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Halloween Nowi

Analysis by MackerelPye
Halloween Nowi - Eternal Witch

5

Obtainable as a 5 only

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
147
HP 34
ATK 34
SPD 32
DEF 20
RES 27

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 16 7 5 4 7
Middle 17 8 6 5 8
High 18 9 7 6 9

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 31 31 29 17 24
Middle 34 34 32 20 27
High 37 37 35 23 31

IV Sets

Key stats worth increasing through nature if possible.
Complementary stats that matter, but not to the point of picking them over key stats for nature increase.
Relatively worthless stat that can safely be decreased through nature.
HPATKSPDDEFRES

Skill Sets

A Thousand Years of Snicker Bars (Save Support or Guidance Beacon)

Build by MackerelPye
Recommended
Grimoire (+Eff) A Atk/Spd Bond (3 or 4)
Alternate: Atk/Spd Push 4
Reposition
Alternate: Smite
B Atk/Def Link 3
Alternate: Atk/Def Snag 3
Moonbow
Alternate: Glimmer
C Atk/Spd Rein 3
Alternate: Joint Drive Atk
IVs

+SPD or +ATK / -HP or -DEF or -RES

SDrive Atk 2
Alternate: Guidance 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Grimoire (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Moonbow / Glimmer

Passive A: Atk/Spd Bond / Other Atk/Spd swing skills

Passive B: Link or Snag or Chill skills

Passive C: Atk/Spd Rein / Flier Guidance / Various "Within Two Spaces" skills

Sacred Seal: Various "Within Two Spaces" skills / Double Spurs / Guidance / Flier Guidance

  • This build pays special attention to Nowi's ability to provide Guidance and movement assist support, which synergizes enhanced beautifully by Grimoire's enhanced movement effect. By having Nowi teleport to a space away from other allies with some Guidance skill in effect, said allies can effectively move more than two spaces themselves. Additionally, Nowi can use an Assist skill of choice (Reposition or Smite are recommended) to further support allies by taking them away from attack range or pushing them into an optimal attack position. On top of these movement options, Grimoire even inflicts Atk/Spd/Res -4 on enemies within three spaces, giving Nowi's allies appreciable ease in combat.
  • In essence, Nowi can act as a middleman for both escape routes and enhanced attack range for her allies, especially for armored units who typically have cumbersome mobility issues. On teams with flier allies, you may opt for Flier Guidance instead or in conjunction with regular Guidance. 
  • This build's emphasis on support means a few skills are preferred especially in Nowi's B, C, and Sacred Seal. 
    • Nowi's allies may prefer the movement flexibility offered by Flier Guidance or Guidance, either or both of which can take the Sacred Seal or C slot.
    • Another "within two spaces" support skill can also be used in conjunction with Grimoire's in-combat debuffs and either Guidance to improve Nowi's allies' combat quality. Joint Drives and Rein skills are great in the C slot to also improve Nowi's own combat capabilities. Spurs are also acceptable as Grimoire makes adjacency a pretty easy task. This is the way to go if you're running Save skill units in particular, as Grimoire's debuffs and Nowi's chosen skills will always be in effect when Near or Far Save activate on an armored ally. Nowi's bad bulk is also offset by the fact that these Save skills redirect incoming combat from herself. 
    • As Nowi will actively be providing a lot of movement Assist support, a Link or Snag skill of your choice capitalizes off this as Nowi can provide visible bonuses or debuffs, respectively. Chill skills are a more passive penalty-inducing alternative (without the need for using an Assist) as well.
  • Finally, Nowi isn't exactly picky with her A slot or Special on this build due to the build's support focus. Running Moonbow or Glimmer as usual, along with most non-Solo Atk/Spd-boosting A slots you can spare, will help Nowi deal nice damage at most short-notice situations.

Wolmart Brand Costume (General Gameplay / Budget Attacker)

Build by MackerelPye
Recommended
Grimoire (+Eff) A Fury 3
Alternate: Triangle Adept 3
Reposition B Desperation 3
Alternate: Axebreaker 3
Glimmer
Alternate: Moonbow
C Hone Fliers
Alternate: Atk Tactic 3
IVs

+ATK or +SPD / -HP or -DEF or -RES

SSwift Sparrow 2
Alternate: Death Blow 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Grimoire (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Moonbow / Glimmer

Passive A: Fury / Triangle Adept

Passive B: Desperation / Axebreaker / Spd/Def Link

Passive C: Hone Fliers / Atk Tactic / Goad Fliers

Sacred Seal: Swift Sparrow / Death Blow 

  • Nowi's skill inheritance potential may be on the rather drab side, but for people simply wanting to put her to work at low merges / investment, all that doesn't matter as she can simply fall back on some cheap and reliable two-skill combos:
    • Fury + Desperation: Fury pushes all of Nowi's stats by 3 each, giving her slightly better all-around performance in exchange for damage suffered after every round of battle — which conveniently pushes Nowi into Desperation activation range for uninterrupted doubles. 
    • Triangle Adept + Axebreaker: Though this ultimately narrows Nowi's matchups to just green units, type checking is a valuable thing to have, especially when you need a low-cost solution against deadly Assault mode threats such as Legendary Edelgard and Valentines Alm/Celica. This also allows Nowi to ignore her pretty average offensive statline in favor of massive type check advantages.
  • No matter how the build turns out, Nowi consistently appreciates the low cooldown nature of Moonbow and Glimmer as well as the larger player-phase boosts of the Swift Sparrow (preferred for Desperation builds) or Death Blow Sacred Seals for improved offensive performance. 
  • Finally, Nowi's C slot skill ultimately depends on the rest of her team, though her default Hone Fliers is mostly sufficient enough given it's still a rare but helpful support skill to have on hyper-offensive flier teams. Goad Fliers works as an easy substitute for those preferring in-combat stat stacking, while a Tactics skill of your choice can be used on mixed movement teams instead.
    • Notably, the combination of Atk Tactic and Spd/Def Link (both of which are easily acquirable from low-rarity summons) allows Nowi to grant a large blue bonus to three stats to any ally at your command. 

Bellybuttons...The NERVE! (High-Investment Attacker)

Build by MackerelPye
Recommended
Grimoire (+Eff) A Atk/Spd Push 4
Alternate: Swift Sparrow 3
Reposition
Alternate: Positional Assist
B Desperation 3
Alternate: Chill Spd 3
Glimmer
Alternate: Ruptured Sky
C Spd/Res Rein 3
Alternate: Flier Guidance 3
IVs

+SPD or +ATK

SSwift Sparrow 2
Alternate: Brazen Atk/Spd 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Grimoire (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Glimmer / Ruptured Sky / Moonbow

Passive A: Atk/Spd Push 4 / Swift Sparrow 3 / Fury 4

Passive B: Desperation / Chill skills 

Passive C: Spd/Res Rein / Flier Guidance / Guidance / Atk/Spd Rein / Atk/Res Rein

Sacred Seal: Swift Sparrow / Death Blow / Brazen Atk/Spd

  • This is mostly a higher-budget, improved version of the previous build, assuming you have the resources / care to put it all on our little witch. 
  • For the most part, the game plan — basically teleport in with the extended reach of Grimoire and attack whenever appropriate — and skill setup is mostly similar but with a few higher-grade skills to make up for Nowi's lacking combat prowess.
    • In the A-slot especially, Nowi will prefer Atk/Spd augments of at least 6 each, which can easily be provided by Atk/Spd Push 4 and Swift Sparrow 3. Fury 4 doesn't offer nearly as much stat swings in Atk/Spd, though it should be considered due to improving Nowi's defenses while setting up Desperation much easier with higher recoil damage. While Solo skills are a usual recommendation for offensive builds, Nowi likely won't make good use of it due to the positioning nature of Grimoire. 
    • For lack of fantastic B-slot inheritance options, Desperation is still a solid option as it allows Nowi to make immediate follow-up attacks where she can. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, you can run Chill skills, such as Chill Spd or Res or the dual version of both, as a passive debuffing option if your team is lacking in that.
    • Nowi's flier status finally doesn't bite her in the butt with access to Rein skills, which serve as an easy way to debilitate enemies in-combat for both Nowi and nearby allies. Spd/Res Rein is a direct complement to this build's offensive nature, though Atk/Res or Atk/Spd Rein are alternatives should Spd/Res not be available. 
    • Alternatively or simply lacking the right Rein skills, Nowi can run Guidance or its flier-exclusive version to effectively open attack/escape routes for other allies. It works extremely well with the mass teleportation effect offered from Grimoire, allowing Nowi and her allies to extend their movement at any given moment. 
    • For all the investment you're potentially giving to this build, Moonbow and Glimmer are still basically Nowi's best options due to their low (potentially single-round cooldown) and relative commonality. Ruptured Sky is expensive and mostly pretty extra for the mostly similar damage it does compared to the aforementioned two (except on Dragon and Beast units). You might as well take it, though, if you're getting Fury 4 or Atk/Spd Push 4 from normal or summer Female Byleth, respectively. 

~ ☆ Mahou Tsukai Nowi Desu ☆~ (Aether Raids Defense)

Build by MackerelPye
Grimoire (+Eff) A Sturdy Impact
Alternate: Steady Impact
Rally Assist B Guard 3
Alternate: Windsweep 3
Moonbow C Ground Orders 3
Alternate: Atk/Spd Rein 3
IVs

+SPD or +ATK / -HP or -RES or -DEF

SSwift Sparrow 2
Alternate: Sturdy Blow 2

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Grimoire (+Eff)

Assist: Rally Assist / No Assist

Special: Moonbow

Passive A: Sturdy Impact / Steady Impact / Mirror Impact

Passive B: Guard / Windsweep

Passive C: Ground Orders / Spd/Res Rein / Atk/Spd Rein

Sacred Seal: Swift Sparrow / Sturdy Blow / Death Blow

  • The extended movement and attack range offered by Grimoire gives Nowi some considerable potential as an Aether Raids defender, capable of sniping the backline of incoming offensive teams if they're not careful with their positioning. With other defending units utilizing Wings of Mercy or an Orders effect, Nowi and her allies can potentially pull off the largest disappearing trick on the enemy in an instant. 
  • Given that Nowi doesn't present a particularly huge offensive or defensive threat even after Mythic hero blessing boosts, however, players will have to fall back on her access to Impact skills (increasing her overall survivability through a huge defense boost and denying enemy follow-ups) as well as ability to offer Ground Orders utility (increasing the movement range of her allies and potentially allowing them to piggyback off Nowi after Grimoire movement).  
  • Spd/Res Rein or Atk/Spd Rein are alternative C slot skills that improve Nowi's rather lacking combat prowess directly if Ground Orders isn't being used. 
  • Nowi's rather lacking in great B slot options especially for defending, which pretty much limits her to Guard (for activation denial on Aether Raids Offensive caries reliant on their Special) or Windsweep (denies counterattacks from slower axe, sword, lance, beast, dagger, and bow units but limits Nowi to just one attack). 
  • Nowi's Sacred Seal is best reserved for a Blow-type skill to improve her overall offense. Notably, using Sturdy Blow may improve her survivability against physical counterattackers combined with Sturdy Impact or Steady Impact
  • Nowi should be equipped with a Rally Assist skill or no Assist at all depending on the setup of your Defense keep. Having a Rally helps Nowi bounce around and keep searching for new targets to attack after being Danced, while running no Assist at all keeps her focused on moving towards the enemy. 

Strengths

Refined Grimoire

The refined version of Halloween Nowi's weapon finally gives her some things she's been burglarizing houses for since launch (besides candy). In addition to stats — Atk/Spd +4 and forcing Atk/Spd/Res -4 on enemy units are super appreciable with Nowi's only okay stat line — Grimoire grants Nowi an actual potent use case over other mage and flier units in the game. Specifically, she is able to teleport to a space two spaces away from nearby allies, which significantly extends her reach to enemies and allies across the map while making her previously-stated stat conditions practically givens.

The tome also grants some nice support potential, as the in-combat debuffs apply to enemies three spaces away rather than on Nowi's matchups exclusively, while opening numerous pathways when Nowi is using movement Assists on her allies.

Flier + Tome User Perks

As a flying unit herself, Nowi benefits from a variety of advantages offered by her flying class. Firstly, she is able to traverse otherwise difficult terrain such as mountains and bodies of water. This advantage is only emphasized with the extended range offered by Grimoire, compounded with the perks of having a ranged tome flier adding a potent magic sniping option on your team. Finally, Nowi is also able to make the most out of exclusive skills including Impact A slot skills, Goad Fliers, Hone Fliers, Rein skills, and more. 

Special mentions goes especially towards Guidance and Flier Guidance — both of which work beautifully in conjunction with the enhanced movement spacing of Grimoire to also increase the movement options of Nowi's allies.  

Decent Offensive Stats

With 34 base Attack, Nowi will rarely fail to do at least some damage to most relevant targets. While 32 Speed isn't exactly helping Nowi snatch her candy faster, it's perfectly improvable with some inheritance tricks, especially in the form of certain A slot skills, Sacred Seals, and outsourced team support options like Goad Fliers, Joint Drive Spd, and Chill Spd.

Weaknesses

Depressing Inheritance Options

Nowi's unfortunately running really low in this particular candy basket due to the grating inheritance restrictions placed on both flier and tome units. A general lack of access to good competitive skills, especially B slot passive skills like Null Follow-Up, Lulls, and even Dive-Bomb, are very clear when attempting to construct a cohesive build for her. 

Outclassed / Average Combat Performance

It's not just overeating the candy that's making Nowi green, as recently-added red mage entries in the game somewhat humble her place in the game. In the first place, as a seasonal unit, Nowi is a relatively difficult sell as she is mostly only available once a year and is thus susceptible to hard powercreep. The most egregious example of this is Summer Byleth/Rhea, who have totally superior offensive stats, a form of Null Follow-Up (normally out of reach for fliers), and duo hero privileges including a 185 BST Duel built-in and ability to add Duo's Hinderance on Aether Raids Defense keeps. While Nowi's ridiculous range is a really good selling point, it's basically her only one. 

Bad Defenses

Terrible defensive stats and a bow weaknesses are expected and nonetheless disappointing of Nowi's archetype. With only 34 base HP barely held up by mere defensive values of 20 Defense and 27 Resistance, a majority of units can badly damage Nowi or even one-round her if left wide-open. Even with specific skills promoting her tankability like Grimoire's in-combat debuffs, Fury, and Reins, there is only so much punishment the Eternal Witch can take.

Weapon Skills

Weapons SP Rng. Mt.
Fire
Red Tome Users Only
50 2 4
Elfire
Red Tome Users Only
100 2 6
Bolganone
Red Tome Users Only
200 2 9
Grimoire

If unit has ≥ 50% HP, unit can move to a space adjacent to an ally within 2 spaces.

Learns by default at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
400 2 14
Weapon Evolution
Weapon Upgrades
Weapon Upgrades

Support Skills

Support Skills Rng. SP
Reposition

Target ally moves to opposite side of unit.

Learns by default at 5 ★
1 150

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Atk/Res Bond 1

Grants Atk/Res+3 to this unit during combat if unit is adjacent to an ally.

Inheritable by all units.
60
A
Atk/Res Bond 2

Grants Atk/Res+4 to this unit during combat if unit is adjacent to an ally.

Inheritable by all units.
120
A
Atk/Res Bond 3

Grants Atk/Res+5 to this unit during combat if unit is adjacent to an ally.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
240
A
Live for Bounty

If unit survives, get 1.5x shards/crystals from a Training Tower map. (If similar skill effects also used, only highest multiplier applied.)

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
100
B
Hone Atk 1

Grants adjacent allies Atk+2 through their next actions at the start of each turn.

Inheritable by all units.
50
C
Hone Atk 2

Grants adjacent allies Atk+3 through their next actions at the start of each turn.

Inheritable by all units.
100
C
Hone Fliers

Grants adjacent flying allies Atk/Spd+6 through their next actions at the start of each turn.

  • Requires Hone Atk 2 or Hone Spd 2.
Only inheritable by flier units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
200
C

Other Info

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