In the neon-drenched streets of New Eridu, where Hollows lurk and danger is a constant companion, every Proxy needs a reliable blade in the shadows. Enter Nekomata, the S-Rank Physical Attack Agent of the Gentle House, a whirlwind of claws and precision whose very name whispers of swift, decisive endings. Her philosophy is simple: get in, unleash a storm of slashes, and get out before the enemy even knows what hit them. For players in 2025, mastering her hit-and-run artistry is key to protecting your found family and climbing the ranks. She's not just fast; she's a blur with a purpose, built around those explosive moments right after she dashes onto the field. Honestly, watching her work is a thing of beauty—like a dancer who leaves only sparks and shattered defenses in her wake.

🎯 Core Mechanics & Playstyle: The Art of the Pounce

Nekomata's entire kit is a love letter to aggression and timing. She's what veterans call a 'quickswap' specialist. You don't park her on the field; you bring her in for a devastating combo and then rotate out. Her bread and butter? Holding down the Basic Attack button lets her become a literal tornado, spinning around foes and slashing from all angles—with a cheeky chance to trigger repeat hits for extra pain.

The real magic, however, unlocks with her Mindscape Cinema upgrades, obtained through duplicates. This is where she goes from great to legendary:

• Level 1: This is the game-changer. Nekomata gets to ignore a chunk of the enemy's Physical Resistance when attacking from behind. And here's the kicker—all attacks against stunned enemies count as coming from behind. Talk about a synergy dream!

• Level 2: Boosts her Energy Regeneration when she's dueling a single target. Perfect for boss fights.

• Level 4: Grants a sweet CRIT Rate boost after unleashing her EX Special Attack.

• Level 6: Supercharges her CRIT DMG after using her Chain Attack or Ultimate.

Teaming her up with fellow Cunning Hares or other Physical Agents is more than just faction loyalty; it actively powers up her EX Special Attack damage after triggering Assault. So, the core loop is: build Energy, swap to Neko, hit hard from behind (or against stunned foes), and unleash that EX Special for maximum fireworks.

⚙️ Gearing Up: Claws Need the Sharpest Tools

Best W-Engines (Weapons)

For Nekomata, her weapon isn't just a stat stick; it's an extension of her philosophy. Her signature S-Rank Steel Cushion is, quite simply, a match made in heaven. It boosts CRIT Rate, Physical DMG, and increases damage when attacking from behind—synergizing perfectly with her Mindscape Cinema Level 1. If you don't have it, here are your top alternatives for 2025:

Rank	W-Engine	Why It's Good for Neko
S	Steel Cushion	Signature weapon. Perfect stat & effect synergy.
S	The Brimstone	High raw ATK and strong offensive passive.
A	Cannon Rotor	Great for boosting ATK and skill damage.
A	Starlight Engine	Reliable CRIT and overall damage increase.
A	Housekeeper	Good balanced offensive stats.
A	Street Superstar	Enhances basic attack sequences.
B	[Lunar] Pleniluna	Solid early-game or accessible option.

Best Drive Discs (Artifacts)

Nekomata is all about the big numbers, so her Drive Discs need to scream OFFENSE. The meta in 2025 heavily favors sets that amplify her Physical damage and critical hits.

Top Set Combinations:

1. 🐾 Fanged Metal (4) + Woodpecker Electro (2)

   • +10% Physical DMG, +35% DMG vs. target for 12s after Assault, +8% CRIT Rate.

   • The premier choice. Maximizes her burst window after triggering Assault.

2. ⚡ Woodpecker Electro (4) + Fanged Metal (2)

   • +8% CRIT Rate, +9% ATK for 8s after a crit (stacks 3x), +10% Physical DMG.

   • Excellent for sustained damage during her longer combos.

3. 🧪 Fanged Metal (2) + Woodpecker Electro (2) + Hormone Punk (2)

   • +10% Physical DMG, +8% CRIT Rate, +10% ATK.

   • A strong, flexible 2-2-2 setup if you have amazing sub-stats.

Optimal Main Stats for Partitions:

• Partition 1: HP (Primary) | Substats: CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, PEN

• Partition 2: ATK (Primary) | Substats: CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, PEN

• Partition 3: DEF (Primary) | Substats: CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, PEN

• Partition 4: CRIT Rate % or CRIT DMG % (Primary) | Substats: The other CRIT stat, ATK%, PEN

• Partition 5: Physical DMG % (Primary) | Substats: CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, PEN

• Partition 6: Energy Regen OR Anomaly Mastery (Primary) | Substats: CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, PEN

The Great Partition 6 Debate: If Nekomata is your only source of Physical damage and Assault on the team, building Anomaly Mastery helps her trigger Assault reliably herself. But if you have a teammate like Piper to handle that, Energy Regen is king to spam her powerful EX Special Attack more often. You gotta choose your priority.

👥 Synergy & Team Compositions: Finding Her Pride

Nekomata shines brightest when her teammates set the stage for her grand entrance. Here are two top-tier team archetypes for 2025:

1. The Classic Cunning Hares 🐇

• Nekomata (Main DPS): The star of the show, in and out for burst.

• Anby (Sub DPS): The perfect partner. Her stunning capabilities make every enemy count as "attacked from behind" for a Level 1 Nekomata. It's a brutal combo.

• Nicole (Support): Provides debuffs, buffs, and crucial crowd control to group enemies up for Nekomata's EX Special to cleave through all at once.

• Bangboo: Booressure for extra damage and support.

This team is incredibly smooth and synergistic, especially if you've invested in Nekomata's Mindscape Cinema.

2. The Physical Assault Specialists 💥

• Nekomata (Main DPS): Focuses purely on big damage windows.

• Piper (Sub DPS): The secret sauce. She handles Assault application effortlessly, freeing Nekomata's Disc stats to focus entirely on Energy Regen and damage. Their synergy is off the charts.

• Lucy (Support): Buffs the entire team's offense, making everyone hit harder.

• Bangboo: Bangvolver for team energy and utility.

This squad is less reliant on Nekomata's Level 1 upgrade and offers incredible flexibility and raw power. It's a top meta contender.

📈 Investment & Upgrade Path: Forging a Legend

To unleash Nekomata's full potential, you'll need to gather resources. Here’s your shopping list for a max-level, max-skill agent in 2025.

Leveling to 60:

• Basic Offense Certification Seal x4

• Advanced Offense Certification Seal x32

• Pioneer Certification Seal x30

• Dennies x800,000

Farm Certification Seals and Dennies in the VR Combat Simulation. You can also craft higher-tier Seals and run your Random Play video store for cash.

Maxing All Skills (Basic, Dodge, Assist, Special, Chain Attack):

Total for all five skills. Divide by 5 for one skill.

• Basic Physical Chip x25

• Advanced Physical Chip x75

• Specialized Physical Chip x250

• Hamster Cage Pass x5

• Dennies x2,500,000

Chips come from the VR Combat Simulation (crafting helps). The rare Hamster Cage Passes are from time-limited events and the New Eridu City Fund.

Upgrading Core Skill (6 Levels):

• Higher Dimensional Data: Crimson Awe x60

• Ferocious Grip x9

• Dennies x405,000

Get Crimson Awe from Expert Challenge: Troublemaker – Wanted Enforcer. Ferocious Grip is a rare drop from Notorious Hunt: Newborn Dead End Butcher. This is the true endgame grind.

In the end, mastering Nekomata is about understanding rhythm. She's the crescendo in your team's symphony of combat—a fleeting, brilliant explosion of damage that requires precise setup and timing. Gear her right, pair her with friends who understand her tempo, and invest in her growth. When you do, there's no enemy in New Eridu that can withstand the storm of claws she brings. She’s not just protecting the family; she’s defining what it means to be a top Proxy in 2025. The city won't know what hit it.