As Wuthering Waves continues to expand its world in 2026, it is worth revisiting one of the most anticipated banner phases from the past year. Back in March 2025, Kuro Games launched the second half of version 2.1, a period that introduced a brand-new 5-star Resonator and brought back a fan-favorite DPS for her first rerun. The event ran for three weeks starting March 6, 2025, at 10 AM server time, and left a lasting impression on the meta.
During that phase, players were treated to two concurrent character banners and two weapon banners, each offering limited-time drop-rate boosts. The lineup generated considerable discussion among the community, especially regarding the synergy between the new support unit and an existing powerhouse.
Resonator Banners: A Duo of Fusion Power
The second half of version 2.1 placed heavy emphasis on the Fusion attribute. The headliners were Brant, a 5-star Fusion Resonator making his debut, and Changli, a 5-star Fusion Resonator returning for her first rerun. Both banners shared the same 4-star featured characters: Taoqi (4-star Havoc), Youhu (4-star Glacio), and Mortefi (4-star Fusion).
Brant – The Long-Awaited Support
Brant was designed as a versatile support unit, bringing exceptional utility to Fusion-oriented teams. His kit provided specific bonuses to Fusion DMG and Resonance Skill DMG, making him an immediate best-in-slot partner for characters like Changli. Before his release, players had speculated about his role, and the final implementation exceeded expectations. Not only did Brant amplify team damage, but he also offered decent personal output, solidifying his place in many high-level compositions.
Changli – A Triumphant Return
Changli’s rerun was equally significant. As one of the earliest premium DPS characters, she had proven her worth in multiple endgame activities. Blending rapid attacks with potent burst phases, Changli remained a top-tier choice even a year later. Pairing her with Brant unlocked a new level of performance, making the double banner an attractive proposition for both new recruits and veteran players seeking to optimize their accounts.
Featured 4-Star Resonators
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Taoqi (Havoc): A defensive-oriented Resonator whose pull value remained situational. Unless players had a specific fondness for her playstyle, she was generally not a priority target.
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Youhu (Glacio): A solid support capable of providing healing and buffs. Copies of Youhu were welcomed by those building Glacio teams or needing a reliable healer.
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Mortefi (Fusion): A potent sub-DPS who excelled in coordinated attacks. Given how well he synergized with many on-field damage dealers, obtaining his duplicates was a popular goal.
The combination of Brant and Changli created a complete Fusion core, while Mortefi and Youhu offered flexibility for other team archetypes.
Weapon Banners: Unflickering Valor and Blazing Brilliance
The weapon banners during this period were equally compelling. Two powerful 5-star Swords competed for players’ currency, each tailored to the featured Resonators.
| Rarity | Weapon | Type | Intended User |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-star | Unflickering Valor | Sword | Brant |
| 5-star | Blazing Brilliance | Sword | Changli |
| 4-star | Waning Redshift | Broadblade | General DPS |
| 4-star | Marcato | Gauntlets | Support/Sub-DPS |
| 4-star | Comet Flare | Rectifier | Healer/Support |
Unflickering Valor was introduced as Brant’s signature weapon. Its passive effects were meticulously aligned with Brant’s kit, enhancing his supportive capabilities and personal damage within Fusion teams. However, analysts at the time cautioned that its highly specialized nature meant it was not recommended for other Sword users, as the bonuses would not translate effectively outside Brant’s unique mechanics.
Blazing Brilliance, Changli’s signature weapon, required no such caveats. It was widely regarded as one of the best Swords in the game throughout 2025 and even into early 2026. The weapon offered a massive Crit DMG substat and a passive that boosted ATK and Resonance Skill DMG after using a Resonance Liberation. These generic yet powerful effects made it a top-tier option for practically any Sword-wielding DPS.
The 4-star weapon lineup provided viable alternatives for players lacking 5-star options:
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Waning Redshift (Broadblade): A decent stat stick for Broadblade users needing extra ATK or Energy Regen.
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Marcato (Gauntlets): Served well as a temporary Gauntlet for supports or sub-DPS units.
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Comet Flare (Rectifier): Offered healing bonuses, making it a budget choice for healers.
Impact and Legacy in 2026
Looking back from the perspective of 2026, the Wuthering Waves 2.1 second-half banners represented a pivotal moment for the Fusion meta. The simultaneous availability of Brant and Changli allowed countless players to assemble one of the smoothest and most powerful team cores available at the time. Even after multiple version updates, the Brant-Changli duo remained a competitive choice in various endgame modes, with many players still relying on this composition for challenging content.
The weapon banners, particularly Blazing Brilliance, continued to be a benchmark for Sword evaluations. Its high Crit DMG stat remained a reference point when assessing newer weapons, and its reruns were always met with enthusiasm.
During the original run, the community’s pull recommendations centered on acquiring Brant if one already possessed Changli, and pulling for Changli if one needed a reliable on-field DPS. The weapon priority varied, but the universal strength of Blazing Brilliance often tipped the scales in its favor for those with spare resources. Unflickering Valor, while niche, became a must-have for dedicated Brant mains.
The three-week banner period was intense, accompanied by companion events and double-reward activities. As the Wuthering Waves roster expanded in subsequent updates, this phase stood out as a textbook example of how to design banners that encourage synergistic team building rather than isolated character collection.
Whether you are a 2026 newcomer studying past banners for insight or a veteran reminiscing about the excitement of that March, the Wuthering Waves 2.1 second half remains a highlight in the game's history.