Build Guide • Wuthering Waves • February 2026
C Tier • Aero • Pistol • Support / Sub-DPS • 4-Star • The Wandering Dealer of Myths
Overview
Aalto is a 4-Star Aero Pistol Support/Sub-DPS whose niche is providing an Aero DMG Deepen buff to the incoming character on Outro — making him a budget option for Aero DPS teams like Jiyan or Cartethyia when premium supports aren’t available. His signature mechanic is the Gate of Quandary — summoned via Liberation — which boosts ATK for bullets passing through it. His Resonance Skill spawns a Mist Avatar (taunt) and Mist clouds; dashing through Mist triggers Mist Dash, launching rapid Aero Mist Drops and building Concerto Energy efficiently.
As of February 2026, Aalto sits in C Tier — he’s been largely powercrept by the arrival of stronger Aero supports. His Outro Aero DMG Deepen is valuable in theory, but at only 12% it trails significantly behind premium supports. He works best as a temporary Aero buffer for Jiyan or Cartethyia when Mortefi (Sub-DPS Outro) or dedicated Aero supports are unavailable. His Mist Avatar taunt is one of very few taunts in the game, offering niche crowd control value in hard content.
🌬️ Key Kit Mechanics
Summons a portal — bullets passing through gain boosted ATK. Increases Aalto’s damage during on-field burst window. Does NOT provide team ATK; buff applies only to Aalto’s own shots. Use at the start of every rotation.
Resonance Skill spawns a Mist Avatar (taunt — redirects enemy attacks for its HP duration) and Mist clouds. Dodge through Mist → Mist Dash state: rapid Mist Drop Aero hits + faster movement. Primary Concerto Energy builder.
On swap-out: incoming character gains +12% Aero DMG Deepen for 14s. Same buff type as Mortefi’s Outro (Fusion DMG Deepen). Key reason to use Aalto in Aero DPS teams — stacks with other ATK and DMG Bonus buffs.
After BA4 or Resonance Skill, Aalto enters a Mist state. Subsequent shots fire Mist Missiles alongside Basic Attacks — simultaneous Aero hits that compose ~30% of his total DPS. These fire automatically; no extra input required.
Strengths & Weaknesses
✓ Strengths
- ✓Aero DMG Deepen Outro — 12% Aero DMG Deepen for 14s; the only meaningful reason to use him, and the only 4-star option providing this buff type for Jiyan or Cartethyia teams
- ✓Mist Avatar taunt — one of very few taunts in WuWa; diverts enemy aggro, providing indirect survivability for the active DPS character in Adversity Tower encounters
- ✓Fast Concerto generation via Mist Dash loop — rotates out quickly with full Concerto if played correctly; low on-field time footprint as a buffer
- ✓All sequences obtainable via standard banner pulls — no limited banner pull investment required for any sequence upgrade
✗ Weaknesses
- ✗Low Outro buff value (12%) — Mortefi provides equivalent Fusion DMG Deepen for Jiyan with far stronger overall Sub-DPS output; Aalto’s Outro is simply a weaker version with less combat contribution
- ✗Gate of Quandary ATK buff applies only to Aalto — unlike team-wide ATK buffs from Verina or Shorekeeper; no external team amplification from Liberation
- ✗Heavily powercrept by new Aero supports and Sub-DPS characters introduced in versions 2.x and 3.x — has no meaningful meta presence in any current high-tier team as of Feb 2026
- ✗Mist Dash positioning requires deliberate movement input — aerial repositioning has a learning curve and can feel clunky in confined boss arenas
Skill Priority
| Priority | Skill |
|---|---|
| 1st ★★★★★ | Normal Attack & Resonance Skill (co-priority) |
| 2nd ★★★★ | Forte Circuit (Mist Missile DMG) |
| 3rd ★★★ | Resonance Liberation (DMG only; no buff scaling) |
| Last ★ | Intro Skill (negligible contribution) |
Best Weapons
| Weapon | Notes |
|---|---|
| Static Mist 5★ | BiS — Crit Rate substat + ATK stacks + ER passive; best all-round option |
| Undying Flame 4★ | ATK substat + Aero DMG Bonus on Resonance Skill — best 4★ for DPS-focused build |
| Cadenza 4★ | High ER substat (51.8%) + Concerto restore on Skill — best for buffer rotation; keeps Outro active every cycle |
| Novaburst 4★ | ATK% substat + stacking ATK passive — F2P budget option |
Best Echo Sets
2-PC: +10% ER — helps Aalto hit Liberation every rotation. 5-PC: Outro gives incoming character +22.5% ATK for 15s. Stacked with Aalto’s Outro Aero Deepen, this provides a dual-buff on swap-out — the primary reason to use Aalto in Jiyan / Cartethyia teams.
Main Echo: Impermanence Heron — restores 10 Resonance Energy + buffs next Resonator’s DMG for 12s; perfect for buffer rotation
2-PC: +10% Aero DMG. 5-PC: Aero DMG stacks on Basic/Heavy ATK up to +30% — activates within Aalto’s Mist Dash loop. Best set when running Aalto as primary on-field DPS rather than support.
Main Echo: Feilian Beringal — Aero DMG + Heavy ATK DMG Bonus after Echo Skill resolves; optimal for main DPS Aalto burst window
Substats: Crit Rate ★★★ = Crit DMG ★★★ > ER 130–140%+ ★★ > ATK% > Flat ATK
Best Teams
Aalto provides the Aero Deepen Outro (+12%) + Moonlit Clouds ATK buff (+22.5%) on swap-in to Jiyan. Verina handles sustain and team ATK. Aalto’s sole meaningful role in the current meta is this Jiyan buffer slot when Mortefi isn’t available.
Per Game8’s Feb 2026 rotation guide, Aalto fits as a secondary buffer in Cartethyia’s Aero Erosion team — his Outro Aero Deepen amplifies Cartethyia’s Aero hits. Rover (Aero) builds Aero Erosion stacks while Aalto handles buffing during Cartethyia’s Liberation window.
Rotation
💡 Tips: Cast Liberation immediately on entry to start Gate of Quandary and begin its cooldown. Always use Resonance Skill before Basic Attacks to spawn Mist. Aim for 130–140%+ Energy Regen to ensure Liberation fires every rotation. Echo (Impermanence Heron or Feilian Beringal) should be used as close to Outro as possible for maximum buff overlap on the incoming DPS.
Key Sequences
| Chain | Effect & Value |
|---|---|
| S2 ★ | Mist Avatar HP +100% — taunt lasts significantly longer before being destroyed, maintaining enemy aggro redirect through the entire burst window. High QoL and survivability value |
| S4 ★ | After Outro, all team members gain +10% ATK for 30s — adds a minor team-wide ATK buff on top of Aalto’s Outro Aero Deepen, marginally improving his support value in Aero teams |
| S6 ★ | Mist Missile DMG +50% — largest personal DPS sequence; worthwhile only if running Aalto as a main DPS. Negligible value for buffer builds where his personal damage contribution doesn’t matter |
