Go Yaoguang (Phase 1, Jan 29, 2026) over Hanami (Phase 2, Feb 18, 2026) if you're F2P. She crushes shared DPS at E0S0, keeps teams alive longer, and brings killer utility. Pre-farm Tengoku 2pc from 3.7 Caverns (+16% CRIT DMG base, ramps to +32% for 3 turns on 3+ SP/turn). Laser-focus on CRIT/SPD/ERR. Stockpile 2400+ weekly Jades for those 160 pulls. Nail Elation squads with SP regen, DEF-ignore, and BIKURI stacks.
Yaoguang Edges Out Hanami—Here's Why for Edo 4.0 Elation
Picture this: Yaoguang drops as a 5-star Harmony/Nihility in Phase 1 (Jan 29, 2026). Hanami follows as your Fire Elation DPS in Phase 2 (Feb 18, 2026). For F2P players? Yaoguang wins hands-down. She slots perfectly into SP-starved teams and sustains without needing a full Elation bench. Hanami shines in her 4/8/12 SP Skill modes—ignoring DEF and RES for big damage, stacking BIKURI at 10/30/>50 for AoE blasts, capping at 6 SP, boosting ally CRIT DMG via SP, and flipping Lucky Surprise from Hunt to Blast for 3x FUA. Beta tests showed both clearing MoC/Apoc Shadow at E0S0, but Yaoguang just... lasts.
Your Pull Plan:
Chase Yaoguang on 50/50 (safeties: Jing Yuan, Himeko, Topaz, Clara).
Hoard 160 pulls (lean toward 90 pity) using Special Passes (160 Jades each); bail on 3.9 after Amphoreus.
Grind 2400+ Jades weekly: 800 from Forgotten Hall, 800 Pure Fiction, 800 Apocalyptic Shadow—plus 10-20 daily tutorials and 720 from events/Dreamscape Pass.
Yaoguang hits Phase 1 first. And she thrives in SP-hungry setups, even without Sparkle or Elation Trailblazer. (My take: She's the glue F2P dreams of.)
How They Slot In—and Team Synergies
Yaoguang as hypercarry? Run her DPS/Support core with Sparkle, an Abundance/Preservation healer-tank, and Elation filler. Hanami for sustain? She's > Sparkle > FUA like Jing Yuan/Clara, plus Elation Trailblazer. Elation amps DMG, Break Efficiency, and Aftertaste, fueling SP-hungry FUAs on Edo Star.
F2P Pull Decision Tree
Got <160 Jades banked? Stick to weeklies.
Scared of 50/50 loss? Lock in Yaoguang Phase 1.
Full Elation crew already? Hanami works fine post-Phase 2.
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Tengoku 2pc: The Elation Meta Relic King
Farm Tengoku 2pc in 3.7 Caverns. Baseline +16% CRIT DMG; spikes to +32% CRIT DMG for 3 turns if you're dumping 3+ SP/turn. Perfect for Hanami's SP-guzzling Skills or Yaoguang's needs—pre-farm it for 4.0 Elation dominance. Ultimate play? BIKURI Box wipes 100% DEF/RES and spits 4 team SP. Stack with Sim Universe World 3+ Planars.
Gear-Up Steps:
Hit Caverns of Corrosion (6 Equilibrium) for Tengoku (Head/Hands/Body/Feet as 2/4-pc).
Sim Universe World 3+ for Planar Ornaments (Sphere/Rope 2-pc).
Salvage trash with Lost Lightdust/Fragments/Crystals; knock out weekly shop chores.
Tengoku unlocks 2-Ult cycles. Enhancement caps: 5★ at +15. Preview those subs first.
Tengoku Farm Queue
Prioritize SPD/ERR subs. Realm of the Strange gives 3 double relic claims daily (40 Power apiece). Boom.
Main Stat Ladder: Build It Right
Body: CRIT Rate% or CRIT DMG% (tune for Hanami balance).
Feet: Flat SPD—nail rotations and breakpoints.
Sphere: Fire DMG Boost (Hanami's jam).
Rope: Energy Regen% or Break Effect%.
Head: Flat HP. Hands: Flat ATK.
Tengoku supercharges Hanami's Mode 3 (>50 BIKURI AoE). Short and sweet.
Lock It In:
DPS relics scream CRIT Rate/DMG Body + SPD Feet.
Snag event Relic Recons for 5★ custom fits.
Level up: 2★ to +6, 3★ +9, 4★ +12, 5★ +15 max.
These mains guarantee 3-turn CRIT buffs. F2P light cones? CRIT DMG/SPD/ERR all day.
Feet SPD Breaks
Must-hit for BIKURI ramps. Pair 2-3 Elations for stack overloads/turn. Ever miss one? Wipes your flow.
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Substat Gods: Tier List + Farm Hacks
S-tier: CRIT Rate/DMG%, flat SPD, ERR%.
A-tier: Break Effect%, Effect Hit Rate/RES%.
Fillers? HP/ATK/DEF flat/%. Relics roll 1-4 random subs. Tengoku + max Talent/SP6 peaks Hanami; Yaoguang's E0S0 is breezier.
Chase These:
S-tier on every Tengoku piece.
Beat RNG: Salvage weaklings; claim 3x daily doubles.
Test in Sim Universe—Destruction/Hunt Blessings (3-min runs).
Subs fuel endless SP dumps. Sparkle pairs like peanut butter and jelly.
Dodge Sub RNG Hell
Weekly Sim Path Resonance: 100 Energy nets 3-5 Aftertaste FUAs (scales with 6/10/14 Blessings). Game-changer.
Your Pre-Farm Timeline—Don't Sleep on It
Tengoku grind starts 3.7; 4.0 lands Feb 18, 2026. Nail 2400+ Jades weekly—no skips, or kiss 800+ goodbye. 3.8 Program (Dec 5, 2025) locks dates. Elation Blessings? Auto-Harmonica (55-60% ATK on 1-3x Aftertaste), Slaughterhouse No. 4 (80% ATK +1/2x Break).
Roadmap:
Dailies: Tutorials + Realm doubles.
Weeklies: Endgames + Sim Universe (Path Resonance FUA).
Hoard: Ditch 3.9 for 160 pulls.
Resonance Formations: 6 Blessings = instant wins (+40% Energy). Why grind harder?
Traps to Sidestep (And Fixes)
Don't SP-dump without regen—dead team. Wrong stats? No SPD/ERR kills you. Skip weeklies? 2400+ Jades vanish. Hanami demands SP6/BIKURI max; rotation: Turn 1 Ult domain, Turns 2-3 Skill ramps (>50 BIKURI), ally Box +4 SP.
Quick Fixes:
Sparkle. Always.
SPD-tune for 3-turn buffs.
Prove it: E0S0 MoC/Apoc clears.
Stack BIKURI via SP/ally help. Lucky Surprise? Once/turn/ally. Simple.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions
Yaoguang or Hanami first?
Yaoguang in Phase 1 (Jan 29, 2026) for F2P—better sustain/DPS sans full Elations.
Hanami's top relic set?
Tengoku 2pc; CRIT DMG body, SPD feet, Fire sphere, ERR rope.
Elation substat must-haves?
S-tier: CRIT Rate/DMG, SPD, ERR. Caverns/Sim farm now.
Hanami rotation 101?
Ult domain > 4-12 SP Skills > ally triggers +4 SP/BIKURI.
Jade hoard for 4.0?
2400+ weekly; aim 160 pulls, skip 3.9.
F2P loss safeties?
Jing Yuan, Himeko, Topaz, Clara—FUA synergy gold.