A Reddit post revealed that Hotori's Time Freeze skill has a hidden interaction in Pink Paws Heist — it pauses the countdown timer while players can still act. Perfect usage can grant up to 60% more action time, transforming Hotori from "decent DPS" to "must-pick for co-op."
1. Hotori Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Hotori |
| Rarity | S-Rank |
| Role | DPS / Utility |
| Core Mechanic | Time Freeze |
Time Freeze Skill
Hotori's ultimate freezes everything in the scene, including:
- Enemy actions and attack hitboxes
- Countdown timers (the key discovery!)
- Scene mechanisms
- Special event timers
Duration: ~5-8 seconds (skill level dependent), Cooldown: ~20-25 seconds.
2. Pink Paws Heist: Hidden Value
Reddit Discovery
In Pink Paws Heist, Hotori's time freeze pauses the heist countdown timer, but players can still act normally:
- Extra action time: Each freeze adds ~5-8 seconds
- Cooldown overlap: With ~20-25s CD, usable 2-3 times per heist
- Total gain: Up to ~60% more action time with perfect usage
Execution Tips
- 1Use first Time Freeze immediately after heist starts
- 2During freeze, prioritize time-consuming tasks (puzzles, transport)
- 3After freeze ends, operate normally until CD refreshes
- 4Use second Time Freeze when remaining time gets low
Performance Comparison
| Scenario | Without Hotori | With Hotori |
|---|---|---|
| Action time | 100% (base) | ~160% |
| Completion rate | ~70% | ~90%+ |
| Error margin | Low | Significantly higher |
3. Boss Fight Applications
DPS Window Extension
- Boss ultimate charge-up → Time Freeze → 5-8s free damage
- Boss invincibility frames → Time Freeze → damage ready when iframes end
- Boss add phase → Time Freeze → clear adds then focus boss
Special Scenarios
Anomaly Challenges: Time freeze stops the timer, same as Pink Paws. Extremely valuable in high-level time-pressured content.
Weekly Bosses: Mechanic phases can be skipped with time freeze. Particularly valuable for bosses with long invincible + mechanic phases.
4. Disk Set Recommendations
DPS Build
| Slot | Main Stat | Substat Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Disk 1 | ATK% | CR > CD > ATK% |
| Disk 2 | CR/CD | CD/CR > ATK% > Energy |
| Disk 3 | Element DMG% | CR > CD > ATK% |
| Disk 4 | ATK% | CR > CD > Energy |
Utility Build (for Pink Paws/Time Freeze focus)
- Energy recharge priority (ensure ultimate is ready when CD ends)
- Survival stats second (need to stay alive to cast)
- Damage stats third
5. Team Recommendations
Team 1: Pink Paws Specialist
| Role | Character | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | Zero/Mint/Limited | Primary damage |
| Support | Hayate | Buffs |
| Utility | Hotori | Time freeze + damage |
| Healer | Jiuyuan/Edgar | Survival |
Team 2: Anomaly Challenge
| Role | Character | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | Strong DPS | DPS |
| Sub DPS | Hotori | Damage + time freeze |
| Shield break | Element match | Boss shield |
| Support | Buffer/healer | Team support |
Team 3: Hotori Main DPS
| Role | Character | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | Hotori | Core damage |
| Buffer | Hayate/etc. | Boost Hotori's damage |
| Shield break | Element match | Element coverage |
| Healer | Jiuyuan/Edgar | Survival |
6. Is Hotori Worth Pulling?
| Scenario | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Paws Heist | ★★★★★ | Time freeze stops timer, T0 pick |
| Anomaly Challenge | ★★★★☆ | Very valuable in timed content |
| Weekly Boss | ★★★☆☆ | DPS window extension useful but not required |
| Daily Content | ★★★☆☆ | Standard DPS, not exceptional |
| Ranked/Speedrun | ★★★★☆ | Clear advantage in time-sensitive content |
Verdict
Hotori isn't the "strongest main DPS" in traditional terms, but her time freeze grants exceptional utility. In Pink Paws Heist specifically, she's nearly mandatory. For solo players, priority is slightly lower, but time freeze remains valuable in timed challenges.
Summary
Hotori's core value lies in time freeze's multi-scenario applications: freezing Pink Paws timers for 60% more time, extending DPS windows in boss fights, and relieving time pressure in Anomaly challenges. This unique utility makes her a "maybe not the strongest, but always useful" character in NTE.