Welcome back to Waifu Wednesday, Niche Gamer’s column where we talk about characters, their appeal, and a little on their history.

It’s Waifu Wednesday! This week’s waifu is Kozeki Ui from Blue Archive!

Ui was added to the game during “The Clumsy Sister and the Magician of the Old Library” event back in 2022. She’s an Explosive Support unit who briefly defined the meta thanks to her ability which reduced the cost of a student’s EX-Special for two casts, alongside a minor attack buff.

In the years since, she’s fallen out of favor thanks to students like Fuuka (New Year) and passive cost reducers like Konata, Shiroko (Swimsuit), and others. Her newer Swimsuit version still sees use in some hardcore content due to her ability to raise the Piercing damage of all allies.

Aesthetically, gloomy girls are in demand and have been for a few years now. The similarities between Ui and the milk-dispensing Hex Maniac are difficult to ignore. While Ui is a notorious introvert, it’s more that she enjoys peace and quiet and is happy to see Sensei in the library’s inner sanctum for a visit.

Ui is also a skilled restoration specialist and works hard to keep old books in good repair.

Despite her gloomy appearance, Ui is a sweet girl who’s (begrudingly) willing to step outside her comfort zone to spend time with friends.