Fermata

What are the two effects?

At S1, Fermata grants 16% Break Effect and increases the wearer’s damage to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16%. At S5, both values are 32%. The damage increase also applies to DoT, according to the effect. The status condition is specific: the target must have Shock or Wind Shear for the damage bonus to apply.

When is its damage bonus useful?

The Break Effect is the unconditional stat bonus. The damage increase depends on target status, so it is more reliable when the wearer’s combat setup can place Shock or Wind Shear on targets. Since the effect explicitly includes DoT, it can support damage over time against qualifying targets; it does not state that Fermata itself applies either status.

How should it be improved?

Promotion advances Fermata through stage 6. Superimposition increases both Break Effect and the conditional damage increase, with each step consuming one S1 sacrifice copy. If the relevant status condition is rarely met, higher superimposition strengthens only the general Break Effect consistently; when qualifying enemies are common, it also raises the damage benefit.

How do other Nihility options differ?

Before the Tutorial Mission Starts grants Effect Hit Rate and restores Energy when the wearer attacks DEF-reduced enemies. Boundless Choreo grants CRIT Rate and increases CRIT DMG against targets that are Slowed or have reduced DEF. Along the Passing Shore adds CRIT DMG and damage against targets with Mirage Fizzle. Their conditions and stats differ from Fermata’s Break Effect and Shock/Wind Shear damage bonus.

Limitations and tradeoffs

• The damage bonus requires Shock or Wind Shear on the target.
• The Light Cone’s description does not say it applies either qualifying status itself.
• Break Effect and the conditional damage bonus support different parts of a build.