Mualani is the first playable 5-star Hydro catalyst user from the region of Natlan.
Mualani is famous amongst the People of the Springs because she owns a store that sells watersports products. Oh and by the way, her shark can swim through the lava.
Following the release of the 5.0 update, she is one of few characters to experience a significant power creep in the game, which will be explained later.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the best Mualani build, ensuring her shark (now yours) can nuke everything.
Best Mualani build: ascension and talent materials
The first part of maximizing her DPS potential is simply leveling her up. Her abilities scale on max HP, even when she’s level 60, you’ll feel the damage increase from that point.
To ascend Mualani, you must collect Sprayfeather Gill and farm several tribal warriors found in Natlan. Her boss drop, Mark of the Binding Blessing, can be obtained by defeating the Goldflame Qucusaur Tyrant found in Huitztli Hill.
Click on our guide below for the complete list of Mualani’s ascension materials:
Players should prioritize upgrading her Elemental Burst first since her burst multiplier increases based on the talent levels, while literally obliterating opponents out of existence. With the right build, a C0 Mualani can dish out 600,000 damage!
Upgrading Mualani’s Elemental Skill, Nightsoul’s Blessing, is crucial for maximizing her DPS potential, converting her Normal Attacks into powerful Hydro-infused Sharky’s Bites that scale with her Max HP.
Here is the list of Mualani’s Talent materials:
| LEVEL | TALENT MATERIALS | MORA |
| 2 | 3 x Teachings of Contention 6 x Transoceanic Pearl | 12,500 |
| 3 | 2 x Guide to Contention 3 x Warrior’s Metal Whistle | 17,500 |
| 4 | 4 x Guide to Contention 4 x Warrior’s Metal Whistle | 25,000 |
| 5 | 6 x Guide to Contention 6 x Warrior’s Metal Whistle | 30,000 |
| 6 | 9 x Guide to Contention 9 x Warrior’s Metal Whistle | 37,000 |
| 7 | 4 x Philosophies of Contention 4 x Saurian-Crowned Warrior’s Golden Whistle 1 x Lightless Mass | 120,000 |
| 8 | 6 x Philosophies of Contention 6 x Saurian-Crowned Warrior’s Golden Whistle 1 x Lightless Mass | 260,000 |
| 9 | 12 x Philosophies of Contention 9 x Saurian-Crowned Warrior’s Golden Whistle 2 x Lightless Mass | 450,000 |
| 10 | 16 x Philosophies of Contention 12 x Saurian-Crowned Warrior’s Golden Whistle 2 x Lightless Mass 1 x Crown of Insight | 700,000 |
Best Mualani build: Best weapons
Mualani’s entire kit is designed to scale with HP percentage, making her function similarly to a Hydro DPS character who benefits from building high Max HP.
To maximize her potential, it’s essential to equip Mualani with a weapon that complements her HP-scaling gameplay.
| BEST WEAPONS | STATS | WEAPON EFFECT |
| Surf’s Up | Base ATK: 542 CRIT DMG: 88.2% | Aqua Remembrance: Max HP increased by 20%. Once every 15s, for the 14s after using an Elemental Skill: Gain 4 Scorching Summer stacks. Each stack increases Normal Attack DMG by 12%. For the duration of the effect, once every 1.5s, lose 1 stack after a Normal Attack hits an opponent; once every 1.5s, gain 1 stack after triggering a Vaporize reaction on an opponent. Max 4 Scorching Summer stacks. |
| The Widsith | Base ATK: 510 CRIT DMG: 55.1% | Debut: When the character takes the field, they will gain a random theme song for 10s. This can only occur once every 30s. Recitative: ATK is increased by 60%. Aria: Increases all Elemental DMG by 48%. Interlude: Elemental Mastery is increased by 240. |
| Sacrificial Jade | Base ATK: 454 CRIT Rate: 36.8% | Jade Circulation: When not on the field for more than 5s, Max HP will be increased by 32% and Elemental Mastery will be increased by 40. These effects will be canceled after the wielder has been on the field for 10s. |
| Kagura’s Verity | Base ATK: 608 CRIT DMG: 66.2% | Kagura Dance of the Sacred Sakura: Gains the Kagura Dance effect when using an Elemental Skill, causing the Elemental Skill DMG of the character wielding this weapon to increase by 12% for 16s. Max 3 stacks. This character will gain 12% All Elemental DMG Bonus when they possess 3 stacks. |
| A Thousand Floating Dreams | Base ATK: 542 Elemental Mastery: 265 | A Thousand Nights’ Dawnsong: Party members other than the equipping character will provide the equipping character with buffs based on whether their Elemental Type is the same as the latter or not. If their Elemental Types are the same, increase Elemental Mastery by 32. If not, increase the equipping character’s DMG Bonus from their Elemental Type by 10%. Each of the aforementioned effects can have up to 3 stacks. Additionally, all nearby party members other than the equipping character will have their Elemental Mastery increased by 40. Multiple such effects from multiple such weapons can stack. |
| Ring of Yaxche | Base ATK: 510 HP: 41.3% | Echoes of the Plentiful Land: Using an Elemental Skill grants the Jade-Forged Crown effect: Every 1,000 Max HP will increase the Normal Attack DMG dealt by the equipping character by 0.6% for 10s. Normal Attack DMG can be increased this way by a maximum of 16%. |
Mualani’s signature 5-star weapon, Surf’s Up, perfectly complements Mualani’s HP-scaling kit, boosting her Max HP while enhancing her Normal Attack DMG through the Scorching Summer stacks. The synergy with her Elemental Skill and Vaporize reactions ensures consistent high damage output.
As for the best free-to-play option, The Widsith offers strong buffs in ATK, Elemental DMG, or Elemental Mastery. While the buffs are random, it’s one of the few Catalysts that gives the crit damage substat which helps Mualani deal high damage.
Sacrificial Jade provides a substantial Max HP boost, which directly enhances Mualani’s damage output. The Elemental Mastery boost further benefits her Vaporize reactions.
Kagura’s Verity offers high base attack and crit damage, making it a solid alternative for players looking to maximize Mualani’s Elemental Skill and overall Elemental DMG.
While A Thousand Floating Dreams is ideal for team compositions centered around elemental reactions. The Elemental Mastery boost and DMG Bonus can significantly enhance Mualani’s reaction-based damage, making it a versatile option for teams that heavily rely on elemental synergies.
Lastly, the Ring of Yaxche is the alternative free-to-play weapon for her, as it can be obtained through crafting and it gives a significant HP boost to Mualani.
Best Mualani build: Best artifacts
Mualani is one of the first characters to utilize Nightsoul’s blessing which is a new combat mechanic unique to Natlan characters. Nightsoul’s blessing is similar to Wanderer’s Elemental skill bar that indicates the duration of their skill.
We list the artifacts that could benefit from the Nightsoul’s blessing or synergize well with her HP scaling gameplay.
| MUALANI ARTIFACTS | ARTIFACT DESCRIPTION |
| Obsidian Codex | 2-Pieces: While the equipping character is in Nightsoul’s Blessing and is on the field, their DMG dealt is increased by 15%. 4-Pieces: After the equipping character consumes 1 Nightsoul point while on the field, CRIT Rate increases by 40% for 6s. This effect can trigger once every second. |
| Tenacity of the Millelith | 2-Pieces: HP +20% 4-Pieces: When an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, the ATK of all nearby party members is increased by 20% and their Shield Strength is increased by 30% for 3s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5s. This effect can still be triggered even when the character who is using this artifact set is not on the field. |
| Vourukasha’s Glow | 2-Pieces: HP +20% 4-Pieces: Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst DMG will be increased by 10%. After the equipping character takes DMG, the aforementioned DMG Bonus is increased by 80% for 5s. This effect increase can have 5 stacks. The duration of each stack is counted independently. These effects can be triggered even when the equipping character is not on the field. |
| Gilded Dreams | 2-Pieces: Increases Elemental Mastery by 80. 4-Pieces: Within 8s of triggering an Elemental Reaction, the character equipping this will obtain buffs based on the Elemental Type of the other party members. ATK is increased by 14% for each party member whose Elemental Type is the same as the equipping character, and Elemental Mastery is increased by 50 for every party member with a different Elemental Type. Each of the aforementioned buffs will count up to 3 characters. This effect can be triggered once every 8s. The character who equips this can still trigger its effects when not on the field. |
| Nymph’s Dream | 2-Pieces: Hydro DMG Bonus +15% 4-Pieces: After Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts hit opponents, 1 stack of Mirrored Nymph will be triggered, lasting 8s. When under the effect of 1, 2, or 3 or more Mirrored Nymph stacks, ATK will be increased by 7%/16%/25%, and Hydro DMG Bonus will be increased by 4%/9%/15%. Mirrored Nymph stacks created by Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts exist independently. |
The Obsidian Codex artifact is the best choice for Natlan DPS characters because it provides a 40% increase in critical hit rate when consuming a Nightsoul stack
The 4-piece Obsidian Codex set is another perfect set for Mualani, as it boosts her CRIT Rate by 60% just by consuming a Nightsoul stack, even before factoring in artifact substats. Combined with her ascension bonus and default 5% CRIT Rate, this set significantly enhances her ability to land critical hits.
For a more HP-focused build, the 2-piece Tenacity of the Millelith combined with another set that boosts HP, like Vourukasha’s Glow, enhances Mualani’s overall damage output.
The 2-piece Vourukasha’s Glow paired with Gilded Dreams provides a balanced hybrid build. This combination boosts both her HP and her Elemental Mastery. This setup is particularly effective for maximizing Mualani’s damage in reaction-based teams.
For an Elemental Mastery-focused build, combining Gilded Dreams with Nymph’s Dream provides a significant boost to her Hydro damage, making her more effective in triggering elemental reactions.
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