Build Guide • Wuthering Waves • February 2026
C Tier • Aero • Sword • Utility Sub-DPS • 4-Star Free • Midnight Rangers Member
Overview
Yangyang is the first free 4-Star Aero Sword character obtained via the main story in Wuthering Waves, making her the starting point for most players. Her kit centers on the Melody Forte Gauge (max 3 stacks), built through Basic Attacks, Resonance Skill Wind Vortex casts, and Intro Skill. At 3 Melodies, a mid-air Basic Attack triggers Feather Release — a powerful AoE Aero burst that consumes all stacks. Her Resonance Liberation (Afar Blossom) pulls enemies together in a cyclone, dealing multi-hit Aero DMG and providing crowd control. Her most notable utility is the Outro Skill, which restores 4 Resonance Energy per second for 5 seconds (20 total energy) to the next incoming character — the only battery-style energy restoration Outro in the game.
As of February 2026, Yangyang is placed in C Tier. She remains the only character with a direct energy battery Outro, which is genuinely useful in early/mid-game when teams struggle with Liberation cooldowns. However, at endgame level, dedicated supports provide stronger buffs, and premium Aero characters like Aalto overlap her niche. Her crowd control via Wind Vortex and Liberation still has situational value in Whimpering Wastes multi-target content. She is a solid starter and early-game workhorse but falls off as rosters improve.
🌀 Key Kit Mechanics
Filled by Basic Attacks (each hit +1), Resonance Skill Wind Vortex (varies), and Intro Skill (+1 instant). At 3 Melodies, jump then Basic Attack to trigger Feather Release — wide AoE Aero burst that resets the gauge. This mid-air burst is Yangyang’s single highest-damage ability and her main DPS contribution.
Creates a Wind Vortex that pulls enemies together and deals Aero DMG over time. Also builds Melody stacks. Best grouping ability for 4-star characters in the game — highly practical in multi-enemy Whimpering Wastes and Forgery Challenge encounters.
On swap-out: restores 4 Resonance Energy/sec for 5s = 20 total energy to the incoming character. Unique in the game — the only direct battery energy Outro. Especially valuable for high-cost Liberation characters (125+ energy) in early to mid-game when ER investment is still being built up.
Summons a large cyclone that pulls enemies toward Yangyang and deals continuous multi-hit Aero DMG. Low energy cost (125 energy) relative to other Liberations. Provides crowd control and generates Concerto Energy rapidly. Available in the rotation consistently with moderate ER investment (~135–150%).
Strengths & Weaknesses
✓ Strengths
- ✓Completely free — obtained via the main story; no pulls required. Players can get S6 via repeated story completions, making her fully accessible with maximum sequences at no cost
- ✓Unique energy battery Outro — +20 Resonance Energy to the next character on swap-out; no other character provides direct energy restoration in this way. Priceless in energy-starved early/mid-game teams
- ✓Best 4-star grouping — Wind Vortex crowd control is one of the most consistent and reliable pull abilities in Wuthering Waves, especially useful against groups of mobs in Whimpering Wastes stages
- ✓Short, efficient rotation — fast Concerto Energy generation via Liberation + Skill means Yangyang spends very little on-field time per rotation, minimising DPS opportunity cost
✗ Weaknesses
- ✗Outdated in meta (C Tier) — her battery Outro becomes less relevant as DPS characters build sufficient ER naturally; premium supports outclass her in endgame team compositions across all content
- ✗Needs 135–150%+ ER to run Liberation reliably — while her Liberation cost is 125, generating that consistently without ER investment requires substat dedication that competes with damage stats
- ✗No meaningful DMG Bonus buff on Outro — unlike Sanhua (+38% Basic ATK DMG Deepen), Verina (+15% All DMG Deepen), or Lumi (+25% Skill DMG Deepen), Yangyang provides only energy, not multiplicative damage amplification
- ✗Mid-air Feather Release can be inconsistent — accessing the aerial burst requires a jump + Basic Attack input sequence that can be disrupted by boss anti-air attacks or movement restrictions in certain arenas
Skill Priority
| Priority | Skill |
|---|---|
| 1st ★★★★★ | Resonance Liberation (Afar Blossom — AoE DMG + CC) |
| 2nd ★★★★ | Resonance Skill (Wind Vortex — grouping + Melody gain) |
| 3rd ★★★ | Forte Circuit (Feather Release mid-air burst DMG) |
| 4th ★★ | Intro Skill (Aero DMG + instant Melody stack) |
| Last ★ | Normal Attack (low multipliers; upgrade only after others) |
Best Weapons
| Weapon | Notes |
|---|---|
| Emerald of Genesis 5★ | BiS — ER substat + ER boost passive + ATK stacks on Resonance Skill; fully solves ER needs while providing significant ATK boost |
| Commando of Conviction 4★ | Best 4★ DPS — ATK% substat + +30% ATK on Intro Skill activation for 15s; Yangyang activates Intro every rotation, making this passive fully reliable |
| Lumingloss 4★ | ATK% + Basic/Heavy ATK DMG +64% on Resonance Skill — excellent for Feather Release (counts as Basic Attack); pairs well with S3 Skill DMG Bonus |
| Sword of Voyager R5 3★ F2P | ER substat + +12 Resonance Energy on Skill use — best F2P energy-fixing option; use only until a 4★ sword is available |
Best Echo Sets
2-PC: +10% Aero DMG. 5-PC: Basic/Heavy Attack hit → +10% Aero DMG Bonus per stack, max +30% at 3 stacks (15s). Yangyang’s Basic Attacks + Feather Release builds this quickly.
Main Echo: Feilian Beringal — Aero DMG hit + Aero/Heavy ATK DMG Bonus on connect; highest personal Aero DMG boost available for Yangyang’s Feather Release and Liberation hits
2-PC: +10% ER — further reduces Yangyang’s energy pressure alongside Emerald of Genesis. 5-PC: Outro gives incoming Resonator +22.5% ATK for 15s — stacks with Yangyang’s energy battery Outro for a dual ATK + energy handoff.
Main Echo: Impermanence Heron — +10 energy on Echo Skill + next Resonator DMG buff; ideal for pure support Yangyang who prioritises helping DPS over personal output
Substats: ER 135–150% ★★★ (first priority) > Crit Rate ★★★ = Crit DMG ★★★ > Aero DMG Bonus ★★ > ATK% > Flat ATK
Best Teams
Yangyang provides +20 Resonance Energy on swap-out, directly helping Jiyan or Aero Rover recharge their Liberation faster between rotations. Verina handles sustain and her own ATK buff. Per Game8 Feb 2026, Yangyang’s energy Outro is most useful for Liberation-hungry DPS in early-to-mid game rosters.
A fully free-to-play early-game team. Yangyang acts as Sub-DPS and grouper using Wind Vortex, with Rover as main DPS and Baizhi for healing. Yangyang’s crowd control keeps enemies clustered for Rover’s AoE attacks. Solid for clearing exploration and story content with zero pull investment.
Rotation
💡 Tips: Always activate Liberation immediately on entry — it generates substantial Concerto Energy and deals multi-hit Aero DMG while you build Melodies. Jump then Basic Attack (not Heavy Attack) is the most reliable way to trigger Feather Release mid-air at 3 Melody stacks. Echo (Feilian Beringal) should fire just before or during Liberation for maximum Aero DMG overlap. Aim for 135–150%+ ER — Emerald of Genesis or Moonlit Clouds 2-PC + Sword of Voyager can reach this efficiently.
Key Sequences
| Chain | Effect & Value |
|---|---|
| S1 ★ | +15% Aero DMG Bonus during Liberation window — unconditional Aero boost during Yangyang’s most damage-dense phase. Good value as the first free upgrade from standard pulls |
| S3 ★★ | Best DPS sequence — Resonance Skill (Wind Vortex) DMG +40%; directly amplifies Yangyang’s most frequently used ability and the highest-volume Aero DMG source in her rotation. Significant DPS upgrade |
| S4 ★★ | Best burst sequence — mid-air attack (Feather Release) DMG +95%; nearly doubles her most powerful ability’s damage. Combined with S3, these two sequences form the strongest pair for Sub-DPS builds |
| S6 ★ | Outro Skill grants +10% ATK to the team for 30s — adds a small team-wide ATK buff on top of the energy battery Outro, marginally improving her support value. Worth having since S6 is free via main story duplicates |
