Overview: A watery trickster accompanied by a literal “skate-board” Yareli is a fast moving and deadly crowd-control frame. Her blueprint is obtained by completing the Waverider quest for the Ventkids of Fortuna, while her components can be researched and built in the labs of your clan dojo.

The Waverider: To obtain Yareli, one must complete a series of tricks using a K-Drive. This can be pretty frustrating if you’re not deeply invested in the K-Drive scene, so here’s a few tips:

• Grind on the small wall around the “Pearl” (west of Fortuna on the Orb Vallis) for a long trick chain duration, multiplier and score – hop over the ramps and land back on the rail while still in grind mode (same key as crouch) to keep the chain going.
• A pipe just outside Fortuna can also be used for grinding an tricks – try equipping your K-Drive on top of the gate building and jumping off, aiming to land on the pipe and performing tricks as you fall.
• Avoid doing the same trick twice in a row – doing the same trick repeatedly can give you the much lower scoring “copykavat” trick instead.
• You can fly up high with an archwing than mount your K-Drive mid-air for airtime!

All of these challenges are possible with the basic K-Drive – I managed it in one evening using one.

Prime: Yareli prime is yet to be released, and will not be for several years.

Special: When Yareli is on the move for over 1.5 seconds, she will gain Critical Flow, increasing her secondary weapon critical chance by 200% until she becomes stationary.

Pros: Above average shields and energy capacity, excellent crowd-control powers, decent damage and survivability along with access to a unique K-Drive.

Cons: Merulina (2) takes some getting used to and has serious issues in enclosed maps – you’ll spend a lot of time bouncing off terrain, she can be energy hungry and her powers need to be placed well for maximum effect.

Powers: Cast Sea Snares (1) to launch a spread of water globes that will seek out nearby foes – or lie in wait for a victim. Enemies that are touched by a globe will find themselves lifted in the air as they take cold damage, increasing with every second the effect persists. Yareli can maintain 15 globes at a time, making this a surprisingly good crowd control power that can actually deal a fair bit of damage.

Call forth Merulina (2) to summon Yareli’s watery companion as a form of K-Drive. This strange organism allows Yareli to speed through levels while using her sidearm and powers, while taking 75% of any damage dealt to Yareli in her place. Merulina has her own health pool and will be unsummoned when “killed” and will allow you to perform tricks and gain Ventkids standing. Currently Merulina (2) can’t be modded, but can perform a double jump and makes you somewhat resistant to being knocked off by default.

Aquablades (3) generates a trio of orbiting blades that deal slash damage to anyone nearby, staggering them and rapidly inflicting the bleed status effect. The blades must directly touch targets to inflict damage, but enemies suspended in Sea Snares (1) will be prevented from escaping the blades if you stay nearby. The Helminth can absorb this ability by subsuming Yareli, allowing you to add it to other frames.

Riptide (4) generates a sphere of water at the target location that pulls in nearby enemies, dealing cold damage-over-time before exploding in a final icy burst, multiplied by the total number of enemies caught by the ability. Enemies caught in Sea Snare (1) will also be drawn in by this power.

Opinion: Despite her seeming focus on Merulina (2) and K-Drive tricks, Yareli has far more to offer a prospective player. In the more open maps Merulina (2) can get you around quickly while keeping you safe – that effective 75% damage reduction is noticeable. Yareli can lock down dangerous foes with Sea Snares (1) while lacerating anything tough with her Aquablades (3) and critical pistol shots or crushing hordes beneath a Riptide (4) of icy saline. Her mobility, damage and crowd control make her a reasonable choice for open-world areas, defence and interception. In addition, she can methodically drown her way through exterminate or survival maps without any issue. That said… the main gimmick of this frame is riding about on your magic board, but most tile-sets are too small to perform any tricks, flips or even move at full speed. It’s pretty disappointing in that regard, though I have to admit I saw this problem coming – and I’m surprised Digital Extremes didn’t. It’s a pity because it feels like her powers have both style and potential.