Table of Contents
Welcome to our third PvP Focus review! We skipped Flora and RPG since we did not find solid use for them in PvP at all, so try not to expect PvP Focus Reviews for units who will have low proper use. Anyways, onwards with the usual intro! Here, we hope to deliver PvP focused content and news for any new Nikkes released that may have proper PvP use. Keep in mind that a lot of common PvP terms/slang will be used in this guide, which can be clarified in this guide:
Let’s dive straight right into Maiden: Ice Rose’s abilities!
TLDR
Maiden: Ice Rose proves to be an extremely useful unit in the current meta, in both SP Arena and the mode we are looking forward to: Champions Arena. She provides an immensely appreciated Burst Generation of 18.2 in 2RL and 27.3 in 3RL. In normal words, her Burst Gen is slightly higher than that of Clip SGs. A sweet advantage that she has over Clip SGs is not only just in Burst Gen, but also in the fact that she does not feed since she is an RL unit. This makes her a very strong choice to use in PvP, and is the reason why we often see Laplace (Treasure version) being used over Clip SGs, even though Laplace has slightly lower burst gen than Clip SGs.
Maiden still has one or two more tricks left up her sleeve. Being a defender, she is a very tanky unit, and can safely slot in slot 5 and survive basic or one-buff AoE attacks, such as those from Scarlet or Rei Ayanami. She can also synergise with Biscuit and tank some damage, or rather, stay alive for a while as her team deals damage. One final edge Maiden has is that her basic attacks are strong enough to matter, which is thanks to her Skill 2, which adds a ~547.62% of extra damage on top of her normal damage, albeit this extra damage is only on one of the two units she hits. This allows her to give strong pressure on the frontline, and is a good addition to have when using her in a shotgun team (in defence) or an Alice/RH team (in attack), since they target the opposite ends of the opposing team (Maiden focuses P1 and SR in ATK / SG in DEF focus P5).
Step-by-step Analysis
Burst generation
As is tradition, we will first have a look at Maiden’s Burst Generation, and why it is so high.
Maiden’s base burst gen is 1.82 per hit. With 2 shots × 4 targets(2 Nikkes + 2 covers), her expected burst generation in 2RL should have been 14.56 for a total of 8 hits. However, thanks to her Skill 2’s additional damage on a fully charged shot, she gets one extra hit per shot, increasing her burst gen by 25%! This makes her Burst Generation an extremely competitive total of 18.2 in 2RL and 27.3 in 3RL, slightly edging out ahead of Clip SGs, falling just short of Pascal. However, since Maiden is an SSR unit, she is much more relevant to be used and upgraded, and hence is a safer option to use, especially when it comes to Combat Power.
As you can see in the image below, Maiden has the highest Burst gen among normal RL units.
Source: Kosmiu’s Burst Generation Calculator
DPS Output and Comparisons
This can be measured in 2 ways. Firstly, we will discuss Maiden as a main B3 (i.e. the B3 who bursts in a PvP team). Maiden’s DPS output is not that high or relevant when compared to high tier main B3 units such as Scarlet, Emilia, Scarlet: Black Shadow, etc. As a main B3, she can primarily be compared to units who are now thought to be sub-meta or old-meta units, specifically Power or Alice. Power as a main B3 works very similarly to how Maiden: Ice Rose works. A high damage single target nuke, followed up with somewhat strong basic shots. Straight up, Maiden power-creeps Power in both value of the single target nuke as well as the damage output during her burst from her basic attacks. Maiden gains an immense ATK buff when she bursts, which allows her to strengthen her already strong basic attacks and deal immense damage, similar to how Alice or Red Hood work, as a single target focus damage dealer! Hence, Maiden as a main B3 is a single target nuker on whoever she was shooting at, and then deals high single target focus damage dealer, who is able to clear units 1 by 1 like how Alice or Red Hood do.
Since she is a Defender unit, she also cannot be targeted by Rosanna, so she can be used as a main B3 to counter some notorious Rosanna setups! Watch in the video below how her single target nuke is also a serious threat to all Jackal-linked Nikkes, but for this the player needs to be able to make faster Maiden teams in order to burst before the opponent team. This is more or less a strategy for attacking. Thanks to discord user kara07837 for this video.
The other way we can discuss Maiden’s DPS is as an off-burst unit, which is where she excels. The best comparison here can be with Laplace (Treasure). As explained before, Maiden has an additional damage proc, where she deals an insane amount of damage (547% at lvl10 Skill 2). While Laplace (Treasure) deals ~300% of an Attackers ATK with her strong basic attacks, Maiden deals ~700%*.66 (since a Defender’s base ATK is 66% that of an Attackers ATK) = ~462% of an Attackers ATK with her super strong basic attacks! Albeit Laplace hits 2 units with 300% and Maiden hits one with 462%, this is still super strong! Maiden is hence able to provide immense frontline pressure, which when paired with SG units like Anis: Sparkling Summer on defence teams, or SR units like Red Hood or Alice on attack teams, is a very huge threat and a pain to defend against. Maiden is a super strong choice for the filler spot!
Supporting Output and Comparisons
Maiden has 3 ways to support the team: Ability to deal damage as an off-burst DPS, her pure tankiness due to being a Defender unit, and as a buffer to electric units (albeit this is a bit niche due to the nature of her buffs). The first was described in the DPS Output section, so we will move on to the second one: her tankiness.
Since she is a defender unit, she is able to survive non buffed AoEs or one-buff AoE attacks from units like Scarlet. She is also able to tank more damage in P5 if she is up against SG units due to her base HP stats being higher than others. In this sense, she acts similarly to ClipRL units like Centi or Rumani, but with a different element since she is Electric, while they are Iron and Fire respectively. Hence, she is strong against different units, while she is weak against different units, allowing the player to plan their attack and defence teams accordingly.
The third way Maiden has to support the team is her synergy with electric units, which will be described in detail in the next section.
Synergies and Weaknesses
Maiden has 2 main synergies. The first is directly to Biscuit, which can be used to high effect in PvP. Biscuit’s skill 2 is heaven for Defender units. She has the ability to make defender units invincible for 10 whole seconds, or can split the invincibility time into 2 for 2 units, 5 units each. We have witnessed this since the release of Biscuit back in 2023 of how strong that character Biscuit is due to this ability, and it is still as strong today as it was back then. Biscuit can essentially provide Maiden immunity to do as she wills. This can be used to ensure Maiden’s survival against simple AoE teams. An example of this is seen in the video below, where Maiden survives the AoE nuke due to Biscuit, and is able to finish off the enemy team using her strong basic attacks.
Video: https://x.com/edo_nikke/status/1864623359277060283
The second synergy is a minor one: Maiden buffs electric units but only if she does not burst. She gives a huge elemental damage buff, which means any water Nikkes will perish unless they are saved by Blanc. There is a scarcity of water element Nikkes in PvP apart from Emilia, so do not expect much from this buff. She also gives a caster’s ATK buff, but since she is a Defender, the actual value is not that high :/ Regardless, a buff is a buff, and she still does help deal more damage.
As far as weaknesses go, she has no clear weakness when being used as an off-burst unit. She is a unit that you can just slot in anytime, anywhere and will not have to worry about her. Maybe her being B3 is a bit of a shame, since this means that she needs to be forcibly placed on the right of the B3 you actually want to burst with. But this may be an advantage to her as well, since we can place taunters like Noise or Noah in P5 if the P1 slot is already occupied, as to not allow the opponent team extra burst generation compared to if they were placed in P2/P3/P4. Only thing she needs to be afraid of is Iron DPS with high elemental damage targeting her, examples being Laplace (Treasure) and Soda: Twinkling Bunny.
However, when being used as a main B3 unit, she “enjoys” the same disadvantages the likes of SBS, Alice or RH have. A Defender taunter like Nero or Noah, paired with Biscuit, can completely shut down Maiden’s damage output as a main B3. All her damage is taunted in one place, and for 10 whole seconds she is not able to deal any damage since she is straight up shooting into an invincible wall. A comp which has high survivability, such as the god comp (Noise Noah Biscuit) can also deal with Maiden’s damage output well. Her single target nuke can also be countered with the use of xAnne or Rapunzel, if they are used correctly.
Impact on current meta
Tier List Rating: SS
For any PvP fan out there, she is a must-pull unit. Maiden is a direct power-creep to every Clip SG since she does not feed, and hits just as hard. Yet another electric Nikke who is good in PvP, they just have a knack of being good at this, don’t they?
High Burst Gen, strong off burst presence, Defender HP and being able to counter Rosanna shenanigans, threat to Jackal link, strong synergy with Biscuit, and a niche support for all electric allies. Maiden is a very strong option to use in PvP, so do not miss out on this unit. After a revamp of the current tier list set on 5 teams, you can expect her to either stay in SS tier, or if she drops, think of her as a high S tier unit. Regardless, she is here to stay in the 5 team meta for a while.
Team Examples
All teams can be used for attack, and if the player has enough resources for other teams, also for defence. Positioning is very important, try to copy the positions as is.
Maiden: Ice Rose as a Main B3
Note: Laplace with Treasure
2RL fast single target nuke, with follow up damage. Blanc can be replaced by Biscuit. Jackal, Anis, or 1 clip sg may replace one of the 3 burst gen fillers out of LapTreasure, Centi or Rumani. Blanc or Biscuit ensure Maiden’s survival so that she can quickly kill one unit in P1. Teams with Blanc or Noise in P1 can often be exposed with this setup.
Note: Laplace with Treasure
3RL in speed. One of Laplace (Treasure) or Emilia may be replaced by A2. This team focuses on putting insane frontline pressure using Emilia, Laplace and Maiden’s high basic attack dps output.
Maiden: Ice Rose as an off burst unit
Strong 3RL defence or attack team. Maiden is used to provide frontline pressure as Anis is gunning down in the opposite direction.
Simple 3RL team. Before, Centi Anis or Rumani used to be the main fillers used to make the team reach 3RL. Using an SG unit was not preferred due to feeding. However, now we can use xMaiden to fill the gap. Nothing else to it really, just a simple nuke team.
A technical team. 3RL speed. Biscuit ensures Blanc’s and Jackal’s survival, so only the B3 needs to live now. While Maiden may be acting as an off-burst unit, this team deserves a shout out in both the main B3 section and this section. This is because Maiden here is acting as a backup B3. In case Scarlet dies, she will be able to burst herself, nuke one unit and then provide immense follow up damage. She is placed in P4 to make it hard to be targeted by any shenanigans, be it from Rosanna, Emilia or A2. She can only be targeted by an AoE unit. As we discussed before, she has defender HP. Hence, she will be able to survive a nuke from an opponent (unless of course, it is Cinderella’s nuke or a double buffed nuke). At super high investments (SR15 doll, Lvl7 tempering/vigor cubes, high core level investment), she can even survive some double buffed nukes! Hence, even if Scarlet dies here, do not be afraid! Maiden is here to save the day! Would be sad if the opposing nuker crit their burst tho.. (Maiden dies if they crit :/)
Budget Meta Team Compositions
This section may involve teams that are not ideal, but are fit for incomplete rosters who do not have many teams to make. Essentially, any team that saw use of ClipSGs or LaplaceTreasure, xMaiden can directly replace any ClipSG except for Pepper or Viper, and can replace LaplaceTreasure. All teams can be used for attack, and if the player has enough resources for other teams, also for defence. Positioning is very important, try to copy the positions as is.
Note: Laplace with Treasure
Note: Laplace with Treasure
Note: All ClipSGs are replaceable with other ClipSGs with the exception of Pepper
Thanks for analysis!
I focus a lot on pvp (pretty much all time second place since first place is guy +60levels ahead) and in short i see her taking place with biscuit as she has defender synergy and there is lack of good defender units to put in arena. So probably it will be as mentioned Noah, Rapunzel, Biscuit, Anis: Sparkling Summer, Maiden: Ice Rose version.
Thank you for taking the time to read my guide <3
Thanks for PvP review. She is actually so good non meta unit, who unite in one – attack, defense and team buff. Why you use Adjutant Cube instead of Quantum Cube? There is two top main arena team who make problems – 1. Old Scarlet + Jackal+Centi (+Rossana, +Anne MF, +Blanc ), 2. Noah+Noise+Biscuit+ S. Anis (+Rapunzel). First team is super deadly, second is super defensive. The third team now building around Cinderella. So it will be good to read in next PvP review how new Nikke make difference fighting with those teams.
Adjutant increases charge speed. Since the teams already have enough burst generation, it’s far better for your units to charge and fire their shots before your opponent since you get to Full Burst sooner. For example, in the 3RL Scarlet team, you can burst and aoe wipe as soon as 3 rocket launchers fire their weapons. The Quantum cube doesn’t do anything since you can already burst without the extra burst gauge it provides. The Adjutant cube on the other hand will reduce the time it takes for those 3 rocket launchers to fire which allows you to burst quicker. This is critical for shutting down teams before they can proc all their buffs (Biscuit, Blanc, Noah, etc.) or nuking you back (Scarlet, Alice, S!Anis, etc.)
Oops, I’d like to clarify something. The 3RL Scarlet team listed actually only requires two shots from Maiden and one from Jackal or vice versa, not one shot from 3 different rocket launcher units if my previous comment implied that.
Adjutant Cube has Charge Speed ▲ 2.12% on max. I already have 2-6% Charge Speed from one OL equipment. Quantum Cube has Burst Gauge filling speed ▲ 4.66% on max. And it’s unique buff. I don’t think Adjutant Cube can make a lot of difference shooting +2% faster. You units fire first, but gain less burst points and on the second shooting team with Quantum already overtakes in burst gauge.
Most of the time, who bursts first depends on who gets their RL shots off first, so adjutant usually gives the edge.
Quant rarely helps with this since the small 5% extra burst gen is nothing compared to the burst gen of a volley of RL fire.
So if you have two teams that reach burst within 2 RL volleys, 5% extra burst gen on one team won’t change anything since it still takes 2 volleys to reach burst, 5% extra burst gen is not enough to get that team to reach the break point that allows bursting in 1 volley. So in the end both teams still reach burst in the same 2-volley timeframe whether quant is there or not.
But if one team has even the tiniest bit higher charge speed, that will mean each volley will fire faster, which means that team will shoot off 2 full volleys slightly faster and thus reach burst first.
It is as InDiesel said. Quantum cube is a niche pvp cube in the sense that a lot of times it provides nothing to the team. You can use the burst gen calculator provided in this guide in the ‘Burst Generation’ section to visually see the effects of quantum cube on the team. Quantum cube is only used if for example the speed of the team can be increased from 3RL -> 2.5RL or more. If the speed cannot be increased, we should use other cubes to at least provide something more to the team!
As for the PvP review on how to make different teams, in the upcoming months we plan to add a mega guide series to teach players how to make teams, and we will give tons of example teams as well.
Is she worth mlb for pvp?