Is Frostbearer a Suitable Weapon Choice for Barbara in Genshin Impact?

Frostbearer Catalyst: Is This Freebie Actually Frosty or Just…Free?

Let’s chat about the Frostbearer Catalyst. You may have grabbed it for free during a Dragonspine adventure. Free items tempt in Genshin Impact, right? Like finding a Mora in Liyue Harbor. But is this frosty book worth using? Or will it sit in your inventory?

First, let’s discuss what this Catalyst does. Reading item descriptions can feel like deciphering ancient texts sometimes.

• Frostbearer’s Big Party Trick: AoE Damage Bonanza Frostbearer deals AoE damage. Groundbreaking, right? Hold on, there’s a twist. It’s not just any AoE damage; it’s conditional. Think of it as damage with rules. Teyvat loves its rules.

Picture this: two Hilichurls are minding their business, plotting world domination. You unleash Frostbearer’s AoE attack. Here’s where it gets interesting and a bit mathematical – don’t worry, no calculus, just percentages.

• Damage Calculation: Math But Make It…Damage
  • If a Hilichurl has no Cryo debuff and takes a hit from Frostbearer’s AoE (which is Physical damage), they take 80% of your ATK as damage. Not bad for a free item, right?
  • But wait! If another Hilichurl already has a Cryo debuff (maybe from Kaeya’s icy glares or Chongyun’s powers), they take 200% ATK damage. Ouch. That’s like bringing snowballs to a fire fight, but the snowballs hurt.
  • Simply put: No Cryo Debuff = 80% ATK Damage. Cryo Debuff = 200% ATK Damage. See? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
• ATK Bonus: Everyone Loves More Attack Frostbearer isn’t just about fancy AoE damage; it also adds a nice ATK bonus of 41.3%. In Genshin, you can never have too much ATK, right? That’s like saying you have too much Mora – nobody really means that.
• Skill Effect: Frost Burial – Sounds Dramatic, Does Damage Now, let’s talk skills. Frostbearer has a skill called Frost Burial. It sounds dramatic, right? But it’s more…icicle-y.
  • When a character with Frostbearer, like fiery Yanfei, hits an enemy with Normal or Charged Attacks, Frost Burial triggers. An Everfrost Icicle forms above the enemy’s head. Then, it drops, dealing 80% AoE ATK DMG.
• Good For: Who Actually Wants This Thing?
  • Yanfei: The Legal Eagle Gets Icy Frostbearer’s skill effect, Frost Burial, is nice for Yanfei. Since she uses Normal and Charged Attacks constantly, those icicles will drop often, adding extra punch to her fiery attacks. It’s like a side of icy justice with her fiery verdicts.

So, Frostbearer. Is it amazing? Probably not your BiS (Best in Slot) weapon for most characters. But as a free weapon, especially for Yanfei who can trigger its skill easily, it’s not bad at all. Think of it as a decent starter Catalyst, or a fun option for playing in Dragonspine, where Cryo is king.

Want to know more about how Frostbearer stacks up? Check out this Frostbearer (Catalyst) Opinion/Guide on HoYoLAB for insights.

Barbara’s Role and Abilities: Mondstadt’s Idol, Your Healing Powerhouse (Maybe DPS?)

Barbara Pegg, the Deaconess of the Church of Favonius and Mondstadt’s sparkly idol. She’s known for her healing and optimism. But what does Barbara bring to your Genshin Impact team? Let’s dive in.

• Primary Role: Healer, Healer, and Oh, Did I Mention Healer?
  • Barbara is primarily a healer. Like, that’s her main role. She’s utility personified, focused on keeping your team alive. Need someone to patch up your party after dealing with a Ruin Guard? Barbara’s your girl.
• Healing Scales Off Max HP: The More HP, The Merrier
  • The magic behind Barbara’s healing is simple: it scales with her Max HP. You want to stack as much HP as possible. Forget ATK and Crit Rate for healing Barbara. HP is key. She’s a healing HP sponge.Game Rant’s Best Build for Barbara guide offers insights on optimizing her HP.
  • So, Barbara’s healing is tied to her maximum HP. The tankier the better. Simple.
  • Normal Attacks: Healing Punches (Kind Of)
    • Believe it or not, Barbara’s normal attacks heal. When she hits an enemy with her musical water orbs (yes, musical water orbs), she heals allies based on her max HP percentage. The heal isn’t massive but it’s consistent. Every bit helps in fights.
  • Elemental Skill (Bubble Burst): Pop Goes the Healing
    • Her elemental skill, “Bubble Burst,” is key for her healing. When activated, it heals the on-field character. And it keeps healing! Whether Barbara is auto-attacking or resting off-field, Bubble Burst continues providing healing scaling with her max HP.
  • Elemental Burst (Let the Show Begin): Party-Wide Panic Button
    • Need a big heal for everyone? Barbara’s elemental burst, “Let the Show Begin,” is your answer. It heals the entire party and scales with her max HP. Think of it as a team-wide first aid kit that heals a lot.
• Can Be Built As a DPS Character: Wait, What?
  • Barbara is primarily a healer. But in Genshin Impact, anything is possible, right? With enough effort, she can be built as a DPS character. It’s not optimal but it’s…possible. Think of it as a fun challenge.Game Rant’s Healer Tier List might offer interesting views on healer roles.
  • While her elemental skills scream “HEAL,” she can also go DPS. It takes time and some understanding teammates, but DPS Barbara can work.
  • And if you have Kaeya and Diona for freeze combos and Diluc for reactions, DPS Barbara can fit in surprisingly well. She applies Hydro and can deal damage too.
• Hydro Applicator: Making Things Wet (For Reactions)
  • Regardless of her role, Barbara excels as a Hydro applicator. Her attacks and skills continuously apply Hydro, setting up reactions like Vaporize, Electro-Charged, and Freeze. Even if her damage isn’t great, she boosts team damage through reactions.
• Best Artifact Set: Maiden Beloved – Healing to the Max
  • For artifacts for Barbara, there’s really only one choice: Maiden Beloved. This set suits her perfectly. It boosts healing effectiveness and amplifies her output. It’s like giving Barbara a healing power-up that lasts forever.
  • Main Stats: HP% Sands, HP% Goblet, Healing Bonus Circlet – HP, HP, and More Healing!
    • For main stats on your Maiden Beloved artifacts, aim for HP% on Sands and Goblet, and Healing Bonus on Circlet. See a pattern? HP and Healing Bonus are Barbara’s best friends. Stack them high to raise her healing numbers.
• • • • HP.
• Cons about Barbara: Nobody’s Perfect, Not Even Idols
  • High Skill Cooldown: Patience is a Virtue (Especially with Barbara’s Skill)
    • Barbara has some flaws. Her elemental skill, Bubble Burst, has high cooldown. You can’t spam it. You must manage uptime and downtime during long fights. Patience is crucial.
  • Doesn’t Generate Particles or Meaningful Energy for Herself: Energy…Who Needs It? (Barbara, Apparently)
    • Another drawback? Barbara lacks energy generation. She doesn’t produce elemental particles for herself, making it hard to recharge her burst fast. You might depend on external energy sources to prepare her burst.
  • Burst Will Overheal Your Entire Party: Healing…Too Much? Is That Even Possible? (Yes, Actually)
    • Lastly, Barbara’s burst is great for healing the team but can lead to overhealing. If your team is slightly hurt, her burst may restore too much HP. This can waste healing potential. Still, better safe than sorry!

So, Barbara. She is a dedicated healer and versatile Hydro applicator. She may not deal massive damage (unless pushed to do so). However, she excels at keeping your team alive. In Genshin Impact, staying alive often beats high DPS.

Barbara’s Best Weapons: Equipping the Idol for Maximum Healing

Alright, you’ve picked Barbara for healing. Good choice! Now, what weapons suit her? Let’s look at Barbara’s top weapon choices, from budget to premium.

• Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (3-star): The Budget MVP (and Surprisingly Good)
  • For real, a 3-star weapon. Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is one of Barbara’s best weapons, mainly for a healing build. Don’t underestimate a simple 3-star catalyst.
  • Raises HP: More HP, More Healing, More Happy Barbara
    • To start, Thrilling Tales increases HP. This is crucial, as HP boosts Barbara’s healing. More HP means larger heals, which directly enhances her main role.
  • Gives an Attack Bonus to the Character That is Swapped In: Team Buffing for the Win
    • But wait, there’s more! Thrilling Tales also grants an Attack bonus to the character switched after Barbara. This greatly benefits team damage. Barbara heals and buffs the main DPS before leaving.
    • It increases HP and grants an Attack buff. This maximizes team support!
• Prototype Amber: The Craftable Healing Powerhouse
  • If you seek a craftable option, Prototype Amber is fantastic. It boosts HP, enhancing Barbara’s healing power. Obtaining and refining it is easy.
  • Alternatively, you can choose Prototype Amber. It’s also an effective HP booster and craftable!
• Everlasting Moonglow (5-star): The Whale Weapon (But Oh So Good)
  • If you’re ready to spend, Everlasting Moonglow is Barbara’s signature 5-star weapon. It enhances her healing abilities effectively. It’s the ultimate catalyst for healing, if you can obtain it.
  • The best weapons for maxing her healing are Everlasting Moonglow and Prototype Amber. Moonglow is premium and powerful.
• Sacrificial Fragments (4-star Catalyst): Bloom Team Specialist
  • For a different choice, check out Bloom Barbara. If using her in a Bloom setup, Sacrificial Fragments becomes a strong option. It enhances Elemental Mastery for Bloom reaction damage.
  • If you want a Bloom-focused Barbara, Sacrificial Fragments is her best weapon! Who knew she could excel here?

So that’s the summary of Barbara’s weapons! From starting with Thrilling Tales to reaching for Everlasting Moonglow, there’s a weapon suitable for your Barbara build. Choose wisely and let the healing commence!

Catalyst Comparisons: Widsith vs. Prototype Amber – DPS vs. Support

Let’s perform a quick comparison of catalysts: Widsith versus Prototype Amber. They serve different purposes – DPS or support? Let’s see how they differ.

• Widsith: The DPS King (or Queen) of 4-Stars
  • When it comes to 4-star DPS catalysts, Widsith dominates. It’s not even close. Many consider Widsith the best 4-star DPS catalyst, rivaling some 5-star catalysts in high refinements. It’s a damage beast.
  • Clearly, Widsith reigns as the top 4-star DPS catalyst and outperforms some 5-star options!
• Prototype Amber: Sustainability and Team Healing in a Catalyst
  • On the flip side is Prototype Amber. This catalyst emphasizes support and sustainability for characters like Sucrose. It allows healing teammates while providing sustain.
  • Prototype Amber enables Sucrose (or other users) to heal the party while offering sustainability to keep everyone healthy.

So, Widsith versus Prototype Amber? It’s DPS against Support. Damage versus healing. Choose based on your character’s role and team needs. Want to deal damage? Widsith excels! Need to sustain? Go with Prototype Amber!

Barbara vs. Other Characters: Healing Face-Off

Barbara is a healer but not the only one in Genshin Impact! Let’s compare her against other healing characters to see where she stands.

• Sucrose: Support Supreme, Healing…Not So Much (Usually)
  • Start with Sucrose. She excels as Anemo support with crowd control and elemental damage boosts but lacks healing capability—a drawback unless using Prototype Amber.
  • Sucrose generally does not heal; she is truly a support character.
  • Sucrose does not heal because she’s all about Anemo utility and buffs.
  • In terms of 4-star support catalysts, Sucrose benefits from weapons focusing on support instead of healing unless niche-built with Prototype Amber.
• Diona: Shields, Healing, and Cryo Application – A Versatile Support
  • Now we have Diona. Diona is another 4-star support but offers shields and Cryo application alongside healing. How does her healing stand against Barbara’s?
  • Diona only heals with her burst while Barbara keeps consistent healing through both skill and burst.
  • Diona’s skill is shield-focused; Barbara consistently delivers healing.
  • Diona’s burst heals only the current active character; meanwhile, Barbara’s burst restores the entire party.
  • Diona’s burst heals just the active character, while Barbara’s burst covers the whole team. For emergencies across the party, Barbara takes the win.
  • Also note that Barbara applies “wet” status to characters which can be risky against frost foes like those in Dragonspine. Diona avoids this complication.
  • Barbara gives you the “wet” status, posing risks against Cryo enemies that can freeze you. Diona circumvents this issue!
  • While Diona’s Cryo is helpful, her healing is often more valuable than solely utility-focused skills like Layla’s Cryo application in situations where healing is priority.
• Kokomi: The 5-Star Healing Queen (and More)
  • Meet Sangonomiya Kokomi! Kokomi is a 5-star Hydro character widely viewed as an advanced version of Barbara. She specializes in healing but also serves as a Hydro applicator and decent damage dealer.
  • Generally speaking, Sangonomiya Kokomi improves upon Barbara’s role as a healer significantly.
  • Kokomi provides continual healing and solid burst restoration ability while handling elemental reactions effectively. She is more versatile than Barbara as a Hydro healer.
  • Kokomi’s techniques ensure teams receive steady healing while maintaining good combat capabilities.
• Jean: Anemo Healer and Crowd Control Specialist
  • Jean, the Dandelion Knight, is a powerful available healer in Genshin Impact who provides both healing and crowd control.
• • the table.
  • Jean is a strong healer. She keeps teams alive in tough spots.
  • Jean offers healing during her burst. She also heals with normal attacks. It’s similar to Barbara but with Anemo.
• Sayu: Anemo Healer with a Rolling Twist
  • Sayu is a 4-star Anemo healer. She rolls fast while healing. But how does she stack up against Barbara?
  • Sayu has better per-hit healing with her burst than Barbara’s elemental skill. Their healing styles differ.
• Ningguang: Geo DPS with…Geo Damage Bonus? (Not a Healer)
  • Wait, Ningguang is not a healer! She is a 4-star Geo DPS character. She gets a mention for her Jade Screen.
  • If you have a Geo DPS, Ningguang provides good support. After leveling her up, passing through her Jade Screen grants a Geo DMG bonus. Not healing, but useful support.
  • Ningguang isn’t a healer. But her Jade Screen gives a bonus for Geo teams.

Barbara is a solid 4-star healer option, ready early in the game. However, Kokomi and Jean offer more cooling and utility at 5-star. Diona combines shielding with healing. Ultimately, the best healer depends on your specific needs and team makeup. It’s all about synergy, baby!

Other Catalyst Users: Beyond Barbara – A Quick Catalyst Character Roundup

Barbara isn’t Genshin Impact’s lone catalyst user. Let’s quickly look at other notable catalyst characters and their strengths.

• Lisa: Electro Mage with Attack Scaling
  • Lisa is the Knights of Favonius’ Librarian. She is an Electro catalyst user. Her skills scale off ATK and Electro Damage.These abilities focus on damage compared to Barbara’s healing ability.
  • Lisa’s abilities scale with ATK and Electro DMG, making her more of a damage dealer than a healer.
• Wriothesley: The First Cryo Catalyst (and a 5-Star to Boot!)
  • Wriothesley is the first Cryo catalyst in Genshin Impact. He is also a 5-star character. This creates significant excitement. A Cryo catalyst opens possibilities.
  • The recent Genshin Impact livestream presented Wriothesley. He will be a five-star character using Cryo catalysts, marking a first for this type.
  • Wriothesley stands out as the first Cryo Catalyst user and the first male Cryo 5-star character. Double milestone achieved!
• Yanfei: Fiery Legal Expert and Catalyst DPS
  • Yanfei is our legal advisor from Liyue. She uses Pyro and focuses on damage and DPS. We mentioned her with Frostbearer, but Solar Pearl also suits her greatly.
  • Solar Pearl is a fantastic Catalyst in Genshin Impact for Yanfei. It boosts her Normal Attack, Elemental Skill, and Burst damage perfectly matching her abilities.

Catalyst users vary greatly in Genshin Impact. From healers like Barbara to DPS characters like Lisa and Yanfei, plus Wriothesley as the unique Cryo catalyst user. Each brings their elemental flavor and style.

General Genshin Impact Information: Nuggets of Wisdom for the Traveler

Let’s end with some essential knowledge every Traveler should know.

• Primogems: The Premium Currency of Teyvat
  • Primogems are Teyvat’s premium currency in Genshin Impact. Earn them through quests, events, exploration, or sometimes from Paimon’s generosity (which is rare). What can you do with these gems?
  • Primogems have multiple uses:
    • Replenish Original Resin: Need more Resin for domains? Primogems can replenish it ranging from 50 to 200 for 60 Original Resin.
    • Buy Fates: Want to wish on banners? You need Fates. Buy Acquaint Fate or Intertwined Fate at Paimon’s Bargains for 160 Primogems each.
    • Purchase Battle Pass levels: Falling behind on the Battle Pass? Primogems buy levels for 150 Primogems each.
• Intertwined Fates: For Limited-Time Wishes
  • Intertwined Fates are used for Event Wishes or limited character banners. If you aim for that shiny 5-star character on the current banner, use Intertwined Fates.
  • Intertwined Fates specifically target Event Wishes to get what you want.
• Acquaint Fates: For Standard Banner Wishes
  • Acquaint Fates support Standard Wishes, always available banners. This pool of characters does not change as often as event banners.
  • Acquaint Fates are for Standard Wishes when seeking more general outcomes.
  • Remember that Intertwined Fates focus on Event Wishes while Acquaint Fates target Standard Wishes, important for Primogem strategy.
• Pity System: Your Guaranteed 5-Star Safety Net
  • Genshin Impact has a pity system in place. It guarantees you a 5-star item after a certain number of wishes on the same banner—specifically after 90 wishes.