Hey Directors!

We noticed the Echoing Nexus feature in Ash Echoes SEA is a bit confusing… Try thinking of it as a place to equip your weapons (Memory Traces) on your characters (Echomancers)! Check out this simple guide below, don’t worry the Echoing Nexus is quite easy to understand!

What is the Echoing Nexus in Ash Echoes SEA?

The Echoing Nexus is a roguelike mode that is mainly used for Echomancer progression. At the end of each run, the Echomancer will earn Engravings which permanently give stat boosts and passive effects that apply throughout the entire game.Clearing Danger Zones for the first time will also reward you with X Particles. Each Nexus path also comes with reputation levels, which can be raised by earning Engraving records for various Echomancers. Higher reputation levels unlock valuable rewards, including pulls for Traces.

Weekly runs also offer Mirrorshards to level up Traces and Coins for reaching specific depth milestones, up to a cap of 80. High Engraving ratings across multiple Echomancers can unlock growth rewards such as XP, X-Particles, Resonance Clues, and boosts to DEF and TRM stats for all battles.

How to enter the Echoing Nexus in Ash Echoes SEA?

Simply click the Nexus button in the lobby. This will take you to the Nexus menu, where you can choose between Nexus: Simulation, Nexus: Surface, and any unlocked Echoing Nexus.

Nexus: Simulation lets you instantly generate an Engraving by using a Blank Chip (earned from daily activities). The stats and skills of the Engraving depend on your character’s ascension level and Memory Trace upgrades.

Nexus: Surface involves shorter runs with five map segments and limited depth (up to Depth 5). Engravings generated here have lower stats and fewer skills. This mode is best suited for quick daily missions or beginner goals.

Nexus: Surface and Echoing Nexus both require Spirit to enter. You get one Spirit daily upon reset and can regenerate one more through daily activities. Additional Spirits can be purchased using X-Particles at 20 per Spirit. Keep in mind that if you have 5 or more Spirits, regeneration stops.

Echoing Nexus is the main mode, offering extended runs through multiple map segments. It allows for highly customizable Engravings with better stats and a wider range of skills.

Here are important tips and tricks you should know about the Echoing Nexus!

Start by selecting your leader Echomancer, who will be controlled throughout the run and receive the Engraving upon completion. Each leader has predefined starting stats and skills.

Select five Memory Traces and one aiding Memory Trace from another player. Higher-level Traces provide better stats and skills for the Engraving.

Encounters: Throughout the Nexus, you'll face groups of enemies using only your leader. After defeating an encounter, you can increase the depth level. Each depth level up to 12 grants additional stats and skill points, but enemies become tougher beyond Depth 12 without offering extra rewards.

Reward Nodes As you progress, you'll find Reward Nodes offering bonus stats, skill points, or Trace skill upgrades.

Illumination: Memory Traces can become illuminated when gaining stats. The chance increases with higher Trace levels and as unilluminated nodes accumulate. Illuminated Traces stay highlighted until chosen and provide better bonuses.

Memory Trace Properties: Each Memory Trace has unique effects triggered under certain conditions. Traces also have an Awakening skill that can be upgraded during runs, unlocking stronger versions at specific levels (1, 3, and 5) or bonus stats and skill points at levels 2 and 4. If a skill is already maxed out, you’ll receive a large boost in skill points instead.

Danger Zones function like standard stages where you can deploy up to 7 characters and one assistant. First-time clears reward X-Particles, and repeat encounters allow you to skip battles if your team is strong enough or the depth level is 8 or below (excluding final bosses). Failing a battle gives you the option to retry or skip the Danger Zone, though skipping reduces your depth level and rewards.

Nexus Paths: Each Echoing Nexus includes multiple Paths, which are unlocked at branch nodes during a run. Each path features unique enemies, mechanics, and Danger Zones, with some offering exclusive skills as rewards.

After completing the final boss of a path, you’ll gather your reward nodes and finalize your Engraving. Collected skills can then be leveled up using accumulated skill points. These Engravings become permanently usable across all game modes.

Other Nexus Mechanics

Mental Load: Performing actions in the Nexus increases mental load, which causes debuffs over time. You can reduce mental load at specific reward nodes.

Defense Scaling: Higher depths require higher DEF stats. Falling short of these requirements results in a damage-taken penalty based on the deficit.

Stat Caps: Each Nexus mode imposes a stat limit. For instance, Nexus: Phenomena and Nexus: Mirage cap stats at 1,280. Once a stat exceeds 1,000, further gains are halved.

Nexus Reputation: Your highest Engraving ratings for each character and path are recorded to contribute to Path Reputation Levels. Higher reputation levels grant rewards such as currency for Memory Trace banners, stat bonuses, and easier skill/stat gains within that path.

Nexus Memory Challenges: Each path has its own Memory Challenges, which are unlocked by achieving high Engraving ratings during a run. These challenges condense the mechanics of a path into a single stage and offer rewards such as X-Particles, Memory Trace Selectors, and exclusive badges.

Nexus Strategy: When entering Nexus, prioritize your team’s needs. Some Memory Traces require specific stat thresholds to activate their skills. If you aim to optimize fully, you can calculate the skill points you’ll need beforehand, but this isn’t always necessary. As a general rule, prioritize Path of Stats (Right) until encounters become too challenging, then switch to Path of Skills (Left) for better progression. Most of the time, choosing the highest numerical boost available will suffice.

We hope this guide gives you a good idea on how to tackle the Echoing Nexus in Ash Echoes SEA. Remember to not get overwhelmed and take each step at a time, don’t worry! It’s quite simple once you understand.

Be sure to join our discord and community channels to partake in our upcoming giveaways and events! https://discord.gg/xX8Nc8Cenu

See you beyond the Skyrift, Directors!

The Ash Echoes SEA Team.