Yukong

"Deals 100% of Yukong's ATK as Imaginary DMG to a target enemy." (Lv.6)

Energy Gain: 20

Toughness Break: 30

By itself, Yukong’s Basic Attack isn’t anything out of the ordinary. But later Talents and Traces give it additional functions.

Yukong’s Basic Attack is interesting in how it’s the primary source of her sub-dps damage. But simultaneously, she almost always wants to use her Skill during her turn.

If you find yourself using her Basic Attack more often than not, and you’ve built her with damage, upgrading this isn’t a waste of resources. But it should be a low priority and only after knowing it’ll get useful mileage.

"Obtains 2 stack(s) of "Roaring Bowstrings" (to a maximum of 2 stacks). When "Roaring Bowstrings" is active, the ATK of all allies increases by 80%, and every time an ally's turn ends, Yukong loses 1 stack of "Roaring Bowstrings." When it's the turn where Yukong gains "Roaring Bowstrings" by using Skill, "Roaring Bowstrings" will not be removed." (Lv.10)

Energy Gain: 30

Toughness Break: 0

Yukong’s skill is the strongest part of her kit but the most difficult to manage. It gives a massive attack buff to the next two ally turns. Meaning it doesn’t last for two turns for every ally, but two total team turns.

This requires Yukong’s team to be built with precise speed turning. After the Skill cast, it’s imperative two allies who can capitalize on the attack buff move next.

This creates a massive limitation to her effectiveness to buff the team, but a technique called “Ultimate Bombing” can bypass it.

Ultimate Bombing is when you save the entire team’s Ultimates and use them one after another. Because no ally is “ending their turn”, every Ultimate will gain the benefit from her Skill (and Yukong’s Ultimate).

The downsides to Ultimate Bombing are it can’t be used during auto-play, it potentially lowers the total number of Ultimates used during a fight, and requires a strict order of Ultimate casts.

Yukong’s skill is a top priority to level-up as it increases her role as a Harmony teammate.

Energy Cost: 130 "If "Roaring Bowstrings" is active on Yukong when her Ultimate is used, additionally increases all allies' CRIT Rate by 28% and CRIT DMG by 65%. At the same time, deals Imaginary DMG equal to 380% of Yukong's ATK to a single enemy." (Lv.10)

Energy Gain: 5

Toughness Break: 90

It’s extremely important Diving Kestrel is used only after Yukong casts her Skill. Other than that, the rest is straightforward.

Unfortunately, it has a high energy cost, but fortunately, she has a few Traces and Eidolon to help compensate.

Level the Ultimate in tandem with her Skill. But focus on this first if you’re strapped for resources since it also deals a good chunk of damage.

"Basic ATK additionally deals Imaginary DMG equal to 80% of Yukong's ATK, and increases the Toughness-Reducing DMG of this attack by 100%. This effect can be triggered again in 1 turn(s)." (Lv.10)

Seven Layers, One Arrow is intrinsically linked to her Basic Attack. It increases the damage and doubles the amount of Toughness reduced.

Similarly, with her Basic Attack, test how you use her first before investing in the Talent. If her Basic Attack is never used, don’t bother. If it is, level it up alongside her Basic.

"After using her Technique, Yukong enters Sprint mode for 20 seconds. In Sprint mode, her Movement SPD increases by 35%, and Yukong gains 2 stack(s) of "Roaring Bowstrings" when she enters battle by attacking enemies."

Chasing the Wind isn’t worth a technique point. The overworld speed boost is fine but grants no combat advantage. If you’ve built Yukong and the team correctly, she will always move before the DPS. Starting a battle with 2 Roaring Bowstrings just saves one Skill Point. Plus, it’s an initiating technique and there are much better options available.

Branch 1: Archerion

There isn’t much to say about this one. Resisting a random freeze is nice, but it doesn’t improve her kit.

Branch 2: Bowmaster

Branch 2 is a constant, no-condition buff that Yukong herself benefits from. It gives some viability to running a full Imaginary team. Unfortunately, there are only three Imaginary characters at the time of writing.

Branch 3: Majestas

At first, Majestas might seem weak, but the key phrase is “every time an ally takes action”. Not when an ally takes a turn. It gives more viability to “Ultimate Bombing”. If a full team unleashes their Ultimates together, Yukong could recharge up to 10 energy via Majestas before her next turn. It will also trigger if any ally counters, follow-up attacks, or takes additional action, like Luocha’s auto Skill, before Roaring Bowstrings expires.

Stat Only Branchs

"At the start of battle, increases the SPD of all allies by 10% for 2 turn(s)."

Aerial Marshal is a nice buff for the team but makes speed tuning more difficult. Since it’s a % speed increase, every team member will gain a different amount. These variations will need to be considered when planning speed tuning, or it will throw everything out of order.

"When any ally's current energy is equal to its energy limit, Yukong regenerates an additional 5 energy. This effect can only be triggered once for each ally. The trigger count is reset after Yukong casts her Ultimate."

The second Eidolon helps Yukong’s high energy cost. Every time an ally reaches their energy max she’ll recharge 5 energy, up to 15 energy per Ultimate use. Skyward Command makes “Ultimate Bombing” easier to execute if Yukong is typically the last one to reach energy maximum. If not, it won’t have an impact.

"Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10."

Torrential Fusillade increases Skill and Basic Attack by 2.

"When "Roaring Bowstrings" is active, Yukong deals 30% more DMG to enemies."

Eidolon 4 might say it increases damage by 30%, but really it will only increase Ultimate damage by 30%. Yukong will never get the chance to use her Basic Attack while Roaring Bowstrings are active.

"Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15."

This is the normal Ultimate and Talent upgrade.

"When Yukong uses her Ultimate, she immediately gains 1 stack(s) of "Roaring Bowstrings.""

Bowstring Thunderclap is Yukong’s best Eidolon and gives much-needed flexibility. When using Diving Kestrel, she will now always activate the Crit Rate & Crit Dmg buff condition and trigger Eidolon 4.

This also makes “Ultimate Bombing” more reactive. It allows immediate execution when the entire team has reached full energy, rather than waiting until Yukong’s next turn to activate her Skill.

But the Battle Isn't Over

But the Battle Isn’t Over is currently the only 5* Harmony lightcone. It’s a decent option for Yukong, but “the next ally taking action” restricts her already restrictive playstyle more. The biggest benefit to this over the 4* options is the base stats it provides.

Carve the Moon, Weave the Clouds

This is an excellent Lightcone for Yukong and her team, giving them a permanent, premium buff. Unfortunately, it’s only available in the Battlepass.

Dance! Dance! Dance!

Dance x3 is a superb choice if you want to maximize the effectiveness of “Ultimate Bombing”. It gives the team a massive push forward after executing, which could result in cutting before the enemy turn. This allows the team to clean up any survivors of the onslaught of buff-powered Ultimates.

Planetary Rendezvous

When combined with Yukong’s Trace, Bowmaster, Planetary Rendezvous gives every Imaginary teammate a never-expiring, massive 36% damage increase. But it should only be used with Mono-Imaginary teams.

Memories of the Past

Memories of the Past greatly depend on how Yukong is used. This is a great choice for those who want to take advantage of the Archerion Trace, which doubles the Toughness dealt. But if the Basic Attack is never used, this shouldn’t be considered.

Body

Luckily, Yukong doesn’t gain any additional bonuses to her buffs via stats. So she has lower gear demands than other supports. Maximizing damage is the best use for Relics and Ornaments. Go for either a Crit Rate% or Crit Dmg% body piece. Whichever has the better subs, set, and brings her closer to the 1:2 ratio. If neither is available, sub for an ATK%.

Feet

Speed is the only viable Feet option. Yukong wants to be faster than the DPS.

Planar Sphere

Same as the Body, maximizing damage is ideal. An Imaginary Dmg% piece will give more, but an ATK% can be used if it has superior subs.

Link Rope

Yukong is Ultimate dependent, and it has a massive energy cost. Energy Regen% Link Rope is the only way to go.

Sub Stats

Speed is the first substat to focus on. The minimum speed target is 147, but it is extremely important to prioritize speed tuning more than hitting this specific target. Yukong needs to go immediately before the DPS, especially if there are two on a team. Take all speed % buffs (like Yukong’s E1) into consideration. These won’t show up on the character’s profile page. Speed subs are where precise tuning will take place. It’s a good idea to have many pieces with a variety of speed ranges.

After speed, shoot for Crit Rate% and Crit Dmg% to maximize her damage. Some ATK% in there would be good too.

Break Effect% isn’t a horrible stat as it compliments her doubled Toughness breaking Basic Attack. Unfortunately, Imaginary Break doesn’t deal damage. More Break Effect only pushes the enemy Action Bar back further.