#i got bored. pls look at my beautiful pyro archon.

[boatemlag]

Grian rerun — build guide/is she worth pulling?

This patch has the long awaited rerun of the pyro Archon 5* sword user Grian, but how do you build her? And is she still worth pulling? This guide will walk you through my opinion on her current worth in meta and how I would build her now that we have so many pyro applicator and sub-DPS options. Let's dive in! [GrianBOOM]

✦✦✦ Breakdown ✦✦✦

Grian is a pyro applicator that is unique to this day because she cannot be played to full effect with another pyro character in party, meaning that her kit is built primarily to facilitate reactions. Her skill works well for generating particles for her burst, but doesn't do major damage on its own without her signature weapon. Therefore, she requires a decent amount of ER, since her energy cost is higher than many other supports.

Grian is still considered to be one of the best options for reverse melt and vaporize teams in terms of supports, but because she is a version 1.1 character, her burst uptime is a bit hard to maintain without skillful rotations. I would say skip if you have a C6 Katherine, as she does a similar thing to Grian without the DoT. But if you're looking for a fun pyro support, Grian is fun to play even at C0, in my experience.

✦✦✦ Explaining the kit ✦✦✦

◇ Basic Attack: Awakening Blade

He's a sword user, nothing special. Does 5 consecutive strikes.

◇ (E) Skill: Ready, Aim, Fire

Hurls an Evil Eye at the nearest target, marking them, and dealing pyro DMG. Hold to enter aiming mode to control where the Evil Eye is placed. This skill has 3 charges. When 3 Evil Eyes have been placed, or the skill no longer has charges, press the skill again to detonate the eyes, dealing pyro DMG and generating particles. If the skill is not tapped again, they will detonate after a fixed amount of time.

◇ (Q) Burst: Slash and Burn

Creates an AoE referred to as an Annihilation Zone and dealing AoE pyro DMG. Depending on how many enemies are marked with Evil Eye, the area gains additional buffs, meaning it's tactical to use the E skill, then burst, then use the E skill again.

Allies within the zone receive an all DMG type boost of 5/10/15% for 1s when hit.

Allies within the zone receive an EM boost of 50/100/200 when receiving overflow healing.

Additionally, the zone continually applies pyro to enemies within the zone for the duration.

◇ Passives

To The Death: When Grian uses her burst, Ready, Aim, Fire CD is reduced by half.

Independent Streak: If Grian is the only Pyro character in the party, increases the ATK of all party members by 10% and the EM of all party members by 80.

To Infinity!: Gliding stamina reduction passive (stacks with other similar passives).

✦✦✦ Constellations ✦✦✦

C1: Let's Go Again!: Reduces Slash and Burn energy cost by 25% when in party and not on field.

C2: Foresight: Increases max number of Evil Eyes and charges from 3 to 4.

C4: Archon's Blessing: Imbues her basic attacks with pyro.

C6: She Who Writes Her Own History: Increases the bonuses from Slash and Burn to 10%/15%/20% DMG boost and 100/200/270 EM boost, and, additionally, applies Smoldering Flames to enemies within the Annihilation Zone.

Obviously C6 is insane. I'd say C6>C1>C4>C2, with C1 having insanely good value. I'd even say C1 > C0R1.

✦✦✦ Ascension & Talent Materials ✦✦✦

◇ Agnidus Agate

Duh. Luckily, her boss drops these. Thank god for early region boss consistency.

◇ Drops: Ghasts

These spawn all over the world, but can be found in large clusters in the northern parts of Ention, especially close to the Grumbot Containment Site. You will need:

Sad sliver x18

Smoldering droplets x30

Ghastly tears x36

◇ Unburning Branch

Unburning Branch can be claimed by defeating the Young Dragonspawn in Ention. You will need x46.

◇ Diligent Lily

Diligent Lily is Grian's local specialty, and you will need x168. They can be grown in the teapot and found in large clusters by God's Nursery in the east of Ention.

◇ Fun Talent Books

Can be gotten in the Ention talent domain on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

◇ Continuous Stationary of Wisdom from the Surveillance Prophet weekly boss.

Unlocked by finishing the Ention Archon quest. This boss cannot be done in Co-Op.

✦✦✦ Artifacts & Stats ✦✦✦

Grian's best and signature set is 4-piece Cat's Calling. The 2-pc bonus increases ER by 20%. 4-pc bonus increases Overloaded, Burning, and Burgeon DMG by 40% for the whole party, and increases Vaporize and Melt DMG by 15% for the whole party. This effect cannot stack. Using an Elemental Skill increases 2-Piece Set effects by 25% for 10s even when switched off-field. Max 3 stacks.

Sands: ER

Goblet: Pyro DMG

Circlet: CR=CDMG (ER only if you're really struggling with uptime)

Substat priority: ER > CR=CDMG > EM

ER goal: 160%+

You could alternatively run her on 2pc Cat, 2pc Fated Strings for the ER, but the 4pc bonus from Cat's Calling is suggested.

✦✦✦ Weapons ✦✦✦

Grian's signature weapon, Incidental Blazing Breath, increases her ER and elemental skill DMG. It is considered her best in slot (duh) because it is specifically built around maximizing the DMG from her skill, with 8 stacks of bonus available, matching the suggested rotation. I do not suggest pulling on weapon banner this patch because Martyn's signature weapon is VERY SPECIFIC, giving a DEF and swirl bonus, and Grian's constellations outweigh the value of her weapon. Though it does look dope as fuck.

For other options, the five star standard weapon Gross Misuse is great for its ER bonus as well as its energy particle production. If you're looking for a 4 star weapon, the event weapon Glory Glory is good, and the craftable weapon Scribe's Pen at R5 is her best 4 star option. If you absolutely must use a 3 star, Whispering Blade (gotten from speaking to an NPC in Ention City) is the best choice.

✦✦✦ Talent Priority ✦✦✦

Burst > Skill >>>>>>>>>>> Basic ATK

Recommended not to level Basic ATK. 9/7/1 is a good place for talents to be.

✦✦✦ Team Comps ✦✦✦

Basically the only teams you don't want with Grian is any team with additional pyro characters.

Do You Even Vape Bro - Lizzie as a reaction based DPS, BDubs for heals and hydro battery, and Zedaph for crowd control/swirl/DEF reduction

Sahara+ Melt Team - Stress as reverse melt DPS, Mumbo and Grian for support and application (Mumbo as a Cryo battery) and Iskall for more battery and sub-DPS

Grian Driver Burgeon Team - This requires you to build your Grian with EM instead of CR/CDMG, but is a good option for how versatile she is. Pearl (or Beef), Netty, Skizz, Grian. Pearl/Beef for dendro battery and off-field application, Netty for heals and dendro resonance/battery, Skizz for consistent hydro application and shield, with Grian as the main driver for reactions.

Grian works well with teams who do multiple reactions as well, so freeze/melt is also a good choice.

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That's all! Comment down below if you're pulling for Grian, pulling for the new 5 star Martyn, or skipping the patch. I personally want more Mumbo and Cleo cons, so I will be pulling on the banner anyway LOL. Good luck and happy building!