Hugh

Weapon: Sell-Spell Tome 

Assist: Positional Assist 

Special: Moonbow / Glimmer 

Passive A: Atk/Spd Boosting A Slot

Passive B: Null Follow-Up / Desperation 

Passive C: Rouse Atk/Spd 4 / Atk/Spd Menace 

Sacred Seal: Atk/Spd Solo / Blade Session / Fury 

• Hugh’s high base offenses lend themselves well to a straightforward, high-damage Player Phase set. With 5+ Dragonflowers and +6 visible Atk/Spd from Rouse Atk/Spd 4 or Atk/Spd Menace, Sell-Spell Tome grants an additional +13 Atk/Spd during combat, significantly boosting Hugh’s damage output.
  • While Rouse Atk/Spd 4’s Null Panic is valuable to make use of Sell-Spell Tome as consistently as possible, the positioning requirement can be difficult, so Atk/Spd Menace is chosen as an alternative. Its -6 Atk/Spd infliction on the nearest enemies within 4 spaces can aid in surviving counterattacks and performing follow-ups more consistently as well.
• With no Special cooldown reduction or additional Special charge from Sell-Spell Tome, low-cooldown Specials such as Moonbow, Glimmer, and Ruptured Sky are best for consistent damage increases.
• Predictably, Atk/Spd Boosting A and S Slots are most appreciated to maximize Hugh’s damage. Which one is chosen is mostly up to player preference and Skill availability, though there are special mentions:
  • Skills that deal recoil damage such as Atk/Spd Push 4 and Fury are valuable if using Desperation for Hugh’s B Slot. Desperation allows Hugh to perform a follow-up before the enemy can counterattack if his HP is ≤ 75%, so recoil damage is valuable because it can help him reach this HP threshold safely.
  • Granting +5 Atk/Spd and reversing Atk/Spd debuffs and panicked buffs during combat if an ally is within 2 spaces, Atk/Spd Unity is a fantastic choice. While Rouse Atk/Spd 4’s Null Panic makes reversing panicked buffs somewhat of a moot point, reversing visible Atk/Spd debuffs is still a great effect.
• If not using Desperation, Null Follow-Up is a more expensive, but vital B Slot, neutralizing effects that prevent Hugh’s follow-up and guarantee the enemy’s follow-up. Effectively doubling damage dealt against enemies that would prevent his follow-up and halving damage taken against enemies with a guaranteed follow-up, Null Follow-Up is key for both offensive and defensive purposes.

Weapon: Sell-Spell Tome

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Noontime

Passive A: Close Countering A Slot

Passive B: Null Follow-Up

Passive C: Joint Drive Atk / Pulse Smoke / Atk Smoke / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Solo Skills / Mystic Boost

• As Sell-Spell Tome can potentially grant +14 to all stats during combat (+7 from 5 Dragonflowers and +7 from doubled visible buffs), Hugh can become a solid Enemy Phase superunit.
• With additional Special charge from allies such as New Year Velouria and Summer Hilda, Hugh can activate 2-cooldown Specials on his first counterattack assuming no Guard effect is active. As such, Noontime is his Special of choice, granting sustainability via healing equal to 30% of damage dealt.
• A Slots that allow Hugh to counterattack melee units are vital, as there is typically little value to be had in receiving attacks without counterattacking. Close Reversal and Close Counter are go-to choices, with the latter also granting +5 Defense on Enemy Phase. Alternatively, Close Foil grants +5 Atk/Def on Enemy Phase at the cost of being unable to counterattack against Dragon enemies. Similar in importance, Null Follow-Up is Hugh’s B Slot of choice given the ubiquity of guaranteed follow-ups and follow-up prevention, especially in Aether Raids. 
• Hugh’s C Slot is flexible, with Joint Drives being good choices to increase the stats of both himself and allies within 2 spaces should he be within 2 spaces of an ally. Atk Smoke and Pulse Smoke are also strong, with both increasing survivability in different ways—the former inflicts -7 Attack on enemies within 2 spaces of the target after combat, while the latter instead inflicts +1 Special cooldown to shut down pre-charged Specials.
• Solo Skills and Mystic Boost are go-to options for superunits, with the former granting +6 to 2 stats if Hugh is not adjacent to an ally (so it still synergizes with Joint Drives) and the latter both disabling effects that target the lower of Hugh’s Defense and Resistance and healing Hugh for 6 HP after every combat.