Layla Best Build and Skill Tree Guide

Build and skill tree guide for Layla in Sword of Convallaria (SoC). See the best gear (weapon/trinket/tarot), skin, tier, and review here!

Layla's Tier & Basic Info

	Rarity	Legendary
	Role	Defender
	Faction	Night Crimson Iria Discipline

Movement Stats

Layla's Tier

Overall Rating			Reroll Rating
▶ Character Tier List			▶ Reroll Tier List
Single-Target Rating			Multi-Target Rating

User Score

Review & How to Get

Layla Pros and Strength

Wide Range Attacks

Layla's trait allows her to [Preempt] enemy attacks from all directions. After using [Cloud Slash], this effect switches to Alert and allows Layla to control a large area with attacks up to 7 times (depends on ★s) per turn.

AoE Damage Build

The damage of Layla's Alert attacks are low, so if you want to utilize her as an AoE damage dealer, increase the number of Alert triggers and her off-turn damage. Equip her with a Hunter's Intuition Trinket, [Destruction of the Tower] Tarot, [Encounter Stance] passive, her Leader's Aura, and buffs from other allies.

Defend Your Allies

By combining the effects of 【Shared Tribulation】 and 【Shelter from the Storm】, Layla can reposition nearby allies and grant them protective buffs. Timely use of this potent combination essentially allows Layla to protect her entire team from large damage by herself.

Resistant to Ranged Attacks

Layla's trait passively increases her M.Def, while the effects of 【Shared Tribulation】 grants [Block Enhancement II], which further increases her resistance to ranged attacks. Compared to other Defenders, Layla is particularly effective in stages where there are plenty of enemies that utilize both magical and physical ranged attacks.

Night Crimson Leader's Aura

At RK 7, Layla can choose to unlock her Leader's Aura, which effectively strengthens two of the best attackers in the game: SP Rawiyah, and Tristan. If you ever plan on using either of these two characters, consider pairing them with Layla to further amplify their damage.

Requires a Healer/Support

The Alert effect from 【Cloud Slash】 only lasts 1 turn after casting, meaning you will need to prepare 3 NRG every time you want to use it. Additionally, Layla's [Assisting Cover] forces Layla to take the damage in place of her ally. Without a means of self-sustain or NRG recovery (until 5★), Layla becomes unable to sustain her protection without the help of a healer.

Recommended Allies

Layla's Recommended Allies
Taair	Inanna	Samantha	Angel

Consider pairing Layla with someone like Taair, who increases SPD, Heals, and recovers NRG, which are all relevant stats for Layla's kit. Otherwise, a regular healer like Inanna, Samantha, or even Angel will allow Layla to participate in sustained combat.

Star Level Up Priority & Recommended Stars for Layla

Aim to Reach 2★ → 3★ → 4★

Star Level Up Priority	Recommended Star Level
	2★ → 3★ → 4★

Start by aiming for 2-stars to increase the number of her preemptive actions, then focus on 3-stars to widen her range, and 4-stars to further boost preemptive actions. At 5-stars, she gains +1 NRG recovery, but this can be covered by other characters or tactical skills. So, aim for 5-stars only if you have extra Memory Shards to spare.

Best Builds for Layla

Alert Build

Basic Attack												Reaction
Sword Cane												Quell the Tides
Skill
Cloud Slash								Night Crimson								Encounter Stance
Weapon								Trinket								Tarot
Newborn Blade								Shield of Justice								Temptation of The Devil

This build focuses on utilizing Layla as an offensive off-turn damage dealer. Bring allies that will allow Layla to use 【Cloud Slash】 consistently by supplying her with NRG and offensive buffs.

Assisting Cover Build

Basic Attack												Reaction
Sword Cane												Front Defense
Skill
Shelter from the Storm								Shared Tribulation								Co-Defense
Weapon								Trinket								Tarot
Guardian's Will								Shield of Justice								Silence of The Hermit

This is a build that focuses on using [Assisting Cover] as a team-wide defensive strategy. The equipment and skill selection makes Layla very survivable, and will shine much better if paired with a potent healer character.

Priority Skills

Skill	Priority and Details
Shared Tribulation	★★★★★ An essential Skill for [Assisting Cover] builds. The [Comrades] effect, which reduces enemy ATK when dealing damage with Preempt/Alert, is also excellent. Note the effect of warping allies can sometimes result in bad positioning.
Front Defense	★★★★★ A Reaction that greatly reduces damage taken from the front. In [Assisting Cover] builds, single-target attacks are generally taken from the front, making it very effective.
Cloud Slash	★★★★★ A Skill that deals AoE damage and applies [Vulnerable II], while changing the Trait’s Preempt to [Alert]. It’s a key skill for attacker builds, but with a high 3 NRG cost and an [Alert] effect lasting just one turn, you’ll want to use it as often as possible by supplying Layla with NRG.
Sword Cane	★★★★★ If 3 or more debuffs are applied to the target, this is the highest damage amongst Layla's single-target attacks, so prioritize this over the alternatives.
Shelter from the Storm	★★★★ A Skill that significantly increases the survivability of your entire party. After using [Shared Tribulation], use this Skill to further bolster your team's defenses. Additionally, it is also effective in stages with AoE attacks since it increases ally durability.
Night Crimson	★★★★ An aura that strengthens characters of the Faction. Since damage dealt is significantly increased, equip it whenever your party includes powerful attackers like SP Rawiyah or Tristan, or whenever you want to increase Layla's own damage dealt.

Skill	Equipping Priority and Details
Co-Defense	★★★ In Assisting Cover builds, this is especially effective when allies are gathered by [Shared Tribulation]. Choose to equip either [Battlefield Travel] or this Skill.
Quell the Tides	★★★ A Reaction that Dodges a Ranged attack from an enemy with lower SPD than Layla once per turn, then performs a [Strikes Back]. It's ineffective against Melee attacks, so equip this in stages where Ranged attacks are prevalent or when not using [Assisting Cover].
Battlefield Travel	★★★ A Skill that unconditionally reduces damage taken by 15% and nullifies [Scorch] and Skill interruptions. In [Assisting Cover] builds, choose to equip either [Co-Defense] or this. It can also remove traps and special terrain, making it useful in specific stages or against enemies that like to manipulate the terrain.
Encounter Stance	★★★ A passive that adds 40% of MDEF to P.ATK and increases HP by 10%. Equip this when orienting Layla towards offense.
Dispelling Strike	★★ Effective in stages where dispelling enemy buffs is necessary. Consider equipping it if Layla's damage is not a priority.
Police Lasso	★ Effective in some stages, such as those where you need to stop enemies from escaping.

Recommended Gear, Tarots, & Engravings

Recommended Weapons for Layla

Newborn Blade

Guardian's Will

Cornucopia Dagger

For an Attacker build, the [Newborn Blade], which greatly boosts HP and physical attack, or the [Cornucopia Dagger], which excels at NRG recovery and supports frequent use of [Cloud Slash], are recommended. For an [Assisting Cover] build, equip the [Guardian's Will] or [Dueling Dagger], both of which significantly increase Layla's durability when paired with the [Shield of Justice] trinket.

Recommended Trinkets for Layla

Shield of Justice

Hunter's Intuition

Mystery Guardian

For Layla, if you're going for an offensive build, [Hunter’s Intuition] is essential—it greatly enhances her [Alert] skill and boosts her number of actions. If you're focusing on a support-defense build instead, [Shield of Justice] is a strong choice, granting a Physical Shield and raising her stats, while [Mystery Guardian] is great for increasing her overall durability.

Recommended Tarots for Layla

Destruction of The Tower

Silence of The Hermit

Temptation of The Devil

For an offense-focused build, [Tower] is especially recommended since it gives a major boost to [Alert] damage. If you're building Layla for [Assisting Cover], [Hermit] is a great pick, enhancing your durability and helping you hold the line.

Recommended Engravings for Layla

Resonance	Effect
Sword Wand	Before actively attacking, for each 1 tile traversed, increases ATK and DEF by 4%, up to 12%. The effect lasts until the start of the next turn,
Wand Wand	After using a [basic attack], [skill], [strike back], or [assisting attack], gains 1 random [Level 2 Attribute Buff].
Wand Pentacle	Decreases physical DMG taken by 15%.

For Attacker builds, [Sword + Wand] is recommended to boost stats, or [Wand + Wand] to gain multiple buffs. For [Assisting Cover] builds, go with [Wand + Pentacle] or [Pentacle + Cup] to enhance durability and stay on the front line longer.

Layla Skill Unlock Priorities

Recommended Skill Set

* Tap a skill to view its details below.

Battlefield Travel	RK11	Encounter Stance
Dispelling Strike	RK9	Sword Cane
Night Crimson	RK7	Cloud Slash
Quell the Tides	RK5	Front Defense
Shared Tribulation	RK3	Shelter from the Storm
Co-Defense	RK1	Police Lasso

If you are planning on using Layla's Assisting Cover build, take both skills at RK3. Otherwise, you can pick the skill that you prefer. Once you hit RK7, prioritize taking [Cloud Slash], and then return for the [Night Crimson] Leader's Aura once you have the Castalia to spare.

Skill Details

Co-Defense	Cost: - CD: -
(Passive) For each ally within a 2-tile radius of the character, DEF increases by 10%, up to 40%.

Police Lasso	Cost: 3 CD: 3回
(Support) Instant Inflicts Restraint, ▽ ATK II, and ✗ Assist on the target for 2 turns. Additionally inflicts Stunned for 2 turns on targets with Restraint. Can be used 3 times.

Shared Tribulation	Cost: 2 CD: 3
(Support) Instant Teleports other allies within 4 tiles of the character to the character's side. The character gains Assisting Cover, Block Enhancement II, and Comrades for 2 turns.

Shelter from the Storm	Cost: 0 CD: 3
(Support) Grants DMG Reduction IV to the character and △ P.DEF II, △ M.DEF II, and Piercing DMG Reduction III to all allies within 3 tiles of the character for 2 turns.

Quell the Tides	Cost: - CD: -
(Reaction) When attacked by a ranged attack from front or side enemies, if the attacker's SPD is lower than the character's, dodges all their attacks. Can be triggered up to 1 time per round. When dodging, deals 60% physical DMG to 1 random target within a 3x4 area in the attacker's direction.

Front Defense	Cost: - CD: -
(Reaction) When hit by an active attack from the front, the DMG taken is decreased by 30%.

Night Crimson	Cost: - CD: -
(Leader's Aura) For all "Night Crimson" allies in battle, increases ATK by 10%, DEF by 20%, and DMG by 12%.

Cloud Slash	Cost: 3 CD: 0
(Physical DMG) Deals 3 hits of 25% physical DMG to all enemies within a 2-tile radius of the character, inflicting Vulnerable II after dealing DMG, lasting for 2 turns. After attacking, gains Iris Vanguard and Slashed Clean for 1 turn.

Dispelling Strike	Cost: - CD: -
(Basic Attack) Deals 50% physical DMG 2 times and dispels 2 buffs on the target.

Sword Cane	Cost: - CD: -
(Basic Attack) Single-target attack. Deals 75% Physical DMG. Before attacking, if the target has 3 or more debuffs, pursues after the attack, dealing 35% physical DMG 2 times.

Battlefield Travel	Cost: - CD: -
(Passive) Reduces DMG taken by 15%, immune to Scorch and skill interruption effects. At the end of the turn, clears enemy traps and special tile effects within 2 tiles around the character.

Encounter Stance	Cost: - CD: -
(Passive) 40% of the character's M.DEF is added to P.ATK, HP is increased by 10% at the start of the battle.

Layla's Trait & Skills

Layla's Trait

Max Effect

[Iris Vanguard] Increases M.DEF by 25%. Preempt can deal 60% physical DMG. The trigger range changes to within 3 tiles of the character and can be triggered up to 6 times per round. At the start of the turn, gains 1 NRG. Gains Block, can also block magical attacks. Performs Preempt on enemies in front or side within 2 tiles of the character before they actively attack. At the end of the turn, if the character is within an enemy's threat range, gains Iris Vanguard, lasting until the start of the next turn.

Stars Unlocked	Effect
	Increases M.DEF by 25%. Preempt can deal 60% physical DMG. The trigger range changes to within 3 tiles of the character and can be triggered up to 6 times per round. Gains Block, can also block magical attacks. Performs Preempt on enemies in front or side within 2 tiles of the character before they actively attack. At the end of the turn, if the character is within an enemy's threat range, gains Iris Vanguard, lasting until the start of the next turn.
	Increases M.DEF by 15%. Preempt can deal 40% physical DMG. The trigger range changes to within 3 tiles of the character and can be triggered up to 4 times per round. Gains Block, can also block magical attacks. Performs Preempt on enemies in front or side within 2 tiles of the character before they actively attack. At the end of the turn, if the character is within an enemy's threat range, gains Iris Vanguard, lasting until the start of the next turn.
	Increases M.DEF by 15%. Preempt can deal 40% physical DMG and can be triggered up to 4 times per round. Gains Block, can also block magical attacks. Performs Preempt on enemies in front or side within 2 tiles of the character before they actively attack. At the end of the turn, if the character is within an enemy's threat range, gains Iris Vanguard, lasting until the start of the next turn.
	Increases M.DEF by 15%. Preempt can deal 40% physical DMG and can be triggered up to 2 times per round. Gains Block, can also block magical attacks. Performs Preempt on enemies in front or side within 2 tiles of the character before they actively attack. At the end of the turn, if the character is within an enemy's threat range, gains Iris Vanguard, lasting until the start of the next turn.

Layla's Base Skills

Skill	Range
Slash
[Basic Attack] Cost: - / CD: - (Basic Attack) Deals 100% Physical DMG.
Brutal Blow
[Skill] Cost: 2 / CD: 0 (Physical DMG) Single-target attack. Deals 130% DMG. Before attacking, the character gains △ P.DEF II and △ M.DEF II for 2 turns.

Skills That Can Be Learned at RK1

Skill	Range
Co-Defense	-
[Skill] Cost: - / CD: - (Passive) For each ally within a 2-tile radius of the character, DEF increases by 10%, up to 40%.
Police Lasso
[Skill] Cost: 3 / CD: 3回 (Support) Instant Inflicts Restraint, ▽ ATK II, and ✗ Assist on the target for 2 turns. Additionally inflicts Stunned for 2 turns on targets with Restraint. Can be used 3 times.

Skills That Can Be Learned at RK3

Skill	Range
Shared Tribulation
[Skill] Cost: 2 / CD: 3 (Support) Instant Teleports other allies within 4 tiles of the character to the character's side. The character gains Assisting Cover, Block Enhancement II, and Comrades for 2 turns.
Shelter from the Storm
[Skill] Cost: 0 / CD: 3 (Support) Grants DMG Reduction IV to the character and △ P.DEF II, △ M.DEF II, and Piercing DMG Reduction III to all allies within 3 tiles of the character for 2 turns.

Skills That Can Be Learned at RK5

Skill	Range
Quell the Tides	-
[Reaction] Cost: - / CD: - (Reaction) When attacked by a ranged attack from front or side enemies, if the attacker's SPD is lower than the character's, dodges all their attacks. Can be triggered up to 1 time per round. When dodging, deals 60% physical DMG to 1 random target within a 3x4 area in the attacker's direction.
Front Defense	-
[Reaction] Cost: - / CD: - (Reaction) When hit by an active attack from the front, the DMG taken is decreased by 30%.

Skills That Can Be Learned at RK7

Skill	Range
Night Crimson	-
[Skill] Cost: - / CD: - (Leader's Aura) For all "Night Crimson" allies in battle, increases ATK by 10%, DEF by 20%, and DMG by 12%.
Cloud Slash
[Skill] Cost: 3 / CD: 0 (Physical DMG) Deals 3 hits of 25% physical DMG to all enemies within a 2-tile radius of the character, inflicting Vulnerable II after dealing DMG, lasting for 2 turns. After attacking, gains Iris Vanguard and Slashed Clean for 1 turn.

Skills That Can Be Learned at RK9

Skill	Range
Dispelling Strike
[Basic Attack] Cost: - / CD: - (Basic Attack) Deals 50% physical DMG 2 times and dispels 2 buffs on the target.
Sword Cane
[Basic Attack] Cost: - / CD: - (Basic Attack) Single-target attack. Deals 75% Physical DMG. Before attacking, if the target has 3 or more debuffs, pursues after the attack, dealing 35% physical DMG 2 times.

Skills That Can Be Learned at RK11

Skill	Range
Battlefield Travel	-
[Skill] Cost: - / CD: - (Passive) Reduces DMG taken by 15%, immune to Scorch and skill interruption effects. At the end of the turn, clears enemy traps and special tile effects within 2 tiles around the character.
Encounter Stance	-
[Skill] Cost: - / CD: - (Passive) 40% of the character's M.DEF is added to P.ATK, HP is increased by 10% at the start of the battle.

Weapons That Layla Can Equip

List of Weapons

Newborn Blade	Void Stab	Beheading Machete
Ever-Burning Blade	Senator Swift Sword	Guardian's Will
Cornucopia Dagger	Nocturnal Glow	Dawnmoon
Precision-forged Dagger	Dueling Dagger	Ceremonial Knife
Sharp Sword	Glittering Sword	Iron Sword

Layla's Voice Actor & Release Date

Layla Voice Actor

Released on Friday, February 14

Layla was released on Friday, February 14. Since the character is added to the standard banner, they can still be obtained even after the limited-time banner ends.

Layla's Skin

Initial	Ascended

▲ Unlock Ascended Skin when character reaches Star Level 5.

Sword of Convallaria Related Guides

Legendary Characters

Rawiyah	Maitha	Faycal	Beryl
Inanna	Dantalion	Magnus	Xavier
Nergal	Nungal	Edda	Samantha
Garcia	Miguel	Col	Leonide
Gloria	Teadon	Simona	NonoWill
LilyWill	Iggy	Momo	Alexei
Guzman	Cocoa	Acambe	Safiyyah
Auguste	Hasna	Homa	Caris
Agata	SP Rawiyah	Taair	Tristan
Layla	Pamina	SP Safiyyah	Kvare
Luvata	Estra	Flavia	Team Meteor
Ayishah	Afra	Nydia	-