Yan Chen Elixirist guide, by 中等难度电脑

Yan Chen Elixirist guide, by 中等难度电脑

2023-9-15, with 2024-1-26 addendum

translated from https://www.taptap.cn/moment/451815261981376896 by Xom

I. Preface [summary]

[As of 2023-9-13 (Wind Rise season), the author is the top player on the Yan Chen Dao Mindset leaderboard, with a score of 10001 in 283 matches, 93 first places and 225 top fours.]

II. Immortal Fate choices

Bloodline Power

Initial Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 card for every 30 Destiny damage dealt by you (initial count 16)"

Core Immortal Fate, lets Yan Chen turn won battles into more won battles. You can exchange more in Rounds 1-3, winning more battles and dealing more Destiny damage, which lets you draw more cards, ensuring you the highest cultivation at the table, gaining the advantage of going first and of breaking through first.

Flame of life (must-pick)

Foundation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Cultivation+1; When you win the battle, deal 4 more Destiny damage"

Enhances the initial Immortal Fate, and with the Cultivation+1, you don't lose cultivation.

Ultimate Hexagram Base (must-pick)

Virtuoso Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Ultimate Hexagram Base" (Continuous: At the beginning of your turn, add 1 Hexagram)

Core Immortal Fate. Because many Heptastar cards consume Hexagram, this card can ensure that you have enough. (Yan Chen character-specific card), and if you're Elixirist, it can be upgraded by Enlightenment Elixir (Incarnation-phase card).

Within Reach

Immortality Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Within Reach" (9 ATK; For each stack of Debuff the opponent has, this card gets 2 more ATK)

Because this guide discusses Hexagram Thunders build, we won't pick this card, which is for Internal Injury build. Prioritize card draw and Cultivation Immortal Fates.

Fury Thunder (must-pick)

Incarnation Phase Optional Immortal Fate

"Draw 1 Fury Thunder" (Apply 1 stack(s) of Flaw; If the name of card in the next slot contains "Thunder", Chase)

Chase and enhance damage, very strong.
Heptastar has the single card with the highest damage in the game, Five Thunders, which can be placed after Fury Thunder.
If you're Elixirist, it can be upgraded by Enlightenment Elixir (Incarnation-phase card).

III. Transit plan and card arrangement

Sample match: gmakchnear

1. Rounds 1-2 (Meditation phase)
Plan: Exchange more in Rounds 1-3, look for Earth Hexagram, White Crane Bright Wings, Striding Into the Wind, Sparrow's Tail, etc. to ensure battle strength.
Yan Chen doesn't need to linger in Meditation phase; you can break through to Foundation phase in Round 3.
Arrangements:

• Hexagram + qi + damage (example: Earth Hexagram, White Crane Bright Wings, Sparrow's Tail)
• You can also transit with Star Power. Striding Into the Wind is not too reliant on Hexagram. (example: lv.2 Dotted Around, Striding Into the Wind, lv.2 Astral Move - Flank, Earth Spirit Elixir)

2. Rounds 3-4 (Foundation phase)
Plan: Don't exchange, or exchange only a little bit. Use Striding, White Crane, Flank to safely transit to Virtuoso. Hold on to some qi cards. (Be sure to have lv.2 White Crane to ensure future strength.)

[Screenshot:]

• Dotted Around (lv.2)
• Striding Into the Wind
• Astral Move - Flank (lv.max)
• Palm Thunder (lv.2)
• Earth Spirit Elixir

caption: Star Power makes transit more comfortable

3. Rounds 5-7 (Virtuoso phase)
Plan: Because you get Ultimate Hexagram Base, you won't lack Hexagram much afterward, so can absorb the earlier transitional Hexagram cards in order to break through to Virtuoso. First ensure you have enough qi, then keep damage cards. As for defense cards, one Striding Into the Wind is enough; line it up against the opponent's damage. (Usually in slot three, four, or six.) Example:

• Ultimate Hexagram Base
• Dotted Around (lv.2)
• Astral Move - Flank (lv.max)
• Striding Into the Wind
• White Crane Bright Wings (lv.2)
• Sparrow's Tail
• Palm Thunder (lv.2)
• Astral Move - Stand (lv.2)

4. Rounds 8-10 (Immortality phase)
Plan: When you reach Immortality phase, try to find Hexagram Formacide and Thunder and Lighting; with Hexagram Formacide, Thunder Hexagram Rhythm is also good damage. If you find both, you can stop exchanging and save the rest for Incarnation, to find Five Thunders and Heaven Hexagram. Example:

• Ultimate Hexagram Base
• Hexagram Formacide
• Thunder and Lighting (lv.2)
• Falling Thunder (lv.max)
• Escape Plan
• Dance Of The Dragonfly (lv.2)
• Palm Thunder (lv.2)
• (Normal Attack)

5. Round 11 (breakthrough to Incarnation phase) to end of match (in the presence of Yan Chen, usually around Round 18)
Screenshot of Star Power Hexagram Thunders assembled:

• Ultimate Hexagram Base
• Hexagram Formacide (lv.2)
• Heaven Hexagram
• Starry Moon (lv.2)
• Fury Thunder
• Five Thunders (lv.2)
• Dance Of The Dragonfly (lv.2)
• Thunder Hexagram Rhythm

IV. Other arrangements, for Incarnation-phase counterplay

1. With lv.2 Heaven Hexagram, you can do turn-two Astral Move - Cide (gmak8lo789 Round 16):

• Ultimate Hexagram Base
• lv.2 Heaven Hexagram
• Astral Move - Cide
• lv.2 Hexagram Formacide
• Fury Thunder
• Five Thunders
• lv.2 Dance Of The Dragonfly
• lv.max Thunder Hexagram Rhythm

2. With lv.max Heaven Hexagram, you can retire Ultimate Hexagram Base (gmak8k79kg Round 19):

• lv.max Hexagram Formacide
• lv.max Heaven Hexagram
• lv.2 Flame Hexagram
• Fury Thunder
• lv.2 Five Thunders
• lv.2 Dance Of The Dragonfly
• Thunder Hexagram Rhythm
• lv.2 Ice Spirit Guard Elixir

V. In case of missing core cards

1. No Heaven Hexagram, no Dance Of The Dragonfly (gmakch1esb Round 16):

• Hexagram Formacide (lv.2)
• Ultimate Hexagram Base (lv.2)
• Thunder and Lighting (lv.2)
• Thunder Hexagram Rhythm (lv.2)
• Fury Thunder
• Five Thunders (lv.max)
• Thunder Hexagram Rhythm (lv.2)
• (Normal Attack)

Thunder of Lighting makes qi; Thunder Hexagram Rhythm supplements Hexagram

2. No Five Thunders (gmak7eojpq Round 19):

• Ultimate Hexagram Base (lv.2)
• Hexagram Formacide
• Fury Thunder
• Thunder and Lighting (lv.2)
• Dance Of The Dragonfly (lv.2)
• Astral Move - Cide (lv.2)
• Heaven Hexagram
• Thunder Hexagram Rhythm (lv.max)

Astral Move - Cide is a good damage card

3. No Hexagram Formacide:

• Ultimate Hexagram Base
• Starry Moon (lv.2)
• Astral Move - Fly
• Thunder and Lighting (lv.2)
• Palm Thunder (lv.max)
• Astral Move - Hit (lv.2)
• Fury Thunder
• Falling Thunder (lv.2)

Palm Thunder can be replaced by Dance Of The Dragonfly

VI. Conclusion

[not translated]

2024-1-26 addendum

vs. Crash Fist build (with Immortality-phase Store Qi):

• Ultimate Hexagram Base (lv.2)
• Heaven Hexagram (lv.2)
• Astral Move - Cide (lv.2)
• Ice Spirit Guard Elixir (lv.2)
• Fury Thunder
• Five Thunders (lv.2)
• Dance Of The Dragonfly
• Thunder and Lighting (lv.max)

Turn-two Cide, turn-three Guard Up Elixir. Greatly restricts the Crash Fist build. And whether you go first or second, you 100% win the matchup.