Burst Gauge Generation

We have confirmed that ALL units generate energy from damage skills. This guide will soon be updated with new analysis from this new finding. Stat tuned!

Many thanks to allenwfc, Scrubp, Rai, Psida, lurkerdegen, Indigo November, FieryWind, Wabblet, Not Daijoubu, Chills, Bubba, Misuzu, CCCP victim, Deliagwath, laif, Rayel, TheBoyAlex, and all helpful friends from #Research-Dungeon in the NIKKE Community Discord and #strategy in the main NIKKE Discord who helped make this guide possible with their valuable testing and research.

Hitting enemies will fill the burst bar, per hit; it does NOT scale with damage. I will refer to this as burst energy. There are a few hidden mechanics that we have discovered so far:

• Different weapon types generate more energy per hit
• Different reload types generate different amounts of energy per hit (longer reload = higher energy)
• Units with multi-hit ability can generate extra energy, per hit on enemies and structures
• Hitting multiple enemies generates extra energy, per hit
• ALL units can generate energy from skill damage, equal to their base damage
• Hit rate dependent weapons will generate more energy against close range enemies, due to less hits missing
• Hitting boss enemies generates extra energy (double energy for boss hits)
• Hitting structures generates energy, equal to hitting regular enemies.
• Charge shot energy is NOT affected by charge percentage

Energy Generation by Weapon Type

This table ranks base burst energy by weapon reload type, energy per hit only. For the full analysis with reload time, hit rate, and AoE, see the next sections.

Shotgun burst generation is greatly affected by hit rate; see the burst energy generation tierlist section for more information on shotgun hit rate.

The maximum burst gauge bar is 10,000 energy.

Weapon Type	Reload Type	Burst Gauge Generation (Base Energy Per Hit)	Units (by Energy Generation; by Alphabetical)
Shotgun	Clip Reload	45 x 10 pellets	Drake, Maiden, Pepper, Product 23, Sugar, Neon, Viper
Rocket Launcher	Clip Reload	345~355	Anis, Jackal; Centi
Rocket Launcher	2.5s Double-hit	150 x 2 double-hit	Noah
Sniper Rifle	> 2.0s Harran Bug	290 + Skill 1	Harran
Sniper Rifle	> 2.0s	290	Eunhwa
Sniper Rifle	2.0s	280	Alice, Dolla, Exia, Helm, Maxwell, Milk
Sniper Rifle	< 2.0s	265 ~ 275	Yulha; Admi; Delta, Frima
Shotgun	Full Clip	20 x 10 pellets	Ether, Guilty, Isabel, Mary, Neve, Poli, Soldier FA
Rocket Launcher	> 2.0s Full Clip	145	Laplace, Rapunzel
Rocket Launcher	2.0s Full Clip	140	Anne, Belorta, iDoll Flower, Mica, N102, Noise, Vesti, Yan, Yuni
Assault Rifle	> 2.0s	45	Scarlet
Assault Rifle	>= 1.5s	25	iDoll Sun, Mihara, Snow White
Assault Rifle	< 1.5s	20	Brid, Folkwang, Julia, Privaty, Product 08, Rapi, Rupee, Sin, Soldier EG, xRupee
Submachine Gun	2.0s Double-hit	10 x 2	Crow, Soline, Quency
Submachine Gun	> 2.0s	15	Ludmilla
Submachine Gun	<= 2.0s	10	Crow, Epinel, iDoll Ocean, Liter, Miranda, Novel, Signal, Soldier OW, Soline
Machine Gun	ALL	5	Aria, Diesel, Emma, Guillotine, Modernia, Product 12

Units With Irregular Energy Generation

Unit Name	Irregularity	Description
Harran	Skill 1 DoT	Energy generation from DoT skill damage; 290 energy (same as her base energy) per tick for 5 ticks. Harran’s skill can apply on multiple enemies, greatly increasing her energy generation.
Noah, Crow, Soline	Double hit	Energy generation from firing two bullets per shot. Noah is also affected by AoE irregularly as a rocket launcher.
ALL Rocket Launchers	Area of Effect on hit	Rocket launchers have AoE damage on hit, meaning they will have higher energy generation in most battles due to multi hits and hitting structures.
Belorta, Laplace, Vesti	Increased AoE range	These units have increased AoE range, meaning they will have higher average increase in energy generation from AoE hits than other rocket launchers.
Alice, Harran	Pierce	Pierce attacks hit through the target to deal AoE damage on hit, meaning they will have higher energy generation in most battles due to multi hits and hitting structures.

Burst Energy Generation Tierlist

Units listed by how quickly they generate a full burst bar, which is 10,000 energy.

ST testing done against the closest range enemy in shooting range (0 range). AoE, mixed range testing done in Simulation Room (44% near, 35% mid, 21% far); time between spawns are subtracted. There is high variance in the mixed AoE tests, and those numbers should be regarded as a rough estimate to compare with the better-controlled near ST tests. No hits on boss enemies for any tests. Some information comes from calculations rather than testing.

Clip reload shotguns can generate up to 450 energy per shot (45 x 10 pellets), but even at closest range (0), against a regular enemy they hit 7 ~ 10 pellets per shot, for an 8.5 average. This number drops dramatically outside of their effective range (0 ~ 25). Beyond 35 range, shotgun hit rate can fall below 1 hit per shot, especially against smaller enemies. However, against large bosses they are able to hit all 10 pellets consistently. The same holds true for all other shotguns, though the change is less noticeable (20 x 10 pellets). For the purposes of this tierlist, shotgun hit rate is assumed at 8.5 pellets per shot for close range ST, and at 3 for mixed range AoE. No hit rate buffs assumed.

Rocket launchers’ energy generation rise steeply against AoE targets, especially in maps where there are many structures. Launchers with explosion range increase abilities will have even greater value. The same holds true for pierce units (Alice and Harran), though not to the same extent.

As energy per hit is not affected by charge amount for SR and RL, manual spamming greatly increases their energy generation. In some stages, it is possible to charge a full burst bar in as little as 3 seconds using this method. However, many units have full charge activated skills that may be more valuable. There is also the option of mixing full charge shots and quick shots for the best of both worlds. The data in this article assumes full charge shots, to be consistent with auto and AI play. Refer to the base energy per hit values to see which units benefit most from manual spamming.

Rank Overall	Unit	Weapon	Base Energy Per Hit	Average Time to Full Energy (Near ST) (seconds)	Average Time to Full Energy (Mixed AoE) (seconds)
1	Centi	RL	345	47	10
2	Anis	RL	355	49	10
3	Noah	RL	150 x 2	61	15
4	Harran	SR	290 + Skill 1 (1450 over 5 seconds)	23	20
5	Drake	SG	45 x 10	22	65
6	Neon	SG	45 x 10	23	68
7	Sugar	SG	45 x 10	24	70
7	Maiden	SG	45 x 10	24	70
7	Pepper	SG	45 x 10	24	70
7	Product 23	SG	45 x 10	24	70
11	Laplace	RL	145	123	27
12	Vesti	RL	140	128	28
13	Belorta	RL	140	167	28
14	Rapunzel	RL	145	128	28
15	iDoll Flower	RL	140	122	31
15	Mica	RL	140	122	31
17	Yuni	RL	140	167	32
18	N102	RL	140	167	32
18	Noise	RL	140	167	32
18	Yan	RL	140	167	32
21	Crow	SMG	10 x 2	38	76
21	Soline	SMG	10 x 2	39	78
23	iDoll Sun	AR	25	44	88
23	Snow White	AR	25	44	88
25	Mihara	AR	25	45	90
26	Scarlet	AR	45	50	100
27	Ludmilla	SMG	15	50	55
28	Mary	SG	20	50	149
28	Poli	SG	20	50	149
30	Privaty	AR	20	52	102
30	Rupee	AR	20	52	102
30	Rapi	AR	20	52	102
33	Soldier EG	AR	20	53	104
34	Julia	AR	20	53	104
35	Isabel	SG	20	53	157
36	Brid	AR	20	55	106
36	Folkwang	AR	20	55	106
38	Ether	SG	20	56	160
38	Soldier FA	SG	20	56	160
40	Epinel	SMG	10	59	118
40	Novel	SMG	10	59	118
40	Signal	SMG	10	59	118
43	Dolla	SR	280	61	61
43	Exia	SR	280	61	61
43	Helm	SR	280	61	61
43	Maxwell	SR	280	61	61
43	Milk	SR	280	61	61
43	Product 08	SR	280	61	61
49	Eunhwa	SR	290	61	61
50	Delta	SR	265	62	62
50	Frima	SR	265	62	62
52	Admi	SR	270	63	63
52	Yulha	SR	275	63	63
54	Miranda	SMG	10	64	126
55	iDoll Ocean	SMG	10	65	128
55	Liter	SMG	10	65	128
55	Volume	SMG	10	65	128
58	Soldier OW	SMG	10	68	130
59	Alice	SR	280	77	60
60	Diesel	MG	5	82	89
61	Aria	MG	5	83	89
62	Emma	MG	5	84	90
62	Guillotine	MG	5	84	90
64	Product 12	MG	5	85	91

Arena

There are important differences in Arena mode which affect burst energy generation:

• Hit Rate is 100% for all units. This means shotguns have very high energy generation.
• RL will always hit 1~3 targets. At the beginning of a battle, they will usually hit 2 targets.
• Most battles are decided by the first burst rotation. The team to first fill their burst gauge bar usually has a major advantage. This makes the first 5~8 seconds (average time to fill burst) crucial.

See the Arena (PvP) page for the full analysis.

Testing Methods Used

If you have testing data that contradicts any information in this guide, please contact us through discord with video or stream of your testing method(s).

Simulation room tests that measure time (seconds) were more accurate when starting after boss spawn due to forced camera pan. Unit placed in middle slot with no cubes equipped for consistency.

Mode	Unit(s)	Method	Results
Shooting Range	ALL	Target closest range enemy (0 range) until burst gauge filled to full.	Average time (seconds) to full burst bar recorded to compare burst generation between units. Results shown above.
Shooting Range	ALL	Target furthest range enemy (45 range) until burst gauge filled to full.	Time (seconds) measured and compared with close range results. Some variance due to structures sometimes being hit by spread. On shotguns, energy generation was lower even despite some structure hits. On snipers, there is no difference between close range results.
Shooting Range	Sniper (level 1)	Target structures only, using level 1 sniper.	Structures grant energy on hit, equal to hits on regular enemies.
Shooting Range	All weapon types	Target boss only (35 range)	Hits on boss enemies grant double the amount of energy as hits on regular enemies.
Simulation Room (1A)	Sniper	Repeat tests from Shooting Range	Energy generation appears the same as Shooting Range testing. Damage done, enemies killed and structures destroyed does not generate additional energy; energy is generated only on hit.
Simulation Room (1A)	Anis	Auto	Energy generation is significantly higher than ST shooting range tests (as high as 8 seconds vs 48 seconds). Assuming this is due to the number of closely grouped enemies and small structures in some simulation stages, each multi-hit likely generates the same amount of energy per hit.
Interception (D and S)	Shotgun	Target the boss enemy hitting 10 pellets each shot	There was no difference between the number of shots required to reach full energy against Alteisen vs against Gravedigger. As the hit rate was the same 10 pellets per shot against both bosses, but Alteisen is further away than Gravedigger, this confirms that shotgun energy variance comes from hit rate and not range itself. Hitting boss parts or interruption circles also does not generate additional energy compared to regular boss hits.