Hello! In this guide I'll be going over Griseo's, Vill-V's, and Aponia's new signet sets. I'll look at their uses, which valkyries they're good with, and give some general thoughts on them.
Check out my other guides!
Reverist Calico
Fallen Rosemary
New Signets - Pardofelis, Kosma
• Table of Contents •
1. Griseo's Signets
a. Overview
b. Recommended Combos
c. Analysis
2. Vill-V's Signets
a. Overview
b. Recommended Combos
c. Analysis
3. Aponia's Signets
a. Overview
b. Recommended Combos
c. Analysis
3. TL;DR Summary
Griseo's Signets
- Overview -
Griseo's signets are focused on buffing type counters, as well as applying and mixing paint colours on enemies for buffs.
Normal Signets of Stars
Griseo's normal signets are very similar to Kosma's, but are better in every way. The buffs from Griseo's signets are better than Kosma's DoT, and even the SP signet is better than Kosma's. Since Griseo's paints don't stack, unlike Kosma's Rend, extending the duration isn't as important, as long as you can use the Ult/weapon skills semi-frequently. [Blue] is also not very good, with the trigger being rare and the benefits being defensive, not super important. [Red] and [Yellow] combo together very well, and [Black] is a good all-round signet, so those three are the ones to aim for (assuming your valkyrie uses Ults/weapon skills frequently).
Core and Enhanced Signets of Stars
The core doesn't seem super useful to me since you can't know which enemies will show up. You can plan for bosses, but it's not like you can change valkyries midway through. It's still nice when it is active though, so there's that.
The enhanced signets that you can use depend on which normal signets you have. The best one is [Burning Like Flames], as it gives Breach, and uses Red and Yellow paints, the best 2 colours. The worst in my opinion is [Blooming Like Flowers] as it seems very situational to me, you need an enemy of a countering type present. However, the buff, enemies take more damage, is a good one (better than valkyrie DMG up as it's less common and thus less diluted). [Stretching Like Leaves] is decent, though with a long CD. For another comparison to Kosma, it's basically a better version of his core skill.
- Recommended Combos -
Griseo is once again a very general, jack-of-all-trades Flame-Chaser, but this time in a good way. Since most valkyrie's best builds involve their Ults, and most good weapons have weapon skills, she can basically be used effectively with any valkyrie. As mentioned earlier, the best normal signet combo is [Red], [Yellow], [Black], though [Black] can also be replaced with [White] is you need SP, or [Grey] if CDs are a bit of a problem and you need to stack more paint.
An interesting Flame-Chaser synergy is with Sakura's 1st core, and the enhanced signet [Setsuna Blade: Ame-Shiko], which resets the CD of Ults and weapon skills when entering Sakura Screen. Any valkyrie taking Sakura's 1st core would be able to use evasion skills on demand, thus triggering [Blue] paint, and the enhanced signet makes it easy to trigger [Red] and [Yellow] together. Though blue paint isn't very worth it, I think this would be an interesting build to mess around with.
- Analysis -
I actually find Griseo's similarities to Kosma super interesting, it feels like there's lore implications there since she's spent so much time with him, and she basically copies the people she's with. Gameplay-wise, it does make me feel bad for Kosma since he's so outclassed.
I also find it a bit strange that the game describes her signets as being for type counters, when only 2 of them involve type counters at all. I think a good second core set for her would be one that strengthens type weaknesses instead of counters, as those would be things players might actually struggle with, and could make certain valkyries more viable with certain boss cycles.
In all, Griseo's signets are definitely ones to take if you see them, you don't even necessarily need the core, meaning you can just buy them in shops without having to waste a portal choice for the core.
Vill-V's Signets
- Overview -
Vill-V's signets are focused on weapon skills, both boosting their damage and giving buffs after they're used.
Normal Signets of Helix
** I feel like [Act III] has a typo, and the base should actually be 30%, based on the upgrades. I'll ask CS and see what they say.
[Act II] and [Act III] are the most general, and are the ones you'll tend to want to go for. [Act I] is mostly helpful if the weapon skill does good damage, like with bows. [Act IV] and [Act V] are more situational, only buffing certain sources/types of damage. The CD reduction from [Act VI] is nice, but unlike Sakura's that reduces CD, upgrading it doesn't improve the CD reduction.
Core and Enhanced Signets of Helix
The core and enhanced signets are very Physical damage focused, which thus works better with physical damage valkyries. [Act VIII] is interesting, you may not want it if you lack SP, but otherwise, the physical breach is nice. It can also go well with the normal signet [Act VI], having it at +3 basically makes it free, though there are better things to upgrade. [Act VII] is just more damage, though it spreads out a bit so it may not hit the enemy. [Finale] is just a worse [Act I] but for the core skill only, plus a bit of shieldbreak.
Generally you can just ignore the enhanced signets, they don't add a whole lot to runs.
- Recommended Combos -
Vill-V's signets are different from the other new Flame-Chasers in that they're not super general, and are instead specialised for certain valkyries. These valkyries are:
Miss Pink Elf♪, Reverist Calico, Palatinus Equinox (with Midnight Eclipse/Ataegina), Bright Knight: Excelsis, Prinzessin der Verurteilung!
These valkyries are all ones that frequently use their weapon skills, and do high damage with those skills. They especially work with the blue italicised valkyries, as they do physical damage. Some honourable mentions are Dea Anchora, Twilight Paladin, Infinite Ouroboros, and Midnight Absinthe, who have less frequent but still strong weapon skills. Another is Herrscher of Reason, with [Blessing of Reason].
Certain weapons may also work well, like Mag-Typhoon or similar multi-charge weapons, but I wouldn't make a build around it.
(If the upcoming Aponia battlesuit functions similarly to Reverist Calico, she may also work. I've avoided any moveset spoilers, please don't tell me anything)
- Analysis -
I really like Vill-V, both her signets and as a character. When I first unlocked her signets I just took them with anyone, since most valkyries use weapon skills, but looking closer, she's a bit more specialised. I think the only thing holding her back right now is the high physical focus of her core/enhanced. Other Flame-Chasers also have specific types, but their buffs at least tend to either be Total DMG or both Physical and Elemental.
Aponia's Signets
- Overview -
Aponia's signets are focused on "restriction buffs", as the game puts it. It basically means, that unlike other signets, that give buffs when you do something, Aponia's signets give buffs when you *don't* do something (with one exception).
Normal Signets of Discipline
Aponia's signets are all quite interesting, Exhortation always caps at 200 and there is no way to increase this currently. Having more of the signets increases how fast Exhortation stacks, but can also increase how often the stacks decrease. The better buffs are from [First] and [Fourth], being more offensive, but they may also be triggered more easily, especially [Fourth].
One different way to use this is to take [Sixth], then one that you can trigger often, like [Second] with Infinite Ouroboros, for example.
Edit:
In the 5.7 update, Aponia's signets have been changed slightly. [Fifth] and [Sixth] have been combined into one, and the NEW [Sixth] is
"Boosts Valkyrie Total DMG by 20% and keeps Exhortation from decreasing for 15s upon QTE hitting an enemy. Triggering it again resets the duration."
This signet now allows any valkyrie who can use QTEs to get all the buffs from the Exhortation without worrying about it lowering.
Currently, only 4 valkyries can do this:
Silverwing, with [Blessing of Phantom Plumes],
Aponia, casting a weapon skill while the illusion is active,
Pardofelis, as her attack Predation counts as a QTE,
and Fischl, by her weapon skill
This change makes Aponia signets slightly more useful, especially if you want to focus a lot on Ult damage with any of these 4 valkyries.
Core and Enhanced Signets of Discipline
The core signet can give a maximum of 50% Total DMG and 50% Phys/Ele DMG (assuming the core counts as a signet). At a minimum, it gives 20% Phys/Ele DMG (3 normal + 1 core signet). It doesn't seem super worth it, but it does open up the enhanced signets.
Either [Bound] or [Witnessed] are pretty good alone, though having them both slightly counters the drawbacks of the other. Generally it's probably better to just focus on one though. [Bound] gives Breach, which is a better buff than Total DMG, but few valkyries are basic attack focused, with most being Ult focused and others charged/combo attack focused.
[Committed] doesn't seem super useful, you probably don't want to do the things that drop Exhortation in the first place, the limit is below what you need for Mortification, and it doesn't stack with [Fifth]. However, one use I can imagine is to take it at +3 and combine it with [Sixth], a signet that you like the buffs of (eg [Fourth] for Ult DMG) and one that you can trigger frequently. That would let you get the buffs of [Sixth] as well as keeping the Exhortation buffs, but I think other Flame-Chasers would be more worth it.
- Recommended Combos -
There are many different ways to use Aponia's signets, I can't say they're any better than other signets, but they're an option.
One way that works well with valkyries with summons (eg Argent Knight, Infinite Ouroboros, HoS with [Blessing of Ego]) is [Sixth] and [Second], for basically a permanent buff. The buff in question is also quite good, as it's "enemies take" instead of "Valkyrie DMG". The buffs given by [Second] (Total DMG reduction) don't mean much, so you aren't losing anything by reducing Exhortation.
Another way is [Third], in combination with Su's signets, since they cap combo hits at 150. The buff given is only some SP regen, capping at 2 SP/s at base, but it's better than Eden's signet and can help stack Exhortation faster if you need it.
A more specific possible combo is Stygian Nymph and [Fourth], as she uses the Ult frequently and doesn't use weapon skills. Just be sure to avoid [First] since she also uses evasions a lot.
- Analysis -
Aponia's signets are... unique I suppose. There are many ways I can think of using them, but I still think other Flame-Chasers would serve a similar/better purpose. I probably wouldn't ever bother with her core/enhanced, maybe just taking a signet if I see it in the shop.
I feel like the buffs from the Exhortation stacks are just not really worth it, or at least not worth investing heavily in. The best way in my eyes to even use them is to go against the disciplines - that is use [Sixth], which has the best buffs anyways. Maybe if they add a way to increase the cap on Exhortation it might get better? Until then I'll just stick with the other Flame-Chasers.
TL;DR
Griseo's signets: Better than Kosma in every way, good with nearly any valkyrie
Vill-V's signets: The only new signets that are specialised instead of general, good for archers, Felis and Durandal
Aponia's signets: Very "unique". And complicated. And probably not worth it?
That's the last of the new signets, I'll probably take a break now until the next beta/update. I was planning of looking at the new sigils but they're mostly pretty simple, do a thing --> do large amount of damage. Since it's summer break now I can maybe finally work on some guides for the original valkyries, I've had Stygian Nymph on the list for ages and just got a request for HoT.
Feel free to share your own opinions on the new signet sets in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
Check out my other guides!
Reverist Calico
Fallen Rosemary
New Signets - Pardofelis, Kosma
[UID 12340784] SEA Server
