2P Strategy
11,104-12,504 December-January Echoes covers 44-50% of S-Tier guarantee. Extended window to April 2026 essential—35,000-45,000 total farmable Echoes meets 15,000-25,000 requirement.
Key tactics:
Prioritize three double-reward ranked matches every Thursday reset
Complete daily missions without exception
Participate in all CNY event currency opportunities
Skip A-Tier accessories to concentrate on S-Tier costume
Use first-week 15% discount only if pursuing complete set
Expect guarantee threshold by late February-March 2026. Early pulls risk depleting resources without reaching pity—late-event pulling strategically safer.
Low-Spender Plan ($10-50)
11,104-12,504 farmable Echoes + 5,000-10,000 purchased Echoes ($15-30) = 15,000-20,000 baseline guarantee.
Optimization:
Farm maximum F2P Echoes first
Time purchases around platform promotions
Target 150-200 pull range (15,000-20,000 Echoes)
Purchase only if farmable resources reach 10,000+ Echoes
Evaluate Frost value versus future releases
Whale Strategy
Purchase full 20,000-25,000 Echoes for immediate guarantee.
Considerations:
Buy upper estimate (25,000 Echoes) regardless of pull luck
Secure both Frost S-Tier and Frozen Core A-Tier
Use first-week A-Tier discount for 210 Echoes savings
Excess Echoes invest toward future Illusion Hall releases
Evaluate BitTopup bulk purchase rates for optimal pricing
Who Should Pull: Decision Framework
Wu Chang Mains: Essential
15,000-25,000 Echoes investment across hundreds of matches = negligible per-match cost. Wu Chang maintains viable 2026 meta status with dual-persona mechanics providing map pressure and chase versatility.
Collectors: High Priority
Limited CNY releases rarely return—potentially only acquisition opportunity for years. Historical Wu Chang S-Tier gaps: 12-24 months between availability, some never returning.
Prioritize if:
Own other Wu Chang S-Tier costumes
CNY-themed items hold collection significance
Sufficient budget without compromising future goals
Ice/winter aesthetic aligns with preferences
Complete CNY set (4376-5276 Echoes) better collection value than S-Tier alone.
Casual Players: Aesthetic Assessment
If Wu Chang represents <20% of Hunter rotation, 15,000-25,000 Echoes may not justify limited usage.
Better value:
A-Tier costumes for most-played characters (1388 Echoes, 1178 with discount)
Diversify collection across multiple characters
Save for future releases featuring mains
Participate without expensive gacha commitment
Who Should Skip: Smart Scenarios
Non-Hunter Players: Clear Skip
Zero practical value from Hunter cosmetics. 15,000-25,000 Echoes secures multiple Survivor A-Tier or contributes toward Survivor S-Tier.
CNY 2026 Survivor options: Wintry Wish Soul Weaver, Lock Core Mechanic, BLK.ELI Seer, Trembling Chord Prisoner, Parish Boy Acrobat, So Long at the Fair Barmaid, Edward Beneath the Crown Knight, Dazzling Lone Wolf Prospector.
Budget-Constrained Players
Under 10,000 farmable Echoes = mathematical impossibility of S-Tier guarantee without purchases. Pulling without guarantee risks depleting resources with no acquisition.
Better alternatives:
Target A-Tier items: 25-40 pulls (2500-4000 Echoes)
Use first-week 15% discounts (210 Echoes savings per A-Tier)
Save for future events with favorable rates
Focus on free event rewards
Wait for future Wu Chang releases
7-9% A-Tier rates provide higher success probability versus 1.5-2% S-Tier.
Players Awaiting Future Releases
Illusion Hall extends through April 2026. Evaluate whether Frost justifies depleting Echoes versus future opportunities.
Strategic considerations:
Assess leaked/rumored releases for preferred characters
Balance Wu Chang usage frequency against future opportunities
Limited releases may not return, but future releases will arrive
Balance FOMO against practical allocation
35,000-45,000 total farmable Echoes = one guaranteed S-Tier or multiple A-Tier
Maximizing CNY 2026 Event Experience
Event Currency Farming
CNY 2026 includes event-specific currencies and reward tracks. Historical CNY events feature login bonuses, limited-time missions, special game modes.
Optimization:
Daily login December 2025-April 2026 for cumulative bonuses
Complete event missions immediately
Participate in limited-time game modes—rewards accumulate
Coordinate for team-based event missions with bonus rewards
Monitor Illusion Hall rotation to time pulls strategically
First three ranked matches post-Thursday reset = double rewards. Thursday-Sunday optimal for intensive ranked play.
Common Mistakes
Pulling without guarantee budget: 5,000-10,000 Echoes risks depletion before 150-250 pull requirement
Ignoring first-week discounts: 15% discount (210 Echoes) applies only 7 days ending 08:00 UTC+8 day 8
Neglecting double-reward matches: Missing first three post-reset matches eliminates 20-30% potential F2P earnings
Impulse pulling: Extensive rotation through April 2026 fragments budgets without securing targets
Failing to track pity: Maintain accurate pull counts for guarantee threshold awareness
Post-Event Strategy
CNY 2026 concludes April 2026. Major events typically quarterly: anniversary, Halloween, winter holidays.
Post-CNY:
Assess remaining Echo balance
Resume standard monthly farming (1500-2500 Echoes)
Monitor announcements/leaks for next major event
Evaluate if CNY acquisitions satisfied goals
Analyze what went wrong if failed: insufficient farming, poor timing, unrealistic expectations
FAQ
When exactly does Wu Chang Frost S-Tier release?
Frost enters Illusion Hall during CNY 2026 (December 2025-April 2026). Season 40 starts December 18, 2025. Exact Frost date follows Illusion Hall rotation with staggered A-Tier and S-Tier releases throughout four months.
How much essence for guarantee?
1.5-2% S-Tier rates need 150-250 pulls. Standard 2%: 150-200 pulls = 15,000-20,000 Echoes. Lower 1.5%: 200-250 pulls = 20,000-25,000 Echoes. Complete set (Frost + Frozen Core): 4376-5276 Echoes.
Is Frost worth pulling?
Wu Chang mains: Maximum value across hundreds of matches. Collectors: Limited availability and rarity. Casual players: Skip for frequently played characters. Non-Hunter players: Zero value—redirect to Survivor cosmetics.
Can F2P obtain Frost without spending?
Yes, requires full December 2025-April 2026 farming. Monthly 1500-2500 Echoes = 35,000-45,000 total (sufficient for 15,000-25,000 guarantee). December-January alone (11,104-12,504) = only 44-50% needed—early acquisition impossible without purchases.
What are Frost special effects?
Ice-themed visuals for both Guards: crystalline design, frost particles, winter colors, enhanced animations, modified sounds, unique movement/teleportation trails. Identical gameplay mechanics and hitboxes to default—no competitive advantages.
Use first-week A-Tier discount?
If pursuing complete set, yes—15% discount: 1388→1178 Echoes, saves 210. Window: 7 days ending 08:00 UTC+8 day 8. Limited budgets: prioritize Frost S-Tier over accessory.
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