HERO GUIDE

Gongsun Yan

SSR

Strategist Lucia · Hero Guide　·　2025.07.09　·　Vanguard / Infantry / Physical

Intro

Hero Guide – Gongsun Yan

Gongsun Yan is an immortal and Sect elder of the Shenxiao Empire. Over a hundred years before the current emperor's ascension, her reputation as an immortal was already renowned far and wide. Despite her high status and skills, she is surprisingly approachable and amicable, earning her the affection of the Sect's disciples and the common folk around the Seven Mountains. Although as an elder, she holds decision-making authority within the Sect, Gongsun Yan advocates for peaceful coexistence with other Nations and strongly opposes initiating wars against foreign forces. This stance makes her an outlier in the predominantly war-hawk Sect, often leading to her isolation by other elders. Nevertheless, she remains undeterred, firmly believing that the seeds she sows for peace will one day grow into towering trees. "Why don't we all live in peace together? Isn't that nice?"

Skill Breakdown

Effects are objective game data

Core 1

Wind & Thunder Summon

At the beginning, grant own brigade's troop 4 stack(s) of: Increase the chance of using own follow-up skill by 13% for 4 turn(s), reduced by 1 stack per turn, and grant own brigade's troop: Every 1 turn(s) after a basic attack, there is a(n) 40% chance to increase follow-up skill DMG taken by the enemy troop with the highest current COM by 17.99% for 3 turn(s), up to 3 stack(s).

Lv.4The skill effect receives a slight bonus based on own MOR and an extra bonus based on own SPD.Lv.7The skill effect receives an extra bonus based on own MOR and a large bonus based on own SPD.

Lucia：In addition to increasing her own brigade's follow-up skill trigger rate early in battle to effectively speed up the DMG tempo, this skill also increases follow-up DMG against the enemy troop with the highest COM, allowing teammates who also deal follow-up DMG to jointly take down the enemy's high-COM target.

Core 2

Thunder & Flame Strike

At the beginning, give the enemy troop with the highest current COM undispellable Thunder & Flame Strike: Mark and grant own brigade's troop: Every 1 turn(s), after a basic attack, there is a(n) 40% chance to deal Physical DMG 241.5% of own BRV to 1 enemy troop. If the target has Thunder & Flame Strike: Mark, deal an extra Physical DMG 456.75% of own BRV to it.

Lv.4The skill DMG receives a slight bonus based on own MOR and an extra bonus based on own SPD.Lv.7The skill DMG receives an extra bonus based on own MOR and a large bonus based on own SPD.

Lucia：As the main DPS skill, it deals extra DMG specifically against the enemy troop with high COM, often effectively breaking through the opponent's defensive line.

Core 3

Wind & Thunder Path

At the beginning, grant own brigade's troop 4 stack(s) of: Increase the chance of using own follow-up skill by 13% for 4 turn(s), reduced by 1 stack per turn, and grant own brigade's troop: Every 1 turn(s) after a basic attack, there is a(n) 40% chance to increase own Physical DMG dealt by 37.03% for 3 turn(s), up to 3 stack(s).

Lv.4The skill effect receives a slight bonus based on own MOR and an extra bonus based on own SPD.Lv.7The skill effect receives an extra bonus based on own MOR and a large bonus based on own SPD.

Lucia：Similar to Wind & Thunder Summon, this skill speeds up the DMG tempo of her own brigade's troop. The difference is that Wind & Thunder Path focuses more on enhancing the DMG power of her own brigade's troop, allowing Gongsun Yan to still unleash sufficiently fierce firepower in a single-DPS formation.

Exclusive Weapon

Swallow's Return

Stats

Exclusive Weapon	Not Evolved	Max.
Troop BRV	+40%	+80%
MOR	+11	+21
SPD	+3	+5

The sword is light and silent, its blade slicing through the air like a spring swallow skimming over water, or a conviction piercing through heavy fog. Even before it is drawn, its presence alone can halt conflict. Its wielder brandishes this sword not to slay enemies, but to ensure the blade need never be unsheathed again. "As spring returns to the earth, the swallow return to its nest" embodies the belief and mission this sword carries.

Not Evolved

EX Weapon Core 1

EX Weapon Effect

Grant own brigade's troop: Every 1 turn(s), there is a(n) 15% chance to grant own brigade's troop Highest COM Lock-on: There is a(n) 100% chance to prioritize attacking the unit with the highest COM for 1 turn(s). This Gear Effect will activate first.

Max.

EX Weapon Core 1

EX Weapon Effect

Grant own brigade's troop: Every 1 turn(s), there is a(n) 40% chance to grant own brigade's troop Highest COM Lock-on: There is a(n) 100% chance to prioritize attacking the unit with the highest COM for 1 turn(s). This Gear Effect will activate first.

Lucia：Swallow's Return further increases the trigger rate of Gongsun Yan's "Highest COM Lock-on" effect early in battle, improving its stability. Through this effect, DMG can be focused on the enemy's high-COM troop, achieving the tactical goal of "lock on and destroy."

Recommended Team

Lucia's take

Gongsun Yan

SSR

Vanguard・Shenxiao Empire

Frey

SSR

Vanguard・Mist Kingdom

Tachibana Chiyo

SSR

Shield・Izumono-kuni

Upgrade Priority

1Wind & Thunder Path

2Wind & Thunder Summon (1TP)

3Thunder & Flame Strike

Gongsun Yan　First invest in Passive 3, Wind & Thunder Path, then Passive 1, Wind & Thunder Summon, and finally Passive 2, Thunder & Flame Strike. Use Thunder & Flame Strike as the main DPS skill, riding on the trigger rate bonus from Wind & Thunder Path and Wind & Thunder Summon so she can act quickly early in battle. Then use Thunder & Flame Strike's mark on the highest-COM target to deal massive DMG, forming a combo that hits the enemy's high-COM troop fast and hard, breaking through the opponent's defensive line and HP. However, since the trigger rate bonus from Wind & Thunder Path and Wind & Thunder Summon gradually diminishes, if Gongsun Yan fails to land the crucial finishing blow while the trigger rate is at its highest early on, a team built around her as the sole DPS will lack diverse output methods. Players will need to weigh whether to build a special-attack team centered on Gongsun Yan, or pair her with other teammates to make up for the potential firepower gap.

Frey　Mainly invest in Passive 3, Maid's Trick, and secondarily in Passive 2, Omni-Tracking. This not only provides more follow-up Vulnerability effects, but her EX Weapon's Lock-on DMG also helps Gongsun Yan break through the enemy's tank. Once a kill is secured, her stable 2-target attack can deal explosive DMG to the enemy's remaining forces.

Tachibana Chiyo　Mainly invest in Passive 1, Ninpo: Mistveil, and secondarily in Passive 3, Ninpo: Swallows. The massive early DMG reduction from Ninpo: Mistveil lets Gongsun Yan avoid worrying about troop losses during the crucial early game, while Ninpo: Swallows also provides solid Recovery for our Heroes early on, allowing Gongsun Yan to maintain maximum firepower and form a rush formation that shouldn't be underestimated.

Alternative Comps

Alternatively, try the team compositions below: Gongsun Yan + Donietta + Ellie: Ellie's stable healing output, combined with Donietta's substantial DMG reduction and her EX Weapon's DMG boost, lets Gongsun Yan attempt an early burst with fewer worries, breaking through the enemy's high-COM troop and steadily chipping away at the enemy's HP before retreating unscathed. Gongsun Yan + Francisca + Claire: Gongsun Yan's high early burst can quickly take down the enemy's tank, which in turn lets Francisca increase her chance of landing marked hits, forming a devastating DPS duo.

Lucia's Summary

Gongsun Yan is a targeted rush Vanguard Hero who can lock onto a single target and deal massive DMG early in battle. As the saying goes, capture the ringleader to defeat the bandits — with proper support and cover from her teammates, Gongsun Yan puts tremendous pressure on the enemy's defensive line. Although Gongsun Yan is known as the peace-favoring representative of the Shenxiao Sect, this doesn't mean she shies away from battle. On the contrary, for the sake of her ideal of peace, she doesn't hesitate to bring out her full strength as a Sect Elder when necessary, ending the battle as quickly as possible.

—— Strategist Lucia · Hero Guide

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This Character

Gongsun YanSSR · Vanguard

522.7

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