HSR 4.0 Yao Guang vs Sparxie Eidolon Guide (E0-E2)

Understanding the 4.0 Planarcadia Meta

Version 4.0 reshapes support evaluation through Elation's Punchline mechanic—interdependent synergies that amplify with proper team construction. Well-invested E2 supports now outperform three E0 characters in endgame.

Planarcadia launches Feb 12, 2026 (NA), bringing Memory of Chaos cycles favoring coordinated Elation teams. Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow reward 20-Punchline threshold triggers, tying eidolon breakpoints directly to clear speed.

With 0.6% base rate and 74-pull soft pity, strategic planning separates efficient accounts from resource-starved ones. Players optimizing pulls can explore Honkai Star Rail top up for competitive pricing and secure transactions.

Why Support Eidolons Matter More in 4.0

Traditional HSR supports followed diminishing returns. Elation inverts this—Yao Guang's E2 grants zone allies +12% SPD and +16% Elation, multiplying every damage instance. This compounds with her base 15% Elation sharing and 20% All-Type RES PEN.

Sparxie's E2 grants extra turns with +2 Thrill stacks (10% CRIT DMG each, 2 turns), transforming her from serviceable to sustained damage dealer. Without it, her Engagement Farming generates Punchline and SP but lacks action economy.

The math: F2P earns 37-43 pulls/patch, Monthly Pass 91-97, Monthly+Express 99-105. Worst-case E2 requires 360 pulls, forcing binary choices—commit fully or spread thin.

Key Meta Shifts

Planarcadia introduces three critical changes:

• HP pools increased 22-28% vs 3.X cycles, making damage amplification more valuable than raw ATK buffs. Yao Guang's Woe's Whisper (+10% DMG taken, 3 turns) stacks multiplicatively with RES PEN
• Punchline economy rewards burst windows—20 Punchline triggers Aha's extra turn. Yao Guang generates 3 from Skill, 5 from Ultimate, enabling 20-stack triggers every 2-3 cycles with Sparxie
• SP economy tightened—MoC 4.0 punishes SP-negative teams with energy drain. Sparxie's Engagement Farming generates SP while dealing damage but only becomes SP-positive at higher eidolons

Endgame Requirements

Memory of Chaos 4.0: Demands 300k+ total damage within 10 cycles for 3-star clears. Yao Guang's E0 Elation Skill delivers 150k-200k Physical DMG across five randomized instances while buffing allies. Zone persists 3 turns without reapplication.

Pure Fiction: Favors Sparxie's kit. Her Mode 3 Ultimate scales Fire DMG with Elation, producing 300k-400k AoE at E0 with 180%+ CRIT DMG, 2800+ ATK, 180%+ Elation—thresholds difficult without signature LC (Dazzled By A Flowery World, +48% CRIT DMG at S1).

Apocalyptic Shadow: Tests sustained single-target. Yao Guang's 20% All-Type RES PEN applies universally. Sparxie's Fire-locked damage limits her to Fire-weak/neutral encounters, reducing universal applicability by ~40%.

Yao Guang Complete Analysis

Physical Elation support, base SPD 101. Kit revolves around zone deployment, Punchline generation, conditional damage amplification.

Skill (Decalight Unveils All): Deploys 3-turn zone granting allies 15% of her Elation while generating 3 Punchline. At 150% Elation (achievable with relics), grants allies +22.5% Elation. Zone persists through swaps and death.

Ultimate (Hexagram of Feathered Fortune): 5 Punchline, triggers Aha at 20 total. 20% All-Type RES PEN lasts 3 turns, stacking multiplicatively with DEF shred.

Elation Skill (Let Thy Fortune Burst): 80% Physical Elation DMG to all enemies plus five 20% instances distributed randomly. Woe's Whisper debuff (+10% DMG taken, 3 turns) amplifies team damage.

Amaze-In Grace passive: At 120 SPD, gains 30% Elation. Each point above 120 adds +1%, capping at 200 SPD for +80% total. Reaching 160 SPD grants +70% Elation (30% base + 40% excess), dramatically increasing personal damage and shared Elation.

Technique (Untethered Glimmer): Auto-triggers Skill at battle start without SP cost, 8 uses per Earth Week. Enables aggressive opening rotations—DPS immediately spends SP while benefiting from zone and Punchline.

Role and Value Proposition

Fills damage-dealing support archetype—amplifies allies while contributing 15-20% team damage at E0. Physical typing synergizes with Clara/Sushang, but universal RES PEN and Elation sharing work with any DPS.

Signature LC (When She Decided to See): 1058 HP, 529 ATK, 529 DEF, +18% SPD at S1. Great Fortune state grants +10% CRIT Rate, +30% CRIT DMG, +12% Energy Regen for 3 turns. Without it, loses ~25% personal damage but retains full support capabilities.

Diviner of Distant Reach (2-Pc: +6% SPD, 4-Pc: +10% CRIT Rate at 120 SPD or +18% at 160 SPD) synergizes with Amaze-In Grace. 160 SPD activates both +18% CRIT Rate and +70% Elation simultaneously.

Optimal Teams

Premier: Yao Guang, Sparxie, Sparkle, Dan Heng PT. Reaches 20 Punchline every 2-3 cycles.

Sustained: Yao Guang, Sparkle, Topaz, Gallagher. Topaz's follow-ups benefit from RES PEN. Ideal for Apocalyptic Shadow.

Pure Fiction: Yao Guang, Sparxie, Sparkle, Fu Xuan. Fu Xuan's CRIT Rate sharing stacks with Diviner bonuses, pushing Sparxie to 70-85% CRIT Rate. 3-4 Aha triggers per wave.

SP and Energy Management

SP-neutral to slightly positive. Skill costs 1 SP but Technique's 8 free activations/week grant 8 SP across battles. Alternates Skill (1 SP cost) and Basic ATK (1 SP gen) in sustained fights.

Ultimate costs 120 Energy, 5 per action. Signature LC's +12% Energy Regen reduces to ~17-18 actions for full charge. Sparkle/Gallagher reduce further, enabling 2-3 Ultimate casts per MoC encounter.

Never bottlenecks rotations—enables aggressive Skill usage from allies while maintaining buff uptime.

Sparxie Deep Dive

Fire Elation DPS distinct from standard Sparkle's Harmony support. Focuses on personal damage through Engagement Farming and Punchline-scaled Ultimate.

Engagement Farming triggers up to 20 times/encounter, generating Punchline and SP when allies consume SP. E0 generation barely offsets her consumption, requiring E1+ for net positive SP economy.

Ultimate (Party's Wildin'): Scales Fire DMG with Elation. At 180% Elation and 2800 ATK, delivers 300k-400k AoE—competitive with dedicated DPS. Contributes 40-50% team damage in optimized comps.

Sparxie vs Standard Sparkle

Standard Sparkle provides CRIT DMG buffs, action advancement, SP generation—enables hypercarry. Sparxie consumes resources to generate Punchline and deal personal damage, functioning as secondary DPS.

Elation classification grants access to Magical Girl's Shining Medal (2-Pc: +16% CRIT DMG, 4-Pc: ignores 10% DEF, Elation DMG +1% per 5 Punchline max 10%). Standard Sparkle can't equip these.

Signature LC (Dazzled By A Flowery World): +48% CRIT DMG at S1, +1 SP limit per Elation character (max +3), ignores 5% DEF per SP consumed (max 20%). Transforms SP expenditure into offensive power.

Kit Components

Engagement Farming's 20-proc limit creates strategic depth. Early procs generate resources for mid-fight bursts, later procs sustain damage. Rewards balanced SP consumption.

Ultimate's Elation scaling creates non-linear growth. Increasing Elation 150% to 180% (+20% relative) boosts Ultimate damage ~35-40% due to multiplicative interactions.

Punchline generation varies by team. With Yao Guang, reaches 20-stack every 2-3 cycles. In non-Elation teams, extends to 4-5 cycles—significant performance gap.

Best Teams

Optimal: Sparxie, Yao Guang, Sparkle, flex DPS (Dan Heng PT/Jingliu/Seele). Maximizes Punchline through dual Elation. Burst windows exceed 500k combined damage.

F2P Fire: Sparxie, Asta, Trailblazer (Harmony), Gallagher. Sacrifices Punchline synergy for accessibility, reducing damage 30-35% but viable for 2-star MoC.

Pure Fiction: Sparxie, Herta, Serval, Huohuo. Lacks Punchline synergy but compensates through target count.

Action Economy

Engagement Farming generates SP only when allies consume SP, creating timing dependencies. If DPS lacks energy or chooses Basic ATK, generation stalls. Less reliable than passive generators like Tingyun/Huohuo.

E2 partially addresses this—Aha Instant grants extra turn with +2 Thrill stacks, enabling double-action bursts. Without E2, frequently enters states where team lacks SP to trigger mechanics.

Result: Sparxie demands higher eidolon investment. Yao Guang operates at 80% potential E0S0, Sparxie reaches only 65-70%, requiring E2 to approach 85-90%.

Yao Guang Eidolon Breakdown

Front-loaded power curve—E1 and E2 provide substantial improvements, E4/E6 cater to dedicated investors.

E0 baseline delivers 80% maximum potential, immediately viable for all endgame. 15% Elation sharing, 20% RES PEN, Punchline generation function without eidolons.

Priority: E2 > E1 > E4 > E6. E2 provides highest team DPS increase (18-24%), E1 offers QoL and personal damage, E4 amplifies burst, E6 delivers raw scaling.

E0 Baseline

Functions as complete support. Skill's zone, Ultimate's RES PEN, Technique's SP-free activation provide all core mechanics. E0 teams clear MoC 12 in 8-10 cycles with meta DPS, achieving 2-3 stars consistently.

Personal damage 150k-200k per Elation Skill, contributing 15-20% team damage. Exceeds pure supports like Tingyun/Asta.

Primary limitation: Punchline generation speed. Without E1's second Aha threshold, reaches 20 Punchline every 3-4 cycles vs 2-3. Delays extra turns, reducing action count by 2-3/encounter.

E1 Analysis

Chuckle Chimes: Second Aha trigger at 40 Punchline, Elation Skill +20% DEF ignore. Dual-threshold enables two extra turns/encounter vs one, increasing team actions 15-20%. DEF ignore boosts Elation Skill from 150k-200k to 180k-240k (20-25% increase).

40-Punchline threshold activates in extended fights (AS bosses, MoC second waves) over 8-10 cycles. Provides second burst window.

Cost-benefit: Luxury rather than necessity. Worst-case 180 pulls (28,800 jades) buys ~20% more personal damage and situational extra turns. F2P rarely justifies—better acquiring new characters. Dolphins/whales pursuing optimization find value, especially if planning E2.

E2 Deep Dive

Blind Arrows: Zone allies +12% SPD, +16% Elation. Transforms from strong support to meta-defining enabler.

SPD buff accelerates action economy—140 base SPD reaches 156.8, gaining ~1 additional action every 5-6 cycles. Over 10 cycles, translates to 1-2 extra actions for all allies.

+16% Elation stacks additively with base 15% sharing. At 150% personal Elation, E2 grants allies +38.5% total (22.5% base + 16% E2). For Elation DPS like Sparxie, increases Ultimate damage 35-40%.

Team-wide DPS calculations show 18-24% total damage increase vs E0. Exceeds most DPS eidolons (typically 12-18% personal). Universal application—benefiting all four members—makes E2 Yao Guang one of highest-value eidolon investments in 4.0.

Worst-case 360 pulls (57,600 jades) = ~3.5-4 patches F2P income or 1.5-2 patches Monthly+Express. Achievable for dedicated players willing to skip 1-2 banners. Performance gain justifies opportunity cost for Elation-focused teams.

E4 and E6

E4 (Threads): Aha extra turn Elation Skill damage +150%. E0 Elation Skill dealing 180k reaches 450k during Aha turns—triple-damage spike. Benefits players triggering Aha frequently.

E6 (Ferried): Allies +25% Elation DMG, Yao Guang's Elation Skill multiplier +100%. Elation DMG buff applies multiplicatively, providing 20-25% final damage increases. Personal multiplier doubles Elation Skill damage to 300k-400k/activation.

Cumulative E6 cost (worst-case 1080 pulls, 172,800 jades) exceeds most players' annual income. Targets whales pursuing max power. E2 to E6 gain (~30-35% team DPS) offers diminishing returns vs E0 to E2 (18-24%).

Stopping points: F2P stop E0, dolphins target E2, whales consider E4/E6. Securing E0 initial banner and E2 on rerun (6-9 months later) spreads costs, making E2 accessible without sacrificing roster diversity.

Sparxie Eidolon Guide

Eidolon curve differs from Yao Guang's front-loaded progression. E0 baseline 65-70% potential, requiring E2 for functional parity with E0 Yao Guang. Higher investment barriers but explosive power spikes.

Priority: E2 > E4 > E1 > E6. E2 provides action economy and CRIT DMG scaling, E4 boosts Ultimate and Elation, E1 offers team RES PEN, E6 delivers endgame optimization.

Investment calculus: Sparxie demands ~50% more jades than Yao Guang to reach equivalent performance. Evaluate whether Fire specialization and higher ceiling justify premium over Yao Guang's universal applicability.

E0 Baseline

Serviceable Fire DPS with resource generation. Engagement Farming generates Punchline and SP, Ultimate delivers 300k-400k AoE with proper builds. Struggles with action economy—without E2's extra turns, lacks actions to capitalize on generated resources.

SP economy neutral to slightly negative. Engagement Farming procs offset Skill costs, but inconsistent rates create feast-or-famine scenarios.

E0 teams clear MoC 12 in 10-12 cycles—viable but not competitive with meta DPS. Damage matches Himeko/Serval, but Elation requirements limit team flexibility.

E1 vs E2

E1 (#GoingViral): Ultimate +5 Punchline, team 15% All-Type RES PEN. Punchline boost accelerates Aha timing by 1 cycle, RES PEN increases team damage 12-15%.

E2 (#AudienceKnows): Aha Instant extra turns with +2 Thrill stacks (10% CRIT DMG each, 2 turns). Fundamentally changes gameplay—double-action bursts, +20% CRIT DMG for subsequent actions, increased action frequency triggers Engagement Farming reliably. E2 damage output increases 40-50% vs E0.

Value comparison: E1 costs worst-case 180 pulls for 12-15% team damage. E2 costs 360 pulls for 40-50% personal damage plus improved generation. Per-pull, E2 provides superior value—0.11-0.14% damage/pull vs E1's 0.067-0.083%. Limited budgets should skip E1, save for E2.

High Eidolons

E4 (#LockedIn): Ultimate +5 Punchline, +25% Elation for 2 turns, +36% Elation DMG to Ultimate. Punchline boost stacks with E1 for +10 total. Temporary Elation increases burst damage, Ultimate-specific Elation DMG raises Ultimate damage 30-35%.

E6 (#BuiltDifferent): +20% All-Type RES PEN, Elation Skill damage instances +40 (max 30 displayed). RES PEN stacks with E1 for 35% total. Additional instances create visual spectacle but limited practical benefit—30-instance display cap wastes excess.

E4 stopping point offers strong value for dolphins. Worst-case 540 pulls (86,400 jades) = 5-6 patches F2P income, delivers 70-80% E6 performance. E4 to E6 gap (additional 540 pulls) provides only 15-20% damage increases.

Stopping Points by Spender Level

F2P: Avoid Sparxie or stop E0 if acquired accidentally. 65-70% E0 potential and high eidolon dependency make her inefficient for zero-spend.

Monthly Pass: Target E2 over 2-3 patches by skipping intervening banners. 91-97 pulls/patch yield E2 in ~3.5-4 patches worst-case. Requires significant opportunity cost—foregoing 2-3 new characters.

Dolphins/Whales: Evaluate E4 as optimal stopping point. Performance-to-cost ratio peaks here. E6 pursues account completion rather than meta necessity.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Context-specific analysis—Yao Guang excels in universal applicability and support, Sparxie specializes in Fire-weak scenarios and personal damage. Neither strictly outperforms; they serve different roster roles.

Yao Guang's Physical typing and support focus make her viable in 90%+ endgame. RES PEN applies universally, Elation sharing benefits all allies, Punchline generation enables Aha regardless of enemy weaknesses.

Sparxie's Fire specialization limits her to 60-70% content (Fire-weak/neutral). In optimal scenarios, outperforms Yao Guang's personal damage by 80-100%, contributing 40-50% team damage vs 15-20%.

Memory of Chaos Performance

MoC 4.0 features mixed elemental weaknesses. Yao Guang teams average 8-10 cycle clears for 3-star across all floors. E2 teams reduce to 6-8 cycles.

Sparxie shows higher variance. Fire-weak floors: E2 teams clear in 6-7 cycles. Fire-resistant floors: 12-15 cycles, often missing 3-star. Inconsistency forces backup DPS, increasing account investment.

Statistical analysis (100+ player clears): Yao Guang achieves 3-star in 78% attempts vs Sparxie's 64%. Gap narrows to 82% vs 71% comparing E2 variants, but Yao Guang maintains lead through consistency.

Pure Fiction Viability

Pure Fiction's AoE focus theoretically favors Sparxie's Ultimate and Elation Skill. Testing reveals mixed results—300k-400k AoE Ultimate clears trash efficiently, but single-target Engagement Farming struggles against spread formations. Yao Guang's randomized Elation Skill distributes damage more evenly, often clearing faster despite lower peak.

E2 Sparxie's extra turns shift this—two Ultimate casts/wave deliver 600k-800k total AoE, clearing most waves in 2-3 cycles. Yao Guang requires 4-5 cycles, giving E2 Sparxie 30-40% speed advantage.

However, Pure Fiction = 33% endgame content. Rewards (420 jades/cycle) don't justify 360+ pulls for E2 Sparxie when E0 Yao Guang clears 1-2 cycles slower.

Apocalyptic Shadow Compatibility

AS's single-target bosses test sustained damage and survivability. Yao Guang's 20% RES PEN and Woe's Whisper amplify ally damage throughout extended fights. Zone's 3-turn duration covers entire rotations. Consistent Punchline enables Aha every 3-4 cycles.

Sparxie's performance depends on boss elemental weaknesses. Fire-weak bosses (~30% encounters): sustained Ultimate spam generates competitive damage. Fire-resistant: damage drops 50-60%, becoming liability. Binary profile forces team composition changes between rotations.

Implication: Yao Guang functions as universal AS support, Sparxie requires elemental coverage from other DPS. Deep rosters leverage Sparxie selectively; limited rosters need Yao Guang's consistency.

Universal Applicability vs Niche Excellence

Yao Guang's design prioritizes broad applicability—works in Physical, Elation, hypercarry, balanced teams. Support capabilities scale with ally quality, ensuring relevance across patches.

Sparxie's niche excellence creates higher peaks but narrower applicability. Optimal scenarios (Fire-weak Pure Fiction, Elation teams, E2+ investment): outperforms most DPS. Outside these: underperforms generalist options.

Meta verdict: Yao Guang = safer, more efficient investment for 80%+ players. Sparxie serves as luxury for players with established rosters seeking specialized tools. First-time Elation investors prioritize Yao Guang; E2 Yao Guang owners can consider Sparxie as complementary DPS.

Investment ROI Analysis

ROI calculations account for opportunity cost—every pull on eidolons = pull not spent on new characters, LCs, future banners. Efficient investment maximizes account power per jade spent.

Yao Guang E0 to E2 (worst-case 360 pulls, 57,600 jades): 18-24% team DPS increase. Translates to ~0.05-0.067% DPS/pull—competitive with most DPS acquisitions. Universal applicability multiplies value across multiple teams.

Sparxie E0 to E2 (360 pulls): 40-50% personal DPS increase but only in Fire-favorable scenarios. Accounting for 60-70% content applicability, effective gain = 24-35% averaged. Yields 0.067-0.097% DPS/pull—superior on paper but less reliable in practice.

Cost-Per-Performance

Yao Guang E2's 18-24% team DPS affects all four members. If each contributes 25% damage, buff increases three allies' output (fourth = Yao Guang herself). Translates to ~13.5-18% total team damage (0.75 × 18-24%), costing 160 jades per 1% damage (57,600 ÷ 13.5-18%).

Sparxie E2's 40-50% personal DPS affects only her contribution. If she contributes 40% team damage at E2 (up from 25% E0), team gain = 15% total (40% - 25%). Costs 192 jades per 1% damage (57,600 ÷ 15%)—20% less efficient than Yao Guang despite higher personal gains.

LC investments alter calculations. Yao Guang's signature LC costs worst-case 130 pulls (20,800 jades) for ~25% personal damage, translating to 5-6% team damage. Sparxie's signature costs same for 35-40% personal damage, yielding 10-12% team damage. Both LCs offer superior jade efficiency vs eidolons, making them priority before E2.

F2P Recommendations

F2P earns 37-43 pulls/patch, accumulating 180 pulls every 4.2-4.9 patches. Income supports one new 5-star every 4-5 patches or one E2 every 8-10 patches. E2 opportunity cost = 2-3 foregone characters.

Optimal F2P strategy: Secure E0 Yao Guang initial banner (Feb 12-Mar 6, 2026), skip Sparxie, save for future meta DPS/supports. Yao Guang's 80% E0 potential provides sufficient performance. Rerun (expected 6-9 months) offers E2 after establishing broader roster.

Alternative: Skip both, save for 4.1/4.2 meta shifts. Elation characters require team synergies—acquiring Yao Guang without Elation DPS partners limits value. Future banners offering complete team cores may provide better value.

Dolphin Strategy (E0-E2 Range)

Monthly Pass holders earn 91-97 pulls/patch, reaching guaranteed featured characters every 1.9-2.0 patches. Income supports E2 every 3.5-4 patches.

Yao Guang E2 benefits all Elation teams plus Physical comps—highest-value support eidolon in 4.0. Dolphins should prioritize if owning/planning Elation DPS. 18-24% team DPS applies across multiple teams.

Sparxie E2 serves as secondary priority for dolphins with Yao Guang E2 needing Fire DPS. Makes sense only if lacking Fire coverage (no Himeko/Asta/Topaz) and frequently encountering Fire-weak content.

Monthly+Express holders (99-105 pulls/patch) can pursue both E0 Yao Guang and E0 Sparxie within single patch with average luck, or guarantee one E2 every 3.4-3.6 patches. Recommended: E0 Yao Guang Phase 1, evaluate, then decide between E0 Sparxie or saving for Yao Guang rerun E2.

Whale Considerations

Whales pursuing max power should target Yao Guang E2 minimum, E4 optimal. E2 provides essential team buffs, E4's 150% Aha turn damage creates satisfying bursts. E6 offers marginal improvements (30-35% gain over E4) at extreme cost (additional 540 pulls).

Sparxie's whale stopping point = E4, where Ultimate gains +36% Elation DMG and +25% temporary Elation. Delivers 70-80% E6 performance at 50% cost. E6's additional instances create visual spectacle but limited practical benefit—30-instance display cap wastes excess.

Signature LC investments take priority over high eidolons. Yao Guang's LC provides 25% personal damage for 130 pulls, while E4 (beyond E2) costs 180 pulls for similar gains. Sparxie's LC offers 35-40% personal damage, outvaluing E1 entirely. Secure S1 LCs before pursuing E4+.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: Higher Eidolons Always Mean Better Value

Eidolon value depends on baseline functionality and power spike distribution. Characters with high E0 potential (Yao Guang's 80%) gain less from eidolons than low-baseline (Sparxie's 65-70%).

Sparxie's E0 to E2 jump (40-50% personal damage) exceeds most DPS eidolons because E0 baseline sits low. However, doesn't make Sparxie E2 more valuable than Yao Guang E2—latter's team-wide buffs and universal applicability provide superior account-level improvements despite smaller percentage gains.

Lesson: Evaluate eidolons based on absolute performance improvement and content applicability, not percentage increases. 50% boost to character functioning in 60% content provides less value than 20% boost to character viable in 90% content.

Misunderstanding Team Synergy Requirements

Elation characters demand specific compositions. Yao Guang's Elation sharing and Punchline scale with team Elation count—pairing with non-Elation wastes potential. Players acquiring Yao Guang without Elation DPS partners experience 30-40% lower performance, leading to false conclusions.

Sparxie's Engagement Farming requires allies consuming SP frequently. Pairing with SP-positive supports (Tingyun/Huohuo) or SP-neutral DPS (Kafka/Sampo) starves generation, creating resource droughts.

Solution: Evaluate characters within intended team contexts. Yao Guang's value assumes Elation allies; Sparxie requires SP-hungry DPS. Lacking prerequisites = skip or adjust expectations.

Overvaluing Theoretical DPS vs Practical Performance

Damage calculations assume perfect rotations, optimal RNG, uninterrupted sequences. Real gameplay involves enemy interrupts, suboptimal Punchline distribution, SP constraints reducing theoretical DPS 20-30%. Consistent, reliable damage patterns outperform high-variance options despite lower spreadsheet numbers.

Yao Guang's randomized Elation Skill creates variance—sometimes all five instances hit priority targets, other times scatter inefficiently. Average damage remains consistent, but individual runs show 30-40% variance.

Sparxie's Engagement Farming depends on ally SP consumption timing. Optimal play sequences abilities to maximize procs, but enemy actions disrupt rotations. Practical damage sits 15-25% below theoretical maximums.

Light Cone Dependency Misconceptions

Signature LCs provide substantial boosts but rarely constitute mandatory investments. Yao Guang loses ~25% personal damage without LC but retains full support capabilities—Elation sharing, RES PEN, Punchline generation function identically. Alternative LCs like Memories of the Past provide 70-80% signature performance at zero cost.

Sparxie shows higher LC dependency due to DPS role. Signature LC's +48% CRIT DMG and DEF ignore contribute 35-40% damage output. Without it, requires perfect relic substats to reach competitive CRIT ratios. However, F2P options like Swordplay provide 60-70% signature performance.

Misconception: Signature LCs required for viability. Reality: Signature LCs optimize but rarely transform non-functional characters into viable ones. Prioritize character acquisition and key eidolons (E2) before pursuing signature LCs.

Decision Framework: Which Character to Pull?

Choosing between Yao Guang and Sparxie requires evaluating roster composition, available jades, content priorities, long-term goals.

Decision tree starts with roster assessment: Do you own Elation DPS or plan to acquire them? If yes, Yao Guang becomes high priority. If no, both lose substantial value.

Secondary: What's your Fire and Physical coverage? Players lacking Fire DPS may find Sparxie valuable despite limitations. Those with built Himeko/Asta/Topaz gain less from redundant Fire coverage.

Account Assessment

Strong Elation rosters (2+ Elation characters or planning acquisitions): Prioritize Yao Guang E0 minimum, E2 optimal. Universal buffs multiply with each Elation ally. Roster with Sparxie, Dan Heng PT, future Elation releases gains 40-50% more value from Yao Guang.

Weak Elation rosters (0-1 Elation, no acquisition plans): Skip both or acquire Yao Guang E0 as speculative investment. Physical support provides baseline value without Elation synergies. Sparxie's DPS role demands Elation teammates. Saving for future patches offering complete Elation cores often yields better results.

Established rosters with meta DPS (Seele/Jingliu/Dan Heng IL): Benefit from Yao Guang's RES PEN and SPD buffs even outside Elation teams. 20% All-Type RES PEN applies universally, increasing all damage 12-15%.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Meta

Short-term (4.0-4.2): Heavily favors Elation due to MoC and Pure Fiction mechanics rewarding Punchline. Yao Guang's immediate impact justifies investment for current content. E2 enables competitive clears across all endgame modes.

Long-term (4.3+): Uncertain. HoYoverse historically introduces new paths/mechanics every 3-4 patches, potentially shifting focus away from Elation. Heavy Elation investments risk obsolescence if 4.3 introduces path countering/replacing Elation. Conservative investors limit to E0-E2 range, preserving resources for meta adaptations.

Future-proofing favors Yao Guang over Sparxie. Support characters maintain relevance longer than DPS—Bronya/Ruan Mei/Sparkle remain meta-viable 6-12 months post-release, while DPS like Seele/Blade declined within 3-6 months. Yao Guang's support role and universal RES PEN suggest longer meta lifespan.

Eidolon Planning for Reruns

Rerun banners typically occur 6-9 months after initial release. Optimal strategy: Secure E0 initial banner, evaluate performance over 2-3 patches, pursue E2 on rerun if valuable. Minimizes regret while maintaining progression.

Yao Guang's Feb 12-Mar 6 initial banner provides 22 days to accumulate pulls and evaluate early testing. Uncertain players can wait until week 2-3, review endgame clear data, commit based on proven performance. Rerun (expected Aug-Nov 2026) offers E2 after observing 4.1-4.2 meta developments.

Sparxie's Mar 6-26 Phase 2 banner benefits from Yao Guang's testing period—observe Yao Guang performance, evaluate Elation viability, make informed Sparxie decisions. If Yao Guang underperforms or Elation proves non-competitive, skip Sparxie. If Elation dominates, Sparxie's value increases proportionally.

Final Verdict by Player Type

F2P (37-43 pulls/patch): Prioritize Yao Guang E0, skip Sparxie. Yao Guang's 80% E0 potential and universal applicability provide max value for limited budgets. Save for future meta DPS/supports complementing Yao Guang.

Monthly Pass (91-97 pulls/patch): Target Yao Guang E0 initial banner, evaluate, pursue E2 on rerun if satisfied. Consider Sparxie E0 only if secured Yao Guang E2 and lack Fire DPS. Avoid splitting resources between both at E0—focused investment outperforms diversified mediocrity.

Monthly+Express (99-105 pulls/patch): Secure Yao Guang E0 Phase 1, choose between Sparxie E0 (roster diversity) or saving for Yao Guang E2 rerun (focused power). Established rosters favor latter; foundational teams favor former.

Dolphins: Invest Yao Guang E2 as highest priority, evaluate Sparxie E2 based on remaining budget and Fire coverage. Yao Guang E2 provides superior account-wide improvements. Sparxie E2 serves as specialized optimization for Fire-weak content.

Whales: Secure Yao Guang E4 and Sparxie E4 with signature LCs. Both reach performance peaks at E4, E6 offering marginal improvements at extreme cost. Invest both to maximize Elation team potential.

Optimizing Pulls with buffget

Strategic resource management separates efficient accounts from those struggling with jade shortages. Understanding pull mechanics, pity systems, resource accumulation enables informed decisions maximizing account power per dollar/hour invested.

5-star base rate 0.6% with soft pity at pull 74, hard pity at 90. Statistical analysis shows average acquisition at 75-80 pulls. Budget for 80 pulls per 5-star for realistic expectations. 50/50 system introduces variance—winning guarantees featured character, losing requires up to 180 total pulls.

Resource income varies: F2P earns 37-43 pulls monthly through events/dailies/endgame. Monthly Pass adds 54 pulls. Express Supply Pass contributes 8 pulls monthly. These streams determine realistic eidolon timelines and acquisition rates.

How buffget Enhances Progression

Players seeking accelerated progression can leverage buffget for secure stellar jade and Oneiric Shard acquisitions. Platform offers competitive pricing vs official channels, fast delivery ensuring resources arrive before banner expiration, secure transaction processing protecting account safety.

buffget's wide game coverage means managing multiple gacha investments through single platform, streamlining resource management. Excellent customer service assists with transaction issues, delivery delays, account concerns. High user ratings demonstrate consistent service quality and reliability.

For major eidolon investments like Yao Guang E2 or Sparxie E4, buffget's bulk purchase options provide cost savings vs incremental official purchases. Promotional events often coincide with major updates, offering additional discounts during high-demand periods like 4.0's launch. Players can buy Oneiric Shards to ensure optimal LC and eidolon investments.

Strategic Resource Management

Effective eidolon planning requires tracking pity counters, calculating worst-case costs, maintaining resource buffers for unexpected opportunities. Players pursuing Yao Guang E2 should accumulate 360 pulls before beginning, ensuring guaranteed acquisition regardless of luck. Starting with insufficient resources risks incomplete investments—securing E1 but lacking pulls for E2 wastes initial investment's potential.

Rerun strategy spreads costs across 6-9 months, making high eidolons accessible without sacrificing roster diversity. Secure E0 initial banner (worst-case 180 pulls), accumulate resources over 3-4 patches (270-420 pulls for Monthly+Express), complete E2 on rerun. Maintains steady progression while pursuing focused investments.

Banner timing matters—Phase 1 characters (Yao Guang, Feb 12-Mar 6) provide 22 days for resource accumulation and decision-making. Phase 2 (Sparxie, Mar 6-26) offers 20 days but benefits from Phase 1 testing data. Uncertain investors should wait until week 2-3, review community performance data, commit based on proven results vs theoretical potential.

FAQ

Is Yao Guang better than Sparxie in 4.0?

Yao Guang provides superior universal value through support capabilities, 20% All-Type RES PEN, 80% E0 baseline. Functions effectively across 90%+ endgame, requires lower eidolon investment (E2 optimal) vs Sparxie's E2 minimum. Sparxie excels in Fire-weak scenarios with higher personal damage ceilings but applies to only 60-70% content. For most players, Yao Guang = safer, more efficient investment.

Which eidolons are worth getting for Yao Guang?

E2 (Blind Arrows) provides highest value—zone allies +12% SPD, +16% Elation for 18-24% team DPS increases. Optimal stopping point for dolphins and focused investors. E0 remains fully functional at 80% potential, viable for F2P. E1 offers QoL and 20% personal damage but isn't essential. E4/E6 serve whale-tier optimization with diminishing returns vs E0-E2.

Should I pull Sparxie or save for Yao Guang?

Prioritize Yao Guang unless you've secured her E2 and need Fire DPS coverage. Yao Guang's universal applicability, lower eidolon requirements, support role provide broader account improvements. Sparxie functions as specialized Fire DPS requiring higher investment (E2 minimum) and specific teams (Elation allies, SP-hungry DPS). Building foundational rosters = acquire Yao Guang first; established teams can consider Sparxie as complementary DPS.

How much does Yao Guang E1 improve performance?

E1 grants second Aha trigger at 40 Punchline, Elation Skill +20% DEF ignore. Increases personal damage 20-25%, provides situational extra turns in extended fights. Benefits players pursuing eventual E2 but offers limited value as standalone stopping point. F2P should skip E1, save for E2 on reruns. Dolphins can consider E1 if planning guaranteed E2 acquisition.

What are eidolon breaking points for Sparxie?

E2 (#AudienceKnows) = critical breaking point—extra turns with +2 Thrill stacks for 40-50% personal damage increases. Transforms from serviceable (65-70% potential E0) to competitive (85-90% E2). E4 offers next spike with +36% Ultimate Elation DMG, reaching 95% potential. E1 provides team RES PEN but lower individual value than E2. Target E0 or E2, avoid E1-only investments wasting resources without reaching functional thresholds.

Can Sparxie replace standard Sparkle in all teams?

No—fundamentally different roles. Standard Sparkle = Harmony support providing CRIT DMG buffs, action advancement, SP generation for hypercarry teams. Sparxie = Fire Elation DPS with resource generation, contributing 40-50% team damage vs enabling single carry. Sparxie requires Elation allies and SP-hungry DPS; standard Sparkle works universally. They complement rather than replace, often appearing together in optimal Elation comps.

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