Cerydra
Sovereign of the Northern Empire · Chrysos Heir · Coreflame of Law
Military Merit · Coup de Main · Skill-Copy Hypercarry Support
Sovereign’s Gambit — The Art of the Double Skill
Cerydra is a 5-star Wind Harmony support released in Version 3.5, portrayed as the Sovereign of the fallen Northern Empire — a regal, calculating strategist who wields the Coreflame of “Law.” She is one of the Chrysos Heirs of Amphoreus and functions as a deeply specialized hypercarry enabler. Her defining ability is Coup de Main — a mechanic that copies and immediately triggers her designated ally’s next Skill for free before the ally uses the original, creating a devastating double-Skill burst window.
⚔️ Core Mechanic: Military Merit → Peerage → Coup de Main
Cerydra’s entire kit revolves around a Charge system (maximum 8 points). She uses her Skill to grant one ally the Military Merit buff, which provides an ATK increase equal to 24% of Cerydra’s own ATK. When the Military Merit target uses Basic ATK or Skill, Cerydra gains 1 Charge. Her Ultimate instantly grants 2 Charges and deals Wind DMG to all enemies.
At 6 Charges, Military Merit upgrades to Peerage. In this elevated state, Cerydra unlocks Coup de Main: when the Peerage-buffed ally uses their Skill, Cerydra immediately copies that Skill and executes it first — then the ally uses the original. This creates a double-Skill burst where the ally’s Skill fires twice in rapid succession, doubling their highest-damage action in a single sequence. After Coup de Main activates, 6 Charges are consumed and Peerage reverts to Military Merit.
The copied Skill also benefits from Cerydra’s buffs: +72% CRIT DMG for the Skill DMG and +10.4% All-Type RES PEN while in Peerage state. Combined with Cerydra’s own Additional Wind DMG attacks (up to 20 triggers per cycle from the Military Merit talent), she contributes meaningful personal damage alongside her support role.
⚠️ Cerydra is a Specialist — Know Her Limits
Cerydra’s value is highly concentrated in Skill-centric DPS characters. She provides minimal benefit to units whose primary damage comes from Basic ATK, Follow-Up Attacks, or Ultimates. She is best-in-slot for Phainon and Anaxa, very strong with Archer, and loses significant value with most other DPS. If you do not own these characters, Cerydra is generally skippable in favour of universal supports like Sparkle, Sunday, or Ruan Mei. Pull for Cerydra when you have her ideal partners.
Cerydra requires 4,000+ ATK as her primary stat target because her Military Merit ATK buff scales directly from her own ATK (24% of Cerydra’s ATK given to the ally). Higher Cerydra ATK = stronger Military Merit buff = more ATK for the DPS during their burst window. She also has a CRIT Rate: 100% passive on her own attacks and needs 140+ base SPD (hitting 160+ in combat via her Vici trace) to act before or alongside the carry for consistent buff timing.
Best Light Cones
Epoch Etched in Golden Blood
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Signature · Best-in-SlotCerydra’s signature and her ideal Light Cone. Increases the wearer’s ATK — Cerydra’s most important scaling stat — by a substantial amount, directly improving the Military Merit ATK buff she grants to her carry. When the wearer uses their Skill on an ally, the target’s Skill DMG increases for 3 turns — stacking with Coup de Main for further Skill amplification during the burst window. Most importantly, it recovers 1 Skill Point for the team when the wearer uses Ultimate — critically addressing Cerydra’s SP-intensive nature by partially offsetting her Skill spam cost. A high-value investment that improves both her output and team SP economy.
A Grounded Ascent
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong AltProvides ATK% and SPD bonuses relevant to Cerydra’s needs. The ATK% increase feeds her Military Merit scaling, and SPD helps reach the 160 in-combat SPD threshold faster. A competitive alternative achieving approximately 85–90% of the signature’s value for Cerydra’s supporting role. Recommended as the first choice if pulling her signature isn’t feasible.
Past and Future
⭐⭐⭐⭐ F2P · Strong ValueProvides a targeted 16% DMG buff to the next ally who uses an action after the wearer uses Skill. Given Cerydra’s rotation centers on using Skill on the carry before their Skill, this buff fires precisely as the DPS executes their (now double) Skill — a well-timed amplifier. Free from the Forgotten Hall rewards and widely available. An excellent default option for players without limited 5-star Harmony cones.
The Forever Victual
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Free Event LCObtainable for free from in-game events, providing Energy Regeneration and ATK buffs. ERR helps Cerydra cycle her Ultimate faster to maintain the Charge count needed for Coup de Main, while ATK feeds Military Merit scaling. A solid transitional option that requires no Stellar Jade investment — particularly useful for players who want a dedicated Cerydra Light Cone without premium spending.
Chorus of Stars (4-star Alt)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ATK BufferIncreases wearer’s ATK and provides a conditional buff to allies that mirrors Cerydra’s ATK-scaling support role. The ATK bonus directly enhances Military Merit strength. Lower ceiling than 5-star options but accessible for players who pulled multiple copies from standard banner rolls. Use as a stopgap while saving for superior alternatives.
💡 Signature vs Free Options
The signature’s SP recovery on Ultimate is genuinely impactful. Cerydra is SP-expensive — she uses Skill repeatedly to build Charges. Every SP recovered via her Ultimate eases the team’s SP economy considerably. While A Grounded Ascent provides similar ATK and SPD, it doesn’t address SP pressure the same way. If Cerydra is a long-term roster staple (especially for Phainon teams), the signature is worth the investment. For casual use, Past and Future achieves excellent results for free.
Best Relics & Ornaments
🥇 4-Piece: Sacerdos’ Relived Ordeal (BiS)
Undisputed Best-in-Slot for Cerydra. The 4-piece bonus directly stacks CRIT DMG on the carry she Skill-targets — exactly what hypercarriers like Phainon and Anaxa need during their Coup de Main double-Skill burst window. At maximum 2 stacks (36% CRIT DMG total), this is a significant multiplicative amplifier on the ally’s burst damage. The 6% SPD from 2-piece also helps Cerydra approach the 140 base SPD (160 in-combat) threshold. The CRIT DMG stacking timing is crucial — apply it just before the carry’s action for maximum impact on the double-Skill window.
🥈 4-Piece: Eagle of Twilight Line (Speed Build Alt)
Enables aggressive action cycling for Charge generation. Cerydra needs to reach 6 Charges for Peerage as quickly as possible — and acting more frequently is the primary way to do so. The 25% action advance after each Ultimate means Cerydra cycles back into position faster, allowing more Skill uses on the carry per fight phase. Best for less experienced players who find managing Cerydra’s exact rotation timing challenging, or for teams where the carry generates Charges slowly (e.g., Feixiao who uses Skill less frequently). The 2-piece Wind DMG is largely wasted since Cerydra’s primary contribution is buff scaling.
🌐 Planar Ornaments
📊 Main Stats, Target Values & Charge Progression
| Slot | Best Stat | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Head | HP (fixed) | Focus ATK% and SPD substats |
| Hands | ATK (fixed) | ATK% and SPD substats focus |
| Body | CRIT DMG % | Cerydra has 100% CRIT Rate passive — stack CRIT DMG for personal damage and Sacerdos stacking |
| Boots | SPD | Reach 134+ base SPD (160 in-combat via Vici trace). Never go below 134. |
| Sphere | Wind DMG % or ATK % | Wind DMG% for personal damage. ATK% for team support focus — prioritise ATK% for Phainon teams |
| Rope | ATK % or Energy Regen | ATK% if Military Merit ATK cap (4000) isn’t met. ERR% for faster Ultimate cycling and Charge generation |
⚙️ Charge Progression to Coup de Main
Reach 6 Charges to unlock Peerage and trigger Coup de Main on the carry’s next Skill:
Charge Sources: +1 per Cerydra Skill → +1 when carry uses Basic ATK or Skill (while Military Merit active) → +2 from Cerydra’s Ultimate. Starting combat with Technique pre-applies Military Merit for instant Charge accumulation.
⚠️ Critical Stat Rules for Cerydra
4,000 ATK is the key unlocking threshold. Her A6 Trace (Veni) grants a massive CRIT DMG buff only when Cerydra reaches 4,000 ATK — falling short costs a significant portion of her own damage output. Prioritize ATK% ropes, ATK% spheres, and ATK substats until hitting 4,000. After that, shift focus to CRIT DMG substats.
Never build CRIT Rate on Cerydra. Her passive grants 100% CRIT Rate automatically. Every CRIT Rate substat on gear is 100% wasted — treat it the same as Firefly’s CRIT stats situation. When evaluating relic pieces, filter out CRIT Rate rolls entirely.
134 SPD base is the floor, not the goal. 134 SPD enables her Vici Trace’s +20 SPD boost in combat, reaching ~154 in-combat. The actual goal is 140 base SPD for a comfortable 160+ in-combat threshold. However, never sacrifice significant ATK% for SPD once you’re above 134.
Trace Priority
- Skill (Pawn’s Promotion) — The core of Cerydra’s kit. Each Skill use grants Military Merit to the designated ally, provides Charge, generates the Additional Wind DMG attacks from Talent, and (after 6 Charges) triggers the Coup de Main double-Skill. Every Skill level improves the ATK buff magnitude from Military Merit. Maximum priority — this is the ability Cerydra uses most and where her buffing power concentrates.
- Talent (Ave Imperator) — Governs the Additional Wind DMG attacks Cerydra fires whenever her Military Merit ally acts. Up to 20 instances per cycle reset by Ultimate, these attacks provide Cerydra’s personal damage contribution and add Charge generation opportunities. Higher Talent level = stronger Additional DMG. Secondary only to Skill.
- Ultimate (Scholar’s Mate) — Instantly grants 2 Charges (crucial for reaching Peerage fast), deals Wind AoE DMG, and applies or re-transfers Military Merit if needed. Level increases both the AoE DMG and Charge efficiency. Important for rotation speed but lower per-level impact than Skill or Talent.
- Basic ATK — Used during SP-constrained turns or when Cerydra is between Charge windows. Level increases basic damage but contributes minimally to her support value. Level last, after all other abilities and Traces are maxed.
🔑 Bonus Traces Deep-Dive
A2 — Vici (Speed Boost): When Cerydra’s SPD reaches 134+, she gains an additional +20 SPD in combat. This is why 134 base SPD is the critical floor — it unlocks an automatic 20 SPD boost that brings her to 154+ without further investment, enabling her to act before the carry in most rotations for reliable buff application. At higher base SPD this further compounds.
A4 — Veni (ATK-to-CRIT DMG Scaling): For every 100 ATK Cerydra has above 1,800, she gains 0.72% CRIT DMG. At 4,000 ATK (2,200 above threshold) this grants 15.84% bonus CRIT DMG — and more importantly, this bonus is shared to her Coup de Main copy-Skill through the buff framework. Reaching 4,000 ATK is the threshold at which this trace’s full bonus is approximately maximized for practical purposes.
A6 — Law Coreflame Buff: Characters with Peerage gain +72% CRIT DMG for Skill DMG, and +10.4% All-Type RES PEN on Skill DMG dealt during the Departed state. This is applied to the double-Skill burst during Coup de Main — the 72% CRIT DMG bonus fires during exactly the window where the carry deals the most damage, making it a massive multiplicative amplifier on the most critical action in the rotation.
Eidolons
The Opening Gambit
Military Merit grants an additional 16% DEF Ignore on the buffed ally’s Skill DMG. Peerage further adds 20% DEF Ignore specifically on Skill DMG. Combined, this provides 36% DEF ignore during the Coup de Main window — a multiplicative penetration buff on both copies of the double-Skill burst. Additionally, Cerydra’s Skill now also restores 2 Energy to the Military Merit target, meaningfully smoothing Phainon’s rotation by helping him reach his next Ultimate faster. E1 is the single most recommended Eidolon investment for Cerydra players — especially for Phainon teams where the DEF ignore and Energy restore both have immediate, impactful effects.
The Knight’s Advance
After Coup de Main triggers, the next time the same ally uses their Skill, it doesn’t consume a Skill Point. This addresses Cerydra’s SP-intensive nature directly — the carry’s post-Coup de Main Skill is free, restoring team SP economy for the following rotation. Particularly valuable in SP-hungry compositions. Strong upgrade for sustained multi-cycle performance where SP management becomes a bottleneck.
The Empire’s Decree
Cerydra’s Ultimate now additionally increases the Skill DMG of all allies by 8% for 2 turns after use. A small but consistent team-wide Skill DMG amplifier that benefits the carry even when they act after Cerydra’s Ultimate on the same turn. Modest upgrade — not worth pulling for specifically, but a welcome addition if obtained on the way to E6.
The Sovereign’s Checkmate
When Coup de Main triggers, the carry’s copied Skill deals an additional instance of Wind DMG equal to 100% of Cerydra’s ATK. This adds a substantial flat damage bonus to every Coup de Main activation — effectively giving Cerydra a direct damage contribution that scales with her primary stat (ATK). Combined with the DEF ignore from E1, the energy restoration, and all other stacking Coup de Main bonuses, E6 Cerydra creates one of the highest single-burst-window damage outputs in the game for Phainon/Anaxa teams.
💰 Should You Pull Eidolons?
E1 is the only Eidolon worth specifically targeting. The DEF ignore + Energy restore for Phainon provides a 15–20% Phainon team DPS increase and meaningfully improves rotation comfort. Pull E1 before the signature Light Cone if you’re choosing between them — it delivers more total value for Phainon/Anaxa teams.
E0 is fully functional. Cerydra’s base kit provides the Coup de Main mechanic, Military Merit ATK buff, 72% CRIT DMG boost, and 10.4% RES PEN from A6 without any Eidolons. E0 with Past and Future or A Grounded Ascent clears all endgame content with her ideal partners.
Rotation Guide
⚙️ Standard Cerydra Rotation (Phainon Team)
💡 Advanced Rotation Tips
Sacerdos stacking before Coup de Main: If using 4-piece Sacerdos’ Relived Ordeal, use Cerydra’s Skill on the carry twice just before Coup de Main to stack both CRIT DMG layers (+36% total). This requires advance planning — start stacking when at 4–5 Charges, not after Peerage activates, since Peerage only needs one more Skill to trigger Coup de Main.
Don’t switch Military Merit targets mid-cycle. Switching Military Merit to a different ally resets Cerydra’s Charges to 0. Always stick with the same DPS carry through the full Charge accumulation cycle. Only switch if your primary carry is dead, incapacitated, or the fight demands AoE priority.
Time Coup de Main with Phainon’s buff states. For Phainon specifically, entering Coup de Main when Phainon is in his empowered transformation phase delivers maximum damage — coordinate Cerydra’s Charge accumulation speed to land Peerage coinciding with Phainon’s ultimate activation.
Cerydra is SP-expensive. Her repeated Skill uses drain SP significantly. Teams should include SP-positive characters (Gallagher, HMC with Basic Attacks) or her signature LC’s SP recovery to avoid SP drought. At E2, the carry’s post-Coup de Main Skill becomes free — a meaningful SP offset in later cycles.
Best Team Compositions
Cerydra requires a Skill-centric DPS as her core partner. Every team is built around maximizing the Coup de Main double-Skill burst. Outside of that core pairing, fill with buffers and a sustain character (or omit sustain for Phainon who is self-sufficient in combat).
✨ Phainon Godslayer — Optimal
Phainon is tailor-made for Cerydra — his damage model revolves entirely around his Skill, he has a self-sufficient combat loop in his transformation state, and he benefits maximally from ATK buffs (Military Merit) and CRIT DMG amplifiers (A6 Peerage). When Cerydra reaches Peerage and triggers Coup de Main, Phainon’s double-Skill with 72% bonus CRIT DMG, 10.4% RES PEN, and E1’s 36% DEF ignore creates single-target burst damage that rivals some of the highest DPS outputs in the game.
Sunday provides action advance for Phainon and stacks additional CRIT DMG, ensuring Phainon gets more Skill uses per cycle to build Charges faster. He also provides Energy recovery for faster Phainon Ultimate cycling. Dan Heng·Imbibitor Lunae (or any shielder) provides survivability and, if using a shield, the Phainon team often runs 3-DPS/support with no dedicated healer since Phainon’s transformation state is self-sustaining.
🧬 Anaxa Triple Weakness
Anaxa is Cerydra’s second-best partner — he natively uses his Skill twice when enemies have 5+ weaknesses, and Cerydra’s Coup de Main brings this to three Skill activations in a single sequence (native double + Cerydra copy). With Ruan Mei applying additional weakness types to enemies, Anaxa hits the 5+ weakness threshold consistently. Anaxa’s Skill deals damage to all enemies simultaneously, making this the premier AoE burst composition for Pure Fiction and multi-enemy Memory of Chaos stages.
Ruan Mei provides Weakness Break Efficiency and the additional weakness types that unlock Anaxa’s full potential. Gallagher sustains the team with SP-positive healing while contributing Break DMG on enemies. This team excels at wave-clearing content and sustained AoE scenarios — the triple-Skill Anaxa burst deletes wave enemies while Ruan Mei extends the break window.
🏹 Archer Circuit Amplifier
Archer‘s Circuit Connection mechanic chains up to 5 consecutive Skills in a single turn — each Skill dealing increasing DMG (up to +200% from base). Cerydra’s Coup de Main adds an extra Skill to the chain beginning, creating 6 Skills in the sequence. Combined with Cerydra’s ATK buff via Military Merit and CRIT DMG via Peerage’s A6, Archer’s Skill chain delivers enormous concentrated burst damage on the Patron-marked target.
This team is SP-intensive — Archer consumes 5–7 SP per turn and Cerydra also needs SP for Skill use. Sparkle is near-mandatory here, providing SP recovery via her Skill and CRIT DMG buffing that stacks with Cerydra’s amplifiers. Aventurine provides shields and CRIT Rate while being SP-efficient. A high-skill, high-reward composition that rewards precise SP management.
💙 Dan Heng IL Classic
Dan Heng·Imbibitor Lunae is a Skill-centric hypercarry who uses Enhanced Basic ATK (which counts as Skill) consuming SP aggressively. Cerydra’s Coup de Main enhances his burst window significantly. Sunday provides action advance and CRIT DMG. Luocha provides SP-positive healing through his flask passive (no active Skill required for healing), preserving SP for DHIL’s Enhanced Basics. This team delivers solid hypercarry performance for players who built DHIL before acquiring Phainon.
⚠️ Teams Where Cerydra Underperforms
Avoid pairing Cerydra with: Follow-Up Attack DPS (Feixiao, Topaz, Yunli) — their damage doesn’t come from Skill, so Coup de Main barely helps. Basic ATK DPS (Seele in some rotations, Jing Yuan indirectly) — Skill copy doesn’t help them. DoT characters (Kafka, Black Swan) — Cerydra’s buffs don’t scale DoT damage. Break DPS (Firefly, Boothill) — Break DMG ignores CRIT and ATK scaling entirely. In all these cases, universal buffers like Sparkle, Sunday, Ruan Mei, or Robin outperform Cerydra significantly.