EWS Animus Highlights for Etheria: Restart
The Etheria World Series (EWS) brought together the best players in the game's current meta, giving us a rare look into high-level RTA (Real-Time Arena) strategy. With Kekker claiming the championship over Han in an intense final match, we witnessed not only skilled drafting and decision-making but also the dominance of certain units and shells that defined this meta. Here's your full RTA breakdown based on the standout performances, sleeper picks, and future trends from the EWS.
Dominant Picks and Meta Staples
Arguably the MVP of the EWS, Yeli cemented herself as the top-tier cleave DPS in the game. She brings everything a carry needs: self-buffing with crit rate and debuffing enemies with defence down, a strong AoE nuke, and a single-target buff strip. Built with Revelation, she consistently one-shot entire teams. Her ability to steal buffs like defense up or speed up makes her a nightmare to counter.
A cornerstone of both PvP and PvE, Lily's universal support and meter control kept her in nearly every draft. Whether on Jackal Guard or Lighthouse, her turn manipulation and survivability tools remain unmatched. She's a must-build unit for anyone serious about PvP, and her value can't be overstated.
Built in a mix of both Revelation and White Fang, Messiah served as a core nuker in the EWS. His ability protect himself with Invincibility, whilst providing devastating AOE Damage that ignores annoying passives such as Hoyan's cheat death, makes him incredibly valuable in the current meta.
Rising and Underrated Picks
Previously considered niche or early-game fodder, Kazuyo proved herself in top-level PvP thanks to her triple-hit AoE and natural synergy with Revelation. She provided reliable CC while contributing damage, making her a sleeper pick that turned heads during the tournament.
Once a PvE mainstay, Obol showed how strong buff conversion can be in PvP. His synergy with Codex of Magic and dual CC + DoT application proved incredibly effective in Revelation-heavy matchups. His ability to punish stacked buffs made him a key anti-meta option.
More than just a stripper, Viper's value came from his passive 30% crit damage reduction and his ability to lock games out over time. In long fights, he could solo weakened teams, especially once healing was disabled and attack-down pressure kicked in.
Hoyan is a huge PvP threat. Hoyan offered burst damage with high-risk, high-reward play. Her execution passive and death prevention pressure allowed her to snowball matches—though poor setup could lead to punishment.
Support and Sustain Heroes that shined
Despite nerfs, Sania remained one of the strongest supports in the tournament. Her cleanse, turn meter push, and constant healing make her oppressive in prolonged fights. On shells like Fortissimo or Lighthouse, she nearly nullified CC attempts.
Originally overlooked at launch, Freya proved she was meta-worthy without any skill-ups. Her multi-hit Revelation synergy, team-wide speed and movement buffs, and consistent damage output made her one of the most important turn cycle enablers in RTA.
Fuqui's value came from Moonlight Veil, shield, and speed up, making her an ideal PvP enabler. She was especially effective at nullifying turn manipulation and Revelation triggers.
Other Key SSRs
Holden's Skill 2 was the MVP of many control comps. With resistance down, and cooldown extension, he disrupted entire enemy rotations. His synergy with Artisan shell made him a PvP powerhouse.
Still one of the most reliable F2P SSRs, Lingluo offered flexibility with Lighthouse and Supernova builds. Her utility scales with team comp and positioning, and she remains a viable backbone for most PvP teams.
Formerly overshadowed by Lily, DokiDoki proved she belongs. Her turn push and slow comp utility enabled her to be paired even with Lily, Lingluo, and Yeli. Using Codex of Magic allowed her to double up on manipulation or control management and remain relevant in the Revelation meta.
Strong turn meter steal, speed buff, and healing cut from her wound debuff made Mio a top CC pick. Built with Lighthouse, she had the tools to not only survive enemy nukes, but also disrupt fast cleave comps and hold tempo.
Final thoughts
The EWS was not just a showcase of top-tier gameplay—it was a clear window into Etheria: Restart's PvP balance. Revelation remains king for now, with units like Yeli, Lily, and Massiah dictating most drafts. However, flexibility, smart shell choices, and underused units like Obol, Kazyuo, and DokiDoki are breaking the mold.
With new characters and balance changes likely on the horizon, expect the meta to shift—but many of these core units and strategies will remain foundational to RTA dominance.
