To me, the perfect implementation of A-ranks would be teasing starter kits to new archetypes, elements, or roles, letting us taste and use a basic level of this new mechanic.

I'd honestly be fine with A-ranks that could maybe unlock S-rank tier power boosts through banner or the potential unlock mechanics

There should ALWAYS be an A-rank option for new attributes and classes

Everyone wants a new A rank but no one wants their fave to be an A rank. Quite the conundrum

i remember when pan yinhu was teased in the yunkui trailer and while some wanted him to be an s rank, a majority just was happy we were getting another playable thiren.

I can't help but find it ironic as a newer player that I told my friend "Lucia's story did kind of win me over in the end but I can't help but feel like I was more invested in the A Rank's story more than the S overall which just feels odd" only to hear people thought he was going to be an S prior to release ☠️

If they cant make a new A ranks, the least they can do is make a new standard S ranks.

Also something you didn't mention at all. He immedeatly got replaced by Banyue like a patch or two right after. He had zero breathing time.

now I do kinda agree with most of the vid is saying there still some problems I have with it. one I really don't think manato have any to do with the female design discourse I think it more have to with fans noticing a pattern with female characters have the almost the same outfit it a trend going on with the genshin and hsr fandoms as way. two I don't think manato story was about " it ok to be a side character" I think it more about how you don't need to prove yourself and how you don't need to push yourself to get stronger in order to protect those most close to you. anyway no shade I've just wanted to point that out sense no else was.

I think a good option for the devs to do about A ranks is to make their m6 be similar to a S rank's m0 imo. It would be really beneficial for us f2p/low spender players to have more diversity of playstyles quickly

What we truly need is an A rank polar bear so we can have the complete team

I can argue that we should have an A rank for every new thing that is released like Wind and Armorer (Defense can be the equivalent)

Damn bro, did Manatofans kill your boyfriend or something?

would have been less of a problem if Manato launched with Yixuan as the free Rupture alternative. And since he wasn’t important in the story YET, people wouldn’t have been upset. In the end their own marketing choices created their problem.
A rank HAS TO be the character’to introduce you to a new class, element, etc. then sell you later in the better S-rank version.
That being said, the Rupture class wasn’t really a class but an atk class adjacent with stat switch to balance the stat economy and sell you on more useless w-engines, disks and whatever. Same for armorer. but this time we might not get an A-rank and it sucks.
But anyways, I just want more fun gameplay and we still get that every patch so it’s alright .
Though I won’t
ignore your Manato slander. Manato is one of the most fun character to play (at M6 😂) and he represents the Banchou style, 90s anime trope very well, almost JoJo like and he is cool. He never came up as an NPC unlike the recently introduced Zeppelin (she has no mouth animations).
Thanks for the video

If they have added Manato directly with Alice and Yuzuha it would have got no complain.
It would be also be a good agent for all who skipped the first rupture agent.
Instead they released him with Yidari and the doom of Banyue.

I'm in disaccord with the video: Manato had a lot of screen time , a story arc and even a skin! Also he still appear a lot later. While Yidari appears lot less and never before her release.
Frankly Yidari stole the rank from Manato

A little something about Pulchra, she wasn't added due to popularity, she had a playable ID ever since 1.2 while Mors and Bellum didn't. The only weird thing is that she was only released in 1.6

S3 still has no signs of a full thiren beside the lady at the bangboo repair store.

Why are we acting like ONLY Manato fans are saying designs have repetitive elements? Personally I think that designs like Velina, and Remielle are VERY similar, considering their designs literally have little to no differences  between accessories, and shape. Also the whole detached sleeves thing is literally shared amongst most of the female cast so what are you talking about? 😭 Another thing, Yixuan, Yidhari, and Lucia all share the same weird shorts (I don’t know what they’re called), some part of their chest open to see, and all have bare legs… I don’t get how you present what people are saying and not see for yourself the copy and paste designs elements. So, by your logic, if I’m attracted to Manato, I’m not allowed to say for example Remielle is “gooner bait” even though the way she talks, and some of her animations, have a type of seductive charm to them?

Story focus has been tied to S ranks all the time no? Besides the Cunning Hares in the literal first chapter of the game (who are also becoming S ranks anyways), each faction had S rank main focuses. It went from Standards to Zhu/Qingyi, Jane, Miyabi, Astra/Evelyn, etc.

Add on top other issues like the male imbalance and for a character who had no focus at all and it made sense. Manato actually fit Zzz’s classic design philosophy as well.

Also him being cool and attractive with normal clothes is not an equivalent to the more fan service-y repetition of Yixuan to Yidhari

This tells me that A-Ranks can most likely be a thing again if ZZZ is earning a butt load ton of money every year like Genshin numbers, or maybe even more