In the latest story of 'Goddess of Victory: Nikke', Laplace has returned with upgraded weaponry and a fresh power-up as 'Laplace: Ultimate Hero' (hereinafter referred to as HiLap). Much to the surprise of Commanders, the character now sports a Wind code attribute, quite a departure from the original, and has seen a complete overhaul in stats to match the new firepower. KookminTree has broken down the performance of this newly empowered hero.

Q. What kind of Nikke is Laplace: Ultimate Hero?
A. The character is a Nikke who fights by scaling attack power with max HP and switching weapon types.

HiLap’s attack power increases in proportion to their final maximum HP. This is a mechanic mirrored by the Pilgrim Nikke 'Cinderella', meaning that as buffs and equipment HP stats rise during battle, so too does the offensive output. Consequently, unlike many other Nikkes, leveling up the HP stat on the footwear Overload gear is essentially mandatory.

The first skill, 'Electric Power Full Full Charge', boosts attack based on HP and grants a 5-stack 'Preheat' buff during full charge attacks. Each stack increases charge speed—10% at level 10, capping at 50%. Once the stacks are maxed, the weapon switches from a launcher to a machine gun type. This explains why HiLap holds 120 rounds despite being a launcher-class Nikke. It is highly recommended to secure as much 'Max Ammo Capacity' as possible via Overload gear to capitalize on this machine gun form.

However, there is a catch. Once the weapon changes, it cannot benefit from 'Ammo Reload' effects. This means the popular 'Ammo Reload Cube' and certain character buffs are off the table. Furthermore, you cannot reload to refill the magazine; once the ammo is depleted, the weapon reverts to a launcher. The silver lining is that the machine gun form gains 'Pierce', making it incredibly useful against bosses with multiple parts or large hitboxes.

The second skill, 'Over Energy', fills the Over Energy gauge by 5% per hit while in machine gun mode, up to 100%. Upon reaching 100%, the skill advances by one stage, with a maximum of four stages. Stacks provide stacking 'Max HP' increases, though note that this only increases the limit and does not heal the character. This synergizes directly with the HP-scaling damage of the first skill. Additionally, entering Burst stage 3 grants a 10-second boost to attack damage.

The burst skill, 'Regenerative Power Utilization Weapon: Mjolnir', dishes out damage to all enemies for 10 seconds while boosting attack power. If the Over Energy gauge is at stage 1 or higher, it deals damage to the enemy closest to the crosshair, scaled by the 'Over Energy stage X final attack power'. As the gauge grows, the damage potential skyrockets, making it a beast in long-term combat. Aim for a 7/7/7 skill level initially, then push to 10 for Wind-weak raids.

Q. How should I use Laplace: Ultimate Hero?
A. We recommend pairing the character with Nikkes that provide HP-increasing buffs.

So, how exactly should you field HiLap? We tested the character in the Union Shooting Range (3-minute boss battle, Iron code, fixed specs). The core team was 'Crown - HiLap - Mana - Helm', swapping between 'Little Mermaid', 'Anis: Sparkling Summer', and 'Rouge' for the Burst 1 slot.

The results showed a clear hierarchy: 'Rouge > Anis: Sparkling Summer > Little Mermaid'. Little Mermaid clocked in at 800 million, Anis: Sparkling Summer hit 858 million, and Rouge topped the charts at 918 million. Since Rouge can buff the 'Max HP' of allies, HiLap reaped significant benefits. While Rouge has seen less action in recent Solo Raids, this synergy provides a genuine path back to relevance for the character in Wind-weak content.

Q. Should I pull for Laplace: Ultimate Hero?
A. We suggest holding your investment until the arrival of Maxwell: Ordinary Mechanic.

Is HiLap worth your hard-earned gems and recruitment tickets? Currently, it is a toss-up. Because 'Maxwell: Ordinary Mechanic'—scheduled for release on July 30—is not yet available, the full potential of this build remains locked. While 'Crown' was used in our testing, Maxwell: Ordinary Mechanic is expected to be the superior partner for this slot.

While 'Little Mermaid' is a top-tier Nikke, the lack of synergy with HiLap’s ammo mechanics makes them an awkward pair. True evaluation will only be possible once paired with Maxwell: Ordinary Mechanic, who provides a permanent 30% Max HP boost. With no Solo Raid schedule confirmed, if you have already exhausted your resources on recent summer units, take a breather and save your currency. There is no rush; you can decide whether to pull after the July 30 release of Maxwell: Ordinary Mechanic, when the verdict on whether the character is a 'must-have' or a 'wait for the rerun' will be clearer.