The Ink-Wash Style Nian Beast Looks Cool, But How Effective Is It in Battle? Skill Analysis of the Year of the Horse Phantom Beasts in "Magic Domain"

Recently, the official "Magic Domain" team revealed the original artwork for the Year of the Horse phantom beasts called "Nine Provinces Divine Steeds," and I was truly amazed. The ink-wash style is fully expressed, with four divine steeds each showing unique character. The collaboration with Zhangye Danxia and the homeland of the Xinjiang Tianma adds grandeur and rich cultural flavor. However, as players, we all know that appearance is just skin-deep; what really matters in the continent of Atreus is how strong they are in combat and whether they are worth acquiring.

Yesterday, the official finally released the detailed skills of the four “Nine Provinces Divine Steeds”: Xuanmo, Amber, Vermilion, and Snow. After reviewing them, it’s clear that a lot of thought went into the skill design. Let’s break down whether these skills are truly impressive.

The skills are quite interesting, each with its own uniqueness

The four phantom beasts correspond to the four paths of “Strength, Speed, Intelligence, and Endurance.” Their active skills all feature multi-hit area damage, which is a basic setup. The real highlights lie in their unique abilities and passive skills.

Holy Warrior Divine Steed · Xuanmo (Strength):Can knock back and stun enemies when attacking. This crowd control is a game-changer in team fights, disrupting enemy formations. The passive skill boosts phantom beast attack, final damage, and resonance power, providing solid support on the damage front.

Flowing Light Divine Steed · Amber (Speed):Has a chance to silence opponents during attacks. Anyone who’s played PvP knows how frustrating being silenced is. The passive enhances holy damage, all elemental attributes, final damage, and power amplification, following a fast and high-burst damage style.

Spirit Rhinoceros Divine Steed · Vermilion (Intelligence):Deals damage while continuously healing itself or the combined phantom beast. This essentially provides a small healing pool, greatly improving sustainability. The passive increases character critical rate, phantom beast attack, final damage, and power amplification, making it both a healer and damage dealer with versatile functionality.

Ice Star Divine Steed · Snow (Endurance):Can create a protective zone that reduces damage for allies, greatly increasing survivability in team dungeons or large battles. The passive boosts character critical damage, resonance power, final damage, and power amplification, positioning it as a balanced guardian with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Highlights Are Clear, But Several Questions Remain

Looking at the mechanics alone — knockback, silence, healing, damage reduction, plus various passive boosts to attack, crit, and final damage — the Year of the Horse phantom beasts cover multiple aspects: damage, control, support, and survivability. It all looks very promising.

However, don’t rush to shout “must buy” just yet! The official "Magic Domain" teasers still leave many uncertainties that directly affect actual performance:

Unknown Numbers:Key data like skill damage multipliers and cooldown times have not been disclosed. How high is the “high damage” exactly? How many hits does “multi-hit” mean? These figures are crucial to determine if these skills are truly “divine.”

Unclear Trigger Mechanics:For example, is Amber’s silence guaranteed or chance-based? What is the exact range, duration, and damage reduction percentage of Snow’s protective field? How much healing does Vermilion provide? These details remain unknown.

Development Cost Still a Mystery:Obtaining and upgrading the Nian beasts has always been a major concern. The official preview promises a “great value price” on January 14, but what exactly is this “value” relative to? And what about the required resources for development? We’ll have to wait for the price and full details to make a judgment.

Conclusion: Huge Potential, Worth Watching Closely Until Final Reveal

Overall, the “Nine Provinces Divine Steeds” series in "Magic Domain" has already earned acclaim for its art and cultural depth. The skill designs show promising potential and innovation, offering richer tactical possibilities.

However, whether they can truly set a new standard for combat power depends on the official pricing and detailed skill stats to be revealed on January 14. If the price is reasonable, the skill values strong, and trigger mechanisms reliable, this set of Year of the Horse phantom beasts—combining looks, cultural meaning, and multifunctionality—could indeed become the best cost-effective choice of the year.

My advice is to hold back your excitement and wait patiently for a few more days. Once all information is clear, combine it with your actual needs and resources before deciding whether to invest. Let’s all look forward to seeing if "Magic Domain" can deliver a satisfying answer this time.