Moran: Analysis and Theorycraft – Should You Pull?

Note: This was made before the release of Moran. A more detailed analysis and guide will be published once testing has been done after her release. Character information is subject to change.

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Basic Information

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Skill 1: Bring it On!

Activates at the start of the battle. Affects self.
DEF ▲ 3.51% with every 1% of HP loss. This effect is active continuously
Activates when landing 5 normal attack(s) when changing the weapon in use.
Affects the target.
Deals 47.18% of final ATK as additional damage

Theoretically, This skill can increase Moran’s Defense by a whopping ~350%. Although while sounding like this would make Moran extremely tanky, isn’t exactly the case. Being half true, it isn’t as impressive as one may think. This is due to where defense lies in the formula.

To simplify it as much as possible, it would be as follows:

ATK – DEF then all the applications of Atk % modifiers and etc. Atk % modifiers being weapon damage modifiers, skill damage %, and such.

The second part of her skill will be explained in her burst section because of they’re directly correlated.

Skill 2: Leave It To Me!

Activates when firing the final bullet.
Affects 3 enemy unit(s) with the highest ATK.
Taunt for 4 sec.
Activates when HP falls below 20%. Affects self.
Effect changes according to the number of activation time(s).
Perseverance :Effect of each phase does not stack.
Once: Max HP ▲ 91% for 3 sec. Activates once per battle
Twice: Max HP ▲ 69.84% for 3 sec. Activates once per battle
Three Times: Max HP ▲ 51.09% for 3 sec. Activates once per battle.

Her taunt being proc’d by firing her last mag, this would mean that she wouldn’t want ammo buffs or refills. Her taunt has around 60% up time when factoring in her reload time. it’s also rather neat that her taunt can be controlled comfortably if the Player does not need Moran taunting. Simply by forcing her to reload before her mag is depleted.

Now, pretty much the most interesting part of her kit. Moran has a massive max HP buff every time her HP falls down a threshold. To briefly explain, Max Hp not only increases total hp, but also heals for the same amount of max hp gained. To visualize, if her HP drops to 20,000/100,000, then her max HP buff of 91% procs, the resulting HP will then be 111,000/191,000.

Do note that her buff only lasts for 3s, and HP will promptly drop to 100,000/100,000. As one can tell, this would make her an absolute damage sponge in all game modes, however this will NOT protect against one shots, or any attack that can wipe her hp from >20% to 0%. This is because this skill does not directly protect against fatal attacks, and will only activate when HP falls between 0.x% and 20%.

Burst: Fair and Square!

Affects self.
Change the Weapon in use:
Damage: 14.7% of final ATK
Lasts for: 10 sec
Additional Effect(s):
Recovers 36.14% of attack damage as HP for 10 sec.
Attract: Taunt all enemies for 10 sec.
Note: Cannot take cover while casting Burst skill.
Affects all allies.
Damage Taken: 35.14% for 10 sec.
DEF ▲ 14.85% of caster’s DEF for 10 sec

A interesting burst. Her weapon switches from AR into SMG, drastically increasing her firing speed from 12/s to 20/s. Increasing her auto attack damage by 1.66x. This burst also synergizes with her skill 1, activating a damaging effect every 5 shots.

The damage for the whole burst would be: 20 (RoF) x 14.7 (ATK Modif) x 10(seconds) = 2,940% + skill 1 ((47.18% skill proc | 5 bullets needed) x 4 (proc per second) x 10(seconds) = almost 4830~% damage for the whole burst, which is pretty decent damage when factoring her being a defender class.

Her lifesteal is actually pretty useful as she can actually deal damage, which in turn does make her tankier, alongside the damage taken ▼, she becomes extremely tanky when factoring all her skills and passives. Her def up here is pretty useless as it’s not even Final Caster’s Def. 14% is virtually nothing.

Do note she can’t cover doing this skill, however this shouldn’t be an issue for the most part as she would most likely tank everything that goes her way, unless a instant killing move is targeting her.

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Campaign

As one can imagine, using her in campaign isn’t exactly ideal. Using her stages with high deficits would be quite a death wish. Raptures have a chance of one shotting her, effectively bypassing all the skills that makes her tanky in the first place, and even if it didn’t, it can only let her live for so long. Dealing Damage and killing raptures as soon as possible is truly the ultimate defense in this game mode. However she does still have uses in Campaign bosses such as Storm bringer, Harvester, Nihilister, and etc. Basically any boss fight that does not have the ability to one shot Moran.

Duo-less Team (Boss Battles)

Moran,Dorothy,Novel,Anis: Sparkling summer,Privaty

Since Moran is electric, and Anis: Sparkling summer increases by caster’s ATK, this would make Moran able to deal really decent damage, while also being a massive tank with self-sustaining abilities. Pretty much the best balanced team for Anis: Sparkling summer that has survivability and damage if needed. Of course, this is excluding the duo supports (Tia/naga and Blanc/Noir).

Anis-less Team (Boss Battles)

Moran,Supporter,Supporter,Attacker,Attacker

Pretty lame team recommendation,I know, however. Pretty much just use a Cool down reduction Nikke for B1, burst 2 DPS support (Novel,Mast,etc), and your top DPS’s. Do note that you’re forced to always burst with Modernia if used in this formation, greatly reducing single target damage.

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PvP

Probably her strongest point. Her immensely Tanky nature would make her fit perfect in PvP teams as a damage sponge. She is much tankier than Noise, although not exactly a complete replacement for noise due to slight decrease in burst gen and less one shot protection for the team (Ex. Scarlet, Harran teams). Moran would definitely do a better job when tanking single target Nukers, and as she’s a defender, Moran can take advantage of Biscuits invulnerability buff while Noise can’t.

Team compositions will be added in her final review (Leona coming soon) to confirm some mechanics.

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Special Interception | Union Raid | Solo Raid

Moran Does a really great job of being a Noise substitute, in which Noise is often in team 4’s or 5’s in Solo raid or as the main tanker in Special Interception. She has enough sustainability to be use her as the solo tank without any aid of a healer. Unfortunately she is a 40s burst 1, which means that the player is forced to use 2-1-2 Burst formations (2 Burst I, 1 burst II, 2 Burst II) which does hurt DPS a bit.

Special Interception

Moran most notable achievement is that she would most likely be able to tank the barrage of turrets from Alteisein himself. Giving many players the much needed breathing room to destroy the turrets. This simple additional survivability would make the train fight much more trivial, giving newer players a fighting chance to beat Alteisein. Although not the “easiest” method when beating Alteisein, it’s definitely a more accessible option when dealing with him. Moran is also usable against Blacksmith and Modernia.

Solo Raid

Her teams would be basically be the same teams from the campaign section. She should most likely be able to tank everything that is thrown at her that isn’t a instant kill move. Similar to Noise, but dealing a bit more damage in exchange for possible burst generation.

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Closing Thoughts

An excellent Side grade to Noise, while not exactly being “meta”. Moran should definitely prove useful in a good amount of content in game, especially if the Player does not have access to Blanc/Noir and Naga/Tia Duos.

I’d consider pulling her if the Player is in need of a healer or tank/ focused in PvP. If the player has either of the duos. Moran can be in the Wishlist instead.