Tactical Upgrade Absolute Squad now SSR NIKKE: Moist, Cloaked & Fortified

A triple threat is coming Commanders! The NIKKE Tactical Upgrade versions of the Absolute Squad (Emma, Eunhwa and Vesti) from the main story are coming as playable units.

In NIKKE lore, Emma Eunhwa and Vesti underwent the Tactical Up procedure ahead of Chapter 33 (Clash) and Chapter 34 (Inheritance) of the main story, released in October 2024.

The Tactical Upgrade procedure was initiated by Ingrid, the CEO of Elysion, granting the Absolute Squad combat upgrades to overpower Behemoth. Behemoth was the central antagonist in Chapters 31-34. Shift Up sharing news of the Tactical Upgraded Emma, Eunhwa and Vesti coming as SSR NIKKE units could mean we finally get a continuation of their story.

The Absolute Squad in NIKKE:

Here are the official Tactical Upgrade banners for Eunhwa, Emma and Vesti along with images of the trio’s appearance in Chapter 34 and story-based lore on their new forms.

Shift Up typically ties in narrative and in-game lore with game mechanics, so we've made some predictions of how it might translate for the Absolute Squad upgrades.

Based on the main story we can expect Emma: Tactical Upgrade's skills to be based around liquids, perhaps a support or debuffer unit, similar to Milk or Soda, offering AoE regen or slow. In Chapter 34, we learn Tactical Up Emma NIKKE's new outfit can store, swap and expel liquids based on the mission.

When the Commander learns of this, Emma asks him to touch it, leading to the infamous quote: "Want to touch it? It feels really good. Nice and moist".

In the main story, the leader of the Absolute Squad Eunhwa's upgraded version kept her trademark sniper but gained access to specialized ammo and a camo cloak. Eunhwa explains her upgraded ammo’s penetrative and explosive properties in Chapter 34

Based on these descriptions Eunhwa's kit could be a hybrid of Laplace's charged shots and Rosanna's cloaking. Expect a Sniper DPS role with Crit damage boost.

In Chapter 34 of the main story, Vesti becomes a walking fortress with her Tactical Upgrade. The Tactical Up increases her missile capacity and rate of fire. Plus, her new shield equipment is so powerful she could even survive a self-destruction.

The description of Vesti's Tactical Up abilities in the lore suggest a tank role perhaps incorporating a taunt mechanic similar to Diesel. The increased missile capacity and rate could be a burst nuking mechanic.

News of the Absolute Squad's Tactical Upgrade coming to NIKKE was part of drip marketing, and we do not know yet the exact release date for the new units. Stay tuned.