Ganyu: The Cocogoat Cryo Queen – A Guide to Mastering Genshin’s Glacial Archer
So, you pulled Ganyu, the half-human, half-qilin Adeptus who works as the Secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion. Congrats! You have a character who turns battles into icy pain for enemies. But now what? Don’t worry! This guide helps you master your favorite Cocogoat.
Sacrificial Bow vs. The Bow-hemian Rhapsody: Weapon Choices for Ganyu
Let’s discuss bows. In Genshin, your weapon defines your style. For Ganyu, choices seem endless. Don’t panic; we break it down. First question: Sacrificial Bow or Favonius Warbow?
The classic debate! Both are 4-star bows focused on Energy Recharge (ER). This is vital for Ganyu’s burst, Celestial Shower. They do it differently, though. Favonius Warbow generates energy particles on crit hits, supporting your team. Sacrificial Bow resets Ganyu’s Elemental Skill cooldown.
You may think, “Resetting cooldown? Sounds cool!” You’re right. The Sacrificial Bow shines with her Elemental Skill, Trail of the Qilin. It’s an ice lotus that generates energy particles and helps her damage rotation, especially as Burst support.
Here’s the scoop: at R5 (Refinement Rank 5), Sacrificial Bow outshines Favonius Warbow for Energy Recharge on Ganyu. Why? The extra Elemental Skill cast from Sacrificial Bow’s passive generates more energy than Favonius Warbow in most cases. Plus, two icy taunts are fun. Before R5? They are close in energy generation. However, Favonius Warbow offers a higher stat bonus, which matters. But Sacrificial Bow delivers better damage.
What about other bows? Let’s briefly cover some heavy hitters.
Amos Bow: This is Ganyu’s signature weapon. Its passive boosts Normal and Charged Attack damage. For Charged Attack Ganyu fans, Amos Bow is your ticket to high damage. It greatly enhances Ganyu’s output.
Skyward Harp: Another top-tier 5-star bow to note is Skyward Harp. It adds Crit Rate and Crit DMG boosts, plus a passive that deals extra Physical damage. While not as focused on Charged Attacks as Amos Bow, its versatility makes it a fine DPS weapon for Ganyu and aids critical hits.
Ganyu’s Stats: Decoding the Cryo Code
Now we analyze Ganyu’s scaling. Understanding her damage mechanics is vital for effective builds. It’s like having a recipe for a perfect snowcone. You need right ingredients in correct amounts.
Primary Scaling: ATK and Crit Rate/Crit DMG. These are key for Ganyu’s damage output. Her main ability, the Frostflake Arrow Charged Shots, relies on her ATK (Attack). Higher ATK numbers mean stronger arrows. It’s straightforward and effective. Her Burst, Celestial Shower, also scales with ATK.
There’s more! Crit Rate and Crit DMG are also essential for maximizing damage. Crits add extra damage that shocks enemies. You want Frostflake Arrows and Burst to crit often, making stacking Crit Rate and Crit DMG a must for full flavor.
Burst Scaling: Pseudo-Quadratic Scaling. This fancy term means Ganyu’s Burst grows stronger with more enemies but only to a point. Picture throwing snowballs – one impacts slightly but many cause chaos. Her Burst hits harder when enemies group together, enhancing damage per enemy.
Ascension Stat: Crit DMG%. Initially, she had Cryo Damage Bonus as an ascension stat. The change to Crit DMG% offers a big upgrade, as Crit DMG usually holds more value in damage calculation. It’s like upgrading your snowcone machine for better flavor.
ATK Requirements. How much ATK does Ganyu need? It depends on her role and team setup. For Freeze Ganyu and Burst Support Ganyu, aim for a minimum of 1800 ATK. This ensures solid performance even without Melt reactions. For Melt Ganyu, slightly less ATK is needed; around 1300 – 1500 ATK suffices.
The lower requirement for Melt exists because reactions boost damage significantly. Characters like Bennett can provide ATK buffs to compensate for lower base stats. Bennett acts like sugar syrup enhancing damage.
Ganyu’s Playstyles: Choose Your Cryo Adventure
Ganyu shows her versatility, acting like an ice Swiss Army knife. She fits various team compositions and playstyles.
Melt Ganyu: The Charged Shot Queen. This style maximizes Charged Shot damage via Melt reactions. Melt occurs when Cryo hits an enemy with Pyro, doubling damage. Melt Ganyu becomes a powerful sniper, delivering single-target punches.
Team Synergies: Melt teams utilize characters applying Pyro like Bennett and Xiangling. These Pyro units spark Ganyu’s Cryo into powerful Melt reactions.
Gameplay: Melt Ganyu relies on rotations and Pyro applications. Ensure foes burn so Charged Shots trigger Melt effects. Precise aiming is crucial; you will need to protect your exposed Ganyu. Shields are your allies. Melt Ganyu requires skillful navigation.
Freeze Ganyu: The AoE Blizzard. Freeze Ganyu focuses on her Burst, Celestial Shower, harnessing AoE damage potential. Freeze teams utilize the Freeze reaction, immobilizing foes for Ganyu’s attacks. Freeze Ganyu blankets the battlefield in Cryo and crowd control.
Team Synergies: Freeze teams include Hydro characters like Mona or Yelan for Hydro application enabling Freeze reactions. An Anemo character like Venti is crucial for grouping enemies and lowering their Cryo resistance, amplifying Ganyu’s damage further.
These Hydro and Anemo characters create devastating blizzards.
Gameplay: Freeze Ganyu teams are comfy to play, especially against frozen enemies. Rotation is simpler than Melt, focusing on Hydro application, enemy grouping with Anemo, and unleashing Ganyu’s Burst. It emphasizes AoE damage instead of precision aiming. Unfreezable enemies reduce team control and damage, making Freeze ineffective.
Support Ganyu: The Burst Bot. Ganyu can also serve as Burst support. Her main role is consistent Cryo application and AoE damage from her Burst.
Team Synergies: Support Ganyu works best in Mono-Cryo or Melt teams. In Mono-Cryo, she provides off-field Cryo damage and resonance. In Melt teams, she assists with Cryo application or becomes secondary DPS. Pairing her with Venti or Sucrose boosts crowd control. Venti groups enemies, maximizing Ganyu’s Burst for icy shard hits.
Weaponry: Arming the Cocogoat
We discussed weapon options earlier. Now, let’s explore which bows enhance Ganyu’s performance.
Amos Bow: The Signature Superstar. Amos Bow suits Ganyu perfectly. Its passive boosts Normal and Charged Attack DMG. Increased arrow travel results in more damage, matching Ganyu’s long-range playstyle. It’s like providing a unique, damaging armor.
F2P Options: Budget Bows that Bang. No fancy 5-star bow? Ganyu can still shine with excellent F2P options like Prototype Crescent and Hamayumi.
- Prototype Crescent: This craftable bow is a top 4-star choice for DPS Ganyu, especially in Melt teams. Its passive boosts ATK and Movement Speed after hitting a Weak Spot. Weak Spots may seem tricky. However, Ganyu’s Charged Shots can consistently trigger this passive for significant damage. It’s like getting a damage bonus for accurate aiming.
- Hamayumi: Another craftable bow, Hamayumi enhances Normal and Charged Attack DMG. Its easier passive beats Prototype Crescent’s but offers lower overall damage. It’s a solid, dependable option, while Prototype Crescent provides higher potential if Weak Spots are hit regularly.
Other 5-star Bows: Luxury Alternatives. If you lack Amos Bow, other 5-star bows can suffice. Skyward Harp is one option. Thundering Pulse provides high base ATK and Crit DMG. Overall, most 5-star bows improve performance, even if they aren’t perfectly aligned with Ganyu’s kit as Amos Bow is.
Artifacts: Dressing Ganyu for Success
Artifacts act as accessories that enhance Ganyu’s stats and abilities. One artifact set rises above others:
Wanderer’s Troupe: The Charged Attack Champion. Ganyu’s recommended artifact set is Wanderer’s Troupe. This set supports her Charged Attack focus. The 2-piece bonus gives Elemental Mastery for Melt Ganyu, while the 4-piece bonus greatly increases Charged Attack damage when fully assembled. A 35% boost to Charged Attack damage allows her Frostflake Arrow to deal both initial and AoE bloom damage effectively. It’s like a powerful damage-enhancing outfit.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The Icy Yin and Yang
Each character has strengths and weaknesses. Ganyu is powerful but has limitations.
Weaknesses: Glass Cannon Alert!. Ganyu has notable weakness: low defense and HP. She embodies a true glass cannon. Incredible damage can be dealt. However, she can quickly fall if targeted by numerous attacks. Players often focus on aiming Charged Shots, making incoming threats harder to notice. Positioning and defensive support are vital. Think of it like driving a fast, fragile race car.
Strengths: Damage, Damage, and More Damage! The previous text may not state “high damage output” outright, but it’s heavily implied throughout various descriptions. Ganyu shines with her high damage output, especially with Charged Shots and Burst abilities. She can deal immense Cryo damage in both single-target and AoE scenarios. This makes her a powerful and versatile DPS character. It’s akin to having a bow-wielding explosive on the team – in a positive sense.
Crit Ratio: Balancing the Scales of Crit
Crit Ratio balances Crit Rate and Crit DMG. Aim for a 1:2 ratio (e.g., 50% Crit Rate and 100% Crit DMG) for most DPS characters, including Ganyu.
However, Freeze teams adjust the rules. These teams with Blizzard Strayer artifact set don’t need much Crit Rate. The set significantly boosts Crit Rate against frozen enemies, while Cryo Resonance provides additional Crit Rate boosts against Cryo-affected enemies. Here, you can stack more Crit DMG, maximizing damage without overshooting Crit Rate. It’s like getting a discount on Crit Rate, letting you focus on Crit DMG instead – a great deal!
For any other team build, maintain the 1:2 ratio, which applies to Melt Ganyu and Burst Support Ganyu. Also, include Ganyu’s A1 passive talent, Undivided Heart, which grants +20% Crit Rate after firing her first Frostflake Arrow. This talent effectively diminishes Crit Rate requirements, simplifying great Crit Ratio achievement. It’s like obtaining a 20% discount on Crit Rate needs – who doesn’t appreciate it?
Ganyu: Fun Facts and Lore Tidbits
Aside from combat skills, Ganyu has captivating lore.
Half-human, half-qilin Adeptus. Ganyu from Genshin Impact represents a half-human, half-qilin Adeptus. This heritage merges human and mythical traits, crafting her unique backstory. Qilins are mythical creatures in East Asian cultures known for positive omens and prosperity. Ganyu’s Adeptus heritage links her to Liyue’s ancient, mystical origins.
Cocogoat Meme. The infamous Cocogoat meme originates with Qiqi, who misinterprets “goat milk” as “Cocogoat milk” from a creature called the Cocogoat. Ganyu, as a half-Adeptus with horns, became the focal point of this meme. “Must be all that cocogoat m…” demonstrates the community’s humor and inside jokes.
Level 90 Worthiness. Is leveling Ganyu to 90 worthwhile? Generally, I wouldn’t suggest reaching lv90 for most characters, including Ganyu, unless Min-maxing or deep appreciation is involved. The stat gain from 80 to 90 seems small relative to resource investment. Focus on leveling talents and acquiring suitable artifacts instead. Level 90 is more a luxury than a requirement.
Signature Dish: Prosperous Peace. Prosperous Peace represents a Special Dish with a chance to obtain from cooking Universal Peace with Ganyu. It’s her character-specific version of Universal Peace, reflecting culinary tastes and preferences. Signature dishes infuse personality into characters.
This completes your guide to mastering Ganyu, the Cryo Queen. Now, go forth, freeze enemies, melt their faces (figuratively), and rule Teyvat with icy elegance!
