Guide
How the kit works
Start close to an opponent and emerge from Kamisato Art: Senho. It applies Cryo nearby and briefly infuses Ayaka's attacks with Cryo. If that application hits an opponent, Kanten Senmyou Blessing restores 10 Stamina and gives Ayaka 18% Cryo DMG Bonus for 10 seconds. Senho also consumes Stamina and lets her move swiftly over water.
Use Kamisato Art: Hyouka to deal AoE Cryo DMG and launch nearby enemies. Amatsumi Kunitsumi Sanctification then increases her Normal and Charged Attack damage by 30% for 6 seconds. Follow with attacks from Kamisato Art: Kabuki (NA), including Charged Attacks when you have Stamina to spare.
Aim Kamisato Art: Soumetsu so its snowstorm travels through the target. It repeatedly deals Cryo DMG to enemies it touches, then explodes for AoE Cryo DMG. Refresh the sprint's infusion as needed and use your teammates before casting when their setup will help the storm connect.
Build and why
Start with four pieces of Blizzard Strayer. Its two-piece bonus gives 15% Cryo DMG Bonus; four pieces give 20% CRIT Rate against a Cryo-affected enemy and another 20% if that enemy is Frozen. Four pieces of Marechaussee Hunter are another option when Ayaka's HP changes: each change grants 12% CRIT Rate for 5 seconds, up to three stacks. For a mixed set, try two pieces of Blizzard Strayer and two of Noblesse Oblige for 20% more Elemental Burst DMG.
Use ATK Percentage or Energy Recharge on the sands, Cryo DMG Bonus or ATK Percentage on the goblet, and CRIT DMG or CRIT Rate on the circlet. For substats, the suggested order is Energy Recharge, CRIT DMG, ATK Percentage, then CRIT Rate. Energy Recharge helps get the Burst back; check how much CRIT Rate Blizzard Strayer supplies before adding more.
Mistsplitter Reforged is the first weapon choice. It gives Elemental DMG Bonus, and Ayaka can gain its stacks through an infused Normal Attack, casting her Burst and having less than full Energy. Azurelight is next: its Skill effect gives ATK, with more ATK and CRIT DMG while Ayaka has 0 Energy. Primordial Jade Cutter is another option, providing an ATK bonus based on Max HP.
For four-star alternatives, Finale of the Deep gives ATK after a Skill and more when its Bond of Life is cleared. Amenoma Kageuchi trades that effect for Energy: use the Skill to collect seeds, then consume them with the Burst to regenerate Energy.
Leveling priority
A suggested talent order is Kamisato Art: Soumetsu, Kamisato Art: Kabuki (NA), then Kamisato Art: Hyouka. The Burst hits repeatedly, while the Normal Attack talent covers the attacks Ayaka uses with her Cryo infusion. The Skill still deals AoE Cryo damage, so level it after the other two.
For ascension, gather Mora, Sakura Bloom, Shivada Jade Sliver, Shivada Jade Fragment, Shivada Jade Chunk, Shivada Jade Gemstone, Old Handguard, Kageuchi Handguard, Famed Handguard and Perpetual Heart. Talents also need Mora and the three Handguard materials, plus Teachings of Elegance, Guide to Elegance, Philosophies of Elegance, Bloodjade Branch and Crown of Insight.
Constellations worth it
Ebb and Flow is worth considering for the Burst: enemies damaged by its storm lose 30% DEF for 6 seconds, which can help the team's damage against them. Blizzard Blade Seki no To adds two smaller storms on casting, each dealing 20% of the original storm's damage. Aim so those storms can reach the target too.
Frostbloom Kamifubuki adds three levels to the Burst, making it another option if you want to improve that part of the kit. Dance of Suigetsu instead gives a 298% Charged Attack DMG increase through an effect gained every 10 seconds; the effect clears 0.5 seconds after a Charged Attack hits, then its timer restarts.
If your focus is the Burst, Snowswept Sakura and Blossom Cloud Irutsuki are easier to pass over: the first can shorten the Skill cooldown through Cryo Normal or Charged Attacks, while the second adds Skill levels. Ayaka's base kit works without constellations.
Common mistakes
Don't cast Kamisato Art: Soumetsu without checking the target's position. The storm moves forward, so a poor angle can waste its repeated hits. Freeze helps against susceptible enemies, but it is still worth lining up the cast.
Don't forget to emerge from Kamisato Art: Senho near an opponent before attacking. That gives you Cryo infusion and, on a hit, the passive Cryo DMG Bonus. After Kamisato Art: Hyouka, use your Normal and Charged Attacks within the six-second bonus window.
Don't build CRIT Rate without accounting for Blizzard Strayer, and don't neglect Energy Recharge if the Burst is slow to return. Keep some Stamina available too: both the alternate sprint and Charged Attacks consume it.
