The Snowbreak Anniversary Survival Guide: Second Edition
A reminder that Seasun does not respect their content creators.
It’s that time of the year, again. Snowbreak’s second anniversary! Just like last year, it’s full of exclusive freebies to take advantage of, as well as an expanded lineup of rerun banners to put your pulls towards. Navigating through everything on offer can be a daunting task, but that’s where I come in. Let’s get into it.
E-Z Freebies
First things first, let’s handle the basic tasks. Please come and claim your door prizes, there’s nothing else to consider or think about.
Special Invitation: Tess – Phantasia
From July 24 to August 21 (UTC+8 time zone), simply log in to claim Tess – Phantasia at no cost! Given Seasun’s history of offering top-tier support characters for free, this is an excellent opportunity. You’ll also receive a matching Arcane Squad logistics set with well-balanced substats. Unfortunately, you won’t get her gacha weapon, but you can acquire a 4★ weapon for her from the event shop, which will significantly help you in your gameplay.
During the timeframe of July 24 to August 21 (UTC+8), by logging in, you can get Tess – Phantasia for free! Since Seasun often provides high-quality support characters for free, this is a great chance to add her to your team. You’ll also receive a fitting Arcane Squad logistics set with well-balanced substats. Unfortunately, she won’t come with her gacha weapon, but you can obtain a 4★ weapon for her from the event shop, which will be very useful in the game.
Tickets and Fritia Outfit
To gain access to ten exclusive operational banner tickets and the “Fritia – Little Sunshine’s Fiery Burst” outfit, please ensure you log in from July 10 to August 21 (UTC+8 time zone).
Additionally, log in from June 24th up until August 21st (UTC+8) to secure ten exclusive weapon banner tickets. Don’t forget to take advantage of these complimentary draws, as they will likely be quite beneficial for you.
Mail Supply
From July 10th to June 16th (UTC+8), and from July 24th to June 30th (UTC+8), log in daily to receive 4 Memory Chips and 3 Stamina refills that provide 60AP each. Newer players can use the stamina refills to power through the main story for additional Digicash, which can be spent on the banner. Experienced players may find them useful for farming more event currency or resources. The Memory Chips will enable you to collect daily Personal Files of four SSR operatives when combined with the regular allowance, helping you advance multiple operatives quickly during this anniversary event. If you don’t log in, there are certainly existing operatives that could benefit from your attention!
Make sure you log in every day for these, as if you miss a day then you lose that day’s rewards.
Super Important Disclaimer (Read First)
This manual offers suggestions based on a gaming standpoint, focusing on the most beneficial operatives and weapons for game modes like Neural Simulation and Supreme Battleground. However, if your preference is purely aesthetic, such as an operative being your favorite character or finding them appealing, that’s absolutely valid. The game’s content is designed to be accessible, allowing almost anyone to progress easily. Ultimately, the choice of prioritizing gameplay effectiveness or personal preference is up to you.
In my gaming world, it’s frustrating to see that a lot of the agents and gear I find in the selector or rerun banners are quite outdated. They just don’t seem to pack the same punch as the newer ones, which is a real bummer. To put it gently, some of these agents feel power-crept, leaving me longing for a more balanced gameplay experience. Sorry if it sounds blunt, but that’s the truth of the situation.
Finally, there’s no need to hastily employ your choices. Since they don’t have an expiration date, you have the luxury of carefully considering what you truly desire before making a decision.
SSR Selectors
To access your exclusive SSR operative and SSR weapon selector during the period of July 20th to August 21st (UTC+8), simply log in to the game. You can pick any previously released SSR operative or weapon that was available from the game’s launch until Azure Paradise. With numerous options at your disposal, let’s explore the choices together.
The Perms
These are the standard banner operatives and their weapons:
| Operative | Weapon |
|---|---|
| Lyfe – Wild Hunt | Stardust Memory |
| Fenny – Coronet | Sunny Payback |
| Yao – Winter Solstice | Space Cowboy |
| Fritia – Hush | Lava Bones |
| Marian – Swift | Horn of the Orca |
| 100 Battle Veteran | |
| Olympus | |
| Tiny Grains | |
| Star Ocean | |
| Trial’s Eve |
Essentially, most of these characters have been overpowered by newer ones, so they may not be ideal for regular gameplay. But skilled players might discover unique applications for them. If you’ve maxed out any of these characters at Manifestation 5, you can utilize the selector to obtain another duplicate copy and swap Manifestation fragments into currency. This currency can then be exchanged for fragments of any other character you wish to enhance. However, ensure there’s no one else you desire before doing this, or the character you want isn’t already on the selector itself, as acquiring the duplicate will yield additional Manifestation fragments.
In terms of the weapons, the ones that are unique to a standard SSR operative aren’t inherently better than the operatives themselves, making them not particularly attractive options. Among the remaining weapons, the 100 Battle Veteran and Tiny Grains can be seen as upgrades for Cherno – Enigma and Enya – Tempest’s default weapons, but they won’t perform as well as their special gacha weapons. It’s a tricky situation, as you might like an operative enough to want to improve their standard equipment, but not enough to acquire their signature weapon the next time it comes back. This is a very specific level of affection for an operative, so to speak. However, I’m sure there are players who find this appealing.
Acacia – Kaguya/Pine Aurora
General Support
If you’ve been following Snowbreak news recently, you’d be aware that Acacia lost her all-purpose resistant shredder crown to a new character named Vidya – Celestial Swan. This is undeniably disappointing for Acacia, but there are still two compelling reasons why she remains impressive:
- A non-insignificant chunk of content in Snowbreak requires two teams (Neural Simulation, Jotun Tunnel, Supreme Battleground), which means that being the #2 universal support still makes you pretty useful.
- You might not even have Vidya! I feel like this is point is pretty self-explanatory.
She remains a highly valuable pickup for players who don’t have her already.
Instead of her weapon Pine Aurora, let me emphasize that it doesn’t measure up as well. It struggles against the 4-star weapon Prismatic Igniter at Tier 1, and investing in Tier 2 is a significant outlay for a weapon that generally falls short compared to other signature weapons. For a closer look at how it fails to meet contemporary expectations for signature weapons, check out this section of Vidya – Celestial Swan’s review.
Verdict: Not the best anymore, but the GOAT’s still got it.
Chenxing – Ethereal Cloud/Anti-Evil Ward
Hybrid DPS
Chenxing primarily serves the purpose of defeating Hela and her relative, Ragethorn, who haven’t been seen in the game for about half a year now. Given this extended absence, it could be argued that Chenxing is not particularly valuable in terms of acquisitions.
Anti-Evil Ward is only used with Chenxing, and has limited if any use otherwise.
Verdict: A once-great DPS reduced to a one-trick-pony.
Haru – Absconditus/16-Psyche
Skill DPS
Haru’s equipment setup is just enough to meet today’s standard DPS operator functions, suggesting that her overall gameplay worth could be as you would expect.
16-Psyche is primarily associated with Haru, and its utility in other contexts is minimal or non-existent. Some might even prefer Star Ocean.
Verdict: Still a trophy waifu.
Mauxir – Shadow Ka/Alloy Truth
General Support
Mauxir and the dummy she summons remain invaluable resources, yet contemporary damage dealers have been gradually reducing their dependence on them. The newly introduced DPS operators this year don’t seem to gain significant benefits from what she offers, casting some doubt on her continued significance.
I’ve noticed a drop in the worth of my go-to weapon, Alloy Truth. It seems like Mauxir’s decline has been mirrored by this trend, and with more supports available in the game, niche supports that previously relied on Alloy Truth have taken a back seat. While advanced players might find the occasional use for it with these tech options, it’s not as indispensable as a Neural Sim staple as it once was. I miss those good old days!
Verdict: Pretty usable, but not as much of a priority as she once was.
Tess – The Magician/Eccentric Joker
General Support
Shifting DPS operatives towards Ultimate abilities with lower or no U-Energy costs reduces the significance of Tess’ U-Energy battery function compared to its historical importance. However, her abilities that boost damage remain just as valuable, and interestingly, this can be more relevant because other operatives can easily access their Ults without needing Tess’ aid. Of course, not all recent releases have low U-Energy requirements (like Enya – Tempest and Yao – Nightglow). Despite the majority of operatives requiring less U-Energy, Tess retains a noticeable caveat that she is primarily used in Neural Sim. If this game mode appeals to you, Tess could be a valuable choice to consider.
The unique character, Joker, is primarily associated with Tess, seldomly useful elsewhere. However, its enduring utility as an asset in operations warrants it as a solid choice for improvement.
Verdict: Neural Sim tech that still holds up.
Katya – Blue Bolt/Neptune Nova
Ballistic DPS
Thoroughly outmatched, Blue Bolt’s damage output is no longer competitive. Being the sole crossbow operator in the game, her signature weapon, Neptune Nova, lacks versatility and isn’t beneficial to invest time in.
Verdict: Not even the best Katya on the selector.
Eatchel – The Cub/Blitzing Fangs
General Support
While Eatchel may seem an appealing choice as a cozy AFK healer, it’s not advisable for new players to opt for her immediately. In most game scenarios, the consistent healing she provides isn’t essential, and you’ll likely obtain free alternatives before reaching content where such healing becomes crucial. For a comprehensive understanding, refer to her evaluation in the half-anniversary selector guide.
For experienced gamers, she can continue to be useful as a shield for offenses, making her signature weapon, the Blitzing Fangs, essential in your equipment setup.
Verdict: Still kind of a noob trap, still useful for veterans.
Cherno – Enigma/Uninvited Adieu
Skill DPS
Time marches on relentlessly, affecting everyone adversely, but it poses a significant challenge for Cherno. This is because the growing roster of operatives she has to contend with becomes increasingly formidable. Operatives like Lyfe – Infinite Sight and now Katya – Dawnwing make the competition tougher. Moreover, her heavy reliance on having T2 of her signature weapon doesn’t make things any easier for her.
If you plan on using Cherno, it’s strongly suggested to also use Uninvited Adieu. This is because Uninvited Adieu significantly increases her damage output. However, due to her difficulties in staying competitive within the current meta, I wouldn’t advise making it your primary investment focus.
Verdict: Unfortunately not it anymore.
Enya – Exuvia/Abyssal Light
Skill Support
Enya finds herself in a rather peculiar predicament. While she remains the top choice for generalist Skill damage buffer on paper, recent changes in Skill DPS character design have led to operators who don’t fire as frequently or not at all. This makes it difficult for Enya to power up her support pod unless she has substantial investment in Manifest. Without this active ability, she loses a significant amount of her buffing capabilities and thus, her value.
However, a shift back towards her strengths could bring her back to the spotlight, especially if you already have Skill DPS operators like Cherno – Enigma and Katya – Dawnwing who work well with her. But since we don’t know what Seasun might be planning for future updates, it’s best to consider Enya as an enhancement for your current team that will still offer some utility to future Skill DPS operators.
The Abyssal Light is so specialized that it’s only beneficial when used with Enya, but if you manage to utilize her, it offers a significant boost.
Verdict: Good if your roster can use her, but not as universal as she once was.
Siris – Ksana/Crowned Flail
Skill DPS
Thoroughly weakened, Ksana’s damage infliction comes too slowly. The primary aspect she still possesses is her amusing bulldozer standard skill, and it’s for you to decide if this quirk justifies using a whole SSR selector on her.
The Crown-topped Flail she wields isn’t particularly powerful compared to other signature weapons, and unfortunately, it’s not advisable to use it alongside Nita’s Pulse ability.
Verdict: Why?
Lyfe – Infinite Sight/Nightborne Crown
Hybrid DPS
Although she’s no longer the dominant predator, Lyfe performs fairly well as a Damage Per Second (DPS) character. The only real contender on the selection list is Katya – Dawnwing, who demands more investment before her damage significantly increases. Consequently, Lyfe might be the ideal choice if you’re considering a DPS character for your selection.
The Nightborne Crown can only be wielded by Lyfe, making it an exceptionally potent personal weapon for him, despite there being other free alternatives available that may not match its strength.
Verdict: The best DPS available, two selectors in a row.
Fenny – Starshine/Heart Hunter
Ballistic Support
For most Ballistic DPS operators, it continues to be an essential aid. In contrast to Exuvia’s difficulties in adapting its Skill DPS layout, it’s likely that Ballistic DPS operatives will continue to prefer firing their weapons for the near future. And if they are firing, they’ll undoubtedly require ammunition, and if they need ammunition, then Fenny could prove useful.
The Heart Hunter may not provide the same significant increase in damage output as other comparable Signature DPS operatives, but this is a pattern often seen with support weapons. However, Fenny’s versatility makes it a weapon you’re likely to use frequently if you build your team around Ballistic DPS.
Verdict: Still holds up, no notes.
Vidya – Agave/Snapshot Ace
Skill DPS
Over the past year and a half since we last evaluated her performance, Vidya seems to have become less effective in the game. While she still excels at auto-attacking and clearing waves, players who chose Enya – Tempest may find that Enya outperforms Vidya even in this role. Unfortunately, outside of her specific roles as a designated boss fighter and one other situation where her unique parts-breaking ability is useful, Vidya doesn’t offer much more than many other operatives can do just as well.
You might want to overlook her signature weapon. While it’s not subpar by any means, its effectiveness is limited to being used against Vidya. Given that you’ve already read the preceding passage, this should be self-explanatory.
Verdict: Another member of the trophy waifu club.
Katya – Dawnwing/Aurora Sands
Skill DPS
In simpler terms, choosing Katya in her Dawnwing form as a Damage Per Second (DPS) operative is a strong option because she’s one of the few powerful DPS characters available. However, for new players, it might not be the most beneficial choice as she performs better with higher Manifestation levels. If you’re an experienced player who already has Katya but haven’t leveled her up yet, using your selector on her isn’t a bad idea.
However, keep in mind that Katya is getting a new DPS character soon with the release of Concord Ode. Her new Rhapsody exosuit seems to be Frost-based, so if you plan to pull for that, choosing another Frost DPS operative might not be the best decision.
Should you choose to pledge your allegiance to Dawnwing, you’ll find it beneficial to acquire her signature weapon, Aurora Sands, since it significantly enhances her damage output.
Verdict: Still strong, but maybe a bit too pricey for newbies.
Marian – Riptide/Abyssal Nymph
Skill Support
Skill Sub-DPS
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… Riptide isn’t entirely a terrible pickup anymore*.
If you’ve got team members who can effectively use her abilities, she’s a decent choice and won’t harm your DPS teams significantly. However, the introduction of Nerida – Styx Envoy has given Marian a unique role that adds significance to her sub-DPS utility. Enya – Exuvia remains more versatile in terms of skill support, but with Riptide’s new niche, she’s become a real contender as an alternative option now.
Regarding her signature weapon Abyssal Nymph, its effectiveness varies. If she’s paired with Nerida, the additional damage becomes significant. However, when used alone, it can be quite costly for the passive Skill damage bonus it provides, which might not always offer the best value for your resources.
Verdict: If you can use her well, surprisingly good now.
Gacha Banners
New Faces
If you’ve dabbled in gacha games before, you might be familiar with the fact that characters introduced during anniversary updates are typically quite powerful. Given this, it’s likely that your main focus for pulling will be the latest Katya – Rhapsody. It’s possible, though unlikely, that there could be a mistake in her development and she turns out to be underwhelming, but I’d bet against that happening.
For seasoned players who have well-developed teams, they can choose to further enhance the anticipated power of this commemorative pair by acquiring their distinctive equipment. However, let’s also examine the possibilities if these characters return in future events.
Reruns
Enya – Tempest
Enya, who has taken over the AFK content-clearing crown from Vidya – Agave, is currently available on a separate rerun banner and can also be an excellent choice for Neural Sim players. In theory, she is the strongest operative accessible via a selector or rerun banner; however, her endgame performance heavily relies on an M3+ Tess – The Magician providing U-Energy for her ultimate to use, making her less ideal for beginners. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for someone to effortlessly clear waves of mobs by pressing E every eight seconds, Enya is the perfect fit.
Fantasies of Yore/Durin’s Masterwork
In this setup, you choose any two out of the given four options on each sign, making the remaining two unselectable. However, feel free to change your mind and select the other option among the ones you initially chose whenever you like.
Katya, also known as Dawnwing, and Marian, also known as Riptide. These characters are powerful and complement each other well. You can select both of them, which allows you to quickly form 2 out of 3 members of a team, with the third slot being filled by any generic support character. I mentioned earlier that Dawnwing requires significant investment, but if you’re aiming for her here, you could use your selector to get a duplicate of Dawnwing and her signature weapon, accelerating her growth towards high damage output. While this approach means you won’t get an entirely new operative, it could be a good strategy for experienced players who want to use Dawnwing sooner or don’t need anything else from the selector.
Fritia-Turbo hasn’t improved much since her initial release, retaining all the problems and flaws she had then. I wouldn’t recommend getting her now.
With Bubu – The Geomancer being our sole remaining option, she exhibits similar power levels as Katya – Dawnwing and Lyfe – Infinite Sight. This clearly suggests that she is a character worthy of your attention. If you appreciate her gameplay style, I can’t think of a reason not to consider her. However, if your focus lies elsewhere, it’s important to note that she’s also accessible through the other rerun selector, so your decision may depend on your priorities.
“Ballistic Bonus” Rerun Selector
This operates similarly to the rotating banners above, but this time, you are limited to selecting just one option. I have previously discussed all three operatives here, and they are all excellent choices for players who enjoy shooting in their third-person shooter game. However, being able to select only one from each banner does reduce your overall options slightly, as it prevents you from creating a team like with the other rotating selector.
Vic’s Picks
But viiiiiiic, deciding is still so hard. Can’t you just tell me what to get?
Fine. I guess this is what I (don’t) get paid the big bucks for.
Previously mentioned, the upcoming Katya – Rhapsody is anticipated to be a highly effective addition to your roster, and with the anniversary gifts available, acquiring her should be straightforward. During the event, claim Tess – Rhapsody without charge as well. With Acacia – Kaguya obtainable from the SSR operative selector, you’ll have a complete team ready to conquer the game. However, save your weapon selector for now, as using it on Kaguya’s signature weapon might not be the best choice. You don’t need to hurry; the weapon selector doesn’t expire, so feel free to wait until you decide what to use it on.
If you’re interested in trying more luck with the gacha, here are three suggestions based on your comfort level with gambling:
- Get Lyfe – Infinite Sight off of the “Ballistic Bonus” rerun banner and use the weapon selector to grab her signature weapon Nightborne Crown. This is the cheapest option, but it does mean you can’t use the same rerun banner to get her best-in-slot support Fenny – Starshine unless you decide to commit your operative selector to her instead. It doesn’t make Lyfe unplayable, but you’ll have to use alternative supports like Fritia – Little Sunshine and Acacia – Redacted to build out your second team. If you really want to go all-in on the new Katya and Tess alts, you could even forgo Kaguya and use your operative selector to get Lyfe instead of rolling for her.
- Roll for Bubu – The Geomancer on the “Fantasies of Yore” rerun banner (I would pick Katya – Dawnwing or Marian – Riptide for the other slot since you do have to pick two), and then pull for Fenny – Starshine on the “Ballistic Bonus” rerun banner. You can then use your weapon selector to get her signature weapon Heart Hunter. This obviously costs more, but only leaves you with one slot that you’ll have to fill, which can be done with any generic support.
- On the “Fantasies of Yore” rerun banner, get both Katya – Dawnwing and Marian – Riptide. You can then use the weapon selector to get Katya – Dawnwing’s signature weapon, Aurora Sands. Like the second option, this is also a bit pricier, but it this leaves only one empty slot in your second team which can be filled with a support like Chenxing – The Observer. This option is not as recommended compared to the other two because Katya – Dawnwing’s damage output requires an above-average amount of Manifestation levels to become competitive (M3+ is recommended), but if you enjoy her playstyle and aren’t interested in immediately challenging content like Neural Simulation, then that shouldn’t be an issue.
If you find this text before the Fragments of Truth event concludes, you can still attempt to roll for Chenxing – Jade Arc, Yao – Nightglow, and Vidya – Celestial Swan. Each one is a powerful operative addition, making them highly desirable. In fact, I’d gladly forego all rerun banners during the anniversary update just to secure these three characters. At minimum, I’d definitely pick up Vidya, as she’s unquestionably the best universal support in the game and will complement any operative you acquire now or in the future.
Fritia-Turbo and Siris-Ksana are still being replayed along with the other three, but I believe you’ve already gone through their reviews. To be honest, I wouldn’t repeat them here.
Here’s another way of saying it: Remember this, when choosing a 4-star weapon for an operative, you don’t always have to select their signature weapon. Instead, you can acquire one through the ongoing event weapon farming processes. For additional details, check out this link.
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2025-07-07 04:02