Skill builds¶
Each unit has two skill tracks, each capped at 2 stacks. You choose one stack at levels 4, 7, 14, and 17. By level 17, every unit ends up with exactly 2 stacks in each track regardless of the order you pick. The builds are not about your final state but about which power you get earlier.
Chapter 1 covers roughly levels 1-10, so you will make your first two picks (levels 4 and 7) before the demo ends. Your third and fourth picks happen in Chapter 2.
How to read this page¶
Skill effects are described in Your Units. This page focuses on the order to pick them and why.
A "rush" means taking both stacks of one track at levels 4 and 7 before touching the other track. A "split" means alternating: one stack of each track at 4 and 7.
Neither is strictly correct. The right answer depends on the stages you are finding difficult.
Katyusha¶
Katyusha's two tracks both enhance Iron Curtain.
| Track | What it changes | Fully stacked (2 stacks) |
|---|---|---|
| Curtain Capacity | Reflect cap | 6 drones countered |
| Curtain Reflect | Counter damage | 200% base attack per hit |
Rush Curtain Capacity if you are regularly hitting the reflect cap of 2 during Iron Curtain. This happens on stages with dense guard tower clusters or multiple interceptors converging at once. Raising the cap to 6 means Iron Curtain absorbs far more fire before drones start getting through.
Rush Curtain Reflect if Iron Curtain counters are not finishing the drones they hit. At 2 stacks, each counter hit deals 200% of Katyusha's base attack. On higher-level play where drones have substantial HP, this is often the difference between a counter that softens and one that destroys.
Split (alternating): Cap of 4 and 150% damage by level 7, then both fully stacked by levels 14 and 17. A reasonable default if you are not sure which pressure you will face.
Team context: If Maria is consistently using Broadside to handle clusters, Katyusha rarely needs to counter more than two or three drones at once. In that setup, Curtain Reflect (damage) is more valuable than a higher cap. Conversely, if you are relying on Katyusha alone to push through dense formations, Curtain Capacity gives her the most survivability.
Nadeshiko¶
Nadeshiko's two tracks both enhance Storm Run.
| Track | What it changes | Fully stacked (2 stacks) |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Range | Placement range | Base +2 cells |
| Storm Damage | Damage multiplier | Base +×2 |
Rush Storm Range if Storm Run regularly cannot reach your intended target without walking into position first. More placement range means you can trigger Storm Run from further back, reducing exposure. It also gives you more flexibility to aim the dash along different angles.
Rush Storm Damage if Storm Run is connecting but not finishing the drones it hits. High-damage Storm Runs become one-shot kills on most standard drone types, which is often more valuable than reaching slightly further. At 2 stacks the damage multiplier is effectively tripled, making Storm Run one of the hardest-hitting single actions in the game.
Split (alternating): +1 range and +×1 damage by level 7. A reasonable default that keeps both benefits coming online together.
Team context: If Katyusha's Iron Curtain is handling clustered drones, Nadeshiko rarely needs to aim Storm Run at tight groups. In that case, Storm Range lets her pick off isolated high-value targets like spotters and relay nodes that are sitting behind the front line. If you are playing Nadeshiko as the primary damage dealer and rely on Storm Run for clearing clusters, Storm Damage scales better.
Maria¶
Maria's two tracks both enhance Broadside.
| Track | What it changes | Fully stacked (2 stacks) |
|---|---|---|
| Broadside Range | Placement range | Base +2 cells |
| Broadside Damage | Damage multiplier | Base +×2 |
Rush Broadside Range if water geometry regularly forces Maria closer to threats than you want. More placement range means she can fire Broadside at a cluster from a safer position further out, reducing the HP she risks in the approach. Range is also critical on stages where the primary clusters sit far inland.
Rush Broadside Damage if Broadside is not fully clearing the clusters it hits. At 2 stacks the multiplier is tripled, and the suppression effect (no drone counterfire during the barrage) becomes even more dominant: you deal heavily amplified damage and take none back.
Split (alternating): +1 range and +×1 damage by level 7. Good default that keeps both tracks useful throughout the mid-campaign.
Team context: Maria rarely needs extended range on stages with generous water access. On stages where she has to reposition aggressively to get firing angles, Broadside Range pays for itself. On stages with large clusters of high-HP drones (cruiser-heavy water sectors, Nexus approaches), Broadside Damage ends fights faster.
Team builds¶
Because all units end up with 2+2 stacks, team builds are about which unit's power to prioritize in the early levels (4-13) before the later picks fill out.
Aggressive push: Rush Curtain Reflect (Katyusha) and Storm Damage (Nadeshiko). Both units deal peak limit break damage as early as level 7. Maria takes Broadside Range first to fire safely from further back while the other two push forward.
Defensive anchor: Rush Curtain Capacity (Katyusha) and Broadside Range (Maria). Katyusha absorbs far more fire before the shield breaks, and Maria fires Broadside from maximum range without needing to move into danger. Nadeshiko takes Storm Damage for burst output on priority targets.
Balanced: Split all three units. Each unit gets one stack of each track by level 7. No dramatic spikes, but nothing weak either. Works well if you are not sure yet which stages will cause the most trouble.
Practical notes¶
You will reach level 4 during Chapter 1. Level 7 comes mid-Chapter 1 or early Chapter 2 depending on how many drones you defeat. You will not see your third pick until Chapter 2.
If you are unsure what to pick at level 4, choose the track that enhances the problem you are currently stuck on. If Iron Curtain is not countering enough drones, take Curtain Capacity. If Storm Run is not killing what it hits, take Storm Damage. The gap between picks is long enough that you will have a clear picture by level 7.