Yangyang: Xuanling headlines the first phase of Wuthering Waves Version 3.5, which went live globally on July 10, 2026. She is the 5-star form of the free Aero support Yangyang, but she plays as a completely different unit: a Havoc element Sword main DPS built around Heavy Attack damage and the Havoc Bane status. She is aggressive, on-field, and gears like a standard crit carry rather than a niche status specialist.
Quick answer: Pull Yangyang: Xuanling if your Havoc main-DPS slot is empty and you own (or can free up) Chisa. If you already run a strong Havoc carry, or you value a flexible support more, save for Suisui in Phase 2 instead.
What Yangyang: Xuanling does in combat
Xuanling is the game’s first SP unit and the first carry built around Havoc Bane as a core mechanic. She alternates between Azure Sword Stance and Feather Sword Stance, and she applies Havoc Bane herself through her Basic Attacks, Intro Skill, and Liberation. That self-application matters: she does not need a specific enabler just to function.
Her Resonance Liberation, Hush of a Thousand Voices, consumes all Melody for a large Havoc DMG burst and maxes Havoc Bane stacks on every target it hits. The important detail is that Havoc Bane itself does not add damage. Her output flows almost entirely through Heavy Attack DMG and crit, so she scales like a textbook hypercarry. Her damage also ramps over a rotation rather than delivering a single big nuke.
When Yangyang: Xuanling is worth pulling
The decision comes down to your roster, not raw power. She is genuinely strong, but her real cost can extend beyond a single limited banner because her best teams lean on specific supports.
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Havoc main-DPS slot is empty | Strong pull; she is an immediate top-tier answer |
| You own a free Chisa | Her ceiling rises noticeably; more attractive pull |
| Chisa is already locked to another team | She becomes a much more expensive investment |
| You already run Camellya or Phrolova as a Havoc carry | Sidegrade, not roster-completing; skipping is fine |
| You value a flexible support over a second Havoc DPS | Consider saving for Suisui in Phase 2 |
New accounts can absolutely make her a first carry. She is self-sufficient, pairs with common supports, and gears without exotic Echo sets, so a fresh account can reach a strong build within a couple of weeks of focused Echo farming. If you are a fan pulling for the character, no calculation is needed. She is not a bad pull. She is simply not an automatic one for every account.
The Chisa dependency
Chisa is the piece that decides a lot of the planning. Her best launch pairing is Chisa plus Shorekeeper, using support units many players already own. Chisa applies Havoc Bane, cuts enemy DEF, and raises Xuanling’s max Havoc Bane stack limit by an additional 3 points, which feeds directly into her Inherent Skill amplification.
The catch is that Chisa is wanted across many Negative Status teams, including setups around Aemeath, Hiyuki, and Cartethyia. If your Chisa is already tied to one of those, moving her onto Xuanling can weaken a team that already works. Plan as if Chisa can only fully belong to one serious team at a time. Ask “Do I have a free Chisa?” before you spend. If yes, Xuanling looks much better. If no, treat her as the more expensive choice.
Best teams for Yangyang: Xuanling
She has access to several viable compositions, which is part of her appeal. Chisa can be swapped for Cantarella or Roccia for Havoc DMG amplification, and Shorekeeper can be replaced by Verina or Mornye.
| Team type | Sub-DPS | Support |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Havoc Bane | Chisa | Shorekeeper |
| Heavy Attack hypercarry | Iuno | Chisa |
| Havoc dual DPS | Phrolova | Shorekeeper |
| Tune Break | Lynae | Mornye |
| F2P | Mortefi | Verina |
Build essentials
Because her damage runs through Heavy Attacks and crits, she gears like a standard DPS. Stack Crit Rate and Crit DMG toward the 1:2 ratio, then layer in Heavy Attack DMG and ATK%. Keep her Energy Regen at roughly 120% so her Liberation stays online for consistent rotations.
| Slot | Choice |
|---|---|
| Sonata set | Song of Feathered Trace (5-pc) |
| Main Echo | Thousand-Puppet Pavilion |
| Cost pattern | 4-3-3-1-1 |
| Cost 4 main stat | Crit Rate or Crit DMG |
| Cost 3 main stat | Havoc DMG |
| Cost 1 main stat | ATK% |
Song of Feathered Trace is built for her, boosting Crit Rate and Heavy Attack DMG, so there is no reason to run a different set. Substat priority follows Crit Rate and Crit DMG first, then Energy Regen and Heavy Attack DMG, then ATK%.
Should you pull her signature weapon?
Azure Oath is her signature Sword. It grants a flat all-attribute DMG bonus, amplifies Heavy Attack damage after Havoc Bane is inflicted, and lets her attacks ignore enemy DEF. It is a clean multiplier and represents her damage ceiling.
It is not a required pull. Strong alternatives cover most of her needs, including Emerald Sentence and Red Spring, with Emerald of Genesis as a solid free-to-play standard option. For most players, secure Xuanling first and only chase Azure Oath if you have spare pulls afterward.
How to know she was worth it
S0 is the fit-defining version and the correct stopping point for the overwhelming majority of players. Her complete, self-sufficient kit is fully available at base. Sequences smooth her rotation and raise burst uptime, and S6 is whale-tier completion, but none of them turn a bad-fit character into a good-fit one. Judge her at S0 plus an optional signature.
If your Havoc slot was empty and you have Chisa on the bench, she immediately gives you a new element line-up and a readable, skill-expressive carry. If you already have a Havoc anchor, the honest move is to weigh Suisui in Phase 2, since supports tend to stay relevant across more teams and versions. Either call is reasonable. The right one is simply the one that fits the team you already have.
