S MECH Lightning

Shadow Knight

Fu Hua

TierC
RolesDPS
Release2.6

Shadow Knight is Fu Hua's S-rank MECH-type Lightning gauntlet user from v2.6. She links her Six Fists into Combo ATKs, then spends SP over time in Lunar Eclipse, a long burst mode famous for her "ora-ora" Shi-Ki Onslaught, while a Lightning Field boosts her damage. She excelled in the old Abyss thanks to her grouping and damage resistance, and her PRI-ARM Nuada's Revenge kept her relevant for a while. She has no Astral Ring and is obsolete in 9.0 endgame content: enjoy her in Part 1 content and the Elysian Realm, where she has been playable since v6.5.

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Shadow Knight

Lightning DPS

Weapons

Nuada's Revenge BiS
S
Best in slot (BBS, Marisa Impact, Elysian Realm guides): +50% Lightning DMG, damage reduction and shockwaves in burst mode, and a Bleed Trauma active that hits twice as hard in Eclipse.
PRI-ARM of Nuada's Grief: the active strikes for 500% ATK of Lightning DMG with 10 Bleed Trauma (double damage in Burst mode); +50% Lightning DMG, +30% ATK Speed in Burst mode and a once-per-battle 50% HP heal when near death; in Burst mode or for 5s after the active or Ultimate, Ignore Interrupt, 40% Total DMG Reduction and Lightning shockwaves that make enemies take up to 24.5% more Lightning DMG (3.5% x 7 stacks).
Nuada's Grief
A
Her original gauntlets (+40% Lightning DMG, Bleed Trauma). Exchange Shop and Battle Pass.
Pantheon gauntlets from v2.6 and the base weapon of Nuada's Revenge: the active deals 600% ATK of Physical DMG, knocks enemies airborne and inflicts 6 Bleed Trauma; +40% Lightning DMG.
Cosmic Duality
S
BBS utility option: Ignore Interrupt, HP and SP from its active.
PRI-ARM of Nebulous Duality for Fu Hua: its active gives Ignore Interrupt and restores HP and SP for 10s, a teammate's Ultimate restores 10 SP and 300 HP to the wielder (CD: 15s), and on Fu Hua each charge gives teammates +5% Total DMG when she switches out (up to 15%).
Grips of Tai Xuan
A
BBS transitional pick: Time Lock swords and stacking Total DMG.
Older gauntlet Divine Key: summons three Xuanyuan swords that Time Lock enemies, and landing different attack types stacks up to several Total DMG bonuses.

Stigmata

Monet T Top
Ishikawa Goemon M Middle
Ishikawa Goemon B Bottom
BBS recommendation: Monet's Lightning DMG with Goemon's Combo ATK and Lightning buffs.
Set effects
2pA lightning barrier gives 30% Lightning DMG while it lasts and negates one Physical hit (regenerates after 15s). T piece: +30% Lightning DMG and up to +15% Total DMG with the combo counter.
3pThe B piece's slow spreads to nearby enemies, and the wearer heals 8% HP.
2pCombo ATK hits enter Kenbu mode: +30% Total DMG for 7s (CD 10s). M: +20% Total DMG and a Lightning buff after an Ultimate; B: +35% Lightning DMG.
3pTaking a hit gives 30% DMG Reduction and interrupt immunity (CD 15s), and the wearer heals below 50% HP.
Handel T Top
Handel M Middle
Handel B Bottom
Marisa Impact's pick: G4 Handel from the Exchange Shop or Battle Pass.
Set effects
2pHigh Baroque Maestro set. Lightning DMG +30%; casting the Ultimate triggers every equipped piece's effect.
3pThe on-field teammate gains a 20% Total DMG Multiplier, and spending 60/120 SP at once makes all enemies take 10%/35% more Lightning DMG for 20s.
Zeno T Top
Zeno M Middle
Zeno B Bottom
Elysian Realm best in slot (HoYoLAB v6.5 guide): with Blessing of Lunar Eclipse, Shi-Ki Onslaught counts as Combo ATK DMG and she can trigger her Ultimate Evasion skill manually. Alternatives there: Goemon, Handel, or Monet T/M + Newton B.
Set effects
2pParadoxical Philosophy set. +35% Total DMG; Lightning DMG from Combo ATKs applies a 15s Butterfly Mark, and a marked enemy explodes for 100% ATK of Lightning DMG every 4 hits from the wearer (CD: 1.5s).
3pButterfly Mark explosions restore 2 SP, and the Ultimate Evasion Skill gives +60% Lightning DMG against marked enemies for 15s.
Edison T Top
Edison M Middle
Edison B Bottom
BBS transitional Lightning set.
Set effects
2pEvery 12s, the next Basic ATK gains 50% Total DMG and the wearer gains 15% Total DMG for 6s.
3p+25% Lightning DMG.

Stat targets

  • Stigmata affixes: ATK on every piece
  • Enter Eclipse with as much SP as possible: it lasts longer and refunds more
  • Fight inside the Lightning Field to keep its +50% Lightning DMG

Talent priority

Ultimate
Basic ATK
Passive
Special ATK
Evasion
Leader

Where to get her: War Treasury, Dorm Supply and Battle Pass; Nuada from the Exchange Shop and Battle Pass; G4 Handel from the Exchange Shop and Battle Pass (Marisa Impact). In the Elysian Realm, Blessing of Lunar Eclipse is the core Ego signet, followed by Blessing of Forces; take Vicissitude signets.

Teams

Recommended teams

Part 1 Lightning (Lunar Vow + Herrscher of Truth)

Shadow Knight
Lunar Vow: Crimson Love
Herrscher of Truth

Lunar Vow: Crimson Love is the current Part 1 Lightning support and Herrscher of Truth brings Elemental Breach and SP. Shadow Knight's leader skill gives the team +28% Elemental DMG (SS), but its starting SP only goes to Lunar Vow: Herrscher of Truth is a Bronya battlesuit, which the SP bonus excludes. No Astral Ring: older content only.

Classic Lightning supports

Shadow Knight
Fallen Rosemary
Azure Empyrea

The old Part 1 Lightning support duo: Azure Empyrea triggers Fallen Rosemary's QTE, and Rosemary's Runes and Stain of Trickery buff Lightning damage. Both are farmable.

Guide

How to play

Six Fists and Combo ATKs

  • Her Basic ATK is a 6-stance string; each hit adds Lightning DMG and a little Paralyze Trauma.
  • The Ultimate button doubles as her Combo button: after stances 1–2 it performs Ki Riptide, after stances 3–6 Ki Pulverize, and on its own Ki Seismic Slam, which knocks enemies back (Stun and Bleed Trauma against walls).
  • After Ki Riptide, every 3rd attack releases a 300% ATK Lightning blast that restores 3 SP outside Eclipse.

Lunar Eclipse (burst mode)

  • With more than 60 SP, hold [Ultimate]: Shi-Ki Crescent opens Lunar Eclipse for up to 60s, draining 6 SP per second (no SP from attacks) for +40% Lightning DMG. When it ends, she recovers 30% of the SP she had when she cast it.
  • In Eclipse, stances 1–2 + Combo give Shi-Ki Charged Palm, stances 3–6 + mashing Combo give Shi-Ki Onslaught, her main damage (it also pulls enemies in and gives heavy damage reduction).
  • Shi-Ki Crescent creates a Lightning Field (20s): inside it she gains +5% Lightning DMG per second, up to +50%. Recast it to move the field. At SS it also Time-Locks enemies for 4s and inflicts 12 Bleed Trauma.
  • She deals +50% Total DMG to slowed or bleeding enemies, which her Nuada gauntlets and Ultimate Evasion (Bleed Trauma) help with.

Evasion and switch

  • Ultimate Evasion releases an Electrical Surge (CD: 12s) that restores SP and inflicts Bleed Trauma; tap Combo right after to dash in with Ki Riptide (or Shi-Ki Onslaught in Eclipse).
  • QTE: triggered on a frozen enemy. Switch skill: a Lightning ground smash.

Rotation: Basic ATK + Ki Riptide/Pulverize to build SP → hold Ultimate for Eclipse inside the Lightning Field → Basic ATK x3 + mash Combo for Shi-Ki Onslaught, weapon active on cooldown → stay in the field until the SP runs out. In the Elysian Realm she gets +50 initial SP, can Onslaught after Basic ATK SEQ 1–2, and her Ultimate creates a black hole where it lands that gathers enemies.

Strengths

  • Long burst mode with high damage reduction, Ignore Interrupt and grouping: very safe for a melee DPS.
  • Useful leader skill: +28% Elemental DMG for the team and +50 initial SP for non-Kiana/Mei/Bronya members (SS).
  • Playable in the Elysian Realm since v6.5, where her Flame-Chaser adjustments make Vicissitude signets excellent.
  • Easy to unlock (War Treasury, Dorm Supply, Battle Pass).

Weaknesses

  • Obsolete in 9.0 endgame: no Astral Ring and no place in current Memorial Arena or Superstring Abyss teams.
  • Eclipse drains SP and blocks SP gains from attacks: she needs SP-rich supports or signets to stay in it.
  • Her damage depends on staying inside her Lightning Field, which is awkward against mobile bosses.
  • Superseded as a Lightning DPS by later battlesuits such as Herrscher of Thunder and Lunar Vow: Crimson Love.

Notable dupes · Rank

SS
Big upgrade

Moon: Shi-Ki Crescent Time-Locks enemies for 4s and inflicts 12 Bleed Trauma; Despair adds Attack Speed and damage reduction; the leader skill gains +50 initial SP.

SSS
Optional

Anguish: in Eclipse, a 20% chance per second to inflict Paralyze Trauma around her.

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Updated September 26, 2026 · Version 9.0
Sources & references
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