Kafka Guide and Best Builds

Introductions

Kafka is a 5★ Lightning Character following the Path of Nihility. Kafka is the best DoT support in the game and will electrify all your foes and bring them down with the combined might of your teams DoTs.
Our Kafka Build Guide will show you the best Light Cones, Relics and Team Compositions build the best Kafka you can.

Kafka's Best Light Cone

The percentage numbers listed showcase the relative Team DPS increase when you take into account both the Light Cone Effect(s) and Cones Base Stats.

Before the Tutorial Mission Starts (S5)
100%

Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 20.0 / 25.0 / 30.0 / 35.0 / 40.0%. When the wearer attacks DEF-reduced enemies, regenerates 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 Energy.

Sources: Mission Reward

This is a 4★ Event Light Cone that can be bought in the Herta's Store for in-game currency. This Light Cone is significantly ahead of other options as the Energy Generation is irreplaceable and allows Kafka to do 1 Turn Ultimates.

Lies Dance on the Breeze (S1)
91.6%

Increases the wearer's SPD by 18.0 / 21.0 / 24.0 / 27.0 / 30.0%. After the wearer uses an attack, there is a 120.0% base chance to inflict the "Bamboozle" state on every enemy target. While under the "Bamboozle" state, enemy targets have their DEF decreased by 16.0 / 18.0 / 20.0 / 22.0 / 24.0% for 2 turn(s). If the wearer's SPD is higher than or equal to 170, there is a 120.0% base chance to inflict the "Theft" state on every enemy target. While under the "Theft" state, enemy targets have their DEF decreased by 8.0 / 9.0 / 10.0 / 11.0 / 12.0% for 2 turn(s). When "Bamboozle" or "Theft" is repeatedly inflicted, only the most recently inflicted instance takes effect.

Sources: Event Warp (limited)

This is Ciphers's Signature Light Cone. This Light Cone has a large boost to SPD % which allows for Kafka to trigger more DoTs in a fight while providing a DEF shredding debuff on all enemies hit that is a significant increase to team DPS.

Patience Is All You Need (S1)
85.6%

Increases DMG dealt by the wearer by 24.0 / 28.0 / 32.0 / 36.0 / 40.0%. After every attack launched by wearer, their SPD increases by 4.8 / 5.6 / 6.4 / 7.2 / 8.0%, stacking up to 3 times. If the wearer hits an enemy target that is not afflicted by Erode, there is a 100% base chance to inflict Erode to the target. Enemies afflicted with Erode are also considered to be Shocked and will receive Lightning DoT at the start of each turn equal to 60.0 / 70.0 / 80.0 / 90.0 / 100% of the wearer's ATK, lasting for 1 turn(s).

Sources: Event Warp (limited)

This is Kafka's Signature Light Cone and provides a large boost to SPD % which lets her trigger more DoT effects in a fight. Despite being Kafka's signature weapon this is significantly worse than running .

Those Many Springs (S5)
85%

Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 60.0 / 70.0 / 80.0 / 90.0 / 100%. After the wearer uses Basic ATK, Skill, or Ultimate to attack an enemy target, there is a 60.0% base chance to inflict "Unarmored" on the target. While in the Unarmored state, the enemy target receives 10.0 / 12.0 / 14.0 / 16.0 / 18.0% increased DMG, lasting for 2 turn(s). If the target is under a DoT state inflicted by the wearer, there is a 60.0% base chance to upgrade the "Unarmored" state inflicted by the wearer to the "Cornered" state, which additionally increases the DMG the enemy target receives by 14.0 / 16.0 / 18.0 / 20.0 / 22.0%, lasting for 2 turn(s). During this period, the wearer cannot inflict "Unarmored" on the target.

Sources: Event Warp (limited)

This is 's Signature Light Cone. This Light Cone applies a large increased DMG taken debuff to enemies which increases the damage of all teammates.

Holiday Thermae Escapade (S5)
83.7%

Increases the wearer's DMG dealt by 16.0 / 20.0 / 24.0 / 28.0 / 32.0%. After the wearer attacks, there is a 100% base chance to inflict the attacked target with Vulnerability, increasing the DMG they receive by 10.0 / 11.5 / 13.0 / 14.5 / 16.0% for 2 turn(s). Effects of the same type cannot stack.

Sources: Nameless Glory

This Battlepass Nihility Light Cone applies a increased DMG taken debuff that will boost the entire team's DPS. Kafka does relatively low damage so the DMG% is not as valuable as the debuff.

Before the Tutorial Mission Starts (S1)
81.2%

Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 20.0 / 25.0 / 30.0 / 35.0 / 40.0%. When the wearer attacks DEF-reduced enemies, regenerates 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 Energy.

Sources: Mission Reward

Without being S5 this Light Cone does not allow Kafka to get one turn ultimates. Your highest priority should be buying the upgrades from the Herta's Store to refine this to S5.

Holiday Thermae Escapade (S1)
80.3%

Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat (S5)
80.1%

When the wearer hits an enemy and if the hit enemy is not already "Ensnared," then there is a 60.0 / 70.0 / 80.0 / 90.0 / 100% base chance to "Ensnare" the hit enemy. "Ensnared" enemies' DEF decreases by 12.0 / 13.0 / 14.0 / 15.0 / 16.0% for 1 turn(s).

Sources: Stellar Warp

This is a 4★ Light Cone for Nihility Characters that applies a DEF reduction debuff on enemies increasing overall team damage. The debuff provided can have downtime as it cannot be refreshed and will need the current debuff to expire before it can be reapplied.

Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat (S1)
78.6%

Eyes of the Prey (S5)
76.1%

Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 20.0 / 25.0 / 30.0 / 35.0 / 40.0% and increases DoT by 24.0 / 30.0 / 36.0 / 42.0 / 48.0%.

Sources: Stellar Warp

This 4★ Light Cone provides a lot of Effect Hit Rate and DMG% which are both useful stats for Kafka. This does not result in a significant increase to team DPS however as it does not boost the damage of her teammates.

Best Relics and Planar Ornaments for Kafka

Best Relics for Kafka

These are the best Relic Sets to build for Kafka. The percentage shows the relative difference to Kafka's best performing set.

Eagle of Twilight Line
100%

2-Piece Set: Increases Wind DMG by 10.0%.

4-Piece Set: After the wearer uses their Ultimate, their action is Advanced Forward by 25.0%.

This Relic Set is significantly better than any other option for Kafka. As enables her to use her Ultimate every turn this Relic Set will also give her 25% Action Advance every turn — effectively 33% more turns!
Any other options are over 15% DPS behind so we do not recommend building them.

Best Planar Ornaments

Lushaka, the Sunken Seas
100%

2-Piece Set: Increases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 5.0%. If the wearer is not the first character in the team lineup, then increases the ATK of the first character in the team lineup by 12.0%.

This is Kafka's best-in-slot Planar Ornament in most situations as it provides a needed 5% Energy Regeneration Rate to let her get consistent 1 turn ultimates and provides 12% ATK to your main DPS.

Sprightly Vonwacq
100%

2-Piece Set: Increases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 5.0%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's action is Advanced Forward by 40.0% immediately upon entering battle.

This is Kafka's second best Planar Ornament. This also provides 5% Energy Regeneration Rate allowing for consistent 1 Turn Ultimates and will Action Advance Kafka by 40% for her first turn. This can result in an additional Kafka action on a fight making this competitive with or sometimes even superior.

Penacony, Land of the Dreams
99%

2-Piece Set: Increases wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 5.0%. Increases DMG by 10.0% for all other allies that are of the same Type as the wearer.

This is Kafka's third best Planar Ornament. This also provides 5% Energy Regeneration Rate allowing for consistent 1 Turn Ultimates and will provide 10% DMG to any Lightning characters. This additional effect is not currently valued into our calculation as there are currently no viable Lightning DoT units.

Kafka's Stat Priority

Body

ATK%

Effect Hit Rate

Feet

SPD

Planar Sphere

Lightning DMG Boost

ATK%

Link Rope

Energy Regeneration Rate

Stat Priority

SPD

Effect Hit Rate (To 75%)

ATK%

ATK

Recommended Endgame Stats for Kafka

2800+

DEF

800+

ATK

2600+

Effect Hit Rate

75%

SPD

154+

Traces Priority

Skills Priority

Ultimate > Skill > Talent > Basic

Major Traces Priority

Thorns > Torture > Plunder

Kafka Build Comments

Character Explanation Build Advice

Character Explanation

Kafka is a support DoT character who can cause all DoT effects on enemies to trigger immediately doing damage. Kafka triggers DoT effects with her Ultimate Twilight Trill, her Skill Caressing Moonlight and her Follow-up ATK Gentle but Cruel thanks to her A6 Trace Thorns.

As Kafka's Skill causes DoT effects to do damage it is extremely important to manage your Skill Points in DoT teams well so that Kafka can use her skill every single turn.

Kafka will give 100% ATK to any ally (including Kafka) who has at least 75% Effect Hit Rate. Currently all DoT carries are heavily incentivised to invest into Effect Hit Rate so they should all have this.

Kafka generates an incredible amount of energy thanks to Before the Tutorial Mission Starts. This Light Cone means if any of her attacks hit an enemy who has their DEF reduced, such as by Hysilens's Aura, she will generate an additional 8 Energy. Kafka will get 1 Skill and Follow-up guaranteed each turn, and usually one ultimate (alongside another Follow-up ATK) for a total of 4 triggers.
All in all this means that Kafka will generate 30 Energy (Skill) + 10x2 Energy (2 FuA) + 5 Energy (Ultimate) + 4x8 Energy (Before the Tutorial Mission Starts) for a total of 87 Energy. With Energy Regeneration Rate Rope and a 5% Energy Regeneration Rate Planar this will be 108.22 Energy needing to be hit 1 time or get a kill to reach the 110 for her Ultimate.

Build Advice

SPD is the most important stat to aim for when building Kafka as she does relatively low personal damage compared to the other DoT characters making ATK% less efficient. Whereas, how much SPD you have directly influences how often she can trigger their DoTs which makes up the majority of her damage contribution to the team.

It is efficient for DPS to get enough EHR to reach 75%. When using Before the Tutorial Mission Starts Kafka should only need 5 EHR rolls in total across all of her gear. This is why we do not recommend using an Effect Hit Rate Body as it would be more Effect Hit Rate than she needs.

We suggest using either a ATK% Sphere or a Lightning Damage Sphere as these provide a small amount of Team DPS. A lightning Damage sphere is approximately a 0.6% Team DPS upgrade over a ATK% Sphere. As the difference between them is small so the only thing that matters is how much SPD is rolled on the item.

As non-SPD damage stats have so little value for Kafka it can sometimes be worth replacing your Body Armour or Sphere with one with defensive stats. It is approximately a 0.8% Team DPS loss to lose an ATK% piece and 1.2% DPS loss to lose the Lightning Damage Sphere, assuming all relics are equally rolled. If the relics are not equally rolled and the defensive relics have more SPD they can actually be more DPS!

An Energy Regeneration Rate Rope is mandatory for Kafka as it is required so she can generate enough Energy to consistently 1 use her Ultimate every turn.

We strongly recommend using SPD boots as they provide a significant amount of SPD which is her strongest stat.

We do not suggest using an Energy Regeneration Rate Rope as the increased Ultimate Uptime is worse for DPS than having more ATK. Using an Energy Regeneration Rate rope is approximately 2.5% less DPS (~5 ATK% substats).

Kafka's Best Teams

To learn all about Kafka's synergies and best team compositions, check our dedicated Kafka's team page below:

Kafka Teams

Kafka's Best Eidolons

Kafka's first two Eidolons are quite powerful however they are weaker than the early Eidolons for Hysilens' or Black Swan's. Therefore, we recommend picking up the Eidolons on the other DoT Characters first.
Recommended vertical investment order for DoT teams is Hysilens' E1 (48.9%) -> Black Swan E1 (31.8%) -> Hysilens' E2 (30.8%) -> Kafka E1 (18%) -> Kafka E2 (10.8%).
Listed below are our calculations for Kafka's Eidolons:

Eidolon	% Diff	% Diff E0	Comment
Da Capo	18.3%	18.3%	This is Kafkas best Eidolon by a large margin as it is a high uptime 30% DoT vulnerability.
Fortississimo	10.8%	31.1%	This Eidolon is a good increase to DPS but DoT characters already have a large amount of DMG%. This is still powerful and we would strongly suggest against investing further than this.
Capriccio	0.5%	31.8%	The overall Team DPS for Kafka teams do not scale very well with Kafka Skill and Basic ATK levels.
Recitativo	4.5%	37.6%	This is a considerable boost to Energy Generation, especially on AoE where it can be closer to a 10% DPS increase. However it is not enough to allow Kafka to switch off Before the Tutorial Mission Starts.
Doloroso	1.1%	39.1%	While better than E3 due to Ultimate levels being more impactful this is still very poor for overall Team DPS.
Leggiero	2.1%	42.1%	Kafka's own DoT is a relatively low fraction of overall Team DPS. While this is a significant increase to Kafka's own contribution it ends up being very small compared to the damage of the other characters.

Saeldur

Staff Author

Follow Saeldur

This guide has been written by Saeldur, an Evoker Theorycrafter since the class came out in Dragonflight. He is an accomplished high end player with top parses on multiple specs, an Expert on the Evoker Discord, and has a deep understanding of many other classes, and how they interact with Augmentation Evoker.