He’s a brat. Honestly, that is the first thing most players think when they meet Rafayel in Love and Deep Space. He is dramatic, he’s perpetually complaining about his deadlines, and he acts like the world might actually end if his coffee isn't exactly right. But if you have spent more than five minutes digging into his Anecdotes or the "Night Stroll" memory, you know that the "Lemurian artist" persona is mostly a high-effort smoke screen.
Rafayel isn't just another pretty face in a gacha game.
He is a walking tragedy wrapped in expensive silk and paint splatters. While Zayne plays the cold-but-caring doctor and Xavier occupies the mysterious knight-out-of-time trope, Rafayel occupies a space that is much more volatile. He is the God of the Sea, or at least what’s left of him, navigating a world that has largely forgotten his people.
The Lemurian Secret Behind the Paint
Most people starting Love and Deep Space see Rafayel as the "fire" element guy. It's ironic, right? A sea creature associated with Evol that manifests as purple flames. But this isn't a design oversight by InFold Games. It’s a core part of his lore. The purple fire represents the "Sea God’s" dying embers—a power that is literally consuming him as he tries to survive in Linkon City.
His studio, the Moat, isn't just a workspace. It’s a fortress.
When you look at his interactions, especially in the Main Story chapters involving the forbidden zone and the underwater ruins, the stakes become clear. Rafayel isn't just flirting; he's soul-bonded. If you’ve read through the "Deep Sea Echo" anecdote, you realize he has been waiting for the protagonist for centuries. Not years. Centuries. That level of devotion usually comes off as "yandere" in these types of games, but with Rafayel, it feels more like desperate exhaustion. He’s tired of waiting.
He hides it with sarcasm.
"You're late," he’ll say, pouting in his chair. It’s a defense mechanism. By acting like a demanding child, he prevents the protagonist (and the player) from seeing the crushing weight of a fallen civilization on his shoulders. He is the last of his kind, or very close to it, and that isolation is palpable in his solo moments.
Why the "Bratty" Personality is a Genius Move
Writing a character who is "too perfect" is a death sentence for engagement. Rafayel works because he is genuinely annoying sometimes. He’s needy. He wants your attention 24/7. In the "Your Fragrance" memory—which, let's be real, broke the internet when it dropped—we see a side of him that is almost feral. It’s a sharp contrast to his usual "I’m just a fragile artist" act.
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The game developers did something subtle here. They gave him a specific speech pattern. He uses "we" and "us" when talking about the past, often slipping up and revealing that his connection to the MC goes back to a time before her current reincarnation.
The Evolution of the Lemurian Lore
If you are trying to maximize your Rafayel bond levels, you need to pay attention to the "Abysswalker" mythos. This is his combat-oriented identity. The white hair, the regal attire—it’s a glimpse into who he was before he started hiding in Linkon City.
The Abysswalker isn't just a skin.
It represents the peak of Lemurian power. In the lore, Lemurians were betrayed. Humans wanted their hearts—literally—because a Lemurian heart grants eternal life or immense power. When Rafayel looks at the protagonist, there is always a flicker of "are you going to betray me again?" It makes every romantic moment feel earned because he is overcoming actual, historical trauma to trust you.
Think about the "Ebb and Flow" card. The tension isn't just romantic; it’s existential.
Breaking Down the Fire and Water Duality
- The Fire: It symbolizes his rebellion. He turned his back on the peaceful, stagnant nature of the sea to seek revenge or reclamation.
- The Purple Hue: Not a natural flame. It’s "Evol" corruption. It shows that he is hurting himself every time he fights.
- The Painting: He uses his own blood in his pigments. This isn't just "edgy" writing; it's a reference to the fact that Lemurian blood holds their essence. Every masterpiece he sells is a piece of his life force.
How to Actually Build a Top-Tier Rafayel Deck
If you’re struggling with the Deepspace Trials or the Senior Hunt Contest, you can’t just throw random 5-stars together. Rafayel thrives on Critical Damage and Resonance.
Unlike Zayne, who is often built for defense and sustain, or Xavier, who focuses on speed and interrupt, Rafayel is a glass cannon. You want him to hit hard and hit fast.
Focus on the "Temple" sets.
Specifically, look for Protocores that boost his Pink and Purple stellar colors. If you manage to pull the "Deep Sea Riches" or "Floral Promise" cards, you need to prioritize their Ascension. The passive talent for the Abysswalker outfit increases damage against shielded enemies, which is absolutely vital for the later stages of the game where enemies have those annoying blue bars.
Don't ignore his 4-star cards. Some of the "Flowery" series have surprisingly high base attack stats that can carry you through the mid-game if you haven't whaled for his limited banners.
The Cultural Impact of the "Fishie"
Fans call him "Fishie" or "Salmon." It started as a joke, but it’s become a badge of honor for Rafayel stans. There is something deeply human about a character who is literally a god but spends his time arguing with his manager over social media posts.
He represents the modern struggle of identity.
Who are we when our culture is gone? Rafayel chooses to be an artist. He chooses to create beauty in a world that only sees him as a resource to be harvested. That resonates with people. It’s not just about the spicy 3D interactions (though those are very high quality, credit to the animators). It’s about the fact that he feels like a person with a very specific, very messy history.
Common Misconceptions About Rafayel’s Intentions
A lot of players think Rafayel is manipulating the protagonist. They see his "whining" as a way to guilt-trip her.
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That’s a surface-level take.
If you look at the "Sea Breeze" incident, he actually tries to push her away when things get dangerous. He isn't pulling her into his world because he wants to use her; he’s pulling her in because he can’t help himself. He is lonely. Imagine being alive for centuries, watching the person you love die and come back over and over, never remembering who you are.
You’d be a little dramatic too.
Actionable Tips for Rafayel Main Players
To get the most out of the Rafayel experience in Love and Deep Space, you should change how you interact with the game’s daily systems.
- Prioritize the "Anecdotes": Do not skip these. Specifically, "The Sea’s Threnody" explains why he hates the smell of certain chemicals and why his studio is designed the way it is. It changes the context of his "complaining."
- Save for "Solar" Pairs: The Solar pairs (the two-card sets that unlock new combat outfits) are significantly more powerful for Rafayel than single limited 5-stars. The "Abysswalker" set fundamentally changes his playstyle in the battle segments.
- Check the "Playtime" Interactions: Rafayel has unique reactions to the Claw Machine. He’s notoriously bad at it but will get extremely competitive if you win more than him. It’s the best way to farm his affection points quickly.
- Listen to the "Secret Times": Use headphones. The sound design in Love and Deep Space is top-tier, and Rafayel’s voice actor (in all languages, but especially the CN and EN dubs) puts a lot of "breathiness" into his lines that gets lost on phone speakers. It reveals his vulnerability.
Rafayel isn't just a romance option; he's the emotional core of the game's mystery regarding Lemuria and the Wanderer crisis. Whether you love his sass or find him exhausting, you can't deny that he is the most well-developed character in the roster. He’s a mess of contradictions—a fire-wielding fish, a billionaire artist who lives in a "shack" by the sea, and a god who just wants someone to stay for dinner.
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Start focusing on his Pink Stellar attributes for the current meta, and make sure you’re reading the item descriptions in his room. Everything—from the candles to the specific paints—is a clue to what happened to the Sea God before he met you in this lifetime.