Why You Might Be Wrong About Astra Yao

[@TheSmugOjou-sama]

I actually agree with the points made in the video, but I think that the argument "you should consider skipping x character because they'll probably release someone who outperforms them in the future" is quite silly. Like, yeah? You could probably say that about literally every single character in any gacha game. Why pull for Miyabi when they're sure to release someone who deals more damage than her in the future? Conclusion: Meta is temporary, waifu/husbando is eternal. Pull for who you like.

[@ExaltedXero]

he did say to pull if you like her in the pros and cons at the end. The take wasn't just that a new character will out perform her, he's also saying that she is not a major upgrade to the current support line up.

[@thetruestar6348]

The thing about thats is she is a general support not a specialized support. General support have huge staying power period and once we get more element or faction specific supports, will they do better for their use case of course they will but that doesn’t make Astra worse

[@XxPlatinumChief]

She definitely is for newbs who wasn't there for Caesar.​@@ExaltedXero

[@al8704]

She's a must pull for veteran players who skipped Ceasar. I can't say the same for new players who are still building around their main and second team main dps

[@desrtsku]

No. I'll just wait for Ceasar's rerun.

[@Zelof]

True

[@ryanchong4372]

agreed, shes probably just as good if not better than caesar in terms of buffing, so she'd obviously be good at fulfilling caesar's usual role.

[@desrtsku]

@@ryanchong4372 Not true. Ceasar's shield can 100% absorb any one attack that can OHKO you. Astra heals for 3k, it's absolutely not comparable.

[@dvchii]

@@desrtsku know the context then u should realize how stupid u comment

[@IO-hh3gw]

Nah I feel like you're downplaying her by just her buffs when you forget the part that she can force a Chain Attack without the stun and Chain Attacks are very Valuable on units like Jane, Zhu Yuan, Soldier 11 & the upcoming unit Evelyn. It's a very huge QoL changes for this unit it benefits them greatly and I can see them making more units like this in the future.

[@Silv4-k9k]

Altough it's a pretty nice mechanic, iirc, the CA-Quick Assist thing is after her ulti only so it's probably not spammable. Probably only once per SD phase and at this point perhaps a buffed burst rotation from your DPS might be better.

[@blacksuitedsonic]

I honestly dont think its gonna be able to outdo just focusing on stunning and bursting enemies. IT really feels like there is a missing piece of the puzzle to really unlock that playstyle yet. Its a gamble with astra they probably want to expand that non-anomaly onfield attacker playstyle and she is gonna play a crucial role but we dont know if its gonna be able to outdo the burst playstyle quite yet

[@Luftgitarrenprofi]

There just are no must pulls in general. All characters will eventually be powercrept or made less relevant due to a philosophy change in content design. Some of them also come back though. It's all speculative. I can easily see Hoyo releasing content that makes healing sustain very valuable after seeing tower. Maybe they'll make tower much easier though and never release content like it again. General rule of thumb- don't overinvest vertically and just get whoever you like. Too much speculation takes the fun out of it and you'll very likely be able to clear content no matter who you pull if your characters are built properly.

[@ExaltedXero]

Good point. Maybe her buffs will get power crept but her niche will always be healing but I disagree with over speculation takes the fun out of it, I find these conversation very fun.

[@Luftgitarrenprofi]

@ExaltedXero I do enjoy min/maxing and thinking about efficiency based on my own values and goals fun as well. I just don't agree with generalized statements like meta or the whole concept of must pulls. The fun is in figuring out your own way, not in trying to establish blanket values for everyone to follow. Like, I value test runs and experiments, so people have data to make their own choices. I don't value someone making value judgments about other peoples choices in a videogame, unless they specifically ask for it. I specifically said overspeculation, because speculating is part of how we make future decisions. And by overspeculation I mean making unfounded assumptions and then going by that belief like a bet in a gamble. We have some pointers, but nobody really knows what actually is going to happen in future patches. Too many unknown variables to make definitive conclusions.

[@sittingcrowd912]

Just invest in who you like and they won’t get powercrept

[@ExaltedXero]

@ sadly with hoyos way of doing things, there is no proper way to factually predict what the future holds. so we have to make these judgements and predictions all the time. if test runs and experiment could be done beforehand than I would agree with you but there is no way for us to do that. Over speculation is what we have to do when hoyo doesn't give us a roadmap on characters. No one asked others to watch this video, people have the right to skip this video or watch it and al ot of the points you say about blanket statements are wrong. This video was very nuanced and if you thought that he was saying blanket statements just means you missed the point.

[@sittingcrowd912]

@@ExaltedXero I get the point but ultimately if you can clear content with your favorite character then it doesn’t matter. Until they start seriously increasing the hp of enemies then it won’t really matter.

[@Aktzin]

I like your take on how she will fit in the future meta more than pretty much anyone else. You stayed completely grounded and considered the trends of current agents and how it could affect new agents while also being realistic about the true benefits of having a universal support agent. In the long run, specialization will outperform generalization. Personally, there’s no way I’m skipping her. She has my favorite design and personality out of all the agents so far, and ngl I absolutely melt at her smile.

[@milkbowl1976]

Soukaku passes the buff to both characters during the chain attack and Astra is focused on causing chain attacks without stun and allowing you to quick assist on demand she isn't simply a numbers buffer.

[@ArnvalArn]

Well yeah, thats what ppl said for caesar.. nowaday ppl be like : "i wish i had caesar to make my zzz life easier" 😅

[@renzalmario2578]

its just a heal, we have avocaboo 😅 ceasar is still the best at tower.

[@lmojica9238]

@@renzalmario2578 that bangboo aint enough lol

[@ameliatheressa1911]

Caesar is like zhongli..ages so well even now in 5.3

[@ameliatheressa1911]

@@lmojica92383000 decibels for 2k healing? Not worth bro..u pull astra becoz of dmg bonus ,atk n crit dmg buff as well as quick assist gimmick..not because heal..her heal fckng low..n if u die u can always restart..not worth if go for healing

[@markedone494]

Only insane hoyofans can make creating a limited S rank with a healing mechanic a positive thing without us ever getting an A rank that does the same.

[@reed3863]

Not a must pull, nobody is. Based on what she buffs and the conditions required to fulfill her core, she's easily able to fit in any team as an atk + crit dmg buff support. Providing support just as good, if not, better than the existing supports in those teams. If you're gonna keep looking at future characters, and holding onto pulls to not "pull for the short term", then you'll never be satisfied. Characters from 3.0 will be outclassed by characters from 4.0, and the latter characters will be outclassed by those from 5.0..so on and so forth. So what, if you're looking to not "waste your pulls", don't pull until the last patch of the game? What's the point of even playing a gacha at that point? You know powercreep is the only constant even if you don't engage with it. As of 1.4, the hp inflation outside of Deadly Assault is already very noticeable, and it's only going higher. I.e Hp of the boss in shiyu critical 7 in 1.5 is already gonna have hp exceeding ten million for the first time. So why not take whatever buff you can to improve your account. Not pulling then coping by being a tryhard with crippled teams, then being frustrated when you're not able to clear endgame stuff..yeah that's on you. If you say "pull for whoever you want" but find yourself deep in a hole you dug later on, that will also be on you for being ignorant. But hey, if you don't engage with endgame stuff, do whatever you want.

[@GPJZen]

There's seems to be a certain tendency for double DPS in ZZZ for now since both 1.4 units can do much faster/easier Chain Attacks so you don't feel the need for a Stun unit and the Anomaly units can get even more value For me, i'm still waiting for a Dynasty Warrior-like endgame where we just mow down a bunch of mobs for points. My Nicole would pop off

[@SirMitsuruji5]

I don't like her so it's easy skip for me. But good luck to anyone that wants her.

[@BaneDane_JB]

TLDR She doesnt give Ben his 2000 extra def to make him the strongest DPS, the wait for the chosen one continues

[@tatteduprising2327]

Another thing I wanted to say is I hate the power creep topic because it’s in every video game not just gacha( not including story base games)

[@SuperJohnsmith]

It's all "this could exist in the future" and although that is likely, the time frame for when these happen is completely unknown. Astra could well be the best support you get for several patches, and as the general trend goes toward the end of a full version (1.0 to 1.X before 2.0) the latter patches start seeing more reruns and less new characters introduced before a big update occurs. Any of the things you're talking about may not come until 2.0, so for several patches Astra has a high chance of remaining strong an relevant for several patches. Naturally you're going to replace units you got early on in favour of others. To your argument though, you could skip Astra if doesn't seem needed to you at the moment and see what the next few patches bring before her rerun, however if you're going to go all that time without her, why even pick her up on a rerun when the illusive elemental support of your dreams is "Just around the corner".

[@videos-eg6tq]

Agreed. Shes just so universal. Even if there are specialized elemental supports Astra wont lose her value. Look at Lighter and Qingyi. Sure hes the best for Fire Ice teams, but Qingyi's performance is not far off from lighter in those teams, and shes the best stunner everywhere else with her universal buffs. 3rd oldest character in the game but still holds the most value. Same with Ceasar probably. Astra will be the same too. She will get powercrept by specific elemental supports in one team, But she will still work the best with every other dps team and wont fall off for a long while lol

[@faeliyoure9105]

I pull for ass and boobs. Loosing a couple of polychrome for not clearing endgame is not a big deal. I was a meta player in gi in the past but my chars are so strong it burns me out

[@seenstars]

Does anyone have the chart/link to see a damage increase comparison between astra yao and the other supports?

[@joseph32jk]

Caesar made me realize that doing endless tower without a shield makes me feel naked.

[@Joker-uk8zk]

If you like Astra then get her if you like support characters that is game changing to your play style then get her who cares if they get powercrept by another limited S rank at the end of the day you got them cuss you like them

[@tatteduprising2327]

Here is the thing even when there will be more better supports Zenless devs won’t make the exact same character because every single one of them bring something different from the other

[@tatteduprising2327]

That also goes for tanks, damage & anomaly agents to

[@SlimeyZockt]

I wasn't intending on pulling her but Evelyn. I know I have to focus more on the character stats before buffing, but there was always that little voice that told me she is a must pull. This video helped to silence it

[@sanosuke1981]

Her allowing chain attacks outside burst window fundamental changes the game for some characters. Jane, Zhu Yuan, Haru, Evelyn get massive benefits from this.. this will continue to any character that has their core mechanic tied to chain attacks

[@unknownteddykdf]

The only thing that comes to mind is that they will eventually release a character with heals on their ult and ex and eventually passive. I'm just waiting too see what else is coming in 1.6

[@keyto5526]

If you want to play double support (or 1 support and defend specialist)+ 1 dps meta team, she is a must. 1 general support + 1 specialist support + 1 dps meta team in 2.0 onwards. No all enemy can be stun or get anomaly disorder in future patch after 2.0. You do know she turn quick support/assist to chain attack which only usually happen when enemy get stun. So for against non stunnable enemies, she is real significance as she is bypass normal stun to chain mechanism. For ZZZ they released new mechanism that favour the unique character' abilities after the banners end. The only thing is they put in buff and debuff condition that favour the agents during the banner with changes and enemies elemental weakness that favour the banner so that older agents still can clear with S rank. Thus there is always some rerun banner value after the limited s rank banner is gone.

[@doriansz3130]

Anamoly disorder is the core mechanic of the game they will not lock this this would make Yanagi extremly bad also Burnice and even Miyabi , and many more characters that will not happen, maybe one boss or enemy could have that ,but I doubt it. Attack units will just get higher multiplers or mechanics to counter that.

[@ossmboy7914]

Awesome Thanks for motivating me to not pull for her😮 Otherwise i would have wasted my precious pulls😅

[@trendmadegamer8725]

As someone who hates Robin. And has RM only. I would rather have a Flexible support then a niche support that gets powercreeped by the niche. I hate pulling for just that one Niche team (even if it comes out that they are usable in other team)

[@frylock947]

In order for a niche support to get powercreeped they would have to release another support that fulfills the same niche. I'm not saying that it can't happen but at least it would take a really long time until they release another one. Shenhe was released 3 years ago and still is the best freeze support. Meanwhile a support like Astra would quickly get benched if you want to pull the BIS supports for teams or supports that enable specific playstyles OR if they release another universal support(Which would take less amount of time than the previous case).

[@trendmadegamer8725]

@frylock947 I am not talking like that. Say the break team. If there is a gimmick team in ZZZ we get that niche gimmick support. But now the end game catters towards a DOT style team. Then the break team falls a bit Where astra myb not be as good. But still versatile that she gets into both teams.

[@chocobo4646]

I feel like, looking at the amount agents can buff, she's not an insane amount over our current supports. Caesar in particular. Her big thing is how much she provides QA and some extra chains, but if that isn't as significant for your attackers, current supports will be more competitive than people are assuming. Lighter, like you noted, still supports his niche as well as, if not better than, Astra. With Astra out now, stronger specialists are provided a way in down the road. Still, she looks strong and interesting, so I'll give an attempt at getting her.

[@videos-eg6tq]

I think while future supports will be specialized and maybe stronger, but I dont think she will lose ver value at all long term. She is just way too universal of a support imo. Even more universal than Qingyi and Ceasar, which are still top tier. Even with Lighters release Qingyi still does 90% of his damage from calcs in Evelyn teams, and shes the best stunner for everything non fire ice, her stun multiplier buff is too good. Ceasar is good with everyone too. Astra working with anomaly/attack makes it even better, it will take alot of future supports to release until shes powercrept.

[@WaldoKrayt]

She's not a must pull if you are someone who does not have most agents that released earlier already. Specially anomaly types like jane or burnice. People love callign something a must pull without considering account states are not the same and even more so considering a huge batch of people started in 1.4 meaning they missed those agents, me included. So Astra is not a must pull for me, i'd rather get the other 3 agents and fill out my teams and comfortably clear endgame than have a support that wont do anything for me, and that's beside the fact that me personally i dont like her design nor consider her waifu material to pull for her over that, nor i find her fun to play seeing as her gameplay literally shows her casting something and then leaving, even other supports when they show up at least are flashy af like lucy exploding everything in a home run or sth lol. I was going to pull for her at first but then taking a look into my account made me think otherwise, not jsut because i need the other 3 agents but there are more interesting reruns coming up in 1.6, we could probably get a burnice or jane rerun, i'd take them any day of the week over astra tbh

[@Links-ghost]

"Must pull" is basically a meaningless phrase. A character could very well be a "must pull" for you, but if you don't have the resources, you don't like the character, or there's another character you like more, then you'll convince yourself that they're not. Astra is good for basically any account. Rather than cope over the fact that "she's not that good for me" just accept the fact that you can't pull everybody and you have to prioritize who you want. Ideally you'd be able to pull Astra because she's a great support for the characters you really like/want, but if you can't guarantee those characters then you're putting the cart before the horse. In that sense, the only real must pull is a character you really like.

[@WaldoKrayt]

@@Links-ghost It's not really coping if i'm giving reasons for it is it?, i know she's strong but what good would she do in the state my acc is right now? Buff miyabi even more? (not needed), buff other characters more? (Again not needed since guraranteeing the rest would set up all my elemental teams), i've farmed quite abit i can guarantee most agents so i could get astra if i wanted to, but why would i get something that i would get use for further down the line as oposed to sth that would help me finally 100% endgame as a whole? If it's not worth it for me to get her right now she's not that "universal". i'd agree with the universal thing if i had most other agents to pair her with in endgame content but i dont have them, i can see her being universal there cause she'd fit anywhere, but in my current state/account? I can't make her fit in , and like you said you cant possibly pull for everybody even more so considering the rest of he new characters coming up or reruns it'd be better for me to spend less at least til we see the drip marketing for the next patch

[@blursedpasta7718]

off topic i really hate they are not releasing drip market (it was suppose to be yesterday). it was suppose to help me decide if i should m2 miyabi or not EDIT: i did pull and got e3 miyabi (2 miyabi during 87-97 pulls)

[@jefferygrandor7852]

Get her, it’s highly likely a new limited 5 star support specifically made for miyabi will come out later

[@ossmboy7914]

​@@jefferygrandor7852 but getting niche supports will hurt in the long run. You should always get universal supports.

[@jefferygrandor7852]

@@ossmboy7914 powercreep exists, if you don’t get a characters best support they will be powercrept, eventually you hit a point where none of your characters can do anything cause they only use supports not made for them

[@piscye1806]

Not really​@@ossmboy7914

[@Alreaxdy]

I’m also annoyed about that. But hopefully it’ll come out soon. Personally, I don’t think Miyabi benefits too much from her duplicates though so between her dupes and new characters I’d always recommend saving. Who knows, if you end waiting a while before you pull again you could get a character and their weapon.

[@ameliatheressa1911]

If i pull astra i cant play her with miyabi lighter..which turn me off..shes great but not for me..i had to stick with miyabi lighter Lucy to activate lighter additional ability.. i play during lighter banner..myb after yanagi rerun miyabi can have her own team..but that i dont know when..i skip astra or just wait rerun..i also think shes great but not buster broken..cc say she is because she’s like robin..n first s support in zzz..i think shes similar lvl to caesar but not must pull

[@s7even80]

Astra Yao actually release for the newest endless tower content. You'll feel the benefit from her just like you feel the benefit from pulled Caesar. Ofc you can play the tower without both of em or just one of em but if you have both then the tower will be easier than you don't have em. For shiyu defense or deadly assault you can use any other support and breeze through 6-9 stars easily without using Astra or Caesar

[@Kakume-sr4kh]

I think Astra Yao will either be used along Nicole, or not on ether teams. When you factor ether buff, crit chance buff by 15% at max, and the only character that has defense shred, Astra Yao won't compare In buff means In damage. Infact, I think Caesar Is better considering she can prevent the need for healing with a strong shield, and a dmg buff that's 25%. She will definitely be a really good support but her category Is focused more on diversity like you described.

[@tk-ox4ol]

I adore her personality but I struggle to find an account building reason to pull her, solely because shes our fourth attack buffer. I wish she shred res instead.. Would prolly still ended up pulling for her though

[@WildArmsV]

Mmm but wouldn't you say, if the tower where everyone retains their HP, she is quite a valuable pull? I mean, MUST could probably only be put to miyabi 😅 but anyway, I feel is not just the buffing whats worth. This game if you play well you might never need a healer but I think it would make it for many f2p accounts to not suffer in many end game modes. It might depend on who you ask but at least for me, characters that make the end game stuff less sufferable for maaannyy characters , or enable more variety in teams (their strength covers weakness of 4 Stars)are must pull. Case and point miyabi: I don't have any physical or fire dps, I can still clear the stages where the enemies are weak to those elements with miyabi 's power.

[@BillyRub1n]

She's a specialized support for Miyabi/Yanagi and Evelyn on top of being a generalist

[@RayAndrew-ym7yo]

Ill, when you think too much about it.. you should think too much if it's a repeat character.. but for Yao, that's unprecedented support. You should be asking yourself if you need chains and heals. That's all you need to ask.

[@RayAndrew-ym7yo]

Eventually, when you play the same team, you get bored. Changing your style of play is what's fun. It's hard for you to think which one is better.

[@Zardigan]

I was going to pull for her before even knowing what she does 😎

[@stillslick7964]

If u say she won't age well then nun of these other dps won't age well the only character I see aging well is Caesar, it's also true that astra won't age well but these DPS will age like milk for better investments it's better to get the support than the DPS if u play other hoyo games you would know this so u can't saying she won't age well but not speaking on the DPS

[@shichibukaii]

Im going the opposite of what hoyo thinks. Im gonna pull for both reruns on 1.5 (partly because im a 2 week old player) because i didnt like the playstyles of new characters

[@ShynosDynos]

It's shrimple, Im getting her for the easiest tower climbing team Ceaser, Miyabi, Astra

[@jefferygrandor7852]

Reminder guys that no drip marketing has happened, meaning we getting another miyabi scenario where they want you to get Astro yao first then they can immediately reveal the next limited five star support that’ll be better then her

[@MrGoodra17]

Just... don't get her the second she drops?

[@NamelessDjinn]

2 supports back to back? you are funny as hell

[@victorplaton2698]

I hope this video reaches more people, I am so tired of the toxic positivity from all the cc. Each unit is the best with no flaws until the next one is release and their videos are obsolete...

[@Piscore]

Only Void Hunters in this game are Must Pulls, every other units some are good others just skip (and u need to skip just to have enoght to pull future Void Hunters lol)

[@yohane2787]

She is bc she’s cute

[@deadcandance5130]

Thank you for your thoughts. Both reddit and yt are full of wishful thinking about Astra

[@Zelof]

Her buff is not the main reason she's a 'must pull', it's her ability to give your team a more fluid and swift gameplay with her own unique Quick Assist and Chain Attack, I can't tell how much I love Quick Assist-ing using agent like Miyabi or Lighter bcs of their satisfying transition into their follow-up attacks. Giving you a 'new' feel in combat is enough reason for me to pull her imho.

[@jjamesbrown]

I was originally planning to pull for Astra for my ZhuYuan and the upcoming Ether anom agent. But this vid is starting to cloud my plan.

[@gaijinsenpai7714]

Don't let videos like this gives you doubts. Just pull for who you like

[@frylock947]

Astra doesn't buff ether teams much more than she buffs other teams. Also i want to point out that the quick swap playstyle doesn't really fit with characters like Zhu Yuan, ideally you would want to use your stunner outside of the stun and use Zhu Yuan inside the of the stun, you wouldn't want to swap between characters that much. Also Nicole is almost the same level as Astra for Zhu Yuan teams considering the grouping she provides. If you want to pull Astra Yao as a future investment or just because you like her then go for it, but don't pull her to upgrade your existing teams, there will be supports that buff specific teams or elements much more than Astra in the future.

[@cringemorecringe4549]

This video is just yapping, should’ve take advice from it

[@insertmoney2189]

I honestly don't like her design or gameplay, but she'd enable me to play characters that otherwise would be kinda weak like nekomata so I'll probably pull for her.

[@RosaryFGC]

I’m not pulling for her. Her singing sounds annoying to me and will get old so fast. Definitely pulling for Ellen 🦈

[@Rainbowsaur]

Caesar provides 1500 attack, and 25% recieved damage debuff on the enemies, Astra doesn't close to that even with her sig, maybe 1000-1200. Why not just pull Ceasar at this point? she comes with a massive QOL anti knockback shield too. She even has a enemy grouping mechanic too. I think it's all going to come down to her off field damage being broken + it can apparently trigger anomlies off field (doubt it'd be as often as nicole tho). There just has to be something more to her that what leaks are telling us.

[@keyto5526]

M0 Caesar only provide 1000 atk. M2 is 1500. But M2 Astra is 1600. So I don't know what you mean?

[@deadcandance5130]

From what I've heard her damage is very low, even comparing to A rank supports we have now

[@keyto5526]

@@deadcandance5130 but better than defend agent, right.

[@deadcandance5130]

@@keyto5526 No idea. We will see when she's out

[@Lybrel]

IMO, for the next 36 hours, Astra is a forced skip because: Miyabi C2 > Astra Miyabi C1 > Astra Miyabi W1 > Astra Miyabi C0 > Astra Otherwise, it's a double save (C0W1) for the next Ether because we've only had one since 1.0

[@AngeloSison-k1s]

My M6 Miyabi and Astra Caesar should do the trick

[@kiuhh1118]

This take only applies if you play miyabi only.