Understand Footprint of the Rainbow
Useful when…
- Equip it when DEF supports the polearm wielder’s kit and the Skill-triggered window fits their combat use.
- Compare its DEF focus with weapons that instead provide Burst support or Elemental Mastery, depending on the wielder’s needs and party.
Effects and activation
It has 42.40 Base ATK and DEF as its secondary stat. At Refinement 1, using an Elemental Skill increases DEF by 16% for 15 seconds; at Refinement 5, the increase is 32%. The effect is triggered by Skill use, not by simply equipping the weapon.
Practical fit
This is a specialized stat choice: its listed benefit favors a polearm wielder who gains value from DEF. Skill use activates the temporary increase, so consider how regularly the character uses their Skill. The provided details do not specify a character or attack type that scales with DEF, so the weapon’s fit depends on that character’s own kit.
Investment and alternatives
Ascension proceeds through six stages, with the listed examples requiring Mora and weapon materials. Each refinement consumes another copy and Mora, increasing the DEF bonus by four percentage points per rank. Consider refining when the wielder can make use of the added DEF; otherwise, preserving copies may be more useful. “The Catch” supplies Energy Recharge and boosts Elemental Burst damage and CRIT Rate. Ballad of the Fjords supplies CRIT Rate and grants Elemental Mastery only when the party has at least three different Elemental Types. Beginner’s Protector is a one-star polearm with no secondary stat listed. These have distinct stat profiles and conditions rather than matching Footprint’s DEF bonus.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The temporary DEF increase depends on Elemental Skill use and lasts 15 seconds.
- The weapon’s DEF focus may not serve a character whose needs center on Burst damage, Energy Recharge, or other stats.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the DEF increase as a permanent stat bonus rather than a 15-second Skill effect.
- Choosing it for a character without checking whether DEF benefits that character’s kit.