You know, pulling Changli back in version 1.1 felt like striking gold—she was the edgy, flame-wielding DPS I'd been dreaming of. Even now in 2026, she still melts through content. But let me tell you, ascending her? That was a full-blown expedition. If you're about to walk this path, grab some snacks and listen to my story.
It all started when I first stepped into Mt. Firmament, that ethereal snowy peak she guides you to during the 'Thaw of Eons' chapter. The moment I saw a Pavo Plum plant, I knew my peaceful days were over. Those glowing fruits only grow in three pockets near the entrance dock, and you need 60 of them to max her out. I combed the area like a ravenous raccoon—east of the dock, on top of and under that massive cliff arch, and on the east-facing beach just north of it. Each plant gave me four fruits, and with 15 plants total, I grabbed exactly 60 in one sweep. "Phew," I muttered, stuffing my inventory. But the grind hadn't even begun.
Next came the Ring materials. Oh, those poor Exiles. Unlike Tacet Discords you can just summon, these human enemies demand old-fashioned hunting. I opened my Guidebook, tapped the Detect feature, and chased red dots across Jinzhou like a hound. For Changli's ascension alone, I needed 4 Crude Rings, 12 Basic Rings, 12 Improved Rings, and 4 Tailored Rings. That's not even counting her skills—wait till you hear those numbers. I spent evenings circling camps, murmuring "sorry, buddy" every time I stole another ring from a fallen Exile. If you run out of higher rarity ones, the Synthesizer in Jinzhou becomes your best friend. Three greens for a blue, three blues for a purple... you know the drill.
Then came the Inferno Rider. I still remember the first time I faced that blazing centaur in the Port City of Guixu. I'd already fought him in the story, but now I had to farm him. 46 Rage Tacet Cores. Do the math: at best, I got four per 60 Waveplates if my SOL3 level was high enough. I lost count of how many times I smashed that challenge, but my poor Mortefi, who also needed those cores, watched my stash grow while his own remained empty. "Priorities," I told him.
And just when I thought I was done, skill upgrades hit me like a freight train. You see, ascension is only half the battle. I needed Metallic Drip materials from a Forgery Challenge northeast of the Inferno Rider. That place became my second home. The numbers still make me dizzy: 25 Inert Metallic Drip (green), 28 Reactive (blue), 55 Polarized (purple), and a jaw-dropping 67 Heterized (yellow). I couldn't even farm the yellows until SOL3 Phase 5. Talk about a waiting game. Meanwhile, my Ring collection had to balloon to 25 green, 28 blue, 40 purple, and 57 yellow just for her skills. Yes, you read that right—57 Tailored Rings from those miserable Exiles. They must have started a support group.
And then came the dragon. The magnificent Sentinel Jue. I'll never forget the climax of 'Thaw of Eons' where you finally face it. Afterwards, I could challenge it again. And again. Each fight cost 60 Waveplates and dropped a Sentinel's Dagger—the final key to unlocking Changli's ultimate prowess. I needed 26 of them. Twelve times (or more, depending on luck) I soared into that boss arena, blades ready, dreaming of the day my Changli would finally reach level 10 skills.
Don't get me started on Shell Credits. Ascension? 170,000. Skills? A whopping 2,030,000. I ran Simulation Challenges until my echoes begged for mercy. But here's the thing—Changli is absolutely worth it. When you see her flames dance, when she outpaces even Jiyan's legacy, the grind fades into a warm memory. So if you're tackling this in 2026, whether you're new or a veteran, pack your patience. The materials are waiting, and so is a top-tier DPS that'll make every Waveplate spent feel like a victory.
Happy hunting, Rover. May your Pavo Plums be plentiful and your Exiles... well, plentiful too.