Plegian Kris (M)

Weapon: Plegian Axe (+Spd)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Bonfire / Galeforce / Moonbow

Passive A: Atk/Spd Solo / Swift Sparrow / Atk/Spd Push 4 / Atk/Def Solo / Heavy Blade

Passive B: Lull Atk/Spd / Lull Spd/Def / Lull Atk/Def

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Def Smoke

Sacred Seal: Heavy Blade / Atk/Spd Solo / Swift Sparrow

• He's definitely no Freyja, but for a free unit, Kris comes with one of the best Atk/Spd spreads a green axe cavalier can ask for in recent times. Thus, we come to a skill combination most modern-day cavalry is familiar with from 2018 onwards: Solo + Lull.
• Running Atk/Spd Solo not only makes Kris serviceable in both player and enemy phase, but it also synergizes with the Solo requirement of Plegian Axe, allowing Kris to make further use of the Atk/Def swings offered in the weapon. Should that not be available, other Atk/Spd-boosting skills such as Swift Sparrow and Atk/Spd Push 4 are perfectly good, and even Atk/Def Solo isn't a bad alternative choice given it doubly improves his physical bulk alongside Plegian Axe.
• Cavalry units like Kris are blessed with access to Lull skills, which turns the tide on most matchups by further inflicting a penalty of -3 to two chosen stats while cancelling visible bonuses altogether. As long as it doesn't involve Res (for obvious reasons), most physically-based Lulls are up to your choosing. Lull Atk/Spd is notable for greatly enhancing Kris's follow-up potential, defensive presence, and Heavy Blade activation potential.
• Speaking of which, Heavy Blade is optimal especially when using Bonfire or Galeforce, both of which require the extra cooldown charge to activate within a single combat. Thanks to the Atk penalties coming from Plegian Axe and possibly an Atk-based Lull skill, it's not difficult at all to activate it. If you prefer a stat-stacking approach, favoring another Solo skill like Atk/Spd Solo is always a great option, though without Heavy Blade anywhere in the built, Kris is best off using Moonbow.
• Atk Smoke is yet again an optimal C slot skill on Kris, especially as it directly benefits the penalty doubling effect of Plegian Axe and takes advantage of the fact that a Solo-based build can operate in enemy phase as well. Additionally, it allows easier Heavy Blade activation against particularly high-Attack enemies. For better damage output, Def Smoke is also an option but not quite as multipurpose as Atk Smoke.

Weapon: Plegian Axe+ (+Res) / Plegian Axe+ (+Spd)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Noontime / Sol

Passive A: Distant Counter

Passive B: Lull Atk/Spd / Mystic Boost / Vantage

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Def Smoke / Pulse Smoke

Sacred Seal: Spd/Res Solo / Atk/Spd Solo / Atk/Def Solo

• Despite Kris's run-of-the-mill defensive stats, when benefitting from Mythic blessings, merges, and several invested skills, he can be a surprisingly difficult force to take down. Most of all, Kris's native weapon, Plegian Axe, actually does very well in alleviating tankability issues.
  • In addition to lowering the enemy's Attack and Defense by -5 each simply by staying a distance from allies (which is ideal anyway so they can avoid being attacked by Danced units), these penalties increase further with any existing visible penalties, effectively doubling up to a value of -19 if Smokes are taken into account.
  • Thus, Kris's damage output and defensive presence can be massively improved—assuming he receives some proper setup such as distributing debuffs through his own Smoke skills (Atk Smoke is easy to access and is directly synergistic) or running other allies with Sabotage-style skills (Mila, for instance, already comes with Sabotage Atk).
• The other parts of the build serve to improve Kris's survivability and general durability.
  • Distant Counter is pretty much essential as many common threats in Aether Raids are ranged, and Kris can use this opportunity to counterattack them and gain Noontime or Sol healing in return.
  • Kris's cavalry status unfortunately limits his B slot inheritance options. So, it's mostly a tossup between Lull Atk/Spd, which generally improves the quality of Kris's defenses while cancelling any possible buffs on his enemies, and Mystic Boost, which significantly lessens the amount of damage he might take from powerful enemy healers like Veronica while healing a nice bit after every combat.
    • Given Plegian Axe's great damage output on enemies with Defense penalties, Vantage is a decent budgetable option which can pave way for complete sweeps. Unfortunately, it can be countered with bulkier red units, Hardy Bearing, and counterattack cancellation skills.
  • To accommodate the penalty doubling effect of Plegian Axe, either Atk or Def Smoke is highly recommended as mentioned before. While it's possible to run both in two slots as a C slot and Sacred Seal, the Sacred Seal in particular is best reserved for an innate stat boosting skill while the remaining stat can be debuffed through ally-provided means (like Sabotage).
    • Pulse Smoke can be run to counteract Defense enemies with precharged Specials, though this comes at the opportunity cost of being able to distribute visible penalties through the previously mentioned Smoke skills.
  • Since Plegian Axe requires that Kris should be away from allies, a Solo skill of your choice best suits him to encourage this condition. Spd/Res Solo tends to offer the best of both words by improving Kris's otherwise forgettable magical resistance while further strengthening his great Speed, though the others can be considered depending on preference and ally support.

Weapon: Plegian Axe+ (+Spd)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Moonbow / Bonfire / Luna

Passive A: Fury

Passive B: Desperation / Chill Atk

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Hone Cavalry

Sacred Seal: Atk/Spd Solo / Swift Sparrow

• Kris also operates well on a low-budget offensive build, given his great offensive spread and default weapon already carries him. Thus, you don't need to look further than the good old Fury + Desperation combination: Fury improves his stats all-around, and the recoil suffered after combat helps Desperation to kick in and allow Kris to close kills without fear of counterattack.
• Atk/Spd Solo as the Sacred Seal does extremely well in further stacking Kris's offenses while encouraging Kris to abide by Plegian Axe's solo condition. Should that be taken by something else currently, Swift Sparrow is perfectly good.
• Kris can alternatively simply keep his default Chill Atk to act as support by applying a solid penalty to a high-Attack unit. He can also use this debuff himself to grab a massive defensive advantage courtesy of Plegian Axe's penalty doubling.
• Atk Smoke is another method of applying Attack debuffs against multitudes of enemies, though Kris would have to participate in combat himself first. To support other cavalry allies, he can also run cavalry-exclusive buffs such as Hone Cavalry.