Apsaras

About classes | Class list | Skill list | Extended Mastery

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Class Data
Class line	Lancer ⇢ Dragoon ⇢ Valkyrie ⇢ Apsaras
Description	Dance and flow along the currents of the winds as you glide your way to victory.
Style		Specialty
Prerequisites	CP ×2,500 Cavalryman Distinction ×20 Superior LancerRewards Crystal ×50
Level BonusesLevel bonuses are earned with levels 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20.	Lvl 1 ATK +1000   Total: ATK +2000 DA +10% TA +10% Lvl 5 DA +5% Lvl 10  ATK +1000 Lvl 15 TA +5% Lvl 20 DA +5% TA +5%
Master Bonuses	Inhibit Overdrive +1% and Double attack rate +1%
Class Weapon	Helmwige
Release date	?	Other sites
Support Skills
Swim Like a Bird, Fly Like a Fish	5% boost to both ATKNormal modifier and DEF. Spear: 10% boost to double attack rate and 5% boost to triple attack rate. Axe: 80% bonus elemental damage for non-multiattacks.
Crisis Blow	Boost to  Resonating SurgeElemental damage to one enemy and gain 25% Skill DMG Up (Stackable)Skill DMG is boosted Strength: 25% (Max: 200%)Duration: 6 turnsAdditive modifier.'s damage.
Base Multiattack Rates
Base DA RateIncluding Support Skills/Level Bonuses	20%	Base TA RateIncluding Support Skills/Level Bonuses	15%
Recommended Extended Mastery Perks
Attack, DA Up, Debuff Success
Recommended Subskills
Extended Mastery Skills:  Swan SongAll parties gain 10% Charge Bar Gain UpCharge bar gain is boosted Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns. Spear: All parties gain 80% / 20% Critical Hit Rate UpDMG is slightly boosted for critical hits Strength: 80% chance of dealing 20% more damage.Duration: 3 turns. Axe: All allies gain DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP Strength: (Healing cap: 800)Duration: 3 turns and 10% Debuff Success BoostedDebuff success rate is boosted Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.: A bread & butter skill for Apsaras, since it helps in boosting the party's charge bar.  Springwater RobeGain Mirror Image (2 times)Next one-to-one attack received will be ineffective (Effect removed on next all-foe all-ally attack) and Springwater RobeOn next skill cast, both spear and axe effects activate Duration: 3 turns or until a skill with Spear/Axe effects is used.: Useful for activating Double Trouble's DA/TA with an Axe mainhand or Thunder on the Water's charge boost with a Spear.  RandgrithInflict 25% DEF DownDEF is lowered Strength: 25%Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Single.: A strong defense debuff capable of capping with Mist, may not be useful in raids where other debuffers are available. Subskills:  Miserable MistInflict 25% ATK DownATK is lowered Strength: 25%Base Accuracy: 80%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Dual and 25% DEF DownDEF is lowered Strength: 25%Base Accuracy: 80%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Dual on all foes.: Good utility for solo content without party members with comparable skills, might be not useful in a raid where other debuffers are available.  Double Trouble IIIGain 100% TA UpTriple attack rate is boosted Strength: 100%Duration: 1 turn . Spear: All parties gain 10% DA UpDouble attack rate is boosted Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turnsWithout other buffs and 5~10% TA UpTriple attack rate is boosted Strength: 5~10%Duration: 3 turnsMaximum effect at 3 buffs.. Axe: Inflict DA DownDouble attack rate is lowered and TA DownTriple attack rate is lowered on one enemy.: A good DA/TA source with spear as main hand, and good debuff for axe mainhand. Guaranteed TA for more CA bar generation.  Double Trouble IIGain 100% DA UpDouble attack rate is boosted Strength: 100%Duration: 1 turn . Spear: All parties gain DA UpDouble attack rate is boosted Strength: MediumDuration: 3 turns. Axe: Inflict DA DownDouble attack rate is lowered Strength: MediumDuration: 3 turns on a foe.: For further DA source.  DispelRemoves 1 buff from a foe. /  ClarityRemove 1 debuff from all parties.: Apsaras with spear as mainhand tends to be a support class, it's usually required to bring at least one of these subskills in certain raids or solo content.

Skills

Icon	Skill Name	Effect	C/DCooldown in Turns	DurDuration in Turns or Seconds	SubSubskill usable on other classes	LVLClass level required	Notes
	Thunder on the Water	300% elemental damage to one enemy. (Damage cap: ~640,000.) Spear: Inflict Break Boosted (Time)Break mode time is extended to one enemy in Break. All parties gain 10% Skill DMG UpSkill DMG is boosted Strength: 10%Duration: 2 turns. Axe: Mode bar cut to one enemy in Overdrive. All allies gain Charge Bar +20%Instantly boosts Charge Bar by 20% Strength: 20%.	5T	2T	No	1

Extended Mastery Skills

Icon	Skill Name	Effect	C/DCooldown	DurDuration	EMPCost in EMP	Notes
	Swan Song	All parties gain 10% Charge Bar Gain UpCharge bar gain is boosted Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns. Spear: All parties gain 80% / 20% Critical Hit Rate UpDMG is slightly boosted for critical hits Strength: 80% chance of dealing 20% more damage.Duration: 3 turns. Axe: All allies gain DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP Strength: (Healing cap: 800)Duration: 3 turns and 10% Debuff Success BoostedDebuff success rate is boosted Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.	9T	3T	20
	Dance of Zeal	Gain DevotionThe ally with the highest remaining HP takes one-ally attacks in your place Duration: 3 turns. All other allies gain 50% ATK UpATK is boosted Strength: 50%Duration: 3 turns and 20% DEF DownDEF is lowered Strength: 20%Duration: 3 turns.	8T	3T	5	The 20% DEF DownDEF is lowered Strength: 20%Duration: 3 turns debuff can be removed with  ClarityRemove 1 debuff from all parties. or other debuff removal skills. Veil does not circumvent self-inflicted debuffs.
	Springwater Robe	Gain Mirror Image (2 times)Next one-to-one attack received will be ineffective (Effect removed on next all-foe all-ally attack) and Springwater RobeOn next skill cast, both spear and axe effects activate Duration: 3 turns or until a skill with Spear/Axe effects is used.	6T	3T	10
	Crestfallen Flower	Gain 50% Debuff Res. UpDebuff resistance is boosted Strength: 50%Duration: 3 turns. Spear: All allies gain StrengthATK is greatly boosted based on how high HP is Strength: 20%-10%Duration: 3 turns20% when above 50% HP Below 50% HP, strength decreases linearly until 10% minimum. Axe: All allies gain JammedATK is greatly boosted based on how low HP is Strength: 10%-20%Duration: 3 turns20% when below 50% HP Above 50%, strength decreases linearly until 10% at 100% HP.	6T	3T	30
	Lightning Strike	Spear-specialty allies gain Guaranteed TAGuaranteed triple attack regardless of Triple Attack Lowered debuffs Duration: 1 turn . Axe-specialty allies gain 15% DMG AmplifiedDMG for one-foe attacks and counterattacks is amplified Strength: 15%Duration: 3 turns.	6T	1T / 3T	50

Assessment

Apsaras is a support class which boasts the one of the highest innate multiattack rates, right after Drum Master and Luchador and rivaled only by Runeslayer. Like the previous classes in its line, Apsaras has bonus effects in its skills that activate depending on whether an Axe or Spear is equipped as the main weapon. Equipping Helmwige activates both Spear and Axe effects at once, including the class support skill, bringing them to their full potential. The EM skill  Springwater RobeGain Mirror Image (2 times)Next one-to-one attack received will be ineffective
(Effect removed on next all-foe all-ally attack)
and Springwater RobeOn next skill cast, both spear and axe effects activate
Duration: 3 turns or until a skill with Spear/Axe effects is used. is an alternative to Helmwige, but only affects the next applicable skill.

The class has a range of powerful main weapon options, such as True Conviction Flashspear, True Infernal Flamescythe or Hermanubis, but faces some competition in class options. Compared to the other high-level Spear-proficient classes (Spartan, Cavalier and Sage), Apsaras is the most offense-oriented, Spartan provides the best defense against single-turn damage, Sage provides the best healing, and Cavalier (with a Spear) provides the strongest tanking and countering abilities against enemy normal attacks.

In the Axe-specialty department, Apsaras' competition are Berserker and Lumberjack. While Apsaras carries a wider range of party-wide buffs, Berserker generally has better damage potential and its Sword proficiency is easier to build an Ultima or Hollowsky weapon team around. Lumberjack competes with Apsaras more directly as a support class, and while it needs more ramp-up time, its abilities are much better for solo play or long battles than Apsaras is.

Skills

•  Thunder on the Water300% elemental damage to one enemy. (Damage cap: ~640,000.)
  Spear: Inflict Break Boosted (Time)Break mode time is extended
  to one enemy in Break.
  All parties gain 10% Skill DMG UpSkill DMG is boosted
  Strength: 10%Duration: 2 turns.
  Axe: Mode bar cut to one enemy in Overdrive.
  All allies gain Charge Bar +20%Instantly boosts Charge Bar by 20%
  Strength: 20%.: A serviceable skill, but its Axe effect is far better in the game's current state. Its inherent damage is decent, but not particularly notable. Some players may find themselves never using this skill outside of its axe effects.
  • Spear: Most players who can unlock Apsaras will likely have grids strong enough to make 10% Skill DMG UpSkill DMG is boosted
    Strength: 10%Duration: 2 turns useless, as it doesn't boost Skill DMG Cap. Many HL raids will reset mode bar at certain HP triggers, nullifying the effects of Break Boosted (Time)Break mode time is extended
    and lowering its value and Break states are far more likely to break to damage dealt anyway.
  • Axe: Charge Bar +20%Instantly boosts Charge Bar by 20%
    Strength: 20% is always helpful, and while the cut to mode bar is negligible, it scales slightly better into later-game raids with long Overdrive gauges. Be sure to use  Swan SongAll parties gain 10% Charge Bar Gain UpCharge bar gain is boosted
    Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.
    Spear: All parties gain 80% / 20% Critical Hit Rate UpDMG is slightly boosted for critical hits
    Strength: 80% chance of dealing 20% more damage.Duration: 3 turns.
    Axe: All allies gain DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP
    Strength: (Healing cap: 800)Duration: 3 turns and 10% Debuff Success BoostedDebuff success rate is boosted
    Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns. first for the extra charge bar gain if you take that skill.
•  Swan SongAll parties gain 10% Charge Bar Gain UpCharge bar gain is boosted
  Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.
  Spear: All parties gain 80% / 20% Critical Hit Rate UpDMG is slightly boosted for critical hits
  Strength: 80% chance of dealing 20% more damage.Duration: 3 turns.
  Axe: All allies gain DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP
  Strength: (Healing cap: 800)Duration: 3 turns and 10% Debuff Success BoostedDebuff success rate is boosted
  Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.: A useful support skill that affects all parties' charge bar gain. However, its low strength and lengthy cooldown makes it less desirable compared to skills with shorter cooldowns or character skills with stronger effects.
  • Spear: A relatively reliable Crit buff is always welcome, but doesn't have any explicit synergy with other skills.
  • Axe: Enjoys more synergy with Thunder on the Water300% elemental damage to one enemy. (Damage cap: ~640,000.)
    Spear: Inflict Break Boosted (Time)Break mode time is extended
    to one enemy in Break.
    All parties gain 10% Skill DMG UpSkill DMG is boosted
    Strength: 10%Duration: 2 turns.
    Axe: Mode bar cut to one enemy in Overdrive.
    All allies gain Charge Bar +20%Instantly boosts Charge Bar by 20%
    Strength: 20%.'s Axe effect and provides some party utility via DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP
    and Debuff Success BoostedDebuff success rate is boosted
    .
•  Dance of ZealGain DevotionThe ally with the highest remaining HP takes one-ally attacks in your place
  Duration: 3 turns.
  All other allies gain 50% ATK UpATK is boosted
  Strength: 50%Duration: 3 turns and 20% DEF DownDEF is lowered
  Strength: 20%Duration: 3 turns. is the most situational Extended Mastery Skill that depends heavily on the fight, your main weapon, and team.
  • Its 50% ATK UpATK is boosted
    Strength: 50% buff is strong, but only effects party members besides the MC. If you need a party-wide ATK up, Rage IIIAll parties gain 30% ATK UpATK is boosted
    Strength: 30%Duration: 3 turns. may provide a lower 30% ATK UpATK is boosted
    Strength: 30% effect, but it also has a lower cooldown, affects the MC as well as all other raid participants, and does not self-inflict DEF Down.
  • DevotionThe ally with the highest remaining HP takes one-ally attacks in your place
    shines when the MC must not be hit in order to maintain a buff or trigger an effect, such as High TensionHype lvl increases each turn / Ends upon taking DMG (Max hype lvl 4)
    -style buffs or certain weapon skills such as Helmwige (Humanity) or True Conviction Flashspear's. However, Devotion's poor uptime (3 turns vs. its 8-turn cooldown) means you need other character abilities to fill in the gaps, and it cannot redirect damage from all-ally attacks. Combos well with  EinherjarGain 20% ATK Up (Stackable / Max: 100%)ATK is boosted on every turn
    Strength: 20% (Max: 100%)Multiplier: Unique StackableDuration: Until hit. for up to double damage with enough time to build up.
  • Consider bringing  ClarityRemove 1 debuff from all parties. or a character with debuff clearing abilities if you expect to take heavy damage.

•  Crestfallen FlowerGain 50% Debuff Res. UpDebuff resistance is boosted
  Strength: 50%Duration: 3 turns.
  Spear: All allies gain StrengthATK is greatly boosted based on how high HP is
  Strength: 20%-10%Duration: 3 turns20% when above 50% HP
  Below 50% HP, strength decreases linearly until 10% minimum.
  Axe: All allies gain JammedATK is greatly boosted based on how low HP is
  Strength: 10%-20%Duration: 3 turns20% when below 50% HP
  Above 50%, strength decreases linearly until 10% at 100% HP. provides useful damage buffs but is hampered by its low values. Certain elements typically favor one buff or the other, making the skill pickier about your main weapon than Apsaras' other options. However, when used with Springwater RobeGain Mirror Image (2 times)Next one-to-one attack received will be ineffective
  (Effect removed on next all-foe all-ally attack)
  and Springwater RobeOn next skill cast, both spear and axe effects activate
  Duration: 3 turns or until a skill with Spear/Axe effects is used. or Helmwige, both modifiers are multiplied with each other, and the party's damage output becomes more well-rounded regardless of health. The skill is more useful against enemies that debuff your party upon using special attacks, as the party gains a 50% chance of avoiding the debuff.

•  Springwater RobeGain Mirror Image (2 times)Next one-to-one attack received will be ineffective
  (Effect removed on next all-foe all-ally attack)
  and Springwater RobeOn next skill cast, both spear and axe effects activate
  Duration: 3 turns or until a skill with Spear/Axe effects is used. is useful as long as you don't have Helmwige in that element—which means it's useful in most situations. Mirror ImageNext one-to-one attack received will be ineffective
  (Effect removed on next all-foe all-ally attack)
  is a slightly situational, but potentially very useful, bonus that works well with SubstituteGain SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  Duration: 1 turn . for negating single-target charge attacks or triggers.

•  Lightning StrikeSpear-specialty allies gain Guaranteed TAGuaranteed Triple Attack regardless of Triple Attack Lowered debuffs
  Duration: 1 turn .
  Axe-specialty allies gain 15% DMG AmplifiedDMG for one-foe attacks and counterattacks is amplified
  Strength: 15%Duration: 3 turns. provides a burst of extra power for the whole team, provided your characters have Spear and/or Axe specialties. The skill can be used with a mixed Spear/Axe team, but shines as a way to provide power to single-weapon teams using Ultima/Hollowsky weapons.
  • The Spear effect lends itself to use in teams built around a burst turn, especially those with access to skill resets from summons like Qilin and Aphrodite. Spear teams using Lightning Strike should bring sources of Bonus Damage and Supplemental Damage for maximum effectiveness. ( Hollowsky Spear, for example, shines for its passive Supplemental Damage when characters are above 80% HP.)
  • The Axe effect provides a strong damage increase on a 50% uptime, but characters with Axe-specialty are relatively rare and few elements can build an all-Axe lineup.
  • Unlike Apsaras' other skills, this skill doesn't require Helmwige or Springwater Robe; as long as the character has both weapon specialties, they will get both effects. That said, besides the MC who automatically qualifies, few characters are applicable for both effects.

Recommended Main Weapons

Apsaras' Class Champion Weapon Helmwige allows its skills to reach their full potential, but suffers from rather dated Emblem effects that provide meager gains for their time and resource investment. Combined with other powerful, farmable options, and Apsaras is a class that can largely work without its CCW.

Helmwige's Emblems:

• Devilry: Also grants 30% Bonus DMGDeals bonus DMG for one-foe one-ally attacks
  Strength: 30%Duration: 5 turns to other allies upon using Dance of Zeal. However, considering that Dance of Zeal is already a highly situational skill, it's a large investment for a single element.
• Divinity: Also grants 45% C.A. DMG Up (1 time)Charge attack DMG is boosted (1 time)
  Strength: 45% upon using Swan Song. Because it does not grant a boost to C.A. DMG Cap, however, it scales poorly with player progression.
• Humanity: Boosts the Main Character's multiattack rate every turn (Ends upon taking damage). Can be combined with Dance of Zeal's DevotionThe ally with the highest remaining HP takes one-ally attacks in your place
  and/or characters with innate boost to Hostility to draw attacks away from the MC. However, this emblem's overall effectiveness will vary greatly depending on the battle as well as the player's grid.

Alternatives to Helmwige:

• True Infernal Flamescythe (Axe): A powerful, farmable weapon from Xeno Ifrit Clash. The main perk of this weapon (even in its base form, Xeno Infernal Flamescythe) is its charge attack's party-wide DA UpDouble attack rate is boosted
  and TA UpTriple attack rate is boosted
  buffs (30% in True form, unknown amount for Xeno form).  Swan SongAll parties gain 10% Charge Bar Gain UpCharge bar gain is boosted
  Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.
  Spear: All parties gain 80% / 20% Critical Hit Rate UpDMG is slightly boosted for critical hits
  Strength: 80% chance of dealing 20% more damage.Duration: 3 turns.
  Axe: All allies gain DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP
  Strength: (Healing cap: 800)Duration: 3 turns and 10% Debuff Success BoostedDebuff success rate is boosted
  Strength: 10%Duration: 3 turns.'s Axe effect can slightly increase True Infernal Flamescythe's BurnedHP is lowered on every turn
  chance.
• Bident (Spear): A farmable weapon from Proving Grounds (Water enemies). It directly benefits from characters that have Axe specialty, as  Lightning StrikeSpear-specialty allies gain Guaranteed TAGuaranteed Triple Attack regardless of Triple Attack Lowered debuffs
  Duration: 1 turn .
  Axe-specialty allies gain 15% DMG AmplifiedDMG for one-foe attacks and counterattacks is amplified
  Strength: 15%Duration: 3 turns.'s 15% DMG AmplifiedDMG for one-foe attacks and counterattacks is amplified
  Strength: 15%Duration: 3 turns (Axe effect) increases damage dealt by countering.
• True Conviction Flashspear (Spear): A farmable weapon from Xeno Sagittarius Clash. Its second weapon skill notably works well with  Dance of ZealGain DevotionThe ally with the highest remaining HP takes one-ally attacks in your place
  Duration: 3 turns.
  All other allies gain 50% ATK UpATK is boosted
  Strength: 50%Duration: 3 turns and 20% DEF DownDEF is lowered
  Strength: 20%Duration: 3 turns.'s DevotionThe ally with the highest remaining HP takes one-ally attacks in your place
  , and Horseman's ArcMultiattack rate is boosted and stacks after every turn
  ramps up rather quickly so MC getting hit by a stray attack isn't too big of a deal.

Resources

• Reddit Class Discussion (2019-07-23)
• Reddit Class Discussion (2020-04-23) (post-March 2020 EMP Update)