Wuthering Waves’ latest update introduces Cantarella, a unique 5-star Havoc Rectifier who blends healing and damage-dealing capabilities. This versatile character brings a fresh dynamic to team compositions, offering players new strategic options. Let’s dive into Cantarella’s abilities, optimal builds, and team synergies to help you make the most of this intriguing new addition to the roster.
Cantarella’s Unique Mechanics
Cantarella’s gameplay revolves around two key resources: Trance and Shiver. Understanding how to manage these effectively is crucial to maximizing her potential.
Trance Management
Cantarella can accumulate up to 5 Trance stacks. You gain Trance through:
- Landing the third hit of her basic attack combo
- Using her Resonance Skill
- Activating her Intro Skill
- Triggering her Liberation ability
With at least 1 Trance stack, holding the basic attack button allows Cantarella to perform a Special Charged Attack called Delusive Dive, which initiates her Mirage state.
Mirage State and Shiver Generation
In Mirage state, Cantarella’s abilities transform:
- Basic attacks become Enhanced Basic Attacks (Phantom Sting)
- Resonance Skill changes to Flickering Reverie
Each Enhanced Basic Attack in Mirage state consumes 1 Trance and generates 1 Shiver, up to a maximum of 3 Shivers. Shiver generation triggers healing for nearby team members, making Cantarella an effective sustain provider.
Perception Drain: Cantarella’s Power Spike
When Cantarella accumulates 3 Shivers, her Resonance Skill transforms into Perception Drain. This powerful ability:
- Deals significant Havoc damage
- Applies the Hazy Dream status to enemies (slowing their movement)
- Has an 18-second cooldown
Perception Drain forms the core of Cantarella’s damage potential and should be used whenever available during her rotation.
Optimizing Cantarella’s Build
Weapon Selection
-
Whispers of Sirens (5★) - Cantarella’s signature weapon
- Boosts Basic Attack DMG and ignores a percentage of enemy Havoc resistance
- Note: The buff disappears when switching characters
-
Stringmaster (5★)
- Provides a significant ATK boost when using Resonance Skills
- More flexible for team rotations compared to Whispers of Sirens
-
Rime-Draped Sprouts (5★)
- Offers a solid Basic Attack DMG bonus
- Slightly less effective as Perception Drain doesn’t trigger its stacks
-
Cosmic Ripples (5★)
- Helps with energy regeneration
- Boosts Basic Attack damage
-
Augment (4★)
- A decent F2P option
- Increases ATK after using Resonance Liberation
Echo Set Recommendations
-
Moonlit Clouds (5-piece)
- Ideal for support-oriented builds
- Increases Energy Regeneration
- Boosts ATK of the next Resonator after using Outro Skill
- Main Echo: Impermanence Heron
-
Midnight Veil (5-piece)
- Best for Havoc-focused teams
- Increases Havoc DMG
- Grants 15% Havoc DMG Bonus to the incoming Resonator after Outro Skill
- Main Echo: Lorelei
-
Sun-sinking Eclipse (5-piece)
- Suited for Cantarella as main DPS
- Provides stacking Havoc DMG bonuses after Basic or Heavy Attacks
- Main Echo: Nightmare Crownless
For all sets, prioritize these main stats: CRIT Rate/DMG, Havoc DMG, and ATK%.
Team Compositions
Cantarella’s versatility allows her to fit into various team setups. Here are some effective combinations:
1. Jinhsi Synergy Team
- Jinhsi (Main DPS)
- Cantarella (Sub-DPS/Healer)
- Verina/Shorekeeper (Additional Support)
This team leverages Cantarella’s coordinated attacks to help Jinhsi accumulate Incandescence stacks quickly. Choose Verina for additional ATK buffs or Shorekeeper for more sustain and critical damage bonuses.
2. Mono Havoc Team
- Camellya (Main DPS)
- Roccia (Sub-DPS)
- Cantarella (Sub-DPS/Healer)
This composition maximizes Havoc damage output. Cantarella’s Midnight Veil echo set shines here, boosting the team’s overall Havoc damage potential.
3. Cantarella Hypercarry
- Cantarella (Main DPS)
- Sanhua/Roccia (Support)
- Shorekeeper (Healer)
For players who want to focus on Cantarella as the primary damage dealer. This setup requires heavy investment in Cantarella’s damage-oriented builds.
Mastering Cantarella’s Rotation
To maximize Cantarella’s effectiveness, follow this basic rotation:
Step 1: Start with Intro Skill to gain initial Trance and trigger her Concerto generation passive.
Step 2: Perform a full Basic Attack combo, ending with the third hit to gain another Trance stack.
Step 3: Use Resonance Liberation to gain 3 more Trance stacks and apply Diffusion to teammates.
Step 4: Hold Basic Attack to enter Mirage state with Delusive Dive.
Step 5: Use Enhanced Basic Attacks (Phantom Sting) to generate Shivers while healing the team.
Step 6: Once you have 3 Shivers, use Perception Drain for big damage output.
Step 7: Utilize Outro Skill before switching to your main DPS to maximize damage potential.
Remember, this rotation can be adjusted based on your team composition and the specific demands of each battle situation.
Cantarella brings a fresh playstyle to Wuthering Waves, combining healing support with significant damage potential. Her unique mechanics offer players new strategic options for team building and combat approaches. Whether you choose to build her as a support or push her damage capabilities, Cantarella’s versatility makes her a valuable addition to many team compositions. Experiment with different builds and rotations to find the perfect fit for your playstyle and watch as Cantarella turns the tide of battle with her mesmerizing abilities.