Ah, Hu Tao. She is the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. A Pyro polearm wielder, she dances at the edge of life and death in lore and gameplay. If you seek to maximize her power, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dissect her build and gameplay essentials.
Hu Tao and Juvenile Jade
First, let’s discuss Juvenile Jade. You may ask, “Does Hu Tao even need it?” Yes, she does. To fully ascend her to level 90, you’ll need 46 Juvenile Jades. Start farming now. This gem is vital for her ascension. Without it, she will remain less potent and cannot unleash her full pyro power.
Xiao, the brooding Yaksha, also craves Juvenile Jade for his ascension. He requires 46 of these as well. Yanfei, the spirited legal advisor, is in the same boat. If you plan to build Hu Tao, Xiao, or Yanfei, prepare for a farming marathon.
Ascending Hu Tao: Leveling Materials
Ascension in Genshin Impact is quite important. You’ll need specific materials to elevate Hu Tao through these phases. Let’s break it down:
Agnidus Agate: Pyro Stones
Being a Pyro character, Hu Tao needs Agnidus Agate. You will require:
- 1x Agnidus Agate Sliver
- 9x Agnidus Agate Fragments
- 9x Agnidus Agate Chunks
- 6x Agnidus Agate Gemstones
These stones are essential for her ascension. They are the building blocks of her Pyro abilities.
Juvenile Jade: The Star Again
Yes, Juvenile Jade appears again. You need 46 stones for Hu Tao’s complete ascension. These are your ticket to higher levels.
Silk Flowers: Liyue’s Bloom
Hu Tao has a delicate taste in flowers. She requires 168 Silk Flowers. Yes, that’s 168! These blossoms are found in Liyue Harbor and Wangshu Inn. Start collecting these flowers; it will take time.
Whopperflower Nectar: Sweet and Deadly
Whopperflowers drop the nectar Hu Tao desires. You will need all three tiers:
- 18x Whopperflower Nectar
- 30x Shimmering Nectar
- 36x Energy Nectar
Dispatching Whopperflowers is not just satisfying; it is necessary for Hu Tao’s growth. Time to hunt!
Talent Ascension: Hu Tao’s Inner Power
Leveling Hu Tao’s talents amplifies her combat capabilities. Different materials are needed, focusing on knowledge and looted boss items.
Books of Diligence: The Grind
Hu Tao values hard work. Her talent books come from the “Diligence” series:
- Teachings of Diligence
- Guide to Diligence
- Philosophies of Diligence
You’ll require a large stack, mainly Philosophies of Diligence, to max out her talents. Farm the Taishan Mansion domain on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
For levels 7 to 10, here’s the breakdown:
- Level 7-8: 6x Philosophies of Diligence
- Level 8-9: 12x Philosophies of Diligence
- Level 9-10 (max): 16x Philosophies of Diligence
To take one talent from level 1 to 10, you seek:
- 3x Teachings of Diligence
- 21x Guide to Diligence
- 38x Philosophies of Diligence
Dedication indeed.
Shard of a Foul Legacy: Boss Loot
You’ll need Shards of a Foul Legacy from the Childe boss fight. These are crucial for leveling Hu Tao’s later talents. You will require these along with Philosophies of Diligence for levels 7 and above.
For talent levels 7 to 10, Shard requirements are:
- Level 7-8: 1x Shard of a Foul Legacy
- Level 8-9: 2x Shard of a Foul Legacy
- Level 9-10 (max): 2x Shard of a Foul Legacy
For each maxed talent, gather a total of 5 from Childe. Time to visit the Eleventh Harbinger weekly.
Juvenile Jade: The Source
Let’s return to Juvenile Jade. Where can you find these green gems? The answer is the Primo Geovishap.
Primo Geovishap: Boss of Jades
The Primo Geovishap drops Juvenile Jade. It is located on the outskirts of The Chasm near Tianqiu Valley. Prepare for battle, as this dragon can switch elements. This makes it a challenging foe. But remember, no pain, no gain for Juvenile Jade.
Drop Rates: Jade Count
At World Level 8, the Primo Geovishap drops 2 or 3 Juvenile Jades each defeat. To gather 46, you must defeat it at least 23 times. Yes, that’s 23 times! Prepare your food buffs and brace for grinding. IGN’s Hu Tao build guide offers tips if you face difficulties.
Hu Tao’s Build: HP is Key
Hu Tao is unique. Her damage scales off her HP, not Attack. This distinction affects her build. Let’s explore her scaling and ideal stats.
HP Scaling: Health is Important
Hu Tao’s Elemental Skill, “Guide to Afterlife,” is vital for damage. It consumes HP to boost her attacks with Pyro, converting part of her Max HP into Attack. Therefore, HP% and flat HP stats are more valuable than Attack%.
An HP% Sands artifact is recommended instead of ATK% Sands. Maximizing her HP means higher damage while her Elemental Skill is active. Think of it as converting health into Pyro might.
Elemental Mastery: Boosts Damage
While HP is main, Elemental Mastery (EM) is vital for Hu Tao, especially for Vaporize reactions. These reactions occur when Pyro meets Hydro and amplify Pyro damage significantly. Vaporize is crucial for Hu Tao.
Some EM can be more beneficial than focusing solely on Crit, as a lot of Hu Tao’s damage can grow through Vaporize. Aim for adequate EM to maximize reaction-based output.
Artifact Stats: The Essentials
For Hu Tao’s artifacts, aim for this triplet:
- HP%
- Pyro DMG Bonus
- Crit Rate/Crit DMG
HP% on Sands, Pyro DMG on Goblet, and Crit Rate or Crit DMG on Circlet should be your main stats. For substats, prioritize Crit Rate, Crit DMG, HP%, and EM. Balance these will ensure Hu Tao hits hard and crits often.
Team Synergy: Hydro Partners
Hu Tao flourishes in teams applying Hydro for Vaporize reactions. Characters like Xingqiu and Yelan excel here. They are crucial in many strong team setups. Their Hydro application allows Hu Tao to Vaporize her Charged Attacks, enhancing her damage output. Game Rant’s guide may provide more insights on team-building.
Hu Tao and Xingqiu form a strong duo, often considered among the best pairings. Their synergy creates a beautiful dance of Pyro and Hydro, producing immense damage.
Talents Unleashed: Understanding Abilities
Now, let’s review Hu Tao’s talents to see how she operates in combat.
Elemental Skill: Guide to Afterlife – HP
Gamble
This is Hu Tao’s main skill. Upon activation, she loses 30% of her current HP. This happens at level 1, and the percentage remains static. She enters the Paramita Papilio state. Here, the magic occurs:
- Pyro Infusion: Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks become Pyro DMG for 9 seconds. This allows Vaporize reactions.
- ATK Boost Based on Max HP: Attack increases based on her Max HP at skill activation. This is how her HP scaling works.
- Resistance to Interruption: In the Paramita Papilio state, her resistance to interruption increases. She becomes less likely to stagger from enemy attacks.
This state is essential for her damage rotation. It’s a calculated risk. Losing HP provides massive damage. Playing Hu Tao well means managing this risk and her HP carefully.
Charged Attacks: Blood Blossom Barrage
Hu Tao’s main damage comes from Charged Attacks, especially with her Elemental Skill. Charged Attacks deliver powerful Pyro hits and apply the Blood Blossom effect on enemies.
Blood Blossom is crucial in her gameplay. Affected enemies take Pyro DMG every 4 seconds. While not her main source of damage, it adds consistent damage over time and boosts her overall DPS.
Elemental Burst: Spirit Soother – Healing, Sort Of
Hu Tao’s Elemental Burst, “Spirit Soother,” inflicts an AoE Pyro attack that damages enemies in a wide area. It also heals, but this is often an inconvenience rather than a reliable heal.
The burst heals her based on Max HP, yet this healing is frequently insufficient, especially due to her low HP style. It’s an emergency option for a little survivability or boosting damage and not a primary healing tool. Avoid relying on it; focus on shields and strategy.
Weaponry: Arming Hu Tao for Battle
The right weapon for Hu Tao greatly affects her performance. Let’s review some excellent choices.
Dragon’s Bane: The 4-Star Darling
For a 4-star weapon, Dragon’s Bane is often Hu Tao’s best option. Why? Elemental Mastery. It grants a significant amount of Elemental Mastery as a substat, matching her Vaporize playstyle. Its passive enhances damage against enemies under Hydro or Pyro, regularly triggered in Vaporize teams.
If you seek an effective 4-star weapon for Hu Tao, Dragon’s Bane is your best choice. It’s easy to obtain through gacha pulls and excels in performance.
5-Star Supremacy: Staff of Homa and Beyond
When considering 5-star weapons, Staff of Homa stands out for Hu Tao. It perfectly matches her needs. Staff of Homa has a massive Crit DMG substat with a passive that boosts HP and Attack based on HP percentage. This aligns well with Hu Tao’s HP scaling and low HP playstyle.
It’s not just beneficial for Hu Tao; it may be the best polearm game-wide and suits many DPS polearm users. If you are fortunate, Staff of Homa is Hu Tao’s best weapon.
Other strong 5-star options include:
- Primordial Jade Winged-Spear: Provides high Base ATK and Crit Rate substat. It’s not as synergistic as Staff of Homa but is still an excellent 5-star polearm for Hu Tao. TheGamer’s guide may offer more comparisons for weapon choices.
- Staff of the Scarlet Sands: Another solid option, especially for a high Elemental Mastery setup. Its passive turns Elemental Mastery into Attack, advantageous for reaction-heavy teams.
Gameplay and Strategy: Dancing with Death
Effectively playing Hu Tao requires an understanding of her low HP preference. Here’s the core strategy:
Low HP, High Reward: The Balancing Act
Hu Tao thrives by keeping low HP for optimal damage output. Her passive talent, “Sanguine Rouge,” boosts her Pyro DMG Bonus by 33% when her HP is at or below 50%. This encourages risky play, but the damage payoff is considerable.
The main challenge is managing this low HP without dying. It needs tight gameplay and keen awareness of enemy patterns. You are dancing on the edge of death, but that’s where Hu Tao excels.
Shields: Your Best Friend in the Funeral Business
Given her low HP playstyle, shields are vital for her survival. A good shield stops her from being one-shot and allows her to stay at low HP for maximum damage. Characters like Zhongli are indispensable in Hu Tao teams due to their strong shields.
While healing may seem counterintuitive for her low HP style, shields offer protection without harming her damage output. A shielder keeps her safe while she stays in that sweet spot of low HP and high damage.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The Tao of Hu Tao
Let’s summarize Hu Tao’s strengths and weaknesses for clarity on her team role.
Strengths: Pyro Powerhouse
- High Pyro DPS: Hu Tao is among the top Pyro DPS characters in Genshin Impact. Her damage output is remarkable, especially in Vaporize-oriented teams.
- HP Scaling: Her unique scaling lets players build her differently, making HP a key offensive stat.
Her strengths come from raw damage and unique scaling, turning her into a powerhouse in suitable team setups.
Weaknesses: Risky Business
- Requires Tight Gameplay: Effectively playing Hu Tao demands precision in execution and awareness of her HP and enemy attacks. She isn’t a character for mindless gameplay.
- Low HP Management: Maintaining low HP without dying can be tough in high-pressure situations. Good shield support is critical.
- Healing Can Be Detrimental: Over-healing may reduce her damage by raising HP above the 50% threshold for her passive talent. This makes traditional healers less suitable in her teams.
Hu Tao’s weaknesses revolve around her risky style and careful HP management needs. She is a high-skill, high-reward character requiring commitment to master.
Constellations: Unlocking Potential
Constellations in Genshin Impact enhance character abilities further. Let’s explore Hu Tao’s constellations, focusing on crucial early ones.
C0 Viability: Ready to Roll from the Start
The good news is that Hu Tao is a powerful unit even at C0. You need no constellations to be effective. She is strong from the start.
C1: Charged Attack Comfort and DPS Boost
C1 is often viewed as a big upgrade for her. Her C1 constellation, “Crimson Bouquet,” removes stamina cost for Charged Attacks in the Paramita Papilio state. This greatly enhances ease of use and DPS potential.
With C1, you can spam Charged Attacks without worrying about stamina, making her rotation smoother and more damaging. It also grants i-frames from dash cancels, boosting her survivability and damage uptime. While not essential, C1 significantly enriches her gameplay experience.
In summary, Hu Tao is a complex, rewarding Pyro DPS character. Mastering HP-based gameplay and understanding material needs is vital to unlock her potential. So, farm those Juvenile Jades, Silk Flowers, and Nectars, and let Hu Tao unleash Pyro power! Keep her HP low and shields strong to dominate Teyvat with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s quirky director.
