Resonance SolsticeJoshuaBuild and Guide

Joshua revolves their kit on [Shadowcraft] and Black Cards; these cards can increase their own personal damage and offer great utility thanks to their ability to convert Black cards into cost, further helping card cycling. Expect a powerhouse team with Joshua around a [Shadowcraft] deck.

Playstyle and Key Mechanics

As mentioned in the intro, Joshua revolves around both [Shadowcraft] and Black Cards. [Shadowcraft] will be his main damaging skill; however, it is a general card, so it won’t properly show on the total DMG data after your runs. However, let's further break down his kit so we can have a better understanding of the cards.

Main Cards:

• Starting with [Ignorance], this is a red card that deals reverb damage and applies [Fetter] or [Imprison] to the target. This skill is great for interrupting enemies. Afterwards, it will generate [Reverengy] in your deck pile.

• Next is his Yellow card [Erudition]. When used, Joshua creates a derivative card called [Dark Tide] that goes to your hand, then proceeds to draw 3 cards, prioritizing Black ones.

• Lastly, we have [Omen], which deals 13 hits of reverb damage to the enemy target and [Ricochet]. Whenever [Shadowcraft] is used, it will now deal 15 hits. Another effect of this skill is when summoning Demonlord, you generate 13 costs that can exceed your current cost threshold; this will also generate a [Derivative 2] in your hand.

Derivatives:

• Reverengy - A Black card that can be used in specific interactions, Joshua can convert them into cost thanks to his Resonance 1

• Dark Tide -  Increases final DMG dealt depending on the sum of the total cost of all cards in your hand for 15 seconds; this also has an effect to generate cost whenever it is discarded.

• Revelation - Consumes all costs you have and will deal 2 hits per cost; each hit has a 10% chance of generating Shadowcraft. When this card is discarded instead, it will guarantee a Shadowcraft. This card is destroyed upon leaving the hand.

Investment

Joshua’s Awakening effectively will increase the team’s damage output; however, considering a budget, it is good to stop at Awakening 2 if you plan to use his Derivative 2, otherwise, stopping at Awakening 1 is a go-to. Now, let's check out his awakening to further understand their effectiveness.

• Awakening 1 - Joshua increases his own ATK by 3% whenever a Black card is generated, which is capped at 99%.

• Awakening 2 - After using Ultimate, add 1 [Ignorance] from the discard pile to your hand. After using [Revelation], 20% of the cost spent is refunded.

• Awakening 4 - Whenever Shadowcraft is used, Joshua heals for 3% HP and also heals the ally with the lowest HP.

• Awakening 5 - All allies have an increased chance of generating [Shadowcraft], [Shadowcraft] and [Darkest Hour]. Also has a 13% chance to deal Double damage.

Resonance

• Resonance 1 — Increases the limit of cost by 1 and destroys Black cards and converts them into 2 costs; cost converted from Black cards can exceed the max costs limit.

• Resonance 2 — Black cards have a 50% chance of generating [Shadowcraft] when destroyed.

• Resonance 4 — Whenever a [Shadowcraft] is generated, ATK increases by 3% up to a maximum of 99%.

• Resonance 5 — Joshua has a 10% chance to trigger [Blaze]. If Joshua is ignited, the trigger rate increases by 10%, and whenever Blaze is triggered, it generates a 0.5 cost.

Synergies

❗ ❗ ❗ The Synergies mentioned here are merely samples. Taking their core mechanics as an example, you can use many other characters as replacements or other synergies. ❗ ❗ ❗ 

• Nayuta - Easily one of the best to partner with Joshua, Joshua’s [Dark Tide] effectively makes it as if you are using Aoba Awakening 1. You can hold that card in your hand, and when reshuffled, you gain cost.

• Suen - A Great healer that mainly focuses on [Shadowcraft], making a great synergy with them together in the team.

• Achiwa - Can ignite teammates, making it so that Joshua’s Resonance 5 is more effective.

• Rina Von - Can prioritize drawing Black cards and also make use of Black cards to improve her skills.

• Fenia - Capable of drawing cards through discard and can generate a Black card.

• Valentine - Another Black card generator, which helps a lot when in need of cost.

Gear and Affixes

Some examples of overall good equipment choices for Joshua. For specific picks, please check the respective teams.

Weapons:

• UR Hook of Regret: Using [Shadowcraft] enables all subsequent [Shadowcraft] and [Darkest Hour] to deal 13% more damage. This effect stacks.

• UR Scorching Spike: Whenever [Ignite] is inflicted 8 times or [Blaze] is inflicted 4 times, it inflicts [Wildfire].

• SSR Cunning Betrayal: Using [Leader Skill] has a 20% chance to generate a [Shadowcraft] at the top of your deck. The trigger rate stacks.

• SSR Invisible Touch: [Shadowcraft] deals 20% more damage. This effect stacks.

• SSR Unbewusstes Probe: Whenever you play a Red card of cost 3 or more, random enemies receive 3% less healing. This effect stacks up to a maximum of 75%.

• SR Viscera Collector MK 0: Using [Leader Skill] restores 0.4 Cost. This effect stacks.

• R Gardener Multi-Tool: Playing a Red card increases ATK by 0.5%. This effect stacks.

• R Mass Projector: Using [Leader Skill] increases ATK by 1.5%. This effect stacks.

• R Magic Wand: Playing a Purple card has a 20% chance to restore 1 Cost. The trigger rate stacks.

Armor:

• UR Lucid Dream Fiber: Wearer's Red cards heal the wearer for 2% of the damage dealt.

• SSR Simulated Stars: Using [Leader Skill] restores 5% HP. This effect stacks.

• SSR External Memory Matrix: Max damage taken per hit is 33% of Max HP.

• SSR Black Rock Armor: Reduces wearer's final DMG taken by 10%. This effect stacks.

• SSR High Dimension Construct: Generating a Black card restores 5% of Max HP. This effect stacks.

• SR Resonance Fiber: When own skill card is used, restores 2% of Max HP.

Accessory:

• UR Ancient Polyhedron: There is a 30% chance that [Shadowcraft] will not consume Cost.

• UR Dawncloud Seal: Max Hand Size +1.

• SSR Mobius: Cards in your hand are replenished 0.25 seconds faster. This effect stacks.

• SSR Divinity Seal: Gains 2 Cost at the battle's beginning. This effect stacks.

• SSR Fengshui Tactical Drone: For every 8 cards used, increases ATK or DEF by 2%, up to a maximum of 50%.

• SR Magic Spring: Restores 0.02 Cost per second. This effect stacks.

• R Harrison Device: Playing a Yellow card restores 0.3 Cost. This effect does not stack.

Affixes

• Using [Leader Skill] restores 0.2/0.3 Cost. This effect stacks.

• Using [Leader Skill] restores 2/3% of own Max HP. This effect stacks.

• Using [Leader Skill] increases own ATK by 0.5/1%. This effect stacks.

• Restores 0.01/0.02 Cost per second. This effect stacks.

• Increases own ATK by 1/3%. This effect stacks.

• Increases own ATK by 10/30. This effect stacks.

• Increases all own trigger rates by 1/5%. This effect stacks.

• Playing a Red card increases own ATK by 0.2/0.5%. This effect stacks.

• Increases final DMG dealt by 2/5%. This effect stacks.

• [Shadowcraft] deals 5%/10% more damage. This effect stacks.

• Gains [Hyperarmor] for 1 second when using own skill cards. This effect stacks.

• [Curse] dealt lasts for 1/2 seconds longer. This effect stacks.

• [Injure] dealt lasts for 1/2 seconds longer. This effect stacks