Best Brant Build: Wuthering Waves (2026 Guide)

by Eva Roberts · February 20, 2026

TL;DR

Brant is a 5-star Fusion Sword hybrid DPS who heals, shields, buffs, and deals damage all in one slot.
His unique passive converts Energy Regen directly into ATK — for every 1% ER above 150%, he gains 12 ATK, capping at +1,560 ATK at full investment.
Best weapon: Unflickering Valor (signature 5-star). Best free alternative: Emerald of Genesis (standard 5-star).
Best echo set: Tidebreaking Courage (5-piece) for high ER builds, or Molten Rift (5-piece) as the accessible alternative.
Best main echo: Dragon of Dirge.
Outro Skill grants the incoming Resonator 20% Fusion DMG Bonus and 25% Resonance Skill DMG Deepen.
Best partners: Changli, Lupa, and Encore (Mono-Fusion). Also strong with Verina and Shorekeeper.
Skill priority: Forte Circuit → Basic Attack → Resonance Liberation → Resonance Skill → Intro Skill.
Energy Regen target: ~250–280% to fully activate the ER-to-ATK passive.

Table of Contents

Brant Overview: Who Is He in Wuthering Waves?

Brant is a 5-star Fusion Sword resonator and the captain of the Troupe of Fools in Rinascita. He debuted in Version 2.1 and immediately stood out for having one of the most mechanically distinct kits in the game. He fights almost entirely in the air using rope-grapple aerial combat, heals the team passively during his offensive rotation, generates team shields, and provides one of the most valuable Outro buffs for Fusion DPS characters.

What makes Brant genuinely unusual is his Energy Regen-to-ATK conversion passive. No other character in Wuthering Waves converts ER into ATK at this scale. At maximum investment, he gains 1,560 additional ATK purely from stacking Energy Regen — giving him one of the highest ATK ceilings in the game. This means his weapon and echo choices prioritize ER above almost everything else, which is a completely different build philosophy from every other DPS in the game.

He is comfortable in both the main DPS slot and the sub-DPS slot. In Mono-Fusion teams with Lupa and Changli, he is part of one of the highest-damage team compositions in the game. Outside of that, his sustained healing and shielding make him a rare character who provides genuine survivability without sacrificing personal damage output.

Brant Kit Breakdown: Bravo, Aflame, and the ER-to-ATK Passive

Brant’s kit has several interconnected mechanics. Understanding all of them is essential to building and playing him efficiently.

Bravo: The Forte Resource and Healing Mechanic

Bravo is Brant’s Forte Circuit gauge, capped at 100 points. He gains Bravo from:

Normal Attacks hitting a target
Intro Skill (Applaud for Me!) hitting a target
Resonance Skill hitting a target

Bravo has a dual function. Every time it hits a milestone — at 25, 50, 75, and 100 points — Brant automatically heals all nearby teammates via the Waves of Acclaims passive. This happens passively during his offensive rotation without requiring separate healing actions. Every attack he lands while charging Bravo is simultaneously dealing damage AND healing the team.

When Bravo reaches 100, his Resonance Skill upgrades from Anchor Aweigh! to Returned from Ashes. Activating Returned from Ashes consumes all Bravo, deals heavy Fusion DMG (classified as Basic Attack DMG), and generates a shield for all nearby teammates. This is his signature skill and one of the most satisfying abilities in the game to execute.

Theatrical Moment: The ER-to-ATK Conversion

This is Brant’s most distinctive and impactful passive. For every 1% of his Energy Regeneration above 150%, he gains an additional 12 ATK, up to a maximum bonus of 1,560 ATK (reached at ~280% ER). This passive is always active — it is not conditional on any combat state. It is simply an inherent ATK multiplier tied to his ER investment.

This passive is why every Brant build prioritizes Energy Regen substats above Crit or ATK%. With a well-built Unflickering Valor and good ER substats, reaching 250–280% ER is achievable, and the ATK bonus it provides outweighs what Crit stats would contribute in the same slots.

Aflame State: The Damage Burst Mode

After casting his Resonance Liberation (Set the Arena Ablaze), Brant enters Aflame state. In Aflame:

All his attacks deal bonus Fusion DMG
His Mid-air Basic Attack multipliers increase
Casting Returned from Ashes while in Aflame ends the state immediately — dealing a powerful instant finisher

The ideal rotation is: charge Bravo → use Liberation to enter Aflame → immediately use Returned from Ashes to consume both the Aflame state and all Bravo simultaneously for maximum combined burst damage.

Resonance Liberation: Set the Arena Ablaze

Brant’s Liberation is a crowd-staggering AoE Fusion attack that heals the team and enters Aflame. It is also what triggers Lupa‘s Coordinated Attack from her Set the Arena Ablaze passive in Mono-Fusion teams — making Brant’s Liberation directly synergistic with Lupa’s entire kit.

Outro Skill: Fusion and Resonance Skill DMG Buffer

When Brant swaps out with full Concerto Energy, his Outro Skill amplifies the incoming Resonator’s Fusion DMG by 20% and Resonance Skill DMG by 25% for 14 seconds. This is identical to Cantarella‘s Outro structure but applies to Fusion DMG specifically, making it ideal for Fusion carries like Changli, Encore, and Lupa.

Interlude Applause: Mid-air Combo Mechanic

After casting his Intro Skill, Brant gains Interlude Applause, which causes his next Mid-air Attack to begin at Stage 2 instead of Stage 1. Each flip following a Mid-air Attack also stacks his 20% DMG Dealt bonus up to 3 times (60% total), lasting 5 seconds per stack. Maintaining this stack throughout his aerial rotation is important for maximizing his personal damage output.

Best Brant Weapons in Wuthering Waves

Brant uses Swords. His best weapons must provide Energy Regen as a substat — this is the defining requirement for his build. Weapons without ER substats massively underperform because they deny him the ATK conversion passive that makes him exceptional.

1. Unflickering Valor (5-Star Signature) – Best in Slot

Unflickering Valor is Brant’s signature weapon and his clear best-in-slot. It provides a massive 77% Energy Regen substat at Level 90 — the highest single ER value available on any weapon in the game. Its passive — Laughter Prevails — grants 48% Basic Attack DMG Bonus for 10 seconds when he casts his Resonance Liberation, and another 48% Basic Attack DMG Bonus for 4 seconds whenever he deals Basic Attack DMG. Both Returned from Ashes and his Mid-air attacks count as Basic Attack DMG, meaning this passive is active during every major damage window in his rotation. The combination of the highest ER substat and the Basic Attack DMG passive makes this weapon uniquely suited to Brant.

2. Emerald of Genesis (5-Star, Standard Banner) – Best Accessible Option

Emerald of Genesis is the best non-signature option for Brant. It provides a Crit Rate substat, 12.8% Energy Regen, and its passive stacks ATK by 6% up to twice when he uses his Resonance Skill. The ER from the weapon supplements his Theatrical Moment passive, though it contributes less ER than Unflickering Valor. Combined with ER substats on echoes, it can still reach comfortable thresholds. A very viable and accessible choice.

3. Lustrous Razor (5-Star, Standard Banner)

Provides Energy Regen and ATK bonuses, then buffs Resonance Liberation DMG after Resonance Skill use. A functional alternative if Emerald of Genesis is equipped on another character. The ER substat helps with the Theatrical Moment passive.

4. Sword #18 (4-Star, Craftable) – Best F2P Option

A craftable free weapon that provides Energy Regen and situational ATK bonuses. The ER contribution directly feeds the Theatrical Moment conversion. The best F2P option for players who do not have 5-star Swords to spare on Brant.

Why ER Substats on Weapons Are Non-Negotiable

A weapon with no ER substat (such as Blazing Brilliance or Verdant Summit) forces Brant to compensate entirely through echo substats, which is extremely difficult given echo substat limits. Without a strong ER weapon, reaching 250%+ ER becomes nearly impossible, and his Theatrical Moment passive contributes far less ATK. Always prioritize ER on Brant’s weapon, even if a non-ER 5-star looks better on paper.

Best Brant Echo Sets in Wuthering Waves

Brant has two strong echo set options depending on your ER investment level.

Tidebreaking Courage (5-Piece) – Best for High ER Builds (250%+)

This is Brant’s best-in-slot echo set when you can reach ~250% Energy Regen. The 5-piece bonus activates when the wearer reaches 250% ER — granting a 30% All-Attribute DMG Bonus to all teammates. Since Brant’s entire build targets high ER, reaching the activation threshold is achievable with Unflickering Valor plus ER echo substats. The 30% All-Attribute DMG Bonus is an extraordinary team-wide buff that amplifies every damage type in the party simultaneously. This set makes Brant one of the most potent team buffers in the entire game when played at the right ER level.

Molten Rift (5-Piece) – Accessible Alternative

If you cannot consistently reach 250% ER (e.g., using Emerald of Genesis without perfect substat rolls), Molten Rift is the practical fallback. The 2-piece gives a flat 10% Fusion DMG Bonus. The 5-piece bonus gives a 30% increased Fusion DMG when Resonance Liberation is activated — which fires into Brant’s Aflame window and Returned from Ashes. Very reliable and effective regardless of ER threshold. Use this set on the way to building toward Tidebreaking Courage.

Lingering Tunes (5-Piece) – Alternative ATK Build

A viable alternative for players who prefer an ATK-focused approach. The 5-piece bonus stacks ATK up to 40% during combat. While functional, it underperforms both Tidebreaking Courage and Molten Rift in most scenarios because it does not provide the distinctive team-buffing value of Tidebreaking Courage or the Fusion-focused amplification of Molten Rift.

Best Main Echo for Brant

Dragon of Dirge – Best in Slot

Dragon of Dirge is Brant’s best main echo. Equipped in the main slot, it provides Fusion DMG Bonus and Basic Attack DMG Bonus — both of Brant’s primary damage types. His echo skill summons the Dragon of Dirge to create a Grief Rift that periodically deals AoE Fusion DMG to all enemies within. The rift lasts 5 seconds and scales with Brant’s ATK. Since this echo drops from the same world boss that provides his ascension material (Dragon of Dirge in Penitent’s End, Rinascita), you will naturally farm it during the ascension process.

Inferno Rider / Nightmare: Inferno Rider – Alternative for Molten Rift

If running the Molten Rift set, Nightmare: Inferno Rider is a strong main echo pairing. It provides Fusion DMG and Basic Attack DMG Bonus on the main slot, and its echo skill generates Resonance Energy while buffing Fusion and Basic Attack DMG after use. A good alternative if Dragon of Dirge is not yet available at high quality.

Best Echo Stats and Sub-Stats for Brant

Brant’s stat priority is unique compared to any other DPS in the game. Energy Regen is his primary scaling stat — treat it with the same importance you would treat Crit Rate on a traditional DPS character.

Main Stats Priority

Cost 4 Echo: Crit Rate or Crit DMG (once ER is secured through weapon and substats)
Cost 3 Echoes: Fusion DMG Bonus x2
Cost 1 Echoes: ATK%

Sub-Stats Priority

Energy Regeneration (top priority) — target ~250–280% total ER to fully activate Theatrical Moment and unlock Tidebreaking Courage’s 5-piece bonus
Crit Rate (aim for 60–75%)
Crit DMG
ATK% (lower priority than for most DPS — the ER-to-ATK passive handles most of his ATK scaling)
Basic Attack DMG Bonus
Flat ATK

Important note on ATK%: Because Theatrical Moment provides up to 1,560 ATK from ER alone, investing heavily in ATK% substats provides diminishing returns compared to stacking more ER. Always prioritize ER substats over ATK% for Brant.

Brant Skill Priority

Forte Circuit (Top Priority) — Returned from Ashes is Brant’s highest-damage single skill and the core of his Forte mechanic. Waves of Acclaims (the Bravo healing milestones) also falls under Forte Circuit, meaning leveling this improves both his damage and healing simultaneously. Level this first.
Basic Attack — Brant’s Mid-air Basic Attack chain (Stages 1–4 aerial combo) is his primary sustained damage source and generates Bravo constantly. The Mid-air attack multipliers scale with Basic Attack level. Second priority.
Resonance Liberation — Set the Arena Ablaze heals the team, enters Aflame state, and triggers Lupa’s Coordinated Attack in Mono-Fusion teams. The DMG multiplier and healing scale with Liberation level. Third priority.
Resonance Skill — Anchor Aweigh! generates Bravo and deals moderate Fusion DMG. Level after the above three.
Intro Skill — Lowest priority. Generates Bravo and grants Interlude Applause for faster Mid-air combos, but the multiplier increase from leveling it is the smallest of all his skills.

Best Brant Teams in Wuthering Waves

Brant works in two main archetypes: Mono-Fusion with Lupa and Changli, and dual-DPS teams pairing his Fusion buffs with another strong carry.

Team 1 (Best): Brant + Changli + Lupa

The premier Mono-Fusion team and one of the strongest compositions in the game. Lupa provides Pack Hunt (up to 18% team ATK) and Glory (Fusion RES shred) from her Liberation. Brant’s Liberation triggers Lupa’s Coordinated Attack passively. Changli is the main Fusion carry who benefits from both Lupa’s Fusion RES shred and Brant’s Outro Skill (20% Fusion + 25% Resonance Skill DMG Deepen). Brant provides all healing and shielding, eliminating the need for a dedicated support. A fully self-sustaining top-tier team requiring no external healer.

Team 2: Brant + Encore + Lupa

Encore benefits tremendously from Brant’s Outro Skill since her Resonance Liberation deals Fusion and Resonance Skill DMG simultaneously. Lupa again provides the Fusion RES shred and Pack Hunt ATK stack. Brant handles sustain. A strong alternative for players who have Encore as their main Fusion carry instead of Changli.

Team 3: Brant + Changli + Shorekeeper

A premium dual-carry setup without Lupa. Changli remains the main Fusion DPS and Brant the sub-DPS healer. Shorekeeper provides Crit buffs for both DPS characters through her Stellarealm. Slightly lower ceiling than the three-Fusion Lupa comp but more comfortable in survivability for difficult content.

Team 4: Brant + Changli + Verina

The accessible premium Changli team. Verina provides 15% All-Type DMG Deepen and ATK buffs. Brant handles additional healing so Verina can run offensive echo builds rather than pure support. Both Brant’s Outro and Verina’s Outro stack on Changli for excellent combined amplification. A strong and reliable composition that does not require Lupa.

Team 5 (Budget): Brant + Encore + Verina

A fully accessible Fusion team using only standard banner supports. Encore is the primary damage dealer. Brant provides Fusion and Resonance Skill DMG Outro buffs plus team healing. Verina rounds out sustain and adds DMG Deepen. A strong and forgiving composition for players still building their roster.

Brant Rotation Guide

Brant’s rotation is aerial-focused. The goal is to build Bravo through Mid-air attacks, enter Aflame via Liberation, and immediately chain into Returned from Ashes for peak burst damage.

Standard Brant Rotation

Enter with Intro Skill (Applaud for Me!) to gain Bravo from the hit and activate Interlude Applause (next Mid-air Attack begins at Stage 2). This also stacks his DMG bonus by 20% for 5 seconds.
Immediately jump into the air and begin the Mid-air Basic Attack chain (Stages 1–4). Each flip during the aerial combo refreshes his 20% DMG stack — stack this to maximum 3 times (60% total DMG bonus) and maintain it throughout the rotation. Continue Mid-air attacks to build Bravo, healing the team at every 25-point milestone.
Use Resonance Skill (Anchor Aweigh!) during the aerial sequence to generate additional Bravo and deal moderate Fusion DMG.
Activate Echo Skill (Dragon of Dirge) to place the Grief Rift and deal sustained off-area damage during the rotation.
When Bravo reaches 100 and Liberation is available, cast Resonance Liberation (Set the Arena Ablaze) for AoE Fusion burst, team healing, Aflame state activation, and (in Lupa teams) Lupa’s Coordinated Attack trigger.
Immediately after Liberation (in Aflame state), cast Returned from Ashes (Resonance Skill, now upgraded). This consumes all Bravo while Aflame is active — dealing the highest combined burst damage in his kit and generating a team shield.
Swap out when Concerto Energy is full to trigger the Outro Skill and pass 20% Fusion DMG + 25% Resonance Skill DMG Deepen to the incoming Fusion DPS.

Pro tip: The key sequence is always Liberation → Returned from Ashes in that exact order. Never cast Returned from Ashes before Liberation — doing so wastes the Aflame state multiplier and loses the combined burst potential. Liberation sets up the state; Returned from Ashes detonates it.

Aerial tip: Brant’s Mid-air combo automatically chains by holding the attack button, similar to Jiyan. Hold attack to sustain the aerial sequence without manually timing each hit. His aerial dodge also resets in mid-air after certain swings, allowing extended aerial combat without landing.

Brant Resonance Chain: Is He Worth Pulling Dupes?

Brant’s Resonance Chain provides meaningful upgrades, particularly at S1 and S2.

S1: Returned from Ashes temporarily causes nearby targets to stagnate while casting, and the stagnation ends when Brant leaves the field. This freezes enemies in place during his most important attack, guaranteeing all hits connect even on mobile targets. A very practical upgrade that prevents the full Bravo burst from missing due to enemy movement.
S2: After casting Intro Skill or each flip following Mid-air Attack, Brant’s DMG dealt increases by 20% for 5 seconds, stacking up to 3 times. This means reaching and maintaining 60% DMG bonus during his aerial rotation is now automatic from the Intro Skill plus Mid-air combos. A large personal damage increase that rewards the aerial playstyle he already uses. Community consensus ranks S2 as the most impactful single Resonance Chain upgrade.
S3: Casting Mid-air Attack and Returned from Ashes increases Brant’s Crit Rate. Reduces the Crit Rate investment needed on echoes, freeing up substat slots for more ER — synergizing directly with the Theatrical Moment passive.
S4: Casting Returned from Ashes causes a secondary blast equal to 30% of its damage, classified as Basic Attack DMG. A direct multiplier increase on his strongest single skill.
S5 and S6: Further multiplier scaling. High-end investment territory.

S0 Brant is a fully functional and strong character. S1 is a comfort upgrade that prevents burst misses. S2 is a significant personal damage increase and the best first meaningful dupe target. Both S1 and S2 together represent a noticeable power spike without requiring S3+.

Brant Ascension and Forte Materials

Here is everything you need to fully level and upgrade Brant.

Ascension Materials (Character Level 1 to 90)

Golden Fleece x60 – Local specialty found in Rinascita, with high density near the Resonance Nexus in the Figurehead’s Shrine area and near the beacon next to Fool’s Elysium. Also purchasable at Rosemary’s Apothecary in Ragunna City for 3,000 Shell Credits (up to 15 per week).
Blazing Bone x46 – Dropped by the world boss Dragon of Dirge, located at the Figurehead’s Shrine in Penitent’s End, Rinascita. This boss also drops the Dragon of Dirge echo — farm both simultaneously.
Tidal Residuum (LF x4, MF x12, HF x12, FF x4) – Dropped by Tacet Discord enemies in Rinascita including Fae Ignis, Nimbus Wraiths, Questless Knights, Diurnus Knights, and Nocturnus Knights. Also obtainable as passive drops from Rinascita Forgery Challenges.
Shell Credits x170,000 – For full character ascension to Level 90.

Forte (Skill Upgrade) Materials

The Netherworld’s Stare x26 – Weekly boss drop from Hecate, available through the “Beyond the Crimson Curtain” weekly challenge in Rinascita. Requires story progression to unlock. Maximum 3 per week.
Metallic Drip (Inert x25, Reactive x28, Polarized x55, Heterized x67) – Sword-type Forgery Challenge materials. Farm from the Flaming Remnants Forgery Challenge in the Sea of Flames, Port City of Guixu (recommended — also drops Whisperin/Howler Cores) or the Garden of Salvation Forgery Challenge in Rinascita.
Tidal Residuum (LF x25, MF x28, HF x40, FF x57) – Same source as ascension materials above.
Shell Credits x2,030,000 – For fully upgrading all Forte Skills.

Brant Tips and Common Mistakes

Always cast Liberation before Returned from Ashes. Liberation enters Aflame state. Returned from Ashes while Aflame deals dramatically more combined burst damage. Never reverse the order — Returned from Ashes first wastes the Aflame multiplier entirely.
Stack ER first, then Crit. Most DPS characters go for Crit first. Brant is the exception. Every 1% ER above 150% is 12 ATK. Reaching 250% ER gives you 1,200 ATK from the passive alone. That is more total damage value than getting extra Crit Rate on the same substat slots.
Never use a weapon without an ER substat. Weapons like Blazing Brilliance or Verdant Summit — despite being strong 5-star Swords — dramatically underperform on Brant because they deny his core passive. Always prioritize ER substats in his weapon slot, even if the weapon’s total ATK base looks lower.
Maintain the 3-stack DMG bonus (at S2+). After entering on Brant with the Intro Skill, immediately go aerial and chain Mid-air attacks to quickly build all 3 stacks of the 20% DMG bonus (60% total). Do not land between combo stages or the stacks expire.
In Lupa teams, use Liberation as part of the Coordinated Attack trigger. Brant’s Liberation activates Lupa’s passive Coordinated Attack when she has Set the Arena Ablaze active. Time Brant’s Liberation during Lupa’s rotation so she gains the Coordinated Attack hit before you swap to the main DPS.
Farm Dragon of Dirge for both echo and ascension materials. The Dragon of Dirge drops both Blazing Bone (ascension) and the Dragon of Dirge echo (main echo). Every boss run serves dual purpose — this is the most efficient boss to farm for Brant.

Is Brant Worth Pulling in 2026?

Yes — especially if you have or plan to build a Fusion team. Brant is one of the few characters in the game who genuinely does three things in one slot: deals competitive DPS, heals the team passively during his rotation, and provides one of the best Fusion/Resonance Skill Outro buffs available. In Mono-Fusion compositions with Lupa and Changli, he is part of one of the highest-damage teams in the game.

His signature weapon, Unflickering Valor, is highly recommended — unlike most characters where the signature weapon is a nice-to-have upgrade, Brant’s ER-to-ATK passive makes the 77% ER substat on Unflickering Valor genuinely transformative. That said, Emerald of Genesis works well enough to enjoy him and clear all endgame content without requiring the signature weapon.

For more guides on Brant’s best teammates, check out our builds for Lupa, Changli, Encore, and Mortefi. For support pairings, see our guides on Shorekeeper and Verina.

Stay up to date with the game’s expansion via the upcoming Wuthering Waves Xbox and Game Pass launch in July 2026.

For official character details and patch notes, visit the official Wuthering Waves website.