Slingshot

How does the timing condition work?

At R1, a Normal or Charged Attack that hits a target within 0.3 seconds of being fired gets 36% more damage. If the hit takes longer, damage is decreased by 10%. Refinement raises the bonus to 60% at R5, but the 0.3-second cutoff and 10% penalty remain the same. The effect names Normal and Charged Attacks, so it should not be read as a general Skill or Burst damage modifier.

What handling does it reward?

The weapon rewards shots with a short travel time, so positioning and target distance affect whether the positive or negative modifier applies. Its CRIT Rate secondary stat can support attack damage, but the conditional effect makes it less consistent at ranges where arrows remain in flight longer than the cutoff. Alley Hunter's damage bonus instead builds while the wielder is off-field and falls while on-field for more than four seconds. Amos' Bow boosts Normal and Charged damage and adds value as arrows remain airborne. Aqua Simulacra raises damage when opponents are nearby and works on- or off-field. Each has a different trigger; none shares Slingshot's 0.3-second test.

What investment is reasonable?

Ascension advances the bow through six stages. Refinement consumes a Slingshot copy and raises only the positive damage bonus, from 36% to 60%; it does not remove the long-shot penalty or change the timing threshold. Because refinement uses another copy, improve it when you intend to keep using this conditional close-hit effect.

What should players watch for?

The wording creates both a reward and a penalty: a hit outside the 0.3-second window gets a 10% decrease rather than simply losing the bonus. Do not assume that an aimed shot automatically receives the bonus; its impact timing is the condition.

Limitations and tradeoffs

• Damage depends on impact within 0.3 seconds; otherwise Normal and Charged hits lose 10%.
• Refinement increases the close-hit bonus but does not change the cutoff or penalty.