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Rabbit's Reviews #316: Hephaestion (4* Pretender)

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Rabbit's Reviews Hephaestion
NA Release Date: 1/10/2024
Introduction

Half a year after the class was introduced, we get our second Pretender. Case Files’ Faker was probably the most obvious pick for the class, so it makes some degree of sense that we would get her so early. Like Oberon before her, she compensates for what is at its core not a fantastic class with an all-around great kit. Hephaestion competes effectively with the top-end ST Riders, while also functioning as a strong stand-in for ST Sabers, Archers, and Lancers. Furthermore, even for players who have favored options in these classes already, Hephaestion comes with a whopping 120% battery, which gives her contexts in which she’s still potentially the best option available. Where Hephaestion falls short, it is in that she faces stiff competition all-around—there is no shortage of strong ST Arts units, and having any of Vlad/Galatea/Astraea limits the appeal of… basically anyone else—but she does a lot of unique and interesting things that give her a place even relative to the top-tier options.

Servant Data
Pretender
Independent Action B (EX)

Increase your Critical Strength by 12%.

Diversion Tactic B

Increase your Critical Chance Resist by 10%
Increase your Critical Star Drop Rate by 10%.

Territory Creation EX

Increase your Arts Card effectiveness by 12%.

??? (Hephaistion)

Increase your NP Strength by 10%.

Card Hits 3 3 3 5 4
Per Hit 0.59% 0.59% 0.59% 0.59% 0.59%
NP per Hit (%) 0.59%
NP when Attacked (%) 3%
Star Absorption 98
Star Generation per Hit 19.8%
Overview
Material Requirements
Servant Skills
Noble Phantasm
Usage Tips
Grail Potential
Conclusion

Hephaestion is an excellent ST unit. At base, she deals low-end SSR-level damage, gets full class advantage against Casters, gets bonus damage against a few other classes, and has a 120% battery on top of that. She has some tough competition in the ST field, and that does hold her back a bit, but her massive battery means she still has use cases even when competing with generally-stronger Servants. The icing on the cake here is that as a non-limited Servant, she’s decently likely to spook eventually, so even if you don’t plan to pull for her, she’s an exciting potential pull on any given future banner.

Rabbit's Arbitrary Ratings

Overall: 9/10
Single-Target DPS: 9/10
AoE DPS: N/A
Survivability: 3/10
Offensive Utility: N/A
Defensive Utility: 5/10
Farming Usefulness: 9/10
Conquering: 10/10?

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