My Journey to Recruit Changli in Wuthering Waves’ Summer 2026 Event

As a Wanderer who has been exploring the world of Wuthering Waves since the early days, I’ve learned that patience really does pay off. I still remember the first time Changli appeared back in July 2024. Back then, I had just unlocked the Convene function, and my roster was too thin to seriously chase a featured 5-Star Resonator. I let the Vermillion’s Ploy banner slip away, convinced it would return someday. Fast forward to July 2026, and that moment finally arrived. The announcement of the rerun sent a jolt of excitement through the community – and through me personally – because Changli wasn’t just powerful; she had become a symbol of fiery elegance I desperately wanted in my squad.

The nostalgia hit me hard when I saw the official splash art again, but this time it was accompanied by a brand-new set of visuals. The rerun banner, still called [Vermillion’s Ploy], kept the same 4-Star lineup: Taoqi, Baizhi, and Mortefi. The event duration was set from July 22 to August 14, 2026 (server time), exactly two years after its original debut. Knowing the rules inside out, I appreciated that the Guarantee count carried over from previous Featured Resonator Convene banners, which meant my earlier unlucky pulls were finally going to work in my favor. Every 10-attempt Radiant Tide still guaranteed at least one 4-Star or higher, and I had saved up a stash of tides precisely for this occasion. Who wouldn’t hoard resources when a character like Changli is rumored to return?

Stepping up to the convene terminal was nerve-wracking. I’d spent the last week grinding echo sets and upgrading my data bank, imagining how a Cinder Symphony team would work with Changli’s blazing attacks. The excitement mixed with anxiety: would my luck finally turn, or would I lose the 50/50 again? Isn’t it strange how a gacha mechanic can make us feel so invested? But that’s the beauty of Wuthering Waves – every pull tells a story. After a few ten-pulls filled with Taoqi and Baizhi duplicates, the screen flashed gold. My heart pounded. There she was, blade in hand, a cascade of sparks announcing her arrival.

The artwork alone justifies the effort. Changli’s design blends traditional motifs with a futuristic edge that feels even more refined in the 2026 build of the game. I immediately equipped her with my best molten rift set and jumped into a tactical hologram fight just to see her animations. The fluidity of her resonance skills had been upgraded in recent patches, and witnessing it firsthand made the wait worthwhile.

Looking back, the signs of her return were scattered across the preceding months. On April 13, 2026, the official Wuthering Waves social channels dropped a cryptic image of a flaming feather against a midnight sky, which I now recognize as a direct nod to Changli’s motif.

A month later, in May, another concept sketch surfaced, showing a silhouette that was unmistakably hers, sword held in reverse grip. That was the moment I told my co-op partner, “She’s coming. I can feel it.”

Then came the real hype. On June 23, 2026, the dev team posted a dynamic action shot of Changli mid-combo, and suddenly the forums were ablaze with theorycrafting. Everyone was calculating the optimal crit ratio and comparing her to our current fusion DPS options. I stared at that image for hours, convincing myself that I needed her not just for meta, but for the sheer joy of her playstyle.

By the time July 6 rolled around and the official rules were posted, I had already mentally prepared a 160-pull budget. The final showcase on July 13 sealed the deal – a short video demonstrating her updated liberation animation, leaving no doubt that she was worth every Radiant Tide.

One aspect I particularly utilized this time was the Afterglow Coral Store. Since the Vermillion’s Ploy event allowed up to two purchases of Changli’s Waveband, I cashed in my saved coral to unlock her first dupe. The difference in damage output was instantly noticeable, especially in the Tower of Adversity where fusion-resistant enemies still melt under her consecutive strikes. It’s a rare chance for f2p and light spenders alike to boost a character without relying solely on luck, and I’m glad Kuro Games kept that feature for the rerun. How many other gacha titles allow you to grab wavebands directly? Not many, and that’s what makes Wuthering Waves feel so player-friendly even in 2026.

Farming for her upgrade materials brought back memories of the 1.X era, but with the quality-of-life improvements implemented over the past two years, the grind is now much smoother. I spent my evenings flying across the new map expansions, gathering flamecores, and I didn’t mind the repetition because every clear brought Changli closer to level 90. The sense of progression is tangible, and pairing her with my already-built Mortefi from the same banner created a satisfying synergy. Mortefi’s coordinated attacks feed directly into Changli’s burst windows, and honestly, the team feels like it was designed for thrilling fast-paced combat.

Now, a week into the event, I can confidently say that Changli has reshaped my daily rotation. She’s dominating hologram bosses, and I’ve even started challenging the newly added abyss floors just to see how far she can go. The fear of missing out that haunted me for two years has been replaced with pure enjoyment. If you’re still on the fence about pulling, ask yourself this: when will you get another opportunity to own such a versatile and stylish Resonator? The Vermillion’s Ploy banner won’t be around forever – it ends on August 14 – and there’s no telling when the next rerun might occur. So, if your heart is set on fiery devastation, take the leap. I did, and I don’t regret a single pull.