Wuthering Waves is still new and there’s plenty to discover for adventurous Rovers as they explore the vast open world: from blood-pumping boss encounters to awe-inspiring vistas and plenty of loot and rewards to scavenge, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into. One of the most complex systems that all players need to know about, though, is Echoes. They function similarly to Relics from Honkai: Star Rail or Artifacts in Genshin Impact, with a couple of significant differences, and act as your main way of increasing the raw stats on your Resonators.
Echoes are, easily, one of the most vital pieces of build crafting in WuWa. However, between Echo Skills, set bonuses, classifications, main stats, sub-stats, and more, it can be hard to wrap your head around everything Echoes have to offer. Fortunately, we’re here to give you a hand and break down everything you need to know about the Echo system and how to utilise it to make the best builds for your characters.
Here’s the complete guide to Echoes in Wuthering Waves. This guide will include a basic overview of how Echoes work, what different Echo rarities and classifications do, how to acquire new Echoes, and what Echo Skills and Echo Set Bonuses are best for your characters.
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The Power of Echoes
What Are Echoes in Wuthering Waves?
Echoes are one of the core character-building and combat mechanics in Wuthering Waves. Overall, Echoes are pieces of equipment which you can slot onto your Resonators for bonus stats, extra combat abilities, or powerful set bonuses that will greatly improve your character’s combat performance.
Each Resonator can slot a maximum of 5 Echoes at any one time, with a maximum Echo Cost count of 10, later 12. The top slot is considered your main Echo and it will grant the Resonator access to that Echoes specific Echo Skill, an extremely useful attack which we’ll discuss later.
Echoes are separated into three main components. The two large stats at the top of an Echo’s detail sheet when you’re examining them are the Echo’s main stats. These increase every time you level up the Echo and will provide the equipped character with the majority of their stat buffs.
Meanwhile, if you level up your Echoes enough to unlock access to Tuning, you’ll be able to unlock substats for your Echoes. These will appear underneath the Echo’s main stat and will not increase as you level up your Echo. Finally, underneath your substats, you’ll see which set your Echo belongs to, as well as a brief description of what the set does: if the set bonus is currently active, the text will be green instead of grey.
Echo Overview
Echo Set Bonuses
First things first, let’s go over Echo sets and set Bonuses. Most Echoes in Wuthering Waves can drop with one of two elemental alignments which determine what set bonuses they can contribute towards. For example, Spearbacks can drop with Moonlit Clouds (white symbol) or Lingering Tunes (red symbol) as their available element. The only exceptions are World Boss Echoes and Weekly Boss Echoes, both of which only have one set they belong to.
In total, as of Version 1.0, there are 9 Echo Sets in Wuthering Waves:
- Freezing Frost (Glacio Set)
- Molten Rift (Fusion Set)
- Void Thunder (Electro Set)
- Sierra Gale (Aero Set)
- Celestial Light (Spectro Set)
- Sun-sinking Eclipse (Havoc Set)
- Rejuvenating Glow (Healing Set)
- Moonlit Clouds (Energy Recharge Set)
- Lingering Tunes (ATK Set)
Sonata Effects
If you can equip multiple Echoes from the same set onto one Resonator, you can trigger a powerful passive set bonus called a Sonata Effect, drastically increasing your unit’s power and performance. Revisiting our Spearback example from before, let’s say it drops with the Lingering Tunes set. If I equip a Resonator with other Echoes with Lingering Tunes, I can grant my Resonator the following bonuses depending on if I have 2 Echoes or 5 Echoes with a matching set type:
- Lingering Tunes 2pc Set: ATK + 10%
- Lingering Tunes 5pc Set: While on the field, ATK increases by 5% every 1.5s. This effect stacks up to 4 stacks. Outro Skill DMG +60%.
Knowing which character needs which set is what separates good players from great players. Some characters, such as DPS units, may want to go all-in on specific element-aligned sets, whereas supports may prefer stacking full Moonlit or Rejuvenating sets. Honestly, though, there are so many different sets to mix and match that you just need to try them out and see what works. You don’t have to run a full set of 5 Echoes, either, as you can run two set bonuses on a single character to take advantage of multiple effects, such as 2pc Lingering Tunes and 2pc Sun-sinking Eclipse.
Set Bonuses
Echo Rarities
Echoes have two things separating themselves from other Echoes: their rarity and their classification. First, let’s go over rarity as that’s the easier aspect of the two to nail down. Whenever you pick up an Echo, whether it be from a quest, Milestone, or from defeated enemies in the open world, it’ll drop at a specific rarity. The rarity of an Echo can be determined by the colour of its portrait. If you’re familiar with other gacha titles like Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, the colours of each rarity should be very familiar to you.
- Level 2 Echoes: Green
- Level 3 Echoes: Blue
- Level 4 Echoes: Purple
- Level 5 Echoes: Yellow
Echo Rarities
At the start of Wuthering Waves, you’ll only be able to acquire Level 2 Echoes from defeating enemies or bosses in the open world. To unlock access to the higher rarity Echoes, you need to raise your Data Bank level. Specifically, Blue Echoes start dropping at Data Bank Level 5, Purple Echoes start dropping at Data Bank Level 9, and Yellow Echoes start dropping at Data Bank Level 15.
The rarity of an Echo is extremely important as it determines both how high you can level it up and how many substats you can tune on it. For example, Level 3 Echoes (Blue) can be upgraded to level 15 and you can give them up to three substats alongside their two main stats. Meanwhile, Level 5 Echoes (Yellow) can be upgraded to level 25 and can have up to five substats. At the endgame, you’ll want all of your characters outfitted with Level 5 Echoes as they grant the highest main stat and substat bonuses.
When it comes to levelling your Relics, we advise waiting to spend the majority of your resources until you unlock Level 4 Echoes. You will likely level up at least a handful of Level 3 Echoes as part of completing Milestones or quest objectives, but save most of your Sealed Tubes and Tuners until Data Bank Level 9.
High Level Data Bank, Higher Level Echoes
Echo Classifications
The other major distinction between Echoes in Wuthering Waves is their classification. Similar to rarity, Echoes have four different classifications depending on what kind of enemy they are.
- Standard Class | Regular Overworld Enemies (Hoartoise, Zig Zag, Tick Tack, etc.)
- Elite Class | Tough Overworld Enemies (Cyan-Feathered Heron, Spearback, Hoochief, etc.)
- Overlord Class | World Bosses (Inferno Rider, Crownless, Felian Beringal, etc.)
- Calamity Class | Weekly Bosses (Dreamless, Bell-Borne Geochelone)
Echo Classification determines what main stat your Echo can roll as well as how much that Echo costs to slot into your Echo line-up. Every Echo in Wuthering Waves drops with two main stats which increase as they level. The first of these main stats are completely random based on a pool of available main stats determined by your Echoes’ Classification, whereas the second main stat is always static (Standard Echoes will always have HP% whereas Elite, Overlord, and Calamity Echoes will always have flat ATK).
If you’re familiar with Genshin Impact, you can picture Echo Classes like different Artifact Types. In Genshin, only the Goblet can roll Element DMG Bonus main stats and the same is true of Elite Class Echoes in Wuthering Waves. Meanwhile, only the Circlet in Genshin Impact can roll CRIT DMG or CRIT Rates, whereas only Calamity or Overlord Echoes can roll CRIT main stats in WuWa.
Echo Classifications
Here’s the list of available main stats on each Echo Class:
- Standard Echoes: Flat HP, HP%, ATK%, DEF%
- Elite Echoes: Flat ATK, HP%, ATK%, DEF%, Elemental DMG Bonus (Fusion, Spectro, etc.), Energy Recharge
- Overlord and Calamity Echoes: Flat ATK, HP, ATK%, DEF%, Crit Rate, Crit DMG, Healing Bonus
The other major element to consider with Echo Classification is Echo Cost. All Echoes have an intrinsic cost, with Standard Echoes costing 1, Elite Echoes costing 3, and Overlord or Calamaity Echoes costing 4. Characters can only hold a maximum of 10 (later 12) Echo points so you need to mix and match your Echoes within that limitation: you can’t run a full loadout of just Calamity Echoes, for example, because they simply cost too much.
Making the right build in Wuthering Waves largely comes down to how you balance your various Echo Classifications. Most players will likely want to run one or two Elite Class Echoes alongside an Overlord/Calamity Echo, as well as a few Standard Class Echoes to fill out the roster. This way, you can ensure that your unit has access to a relevant DMG Bonus, whatever stat they scale off as well as CRIT or Healing depending on their role. However, you can get pretty nutty with it (such as stacking three loads of CRIT DMG with three Overlord Echoes) if you’re willing to experiment.
High Class Echoes Cost More to Use
How to Obtain Echoes in Wuthering Waves
Overworld Combat
The first, and main, method of acquiring new Echoes in Wuthering Waves is to simply defeat enemies out in the open world. Almost every kind of enemy – aside from humans like the Fractsidus or Exile troops – has a chance of dropping themselves as an Echo upon defeat.
As we described earlier, the rarity of the Echoes which drop in this manner will increase as you improve your Data Bank level, but just be aware that lower-rank Echoes, mainly Blue ones, can still drop once you reach those upper stages. Another thing that your Data Bank Level dictates is how often enemies drop Echoes upon defeat. The Base Drop Rate for Echoes will change as you increase your Data Bank, going up to a maximum of a 20% chance at Level 10.
Most enemies in the overworld will respawn daily. As such, if you want to optimise your Echo farming, you’ll want to farm the overworld for enemies who drop Echoes or set bonuses that you want. You can track the location of specific enemies by using the Enemy Tracker in the Guidebook, whereas you can check what sets enemies can drop in the Data Bank.
Ordinary Enemies Drop Standard or Elite Echoes
World and Weekly Boss Battles
In addition to normal enemies, bosses in the overworld can also drop Echoes of themselves. These are the Overlord and Calamity Class Echoes we discussed earlier and getting them is a bit different to Standard or Elite Echoes.
Firstly, defeating a World Boss has a chance of dropping their Echo immediately. You don’t need to redeem Waveplates to get them, just defeat the boss and hope that one drops. As we mentioned earlier, Overlord and Calamity Echoes only have one set type that they can drop with – Crownless, for example, will also be Sun-sinking Eclipse – so they’re one of the better enemies to farm if you’re looking for a specific set bonus.
Secondly, each week, Overlord and Calamity bosses will have their Echo drop chance increased to up to 100% depending on your DB level. You can check your current Enhanced Drop Rate chance by checking the Data Bank. This enhanced drop rate will last until you earn 15 Overworld or Calamity Echoes and resets every week.
World Bosses Drop Overlord Echoes
Tacet Fields
If you’d prefer a more targeted method of farming Standard and Elite Echoes, you’ll need to visit a Tacet Field. There are many Tacet Fields scattered around the map and, for 60 Waveplate, you have a chance of obtaining Echoes from a certain set, as well as Echo upgrade materials like Sealed Tubes or Tuners.
Tacet Fields function like Relic or Artifact Domains from Honkai: Star Rail or Genshin Impact, giving you a direct method of farming specific Echoes in return for Waveplate. This is especially useful if you’re hunting for Standard or Elite Echoes to fill out the last couple of slots on a specific character. For example, if I’m looking for a Havoc DMG Bonus Elite Echo from the Sun-sinking Eclipse set, I can visit the Tactet Field to the south-west of the map which only drops Havoc or Energy Recharge set Echoes.
This will likely be how most players get their Echoes in the endgame once they start hyper-focusing on building specific characters. It also offers a far more time-effective method of Echo acquisition compared to combing the entire open world. Of course, you do have to pay in Waveplates but it’s better than nothing.
Tacet Fields
Data Merge
Lastly, the final consistent way of obtaining new Echoes is the Data Merge function within the Data Bank. You unlock this feature at Union Level 21 and it allows you to sacrifice five lower rarity Echoes in hopes of obtaining a single higher rarity one. If we’re using Genshin Impact analogies, imagine Data Merge to be like Strongboxing.
Essentially, you put five Echoes of your choice into the Data Merge and, upon merging them, you’ll obtain a random, higher rarity Echo. The type of Echo you get back is completely random but it can only be either a Standard or Elite Echo, even if you sacrifice Overlord or Calamity ones. Each Merge also has a chance of awarding a secondary extra Echo but the rate of this is rather slim.
The Data Merge is the best way of trading in your lower rarity Echoes. However, it’s also one of the best ways to increase your Data Bank Level once you start reaching Level 13 and above. At that point, you’ll need to obtain higher rarity versions of the Echoes you already have to get Data Bank EXP and, fortunately, you can do this pretty easily via the Data Merge. It isn’t guaranteed and you’ll likely need to sacrifice a good deal of Echoes but it’s a great passive way of levelling up, especially as you explore the open world and defeat more opponents.
Data Merging
Best Main Echoes
One of the coolest things about Echoes in Wuthering Waves is that they aren’t just stat sticks. By slotting an Echo into the first slot on a Resonator’s Echo line-up, you can give them access to their Echo Skill. This is an extra ability like your Resonance Skill which, when cast, will go into cooldown.
Each Echo has a unique Echo Skill and they all provide different amounts of value: some transform you into the Echo to deliver a powerful blow, whereas others will summon the Echo to help deal coordinates attacks or buff your team. In terms of pure strength and utility, Overlord and Calamity Echoes are kings in that domain as they not only offer incredibly powerful damage opportunities but also potent buffs and effects which can change the tide of battle.
With so many Echo Skills to choose from, it can be tricky to know which ones to use on your characters. Below, you’ll find some of our best recommendations for main Echoes and Echo Skills.
Which Echo to Use?
Inferno Rider
The first Echo Skill we’re recommending is the Inferno Rider, a World Boss belonging to the Fusion Element who has more than a few tricks up its sleeve. As the name suggests, the Inferno Rider is a strange and horrific motorcyclist who attacks with a long lance and sharp tyres.
Once the Inferno Rider is under your control, you can either use its Echo Skill to deliver fiery close-range attacks which deal Fusion DMG and boost the current character’s Fusion and Basic Attack DMG, or you can hold the Echo Skill to enter Riding Mode. While the first ability is very useful in combat, Riding Mode is the main appeal of the Inferno Rider.
In Riding Mode, you hop aboard the Inferno Riders motorcycle and can ride it for several seconds at high speed, making it an excellent addition to any player looking to explore the world quickly and efficiently. You can even outfit all three of your current party members with their own Inferno Riders to do back-to-back bike rides for even easier traversal. Out of all of the Echo Skills in Wuthering Waves, Inferno Rider’s is easily one of the most fun and appealing, making it a sure-fire bet for the top spot.
Inferno Rider Overlord Echo
Elemental Overlord Echoes
If you’re looking for a damage-focused Echo Skill for your main DPS, several of the Overlord Echoes have just what you need. Similar to Inferno Rider’s normal Echo Skill, some of the Overlord Echoes will deliver a potent attack and buff a specific element while they’re at it, making them a great pairing with specific DPS.
If you’re wondering which Echoes buff which elements, here you go:
- (Glacio) Lampylumen Myriad: Increases current character’s Glacio DMG and Resonance Skill DMG.
- (Fusion) Inferno Rider: Increases current character’s Fusion DMG and Basic Attack DMG.
- (Electro) Thundering Mephis: Increases current character’s Electro DMG and Heavy Attack DMG.
- (Aero) Felian Beringal: Increases current character’s Aero DMG and Heavy Attack DMG.
- (Spectro) Mourning Aix: Increases current character’s Spectro DMG and Resonance Liberation DMG.
- (Havoc) Crownless: Increases current character’s Havoc DMG and Resonance Skill DMG.
Overlord Echoes are easily the strongest when it comes to raw damage and, if you’re able to pair their secondary effects with a Resonator they work well with, you can create a devastating combination. For example, Spectro Rover paired with the Mourning Aix can deliver some great Echo damage alongside a potent Resonance Liberation buff, one which can make Rover a superb main DPS for your team.
Elemental Overlord Echoes
Cyan-Feathered Crane and Violet-Feathered Crane
Lastly, if you want to go with an Elite Echo Skill instead, the Cyan-Feathered and Violet-Feathered Cranes are some of the best. These Echoes are strong Elite enemies who have two very different approaches to combat, with the former being far more about fast movement and quick damage and the latter being a parry-focused Echo.
The Cyan-Feathered Crane’s Echo Skill causes your Resonator to transform and surge towards any nearby enemies, dealing Aero DMG and interrupting any Special Skills. This attack will also cause you to go airborne. Between the quick movement options, a relatively low cooldown, and some impressive Aero DMG, the Cyan-Feathered Crane is a very reliable and potent option even into the late game. Additionally, it’s a great pairing with Yangyang as she can pop the Echo Skill to quickly get her into the air for a fast and powerful Forte Circuit.
Meanwhile, the Violet-Feathered Crane’s Echo Skill causes you to enter a defensive state. When an enemy strikes you in this state, you will parry them with the Crane’s sharp wing, dealing high Electro DMG and recovering Concerto Energy. This Echo is great for those finding some of Wuthering Waves’ later boss fights a bit overwhelming as the Crane’s Echo Skil will block all damage, giving you an efficient and easy way to get out of any unfortunate situations. It can also be used on any character to a high degree of effectiveness.
Cyan-Feathered Crane Elite Echo
Best Echo Sonata Effects (Set Bonuses)
DPS Echo Sets
Most of the characters in Wuthering Waves are DPS units in one way or another, meaning that specialise in dealing damage to foes and will likely be your main on-field units. For these characters, you want to find set bonuses which directly increase their damage, either by improving their element damage bonuses or increasing the stats they scale off of.
Beginning with the former, if you’re looking to outfit your main DPS with something that can give them a bit of a damage bump in the element department, try pairing them with the following elemental set bonuses:
- Freezing Frost (Glacio Set)
- Molten Rift (Fusion Set)
- Void Thunder (Electro Set)
- Sierra Gale (Aero Set)
- Celestial Light (Spectro Set)
- Sun-sinking Eclipse (Havoc Set)
The 2pc bonus for each of these sets will increase the damage of a specific element by 10%, making them an easy, safe pairing for any DPS unit, no matter what stat they scale off. Meanwhile, their 5pc set bonuses provide an additional increase to that set’s elemental damage bonus upon performing a specific action.
Alternatively, depending on the character, you can also run Lingering Tunes for increased ATK and Outro Skill DMG or Moonlit Clouds for bonus Energy Regen. In fact, pairing 2 pieces of an elemental set with either of the aforementioned bonuses will prove extremely powerful on most characters. Moonlit is especially good on off-field or sub-DPS units who repeatedly switch with the main DPS.
Best DPS Sonata Effects
Support Echo Sets
On the other hand, if you’re looking for Echo set bonuses which will aid support units like Baizhi or Verina, there are two main contenders. Those are Moonlit Clouds or Rejuvenating Glow.
Moonlit Clouds, as we previously described, is the Energy Recharge set whose 2pc bonus grants bonus Energy Recharge to the current character, allowing them to regenerate their Resonance Liberation at a faster pace. Then, for the 5pc, it will increase the ATK of the next Resonator on the field whenever the current character uses their Outro Skill. This set excels in giving all support units another bit of utility to their kit while also providing a more stable foundation for your rotations.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a bit more healing out of your supports, Rejuvenating Glow’s 2pc bonus increases Healing Done by 10%. Meanwhile, the 5pc bonus increases the ATK of the entire team upon healing allies. Like Moonlit Clouds, this just gives your support-focused units another bit of utility that they can use to buff their allies. Both of these set bonuses are great and will drastically improve the performance of your whole team.
Best Support Sonata Effects
That was everything you needed to know about Echoes in Wuthering Waves.
