[FGO] Servant Analysis : Xuanzang Sanzang

Xuanzang Sanzang - The Bonze of Tang Dynasty

Xuanzang Sanzang, the first Buster STNP 5* Caster. Often more than not, Casters are bound or even doomed to AoE or Arts NP. They are also very supportive, not much on the offensive side - and then Xuanzang happened. On a side note, Illya too, but she suffers from a RNG based demerit.
Right off the bat, she's weird: she's an offensive Caster, and the very best to be fair. With an 11,658 attack stat and 12,965 HP stat at level 90, she hits quite hard despite the malus damage modifier.

She is very effective for challenge fights, including Demon Pillars due to their class weakness. Indeed, with the right team comp, she can OHKO a boss. So, who is she really?

LORE

Xuanzang Sanzang was often portrayed as a very feminine man or outright female in popular culture, so this Fate "genderflip" tradition is a bit uncalled for. They instead, as usual, exaggerated her attributes. Part of the Tang dynasty, Xuanzang Sanzang, also known as Genjou Sanzou, was a Buddhist monk. She is a key character from Journey to the West, where alongside her companions, she went on a journey to India. This eventually returned in a story element, aka the Journey to the West event. 

KIT

 Deck

Typical Caster deck, efficient triple Arts command cards - this means she can charge and spam her NP pretty easily. She's rather a lackluster in Buster cards, sadly this means she will not be able to use her NP to its full potential. Nonetheless, an ally based Buster chain could help her for extra damage. Her star generation is average, but again she is not really used for crits. 

Active Skills

High-Speed Sutra Chanting A

This skill charges her NP by 50% (80% at max level) and increases its damage by 10% (20% at max level) for 1 turn. This skill is excellent, it practically lets her use her NP whenever she wants to. It's quite simple yet efficient, I recommend leveling it first. 

Cooldown ranges from 9 to 7.

Bewitching Rosy Cheeks A

This skill applies Target Focus and Damage Cut by 500 (1500 at max level) for one turn. It is a bit odd, it works as a rather defensive skill - when you want Sanzang to take the hit for an ally. One way of using it could be for ST bosses: apply Invincible status to her (skill or Mystic Code) and use this skill. This could save your allies as well. You also could use her third skill to prevent debuffs in that case. This skill should be leveled last.

Cooldown ranges from 8 to 6. 

 Sanzang's Teachings A

This skill increases party NP generation rate and star generation rate by 10% (30% at max level) for 3 turns, and grants party debuff immunity for 1 turn. A signature skill of Xuanzang, it's supportive by nature and quite interesting. You could use with the second skill for said strategy, or for party demerits. In any case it is a nice field, it helps the whole party for damage and NP building. 

Cooldown ranges from 7 to 5.

I recommend leveling skills in this order : 3>1>2 or 1>3>2. I personally prefer leveling the third one  as Xuanzang has a very good NP generation and it has an excellent cooldown, but the first skill is a pretty solid itself. It actually depends on if you want to use her for solos (in this case, go for the first one) or party-dependant fights. 

Passive Skills 

  Territory Creation A+

This passive increases her Arts performance by 11%. It is a very good passive which further increases her godly NP gain and let her spam her NP easily.

 Divinity D 

This passive increases her damage by 125. Why not, that won't change her poor Class modifier, but it's still welcome. 

NOBLE PHANTASM

Gogyousan Shiyakanyoraishou

Xuanzang's NP is Buster ST NP. It deals 600% damage (1000% at max level) at rank B, and 800% (1200% at max level) at rank B+ after a Rank Up Quest. Its overcharge effect is okay, as it greatly decreases the enemy's critical rate by 80% (120% at max level). This NP is not too complicated: hit hard and hit fast, use it as often as possible. It truly is her greatest attribute (well, yes...) as she can spam it easily. If you power her up with Merlin, Helena or Andersen, she's truly deadly. 

CRAFT ESSENCE RECOMMENDATION

Generally, I'd say that there are 2 ways of thinking. You want her to spam her NP or power creep her Buster game. 

•NP power: Pharaoh Chocolatl, Black Grail (beware she's not that solid), Heaven's Feel 

•NP spam: Phantom Night, Detective Edmond -Foreign Nation Infiltration Arc-, Divine Banquet

Overall, Xuanzang is an excellent Servant. She's the best offensive Caster, Assassins fear her name. However, she suffers from this class malus. Indeed, because of the damage modifier she cannot reach full potential in terms of NP and general attack. If not for her class, she would be over the top. On JP metagame, Alteregos can be used against Assassins and Casters are mainly supports (the holy quatuor of Merlin, Waver, Tamamo and Skadi). 

Still, with the right team comp (and it's not even that gimmicky), she can make a great deal of damage, and she comes in handy for Demon Pillars battles. 

On a side note, she is my very first 5* Servant on this game since 2015, so we fought a lot together - experience talking here. 

Also, Merlin's third skill is a blessing on her. I pray for the enemy's soul.