Guide
How the kit works
Before a fight, use Silken Serenade to trigger String Sings Slow Swirls automatically at the start of the next battle without spending a Skill Point. The Skill grants Overtone for 3 turns. While it lasts, allies gain 32% DMG and 50% Weakness Break Efficiency. Its duration drops at the start of Ruan Mei's turns.
Use Threading Fragrance against one enemy while Overtone is active, then refresh the Skill when needed. Somatotypical Helix gives the other teammates 10% SPD. When an ally breaks an enemy's Weakness, Ruan Mei also deals Break DMG equal to 120% of her Ice Break DMG.
Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream creates a Zone for 2 turns, counted down at the start of Ruan Mei's turns. It gives allies 25% All-Type RES PEN, and their attacks apply Thanatoplum Rebloom. When an affected enemy tries to recover from Weakness Break, the effect extends the break, delays its action by 20% of Ruan Mei's Break Effect plus 10%, and deals Break DMG equal to 50% of her Ice Break DMG. It cannot be reapplied until the enemy recovers.
Inert Respiration gives all allies 20% Break Effect, and Days Wane, Thoughts Wax restores 5 Energy at the start of Ruan Mei's turn. Candle Lights on Still Waters adds 6% allied DMG to her Skill for every 10% Break Effect above 120%, up to 36%.
Build and why
For relics, start with Watchmaker, Master of Dream Machinations: its 2-piece bonus gives 16% Break Effect. Its 4-piece effect gives allies 30% Break Effect for 2 turns when the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally. Keep that targeting condition in mind rather than assuming every Ultimate activates it. Thief of Shooting Meteor is another option: its 4-piece bonuses give the wearer more Break Effect and restore 3 Energy when they inflict Weakness Break.
For planar ornaments, Sprightly Vonwacq gives 5% Energy Regeneration Rate and advances Ruan Mei's action by 40% on entering battle if she has at least 120 SPD. Broken Keel gives 10% Effect RES and, at 30% Effect RES, gives allies 10% CRIT DMG. Talia: Kingdom of Banditry is an option for Break Effect, with an extra 20% at 145 SPD.
Use HP Percentage or DEF Percentage on the body and sphere, SPD on the feet, and Break Effect or Energy Regeneration Rate on the rope. For substats, look for Break Effect first, then SPD and Effect RES. Break Effect supports the damage bonus from Candle Lights on Still Waters, while Energy Regeneration Rate helps with Ultimate access.
Past Self in Mirror is the first Light Cone choice. It gives 60% Break Effect and raises allies' DMG by 24% for 3 turns after the wearer uses their Ultimate. Using the Ultimate with at least 150% Break Effect also recovers a Skill Point. In Pursuit of the Wind increases allies' Break DMG by 16%. Memories of the Past offers 28% Break Effect and restores 4 Energy when the wearer attacks, once per turn.
Leveling priority
Follow the game's order: level Petals to Stream, Repose in Dream first for its teamwide resistance penetration and break extension, then String Sings Slow Swirls for the team damage buff. Raise Somatotypical Helix next for its SPD and extra Break DMG. Threading Fragrance is last because its direct damage is a smaller part of her job.
For maximum ascension, gather 308,000 Credit, 65 Gelid Chitin, and 15 each of Immortal Scionette, Immortal Aeroblossom and Immortal Lumintwig. Maxing all skills takes another 3,000,000 Credit, 8 Tracks of Destiny, 18 Harmonic Tune, 69 Ancestral Hymn, 139 Stellaris Symphony, 12 Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster, 41 Immortal Scionette, 56 Immortal Aeroblossom and 58 Immortal Lumintwig.
Eidolons worth it
For Eidolons, I'd consider Neuronic Embroidery first. While the Ultimate's Zone is active, all allies' damage ignores 20% of the target's DEF, so the benefit applies beyond Break-focused teams.
Sash Cascade is another upgrade to consider: it extends the Zone by 1 turn and increases the Talent's Break DMG multiplier by 200%. Reedside Promenade gives allies 40% ATK when dealing damage to Weakness Broken enemies, so its benefit depends on that condition.
Teams
A Break team is a natural place for Ruan Mei. Firefly and Trailblazer (Harmony) are options alongside her, with Gallagher providing sustain. Ruan Mei raises the team's Weakness Break Efficiency and Break Effect, while her Ultimate extends the time enemies stay broken.
Fugue or The Dahlia are other options for a Break-focused lineup. Xueyi is another damage dealer to consider. Ruan Mei's buffs affect the whole team and do not require an Ice damage dealer. If you use Penacony, Land of the Dreams, though, its 10% DMG bonus applies only to other allies of the wearer's Type.
Common mistakes
Do not spend a Skill Point every turn out of habit. Watch Overtone's remaining duration and use the Basic ATK while the buff is active. Likewise, remember that the Ultimate's Zone counts down on Ruan Mei's turns, not the enemy's.
Do not build only for Break Effect and forget Energy Regeneration Rate or survivability. Check Break Effect in battle when assessing the passive damage bonus, and check the SPD requirement before relying on a planar set's conditional bonus.
In Simulated Universe or Divergent Universe, use the Technique before attacking if you want its special opening effect. That attack reduces Toughness regardless of Weakness types, and each Blessing, up to 20, increases its Toughness Reduction by 100%.
