Version 2.1 introduced two S-ranks — Phoebe (Spectro DPS) and Brant (Fusion support/healer) — during its February 13 to March 26, 2026 run. Evaluated from a 2026 standpoint, both are functional but have slipped behind the post-3.0 meta. Phoebe sits at A-tier, Brant holds S-tier, and neither fully exploits Tune Strain mechanics that define current endgame. Most F2P and light spenders should skip 2.1 reruns and save for Version 3.2's Sigrika and Qiuyuan. The exceptions are narrow but real.
Quick Verdict by Player Type
Key numbers:
Free pulls per patch: 50–80 (dailies, Tower of Adversity, events, story)
Average pulls to guarantee: 65–75 (hard pity at 80)
Minimum safe threshold for a rerun: 60+ pulls saved with a lost 50/50 guarantee in hand
Who Are Phoebe and Brant?
Phoebe is a 5-star Spectro main DPS (Rectifier). Brant is a 5-star Fusion support and healer (Sword). They debuted in separate phases — Phoebe in Phase 1 (Feb 13–Mar 6, 2025), Brant alongside a Changli rerun in Phase 2 (Mar 6–Mar 26, 2025).
Phoebe — Spectro Frazzle Applicator
Her kit revolves around Concerto Efficiency and Spectro Frazzle, a DoT debuff applied through her Forte Circuit. Her Liberation amplifies Frazzle stacks; her Outro passes Concerto energy cleanly to the next Resonator.
In practice, she's a strong sub-DPS and Frazzle applicator, not a pure carry. Community testing from March 2026 confirms her best role is alongside Zani as main DPS with Shorekeeper providing Spectro resonance. As a standalone carry at S0 without her signature weapon, she underperforms newer 3.x units.
Brant — Fusion Amplifier and Sustain
Brant's kit delivers Basic Attack DMG amplification and Fusion DMG buffs through his Intro, Outro, and Liberation — while healing simultaneously. That dual role is rare and genuinely useful.
His best team pairs him with Changli, using Shorekeeper in the third slot. The Intro/Outro chain between Brant and Changli creates a tight buff window that rewards precise rotations. Support utility ages better than raw DPS output, which is exactly why Brant still holds S-tier in 2026.
Tier Scores (wutheringlab, March 2026)
The Simplicity gap tells the real story: Phoebe is easier to use but hits a lower ceiling. Brant requires more investment and rewards it.
Pity Math and Real-Money Costs
Hard pity is 80 pulls. Soft pity starts at pull 70, so your odds climb meaningfully in the 70–79 range. Real-world average lands at 65–75 pulls per 5-star.
Every limited banner runs a 50/50 system. Your first 5-star has a 50% chance of being the featured unit. Lose the flip, and your next 5-star is guaranteed to be featured. Pity carries over between limited character banners — but NOT to weapon banners. Those are entirely separate pools.
The Lunite Subscription at $4.99/month gives 300 Lunite upfront plus 90 Astrite daily — roughly 2,700 Astrite total, or about 17 additional pulls per month. Consistently the best value option in the shop for light spenders.
If you've decided to pull and need to top up efficiently, buy wuthering waves lunite top up through BitTopup for fast delivery and competitive rates.
Free Astrite Per Patch — Realistic Breakdown
Each patch provides roughly 8,000–12,800 free Astrite (50–80 pulls) across all sources:
That's enough to attempt one banner comfortably if you've been saving — but not enough to guarantee a 5-star from zero without prior pity. Players hoarding since 2.0 or earlier are in a much better position.
One thing most guides skip: 4-star Resonators are guaranteed every 10 pulls on event banners. Even without hitting the 5-star, you're accumulating pulls that fill roster gaps or add Sequence Nodes to existing characters.
Best Team Compositions
Phoebe Teams
Optimal: Zani (main DPS) + Phoebe (sub-DPS/Frazzle) + Shorekeeper (support) Phoebe applies Spectro Frazzle stacks that Zani detonates. Shorekeeper provides Spectro resonance and healing. Phoebe's Outro feeds Concerto energy cleanly into Zani's rotation.
Budget: Phoebe (main DPS) + Verina (healer) + any Spectro 4-star Viable in standard content and exploration. Won't clear Tower of Adversity efficiently at S0 — Tune Strain synergies are missing.
Brant Teams
Optimal: Changli (main DPS) + Brant (support/healer) + Shorekeeper (buffer)
Brant's Intro/Outro chain feeds directly into Changli's Fusion damage windows. This pairing is the reason Brant holds S-tier.
Budget: Any Fusion DPS + Brant + Verina Brant's healing and Fusion DMG amplification work with Encore, Danjin, or any standard-banner Fusion carry. He's not locked to Changli — a meaningful flexibility advantage over more niche supports.
Echo Builds
Phoebe
Substat priority: Crit Rate → Crit DMG → ATK% → Resonance Skill DMG%
Brant
Substat priority: ATK% → Healing Bonus → Energy Regen → Crit Rate
Energy Regen matters more for Brant than most DPS units — his Liberation uptime directly drives team buff cycles. Both characters use established Echo sets farmable since 2.1, so no new Forgery Challenge unlocks are needed. Good news for returning players.
Sequence Nodes: Which Are Worth It?
S0 is fully viable for all standard content and most Tower of Adversity floors. Sequence Nodes are a luxury — but some deliver more than others.
Phoebe:
S1: Meaningful boost to Frazzle application rate. The only node worth considering if you're running her specifically as a sub-DPS applicator.
S2–S6: Marginal gains that don't justify the cost in 2026. Her A-tier ceiling doesn't rise enough to matter.
Brant:
S1: Prydwen data from February 2026 places S0 Brant at T1–T1.5 in hybrid Tower of Adversity. S1 pushes him toward consistent T1 — the one node Welkin subscribers might consider.
S2–S4: Diminishing returns. Skip unless you're a dedicated Changli main.
S5–S6: Whale territory. The buff amplification scales well but requires full investment in the Changli-Brant pairing to see returns.
Chasing Sequence Nodes on either character in 2026 is hard to justify when 3.2 units are purpose-built for the current meta.
Weapon Banner: Pull or Pass?
Pass for most players. The weapon banner runs a separate pity pool — pulls there don't count toward character pity, and vice versa.
Phoebe's signature (Luminous Hymn, 5-star Rectifier): Community testing shows a 25%+ performance boost for Phoebe as a main DPS carry. The one case where the weapon banner becomes relevant — but only if you're running her as the carry, not as sub-DPS alongside Zani.
Brant's signature (Unflickering Valor, 5-star Sword): Meaningful but not mandatory. His support value comes from kit mechanics, not weapon stats.
For Phoebe, a well-rolled 4-star Rectifier with ATK% or Crit substats closes most of the gap in sub-DPS roles. For Brant, standard-banner swords with Energy Regen or ATK% passives work adequately at S0. General rule: prioritize the character over the weapon unless the signature provides 25%+ improvement — and that threshold only applies to Phoebe as a main carry.
2.1 vs. Current Meta: The Honest Picture
Phoebe competes in the Spectro DPS/applicator space alongside Camellya and Cantarella (both A-tier peers). She doesn't replace any of them. The real problem: Zani, her best partner, is a 3.x character built around Tune Strain mechanics that Phoebe only partially benefits from. She's supporting a meta she wasn't designed for, which caps her ceiling hard.
Brant sits alongside Shorekeeper and Qiuyuan in S-tier support — impressive for a 2.1 unit. His dual healing-plus-amplification role has no direct replacement. If you don't own a dedicated Fusion support and run Changli, Brant is a legitimate gap-filler even in 2026. He's a complement to existing rosters, not a replacement for newer units.
Should You Skip 2.1 and Save for 3.2?
Community consensus as of March 2026: save for Version 3.2's Sigrika and Qiuyuan, both purpose-built for Tune Strain mechanics. Sigrika (Aero Gauntlets) and Qiuyuan (Aero Sword) launched March 19, 2026. This isn't a minor optimization gap — it's a fundamental design difference that affects Tower of Adversity competitiveness.
Every 80 pulls spent on a 2.1 rerun is 80 pulls unavailable for 3.2. Since free Astrite caps around 50–80 pulls per patch, spending on 2.1 means either skipping 3.2 or spending real money to compensate.
Pull on a 2.1 rerun only if all three conditions apply:
You have 60+ pulls saved (or a guaranteed 50/50 in hand)
You have a specific roster gap — no Spectro sub-DPS for Zani, or no Fusion support for Changli
You're willing to skip 3.2 Sigrika or Qiuyuan, or have enough resources for both
If any condition is missing, the math doesn't support pulling.
For players stocking up on Astrite ahead of a 3.x banner window, you can recharge astrite wuthering waves online through BitTopup — reliable and fast when a banner window is closing.
Final Verdict
Pull if:
You own Changli and have no Fusion support — Brant is a genuine upgrade
You're building a Zani team and lack a Spectro sub-DPS — Phoebe fills that role specifically
You have 60+ pulls saved with a guaranteed 50/50
You're a whale who wants roster depth regardless of meta positioning
Skip if:
You're F2P or spending under $30/month — 3.2 units offer better long-term value
You don't own Changli or Zani — neither Resonator reaches their potential without specific partners
You're sitting on fewer than 60 pulls with no guarantee — a 160-pull worst case is too costly
You're planning to engage seriously with Tune Strain endgame — 3.x units are built for it, 2.1 units aren't
Brant is a well-designed support that holds real value in 2026. But good character and worth spending on now are different questions. For most players, the answer to the second one is no.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was the 2.1 banner available? Version 2.1 ran February 13 to March 26, 2025. Phoebe's Phase 1 ended March 6; Brant's Phase 2 (with Changli rerun) ran March 6–26. Any 2026 availability would be through a rerun banner.
Does pity carry over between banners? Yes — but only between limited character event banners. It does NOT transfer to weapon banners or the standard banner. Those are completely separate pity pools.
Can you get Phoebe or Brant after the banner ends? They'll eventually enter the standard banner pool or return during reruns. You can't target them specifically outside limited banner windows. Check official patch notes for rerun schedules.
How do I track my current pity? In the Convene menu, tap the clock icon in your pull history. Count 4-star pulls since your last 5-star — that's your pity count. Community tools like wutheringlab also offer pull trackers.
Is S0 Brant viable for Tower of Adversity in 2026? Yes. Prydwen data from February 2026 places S0 Brant at T1–T1.5 in hybrid Tower of Adversity without his signature weapon. Competitive without any Sequence Node investment.
Should I try the trial before pulling? Always. Phoebe's rotation requires precise Forte Circuit management that some players find unintuitive — test her before committing. Brant's rotation is more forgiving but still worth a hands-on feel first.