Understand Crimson Moon's Semblance
Useful when…
- A polearm wielder who uses Charged Attacks and can trigger the Bond of Life effect against opponents.
- A build that can have a Bond of Life at or above 30% of Max HP to activate the additional DMG Bonus.
Charged Attack and Bond conditions
When a Charged Attack hits an opponent, the weapon grants a Bond of Life equal to 25% of the wielder's Max HP. This can trigger once every 14 seconds. While the wielder has a Bond of Life, they gain 12% DMG Bonus at R1; if the Bond is at least 30% of Max HP, they gain an additional 24%. At R5 these figures are 28% and an additional 56%. The threshold applies to the Bond's value, not to the weapon's base ATK or the wielder's current HP.
Practical fit and comparisons
This polearm is worth considering for a Charged Attack user who can hit an opponent to create the Bond and whose build can reach the 30% threshold. The weapon's own effect creates a Bond of 25% of Max HP, which activates the first DMG Bonus but falls short of the threshold for the additional one. The Catch is aimed at Elemental Burst damage and provides Energy Recharge plus Burst DMG and CRIT Rate. Ballad of the Fjords provides CRIT Rate and Elemental Mastery when the party has at least three different Elemental Types. Their passives rely on different attack or party conditions and do not mirror Crimson Moon's Bond-based damage bonus.
Ascension and refinement
The weapon has six ascension stages; listed costs include 10,000 Mora and early materials for stage 0 to 1, and 65,000 Mora plus later materials for stage 5 to 6. Refinement requires a duplicate copy and Mora: the provided examples list 2,000 Mora for R1 to R2 and 16,000 for R4 to R5. Refinement raises both DMG Bonus amounts, but does not change the stated 25% Bond granted by a Charged Attack. Prioritize refinement only if the conditional damage effect is important enough to spend copies on.
Threshold and timing pitfalls
A Charged Attack must hit an opponent, and the trigger is limited to once every 14 seconds. The weapon's 25%-of-Max-HP Bond is below the 30% threshold for the extra DMG Bonus. Do not assume the second bonus is active from the weapon's own Bond alone; it requires the Bond of Life to be at least 30% of Max HP. The Catch is a different option for a Burst-centered polearm user, but its effect does not supply the Bond condition described here.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The Bond trigger requires a Charged Attack hit and has a 14-second interval.
- The weapon-created Bond is 25% of Max HP, below the 30% threshold for the additional DMG Bonus.
- Refinement raises the damage bonuses but uses duplicate copies.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the weapon's 25%-of-Max-HP Bond alone activates the additional bonus that requires at least 30%.
- Expecting the Bond effect to trigger more than once every 14 seconds.
- Treating a Charged Attack that does not hit an opponent as a trigger.