You have hit on the exact core shift in how endgame content is designed. The game has moved away from purely numerical DPS checks (where raw hyper-scaling and vertical investment like C2 Furina could simply "brute force" everything) toward reaction-gated and roster-gated mechanical checks.
With modern endgame encounters—especially in Imaginarium Theater and the newer boss archetypes requiring specific elemental interactions and dynamic shields—having a broad horizontal roster lets you bypass strict lockouts, while Cryo Traveler gives free-to-play access to essential reaction mechanics without forcing pulls on niche 5-stars.
Here is a structured breakdown comparing Upward (Vertical) vs. Sideways (Horizontal) investment strategies.
Vertical vs. Horizontal Investment Comparison
The Verdict
Why Sideways (Horizontal) is Winning right now:
Modern game modes prioritize having the right tool for the job over having one over-invested hammer. Having access to key reaction drivers—supplemented by budget options like Cryo Traveler for gradient damage/shield checks—ensures you never get locked out of Primogems in Imaginarium Theater or niche reaction Abyss cycles.
The "Gold Standard" Hybrid Approach:
- Keep DPS units at C0: Pull wide on new reaction-enabling characters and sub-DPS units to build roster breadth.
- Reserve Vertical Investment exclusively for Universal Supports: The only time "Upward" investment is worth the heavy Primogem cost is on game-changing, element-agnostic supports (like Furina C2), because they multiply the value of your entire horizontal C0 roster rather than just one team.
