Nicole is a 5-star Pyro Catalyst character who functions as a universal ATK buffer and defensive support with powerful synergy in Hexerei teams. Her kit is designed around providing long-duration ATK buffs, coordinated attacks, and shielding utility, allowing her to support a wide variety of ATK-scaling DPS characters while requiring very little field time herself.
Her gameplay revolves around maintaining the Grace of Kenosis buff through her Elemental Skill and enabling coordinated attacks through her Elemental Burst. Once active, Nicole continuously supports the team from off-field by increasing the active character’s ATK, providing interruption resistance through her shield, and triggering Arcane Projections that attack alongside the on-field character using their Elemental Type.
While Nicole performs extremely well in standard hypercarry teams, her ceiling becomes even higher in Hexerei compositions. When paired with another Hexerei character, she unlocks the Hexerei: Secret Rite effect, greatly increasing the damage of coordinated attacks and enhancing the overall value of her support kit. Despite this synergy, Nicole remains highly effective even outside dedicated Hexerei teams thanks to her flexible buffing and defensive utility.
How Nicole Helps:
- Team-wide ATK Buffing: Provides strong ATK bonuses to the entire party with even greater buffs for the active character.
- Shielding & Interruption Resistance: Creates a durable shield that improves survivability and allows carries to attack uninterrupted.
- Hexerei Synergy: Gains significantly stronger coordinated attack damage when paired with another Hexerei character.
- Flexible Team Support: Functions effectively in both Hexerei and standard ATK-scaling teams.
- Long Buff Uptime: Her buffs persist for extended durations, making rotations smooth and comfortable.
Ability Notations
- N - Normal Attack
- C - Charged Attack
- E - Elemental Skill
- Q - Elemental Burst
E.g. 2(E4N) - Elemental Skill (E) followed by four Normal Attacks (4N), repeat entire process twice (2).
Hexerei Teams
Hexerei teams focus on pairing Nicole with at least one additional Hexerei character to activate the Hexerei: Secret Rite effect. This significantly increases the damage of Nicole’s Arcane Projections while also enabling the full power of the Hexerei artifact set, allowing her to function as both a premium ATK buffer and an offensive support.
Because Nicole’s buffs scale especially well with ATK-focused carries, Hexerei teams are commonly built around hypercarry-style DPS characters that can remain on-field for extended periods while benefiting from her long-duration buffs and coordinated attacks.
Alternate Hexerei teams could have a composition of:
- Lohen - Durin - Citlali - Nicole
- Klee - Fischl - Chevreuse - Nicole
Below is an example of a Hexerei team with Varka as the Main DPS, Durin as the Sub DPS, and Prune and Nicole as the Support.
Below is an example of a Burning Hexerei team with Kinich as the Main DPS, Durin as the Sub DPS, and Emilie and Nicole as the Support.
Non-Hexerei Teams
Non-Hexerei teams focus on using Nicole as a universal buffer and shielder without relying on full Hexerei synergies. While these teams lose access to some of Nicole’s highest damage bonuses, she still provides extremely valuable ATK buffs, defensive utility, and coordinated attacks that work well with many ATK-scaling DPS characters.
These teams are generally easier to build than dedicated Hexerei teams and can fit into many established archetypes such as Melt, Overload, Burning, or standard hypercarry compositions.
Below is an example of a Non-Hexerei team with Mavuika as the Main DPS, Citlali as the Sub DPS, and Sucrose and Nicole as the Support.
Below is an example of a Non-Hexerei team with Arlecchino as the Main DPS, Citlali as the Sub DPS, and Xilonen and Nicole as the Support.
Below is an example of a Non-Hexerei team with Hu Tao as the Main DPS, Yelan and Xingqiu as the Sub DPS, and Nicole as the Support.
Damage Showcase
Here is a showcase on how to use the first Hexerei team composition presented in this guide, containing Varka, Durin, Prune, and Nicole.
We begin by preparing with the support characters. Nicole's Elemental Skill (E) then Elemental Burst (Q), Durin's Elemental Skill (2E) twice, then his Elemental Burst (Q), and Prune's Elemental Skill (E) and Elemental Burst (Q).
We can that swap in Varka. Using his Elemental Skill (E) activates Sturm und Drang, enabling his enhanced attack state. Then complete a full Normal Attack sequence of four Normal Attacks (4N). Repeating this process (E4N) allows for him to use his Special Elemental Skill, Four Winds' Ascension. Varka's rotation is complete by using his Special Elemental Skill (E) followed by his Elemental Burst (Q).
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong Universal ATK Support: Nicole provides large ATK buffs that benefit nearly every ATK-scaling DPS in the game.
- Long Buff Uptime: Her buffs and shield last for extended durations, making rotations smooth and forgiving.
- Provides Shielding & Interruption Resistance: The Shield of Blazing Light improves survivability while allowing carries to attack uninterrupted.
- Excellent Hypercarry Support: Particularly strong in teams focused around a single on-field DPS character.
- Low Field Time Requirements: Most of Nicole’s utility is maintained from off-field after using her Skill and Burst.
- Useful Exploration Utility: Her special Charged Attack functions similarly to a Treasure Compass while exploring.
Cons
- Full Potential Requires Hexerei Synergy: Her highest damage ceiling depends on running another Hexerei character.
- ATK Stat Requirements Can Be High: Nicole scales heavily with ATK, making her somewhat demanding to build efficiently.
- Enhanced Buff Has Restrictions: Non-Hexerei characters must remain on-field for several seconds before receiving her upgraded buff prior to C6.
- Limited Personal Damage Outside Burst Utility: Most of her value comes from support rather than direct personal DPS.
