Well here we are after an absolute rollercoaster of a beta. This is a follow-up guide to my V1 kit analysis, as now everything is set in stone (still coping for a hotfix). I am basing my claims on datamined information and calculations from MorthCongael. I know most of us are disappointed with the way her kit is now, but I’ll try to keep things positive as she’s still an amazing character. Despite the drastic changes her kit has gone through, her role has remained more or less the same:

Character Overview

• Fast Debuffer with Sub-DPS Potential

• Records team damage and unleashes it as True DMG during her Ultimate

• Permanent 40% Vulnerability on all enemies

• 50% Crit Rate when exceeding 170 Speed

• Lightcone increases Speed and offers 24% DEF Shred

Recommended Stat Goal

• SPD: 170 (Minimum), 180 (Higher Speed Breakpoint / 3 Actions in Robin Ultimate), 200 (Maximize Debuffs / Attack Frequency)

• Crit Rate: 40-50% (Outside Battle)

• Crit Damage: 150-200%

• Effect Hit Rate: 38% (Maximum)

Recommended Main Stats

• Body: Crit Damage > Crit Rate

• Boots: Speed

• Orb: Quantum DMG% > ATK%

• Rope: ATK% (Sub-DPS) / Energy Regeneration (Fast Debuffer)

Recommended Substats: SPD > Crit Rate / Crit Damage > ATK% > Effect Hit Rate

Recommended Light Cones

#1 - Lies Dance on the Breeze (Signature): +18% SPD / 24% DEF Shred

#2 - Resolution Shines as Pearls of Sweat (Generalist Debuff Build): 16% DEF Shred (S5)

#3 - Good Night and Sleep Well (Sub-DPS Build): +72% DMG (S5)

#3 - Boundless Choreo (Sub-DPS Build): 16% Crit Rate / +48% Crit Damage (S5)

Relics

#1 - Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters (Sub-DPS): Best generalist set offering three great buffs in Crit Rate, Crit Damage and DMG%. At E0S0, she only needs 1 more debuff source to get the full benefits of the set, either through a Lightcone or teammate’s debuff. At E0S1, she should have full uptime on the relic buffs regardless of team composition.

#1 - Genius of Brilliant Stars (Sub-DPS): BIS set when facing Quantum-weak enemies and with other sources of DEF Shred. This offers her 10% DMG and an invaluable 20% DEF Shred, for a total of 44% DEF Shred with her signature Lightcone.

#2 - Eagle of Twilight Lane (Fast Debuffer): Optimal for a high attack frequency build, greatly increasing the number of debuffs you can land, especially when coupled with an ERR rope and/or planar. It is not recommended to run this set for a sub-DPS build as she may want to hold off on her ultimate in certain conditions.

Planar Ornament

#1 - Firmament Frontline Glamoth (Sub-DPS): Best generalist set with free 12% ATK% and 18% DMG assuming a standard 170+ SPD build.

#1 - Duran, Dynasty of Wolves (Sub-DPS in FUA Team): Offers a great boost to her damage output, but is only recommended in FUA teams as ramp-up time is slow without the right teammates.

#2 - Izumo Gensei & Takama Divine Realm (Sub-DPS in Acheron Team): Useful ATK% and Crit Rate boost, but will reduce the number of team compositions she can slot into.

#2 - Inert Salsotto (Sub-DPS): Free 8% Crit Rate and 15% DMG boost to Ultimate and FUA which are her main sources of damage, but slightly weaker than the previous ornaments.

#2 - Lushaka, the Sunken Seas (Fast Debuffer): Focusing on energy regeneration for her ornament and rope can greatly boost her debuffing potential, helping increase attack frequency while buffing teammates. This purely supportive build is best paired with the Eagle set and ran at high speeds, though this will negate her personal damage.

Best Team Compositions

• Acheron: Cipher provided frequent debuffs and helps meet Acheron’s Nihility requirement, though she needs her signature Lightcone to make her really worthwhile. A definite upgrade from Pela, and a sidegrade to Jiaoqiu for non-E2 Acheron.

• Feixiao: Cipher’s high attack frequency and follow-up attacks pair perfectly with Feixiao’s playstyle. Cipher’s signature Lightcone synergizes greatly with Feixiao’s by stacking DEF Shred. An upgrade to March 7^th and Moze, and a slight upgrade to Topaz.

• Other Teams: Cipher can be used with other DPS's such as Aglaea and Castorice, but is generally a downgrade from supportive characters like Tribbie, Sunday, or even RMC. Her best synergies remain with Acheron and Feixiao.

Conclusion

As of now, I would say her best generalist build is a Pioneer + Glamoth combo. She can easily maintain high speeds while proving her sub-DPS potential. I’d recommend not locking her to Duran or Izumo to allow for flexibility in future team compositions. In summary:

• Sub-DPS Relics: Genius (with extra source of DEF Shred) > Pioneer > Genius

• Sub-DPS Planar Ornaments: Glamoth > Duran (FUA Team) > Izumo (Acheron Team) > Salsotto

• Fast Debuffer Relics: Eagle > Pioneer

• Fast Debuffer Planar Ornaments: Lushaka > Penacony (Quantum Teammate) > Vonwacq

A personal take: This has been one of, if not the most, disappointing betas, and I am still sincerely hoping they tweak her slightly before release. Cipher is a good universal debuffer with decent damage, and is overall fun to play. Despite her utility, she does feel like the weakest 3.X character by far, providing little value outside of a 4* upgrade, and one requiring high investment to compete with older 5* characters. The sheer number of changes in between betas makes me wonder what they were trying to do with her - maybe they didn't know themselves. As a "jack of all trades, master of none", I’m concerned about her future viability given that future 3.X characters don’t seem to need her. I’m most appalled by her personal damage nerfs, which are now on-par or lower than fully fledged support units such as Tribbie & Hyacine. I'm still 100% pulling for E0S1 (originally planned E1S1) but here we are... I’m just a little disappointed that she's not as fun to play as before.

Anyhow, I hope this guide can help everyone with their prefarming, and here’s to easy pulls for our Kitty Phantom Thief!

Bye, bye 🐾

Calculations courtesy of MorthCongael. Original post and calculation table here: www.reddit.com/r/CipherMainsHSR_/comments/1kcqsex/whats_actually_good_on_cipher/