Hotori
"Misty Moon Style"
Overview
Updated: May 13, 2026Hotori is an S-Rank Cosmos Solid DPS whose entire kit revolves around the Non-Closed Timepiece — a unique resource that replaces traditional cooldowns and Ultimate Energy. She records ally skills and replays them during her Time Stop, creating devastating burst windows where time stands still.
Skills
Misty Moon Style
Performs up to 5 consecutive katana strikes dealing Cosmos DMG. During Time Stop, attacks build combo stacks toward Finisher DMG.
Present Replay
Records ally Support Skills and Redirect Skills cast within 5s. Up to 3 recordings stored. Costs 60 Timepiece energy.
World's Tide
Draws katana from umbrella handle and activates Time Stop. Time slows to near standstill. Builds combo stacks toward Finisher DMG at 10 stacks. Replays all recorded attacks. Costs 120 Timepiece energy.
Misty Moon - Twilight
Quick-draw slash dealing Cosmos DMG on entry. Generates Timepiece energy on hit.
Non-Closed Timepiece
Replaces traditional cooldowns and Ultimate Energy. Accumulates energy passively when Hotori is on field. Maximum capacity: 120.
Overview
Hotori is the second limited banner character in NTE v1.0, released on May 13, 2026. Her entire kit revolves around the Non-Closed Timepiece — a unique resource system that replaces traditional cooldowns and Ultimate Energy. She records ally skills via Present Replay and unleashes them all during World’s Tide (Time Stop), creating devastating burst windows where time stands still.
Unlike other DPS characters who rely on Ultimate Energy, Hotori’s burst timing is entirely player-controlled through Timepiece energy management. This gives her unmatched flexibility in choosing when to deal damage.
Key Mechanics
Non-Closed Timepiece
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Capacity | 120 energy | Replaces traditional Ultimate Energy |
| Passive Generation | Continuous while on field | Accumulates automatically |
| Present Replay Cost | 60 energy | Recording phase |
| World’s Tide Cost | 120 energy (full) | Time Stop burst phase |
| Pointer Behavior | Rewinds during skill use | Visual indicator of energy state |
The Timepiece system means Hotori does not compete for team Ultimate Energy. She generates her own burst resource independently, allowing teammates to use their Ultimates freely without affecting Hotori’s damage timeline.
Present Replay (Recording System)
| Mechanic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recording Window | 5 seconds after activation |
| Max Recordings | 3 (one per character) |
| Recordable Skills | Support Skills and Redirect Skills |
| Persistence | Cleared when entering/leaving battle |
| Overwrite | Previous recordings replaced on reuse |
The recording system is what makes Hotori scale with team investment. Higher-damage ally skills translate directly into more burst during Time Stop. Prioritize teammates with high-multiplier Support Skills.
World’s Tide (Time Stop)
| Mechanic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Activation | Draws katana from umbrella handle |
| Effect | Time slows to near standstill for all enemies |
| Combo System | Build stacks via katana attacks → Finisher DMG at 10 stacks |
| Recorded Replay | All stored attacks replay once during Time Stop |
| Restriction | Cannot switch characters during Time Stop |
| Immunity | Immune to all time control debuffs |
During Time Stop, Hotori deals her own combo damage plus replays all recorded ally skills. The Finisher DMG at 10 combo stacks provides a massive burst cap at the end of the window.
Best Build
Arc (Weapon)
| Priority | Arc | Why |
|---|---|---|
| BiS | Lost Radiance | Cosmos DMG amplification for burst-heavy playstyle |
| Alt | Fireflies and the Forest | Energy generation for faster Timepiece cycling |
| F2P | The Forgotten | Solid base ATK with accessible refinement |
Cartridge Set
Lost Radiance (4-piece) provides Cosmos DMG amplification that directly scales Hotori’s Time Stop burst window.
Alternative: Fireflies and the Forest for faster Timepiece cycling in teams with less field time for Hotori.
Stat Priority
| Slot | Main Stat | Sub-Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Module 1 | ATK% | CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > Cosmos DMG% |
| Module 2 | Cosmos DMG% | CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > ATK% |
| Module 3 | CRIT DMG | ATK% > CRIT Rate > Break Intensity |
ATK% is the top priority because it scales all damage during Time Stop, including replayed ally skills that snapshot Hotori’s stats.
Skill Priority
World’s Tide > Present Replay > Basic Attack > Support Skill
World’s Tide receives the highest priority as it contains the bulk of Hotori’s damage output including Finisher DMG scaling.
Awakening Priority
| Priority | Level | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | A6 | Ignores 30% of target’s DEF during Time Stop | Massive multiplicative damage increase |
| 2nd | A1 | +12% damage per recorded Skill during Time Stop | Up to +36% with 3 recordings |
| 3rd | A5 | If 1 enemy on field, team damage +15% (while Hotori alive) | Strong for single-target boss fights |
| 4th | A2 | +20% damage during Time Stop | Unconditional burst buff |
| 5th | A3 | Recovers Present Replay energy after recording (60s CD) | Quality of life for rotation |
| 6th | A4 | +10 energy per target defeated (up to 3 times, resets on World’s Tide) | Useful for mob content only |
A6 is transformative — 30% DEF ignore is a multiplicative damage increase that scales with all other buffs. A1 rewards proper recording setup with up to +36% bonus damage.
Resonance
| Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| R1 | Increases skill levels of Misty Moon Style, Present Replay, and World’s Tide by 1 |
| R2 | Grants all team members 20% ATK while Hotori is on team and alive |
R2 is one of the strongest team-wide buffs in the game — a permanent 20% ATK increase for the entire party simply by having Hotori alive.
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Excellent burst damage via armor penetration (A6) | Cannot switch characters during Time Stop |
| No Ultimate Energy requirement — burst timing is player-controlled | Setup requires careful timing with team burst |
| Passive healing not needed due to burst-and-swap playstyle | Energy accumulation takes time between bursts |
| R2 provides massive team-wide 20% ATK buff | Weaker in sustained DPS scenarios |
| Scales with team investment (recorded skills) | Recording window (5s) requires fast execution |
Best Teams
Blossom Burst Team (Premium)
| Slot | Character | Element | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | Hotori | Cosmos | Time Stop burst + skill replay |
| Sub DPS | [Esper Zero](/characters/esper-zero/) | Cosmos | Rift Blossom (2 hits) + passive healing |
| Buffer | Haniel | Psyche | ATK buff + Nova trigger |
| Support | Jiuyuan | Lakshana | Charged reaction + energy |
Record Esper Zero’s Rift Blossom, Haniel’s buff, and Jiuyuan’s skill. During Time Stop, all three replay for massive combined burst plus reaction triggers.
Follow-Up Team
| Slot | Character | Element | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | Hotori | Cosmos | Time Stop burst |
| Sub DPS | Nanally | Anima | Follow-up attacks + Blossom trigger |
| Buffer | Sakiri | Incantation | ATK buff + Scorch trigger |
| Support | Jiuyuan | Lakshana | Charged reaction |
Nanally’s follow-up attacks continue during Hotori’s field time, providing additional damage while Timepiece charges.
Gameplay Tips
The standard rotation begins with Present Replay to enter recording mode. Within the 5-second window, quickly switch through all three teammates and use their Support Skills. Each recorded skill will replay during Time Stop, so prioritize high-multiplier abilities.
After recording, keep Hotori on field to passively accumulate Timepiece energy to full (120). Once full, activate World’s Tide for Time Stop. During the frozen state, perform katana combos to build 10 stacks for Finisher DMG while all recorded skills replay automatically.
The key optimization is timing World’s Tide when enemies are Broken or in a vulnerability state. Since Hotori controls her own burst timing (no Ultimate Energy dependency), she can wait for the perfect moment rather than being forced to use Ultimate when it fills.
Trivia
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name Origin | Japanese — “Hotori” (浔) means “Side,” “Edge,” or “Neighborhood” |
| Chinese Name | 浔 (Xún) |
| Release | Second half of Version 1.0 (May 13, 2026) |
| Unique Trait | Only character whose burst system is completely independent of Ultimate Energy |
Related Resources
- Hotori Build Guide — Detailed build recommendations and gameplay tips
- Tier List — See where Hotori ranks in the current meta
- Team Building Guide — Learn how to build effective teams
- All Characters — Browse the complete character roster
Hotori Guides & Resources
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Beyond the Rails Guide: NTE Endgame Combat Gauntlet
Blossom Reaction Guide: Cosmos + Anima Esper Cycle Explained
Charge Reaction Guide: Top Trio (Cosmos + Anima + Lakshana) Triple Esper Cycle
NTE Gacha Guide: Scarborough Fair System, Pity, and Pull Strategy
Best Teammates for Hotori
See all team compositions or check the tier list for current meta rankings.
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