Guide
How the kit works
Start with Basic Attack: Kitty Slash, a string of up to five Physical slashes. The last hit has a 33.33% chance to repeat three times. During the first three hits, hold Basic Attack to use Basic Attack: Crimson Blade: Nekomata slashes forward and passes through enemies, with the same chance to repeat that attack three times.
Use Dodge: Can't Touch Me-ow~ to evade, then press after a Perfect Dodge for Dodge Counter: Phantom Claws. A hit with the counter activates Core Passive: Stealthy Paws, increasing Nekomata's DMG by 60% for 6 seconds. Quick Assist: Cat's Paw can activate the same bonus on hit when the active character is launched. Both attacks make her invulnerable during use.
With enough Energy, use EX Special Attack: Super Surprise Attack! (Special) for a Physical strike with invulnerability. Without enough Energy, Special Attack: Surprise Attack gives her a downward strike with increased Anti-Interrupt. If Additional Ability: Catwalk is active, each Assault raises the damage of her next EX Special Attack by 35%, up to two stacks.
When a Chain Attack is triggered, select Nekomata for Chain Attack: Claw Swipe. At maximum Decibel Rating, Ultimate: Claw Smash attacks enemies ahead over a large area. Both grant invulnerability during use. Defensive Assist: Desperate Defense parries and deals Daze; press afterward for Assist Follow-Up: Shadow Strike.
Build and why
Woodpecker Electro is the first set to consider. Its two-piece bonus gives 8% CRIT Rate. With four pieces, critical hits from Basic Attacks, Dodge Counters and EX Special Attacks each grant 9% ATK for 6 seconds, with their durations tracked separately. Nekomata uses all three attack types.
Puffer Electro is another option: two pieces give 8% PEN Ratio, while four raise Ultimate DMG by 20% and grant 15% ATK for 12 seconds after an Ultimate. You can pair either four-piece set with two pieces of the other.
The game's build instead uses four pieces of Fanged Metal and two of Woodpecker Electro. Fanged Metal gives 10% Physical DMG with two pieces; with four, an Assault from any squad member makes the wearer deal 35% more DMG to that target for 12 seconds. It fits a team that can inflict Assault.
On disc 4, use CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG. On disc 5, choose Physical DMG Bonus or Percent ATK; on disc 6, use Percent ATK. For substats, look for CRIT Rate first, then CRIT DMG and Percent ATK.
Steel Cushion is the first weapon choice. It gives 20% Physical DMG and 25% more DMG when hitting from behind. Cloudcleave Radiance is an alternative that ignores 20% Physical RES; its further DMG and CRIT DMG bonuses require the wearer to activate an Ether Veil. Heartstring Nocturne gives 50% CRIT DMG, though its Fire RES effect does not match Nekomata's Physical attacks.
Leveling priority
Follow the game's order: level Core Passive: Stealthy Paws first, then Special Attack, Basic Attack, Chain Attack, Dodge and Assist. The passive supports Nekomata's damage after a Dodge Counter or Quick Assist. Special and Basic are next because she uses those attacks while on field.
For maximum ascension, you need 800,000 Denny, 4 Basic Attack Certification Seal, 32 Advanced Attack Certification Seal and 30 Pioneer's Certification Seal.
To raise all skills to maximum, you need another 2,905,000 Denny, 25 Basic Physical Chip, 75 Advanced Physical Chip, 250 Specialized Physical Chip, 5 Hamster Cage Pass, 9 Ferocious Grip and 60 Higher Dimensional Data: Crimson Awe.
Mindscapes worth it
As a suggested priority, consider Predator Lineage first. A Chain Attack or Ultimate grants 18% CRIT DMG per stack, up to three stacks. Defeating an enemy immediately gives maximum stacks, which last until Nekomata is no longer in combat.
Bird Hunter is another useful target: hits from behind ignore 16% Physical RES, and all her attacks against a Stunned enemy count as back attacks. Sharpen Claws grants 7% CRIT Rate after an EX Special Attack, up to two stacks, each lasting 15 seconds.
Cat & Mouse is less relevant when several enemies are present: its 25% Energy Generation Rate bonus requires exactly one enemy on the field. You do not need to aim for that upgrade specifically if you mostly fight groups.
Teams
Nekomata mainly gives these teams on-field Physical damage. Let teammates contribute their roles, then bring her in to use her damage bonus and spend Energy on EX Special Attacks.
Common mistakes
Do not stay in Basic Attacks for the whole fight. Look for a Perfect Dodge and land a Dodge Counter, or land a Quick Assist, to activate the 6-second damage bonus. The bonus requires a hit, not merely using the move.
Do not expect Assault to strengthen the next EX Special Attack unless the Additional Ability is active. Check for a teammate with the same Attribute or Faction, and use the EX after Assault rather than before it.
With Steel Cushion or Bird Hunter, pay attention to which side of the enemy you hit. Bird Hunter makes positioning easier against Stunned enemies, but Steel Cushion's listed bonus still requires a hit from behind.
