Wuthering Waves: Whimpering Wastes Guide for Beginners and F2P Players

Whimpering Wastes is a permanent endgame combat challenge mode introduced in Wuthering Waves version 2.1, designed for players at Union Level 30 or higher. It tests team-building, combat skills, and adaptation to timed challenges. The mode is divided into 12 stages across three areas:

• Forbidden Waters (Stages 1-6, one-time completion)
• Respawning Waters: Chasm (Stages 7-11, monthly reset)
• Respawning Waters: Torrents (Stage 12, Infinite Torrents, monthly reset)

Each stage consists of two halves, requiring two separate teams of up to three Resonators each (all six must be unique). The core gameplay involves fighting waves of enemies in a time-trial format, where points are earned based on clear speed—faster clears yield higher scores, letter grades (e.g., S rank), and better rewards. Stages include environmental effects (like buffs/debuffs to elements or enemy behaviors) and enemy lineups that change with monthly resets in the Respawning Waters areas, keeping the mode fresh.

Rewards include up to 1,600 Astrite total (with 800 available monthly from resets), Resonance Potions, Shell Credits, Energy Cores, and Sealed Tubes. Points milestones unlock these, so aim for at least A or S ranks where possible. For Respawning Waters: Chasm (Stages 7-11), aim for 15,000 total points across all stages for full rewards; for Infinite Torrents, reach 4,500 points. The mode resets on the last Monday of each month (next reset: September 29, 2025), clearing progress in Respawning Waters but allowing re-challenges with updated content.

To unlock: Complete the quest "Ocean is a Soul's Rest" in the Rinascita region (accessed after "Through The Sea Thou Break" at UL 30). Talk to Levito for the tutorial.

General Strategy and Tips

• Preparation: Review the "Environment Report" for buffs/debuffs (e.g., increased Glacio DMG or enemy RES to certain elements). Check enemy types, resistances, and wave patterns—monthly refreshes introduce new lineups, so adapt teams accordingly. Build two balanced teams per stage, focusing on synergy, elemental coverage, and quick wave clears.
• Combat Focus: Emphasize grouping enemies for efficient AoE damage. Waves often start with 10-20 low-HP mobs, followed by elites—clear trash quickly to prevent scattering. Position Resonators to maximize hits on grouped foes; single-target DPS struggles here. Use short-cooldown abilities over long-setup bursts. Save big cooldowns (e.g., Ultimates) for high-HP elites.
• Scoring and Progression: Points come from defeating enemies before the timer expires; S rank requires ultra-fast clears (e.g., under 2-3 minutes per half). You don't need S on every stage for full rewards—focus on hitting the total point thresholds (15,000 for Chasm, 4,500 for Infinite Torrents). Stages 9-11 are the toughest in Chasm; Infinite Torrents is endless waves for max points.
• Monthly Adaptation: Since resets bring new enemies and effects, test teams in easier stages first. Prioritize AoE-heavy comps for mob-heavy waves. If struggling, reset challenges to recover limited Token uses without penalty. For the September 2025 reset, environmental effects include Burning Waves (max Ember grants 60% extra DMG for 30s), with stage-specific RES increases (e.g., 20% Fusion RES in Stage 9, Spectro in 10, Glacio in 11).
• General Tips: You will need 2 teams of built Resonators to beat this mode as it is an end game mode. Use infinite Tokens freely for practice. Grouping tools (e.g., Yangyang's suction or Jianxin's fields) are invaluable for non-AoE teams. Avoid "normal" rotations—spam AoE on cooldown for this mode's multi-wave chaos.
• Gold Tokens: Each reset has a group of 3 gold tokens which benefit certain characters, like for example, the current tokens benefit Phrolova team and Augusta team, the third token is universal.

Useful Characters

Characters shine here if they offer AoE damage, quick rotations, grouping, or support that enables fast clears. Single-target nukers with long wind-ups (e.g., Jinhsi) underperform in mob-heavy stages, especially with global RES in later ones. Prioritize those with spammable skills and elemental flexibility to counter monthly enemy changes. Recent resets (e.g., August/September 2025) favor Havoc, Fusion, and Electro teams due to buffs like reduced enemy RES in those elements and new Tokens (e.g., Sail Against the Storm for Havoc AoE blasts). New characters like Phrolova, Roccia, Augusta, Lupa, and Brant excel in AoE scenarios, synergizing with monthly buffs for quick wave clears.

Example Teams (Adapt to stage modifiers, e.g., avoid RES-debuffed elements like Fusion in Stage 9):

• Team 1: Phrolova / Cantarella / Roccia (Havoc AoE for September buffs)
• Team 2: Augusta / Mortefi / Shorekeeper (Electro/Heavy for RES reductions)
• Alternative: Brant / Lupa / Changli (Fusion AoE for Stage 10/11); Xiangli Yao / Yinlin / Verina (for Electro-heavy stages)

These comps cover AoE, sustain, and quick rotations. For monthly refreshes, swap based on enemy RES (e.g., avoid Spectro DPS in Spectro-resistant waves) and leverage new characters for their synergies.

Some characters (Ciaccona, Shorekeeper, Cartethyia) actually has some type of grouping ability in their kit that players often overlook.

F2P Strategy: Focus on Plunderer Token and Healers

Tokens are key buffs equipped per team (shared across both if uses allow). They provide effects like DMG bonuses or special triggers, with some infinite (unlimited uses) and others limited (e.g., 2 uses, recoverable via reset). Reserve limited ones for hard stages (9-12). Monthly resets may introduce new Tokens or alter effects, often tied to featured Resonators.

Plunderer Token (Plunderer Captain's Seal)

This is a standout 5-star Token unlocked by clearing Stage 6 (Burial Bay). Its effect: Recovers 3% of a Resonator's max HP every second. After the 6th recovery (every ~6 seconds), it triggers an AoE blast dealing 600% ATK as Electro DMG to nearby enemies. Uses: Limited to 2 per challenge in most stages, but infinite in Infinite Torrents.

Strategy for Using Plunderer:

• Core Mechanic: The HP recovery procs constantly, but accelerates with healing sources. This makes it a damage engine—pair it with healers to spam the AoE blast more frequently (e.g., every few seconds via Ultimates or skills). The Cruisewing echo can be used on your healer to speed up this damage.
• When to Use: Reserve for which ever stage you have problem with between 9-11, where waves are dense and sustained DPS is needed. It's clutch for S ranks in Infinite mode, turning defense into offense.
• Team Building: Always include a healer to maximize procs. The Token's Electro DMG ignores some resistances, making it versatile against monthly enemy changes. Combine with AoE DPS for wave-clear synergy—e.g., Jiyan's grouping pulls enemies into the blasts.
• Tips: Position teams in enemy clusters to hit max targets per proc. In multi-wave stages, it shines by chipping down elites while clearing mobs. If refreshes alter enemy lineups, test if the Token counters new debuffs (e.g., HP drain effects).