Formation

**Formations** are a battle mechanic for Xiandao and Shendao Cultivators to fight collectively as one, strengthening and supporting each other.

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## Introduction to Formations

First, the common terms used with formations:

* Formation - A formation consists of one Xiandao cultivator acting as the pillar and others as auxiliaries. The auxiliaries support the pillar and improve their stats.
* Pillar - The heart and brain of the formation. A pillar node is the central node from which auxiliary nodes are attached. Pillar nodes have at least one Truth of Formations attached to them, which allow the Formation to gain additional bonuses when their conditions are met. The formation pillar is the cultivator who forms the pillar. A formation can have only one pillar.
	+ The Pillar should be the cultivator with the best offensive abilities, be that Artifact Mastery or Spell. This is because all damage dealt by a Formation depends on the Pillar, and the offensive abilities of the auxiliaries do not matter. The Pillar should also have defensive abilities (high Max Qi and Protect) on par with the rest of the Formation. It is also recommended for them to equip healing spells with Target:Visible, so they can heal all of the members of the Formation.
* Auxiliary - Formation support element. An auxiliary node is a node which can connect to the pillar node and other auxiliary nodes. The auxiliary cultivators support the pillar cultivator and improve their stats based on their personal stats and auxiliary node and auxiliary links.
	+ The Auxiliaries should all have high Max Qi and Protect, as well as equip items that boost their Qi Barrier. The offensive abilities (Artifact Mastery or Spell) of Auxiliaries are not relevant as only the Pillar is able to attack with Artifacts or cast spells while in a Formation. When resources for boosting defense are scarce, the best items should be directed towards the weakest members of the Formation, since the Formation is only as strong as its weakest member, and will collapse if the weakest members run of Qi.
* Node - Hexagonal formation elements in the formation diagram. Nodes can be rotated as needed. Available nodes are based on studied formation manuals, it’s enough that only one person in the sect learns them (manuals increase Max Formation Load, so they can be useful).
* Formation Skill - The Skill which governs a Character's ability to act as a Pillar of a Formation. Higher Formation Skill Level improves the Formation's stability, and allows for larger Formations to be centered on the Pillar.
* Truth of Formations - A bonus that is applied when the formation has a certain amount of active auxiliary links. The bonus is applied after the rest of the formation stats have been calculated (has no effect from pillar bonuses).
* Auxiliary Link - A link between two nodes which adds a bonus. The link is active when two connecting nodes have the same symbols. Using prototype links gives no bonus but adds no penalty and can have some use cases.
* Node Level - Hexagonal element tier. Has the same color code as item tiers.
* Diagram - A formation plan containing a pillar node and auxiliary nodes. Diagrams can be copied and renamed. One diagram can have up to three configs. A diagram name is limited to 7 characters.
* Config - A formation configuration based on a formation diagram. Cultivators can be added if they are available on the sect map. Cultivators can be assigned to multiple formations and a pillar cultivator can have many different configurations assigned to them. A cultivator can’t be in two active formations. A config name is limited to 7 characters.
* Ancient Formations - Immortal formations held by the 11 Xiandao sects. Not to be confused with Sect Formations.
* Sect Formations - NPC-Only Diagrams used by the 11 Xiandao Sects, formed at their home location when fighting them. Not to be confused with Ancient Formations.

### Getting started with formations

A simple introduction can be found in the in-game tutorial, as well as the in-game help. For a basic video tutorial, check out the following: [LINK]

The formation menu is unlocked when an Inner Disciple learns a manual containing formation nodes. Opening the Formation menu you will be shown the Formation Diagram screen. Clicking on Create will get you started with formations. The first node you add will be the pillar. All nodes (once placed on the diagram) can be rotated by left clicking on them. Right clicking on a node removes it, you can’t remove pillars if there are auxiliary nodes on the diagram. After adding the pillar select an empty hexagon with a green outline to add an auxiliary node to that position.

Mystery Match in the lower left is used for filtering. Filtering is possible by level, Truth of Formations and link positions.

A formation is incomplete when there are red auxiliary links in the diagram. An incomplete formation can’t be formed. After a complete formation diagram has been saved, it’s now time to create a config on that diagram. A single diagram can have up to three configs.

Left clicking on a node in a config opens a menu to select a character for that node. Right clicking on a node in a config will clear any characters assigned for that node. The config stats will be shown in real time on the left of the diagram. Config naming is suggested when you have pillars assigned to multiple formations for ease of use.

After your config is saved, select the pillar character to form the formation.

### Things to Consider

When designing formations, there are many different paths to follow and multiple things to consider.

#### Cultivator Elements

The effect from the node is multiplied with the auxiliary rate, which is why the elements should be considered. To achieve the biggest bonus every cultivators element needs to be feeding into the next one closest to the pillar, that way the auxiliary rate will be highest. Auxiliary rate is calculated with:

```
Auxiliary rate  = Previous Auxiliary rate * Element compatibility rate

```

For the nodes directly connected to the Pillar, the previous auxiliary rate is always at 1.0, there are four possible options for the Element compatibility rate:

1. Pillar element is fed by auxiliary element, rate is 1.25, e.g. Metal pillar with Earth auxiliary
2. Pillar element is same as auxiliary element, rate is 1.2, e.g. Metal pillar with Metal auxiliary
3. Pillar element is overcome by auxiliary element, rate is 0.5, e.g. Metal pillar with Fire auxiliary
4. Pillar element has no relations with the auxiliary element, rate is 1.0, e.g Metal pillar with None (or Water, or Wood) element auxiliary

The bonus from the auxiliary rate isn't that noticeable with smaller formations. With larger formations, the effect is greater. For example, a circled chain with the feeding rates triples the effect of the node.

#### Shendao Cultivators in Formations

Divine cultivators can be used in formations. With their high Qi amount and regeneration, they make for good Qi batteries in formations. The downside with divine cultivators is their lack of element. Cultivators with non-elemental laws always have a rate of 1.0, which means that they won’t improve the auxiliary rate. When using them, it’s best to have them on the edge of the formation, since their node will still have the auxiliary rate of the previous node. Divine cultivators make for awful pillars, as their Formations skill can’t be leveled, therefore limiting the size of the formation.

#### Going for the Jade chest in the second Golden Casket Event

The second Golden Casket opening has three results, you can get 3 ancient artifact recipes, some ancient pills, or two formation manuals. Artifact recipes and pills are also available as random drops, but one of the formation manuals can’t be acquired anywhere else. The manual (Primordial Diagrams of Heluo: Solutions of the Demon Emperor) has 3 auxiliaries for each level 2 symbol, giving you more possibilities when finishing up level 2 formations. With the limitations around level 2 node shapes, going for the formations would be the best thing in the second Golden Casket Event.

#### About node levels

The nodes are set into tiers based on their auxiliary links. Levels 0 and 1 should be considered early game, since they are theoretically acquirable from day 1. Level 2 should be considered mid game, as ancient cultivators take a while to spawn and the second Golden Casket event is on day 447. Levels 3 and 4 should be considered mid to late, as they require taking a sect wonder and building it yourself. Similarly, level 5 (ancient formations) should be considered mid to late, as taking the diagram will, in most cases, end up in combat against the sect.

When designing formations using late game nodes, there’s a high chance for the formation size to increase drastically, as level 4 nodes can’t be terminated with other level 4 nodes, only with level 3 nodes (unless you are using prototype nodes). A similar issue arises with level 3 nodes, as those require level 2 nodes for termination. Level 2 nodes can be terminated with other level 2 nodes, but they can also split into level 1 nodes, further increasing the formation size, complexity and the bonuses added with more nodes and a possible increase in their auxiliary rate.

## Formation Related Stats

A formation has the following stats: (Taken from the tooltips)

### Stability

*Formations will lose Stability when attacked. If a formation's Stability drops to 0, it will be broken.*

Can also be considered as formation HP.

### Size

*Size is determined by the number of nodes in a formation. The more nodes in a formation, the larger its size.  The ability of the pillar character determines the maximum formation size. If a character is hosting a formation whose size surpasses their ability, the formation stability will be greatly reduced. Otherwise, it will be increased.*

More nodes = more size. Best to not go over your pillar character’s limit.

### Load

*Formation load is determined by the complexity of the formation structure. A formation with auxiliaries further away from the pillar will have a greater load. The ability of the pillar character determines the maximum formation load. If the character is hosting a formation whose formation load surpasses their ability, the formation cost will be greatly increased.*

Formation loads sets the Qi cost per second to maintain the formation. If any of the formation members can’t maintain the Qi drain, they will be under stress and may eventually lead to collapsing the formation.

The following stats are based on the nodes used and their auxiliary links:

### Artifact Mastery Ability

*The pillar's artifact power will increase once the formation has been formed. Artifact mastery affects the degree of which the pillar's artifact power increase once a formation has been forme*d.

### Spell Ability

*Spell ability affects the degree of which the pillar's artifact power increase once a formation has been formed. Spell ability affects the degree of which the pillar's spell power increase once a formation has been formed.*

### Protection Ability

*When the formation is being attacked, part of the damage received will be absorbed by the formation, and all the characters in the formation will share the remaining damage equally. The formation will take reduced damage, and the final damage is shared equally among all of the characters in the formation.*

### Operation Ability

*As the formation continues to operate, it will accumulate Energy. Formation Insight can be used to unleash special formation abilities. What's more, the Qi of all characters in the formation will be proportionally balanced as the formation continues to operate. Operation ability affects the accumulation rate of Energy and the cycle of the Qi balance.*

### Formation Efficiency

*Once the formation is formed, maintaining it and using formation skills will cost Qi from every character in the formation. The Qi cost to maintain the formation is related to the Max Qi of the pillar character in the formation. The Qi cost to use any formation skill is related to the power of the skill. Formation efficiency affects the Qi cost of each formation action.*

### Formation Energy

*As the formation continues to operate, it will accumulate Energy. Formation Energy can be used to unleash special formation abilities. However, a formation has limitations to the amount of Energy it can store. Once the limitation has been reached, Energy will cease to increase.*

## Node Levels

Just like items, nodes have levels or tiers. The color code is identical to item tier colors. The node level is for categorizing, higher tier nodes have better bonuses at the cost of increased complexity.

## Truth of Formations

Pillars provide one to many Truth of Formations, depending on the pillar used. Prototype pillars provide no truths. Truth of Formation activation requires the formation to have the required number of active links. Going over the required amount doesn’t improve the Truth of Formations but still provides the normal effect of the node. The following is a list of truths with their requirements and their bonuses. Levels are based on the level of pillars they are found on. Ancient Formation or Sect Formation related Truth of Formations aren't included in this list.

Level 1 Truth of Formations
 **Mind of the Creed** | 4 Fa (法法法法)
 **Mind of Positivity** | 4 Gang (罡罡罡罡)
 **Mind of Pliability** | 4 Ren (韧韧韧韧)
 **Mind of Balance** | Jian, Fa, Gang, Ren (剑法罡韧)
Formation Load – 5

Level 4 Truth of Formations
Spell + 49
Protection + 49
Formation Efficiency + 49
Operation Ability + 49
 **Great Vastness** | Hong, Meng (鸿蒙)
Formation Load – 49
Formation Energy Cap + 3

## Auxiliary Links

Auxiliary links can be divided into five levels. The following list contains the effects that links provide nodes, for both auxiliary and pillar nodes.

Level 0 – Prototype links

Level 1 – Basic links
 **法** | Fa
 **罡** | Gang
 **韧** | Ren

Level 4 – Great Vastness links
Base Protection + 3
 **蒙** | Meng
Base Spell Ability + 4
Base Protection + 4
Base Formation Stability + 4
Spell + 30.00 %
Protection + 30.00 %
Formation Stability + 30.00 %

## List of Formation Manuals

The following is a list of manuals containing formation nodes, including where and how to acquire them. The manuals related to ancient formations are not included in this list.

### Level 0 Formation Manuals

Level 0 Formation Manuals are available from start and contain Level 0 nodes.

### Level 1 formation Manuals

Level 1 Formation Manuals are available from start and contain Level 1 nodes.

### Level 2 Formation Manuals

Level 2 Formation Manuals are acquired as random drops from Ancient Cultivators or from the Second Golden Casket event.

### Level 3 Formation Manuals

Level 3 Formation Manuals are acquired from certain Sect Wonders. After taking it and building it, meditating successfully on it will grant the manual to the cultivator. For success, the following is required:

* State at least 12 (final stage of Primordial Spirit, Demigods work as well)
* Intelligence and Luck combined at least 18
* Formation skill Lv 15

### Level 4 Formation Manuals

Level 4 Formation Manuals are similar to Level 3 Formation Manuals as far as their acquisition method is concerned. The main difference is the pillar (all of them center around Great Vastness).

## Prototype Pillars and Auxiliaries

To quote “Taiyi’s Intro to Formations”: *“An introduction to the studies of Formations designed for beginners from Taiyi Sect. It records the prototype of common pillars and auxiliaries, which is great for new learners to practice on the evolution and derivatives of Formation deployment.*

*Prototype Circle is the basis of all Formations, therefore it can be joined with any other advanced Circles. Although there is no bonus effects for those connected through Proto-auxiliaries, it can at least ensure that the Circle is whole and operational.”*

Just as it says, they are great for new learners to practice formations. They can also be used to close the formation if you have no other usable auxiliaries available. There is one use that provides bonuses, but it’s very late-game, the Truth of Formation: Primordial requires 9 prototype auxiliary links.

## Mods

Iguana Overhaul's Fixes corrects Daemonia Temple's Sect Wonder Ancestral Demon's Remains to correctly give  Formation of Great Vastness: Derivation of Time when meditated upon. It also implements all the Ancient Formation Node activation conditions, including Law Element requirements and certain Item Requirements.

Iguana's Overhaul, functional changes adds Formation Sharing, making it possible to export a current layout to a string, and importing a layout from a similarly structured string. For a list of curated designs, check out the Formation Diagrams guide.