Summary
After several beta testing periods leading up to an upcoming release in May 2024,Wuthering Wavesis shaping up to be a major rival to ARPGs likeGenshin Impact. One such way thatWuthering Wavessets itself apart fromGenshin Impact, and arguably has the upper hand, is the game’s complex combat systems.
While each character’s skill set between the two games is seemingly too different to compare, there are several explicit ways thatWuthering Wavesbuilds uponGenshin Impact’s foundationfor combat with unique or alternative features. This isn’t to say that combat inGenshin Impactfeels incomplete, but thatWuthering Wavesshakes things up in new and complex ways that might be more appealing to new fans.
How Wuthering Waves’ Combat Builds Upon Genshin Impact’s Combat
Ultimately,Wuthering Wavesintroduces a ton of new improvements toGenshin Impact’s combat and character progression systemsthat can seem overwhelming at first, though after mastering, they offer a much more fluid and rich combat experience. The most notable of these new combat features so far are:
Parries
InWuthering Waves, players can sometimes cancel an incoming attack by interrupting it with a precisely timed counter-attack, indicated by a golden ring around an enemy. There are a few specific enemy attacks and characters inGenshin Impactthat allow players to parry in combat, but this kind of feature is only available to these specific characters, whereas parrying inWuthering Wavesisn’t restricted to any particular character or enemy.
Enemy Stun-Meters
Stunning enemies is another feature that is highly situational inGenshin Impact, yet it’s a more universal occurrence inWuthering Waves. This stunned status is achieved when players attack an enemy enough times to deplete their stun-meter, with parry attacks providing significantly increased stun-meter progress.
Resonance Circuits
Aside from standard, heavy, and plunging attacks,character kits inGenshin Impactare primarily comprised of a character’s unique Elemental Burst and Elemental Skill, which would be Resonance Skills and Resonance Liberations inWuthering Waves, respectively. However,Wuthering Wavesbuilds onto this by adding Resonance Circuit abilities to each character’s arsenal, which allows players to consume Resonance Circuit Energy to activate an additional skill, such as a buff, healing ability, shield, or another unique attack.
Concerto Skills
Concerto Skills are another ability that players have at their disposal inWuthering Waves, allowing players to consume Concerto Energy to perform an attack upon switching to a new character. This kind of collaborative attack is quite common in multiplayer fighting games, but it’s still quite a rarity among other gaming genres that allow players to swap between characters mid-combat. Consequently, this kind of feature would seemingly be a natural progression forfutureGenshin Impactupdatesto bring to the game.
Concerto Effects
In addition to Concerto Skill attacks, swapping characters inWuthering Waveswill also provide a temporary buff, known as a Concerto Effect. The Concerto effect that players activate will be based on the Element of the two characters that are being swapped. This feature is quite similar toElemental Resonances inGenshin Impact, except Concerto Effects are temporary buffs that are activated by swapping characters, instead of being permanent, team-wide buffs.
Echoes
Players can earn Echoes inWuthering Wavesby defeating certain enemies and bosses, which are used to replicate some of the abilities and skills of these enemies on command. This feature seemingly replacesGenshin Impact’s Artifacts equipment, whereas players can equip multiple Echoes to benefit from each of their passive stat benefits, while the ability or attack provided will come from only one equipped Echo.
Wuthering Waves
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome aboard, roving voyager.Upon the shores lay the silent embers of a world during the Ebb Tide.Desolated by the Lament, the erstwhile creations and earthly beings are left static.But they strike back, strong enough to penetrate the silence.Humanity has risen anew from the ashes of the apocalypse.And you, Rover, are poised for an adventure of Awakening.Companions to meet, enemies to conquer, new powers to gain, hidden truths to unveil, and unseen spectacles to behold… A vast world of endless possibilities awaits. The choice rests in your hands. Be the answer, be the leader, and follow the sounds to arrive at a new future.As Wuthering Waves echo endlessly, mankind set sail on a new journey.Rise and embark on your odyssey, Rover.
