Qiuyuan, a 5-star Aero Sword user in Wuthering Waves 2.7, is a Sub-DPS with a focus on Echo Skill damage, resource management via Swordster's Soliloquy, and team buffs for Crit DMG and Echo DMG. His kit emphasizes fluid combat through enhanced states like Inksplash of Mind, with synergies for Echo-heavy teams. Details are based on pre-release information and may change upon official release on October 30, 2025.

Character Overview

  • Element: Aero
  • Weapon: Sword
  • Role: Sub-DPS (Echo Skill and Heavy Attack-focused buffer)
  • Rarity: 5-Star
  • Playstyle: Qiuyuan accumulates Swordster's Soliloquy through Basic Attacks and Dodge Counters to unlock enhanced states: Thus Spoke the Blade: Inkwash at 200 points, Bamboo's Shade (team Echo DMG buff) at 400 points, and Inksplash of Mind at 600 points for burst damage. He provides team-wide Crit DMG buffs based on his Crit Rate and Echo DMG amplification via Outro. Synergies include Echo-spam teams with characters like Galbrena, Phrolova, and Shorekeeper.

His stats prioritize Crit Rate (for team buffs and personal scaling), with sub-focus on Crit DMG, Aero DMG, Heavy Attack DMG, and ATK. He excels in quick-swap rotations with energy-efficient mechanics for sustained play.

Basic Attack: Inkwash

Perform up to 3 consecutive attacks, dealing Aero DMG.

  • Heavy Attack: Consume STA to attack the target, dealing Aero DMG. Press Normal Attack within a certain period after to perform Thus Spoke the Blade: Inkwash Stage 4.
  • Mid-air Attack: Consume STA to perform a Plunging Attack, dealing Aero DMG.
  • Dodge Counter: Press Normal Attack after a successful Dodge to attack, dealing Aero DMG (considered Heavy Attack DMG). Moments after Basic or Heavy Attack, Qiuyuan becomes immune to the next DMG instance and auto-triggers Dodge Counter if attacked, dealing Aero DMG.

This chain builds Swordster's Soliloquy for enhanced states.

Resonance Skill: Through the Groves

Press to dash forward at STA cost, dealing Aero DMG (considered Echo Skill DMG). If cast upon being attacked, gain immunity to that DMG, stagnate nearby enemies, and interruption immunity during the skill. Switching removes stagnation.

  • Undaunted Wayfarer (Hold): Dash forward at STA cost, dealing Aero DMG (Echo Skill DMG). If no targets, leap and air-dash by consuming STA until release or land. On landing near targets, deal Aero DMG (Echo Skill DMG). Can be cast mid-air.

Provides mobility and positioning for combos, with interruption immunity buffs in later versions.

Resonance Liberation: Sundering Strike

Deal Aero DMG to targets in range (considered Echo Skill DMG). For every 1% of Qiuyuan's Crit Rate over 50%, increase Crit DMG of all nearby active Resonators by 2% for 30s (max 30%).

  • Best timed before switching to amplify team DPS, with energy recovery synergies.

Intro Skill: Attack the Must-Defend

Attack the target, dealing Aero DMG (considered Heavy Attack DMG). After casting, press Normal Attack to perform Thus Spoke the Blade: Inkwash Stage 3. Grants 400 points of Swordster's Soliloquy.

Outro Skill: Strike Before Ready

Attack the target, dealing Aero DMG (considered Echo Skill DMG). Grants 50% Echo Skill DMG Amplification to the incoming Resonator for 14s or until switched out.

Forte Circuit: Verdant Edge

Qiuyuan's core mechanic revolves around Swordster's Soliloquy (max 600 points), gained from Basic Attack Stage 3 (100), each Inkwash stage (100), Dodge Counter (100), and Intro Skill (400). Cannot gain in Inksplash of Mind; clears on state end.

  • Thus Spoke the Blade: Inkwash: At 200+ points, replaces Basic Attack with up to 4 strikes, dealing Aero DMG (Heavy Attack DMG).
  • Bamboo's Shade: At 400 points, grants all nearby active Resonators 30% Echo Skill DMG Bonus for 30s.
  • Inksplash of Mind: At full points, enter for 8s. Heavy Attack replaced by Thus Spoke the Blade: To Save. Hold Normal Attack to consume points for To Teach, To Save, To Sacrifice sequence, dealing Aero DMG (Heavy Attack DMG; considered Echo Skill). Ends when points depleted.

Inherent Skills (Passives):

  • Quietude Within: On entering Inksplash of Mind, gain for 10s (once every 22s). To Teach, To Save, To Sacrifice deal 50% more DMG; To Sacrifice restores 30 Concerto Energy on hit. Ends early on switch.
  • Drink Away Woes Age-Old: Casting Echo Skill brews Flowing Panacea. Next Soliloquy gain consumes it for 10% ATK increase for 20s.

Signature Weapon: Emerald Sentence

  • Base ATK: 587-588
  • Crit Rate: 24.3%
  • Passive: ATK +12%. Casting Echo Skill grants Bamboo Cleaver stack (up to 2, 30s), +30-40% Heavy Attack DMG. Max stacks reset on Echo Skill. Casting Intro grants team 20% Echo Skill DMG Bonus for 30s (non-stackable).

Focuses on self-buffs with conditional team support.

Resonance Chain

  • S1: Sword Sheathed, Mind Unclouded: To Teach, To Save, To Sacrifice uninterruptible; +20% Crit Rate.
  • S2: O Blade, I, Who Teach No More: Bamboo's Shade +30% Echo Skill DMG Amplification to nearby Resonators.
  • S3: O Blade, I, Who Save No More: Sundering Strike DMG Multiplier +500%. Full Concerto replaces Resonance Skill with Straw Cape in Drizzly Rain (20s CD): Consume 60 Concerto, deal 500% ATK Aero DMG (Echo), restore 400 Soliloquy, next Basic = Inkwash Stage 3. Prevents next Quietude Within. To Teach/Save/Sacrifice +600% DMG Multiplier, +30 Concerto on hit. Non-Co-op: Next Outro = Sheath Fallen, New Shoots Revealed (500% ATK Aero DMG, Echo).
  • S4: O Blade, I, Who Sacrifice No More: +20% ATK.
  • S5: O Blade, I, Who Await to be Wielded: Ignore 15% target DEF.
  • S6: Thus I Heard, Thus I Saw, Thus I Spoke: To Sacrifice stagnates nearby for 5s (until damaged/switched; non-Co-op). Exiting Inksplash (as active) deals 600% ATK Aero DMG to range (Echo). Straw Cape +100% Crit DMG for 6s (ends on switch).

Playstyle and Team Synergies

Qiuyuan plays as a Sub-DPS, building Soliloquy for enhanced modes and bursts in Inksplash of Mind, while providing Echo and Crit buffs. Rewards Echo synergies and quick-swaps, with buffs making him versatile for Aero or Echo teams. Post-buffs, he has stronger personal damage at higher sequences.

Potential teams:

  • Galbrena (Main DPS) + Qiuyuan (Sub-DPS) + Shorekeeper (Support)
  • Phrolova (Main DPS) + Qiuyuan (Sub-DPS) + Cantarella (Support)
  • Focus on Echo-heavy or Aero setups for optimal buffs.