Aria Banner Guide (March 2026): Pull or Skip? Stats & Teams

Banner Details: March 4-23, 2026

Runs March 4, 2026 (12:00 PM UTC+8) to March 23, 2026 (2:59 PM UTC+8) - 19 days total. Version 2.6 Phase 2 banner concurrent with Yuzuha rerun.

Pity System:

• 0.6% S-Rank base rate
• 90-pull hard pity
• 50/50 first S-Rank, guaranteed second
• Worst-case: 180 pulls (28,800 Polychromes)

Cost Breakdown:

• Single pity: 14,400 Polychromes (90 pulls × 160)
• Guaranteed: 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls)
• Average case: 12,000 Polychromes (75 pulls)

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Free Income (19 days):

• Daily login: ~600
• Events: ~1,500-2,000
• Shiyu Defense: ~800
• Hollow Zero: ~400
• Misc: ~500
• Total: 3,800-4,300 Polychromes (24-27 pulls)

Pity carries over between character banners. Track your count from previous banners before pulling.

Aria Kit: Skills & Mechanics

Light Stick System:

• 4th Basic Attack: +1 Light Stick

• EX Special: +3 Light Sticks
• Charge Attack: Consumes sticks for increased damage

Ultimate: 15s Enhanced Performance State + 30s Ether Veil (+50 ATK team-wide)

Abloom Anomaly: 7.7% Ether Anomaly DMG per 10 Anomaly Proficiency. At 400 Proficiency = 308% damage increase. Anomaly Weakened State lasts 20s.

Mindscape Cinema:

• M1: Ignore 10% Ether Buildup RES, +25% Abloom CRIT Rate/DMG (biggest power spike)
• M2: Enhanced State ignores 30% DEF
• M4: +4 Energy + 70 Decibels every 10s
• M6: +1200-1500 Decibels on entry, +20-40% Enhanced Charge Ether DMG

M0 clears all content. M1 is optimal stopping point for low spenders.

Ether Anomaly Role

Scales through Anomaly Proficiency/Mastery, not CRIT. Anomaly triggers when buildup gauge fills, dealing sustained damage and reducing resistances.

Rotation:

1. EX Special for Light Stick generation
2. Charge Attacks during Enhanced Performance State
3. Align Ultimate with support buffs (Nicole/Sunna)
4. Stack multiple Abloom procs in 20s windows

Advanced: Manipulate stagger states to extend Anomaly windows in Shiyu Defense.

Aria vs Jane Doe vs Piper

Damage (M0, 400 Proficiency):

• Aria: Competitive with Jane in single-target, demands precise resource management

• Jane Doe: Physical Anomaly benchmark, simpler rotations, proven meta
• Piper: Budget A-Rank Fire Anomaly, accessible

Team Flexibility:

• Jane: Seamless Physical team integration
• Aria: Ether-focused, +50 ATK universal buff
• Piper: Fire synergies, faction bonuses

Investment:

• Piper: A-Rank, zero limited banner cost
• Jane: S-Rank, established meta validation
• Aria: Newest, unproven longevity

Pull Aria if lacking Anomaly DPS. Skip if Jane invested.

Best Teams

Premium:

• Aria-Sunna-Yuzuha (optimal)
• Aria-Sunna-Nicole (accessible, DEF shred)

F2P:

• Aria-Anby-Sunna (guaranteed A-Ranks)
• Aria-Billy-Sunna (unconventional)

Shiyu Defense 10-15: Aria-Sunna-Nicole for stacked damage amplification. Align Enhanced Performance State with support buffs and enemy vulnerability.

Optimal Build

W-Engine:

• Angel in the Shell (Signature): 713 ATK, 30% Anomaly Mastery, 90 Proficiency, +20% DMG to Attribute Anomaly enemies

• F2P alternatives: Any Anomaly Proficiency weapon (15-25% performance gap)

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Drive Discs:

• Shining Aria 4pc: +10% Ether DMG, +36 Proficiency (8s), +25% DMG on stunned enemies (18s)
• Alternative: Chaos Jazz 2pc (+30 Proficiency Slot 4) + Phaethon's Melody 2pc (+8% Mastery)

Main Stats:

• Slot 4: Anomaly Proficiency (mandatory)
• Slot 5: Ether DMG%
• Slot 6: Anomaly Mastery

Substats Priority:

1. Anomaly Proficiency (400 minimum, 450-500 whale-tier)
2. Anomaly Mastery
3. ATK%

Every 10 Proficiency = +7.7% Abloom damage.

Pull Decision Framework

F2P - Pull If:

• No strong Anomaly DPS
• 15,000+ Polychromes saved
• No critical supports in leaked 2.7-2.8 banners

F2P - Skip If:

• Own invested Jane Doe
• Below 15,000 Polychromes, no guaranteed pity
• Must-pull supports upcoming

Low Spenders (Monthly Pass): Target M0, verify pity status. Monthly pass adds ~3,000 Polychromes/month.

Collectors: M0 satisfies roster completion. Budget 28,800 worst-case.

Whales: M6 costs 100,000-200,000 Polychromes. Prioritize M1/M2 breakpoints. Compare M6 performance vs established alternatives.

Future-Proofing

Version 2.6+:

• Hollow Zero expansions favor Anomaly teams
• Ether resistance patterns suggest niche creation
• Leaked Ether supports in 2.7-2.8 (unconfirmed)

Rerun Estimate: July-September 2026 (4-6 months post-release). Wait if uncertain.

Ascension Materials

Full Ascension:

• 800,000 Denny
• 4 Basic Anomaly Seals
• 32 Advanced Anomaly Seals
• 30 Controller Seals

Skill Leveling:

• 25 Basic Ether Chips
• 75 Advanced Ether Chips
• 250 Specialized Ether Chips
• 5 Hamster Cage Passes (scarcest - weekly bosses)

Prioritize EX Special and Ultimate first.

Common Misconceptions

CRIT stats are worthless False at M1. M1 grants Abloom +25% CRIT Rate/DMG - build hybrid. M0 ignores CRIT entirely.

Requires signature weapon No. F2P alternatives work with superior Drive Disc substats. 15-25% gap doesn't prevent clears.

Light Stick too complex Basic loop: Build sticks → Spend on Charge Attacks during Ultimate. Intuitive after 2-3 encounters.

FAQ

Is Aria worth pulling March 2026? Yes if lacking Anomaly DPS (no Jane Doe). 308% Abloom damage at 400 Proficiency fills Ether niche. Skip if Jane invested or critical supports upcoming. F2P verify 15,000+ Polychromes saved.

Aria vs Jane Doe? Comparable M0 single-target damage. Jane simpler, Physical typing, easier teams. Aria demands precision, future Ether synergies. Neither strictly better - depends on roster/playstyle.

Best W-Engine? Angel in the Shell: 713 ATK, 30% Mastery, 90 Proficiency, +20% DMG. F2P alternatives viable with better Drive Discs (15-25% gap).

Guarantee cost? 28,800 Polychromes worst-case (180 pulls). Average 12,000-14,400 (75-90 pulls). Budget conservatively unless guaranteed pity.

Best teams? Aria-Sunna-Yuzuha (optimal), Aria-Sunna-Nicole (accessible DEF shred), Aria-Anby-Sunna (F2P). Shiyu favors Nicole for DPS checks.

Need duplicates? M0 clears all content. M1 biggest spike (Abloom CRIT, Buildup RES). M6 for leaderboards only. F2P prioritize M0, save for future banners.