Gray

Weapon: Laid-Back Blade (+Eff) 

Assist: Reposition / Flexible 

Special: Noontime / Sol 

Passive A: Distant Counter

Passive B: Close Call / Repel 

Passive C: Pulse Smoke 

Sacred Seal: Spd Smoke / Steady Posture 

• Gray can become a fearsome supertank thanks to his Laid-Back Blade. The weapon grants Cavalry-effectiveness and +3 to all stats during combat if his HP is ≥ 50%, along with the +Eff refine granting +3 HP and an additional +5 to all stats if the number of foes within 2 spaces is ≥ the number of allies within 2 spaces. With a potential +8 to all stats, Gray can significantly improve both his offensive capabilities (and thus, his healing from Noontime or Sol) and defensive capabilities.
• The key to making this set work is Close Call (or Repel); for each point of Speed Gray has more of than the enemy, 4% of the enemy’s damage is reduced, with the maximum damage reduction being 40%. While Gray’s middling 32 Speed may make this seem like a pipe dream, +8 Speed from Laid-Back Blade and a +SPD IV can make this much more realistic. Spd Smoke and Steady Posture also help ensure this Speed gap, with the former inflicting -7 Speed on all enemies within 2 spaces of the target and the latter increasing Gray’s Speed and Defense by +4 during Enemy Phase.
• Noontime and Sol are staples of any Close Call / Repel set, granting the unit self-sustainability. However, it’s especially important for Gray to use a healing Special, as Laid-Back Blade’s +3 to all stats is only granted if his HP is ≥ 50%.
• Pulse Smoke completely shuts down Infantry Pulse Aether Raids Defense teams, ensuring that Gray doesn’t fall to a barrage of enemy Specials that grant lots of bonus damage.

Weapon: Laid-Back Blade (+Eff) 

Assist: Reposition 

Special: Galeforce / Luna

Passive A: Swift Sparrow (2 or 3) / Heavy Blade 4 / Atk/Spd Solo 

Passive B: Null Follow-Up / Mystic Boost / Desperation 

Passive C: Time’s Pulse / Def Smoke 

Sacred Seal: Heavy Blade / Swift Sparrow 

• The role of offensive soloist comes naturally to Gray thanks to his Laid-Back Blade. The weapon’s +Eff refine grants Gray +5 to all stats if the number of foes within 2 spaces is ≥ the number of allies within 2 spaces, encouraging Gray to rush into a group of enemies and take them out. Thanks to +5 to all stats along with +3 to all stats if Gray’s HP is ≥ 50%, he can become a strong offensive force that dishes out high amounts of damage and consistently performs follow-up attacks.

• Skills that grant Gray additional damage (Attack) and/or Speed secure follow-up attacks and raw damage. Given Gray’s offensive playstyle for this set, he’ll be initiating for most of his combat, making Swift Sparrow a fantastic option (granting +4/6 Attack and +4/7 Speed when he initiates). Atk/Spd Solo is another great option, synergizing excellently with Laid-Back Blade’s +Eff refine to grant a total of +11 Attack/Speed if no ally is adjacent to Gray.

• Which Special Gray uses is player preference. While Galeforce, which grants Gray another action when activated, has more potential, it can be detrimental to Gray’s performance if the enemy has a Guard effect active; as such, Luna is a strong alternative that also helps him break through enemies with particularly high Defense. With Heavy Blade, Time’s Pulse, and no Guard effect active on the enemy, Gray can activate Galeforce after combat (assuming he performs a follow-up attack) or Luna on his follow-up attack.

• Null Follow-Up is a fantastic B slot to ensure that Gray performs a follow-up attack if he is able to. Mystic Boost heals Gray for 6 HP after combat, which can help him stay at ≥ 50% HP so he receives +3 to all stats during combat. While its HP threshold may be difficult to achieve while remaining ≥ 50% HP, Desperation can grant Gray safety when initiating at ≤ 75% HP by allowing him to perform his follow-up attack before the enemy can counterattack.