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ALightStaffBurst DPS

Io

Charge Stargaze, flatten the arena

Element
Light
Weapon
Staff
Role
Burst DPS
Range
Ranged
Release
Base game
Difficulty
3 out of 5
Io official artwork

Signature mechanic

Mystic Vortex orbs supercharge Stargaze

Io banks Mystic Vortex orbs by landing fully charged attack spells, and each orb adds a charge stage to Stargaze — up to four for a screen-clearing nuke. Quick Cast gives a large charge-speed bonus if you start charging immediately after gaining an orb, so the whole character is a rhythm of orb, cancel, charge, orb. Dodge-cancelling her cast animations is what separates a good Io from a slow one.

Io is a reliable backline mage that excels in crowd control, party utility, and AoE burst damage from a safe distance. Her gameplay revolves around building up her Stargaze spell to deal burst damage while assisting her teammates with debuffs and status effects. She is mechanically complex because you need to consider her position in battle, the amount of orb stacks she has, and the availability of her skills. If you can pilot her well, she can be devastating in any team and can sometimes break the patterns of bosses when played right.— Game8 tier assessment

Support skills (passives)

  • Enchanted

    Stargaze is chargeable up to 4 times based on how many Mystic Vortex orbs Io has. Landing a fully charged attack spell grants an orb.

  • Quick Cast

    Greatly increase Stargaze's charge speed when charged immediately after gaining a Mystic Vortex orb.

How to unlock

Players may obtain Io upon progressing through the first chapter of the main story.

Strengths

  • 1

    Enormous AoE burst

    Stargaze at full charge is one of the largest single hits in the game and trivialises add waves and multi-part bosses.

  • 2

    Real party utility

    Crowd control and debuffs on top of damage, all delivered from the backline where Chaos++ mechanics can't reach you.

  • 3

    Strong tank/debuff variant

    She has a well-supported alternate build using her survivability tools, which is unusual for a caster.

Weaknesses

  • 1

    Punishing cast commitment

    Long charges mean you eat attacks unless you learn dodge-cancel timings on every spell.

  • 2

    Burst-shaped damage

    Between Stargaze windows her sustained output is mediocre, which hurts on strict DPS-check bosses.

  • 3

    Orb economy is fragile

    Missing charged spells starves the gauge and the whole rotation stalls.

Gear

Builds by progression stage

Chaos → Chaos+ → Chaos++, then Defy Infinity

Pure Concentration for the Stargaze V combo. Skills cast during Concentration hand you three orbs at once — that is the loop.

Sigil loadout — Fatebreaker

Io's sigils in Endless Ragnarok center around her Master Traits. To get the maximum value out of it, she specifically needs 5 Basic-Stat , 3 Attack , and 2 Defense or Support . This will provide her up to 200% Damage Cap , 100% Attack Boost , 6% Defense , and 20,000 base HP .

We recommend 2 Health and 3 Stun Power for her basic stat sigils. Equipping exactly one Greater Aegis and Aegis boosts her health to 180k–195k without disabling the Catastrophe Nova boost. For attack, always run Fatebreaker , Celestial Lumen , and Celestial Terra to raise her damage cap. Finally, use her defense/support slots for Improved Dodge (for better evades) and Steel Nerves (for damage reduction with Stout Heart).

Prioritize Supplementary DMG and DMG Cap subtraits to boost her damage, and fully utilize her Aspiration and Warpath character-sigils in the endgame. Slot in Autorevive , Guts , and Potion Hoarder for her survivability options. Quick Charge to reduce charge time and increase her attack.

SigilSlotTraits
Mage's Aspiration+Character sigil2 slots
  • Mage's Aspiration — Shortens Stragaze's charge time.
  • Quick Charge — Charged attacks charge faster. Boosts attack power.
Mage's Warpath+
  • Mage's Warpath — Temporarily grants Enhanced DMG to Io after a fully charged Stargaze at max orbs, plus a chance to not consume orbs. Grants Focused to Io if orbs weren't consumed.
  • Aegis — Raises maximum health in proportion to your current maximum health.
Health V+Basic stat5 slots
  • HP — Boosts base health.
  • DMG Cap — Raises the damage limit of attacks.
Health V+
  • HP — Boosts base health.
  • DMG Cap — Raises the damage limit of attacks.
Stun Power V+
  • Stun Power — Boosts stun power.
  • DMG Cap — Raises the damage limit of attacks.
Stun Power V+
  • Stun Power — Boosts stun power.
  • Quick Charge — Charged attacks charge faster. Boosts attack power.
Stun Power V+
  • Stun Power — Boosts stun power.
  • Guts — Survive a lethal hit with 1 HP. Reactivation time is shortened based on trait level.
Fatebreaker V+Attack / special3 slots
  • Fatebreaker — Boosts attack, defense, and damage cap when participating in Fatebreaker-grade quests.
  • Greater Aegis — Greatly raises maximum health in proportion to your current maximum health.
Celestial Lumen V+
  • Celestial Lumen — Boosts attack power and damage cap when health is above a certain threshold.
  • Potion Hoarder — Increases the stock of recovery items.
Celestial Terra V+
  • Celestial Terra — Reduces maximum base health in exchange for a boost do damage cap.
  • Autorevive — Automatically recover from critical condition. Reactivation time is shortened based on trait level.
Improved Dodge+Defense / support2 slots
  • Improved Dodge — Extends the window for for attacks to miss during a dodge. Allows you to perform more dodges in a row.
  • Supplementary DMG — Grants a certain chance for normal attacks and damage skills to deal supplementary damage.
Steel Nerves V+
  • Steel Nerves — Takes less damage while Stouth Heart is active.
  • Supplementary DMG — Grants a certain chance for normal attacks and damage skills to deal supplementary damage.

Gearing priorities

  • Transcended Terminus (T.Lvl 7): Catastrophe Nova, DMG Cap, Sigil Booster, Unbound Master
  • While progressing Chaos, a transcended Defender weapon usually beats an un-transcended Terminus
  • The standard template: 5 Basic-Stat + 3 Attack + 2 Defense/Support sigils
  • Fatebreaker V+, Celestial Lumen V+ and Celestial Terra V+ in the attack slots
  • Improved Dodge+ and Steel Nerves V+ for survivability that does not cost damage
  • Summons for their traits: War Elemental, Stout Heart, Berserker Echo, Spartan Echo

Over Mastery bonuses

  • Skill Damage Cap Up
  • Stun Power Up
  • Skybound Art Damage Up
  • Normal Attack Damage Cap Up

Once Io has all of her Weapon Transcendance Masteries fully unlocked, she will have 80%-83% Critical Hit Rate without any sigils, traits, or summons. Therefore, she only needs to enable one Master Trait that increases her Critical Hit Rate by 20% to reach 100%, which will give her more room for her Over Mastery Bonus.

Best-in-slot — transcended Terminus

Caduceus, Immortal Coil

I
Catastrophe NovaLv 35Boosts attack power and damage cap when maximum health is below a certain threshold.
II
Nimble DefenseLv 25Extends Invincibility after a perfect dodge. Temporarily boosts defense and restores a small bit of health.
III
DMG CapLv 15Raises the damage limit of attacks.
IV
Sigil BoosterLv 1Raises the trail levels of all equipped sigils.
EX
Unbound MasterLv 55Boosts damage cap based on master level.

Wrightstone

Sequestration Wrightstone

  • Weak Point DMG
  • Uplift
  • Supplementary DMG

Io's optimal endgame weapon is her Transcended Terminus Weapon, Caduceus . It upgrades Catastrophe to Catastrophe Nova, which grants up to a 70% attack boost and 500% damage cap if her max HP is 200,000 or less . The weapon also features an innate DMG Cap to free up a sigil slot, Unbound Master to raise the damage cap further via Master Trait level, and Sigil Booster to increase all sigil levels by 1.

While progressing Chaos

Little Witch Scepter

I
HPLv 35Boosts base health.
II
Greater AegisLv 25Greatly raises maximum health in proportion to your current maximum health.
III
DMG Cap EcruLv 15Boosts attack power and damage cap based on how high your maximum health is.
IV
StrongholdLv 10Boosts defense the higher your remaining health is.
EX
Unbound ExertionLv 15Boosts damage cap of Skybound Arts.

Wrightstone

Sequestration Wrightstone

  • Weak Point DMG
  • DMG Cap
  • Supplementary DMG

She additionally gains DMG Cap Ecru , which gives her more damage cap based on her maximum health. Once the weapon reaches max Transcendance, it permanently gains Unbound Exertion , which gives Io increased Skybound Art damage cap.

Summons & equip bonus

Recommended summons

  • Lucilius
  • Beelzebub
  • Rolan
  • Vrazarek Firewyrm III

For these traits

  • War Elemental
  • Stout Heart
  • Berserker Echo
  • Spartan Echo

Equip bonus

  • Normal Attack Damage Cap Up
  • Skill Damage Cap Up
  • Skybound Art Damage Up
  • Stun Power Up

Level 100+ · Endless Ragnarok

Master Traits

Pure Concentration

Recommended

Rank 1

  • Charged Unique Attacks: Charge Time - 5%
  • Unique Attacks: DMG Cap +35%
  • DMG Cap +20%
  • Max HP +15000

Rank 2

  • Insight Rank Perk 1: Stargaze V gains ATK +5% from Superstar
  • Insight Rank Perk 2: Concentration AoE Duration +10%
  • Concentration: Cooldown -5%
  • DMG Cap +25%
  • ATK +30%
  • Max HP +15000

Rank 3

  • Insight Rank Perk 1: Stargaze V gains ATK +10% from Superstar
  • Insight Rank Perk 3: While inside Concentrations AoE, Io also gains 20% DMG Cut
  • Unique Attacks: DMG Cap +35%
  • Concentration: Cooldown -5%
  • DMG Cap +20% per Basic Stats-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • Max HP +15,000

Rank EX

  • Upon performing a perfect dodge: Grants Shield (1000)
  • DMG Cap +20% per Basic Stats-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • Critical Hit Rate +25%
  • Critical Hit DMG +9%
  • DMG Cap +30%
  • DMG Cap +30%

Magic Chain

Rank 1

  • Skill Cooldown -2%
  • Unique Attacks: DMG Cap +35%
  • DMG Cap +20%

Rank 2

  • Skill Cooldown -3%
  • Lightning: Cooldown -5%
  • Skill DMG Cap +35%

Rank 3

  • ATK +10% per Attack-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • DMG Cap +30%

Rank EX

  • Lightning: Paralysis Duration +2 sec.
  • Fire: DMG Cap +45%
  • DMG Cap +30%
  • ATK +10% per Attack-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • DMG Cap +30%
  • DMG Cap +30%

Flowery Seven Overload

Rank 1

  • Charged Unique Attacks: Charge Time -5%
  • Unique Attakcs: ATK +10%
  • DMG Cap +20%

Rank 2

  • Flowery Seven: DMG Cap +45%

Rank 3

  • Charged Unique Attacks: Charge Time -5%
  • Skill DMG Cap +35%

Rank EX

  • Flowery Seven: DMG Cap +45%
  • While in critical condition: Critical Gauge Depletion -10%
  • DEF +6% per Defense- or Support-type sigil equipped (max sigils: 5)
  • Stun Power +4
  • Against foes of the weaker element: DMG Dealt +10%
  • DMG Cap +30%
  • Primal bursts gain DMG Dealt +25%. Effect strength is based on the total number of this effect equipped by the entire party
  • DMG Cap +30%

This distribution considers Master Level 50.

Io's best Master Trait is Insight: Pure Concentration to grant her massive attack and damage cap boost to her Stargaze V whenever she is inside the AoE. Her Concentration duration and cooldown significantly goes down. In exchange, her Stargaze V starts with low damage , but it gets stronger the more you cast it.

As for her other Traits, prioritize getting Damage Cap for her skills and unique attacks. You can also get reduced cooldowns , increased paralysis duration , and buff strength of her skills. Make sure to equip one Critical Hit Rate +25% . It is also important to activate all traits that provide bonuses based on equipped sigils .

Do not pick the trait that lowers her health when she is inside Concentration because her stats alone is enough to reach the damage cap even without it. Choose traits that enhances her Stargaze V, Concentration, and Superstar.

Execution

Combos & rotation

  • Stargaze V Pure Concentration Combo (Endless Ragnarok)9 steps
    1. 1Always start the fight by running away as far as possible from the enemy.
    2. 2Use Concentration then Fire to gain 3 Mystic Orbs.
    3. 3Charge to Stargaze V, release, then dodge cancel.
    4. 4Cast Flowery Seven (Uncharged), then dodge cancel immediately.
    5. 5If you activated Warpath, continue using Stargaze V inside Concentration.
    6. 6Otherwise, charge one normal attack inside Concentration then Stargaze V.
    7. 7(Optional) You can also cast Lightning but it is better to hold on to it to paralyze the boss in the perfect time.
    8. 8Repeat casting Stargaze V using one normal charged attack or Fire to gain 3 Mystic Orbs if Warpath did not activate.
    9. 9Once Concentration runs out, do a series of charged normal attacks until you gain 3 Mystic Orbs to cast Stargaze V.

    Io's gameplay loop after she reaches Master Trait level 30 does not fully change. The only difference is that she uses Lightning instead of Mystic Vortex because of how long Concentration lasts in the field. If you picked traits that enhances her Stargaze V inside Concentration, she will constantly lose HP. Make sure you are prepeared to dodge an attack while staying away from the enemy.

  • Dodge to Cancel Charge, Skill, and Stargaze Animation

    Most of Io's skills and attacks take up a lot of time to charge up or finish the animation. You can shorten it with a dodge cancel or instant use of another skill . You can also pause the charge of your Stargaze by dodging or using a skill, so you can still react to enemy attacks while you are charging your attacks.

  • Perfectly Time Stargaze Charge After Gaining Quick Cast

    When you gain Quick Cast through a normal charge attack, there is a brief window where you cannot activate Quick Cast when you instantly queue a Stargaze after it. You need to wait for her to glow first before you use her Stargaze or Flowery Seven to gain the effects of Quick Cast.

  • Skills Cast in Concentration Grants 3 Mystic Orbs

    When Io is under Concentration, her normal charged attacks and skills will instantly give her 3 Orb stacks. Make use of this advantage to rapidly gain orbs and dish out a lot of Stargaze V to the enemy.

  • Use Link Attacks In Between Combos

    Whenever you get a prompt for a link attack, you can squeeze it in her combo before or after you use a Stargaze II or Stargaze V. This will let her activate Stargaze while gaining the effect of a link attack, which deals damage and grants her a stack of orb (or 3 if she is standing in her Concentration).

  • Infinite Orbs and Quick Cast During Link Time

    In Link Time, Io gains the effects of Quick Cast and has access to infinite Mystic Vortex orbs . Make sure to do her standard, Stargaze V dodge cancel attack combo during this period.

  • Quick Charge Sigil Reduces Charge Time

    Io can further reduce her Stargaze V charge time by getting the max trait level of Quick Charge. This will significantly make her charge faster to unleash her Stargaze V quicker in a fight while giving you the advantage of reacting to enemy attacks easier.

Kit

Skills

Recommended loadout — Concentration, Fire, and Flowery Seven

Do take note that this is Io's best skill only when she has the Mage's Warpath Character Sigil and Master Trait level 30. At the start of every fight, you always use Concentration to boost the amount of orbs you get and increase the attack and damage cap of Stargaze V while inside.

Fire is her low cooldown skill that also inflicts a defense down debuff on enemies, allowing her to deal more damage. Lighting allows her to inflict paralysis on an enemy. Flowery Seven is a burst skill that can deal a ton of damage, but requires charging.

SkillEffectApplies
ConcentrationRecommendedCasts a circle that grants Debuff Immunity, Stout Heart, and Focused to Io. Spells cast while in the circle give more Mystic Vortex orbs.
    FireRecommendedBurns nearby foes before shooting a fireball that inflicts DEF↓. Gain a Mystic Vortex orb on cast.
      Flowery SevenRecommendedCasts 7 magic bombs on a targeted area. Hold while casting to charge and aim the spell. Enhances charge speed boosts granted by Focused and Quick Cast.
        FreezeCasts a water-element spell that inflicts ATK↓ while jumping backward. Gain a Mystic Vortex orb on cast.
          Gravity WellCasts a dark-element spell that deals constant damage. Hold while casting to aim the spell. Gain a Mystic Orb on cast.
            Healing WindsCasts a circle that restores allies' HP over time. Hold while casting to aim the circle.
              LightningRecommendedCasts a circle of lightning that inflicts Paralysis. Hold while casting to aim the circle. Gain a Mystic Vortex orb on cast.
                Mystic VortexInstantly maxes out Io's Mystic Vortex orbs.

                  Situational swaps: Freeze, Mystic Vortex.You can swap out Flowery Seven or Lighting with either Mystic Vortex or Freeze. Mystic Vortex allows Io to instantly gain 3 orbs. This is only useful if you haven't reached Master Trait level 30 because Concentration will run out before you can recast it again. Freeze is a low cooldown damaging skill that can apply an attack debuff to the enemy while gaining one orb. This is useful if you do not have her Warpath sigil yet.

                  Weapon list

                  WeaponMax HPMax ATKTraits
                  Little Witch Scepter25992003HP, Garrison
                  Gambanteinn11751013ATK, HP
                  Tupsimati1394320Weak Point DMG, Break Assassin
                  Colossus Cane Omega15662299Critical Hit Rate, Critical DMG
                  Zhezl20832660Stun Power, Linked Together
                  Caduceus, Immortal Coil10896283Catastrophe, Regen, DMG Cap, Sigil Booster

                  Party

                  Recommended team — Captain, Fediel, and Cagliostro

                  Fediel is your frontline damage dealer using the Finishing Touch Master Trait build to deal a massive amount of ranged damage while mid-air, which helps her avoid taking damage while she is doing her combo. Make sure to equip The Black's Blessing and Primordial Fear , as they are skills that buff the party and inflict a strong status effect called Petrify.

                  Captain will be your tank frontline, using The Substitute Master Trait build to provide shield for the party and absorb damage you take and redirect it to them. Phalanx and Substitute are important skills to bring. If you want Captain to deal damage, then picking Armor Break and Reginleiv is the choice. Otherwise, you can swap Armor Break with Rage , Veil , or Dispel depending on the boss you are tackling.

                  Cagliostro will be your other ranged support using her Alchemedic Master Trait build to provide offensive buffs, healing, and shields for the party. Phantasmagoria and Reinforce are important skills to have. Pain Train and Alexandria are low-cooldown damaging skills that allow her to charge her Collapse quickly after use.

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