Wuthering Waves’ Yuanwu is the owner of a boxing gym in Jinzhou where he teaches martial arts and health management. He only appears very briefly in the story, so you’re forgiven for not knowing who he is – though you can get a free copy of him early on and make use of his buffs in battle.
While you’re here, grab the new Wuthering Waves codes and see what’s happening in the next Wuthering Waves update. We also have a Wuthering Waves tier list if you need help picking a DPS to focus on. Make sure to take a peek at our other build guides for Wuthering Waves Yinlin, Wuthering Waves Zhezhi, and Wuthering Waves Lingyang.
Here’s everything in our Wuthering Waves Yuanwu guide:
What’s the best Yuanwu build?
Yuanwu is a four-star character that uses the electro element and gauntlets as a weapon type. You can get him for free as a reward for the early Tower of Adversity stages, and as he’s easy to build, he’s a good early-game unit.
| Best weapon | Amity Accord |
| Weapon substitutes | Guardian Gauntlets |
| Best echo set | Moonlit clouds |
| Main stats |
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| Sub-stats |
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The best weapon for Yuanwu is the Amity Accord gauntlets, and if you pair that with a full set of moonlit clouds echoes, you have a great combination for regenerating his liberation move and forte circuit quickly.
He can be a sub-DPS and support unit as he provides coordinated attacks and interruption resistance. If you have him at higher dupes, you get a fairly strong shield from him and a defense boost – to do this, you’ll need to stack up his echoes with defense stats.
How do I use Yuanwu?
Using Yuanwu as a sub-DPS and buffer can be a little tricky, but really, all of his moves provide help in some shape or form. Make sure to activate his resonance skill and any echo boosts you may have before you swap to your main DPS.
Yuanwu’s outro skill and forte circuit can help in boss battles. He can increase how quickly the white (then yellow) bar under the health bar goes down, which is key in getting bosses into a vulnerable state where your DPS can go to town. It’s key to activate his forte circuit, then swap out in good time to activate his outro skill before using your main DPS.
What are Yuanwu’s stats?
Here are Yuanwu’s base stats at level one and level 90, without any echo or weapon buffs.
| Stat | Level one | Level 90 |
| HP | 682 | 8,525 |
| Attack | 18 | 225 |
| Defense | 134 | 1,637 |
| Energy regen | 100 | 100 |
| Crit rate | 5% | 5% |
| Crit damage | 150% | 150% |
| Electro damage bonus | 0% | 0% |
What are Yuanwu’s skills?
While Yuanwu can do some good damage on his own, his kit is geared toward being a support and sub-DPS unit.
Here are all of Yuanwu’s skills and attacks:
Yuanwu’s active skills
| Skill | Effect |
| Basic attack – Leihuangquan | Performs up to five consecutive strikes, dealing electro damage |
| Heavy attack | Yuanwu consumes stamina to attack the target with heavier electro damage |
| Mid-air attack | Yuanwu consumes stamina to launch a mid-air plunging attack dealing electro damage |
| Dodge counter | Using a basic attack after after a successful dodge attacks the target with electro damage |
| Resonance skill – Leihuang Master | Thunder Wedge Yuanwu summons a Thunder Wedge that deals electro damage and forms a Thunder Field around the Wedge. This lasts for 12 seconds. Rumbling Spark (forte circuit) and Blazing Might (resonance liberation) detonate the Wedge on field, which counts as resonance skill damageThunder Field The active character gains the following effects when in the Field: -A coordinated attack triggers when attacks hit a target, dealing electro damage. This can trigger once every 1.2 seconds |
| Resonance liberation – Blazing Might | Yuanwu uses the power of thunder to provide the Lightning Infused status to all teammates for ten seconds. This means their attacks deal electro damage. He also performs a powerful attack |
| Intro skill – Thunder Bombardment | Yuanwu attacks the target with electro damage |
| Outro skill – Lightning Manipulation | Yuanwu unleashes thunderbolts in an area around the target, greatly reducing the vibration strength of enemies on impact |
Yuanwu’s passive skills
| Skill | Effect |
| Forte circuit – Unassuming Blade | Rumbling Spark When Yuanwu’s forte gauge is full (known as Readiness), long press the resonance skill button to use all Readiness and cast Rumbling Spark, dealing electro damage and entering the Lightning Infused state. Lighting Infused The active character enters this state, where they have greatly increased interruption resistance. When Yuanwu is in this state, his basic attacks hit in a larger range, his heavy attacks and dodge counters are quicker, while all three reduce vibration strength with more efficiency. Using a basic attack within three seconds of a heavy or counterattack casts Thunderweaver, which deals electro damage and counts as basic attack damage. This state does not recover Readiness. Readiness Yuanwu can hold up to 100 Readiness. When Thunder Wedge is on the field, he gains six Readiness every second, even when he’s not on field. When Thunder Wedge hits a target, he gains five Readiness. Thunder Uprising When Readiness is full, Yuanwu’s resonance skill turns into Thunder Uprising |
| Inherent skill – Thunderous Determination (unlockable at resonator rank two) | The damage multiplier of Yuanwu’s resonance skill increases by 40% and the reduction efficiency becomes enhanced |
| Inherent skill – Reserved Confidence (unlockable after Thunderous Determination) | The range of Thunder Field and Thunder Uprising increase greatly. When exiting combat, if Readiness is not full, Yuanwu automatically leaves one Thunder Wedge behind |
What’s the best weapon for Yuanwu?
Yuanwu benefits most from the four-star Amity Accord gauntlets, as this weapon ups his defense stat, while also boosting his resonance liberation. You can also use the craftable Guardian Gauntlets, to add to his defense.
| Weapon | Effect | How to obtain |
| Amity Accord (four-star) | Bonus stat: Increases defense Effect: When using Yuanwu’s intro skill, his resonance liberation damage bonus increases by 20% for 15 seconds |
All banners |
| Guardian Gauntlets (three-star) | Bonus stat: Increases defense Effect: Increases Yuanwu’s resonance liberation damage bonus by 12% |
Craftable |
| Stonard (four-star) | Bonus stat: Increases crit rate Effect: When using Yuanwu’s resonance skill, his resonance liberation damage increases by 18% for 15 seconds |
All banners |
| Abyss Surges (five-star) | Bonus stat: Increases attack Effect: Increases Yuanwu’s energy regeneration. When hitting a target with his resonance skill, his basic attack damage bonus increases by 10% for eight seconds. When using his basic attack, his resonance skill damage increases by 10% for eight seconds |
Standard weapon banner |
What are the best echoes for Yuanwu?
When picking an echo set for Yuanwu, aim for a five-piece set of moonlit clouds to greatly increase his energy regeneration. This set is best if you use him as a supporting character more than a sub- or main DPS. You can also use a two- (or five-) piece set of void thunder to up his electro damage.
The best main echo to equip Yuanwu with is the Bell Borne Geochelone, or the Tempest Mephis. The Geochelone not only gives a shield to your team, but improves the damage of your main DPS if you swap to them after activating it. The Tempest Mephis improves Yuanwu’s own electro damage, which helps with his coordinated attacks.
| Recommended echo | Effect |
| Bell-Borne Geochelone | Activating the Geochelone’s skill gives a shield to the character that lasts for three hits and provides a 50% damage reduction. Using this echo also deals heavy glacio damage one time |
| Tempest Mephis | Transform into the Tempest Mephis to perform attacks. The Mephis creates a lightning strike that deals heavier electro damage. After the last hit of the combo, the current character’s electro damage increases for 15 seconds |
Yuanwu stat recommendations
The more dupes of Yuanwu you pull, the more important defense becomes in his kit. At sequence nodes three and four, he provides a boost to coordinated attacks and a shield that scales off his defense, so we recommend choosing echoes with defense substats, and perhaps a main stat too.
Main stats
- Defense
- Electro damage boost
- Crit rate/damage
Sub-stats
- Defense
- Crit rate/damage
What’s the best Yuanwu team comp?
It’s best to pair Yuanwu with a grouper or immobilizer as his AoE is small compared to how much every enemy moves around (especially with future characters that seem to be flying around more), or a healer if you’re heading into a harsh battle.
The best synergies for Yuanwu are:
- Wuthering Waves Jinhsi – Jinhsi appreciates the coordinated attack that Yuanwu can provide, which boosts her own damage.
- Wuthering Waves Verina or Baizhi – If you need a healer, for instance, if you don’t have Yuanwu’s shield ability unlocked, you can use Verina or Baizhi.
- Wuthering Waves Jianxin – Jianxin can act as a grouper in a team with Yuanwu, controlling where enemies go and keeping them in the field of his Thunder Wedge. She can also heal and provide some buffs, but her grouping skill is key.
Here is an example of the best Yuanwu team comp:
 Yuanwu |
 Verina |
 Jinhsi |
What is Yuanwu’s resonance chain?
After the initial free Yuanwu, you can pull copies of him on the banners, which then unlock his sequence nodes.
Here are the skills you get with Yuanwu’s wavebands:
| Resonance chain sequence | Effect |
| Sequence node one – Steaming Cup of Justice | When Yuanwu is in the Lightning Infused state, his basic attack and heavy attack speed increases by 20% |
| Sequence node two – Fierce Heart, Serene Mind | Thunder Bombardment (Yuanwu’s intro skill) additionally recovers 15 resonance energy |
| Sequence node three – Upholder of Integrity | When the coordinated attacks of Thunder Wedge hit a target, the target increases by 20% of Yuanwu’s defense |
| Sequence node four – Retributive Knuckles | When casting his resonance liberation, the on-field character gains a shield equal to 200% of Yuanwu’s defense for ten seconds |
| Sequence node five – Neighborhood Protector | When Yuanwu’s resonance skill is on field, his resonance liberation damage bonus increases by 50% |
| Sequence node six – Defender of All Realms | All team members within range of Thunder Wedge gain a 32% defense increase for three seconds |
What are Yuanwu’s ascension materials?
To ascend Yuanwu, you’ll need the following materials, along with a big stack of shell credits.
| Ascension rank | Materials required |
| One – level 20 | 5k shell credits and four crude rings |
| Two – level 40 | 10k shell credits, four terraspawn fungi, three hidden thunder tacet cores, and four basic rings |
| Three – level 50 | 15k shell credits, eight terraspawn fungi, six hidden thunder tacet cores, and eight basic rings |
| Four – level 60 | 20k shell credits, 12 terraspawn fungi, nine hidden thunder tacet cores, and four improved rings |
| Five – level 70 | 40k shell credits, 16 terraspawn fungi, 12 hidden thunder tacet cores, and eight improved rings |
| Six – level 80 | 80k shell credits, 20 terraspawn fungi, 16 hidden thunder tacet cores, and four tailored rings |
Here’s where to find all of Yuanwu’s ascension materials:
- Hidden thunder tacet cores – this item drops from the Tempest Mephis boss
- Terraspawn fungus – these fungi grow around the Desorock Highlands
- Crude, basic, improved, and tailored rings – obtain from normal enemies, the store, the weapon shop, or forgery challenges
- Shell credits – shell credits are the in-game currency, which you can obtain via farming, enemy and boss drops, through quests, or by selling things in the in-game store
What are Yuanwu’s forte materials?
Here are Yuanwu’s total forte materials and where to find and buy them:
- 25 crude rings, 28 basic rings, 40 improved rings, and 57 tailored rings
- Obtain from enemies, Jinzhou’s weapon shop, or the exchange store (oscillated coral)
- 25 cadence seed, 28 cadence bud, 55 cadence leaf, and 67 cadence blossom
- Obtain from the Moonlit Groves forgery challenge, via the synthesizer, Jinzhou’s weapon shop, or Jinzhou’s souvenir store
- 26 unending destruction
- Obtain from the Chaotic Juncture: Ember (Scar) weekly boss fight
- 2,030,000 shell credits
Yuanwu skill priority
When thinking about upgrading Yuanwu’s skills, we recommend the following order of priority:
- Resonance skill > forte circuit > resonance liberation > normal attack > intro skill
Wondering when Wuthering Waves’ Yuanwu is next getting a rate-up? Check out the Wuthering Waves banner here. We’ve also got useful build guides for games like Genshin Impact, so head over to our pages for Genshin Impact’s Yae Miko, Genshin Impact’s Yun Jin, and Genshin Impact’s Sucrose next.