Is Luuk Herssen Worth Pulling? | Wuthering Waves 3.1 Meta Review

With the Version 3.1 update for Wuthering Waves, Rovers are faced with a classic gacha dilemma: invest in the new Glacio support, Luuk Herssen, or save their Astrites for future powerhouses. As a 5-star Rectifier user hailing from the New Federation, Luuk promises to revolutionize how we play Skill-dependent characters.

But in a game where supports like Verina and Shorekeeper already dominate the meta, does Luuk bring enough to the table to justify spending up to 80 Radiant Tides? Is he a "must-pull" for everyone, or a luxury unit reserved for Glacio enthusiasts?

This comprehensive review analyzes Luuk Herssen’s kit value, future-proofing potential, and cost-to-performance ratio. We will compare him against existing options like Sanhua and Zhezhi to give you a definitive answer.

The Quick Verdict

• For Glacio Mains (Aemeath/Lingyang): MUST PULL. He is the dedicated support that Glacio has been missing.
• For Changli Mains: HIGH VALUE. His Skill DMG Deepen buff is best-in-slot for her.
• For F2P / Casuals: SKIP if you already have a built Sanhua and Zhezhi. He is an upgrade, but not a necessity for clearing content.
• Meta Rating: S-Tier (Specialist Support).

The Core Value Proposition: Skill Damage Deepen

To understand Luuk's worth, you must understand the math behind his primary utility. Wuthering Waves calculates damage using several "buckets": Attack, Elemental DMG Bonus, Crit, and Deepen (Amplification). Deepen is a rarer multiplier that usually resides in the Outro Skill.

Luuk Herssen’s Outro Skill provides a 38% Resonance Skill DMG Deepen for 14 seconds.

Why is this a big deal?

• Scarcity: Most supports buff All Elemental DMG (Verina) or Basic Attack DMG (Sanhua). Specific Skill DMG amplification is rare.
• Scaling: Characters like the new Aemeath, Changli, and even Encore deal the vast majority of their DPS through their Resonance Skills. Buffing this specific multiplier yields higher final damage numbers than a generic ATK buff because it multiplies the final calculation bucket.
• Duration: 14 seconds is a generous window, allowing complex combos (like Aemeath’s full rotation) to be fully buffed without falling off.

Comparative Analysis: Luuk vs. The Competition

The main reason players hesitate to pull Luuk is the existence of strong alternatives. Let’s break down the comparisons.

1. Luuk Herssen vs. Sanhua (The F2P Rival)

Sanhua is free, comes with your account, and is an excellent Glacio sub-DPS.

Sanhua: Buffs Basic Attack DMG by 38%. Fast rotation.

Luuk: Buffs Skill DMG by 38%. Slower rotation, but higher personal DMG ceiling.

Verdict: If your Main DPS relies on Basic Attacks (e.g., standard Lingyang playstyle or Danjin), Sanhua is equal or better. However, for Aemeath and Changli, Sanhua’s buff is mathematically useless. Luuk is not just an upgrade here; he enables a different archetype entirely.

2. Luuk Herssen vs. Zhezhi (The Energy Battery)

Zhezhi (released in 2.x) is another Glacio support.

Zhezhi: Buffs Glacio DMG and Resonance Skill DMG. Excellent off-field coordinated attacks that restore energy.

Luuk: Provides Crowd Control (Freeze) and stronger raw damage amplification.

Verdict: Zhezhi remains superior for Jinhsi because Jinhsi needs coordinated attacks to build her Forte. Luuk is superior for Hypercarry setups where the Main DPS stays on field longer and needs enemies grouped/frozen to land hits.

Future Proofing: Will He Get Powercrept?

Investing in a support is usually safer than investing in a DPS. DPS characters get replaced simply by bigger numbers. Supports get replaced only by better utility.

Luuk’s Longevity Factors:

• The "Freeze" Mechanic: Luuk is currently the only character who can reliably freeze bosses without relying on the vibration bar break mechanic. This utility is timeless. Even if his damage numbers fall off, the ability to stop a boss like the Thundering Mephis from moving for 3 seconds is invaluable for survival.
• Skill DMG Niche: As long as Kuro Games releases characters who deal damage via Resonance Skills, Luuk will have a job. Given the game's combat mechanics, Skill-based DPS units are inevitable.

Investment Cost Analysis (F2P vs. Dolphin)

Is S0 Enough?

Yes. At Sequence 0 (S0), Luuk provides his full buffing capability and crowd control. His kit is complete. You do not need multiple copies to make him functional.

The S2 Bait

Sequence 2 (S2) shreds Glacio RES by 20%. This is a massive damage increase (~15% team DPS) specifically for Glacio teams.

Is it worth it? Only if you are a "Glacio Main" for life. For most players, S0 is the stopping point. The cost of two extra copies (up to 160 pulls) is better spent on a new character.

Weapon Dependency

Luuk is remarkably F2P friendly regarding weapons.

Signature (The Calculated Zero): Great for energy, but not mandatory.

Standard 5-Star (Cosmic Ripples): Good stat stick.

4-Star (Variation): Ideally, you want this at R5. It solves all his energy issues, allowing him to Ult every rotation.

The "Changli" Factor

One of the strongest arguments for pulling Luuk actually has nothing to do with Glacio. It is his synergy with Changli (Fusion).

Changli has struggled to find a "perfect" buffer. Verina is universal but generic. Taoqi buffs Skill DMG but is clunky to play. Luuk offers the smoothness of Sanhua with the buff potency of Taoqi. Running a "Fire & Ice" team (Changli + Luuk + Verina) is currently testing as one of the highest DPS teams in the 3.1 Beta for single-target bossing.

If you main Changli and feel like her damage has plateaued, Luuk is the key to unlocking her next level.

Pros & Cons Summary

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does Luuk replace Verina?

A: No. Luuk is a Sub-DPS/Amplifier (3rd slot). Verina is a Healer/Sustain (2nd slot). You run them together. A typical team is DPS + Luuk + Verina.

Q: Can Luuk work with Jiyan or Calcharo?

A: Poorly. Jiyan deals Heavy Attack DMG. Calcharo deals Liberation DMG (mostly). Luuk's buff applies to "Resonance Skill DMG," so he offers very little to these characters compared to Mortefi or Yinlin.

Q: I have 0 Astrites. Should I swipe for him?

A: Only spend what you can afford. If you really want him to complete your Aemeath team, check ManaBuy's Top-Up Center for discounted Lunites. Never gamble with money you need for essentials.

Q: How hard is he to build?

A: Easy. He uses the standard Moonlit Clouds set. You just need Energy Regen main stats. He does not need amazing Crit stats to do his job as a buffer.

Q: Will he rerun soon?

A: Wuthering Waves reruns typically happen 4-5 patches after release. If you skip him now, you likely won't see him again until late 2026.

Final Conclusion

Luuk Herssen is a meticulously designed character who fills a specific hole in the Wuthering Waves combat sandbox. He is not a universal band-aid like Verina, but a specialized scalpel that drastically increases the effectiveness of Skill-based damage dealers.

If you plan to pull for Aemeath, Luuk is non-negotiable—he is half of her kit. If you are a Changli main, he is a significant upgrade. For everyone else, he is a safe skip, allowing you to save resources for the next universal support.

Looking for more Wuthering Waves content? Check out our blog for detailed build guides, Echo farming routes, and tier list updates.