Ah, Mona Megistus, the Astrologist. She has more pride than Mora in her pockets, which, honestly, isn’t saying much. If you’re curious about this Hydro catalyst user and whether she’s worth your time in Genshin Impact, you’ve found the right place. Forget lengthy guides; we offer straightforward answers. Is she good? Yes. What’s she good for? Let’s find out if she can help you conquer the Spiral Abyss.
Mona: Decoding the Stars (and Her Character)
So, is Mona a good character? The answer is yes. Some may whisper about “better supports,” but Mona stays a solid and versatile addition to your team. Unlike other 5-stars demanding all the spotlight, she fits well with various characters. She helps your main DPS shine. Imagine her amplifying your damage when needed.
Since Genshin Impact’s launch, Mona proved to be a reliable support, boosting your damage numbers quietly. New characters appear, but she remains relevant. People may say she’s “low on the list” compared to newer supports. However, that’s like saying that vintage wine is “lower” than the latest bottle. Both are good. So, is Mona still good? Definitely. Is Mona good to build? Yes. Mona excels, and anyone doubting her probably hasn’t figured her out or is just jealous of that stylish hat.
Mona’s Role: More Than Just Pretty Bubbles
Now, what’s Mona’s role in Genshin Impact? She won’t be your hypercarry DPS, slicing enemies with her catalyst. Nope. Mona is a sub-DPS and burst support. Her elemental burst boosts your team’s damage significantly. Think of her as a conductor bringing all elements together for powerful strikes.
In team compositions, Mona shines most in freeze teams. Her main role is laying down the “Omen” debuff from her burst. This debuff extends when enemies freeze, turning your freeze comp into a damage-dealing machine. Enemies trapped in ice take amplified damage—that’s Mona’s handiwork. Plus, with Prototype Amber, she doubles as an alternate healer, keeping your team intact while enhancing damage buffs.
Abilities and Talents: Unpacking Mona’s Kit
Let’s look at Mona’s abilities and talents. Some say “Albedo has better talent overall,” and maybe they have a point about crafting. Still, Mona’s combat talents matter. Her elemental skill, Mirror Reflection of Doom, isn’t just for show. It summons a phantom that taunts enemies and deals Hydro damage. It gathers enemies for some area-of-effect fun. While it’s not Venti-level crowd control, it works.
While some say “Xingqiu is the best hydro applier,” Mona holds her ground. She offers decent Hydro application, especially with her burst, launching a satisfying Hydro nuke when needed. Plus, she amplifies your damage. So although she may not top Hydro application charts, she’s like a Hydro Swiss Army knife.
Mona’s elemental burst enhances team burst damage. This damage enhancement is why she’s top-tier sub-DPS. Remember her unique overworld skill: Mona can walk on water. No awkward swimming or building ice bridges. Mona glides across water like she owns it. It’s cool and practical for exploration.
5-Star Versatility and Rarity
Mona’s versatility is another asset. “Unlike other DPS characters, Mona smoothly works with others.” This fact is crucial. She isn’t limited to specific team comps. She adapts, supports, and amplifies damage. She fits into various team archetypes.
As a 5-star character, she’s very rare. “How rare is Mona? As a 5-star character, you pull her through the game’s Wish system.” Getting Mona on the gacha is an achievement, showing off your luck (or primogem planning). Moreover, “She’s the only Hydro Catalyst user who is a five-star character.” This rarity and uniqueness make her a must-have for collectors and meta-chasers alike.
Lore and Story: More Than Meets the Eye
Beyond combat skills, Mona has an interesting backstory. “Astrologist Mona Megistus is a playable Hydro character in Genshin Impact. She has considerable skill but high pride.” She settled in Mondstadt to avoid her master’s wrath after accidentally reading his diary. Her lore describes her as skilled but poor because of her refusal to charge for her services. This dedication makes her relatable, despite her aloof personality. For fans of Genshin’s narrative depths, Mona offers a rich background to explore. Check out Mona’s lore for a complex character who’s more than just Hydro support.
Team Synergy: Mona’s Stellar Lineups
Let’s dive into team compositions! Which teams benefit from Mona? The answer is versatile. Mona fits well into different team types, boosting their damage and providing vital Hydro application.
Vaporize Teams: Steaming Hot Damage
First up, Vaporize teams. Mona excels at enabling Pyro DPS characters who thrive on Vaporize reactions. “With enough Crit Rate and high refinement, she triggers the passive effect, providing consistent Burst uptime for her and her allies.” Characters like Diluc, Xiangling, and Yoimiya greatly benefit from Mona’s burst, enhancing their Pyro damage further. Pair her with Bennett for Pyro resonance and healing, plus an Anemo character like Kazuha or Sucrose for crowd control and elemental shred, and you’ll have a hot Vaporize team.
Freeze Teams: Chillingly Effective
Next are Freeze teams. As noted before, Mona is central to many freeze compositions. “Frozen enemies can keep their bubbles as long as they remain frozen.” This fact makes her priority support for Freeze DPS teams. Her burst with Cryo characters like Ganyu or Ayaka creates perpetual freeze states, locking down foes while amplifying damage consistently. “Mona’s main role on a freeze team is to provide the Omen debuff from her burst, which becomes extendable via Freeze mechanics.” This extended Omen boosts her status from good to essential support.
Mona is a must-have for freeze teams. Enemies stay frozen, take more damage, and cannot fight back. It’s pure bliss.
Electro-Charged Teams: Conductive Chaos
Want electrical chaos? Use Electro-Charged teams. Mona works wonders with Electro characters like Raiden Shogun, Fischl, and Kuki Shinobu. “Electro-Charged: Mona, Raiden Shogun/Fischl/Kuki Shinobu/Yae Miko, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose.” This reaction deals sustained damage over time. Mona’s Hydro application boosts this chaos. Kazuha or Sucrose add crowd control and more damage amplification, making your enemies suffer.
Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Burgeon Teams: Hydro Support, But Secondary
Next, consider Dendro reactions. Mona does not lead in Bloom, Hyperbloom, or Burgeon teams, but she supports well. “Include Mona in Bloom, Hyperbloom, or Burgeon teams as a secondary Hydro character. Yelan or Xingqiu can be primary Hydro applicators while Mona acts as a buffer.” Yelan or Xingqiu are better for Hydro application in Dendro-centric teams. Yet, Mona contributes burst damage buff, enhancing overall output. Think of her as a Hydro amplifier, not an engine.
Best Companions: Who Plays Well with Mona?
Mona needs good allies in Genshin Impact. “Best synergy for Mona? Diluc, Bennett, Ganyu. Players wanting to taste Mona’s potential with her reactions will enjoy Diluc (Pyro), Bennett (Pyro), and Ganyu (Cryo).” This trio shows Mona’s synergy potential. Diluc makes use of Vaporize, Ganyu for Freeze, and Bennett for support and resonance – the perfect blend.
- Diluc and Xiangling: These Pyro characters thrive on Vaporize reactions. Mona’s Hydro is key. “Vaporize: Mona, Diluc/Xiangling, Bennett, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose.“
- Bennett: Bennett is a fantastic partner for Mona. His healing and attack buff enhance Mona’s capabilities. “Hypercarry/Damage-Per-Screenshot: Mona, Bennett, Kazuha, almost any DPS. Vaporize: Mona, Diluc/Xiangling, Bennett, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose.“
- Ganyu: In Freeze teams, Ganyu and Mona work well together. Ganyu’s Cryo application and damage combined with Mona’s debuff create a strong freeze core. “Players wanting to see Mona’s potential will enjoy Diluc (Pyro), Bennett (Pyro), and Ganyu (Cryo).“
- Klee: For a Pyro-centric approach, Klee pairs nicely with Mona. “Players wanting Mona with high-speed reactions will benefit from Klee (Pyro), Fischl (Electro), and Qiqi (Cryo). Klee’s bombs can trigger frequent Vaporizes with Mona’s Hydro.“
- Fischl, Raiden Shogun, Kuki Shinobu, Yae Miko: These Electro characters make great partners for Mona. Zhongli provides consistent Electro and enables Electro-Charged reactions. “Electro-Charged: Mona, Raiden Shogun/Fischl/Kuki Shinobu/Yae Miko, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose.“
- Qiqi: Qiqi may not be the meta choice, but offers Cryo alongside Mona. “Players wanting Mona with high-speed reactions will benefit from Klee (Pyro), Fischl (Electro), and Qiqi (Cryo).“
- Kazuha and Sucrose: These Anemo characters help in any team. They enhance crowd control and damage. “Hypercarry/Damage-Per-Screenshot: Mona, Bennett, Kazuha, almost any DPS. Electro-Charged: Mona, Raiden Shogun/Fischl/Kuki Shinobu/Yae Miko, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose. Vaporize: Mona, Diluc/Xiangling, Bennett, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose.“
- Hu Tao, Xingqiu, Zhongli, Yelan: For max damage with Hu Tao, Mona shines. “Hu Tao – Xingqiu – Mona – Zhongli is strong. Players get the highest damage with Hu Tao’s Burst. The Astrologist Mona amplifies damage with her Burst.” Pair her with Xingqiu for Hydro and Zhongli for survivability.
Vaporize and Freeze Roles: Mona’s Specializations
Mona’s role in a Vaporize team is to offer Hydro and burst damage for Pyro characters. “Players wanting Mona synergizing well with high-speed reactions will benefit from Klee (Pyro), Fischl (Electro), and Qiqi (Cryo). Klee’s bombs can trigger frequent Vaporizes.” “Vaporize: Mona, Diluc/Xiangling, Bennett, Kaedehara Kazuha/Sucrose.” In a Freeze team, her job shifts to enabling Hydro application to freeze enemies and extend her debuff. “Enemies can have their bubbles preserved as long as they stay frozen. Thus, Mona is essential for Freeze DPS teams.” “Mona’s primary role is to apply Omen debuff from her burst, extendable via Freeze mechanics.“
Synergy with Pyro, Cryo, and Electro: Elemental Harmony
Mona’s synergy with Pyro, Cryo, and Electro characters is clear. Her Hydro triggers with all three elements to create strong reactions. “Diluc, Bennett, Ganyu Players wanting to explore Mona’s potential will enjoy Diluc (Pyro), Bennett (Pyro), and Ganyu (Cryo).” “Players wanting Mona with high-speed reactions will benefit from Klee (Pyro), Fischl (Electro), and Qiqi (Cryo).” Whether using Vaporize, Freeze, or Electro-Charged reactions, Mona boosts everything.
Mona vs. The Competition: Hydro Face-Offs
Mona faces rivals in Hydros. Let’s compare.
Mona vs. Xingqiu: Hydro Application Duel
First, Mona vs. Xingqiu. “Xingqiu is the best hydro applier in the game.” Xingqiu excels in Hydro application while Mona adds burst support. “Mona does decent hydro application, a hydro nuke, and amplifies damage.” Xingqiu’s Rain Swords provide persistent Hydro for reactions like Vaporize. But Xiao brings significant burst support and team-wide buffs that Xingqiu doesn’t yield. “Mona’s burst support is valuable while reaching high damage numbers.“
Mona vs. Albedo: Talent Showdown
Next, Mona vs. Albedo. “Is Mona better than Albedo?” This is a different category, as Albedo is Geo with different roles. In terms of talent overall, “Albedo has the better talent overall.” Albedo’s passive boosts efficiency in gathering crafting materials. “Albedo turns blue materials into purple more effectively than Mona. His average cost makes him cheaper over time.
when crafting materials.” Albedo’s material conversion talent is useful. Mona and Albedo have different combat roles. Thus, comparing them directly is unhelpful.
Mona vs. Tighnari: Role Competition
Now, let’s analyze Mona vs. Tighnari. “Who is better? Mona is great but faces much stronger competition as Hydro Support compared to Tighnari in Dendro main DPS. Either choice is good.” This shows their competitive roles. Mona struggles with competition in Hydro support, facing Xingqiu, Yelan, and Kokomi. Tighnari has fewer rivals in his niche. It’s not about being “better”; it’s about their roles within the game. Both are excellent characters.
Mona vs. Lynette: Anemo Support Showdown
Next is Mona vs. Lynette. “Is Lynette good? At constellation 0, Lynette’s kit excels in quick Anemo swirls and low field time. She may lack the versatility of Sucrose, but excels in many team setups needing Anemo support.” Lynette, an Anemo character, focuses on swift swaps and Anemo swirls. Mona acts as Hydro sub-DPS/support. “Lynette can taunt and group enemies together. She serves as a replacement when Venti or Kazuha is absent.” This feature enhances her crowd control utility. In the Anemo Traveler vs. Lynette comparison, “What makes her great? Why is she superior to Anemo Traveler? Although Anemo Traveler is usable, they feel slow and clumsy to execute abilities. Lynette offers a streamlined kit.” Lynette appears more efficient compared to Anemo Traveler. Still, Mona and Lynette belong to different elemental roles, making comparisons less meaningful. Lynette is niche; Mona has broader use as Hydro support/sub-DPS.
Mona Among Standard 5-Stars: Ranking
When evaluating Mona vs. other standard 5-star characters, “Who tops the list of standard 5-star characters in Genshin? Options are available to players, but other characters all have worth! Jean is a great choice, especially if players have Furina! … Tighnari stands out as the premier main DPS character of all available options. … Diluc, Keqing, and of course Mona, follow closely. … Dehya and Qiqi also present solid considerations.” Mona ranks among strong standard 5-star characters such as Jean, Tighnari, Diluc, and Keqing. Opinions on the top standard 5-star vary, but Mona regularly ranks as a valuable character on any account.
Building Mona: Investment and Gear
If you believe in Mona’s worth, great choice! But is Mona worth investing in? In Genshin Impact, yes. As Hydro support and sub-DPS, she provides team utility and damage increase. If you’re asking “Is Mona worth investment? We’ve already established that it’s common cryptocurrency with limited features. Notably, MonaCoin was never meant for investment. It’s designed for payment and digital currency use. Although its value rose occasionally, that’s not its primary aim.” Oops! Wrong Mona! We’re focused on the astrologist, not the cryptocurrency. Back to Genshin Impact – investing in her is recommended.
Energy Recharge: Bursting on Cooldown
A key stat for Mona is Energy Recharge (ER). “Aim for 200-240% ER for Mona to cycle her burst consistently, especially if using a Favonius weapon or Prototype Amber; aim higher if not.” High ER allows her to use bursts reliably, optimizing damage buff uptime. Adapt your ER based on weapon choices and team needs; start with 200-240% ER.
Weapons of Choice: Arming the Astrologist
What is the best weapon for Mona? “Mona’s prime weapons include 1 Skyward Atlas. 2 The Widsith. … 3 Favonius Codex. … 4 Oathsworn Eye. … 5 Solar Pearl. … 6 Mappa Mare. … 7 Wine And Song. … 8 Magic Guide. As far as three-star options go, Magic Guide is strong for her use.” Here’s an overview:
- Skyward Atlas: “1 Skyward Atlas gives high base attack and elemental damage bonus, making it ideal for boosting Mona’s damage output.
- The Widsith: “2 The Widsith” boosts burst damage significantly when its passive triggers; it’s often used in burst builds.
- Favonius Codex: “3 Favonius Codex” focuses on energy recharge and generates particles for the team, aiding burst uptime.
- Oathsworn Eye: “4 Oathsworn Eye” provides energy recharge and boosts post-elemental skill energy recharge, enhancing burst consistency.
- Solar Pearl: “5 Solar Pearl” offers crit rate increase and enhances elemental skill/burst damage after regular attacks, boosting general damage.
- Mappa Mare: “6 Mappa Mare” grants elemental mastery and elemental damage after an elemental reaction; useful for reaction-focused teams.
- Wine and Song: “7 Wine And Song” provides energy recharge while boosting attack/elemental skill damage post-sprint; useful in niche playstyles.
- Magic Guide: “8 Magic Guide. A solid three-star choice that increases element mastery and damage against Hydro or Electro-affected enemies.
Artifact Sets: Gearing Up for Success
The 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate is optimal for Mona, boosting energy recharge and increasing burst damage based on energy recharge. This supports her burst focus and ER needs well. Alternatively, a 2-piece Heart of Depth combined with Noblesse Oblige can work, granting Hydro damage and burst damage bonuses. For a supportive playstyle, 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith is viable, providing an attack buff and shield strength on hitting enemies with Mona’s elemental skill. “Mona’s skill cools down for 12 seconds while the set effect duration lasts 15 seconds; achieving full uptime is easy. The downside of 4-piece Depth set is that it may steal Vaporize reactions from either Mona’s charged attacks or Xiangling’s Pyronado, causing a DPS loss.” While 4-piece Heart of Depth is mentioned, it’s generally less favorable than Emblem of Severed Fate due to a focus on normal and charged attack styles which aren’t Mona’s strength.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Weighing the Stars
Mona has both strengths and weaknesses.
Understanding these assists in effective utilization and team setups compensating for weaknesses.
Mona’s Benefits: Shining Bright
A major benefit of using Mona is her unique mechanism linking movement to damage. “Mona gains a 60% DMG increase per second of movement upon entering Illusory Torrent. This can reach a maximum bonus of 180% maximum DMG within 8 seconds.” This capability encourages active play and increases her charged attack damage dramatically after sprinting. The mechanic rewards skilled positioning actively.
Mona’s Weaknesses: Cloudy Skies
Her key weakness lies in tough competition within Hydro support. “Mona excels but challenges from stronger Hydro Support competitors greatly exceeds Tighnari’s Dendro main DPS challenges. Both are excellent choices without wrong options.” Characters like Xingqiu offer profound competition for impact making her selection challenging.
