Astra Yao
Rank S

Astra Yao

Ether Support Tier S+

The current #1 all-purpose Support/buffer: grants team-wide ATK% and DMG%, heals and restores energy, and pairs with almost any carry.

Updated for version 3.0 · 03/07/2026
30-second summary

Tier S+ · Support · Ether. BiS: Elegant Vanity. The current #1 all-purpose Support/buffer: grants team-wide ATK% and DMG%, heals and restores energy, and pairs with almost any carry.

Base stats
Level 60, max promotion (computed from game data)
HP8,609
ATK640
DEF600
Impact83
CRIT Rate5%
CRIT DMG50%
Recommended build

Best W-Engines

Recommended Drive Discs

Astral Voice stacks a DMG buff each time she enters the field, Swing Jazz adds Chain/Ultimate damage for allies.
Reverse the sets when you haven't farmed enough Astral Voice — you still keep the Ultimate/Chain buff.
Stat priority

4: ATK% · 5: ATK% · 6: Energy Regen (or ATK% if you already have enough ER)

ATK% > Energy Regen > flat ATK (aim for ~3400 ATK, then pile on ER)

Skill priority: Max her Core Skill first; then Ultimate > Special (EX) > Assist > Basic.

Recommended teams
Fire Hypercarry
Astra Yao
Astra Yao
Lighter
Miyabi Frost
Astra Yao
Astra Yao
Soukaku
Quick verdict

A no-brainer pull if you're short on good supports: she upgrades nearly every team and is a standard piece in most top teams. Her only quirk is needing ~3400 ATK to unlock her full buffs, but that's easy to reach. This is the longest-lasting investment in the game.

Stat targets

Level-60 targets (per game8 JP): ATK is priority #1 since every buff scales off Astra's own ATK — aim for ~3,429 ATK at M0 to max the Core buff (M2 lowers the threshold to 2,963). Keep enough Energy Regen to sustain her Special/Quick Assists (slot-6 Energy Regen main + 2pc Swing Jazz is standard). Substat order per game8: ATK% > CRIT DMG = CRIT Rate; CRIT is only secondary, never trade ATK for it.

Rotation & combos

1) Opener: cast her Special (no energy cost) to enter Idyllic Cadenza — Astra stays on-field, invulnerable, buffing team ATK/DMG/CRIT DMG. 2) Swap to your main carry and play normally. 3) When you want to extend a combo, swap-cancel to trigger Astra's Quick Assist (costs 25 Energy = 1 Chord): it buffs ATK and adds a hit. 4) Fire Astra's Chain Attack / Ultimate when available to refresh buffs and heal the team. Loop 2→4; she barely needs manual inputs and runs at near-zero field time.

Mindscapes — how far is worth it?
M1 Worth it

12-Tone Equal Temperament: her hits cut all enemy elemental RES by 6% (3 stacks = -18%, 30s), she enters battle with 1,000 Decibels, and her Ultimate grants the squad Song of Protection for a 1s invuln on hit. This RES shred boosts whole-team damage, making M1 the best value stop — Japanese sites game8/gamewith both flag M1 as the recommended stopping point.

M2 Worth it

Art of Greed: the Core ATK buff gains an extra 19% and its cap rises to 400, and the ATK threshold to reach max buff drops to 2,963. She also follows up with 1 Tremolo + 3 Tone Clusters whenever an ally swaps in via Quick Assist/Chain/Assist (once per 3s). Ideal stopping point: M1 on a budget, M2 if you can spare it (prydwen calls M2 her best stop) — do NOT push M3-M5, they only add skill levels.

M3 Low value

Interwoven Staff Notation: Basic/Assist/Dodge/Special/Chain +2 levels. A minor numeric bump with no new mechanic — skip.

M4 Situational

Hair Upon Your Nape: after a Chain/Ult, for 15s Astra can Quick Assist even without Chords (interval cut to 1s); allies swapping in via Quick Assist get role buffs — Attack: next heavy hit deals +300% of Astra's ATK; Anomaly: +50% Anomaly Buildup; Stun: +50% Daze. Genuinely useful but not meta-defining — only for Astra fans.

M5 Low value

Proxy and Silk String: another +2 skill levels. Wasted investment on a support — skip.

M6 Situational

We Are the World: Tremolo/Tone Cluster multiplier jumps to 200% with +80% CRIT Rate; a Precise Assist auto-follows with a fully-charged 3rd Basic hit at +80% CRIT (once per 10s). Turns Astra into a half-DPS with a big personal-damage spike — but she is a support, so this is a collector/whale tier, not needed to optimise a team.

Pros
  • Universal support that fits almost any team; whole-team buffs including one of the highest ATK buffs in the game.
  • Heals teammates, providing sustain for content where survivability matters.
  • Enables incredibly frequent Quick Assists and Chain Attacks even outside stun windows, at near-zero field time.
  • Double-DPS / double-damage teams gain even more from her than from other supports.
Cons
  • Effectively locks you into a 2-active-agent playstyle (low field time) — strong but not for everyone.
  • Low personal damage and poor at building her own Decibels/Daze — almost purely a buffer.
  • Needs ~3,429 ATK (at M0) to reach her max Core buff, so ATK must be prioritised.
Recommended Bangboo
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Endgame mode fit
Shiyu Defense

Excellent for Shiyu Defense: whole-team buffs + healing + dense Quick Assists clear both halves fast and survive boss waves; prydwen rates her T0.5 for endgame.

Deadly Assault

Also top-tier in Deadly Assault: sustain + DMG/CRIT DMG buffs push carries past tanky bosses, with double-DPS teams benefiting most; game8 rates her suitability 'high'.

Skills
Basic Attack4

Basic Attack: "Capriccio"
Press to activate: Perform up to three attacks forward, dealing Ether DMG. During the 3rd-hit, hold to charge, drawing enemies in and expanding the attack range for a stronger attack. After using other skills, hold to initiate the 3rd-hit directly.

Basic Attack: Interlude
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, press to activate: Release Tremolo forward to attack, dealing Ether DMG. A Quick Assist will be triggered when this skill hits an enemy.

Basic Attack: Chorus
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, press during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Launch multiple Tremolo attacks at enemies in front, dealing massive Ether DMG. A Quick Assist will be triggered when this skill hits an enemy. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Basic Attack: Finale
While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, hold to activate:Release Tremolo forward to attack, dealing Ether DMG and exit the Idyllic Cadenza state.Upon activation of the skill, it grants the buff from Core Passive: "Graceful Andante".With enough Energy, consumes Energy to follow up with 1 Tremolo and 3 Tone Clusters. This Tremolo attack released is considered an EX Special Attack.

Dodge3

Dodge: "Mini Waltz"
Press to activate: A quick dash dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Dash Attack: "Lunar Eclipse Melody"
Press during a dodge to activate: Attack ahead, dealing Ether DMG. When triggered, dragging the allows movement in the corresponding direction.

Dodge Counter: "Umbrella Waltz"
Press during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Attack enemies in front, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Assist3

Quick Assist: "One Luminous Sky"
When the active character is launched, press to activate: Attack enemies in front, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Evasive Assist: "Two Hearts"
When the on-field character is about to be attacked, press to activate: Dodges the enemy's attack and activates Vital View. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Assist Follow-Up: "Three Lifetimes of Fate"
Press after an Evasive Assist to activate: Release an energy beam forward, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Special Attack3

Special Attack: "Windchimes & Oaths"
Press to activate: Quickly move away, then release Tremolo, dealing Ether DMG, and enter the Idyllic Cadenza state. During activation, dragging the enables movement in the direction held. Hold to charge during activation, drawing enemies in, and follow up with 1 to 4 Tremolos depending on the charge duration. A Quick Assist will be triggered when this skill hits an enemy. Character is invulnerable when quickly moving away.

Idyllic Cadenza
After entering the Idyllic Cadenza state, Astra Yao increases all squad members' DMG by 9% and CRIT DMG by 8.5%. While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, Astra Yao cannot move, but pressing will activate Basic Attack: Interlude, and pressing will activate a dodge. After triggering a Perfect Dodge, press to activate Basic Attack: Chorus. While in this state, Astra Yao's Anti-Interrupt Level is increased, and the DMG she takes is reduced by 40%. After switching to another character, Astra Yao will remain on the field and become Invulnerable. When switching back to her, she will automatically follow up with Special Attack: "Windchimes & Oaths". During this state, hold to activate Basic Attack: Finale, exiting the Idyllic Cadenza state, or hold to exit the Idyllic Cadenza state directly.

Chord
For every 25 Energy, Astra Yao will have 1 Chord. While in the Idyllic Cadenza state, when Astra Yao has Chords, a Quick Assist can be triggered in the following situations: · When the active character's attack hits an enemy, once per 3s. · When the active character's heavy attack hits an enemy, once per 1s. When other squad members switch in through a Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, Astra Yao will consume 25 Energy and release 1 Tremolo to attack. This Tremolo attack released is considered an EX Special Attack. After triggering a Quick Assist, quickly press to switch characters and trigger a Precise Assist, causing Astra Yao to follow up with 3 Tone Clusters to attack. When other squad members switch in through a Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, it will automatically trigger a Precise Assist.

Chain Attack2

Chain Attack: "Tipsy Concerto"
When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate: Use song to channel energy into a blast, dealing massive Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. After the skill, Astra Yao enters the Idyllic Cadenza state.

Ultimate: "Fantasian Sonata"
When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press to activate: Use song to channel energy into a blast, dealing massive Ether DMG, and restoring 200 HP to all squad members. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. After the skill, Astra Yao enters the Idyllic Cadenza state. After the skill, the next two Quick Assists will be replaced by Chain Attacks.

Core Skill2

Core Passive: "Graceful Andante"
During the Idyllic Cadenza state, when other squad members switch in through a Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, and when Astra Yao expends Energy to release Tremolo to attack, both Astra Yao and the incoming character's ATK are increased. The increase is equal to 22% of Astra Yao's initial ATK, up to a maximum of 1,200. The effect lasts for 20s and can be extended up to 30s with repeated triggers.

Additional Ability: "Moonlit Frenzy"
When another character in your squad is an Attack or Anomaly character: When Energy is consumed to trigger a Precise Assist or Basic Attack: Finale, Astra Yao will additionally follow up with 1 Tremolo and 3 Tone Clusters.

Agents of the same attribute
Astra Yao FAQ
What is the best W-Engine for Astra Yao?

Astra Yao performs best with Elegant Vanity. See alternatives and required stats in the Gear section above.

Is Astra Yao worth pulling?

A no-brainer pull if you're short on good supports: she upgrades nearly every team and is a standard piece in most top teams. Her only quirk is needing ~3400 ATK to unlock her full buffs, but that's easy to reach. This is the longest-lasting investment in the game.

What is the best team for Astra Yao?

Astra Yao works best in the Fire Hypercarry team. Full members and rotation are in the Teams section.

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