THE END OF END ACTIONS?! - Hoshidan Summer Banner 2024 Review

We finally receive a trailer for this year's Hoshidan Summer, which is already revealed in the FEH Channel. I've already talked about my first impressions on these units from my last post, so without further ado, let's see what these fan favorites have in store.

Hoshidan Summer Mia

Summertime Axe

• Canto (Rem. +1)
• Slaying
• Omni+5

Grants the following to unit for 1 turn if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of turn:

• Spd/Def/Res+6
• Iote's Shield
• 50% DR-Piercing

Grants the following to unit if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of combat:

• True-Omni = 15% of Unit's Spd
• Null Guard
• Flat DMG (Max: 30; Excl. AOEs) = X × 5 
• Flat DR From All Hits (Max: 18; Excl. AOEs) = X × 3
• Additional Flat DR Against Foes' Specials (Max: 18; Excl. AOEs) = X × 3
• Where X = No. Of Bonus Status Effects Active On Unit & Foe
• 7 HP Healing Post Combat

Overall, she's going to very bulky with her visible bonuses to all stats similar to Fury, and she can hit and tank quite hard depending on the number of Bonus status effects. But then, it depends on which team you want to slot her in as Nergal's her best friend thanks to Essence Drain. Bear in mind that she could face opposing teams who also have Nergal, and that he can steal those effects from her as well.

The fact that she can cut through DR in half is similar to Legendary Camilla's support effect, but it's widespread among other units too.

She has a good synergy with Pegasus Rift, a new B skill that is similar to Wyvern Rift but it swaps out Def for Res. It's going to be valuable for most Res-based fliers like Chloe, as they are getting the most out of their Res for some unpierceable Flat DR, and that foes can barely perform follow-ups.

Lastly, she has Spd/Def Prime 4 as another Prime skill variant, alas no longer a viable option for a melee frontliner like her since the neutralization of Bonus status effects is getting widespread. She's going to be another user of A/S Rein Snap which is decent fodder.

Mia is built to be a hardy omni-tank, and she's going to excel in AR-Offense, where she has the flier privilege to bypass difficult terrain. She could work in Summoner Duels & Arena outside of that, yet she's not going to be at Emblem Ike's level. In general, she's going to open more flier frontliner options into the mix. You can go for her either if she's your favorite, or if you need that archetype.

Hoshidan Summer Lucia

Breezy Spear

• Atk+3
• Distant Counter
• Omni+5
• Omni+X = 15% Of Unit's Spd
• True DMG = 20% Of Unit's Spd
• 7 HP Healing Post Combat

For Both Unit & Foe, inflicts the following during combat:

• No Special Triggering
• Feud
• No Defensive Terrain Effects
• No Support Effects
• No NFU
• No NCD
• Hardy Bearing

It works almost the same as base Lucia's weapon, but as a side upgrade. Notice that her weapon lacks the usual DR effect, as it's covered by A/S Bulwark 4. Again, I would rather have Laguz Friend 4, Godlike Reflexes & Emblem Ike's Ring than this waste of slot.

And then, we have a Tier 4 version of Canto Control: Firm Canto Curb. Not only does it restrict foes' Canto effects like the Tier 3 version, but it has this one effect that makes me question if the developers really care the game's balance at all.

"Prevents 'after start of skills trigger, action ends immediately' status effects from being inflicted on unit & allies within 3 spaces of unit."

"For unit and allies within 3 spaces of unit, neutralizes effects that would end their action as a result of foes' skills..."

Am I reading it correctly? This skill has reached to the most absurd levels of powercreep: just like when Elimine got hard-countered by Freyr's "Dream Deliverer" last year, Duo Lyon gets shafted horribly at this point, and he's not even a year old!

I thought Lyon has already reached his limit after BOL 4, but no, FEH decides to make him suffer even more! This skill essentially shuts down both his end-action status infliction after combat, as well as his Duo button. As a result, he's becoming a generic cavalry nuke right now. How the mighty have already fallen after a short while!

I know his end-action effect is already toxic on its own, but the answer to it has gone way too far, as players who use him often would reach a point where he'll render completely useless outside of PvE. Even Fatal Smoke 4 can't save him any longer because of BOL 4.

It's not just Lyon who's victimized, Seiðr as well as her New Year counterpart got hit quite hard as well in AR-Offense. Assuming this skill is prevalent in Defense teams, she'll no longer reign in Astra season, and that Galeforce strategies are getting harder to conduct. Regardless, this skill's mainly here to hard-counter Duo Lyon in Summoner Duels, so I think many people would slot it in for that purpose.

Compared to her base version, Lucia still works the same, and so she needs higher investment in order to function properly as an omni-tank. Regardless, that one crazy skill alone is the tasty carrot that dangles in front of many players. I'm at loss for words, and I can't believe that IS would be kind enough to create this hell of an abomination after 2 months!

P.S How ironic it is that this skill is released right after they ditch Lyon into the Hero Fest! I'm starting to regret spending a little bit on that banner though.

Hoshidan Summer Leo

Juicy Basketful+:

Grants the following to unit for 1 turn if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of turn:

• Atk+6
• Guaranteed Follow-Up

Grants the following to unit if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of combat:

• Omni+4
• Flat DMG (Max: 25; Excl. AOEs) = No. Of Bonus Status Effects On Unit × 5

Being a colorless tome demote doesn't provide that many inheritance options, because there are quite a few demotes in this category. However, he has Still Water 3 & Fatal Smoke 3 as decent build-up fodder options.

The weapon is not that good though, yet it's the closest we can get for an inheritable colorless tome. I hope that an Arcane version of it gets released soon. 

Hoshidan Summer Nephenee + Sakura

Fluttering Fan:

• Slaying

Grants the following to unit if there is an ally within 3R & 3C:

• True Omni (Max: 14, Works On Difficult Terrain & Divine Vein Effects) = 5 + No. Of Foes Within 3R& 3C × 3
• Dull Spd/Res
• Special Acceleration By 1 Before Unit's 1st Hit & Unit's 1st Follow-Up
• Deals +10 Special Flat DMG (If HP ≤ 99%)
• Sweep (If Unit's Spd > Foe's Spd)

For allies within 3R & 3C:

• Null Guard
• Special Acceleration By 1 Before 1st Hit
• Deals +10 Special Flat DMG (If HP ≤ 99%)

I think she's going to be a very strong nuke and decent support unit, as she gets as many bonuses to all stats as she needs to hit harder, and it's automatically treated as max if she's in a Divine Vein effect or defensive terrain which looks very strong. As seen in the teaser, she gets to accelerate her Special first before she hits, which helps to get over Scowl effects from Myrrh. 

The only problem in her weapon is her Sweep effect, which is conditional as she needs to meet the Spd check, and it gives her trouble in the long run because more new units can outspeed her. Let's not forget that NCD is everywhere since the last New Heroes banner.

What's more, having Resonance combines her weapon really well to get the extra Flat DMG for her Special, and while Spd/Res Crux makes your team easier to do follow-ups, Deadly Miasma can be a decent alternative to improve her combat prowess.

Additionally, we're getting Atk/Spd Mastery as a variant of Catch skills, but this time, it's restricted to fliers. You basically get built-in Canto (2) and more Atk/Spd bonuses, which is really helpful as you can reserve your B slot for something else.

Lastly, her Harmonic Button grants Atk/Spd+6, extra movement as well as Penalty status neutralization to all allies from the same titles as her. It's something we've seen before in Attuned Micaiah's support, but I wish they could just merge Path of Radiance & Radiant Dawn into one entry instead so that Emblem Ike can make good use of it.

Overall, Nephenee can hit like a truck, and I reckon she's the first nuke being able to counter Scowl effects. She's going to be a menace in Aether Raids & Summoner Duels, especially on flier-lines. However, her damage output is not going to best out Ike, and we may be getting similar units like her in the future, and that we'll come to the point where Scowl starts to meet its downfall.

Final Thoughts + Will I Summon?

If not for that skill alone, I would have skipped this banner as these units don't really impact the game in a certain way. However, I know many people have been keenly waiting for Mia and Nephenee getting their alts, so if these are your favorites, then go ahead acquiring a copy of each.

We all know that CYL8 is coming less than a week away, where we'll get Brave units who would bring something new to the table yearly. Therefore, I would recommend waiting for the Brave banner instead, and see what's going to show up as it's going to be better than the currently released units. 

Usually, I would save up some Special Heroes that I'm not using, yet I can't resist offering that fodder from Lucia. After all, I'm not planning to use her anyway because she's merely a side upgrade requiring a lot of investment. I might as well spark for her and slot her skill in AR-Defense, particularly in Anima season to counteract Seiðr's end action effect. 

Let me know if you're interested in any of these units, and be sure to save your orbs from getting end actioned!