What is the Dynamo archetype?
This archetype revolves around the [Pulsing Field] Array. It has a total of three levels, starting at LVL 1 when created and lasting 3 rounds. By funneling stacks of [Dynamo] into [Pulsing Field] it upgrades from LVL 2 (50) to LVL 3 (12). This final LVL lasts for 2 rounds and then resets to LVL 1.
[Pulsing Field LVL 1/2/3] provides the following to ALL allies (also non-Dynamo allies):+15/15/15% DMG Bonus, +0/25/25% Incantation Might & +0/0/35% Ultimate Might.
Most Dynamo units will have a Precognition Effect that states that they deploy [Pulsing Field LVL 1] at the start of the round if it isn’t already active. This comes with two caveats:
Characters with this Precognition effect will constantly override ANY other Arrays present, as it counts as [Pulsing Field] not being active. This creates anti-synergy with strong Array setters like Lopera or Tuesday.
Array deployment triggers such as ‘The Third Commitment’ Psychube will only be activated by the frontmost character. If you have multiple [Pulsing Field] deployers in your team, make sure that the one you want to trigger these effects is the leftmost character.
In Depth: The second part to this archetype is [Amplified Surge]. Most Dynamo-aligned characters have this buff in their kit and it has a different effect for every character.
In general, an [Amplified Surge] will trigger under certain conditions that are either met by [Pulsing Field] or some kind of interaction with [Dynamo]. For example:
Charon’s [Amplified Surge] causes [Pulsing Field] to skip its LV.2 phase (he lowers the [Dynamo] required to reach LV.3 from 120 to 90) and upgrade from LV.1 straight to LV.3 when the stack requirement for the next level is met. This allows [Pulsing Field] to circumvent having to wait through its LV.2 state. It also makes Charon generate additional [Dynamo], allows him to make allied Ultimates cost no AP, and grants him additional Penetration Rate.
Brume’s [Amplified Surge] grants her stacks of [Thermoelectric Conversion] when [Pulsing Field] hits LV.3, extends the duration of [Crystalline Discharge], and makes her Follow-Up Attack deal additional damage.
How to play Dynamo?
Its core gameplay loop boils down to finding ways to stack and funnel [Dynamo] as fast as possible to maximize how often you hit [Pulsing Field LV.3] for its maximum offensive bonuses. For most characters, funneling and generating [Dynamo] are built naturally into their kit, so there’s no real depth in terms of rotation or playstyle.
What you do have to take into account is how much [Dynamo] you can realistically stack and funnel for your [Pulsing Field]. Its LV.3 state is important, so flexing core characters out can run you into things like [Dynamo] shortage, which will impede your rotation and nerf the potential of your [Pulsing Field].
Per turn, I run through the following questions in my head:
What LVL is [Pulsing Field]? If not at LV.3, what is the fastest way to get there?
What buffs are active, and which [Amplified Surge] effects have triggered? Things like [Crystalline Discharge], [Truth Revealed], [Structure/Frequency Analysis], [Ciphermachine], [Pragmatist] are important to the team.
Which Ultimates do I need to/can I cast, which can wait to free up AP? [Amplified Surge: Charon] lets certain Ultimates be cast at no AP cost; Corvus’ Ultimate should be cast under [Pulsing Field LV.3] etc.
When talking about Dynamo [Pulsing Field] rotations, the community will usually refer to it in a string such as: 1133, 112233. This denotes the level of [Pulsing Field] and the turns that it is active. You want to have "33" (the two set [Pulsing Field LVL.3] turns) as quickly as possible in most Dynamo teams.
In Depth: There is also the famous ‘Dynamo Wheelchair’ team composition.
This involves using the Dynamo supportive core, consisting of Ulrich (or Rhiannon), Charon and Enigma, and helming a damage dealer of choice. Since [Pulsing Field]’s buffs affect everyone and Dynamo supports have powerful buffs, pretty much any damage dealer will perform at a decent level when included alongside that.
With how fast Charon and Enigma can stack and funnel [Dynamo], it is also possible to forgo Ulrich for more general supports like Flutterpage and Rhiannon in certain team compositions. Sometimes it is possible to forgo Charon (in specific situations).
The primary concern with this archetype is that you’ll usually want Charon + one other decent Dynamo support in order to make the [Pulsing Field] cycle viable. This is usually done with Enigma, as he is also a top-tier sustain on the side and the other core funneler. Other types of formations will be mentioned below.
But what are the benefits to playing Dynamo over other Archetypes, and what may make you reconsider?
Dynamo Wheelchair is an extremely new-player-friendly core featuring no Limited units and it is very flexible for pretty much any Damage Dealer.
There is no real way for enemies to interfere with the archetype’s game plan unless they also frequently deploy Arrays to override [Pulsing Field]. This doesn’t generally occur, though.
Dynamo units have access to some of the strongest (de)buffs in the game and their raw support makes Dynamo Wheelchair a viable strategy.
The archetype is ‘complete’ and is not married to its characters (i.e. it has several strong flex options).
Most comfort-teams utilize Charon as linchpin for the archetype’s functionality. Teams without him exist and do see use (see below), but they are significantly more difficult to play or require very specific strategies.
Dynamo Wheelchair rarely beats out a team that adheres to a damage dealer’s archetype, so it is usually used to support new releases whose archetypes are underdeveloped rather than providing a true BiS.
Teambuilding
Dynamo has had a considerable amount of time to grow and expand its roster of characters.
This is reflected in the Dynamo Wheelchair's composition, but it is also apparent in the fact that Dynamo can adopt probably the most Generalists of any archetype currently available.
All you really need to make it function is to grab a supportive core that is able to funnel enough [Dynamo] for [Pulsing Field] to hit LV.3 and provide all its offensive bonuses for the team.
Most people bring Charon, who lowers the [Dynamo] stack requirement for [Pulsing Field] to upgrade, is extremely AP-positive and has really powerful offensive support.
Alongside Enigma, whose [Ciphertext] smoothes out [Dynamo] funneling, is also rather AP-positive and has extremely powerful sustain.
In Depth: Though you only need about two Dynamo characters to create a basic Dynamo Wheelchair, it is important to know that that is only really comfortable if you bring Charon + Enigma (or Charon + Ulrich if you are fine with counting stacks). Most players do not bring only Charon + Damage Dealer, as they are usually a bit worse at funneling by design.
It is possible to do this with Corvus + Charon, assuming that you bring Rhiannon/Flutterpage and Marsha or J in the other slots. Due to how AP-positive that support line-up is, it leaves Corvus to use every bit of AP to supplement her funneling. Generally speaking, you’d run Charon + Enigma + Ulrich OR Rhiannon/Flutterpage.
The flex options are varied here, especially in the Damage Dealer slot. Most commonly, you’ll see a Dynamo core run around Ms. Stranger, Recoleta and Silverwing Eagle, as those are the most direct beneficiaries of the archetype’s plethora of offensive buffing (especially for characters that double-dip Incantation and Ultimate DMG for their output).
Unit ranking
What follows are two tables, one displaying only characters that adhere specifically to the Dynamo Archetype. The other is a table of Generalist options, also ranked. Take note of the following:
Core — Integral to the functionality of the archetype.
Common — Most often seen in this position alongside the Core. Can be BiS.
Flex — Either good in specific situations or potentially good in a Common slot.
Cope — Only really used if nothing else is available. And even then, lmao.
Dynamo Unit Spread
Damage Dealer | Support | Sustain | |
|---|---|---|---|
Core |
|
| |
Common |
|
| |
Flex |
| ||
Cope |
|
Core:
Charon – Integral for AP management, (de)buffs and [Dynamo] funneling.
Enigma – Integral for [Dynamo] funneling and AFK sustain.
Common:
Brume – Generically strong DPS with high ST output.
Ulrich – Very large (de)buffs with okay personal DMG output.
Flex:
Corvus – Extreme ST output in Mane’s Bulletin but only used there.
Lucy (E1) – Generically good DPS with high Mass output.
Cope:
Ezra Theodore (E1) – Mediocre Dynamo shielder that causes AP problems.
Generalist Unit Spread
Damage Dealer | Support | Sustain | |
|---|---|---|---|
Core | |||
Common |
|
|
|
Flex |
|
| |
Cope |
|
|
Core:
N/A
Common:
Ms Stranger – Very high frontloaded DMG that benefits from Ult & Incan Might buffs.
Rhiannon – Currently BiS for most due to versatile buffs and AP-free gameplay.
J (E1) – General shield sustain with great offensive buffs.
Marsha – AFK shield sustain with Crit Rate buffing.
Flex:
Recoleta (E1) – Benefits from the high density of Ult Might buffs. Great output.
Silverwing Eagle – High ST output with [Neg Status] benefits.
A Knight (E1) – Benefits from the high density of Ult Might buffs. Used for farming.
Flutterpage – Used for Corvus on AaW to help stack [Electric Arc].
Anjo Nala (E1) – Used ONLY by Brume for Channel + Ult spam shenanigans.
Cope:
Buddy Fairchild – High Mass output and benefits from Ult Might buffs.
Mercuria (E1) / Damage Dealer – Benefits from both Ult & Incan Might buffs.
Mercuria (E1 or Base) / Support – AFK Incan Might and Crit DMG buffs.