Wuthering Waves 3.5 — Huanglong return, Yangyang SP debut, and the road to Mengzhou in 3.6

Wuthering Waves 3.5 — Huanglong return, Yangyang SP debut

Wuthering Waves Version 3.5, titled "Return to the Origin," went live on July 9, 2026 and runs through August 20, 2026. The patch is the first of a two-part Huanglong homecoming story arc and the debut of the first "SP" (Special/Alternate) version of an existing Resonator. The new Resonator Yangyang SP is the first alternate version of the 4-star starter Resonator Yangyang and is a 5-star Havoc / Sword character.

The patch is positioned as a "transition" — Kuro Games is using 3.5 to set up the Mengzhou reveal in Version 3.6 (Aug 20 - Oct 1, 2026), which is the second region in the post-launch Tacet Field map after Rinascita. Mengzhou is the Chinese-themed region that was teased in the Version 1.0 launch trailer but has not been playable until now.

Yangyang SP — the first alternate Resonator

Yangyang SP (full name: Yangyang: Xuanling) is the first "SP" version of an existing Resonator in Wuthering Waves' history. SP versions are Kuro Games' solution to the "resonator power creep" problem — instead of releasing a new Resonator, they release a more powerful alternate version of an existing one. Yangyang SP is the first of what the studio has hinted will be a regular pattern (one SP Resonator per major version).

Yangyang SP's kit:

• Element: Havoc (Dark)
• Weapon: Sword (Dual-wield)
• Role: DPS / Sub-DPS
• Rarity: 5-star

Basic Attack: Xuanling Strike — performs up to 4 sword strikes dealing Havoc damage. The 4th strike has a 100% crit rate.

Skill: Void Step — Yangyang SP dashes through enemies, dealing Havoc damage to all enemies in her path and gaining +20% ATK for 5 seconds.

Ultimate: Xuanling Embrace — Yangyang SP summons a Havoc-infused clone that deals massive AoE damage and applies "Drain" (enemies lose 2% HP per second for 5 seconds).

Talent: SP Connection — when Yangyang SP uses her Skill, Yangyang (the original 4-star) gains +30% ATK for 10 seconds. The two characters can be used together for a "dual Yangyang" comp that becomes the highest-DPS Havoc team in the game.

Technique: Xuanling Step — at the start of battle, Yangyang SP immediately gains +50% ATK for 10 seconds.

Yangyang SP is a top-tier Havoc DPS and the new "must-pull" for Havoc teams. Her synergy with the original Yangyang is a unique mechanic that rewards players who already have Yangyang built.

Suisui — the new 4-star Resonator

The patch adds Suisui, a new 4-star Electro / Pistols Resonator. Suisui is a "support" Resonator who specializes in team-wide ATK buffs and healing.

Suisui's kit:

• Element: Electro
• Weapon: Pistols (Dual)
• Role: Support
• Rarity: 4-star

Basic Attack: Sparkling Shot — single-target Electro damage.

Skill: Sparkling Rhythm — deals Electro damage to all enemies and applies "Cheer" to all allies (+15% ATK for 8 seconds).

Ultimate: Sparkling Burst — heals all allies for 30% of their Max HP and applies "Cheer+" (+25% ATK for 10 seconds).

Talent: Dual Sparkle — when Suisui crits, her next Skill applies "Cheer+" instead of "Cheer" (50% chance to trigger).

Suisui is a top-tier 4-star Support and a strong alternative to Verina for players who haven't pulled for the 5-star. Her "Cheer+" mechanic is the strongest team-wide ATK buff in the game for 4-star Resonators.

Banner phases

Version 3.5 has two banner phases over its 6-week run:

Phase 1 (July 10 - July 30, 2026):

• Yangyang SP (NEW, 5-star, Havoc/Sword)
• Sparxie rerun (5-star, Wind/Sword) — first rerun since Version 3.4

Phase 2 (July 30 - August 19, 2026):

• Suisui (NEW, 4-star, Electro/Pistols)
• Brant rerun (5-star, Fusion/Pistols) — first rerun since Version 2.0

Starpath Reverbs Resonator banner (July 10 - August 19, 2026):

• Encore (5-star, Fusion/Rectifier) — featured for the first time since launch

The banner lineup is the most-anticipated in Wuthering Waves' history. Yangyang SP is the first alternate Resonator and the second SP character ever released (after Yinlin in 1.4). The Encore rerun is the first since launch and is the most-requested rerun in the player base.

New game mode: Memory of the Past

Version 3.5 adds a new game mode called "Memory of the Past." The mode is a 3-character combat challenge where you build a team of 3 Resonators and progress through 8 random stages. Each stage has 2 random modifiers (buffs and debuffs) and a boss. The mode is single-player only and rewards:

• 5-star Astrite x 800 (first clear)
• 5-star Astrite x 1,200 (clearing all 8 stages)
• 5-star Astrite x 2,000 (clearing all 8 stages with a sub-25-minute clear time)

The mode is the highest source of Astrite in the game for high-skill players. The sub-25-minute clear is the goal for whales.

The 3.5 story

The 3.5 main story is a 2-hour "Huanglong homecoming" arc. The Rover (player character) returns to Huanglong for the first time since Version 1.0 and reunites with the Huanglong cast (Yangyang, Chixia, Baizhi, Mortefi, Taoqi, and Aalto). The story is a "character-driven" arc focused on the Huanglong cast's development since the main story's resolution in Version 1.4.

The story has 4 main endings, 2 of which are "true endings" that depend on specific story choices. The endings are:

• Ending A: "Welcome Home" — the Rover chooses to stay in Huanglong. The Huanglong cast decides to travel with the Rover on the Astral Express.
• Ending B: "Until We Meet Again" — the Rover chooses to leave but promises to return. The Huanglong cast stays in Huanglong.
• Ending C: "The New Journey" (true ending) — the Rover chooses to leave, and the Huanglong cast decides to travel with the Rover on a separate journey.
• Ending D: "Memories of the Past" (true ending) — the Rover chooses to leave, and the Huanglong cast decides to stay in Huanglong, but the Rover leaves a "memory" of the journey with them.

The two true endings unlock a special Resonator skin for each Huanglong cast member (including Yangyang SP).

Meta impact

The 3.5 patch shifts the meta significantly:

• Havoc teams get a major boost from Yangyang SP. The best Havoc team is now Yangyang SP + Yangyang (the original 4-star) + Verina + Sanhua.
• Electro teams get a major boost from Suisui. The best Electro team is now Encore + Suisui + Verina + Sanhua.
• "Dual Yangyang" comp is the new highest-DPS Havoc team. The comp requires both Yangyang and Yangyang SP built.
• 4-star Support meta is now led by Suisui. The next-best 4-star Support is Baizhi.

The "SP Resonator" pattern is expected to become regular. Kuro Games has hinted that 1 SP Resonator per major version is the new cadence. The most-anticipated future SP Resonators are Encore SP, Verina SP, and Jianxin SP.

What comes next

Version 3.6 launches on August 20, 2026 (the day after 3.5 ends). The 3.6 roadmap has been revealed and includes:

• 1 new 5-star Resonator (rumored to be a Fusion DPS named "Qingxiao")
• 1 new 5-star Resonator (rumored to be an Aero Support named "Jingran Suoming")
• 2 rerun banners (rumored to be Calcharo and Jianxin)
• The Mengzhou region reveal
• A continuation of the Whisper Watchers storyline (yes, this is the same arc as Honkai Star Rail — Kuro and HoYoverse share plot elements)

FAQ

Q: When does Wuthering Waves 3.5 end? A: August 20, 2026. Version 3.6 launches the day after on August 21, 2026.

Q: Is Yangyang SP worth pulling? A: Yes, if you have Havoc teams or want to play the "dual Yangyang" comp. Yangyang SP is the new top-tier Havoc DPS and a strong pull for any player.

Q: What is the "SP Resonator" pattern? A: Kuro Games' solution to the "resonator power creep" problem — instead of releasing a new Resonator, they release a more powerful alternate version of an existing one. Yangyang SP is the first SP Resonator in Wuthering Waves. The pattern is expected to continue with 1 SP Resonator per major version.

Q: Should I pull for Yangyang SP or Suisui? A: Depends on your account. If you have a strong Havoc team, pull for Yangyang SP. If you don't have a strong Support, pull for Suisui. If you have neither, pull for Yangyang SP first (she's the higher-value pull).

Q: Is Encore worth pulling? A: Yes, if you don't already have her. Encore is the Fusion Rectifier Resonator and a top-tier Fusion DPS. She hasn't had a rerun since launch and is the most-anticipated rerun in the patch.

Q: What's the Memory of the Past reward? A: The first clear awards 5-star Astrite x 800. Clearing all 8 stages awards 5-star Astrite x 1,200. Sub-25-minute clears award an additional 5-star Astrite x 2,000 (total 4,000 per cycle).