Neeko
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Good (6.5/10)
Epic Relics
Neeko occupies a unique space where her performance is heavily dictated by non-traditional builds rather than her intended subtype mechanic. While she is capable of aggressive early-game victories and possesses several viable build paths, her constellation layout is restrictive, and her power floor is lower than many of her peers without specific relic support.
The Machine Gun (Burn/Skill Focus)
Reduces the cost of Neeko's champion spell, allowing for multiple casts per turn to swarm the board and trigger Impact/Skill effects.
Increases the damage of Neeko's skills and the pings generated by her 6-star power, significantly accelerating her lethality.
Generates Warning Shots on summon, which provide zero-cost spell triggers and additional Nexus damage.
Strategy
This is the most optimized strategy for high-level content. By ignoring the subtype-swarming gameplan, Neeko utilizes her champion spell to generate board presence and trigger skill-based damage repeatedly. At 6 stars, this becomes a board-clearing engine that can often end games in the first few rounds.
Guardian Orb Engine
- Ensures a steady supply of champion spells to consistently create new instances of Neeko.
Each summon grants Epic items to cards in the deck, eventually creating an insurmountable advantage through item-stacked units.- Running a second orb maximizes the number of items granted per cast, leading to a faster 'snowball' effect.
Strategy
This build focuses on creating an infinite loop of stat and keyword generation. By repeatedly summoning Neeko via her champion spell, the deck is flooded with Epic items.
Aggressive Subtype Swarm
Grants the entire board Overwhelm and provides a stat boost to all units with subtypes, making Neeko's wide boards much harder to block.
Exploits Neeko's low level-up requirement to generate a Rally, enabling multiple attacks in the opening turns.
Provides Spirit and Boosts units on attack, which synergizes with the high frequency of attacks and multi-unit boards.
Strategy
This build attempts to make the intended subtype mechanic viable for mid-difficulty encounters. It relies on a high volume of units and immediate pressure, utilizing Overwhelm to ensure that the small units in Neeko's base deck can still push meaningful damage.
Other Relic Options
Provides a massive stat boost and alternate win conditions by shuffling level 2 champions into the deck, though it sidelines Neeko's own kit.
Essential for lower-level runs to ensure spell mana is available for an immediate champion spell cast after playing Neeko.
Critical defensive utility in adventures with heavy removal or targeting effects, such as the Swain or Lissandra encounters.
A niche defensive option that grants Neeko the 'Tech' subtype, aiding in her level-up condition while providing Nexus Tough.
Neeko is highly flexible and can utilize almost any relic that rewards summon triggers or targeting allies. Relics that grant subtypes (like Treasures of the Deep) provide marginal utility for her level-up condition.
Constellation
The constellation pathing is notably restrictive. Many essential power spikes and gemstone nodes are gated behind high-tier star levels, forcing heavy investment before Neeko reaches her full potential. She possesses a unique experience node that benefits the entire roster, but is controvesial due to its cost and requirements.
Harmony of the Wild
Each round, the first ally you play with a different subtype than other allies costs 1 less.
Definitely Not Neeko
+1 Starting Mana. Game Start: For each ally in your deck, if it has a subtype, grant it Impact. Otherwise, it becomes a Shapeshifter.Review
The cost reduction provided here is the foundation of her gameplay, allowing for aggressive swarming and enabling turn-one champion spell setups.
Harmony of the Wild II
Each round, the first ally you play with a different subtype than other allies costs 2 less.
Survey Corp
Game Start: Summon a Greenglade Lookout.Review
This upgrade is controversial; while the free summon provides board presence, it consumes valuable board space that the 'Machine Gun' or 'Guardian Orb' builds would prefer to use for additional Neeko clones.
Manaflow
Game Start: Get a mana gem.
Pop Blossom!
When allies attack, Pop Blossom deal 1 to all enemies and the enemy Nexus. Increased by 1 for each attacking subtyped ally.Review
A significant power spike that transforms her gameplay. The ping damage is treated as a skill, meaning it benefits from Luden's Tempest and can deal substantial AOE damage to both the enemy board and Nexus every time a subtyped ally attacks.
Gameplay Tips
- Ignore Subtype Limitations
For optimal performance in high-difficulty adventures, do not focus on drafting a variety of subtypes. Instead, focus on duplicating Neeko herself. Her champion spell effectively acts as a subtype-neutral summon that triggers all 'on summon' relics like Guardian Orb or Dreadway Chase Gun.
- Optimize Board Space
If using the 4-star power, be mindful of board limitations. Neeko relies on having space to summon clones or ephemeral copies. Overfilling the board with low-impact followers can prevent you from casting her champion spell effectively.
- Utilize Disguise for Protection
Disguising Neeko as a follower can occasionally protect her from champion-specific removal. However, be aware that the AI often recognizes Neeko regardless of her disguise. Transforming her into a unit with high health can help her survive until she levels up.
- Leveling Mechanics
Neeko levels up based on attacking units with different subtypes. In builds where you do not draft subtypes, you can use items like 'Golden Pan' or relics that grant subtypes to satisfy this condition instantly upon attacking with just one or two units.
- Drafting Priorities
Focus on drafting cheap, targeting spells or units that generate mana. Targeting spells are particularly valuable as they allow you to trigger Neeko's champion spell more frequently, which is the primary engine of her most successful builds.