Wuthering Waves is a newly released open world gacha game developed by Kuro Games. Fans of Genshin Impact can expect plenty of familiar elements in Wuthering Waves, including the equipment system known as Echoes. Much like Artifacts and Relics from Genshin and Honkai: Star Rail, Echoes function like armor or accessory pieces in traditional RPGs, providing powerful stats and effects. Let’s delve into everything you need to know about Echoes and their unique functions.
Echoes
Echoes are essentially remnants of defeated monsters that characters can wear as equipment. In addition to the stats and set effects, each Echo also possesses a unique Echo Skill that characters can use during combat. Each character has a total of five Echo slots, but only the Echo in the top slot will have its skill available for use.
Cost, Class, and Rarity
Each Echo has a cost associated with it and characters will initially have an equip cost limit of 10, which can eventually be increased to 12 at Data Bank level 9. The cost of Echoes depends on its Class:
- Common Class: 1 Cost
- Elite Class: 3 Cost
- Overlord Class: 4 Cost
- Calamity Class: 4 Cost
The most common cost configuration for mid to late game is 4, 3, 3, 1, 1.
In addition to the costs, the Echoes also come in four different rarities, which dictate their max level and the number of sub-stats they can roll:
- Rank 2 (Green): Max level 10 and 0 sub-stats
- Rank 3 (Blue): Max level 15 and 3 sub-stats
- Rank 4 (Purple): Max level 20 and 4 sub-stats
- Rank 5 (Yellow): Max level 25 and 5 sub-stats
Stats
Every Echo, regardless of cost and rarity, has two main stats. The first main stat will be random from a specific pool of stats, while the second main stat will be fixed depending on the Class.
Possible first main stats by Class:
- Common Class: ATK%, DEF%, HP%
- Elite Class: ATK%, DEF%, HP%, Energy Regen%, Elemental DMG Bonus% (1 Random Element of 6)
- Overlord Class: ATK%, DEF%, HP%, CRIT Rate%, Crit DMG%, Healing Bonus%
- Calamity Class: ATK%, DEF%, HP%, CRIT Rate%, Crit DMG%, Healing Bonus%
Fixed second main stat by Class:
- Common Class: Flat HP
- Elite, Overlord, & Calamity Class: Flat ATK
For every 5 levels, an Echo can unlock a random line of sub-stat using a Tuning Material. The material needed will depend on the rarity of the Echo: Medium Tuner (blue), Advanced Tuner (purple), Premium Tuner (yellow). The unlocked substats cannot be changed or increased, and the amount each line gives will vary. The difference between the highest and lowest roll is approximately 1.6x to 1.8x. Sub-stats can roll the same type as the main stats, but cannot roll multiple instances of the same sub-stat.
List of possible sub-stat rolls:
- Flat ATK
- Flat DEF
- Flat HP
- ATK%
- DEF%
- HP%
- CRIT Rate%
- CRIT DMG%
- Basic Attack DMG Bonus%
- Heavy Attack DMG Bonus%
- Resonance Skill DMG Bonus%
- Resonance Liberation DMG Bonus%
Sonatas
Sonatas are passives that activate when wearing multiple Echoes from the same set. There are currently 9 Sonata sets available in the game, each offering a 2-piece effect and a 5-piece effect. Sonata sets are Echo specific; however some Echoes may have access to multiple Sonatas, such as the Cyan-Feathered Heron.
How to Get Echoes
The main way to obtain Echoes is by defeating Tacet Discords, or monster enemies, out in the open world for a chance to receive their Echo. This also applies to boss monsters such as Overlords and Calamities (Weekly Bosses). Players can repeatedly kill Overlords and Calamities for chances of Echoes without consuming any Waveplates. Open world Tacet Discords respawn at the daily reset, so players can join other people’s worlds to farm them together for more chances.
The other method is through Tacet Fields, where you can spend Waveplates to target specific Sonatas. Getting the right Sonata set to drop in the open world can be difficult due to some Echoes having access to multiple ones. While 60 Waveplates per Tacet Field attempt is quite expensive, it is also the only consistent source of Premium Tuners, as well as Echo EXP materials.
While open world Echo farming, with world hopping, may sound like an infinite grind opportunity, players will eventually be gated by Echo EXP and Tuning Materials.
Data Bank
The Data Bank is a progression system that records all the Echoes that you have collected and the rarity at which you’ve obtained them. Each time you absorb a new Echo, or a higher rarity Echo, you gain EXP to level up your Data Bank. Gaining a high rarity Echo will automatically provide you EXP for all rarities preceding it, assuming you had not collected them prior.
Advancing in Data Bank Level not only provides you with various rewards such as Astrite, Tuners, and Crystal Solvents, but also increased Echo drop rate and max obtainable rarities. You will only ever receive your highest obtainable rarity and one rank below. For example, once Rank 5 rarity is unlocked at level 15 you will no longer receive Rank 3 rarities or below. There are currently 20 levels in the Data Bank and a max base drop rate of 20%.
In addition to the base Echo drop rate, there is also a limited ‘enhanced drop rate’. This enhanced version is only applicable to Overlord and Calamity Classes 15 times each week. For instance, at level 15, your first 15 Overlord and Calamity kills of the week will offer a 60% Echo drop rate as opposed to the base 20%. This can eventually reach 100% at level 20.
Data Merge
Data Merge is a function within the Data Bank that unlocks at SOL3 Phase 3 and Data Bank level 8. This feature allows you to ‘dispose’ of unwanted Echoes in exchange for new Echoes. However, you cannot use Data Merge on already upgraded Echoes. The rarity of Echoes obtained from Data Merge will be based on your Data Bank level. While this feature can help you obtain higher rarity Echoes of those you already own, Data Merge will not provide Echoes that you have yet to collect.
Phantom Echoes
Some Echoes have ‘Phantom’ variants with different colorations, akin to the ‘Shiny Pokemon’ in various Pokemon games. Phantom Echoes do not provide any stat benefits and are purely for aesthetic purposes. This feature offers a fun challenge for collectors who enjoy pursuing unique and rare items.
Conclusion
Echoes represents Wuthering Waves’ unique and enjoyable take on traditional RPG equipment, effectively enhancing gameplay with a variety of Echo Skills. Whether it’s transforming into flying Tacet Discords or motorbike-riding monsters, Echo Skills add an incredible layer of fun to combat. The process of acquiring Echoes throughout the open world also makes exploration feel rewarding and exciting. Hopefully we’ll see even more interesting Echoes added to the game in the future.
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