#hex nail sinclair

Yearning - Mircalla Meursault:

Src: Project Moon (yes this is the PV, Art of this hasn't come across my dash/feed on any media i use for art :(, this is a placeholder, i'll probably make something for this)

can roll for up to 29 if the enemy has 12 bleed, rolls for 21 without conditionals this is essentially a better version of Sanguine desire rodion it is able to proc bleed-damage 5 times when being used, which is higher than the 2x damage that Sanguine Desire Rodion can deal, not to mention the fact that Rodion Deals lust damage while Meursault deals flat (bleed) damage

even more: Meursault's EGO needs 4+ resonance, not 4+ Absolute Resonance as Rodion does for highest results

This EGO also has a unique effect: Rose Wedge:

""Basically"" Max count is 4: This effect's count is applied through Meursault's EGO, up to a max of 4; Count is reduced at round en Max Potency is 10: Every time the unit with this effect takes 10 Bleed damage, increase potency by one. When this unit gains bleed through getting hit, inflict 1 bleed on attacker and 2 bleed on self. At 10 Potency, also gain +1 bleed count. [Combat end]: At either 10 Potency or 1 count, this effect expires, and deals [Potency x10] lust damage to this unit (max 100 Lust damage) if this effect kills, deal [Potency x2] Lust damage to all this unit's allies.

This unique effect on its own deals roughly half of Rodion's sanguine desire's lust damage effect.

This EGO also shares the same finale effect as Sanguine Desire: dealing the excess damage (on fourth coin specifically, so if it kills coins 1-3 then this effect will not proc) to all other allies of that unit.

Corrosion:

this EGO corrosion makes use of Meursault's predisposition for High-HP ID's, as it consumes 10% of his own Max HP in order to deal 5% of his max hp (or rather the consumed HP/2) to all allies and enemies.

This effect does not trigger below 50% hp however, in which case he will add 5 bleed to all allies, before activating bleed on all allies and healing for the damage done (minimum (assuming 6 sinners) 30 HP, Max (assuming all allies have 99 Bleed potency) 594 HP healed)

The corrosion rolls for a whopping 1 higher than the awakening, at 30 (with conditionals)

This EGO, when corroding, does not require the same 4+ resonance that the awakening does for the first 2 Bleed damage-trigger effects, the final coin's triple trigger however does require said 4 Resonance.

The third coin of corrosion saves you some time, as if the enemy did not have Rose Wedge prior to it being inflicted, it inflicts an additional 4 potency, meaning only 60 bleed damage must occur for max damage.

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My primary concern for this EGO is that of Bleed-count sustainability, i know that vampires are literally the bleed 'counts' but still (i am so sorry).

Namely because, the coin effect of the triple bleed activation requires a clash win, meaning that it cannot work against staggered targets; This is notable as it means the enemy requires at least 7 bleed count prior to Meursault beginning his clash, otherwise all bleed count will be consumed (1 or more from clashing, 1 each from coins 1 and 2, and then up to three from the final effect). Meursault's best bleed EGO, Rhino, is however excellent at applying bleed, as are many other ID's, the only problem therin being that those ID's have a tendency to be less effective regarding bleed potency that not.

This EGO, although i actually already wrote on it slightly in the past, makes me think about what is it that Meursault is so longing for in order to use this EGO; I know there's the line of thought with carnal desires relating to Marie back in the book, but id argue that its likely to be more than that, as if it was purely desire-driven then Heathcliff or Ishmael would have been better fits for the EGO.

His passive heals him for like up to 10 HP per turn, equal to the amount of bleed damage he deals/takes or something, i only noticed i didn't mention this at all in final editing

Yearning - Mircalla Don Quixote:

Src:@NishikujiC on twitter

This EGO rolls for up to 12 without conditionals. Coin power gained based on enemy bleed, up to 2, allows for this ego to roll for 23. And this EGO gains clash power based on BLOODFEAST CONSUMED BY **SELF** (which Don Quixote is currently unable to do, until she gains her season ID presumably) all together this EGO can clash for 23 currently, and 28 when she gets her seasonal ID.

This EGO deals more damage for each coin based on **Cumulative** Bloodfeast Consumed, which includes all allies and enemies. All coins share the same damage increase ratio, being 1% per 10 Bloodfeast Consumed (shared), or 0.1x per 1.

Coin 1 maxes out at 10% increase, requiring 100 Bloodfeast consumed; Coin 2 At 20%, needing 200. Coin 3 at 30%, needing 300. Coin 4 at 50%, needing 500 total bloodfeast consumed.

This EGO also has a unique effect, Polydipsic Rose:

Max Value: 5 Turn end: If this unit has 10+ bleed potency, take 1% max HP lust damage per value (maximum 30 Lust damage per value), then reduce value by one.

The awakening EGO applies 4 of this effect, which will deal a total of 10% max hp Lust damage (max 300 Lust damage) over its duration.

The Corrosion EGO applies 5, dealing a total of 15% max HP Lust damage (Max 450 Lust damage)

When used in Corrosion:

this EGO will roll for 30, being a negative coin EGO. It additionally has the Yaoi-Meursault effect of unyielding until the skill is finished, where her HP cannot drop below 1.

On use, gain 20 bleed, activate bleed on self, and reduce bleed count on self by 2; this can theoretically be useful for removing potentially fatal bleed count on self, however i believe its intended use is to instead stack more latent bloodfeast for the bloodfiend ID's to use.

Funnily enough, due to her passive "Spring Crimson Blossom", she is less likely to roll heads if this EGO has been used previously this combat, as she will heal a whopping 2 SP due to the 20 bleed damage on self.

This EGO corrosion is able to inflict 22 bleed potency, 2 through a [before attack] effect if under 150 bloodfeast; 1 for every 50 Bloodfeast consumed (total) up to a max of 10 and 500 consumed. 10 inflicted when under 100 bloodfeast.

on the second coin, it deals 20% increased damage for every 100 total Bloodfeast consumed, up to a max of 100% increase. additionally, this EGO will heal Don for 50% of the damage that coin dealt, exactly like Le Sangre De Sancho, except this healing is maxed at 10 per target, for a max of 70 healing. 70 Healing is nothing to scoff at in the slightest, but at the same time, the other self healing-damage dealing EGO in the game, Wingbeat, can consistently heal Ishmael to full HP Moreso, other healing EGO arent limited by the targetable enemies, making this far less useful than other healing EGO in any non-group battle situation, maybe if she had some sort of gimmick like meursault where she had 14 attack weight but only healed/dealt bleed damage on allies? idk.

Her passive heals for 1 SP every time 10 bleed damage occurs, maxed at 10.

Lasso Faust:

Src: @stellar-jasper Stellar_jasper Linktree

this EGO rolls for 13 without conditionals. This EGO gains power based on enemy rupture and speed, being able to roll for 22 total.

Before attack: Gain 2 Haste next turn.

This EGO is count negative by one, as it inflicts +2 on coin 1 of three.

This EGO's passive works well with Seven Ass. Faust due to having the same: "after attack, if enemy is staggered or defeated". This EGO passive is also able to inflict rupture count, being +1 count on 2 enemies

Lasso Hong Lou:

Src: @stellar-jasper Stellar_jasper linktree

This EGO rolls for 12 without conditionals. With conditionals (total speed (self speed + Enemy speed) and enemy Rupture) this ego rolls for 24.

This EGO is ALSO count negative, inflicting *up to* (based on glut. Resonance) +3 count on coin 3 of four.

its weird that PM has been trying to make Rupture-Bleed a thing since season 1, back with Ebony Queen's stem.

This EGO is interesting? its Rupture count negative, it inflicts rupture based on own speed?

This EGO also has an effect (Lasso Faust corrosion shares this effect but i CBA): "Lasso"

Lasso: Round end, gain rupture potency equal to speed value (max 5), then reduce count by one and gain 1 bind next turn

....

....why does it inflict based on speed count... when it drops their speed count? it drops their speed count...

This EGO actually rolls lower during corrosion, being 23 rather than 24.

In corrosion this EGO inflicts 1 extra HP healing down and Lasso effect, while inflicting 1 less rupture count (due to it losing a coin it remains at -1 count total) and +2 bleed count.

I rather like the correlation between roses and bloodfiends, linking the Rose-hunter's into being the bloodfiend hunters as only bloodfiend hunters (and also season 1's R.B. Chef de Cuisine Ryōshū) possess this effect.

The only flaw in that correlation however is that the "rose" aspect of the hunter is not it searching for roses, the "rose" descriptor is self referential, it is instead hunting apples.

on the final coin only, deal 1% more damage for every rupture, and the same effect for bleed, for a potential 60% increase total.

I don't like rupture very much so i don't have too many thoughts on that aspect, however, i am somewhat interested in the thematic surrounding this Abnormality, including both Faust and Hong Lou, alongside the fact that it was included in Don Quixote's Dungeon and Canto. Specifically, other than the obvious fairy tale motif shared by Don herself, it has the trait of a supposed "predetermined story" of sorts, as seen through both the awakening EGO lines:

Follow the predetermined path of the tale. Be ensnared, for that is only right.

Run along the flow and voilà~ There you are!

This can be related to Don herself acting "how a fixer should act" in her belief, upholding, and attempting to prove the justness of her version of justice, and her dismay when something should slight that (eg. during the casino scene of canto 2).

there is more elaboration to be made in a follow up post, i would normally write it here, however i like to avoid cross-contamination with when i discuss spoilers/new content

Hex Nail sinclair:

(There were others i just wanted an excuse to shout this artist out) Src:@shroomychan.bsky.social @Myceliumycete on tumblr

Rolls for 21 max.

Hits up to 3 enemies.

Inflicts up to 4 curse (2 min. 4 max.) and inflicts 3 nails. this EGO also consumes 2 curse on hit, and activates both those curse-effects immediately. At 4+ curse, inflict 1 same turn clash power down for some reason its clarified that it can only inflict the clash power down once per turn which.... its a 2 coin skill so Rusty Commemorative Coin doesn't work... and it's an EGO so you can't use it twice in a turn?

Corrosion:

this EGO rolls for a 25 in corrosion, becoming a negative coin skill.

the conditional for maximum curse is now removed, being 4 by default; the first coin also applies one more bleed potency. (3)

if 4+ envy resonance, this skill will inflict 1 clash power down (still same turn). For some reason the in game text feels the need to clarify "4+ envy resonance including this skill" which... yeah? that's how resonance works? None of the other EGO released this batch have these weird additional sections in their coin effects, its only Hex Nail(s)? All of the others just say "for/if X+ resonance"

additionally, this skill will have attack weight 3 by default instead of requiring envy resonance (for every 3 envy resonance INCLUDING THIS SKILL gain attack weight +1)

Passive: Gain Clash power up and defense level up if this unit has a negative effect on self at round start... This EGO doesn't have any self inflicted negative effects? Not even the corrosion has any self negative effects? Sinclair doesn't even have a self-negative effect ID yet? and i don't see him getting a bloodfiend ID for self-bleed shenanigans? idk.

ok now let me Nail Sincla

Hex Nail Rodion:

Src: minji_mj2802 on twitter Minji_mj's Carrd

Rolls for 24

After attack will heal SELF AND 2 OTHERS for 15% of THIS UNIT'S max HP. Note two things, the fact that this will always heal self (which pursuance is unable to do) and heals based on own max HP, unlike other Healing EGO like Meursault's Pursuance which heals the other sinners max HP.

Each unit being healed will heal 2.5% HP for every negative effect on self (max 10% increase to healing)

Heals self and three allies at 4+ envy resonance [[INCLUDING THIS SKILL]].

inflicts 4 Bleed, 3 curse, 3 nails.

in corrosion, this EGO rolls for 28 as a negative coin skill.

This attack will heal 3 other allies and self for 20% of this unit's max HP. every unit this heals will gain 1 offence level up for every negative effect on self (max 3) this will also heal one additional ally at 4+ envy resonance **[[INCLUDING THIS SKILL]]**

Passive:

When this unit inflicts bleed or unique bleed against an enemy with non EGO attack skills, inflict 1 defence level down (once per turn) Also inflict 2 additional bleed if target already possessed bleed or unique bleed.

If an ally, including self, takes unblocked HP damage from "the" enemy, inflict 1 curse against said enemy (2 times per turn)

I want to point out the fact that the description says from "the" enemy? i'm assuming this means that once you hit someone they gain curse if they attempt to attack someone back? Also, i'm fairly sure that Rodion is now the first to have 3 He EGO? we need someone to get a third Zayin, fourth Teth, fourth He, or second Waw to break the records now i guess

Now there are some interesting things to note about Hurting teddy bear as a whole so lets give that its own heading:

Hex Nail Primogenitor Hurting Teddy Bear:

Or i suppose happy teddy bear is the ancestor so it should be just progenitor? or is the well the primogenitor? im overthinking this.

So lets start with obvious observations: The correlation that can be made with voodoo dolls, the common idea of a cursed doll that you insert nails into, hence the status effect "Curse" first being present in this abnormalities EGO and only later appearing in another archetypically "haunted" or "Cursed" thematic of Bygone Days.

While 'Happy Teddy Bear' was a toy that was abandoned by its owner, the Hurting Teddy Bear seems to not have the same kind of integrality with its owner that its progenitor had, due to the lack of any direct mention of its owner. Rather, 'Hurting Teddy Bear' seems to be indicative of abuse or being controlled by another in life, represented through a clearly abused and neglected toy — It's less directly clear as to how this relates to Faust's past as we know, to use to technical term, "absolutely fucking nothing" about her past; Rodion's relation can be seen in her sprite and animation, with her use of the bear as a puppet (or the puppets control of her during corrosion), this is related to social determinism*, wherein the circumstances of neglect and abuse that surrounded Rodion within her past were the direct cause of her crime of murdering the pawn shop owner. we can too see this in the Corrosion line:

Now, little Rodya. Hurt them with your own hands. Fuhu, ta-da!

The obvious correlation to be made being "Hurt them with your own hands". This concept of puppetry extends in two more aspects, the first of which being Rodion's base EGO: What is Cast. specifically referring to her line during said EGO, which reinforces my posited argument with the abuse controlling her:

I couldn't undo a thing

'She' couldn't undo a thing, 'she' wasn't the one who was in control.

as for the second, i have yet to see this for myself but from what i've heard: while her face during the corrosion's idle sprite is normally somewhat dour, if zoomed in on, her expression changes to that of a normal, cheery Rodion. This can be interpreted as the consequences/circumstances of Rodion's abuse and past still controlling how she behaves to this day, while still in this company, a concept that is a fairly common sentiment ive seen as her story is far from finished.

The awakening sprite could be representative of this in reverse, her harm towards those who ARE corrupt and immoral.

Sinclair is much more direct, being the concept of abuse and exploitation by Kromer, and to some extent im sure neglect by his family — This doesn't explain the entirety of this EGO however, as the line's do not support this entirely:

Why don't you try impaling yourself with it, then. Feel what it's like to have someone curse you…

Now that you're torn, I'll sew you up! Heheh… Get over here!

Rather than just being *the* abuse that Sinclair has suffered, i believe that, while downstream of that idea, the most accurate representation is the embodiment of resentment, hatred at others who abused him over time, his seething wrath.

of course my theory is discounted because this EGO doesn't use Wrath resources.