Physical

Attack

Nekomata

Member of the Cunning Hares

TierS

RolesMain DPS

Release1.0

Nekomiya Mana, "Nekomata", is a Physical Attack Agent whose Awakened Potential completely reworked her kit. She now builds Purr Energy and spends it on Fluffy Piercing Claw, an enhanced Dodge Counter that hits almost as hard as her Ultimate and puts her in Pawpad Ambush, where every attack counts as a back attack and she gains +60% CRIT DMG. The result is a standard S-Rank that keeps up with many limited Attackers.

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Dodge Counter burst DPS

W-Engines

Steel Cushion BiS

S · CRIT Rate

Her signature, from the standard banner, and her best option: Pawpad Ambush makes every attack a back attack, so the +25% DMG is always active. Its passive doubles from P1 to P5.

Physical DMG +20%, and +25% DMG when hitting enemies from behind.

Heartstring Nocturne

S · CRIT Rate

Evelyn's signature: a generic CRIT stat stick with a CRIT Rate main stat and +50% CRIT DMG. Still behind Steel Cushion.

CRIT DMG +50%; entering combat, Chain Attacks and Ultimates grant Heartstring (up to 2), each letting Chain Attacks and Ultimates ignore 12.5% of Fire RES.

Cordis Germina

S · CRIT Rate

Seed's signature: tons of CRIT Rate, which makes her much easier to build. Its DEF ignore doesn't cover Dodge Counters, though. Icy Veins's second choice.

CRIT Rate +15%; Basic and EX Special Attacks stack Electric DMG +12.5% for 40s (up to 2); at 2 stacks, Basic Attack and Ultimate DMG ignore 20% of DEF.

Severed Innocence

S · CRIT DMG

Soldier 0 - Anby's signature: lots of CRIT DMG; needs an occasional regular Special to keep 2 stacks.

CRIT DMG +30%, plus up to +30% more from Basic Attack, Special Attack and Aftershock hits; at 3 stacks, Electric DMG +20%.

Starlight Engine

A · ATK%

Best A-Rank per Prydwen: her Dodge Counters keep its ATK buff up almost permanently.

Dodge Counters and Quick Assists raise ATK by 12% for 12s.

Cannon Rotor

A · CRIT Rate

A-Rank with a CRIT Rate main stat, useful if you lack CRIT Rate.

ATK +7.5%; critical hits deal extra DMG equal to 200% of ATK (once every 8s).

Drive Discs

Woodpecker Electro ×4

Puffer Electro ×2

Her best general set (Prydwen, Icy Veins): extra CRIT Rate, and her Dodge Counters and EX Specials keep the ATK stacks up. Branch & Blade Song or Fanged Metal also work as 2-pc.

Set effects

2pCRIT Rate +8%

4pLanding a critical hit on an enemy with a Basic Attack, Dodge Counter, or EX Special Attack increases the equipper's ATK by 9% for 6s. The buff duration for different skills are calculated separately.

2pPEN Ratio +8%

Puffer Electro ×4

Woodpecker Electro ×2

With Dialyn only (Game8's pick): her Ultimate conversions keep Puffer's buff up for the whole Stun.

Set effects

2pPEN Ratio +8%

4pUltimate DMG increases by 20%. Launching an Ultimate increases the equipper's ATK by 15% for 12s.

2pCRIT Rate +8%

Fanged Metal ×4

Woodpecker Electro ×2

+35% DMG after the squad inflicts Assault: an option with Physical teammates like Dialyn and Sunna, or if you already have the pieces.

Set effects

2pPhysical DMG +10%

4pWhenever a squad member inflicts Assault on an enemy, the equipper deals 35% additional DMG to the target for 12s.

2pCRIT Rate +8%

Main stats

Disc 4

CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG / ATK%

Disc 5

PEN Ratio / ATK% / Physical DMG Bonus

Disc 6

ATK%

Substat priority

1CRIT Rate 2CRIT DMG 3ATK% 4PEN 5ATK

Stat targets

CRIT Rate 70–80%+ (up to 100% in combat)
CRIT DMG 140–160%+ before her Potential's +60% in Pawpad Ambush
ATK 2,500–3,100+
HP 9,500+, DEF 800+

Talent priority

Core Skill

Dodge

Chain Attack

Special Attack

Basic Attack

Assist

Her Dodge skill level covers Fluffy Piercing Claw, her biggest hit: level it right after her Core Skill. At M4, watch out for overcapping CRIT Rate.

Teams

Recommended teams

Physical: Dialyn & Sunna

Nekomata

Dialyn

Sunna

Her most used team in both Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault. Dialyn is her best Stunner: Ultimate conversions and extended Stuns fit a burst loaded on EX Specials, Chain Attacks and Ultimates. Sunna raises the Stun DMG Multiplier and adds Physical Anomaly for Assaults. Bangboo: Bangvolver (Physical).

Dialyn & Astra Yao

Nekomata

Dialyn

Astra Yao

Astra's buffs are strong and easy to manage, and her extra Chain Attacks give Nekomata more Purr Energy for another Fluffy Piercing Claw. Norma is a good alternative Stunner in both teams. Bangboo: Bangvolver.

F2P Cunning Hares: Anby & Nicole

Nekomata

Anby

Nicole

Game8's free team: both teammates share her faction, Nicole's DEF Shred is a big damage boost and Anby builds Daze fast. Bangboo: Amillion (two Cunning Hares).

Guide

How to play

Purr Energy

She starts with 40 Purr Energy, regenerates 1 per second (max 60) and gains 20 from her Ultimate, 10 from her Chain Attack and 5 from her EX Special.
Hold Basic Attack with 40+ Purr Energy to spend 40 on Dodge Counter: Fluffy Piercing Claw, a huge AoE slash.
After a Perfect Dodge with 40+, press Dodge to spend 30 on Disappearing Tail, then Basic Attack for a free Fluffy Piercing Claw.

Pawpad Ambush

Fluffy Piercing Claw puts her in Pawpad Ambush for 40s:

all her attacks count as hitting from behind (full value from Steel Cushion);
her attacks trigger Super Mean Pawprint, an extra hit every second;
her Potential gives +60% CRIT DMG.

Her Core Passive also gives +60% DMG for 40s whenever a Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits.

Stun combo

With 60 Purr Energy going into the Stun: Fluffy Piercing Claw → EX Special → Chain Attack → EX Special → Chain Attack → Fluffy Piercing Claw → Ultimate → Fluffy Piercing Claw. The Ultimate and two Chain Attacks give exactly 40 Purr Energy for the extra Claw.

Tips

Her Additional Ability (Support, same Attribute or same Faction) stacks +35% EX Special and Dodge Counter DMG after Disappearing Tail or whenever the squad inflicts Assault. Only spend Purr Energy on Disappearing Tail if you'll still have 40+ for the Stun.
Against Stunned enemies, her last Basic hit repeats 3 extra times: good filler.

Strengths

Standard S-Rank that keeps up with, and sometimes beats, many limited Attackers.
Not tied to one specific teammate: works with Dialyn, Sunna, Astra Yao, Nicole or Rina.
Huge burst from Fluffy Piercing Claw, usable on demand without needing a Perfect Dodge.
Her Mindscapes and W-Engine dupes scale very well, so losing a 50/50 to her isn't a waste.

Weaknesses

High CRIT Rate needs, which makes her harder to build.
Balancing her Additional Ability and Purr Energy for Stuns takes planning.
Big performance gap between M0 with one copy of Steel Cushion and M6 with five.

Notable dupes · Mindscape Cinema

Big upgrade

Back attacks ignore 16% of the target's Physical RES, and Pawpad Ambush makes every attack a back attack.

Optional

+25% Energy Generation Rate when there's only one enemy.

Solid upgrade

Each EX Special gives +7% CRIT Rate for 15s, up to 2 stacks: lower your CRIT Rate target accordingly.

Big upgrade

Chain Attacks and Ultimates stack +18% CRIT DMG, up to 3 times, for the rest of the fight. Game8 rates it as highly as M1.

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Updated September 26, 2026 · Version 3.2

Sources & references