Yanfei: Liyue’s Fiery Legal Eagle – Is She Worth Your Primogems?
In Teyvat, Yanfei stands out. Many players ask, “Is this Pyro hero a good fit for my Genshin Impact team?” Let’s explore Yanfei, a legal expert and a fierce combatant. We’ll look at her strength, weaknesses, and how to build her to unleash her full potential.
Unpacking Yanfei’s Arsenal: Strengths and Capabilities
Let’s get to the highlights. Yanfei is not just a scholar. She excels in battle. Don’t underestimate her four-star rank; she’s fierce.
Main DPS Dynamo: Smashing Expectations
Surprisingly, Yanfei can outperform many five-star DPS characters. Yes, really. She is a top-tier Pyro DPS option. Imagine a powerhouse that surprises everyone at a boss fight. Yanfei can defeat bosses swiftly. If you’re seeking a solid Pyro dealer for endgame challenges, she is a strong option. She can transform your team from capable to unstoppable.
Damage Scaling Decoded: ATK and Crit are King
Let’s break down her damage mechanics. Yanfei depends on ATK and Crit stats. Boost her Attack, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage for maximum damage. Her abilities, especially Charged Attacks, benefit from her base ATK. They can also land critical hits! More Scarlet Seals lead to greater AoE damage and overall destruction.
Combat Choreography: The Dance of Seals and Flames
In combat, timing is vital. Begin with Normal Attacks to accumulate Scarlet Seals. Next, hit with a Charged Attack. If needed, use her Elemental Burst, then follow with another Charged Attack. To gain seals quickly, trigger her Elemental Skill! This rotation maximizes damage. It emphasizes building seals and unleashing them for significant impact. Charges deliver high damage and can shatter frozen enemies.
Elemental Reaction Royalty: Queen of the Reaction Game
Say hello to Yanfei, the elemental reaction expert. She excels in Vaporize, Melt, and more. Pair her with Barbara for maximum effectiveness. Barbara’s Hydro application boosts Yanfei’s Pyro damage, creating wild reaction scenarios.
Shielding Surprise: C4 Yanfei – The Tanky Tactician
Surprisingly, Yanfei can shield at Constellation 4 (C4). This change allows her to function as both a DPS and tank. Equip her with HP and Energy Recharge artifacts for added durability. While her main role is damage, this shield offers decent protection during fights. Also, she wields Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers, an artifact for further support. Talk about adaptable!
Constellation Crackdown: C6 for Pyro Perfection
Constellations enhance characters. For Yanfei, C6 is crucial. When at C6, Scarlet Seals boost Charged Attacks and grant a 20% Pyro DMG Bonus. That’s a huge uptick in damage! Yanfei solidifies her status as a leading Pyro DPS option.
Yanfei’s Achilles’ Heels: Weaknesses and Limitations
Now for the negatives. Yanfei has some weaknesses in her skillset that we must address.
Stamina Struggle: The Charged Attack Conundrum
Charged Attacks define Yanfei’s damage output. The downside? They consume stamina quickly. This can hurt her sustained damage in longer fights. Despite constellations helping stamina issues, she does not match five-star DPS characters’ endurance or output.
Character Comparisons: The Ningguang and Klee Quandary
In direct damage contests, Ningguang often surpasses Yanfei in raw damage output. Ningguang excels in Geo damage while Yanfei shines in elemental reactions. Players must choose between brute strength or reaction-based gameplay.
Investment Intensive: Not Exactly F2P Friendly
Truthfully, Yanfei demands significant investment. As a four-star character, she may not be F2P friendly. Players need artifacts, weapons, and talent upgrades to maximize her effectiveness. Some focus on high Energy Recharge to maintain her burst skill. While effective with enough resources, other characters are easier to manage for F2P players.
Selfish DPS Syndrome: Field Time Hog
“Selfish DPS” is a common term in Genshin Impact circles. For Yanfei, this is accurate. She requires field time to deliver damage effectively. Her playstyle focuses on being at the forefront, attacking and triggering reactions. Team compositions should revolve around her presence.
HP? Who Needs HP?: ATK and Crit Focus
Yanfei’s damage scales with ATK and Crit. HP does not factor at all into her DPS build. Though C4 gives a shield based on HP, her role ignores this entirely. The strategy is simple: deal damage before taking hits. To keep her alive, use proper support characters or shields.
Talent Talk: Yanfei’s Skillset Breakdown
Now let’s delve into Yanfei’s talents that define her combat style.
Scarlet Seals: The Fuel for Fury
Scarlet Seals represent Yanfei’s core mechanic. They fuel her mighty Charged Attacks. With more seals consumed, the AoE and damage grow. Each seal also reduces stamina consumption slightly. These seals dictate her gameplay and damage output. To master Yanfei, players must understand Scarlet Seals.
Elemental Skill – Brilliance: Instant Seal Surge
Yanfei’s Elemental Skill, “Brilliance,” grants additional seals…
of fiery energy that strikes nearby foes with AoE Pyro damage. The magic? It quickly gives her the maximum Scarlet Seals. Ready for a Charged Attack. It also grants “Brilliance” to her. The in-game description is vague about what “Brilliance” does aside from the seals. It’s a swift Pyro burst and an instant seal refill.
Elemental Burst – Done Deal: Damage Amplifier and Seal Accelerator
Yanfei’s Elemental Burst, “Done Deal,” should not be underestimated. Even if Charged Attacks are the main damage source, her Burst is vital for increasing overall damage. It boosts Charged Attack damage and speeds up Scarlet Seal production. Faster seals lead to more Charged Attacks and damage. It’s a strong damage amplifier that works well with her Charged Attack-focused style.
Talent Prioritization: DPS Focus
If you build Yanfei as a main DPS, talent upgrade order is simple: Level all of them! Seriously, Normal Attack (for Charged Attacks), Elemental Skill, and Elemental Burst are important for maximizing damage. While Charged Attacks are her primary output, the Skill and Burst offer essential support and amplification. Invest in all her talents for a dedicated DPS Yanfei.
Constellation Considerations: Are They Worth It?
Constellations can change a character’s effectiveness. Are Yanfei’s constellations worth pursuing? Let’s review.
C1: Stamina Saver? Maybe.
Is C1 Yanfei worth it? This is the big question. C1 reduces Yanfei’s Charged Attack stamina use by 10% and increases resistance to interruption during Charged Attacks. It’s a decent quality-of-life upgrade, making her attacks easier on stamina and less likely to be interrupted. Yet, it offers no major damage increase. It’s more of a comfort upgrade than anything groundbreaking.
C2: Crit Conundrum – DPS vs. Shield Build
C2 grants Yanfei a Crit Rate bonus against enemies under 50% HP. Sounds tempting, right? However, for a DPS build, consistent Crit Rate is better than conditional. For a shielder (C4-focused), Crit Rate doesn’t matter. So, C2 is somewhat… uninspiring. It doesn’t significantly enhance either her DPS or shield build, making it feel out of place.
C4: The Shield Shift – Tankfei Emerges
C4 Yanfei gets interesting. This constellation unlocks her tank/shielder potential. After using her Burst, she gains a shield that absorbs damage based on Max HP. If you stack HP and ER artifacts, Yanfei becomes a Pyro shielder. While not as strong as dedicated shielders like Zhongli or Diona, it provides a useful shield for a DPS character and can work as a dedicated shielder at C4. Adds survivability to her kit.
Overall Constellation Value: Incremental Improvements, Not Game-Breaking
Yanfei’s constellations generally offer minor upgrades to stamina management and utility. None are game-changing or necessary for her effectiveness. They enhance her but do not push her to a new power tier. She performs well at C0. Constellations are helpful but not required unless you adore her playstyle.
Team Tactics: Yanfei’s Best Buddies
In Genshin Impact, team composition is crucial. Who works well with Yanfei? Let’s check her best companions.
F2P Friendly Firepower: Budget Buddies
Although not a F2P character, Yanfei pairs well with many free ones. The key is to find characters that increase her damage and provoke elemental reactions – Melt and Vaporize are ideal. Characters like Xiangling, Barbara, and even Collei or Dendro Traveler in a Burgeon team can be solid F2P partners for Yanfei. A strong Yanfei team doesn’t require five-star characters.
Ayaka Alliance: Melt Mayhem Duo
Ayaka and Yanfei? A surprisingly strong combo. Like Hu Tao, they create a Melt damage powerhouse. Ayaka applies Cryo consistently, allowing Yanfei’s Pyro Charged Attacks to trigger Melt reactions frequently. Plus, Ayaka’s Elemental Skill can recharge Yanfei’s Elemental Burst, promoting smooth rotations and high Melt damage output.
Support Squad: Diona and Barbara Brigade
Need support on your Yanfei team? Diona and Barbara are excellent choices. Diona, the Cryo bartender, covers multiple roles. She applies Cryo for Melt reactions, provides a shield for survivability, and offers healing for sustain. Barbara, however, brings Hydro for Vaporize reactions. Barbara and Yanfei generate reactions effectively. Both bring essential support and elemental synergy to Yanfei teams.
Team Building Blueprint: Reactions and Buffs
When creating a Yanfei team, it’s straightforward: focus on characters boosting her damage output and enabling elemental reactions. Aim for Melt and Vaporize. Cryo and Hydro supports are key allies. Characters like Bennett, Kazuha, Sucrose, Mona, Xingqiu, Yelan, and similar champions provide ATK or Crit buffs that elevate her damage through reactions and team buffs. IGN’s Yanfei guide gives more insights into team setups.
Building the Blaze: Yanfei’s Stats and Gear
Let’s get into the specifics: Yanfei’s build, stats, artifacts, weapons – let’s optimize her fiery potential.
Stat Symphony: ATK, Crit, and ER Harmony
Yanfei’s stat priorities are clear: ATK, Crit Rate/Crit Damage, and Energy Recharge (ER). ATK is her main damage scaling stat. Crit Rate and Crit Damage are crucial for consistent damage output. Energy Recharge ensures her Burst is available frequently for amplification and seal generation boosts. For artifacts: Sands should be ATK%, Goblet needs a Pyro DMG Bonus, Circlet focuses on Crit Rate or Crit Damage (aim for balance). Substat priorities are Crit Rate/Crit Damage > ATK% > Energy Recharge. Game Rant’s Yanfei Constellation guide offers further insights on builds.
Artifact Arsenal: Crimson Witch and Beyond
The 4-piece Crimson Witch of Flames set is generally considered her Best-in-Slot (BiS) for a Pyro DPS build. It amplifies Pyro damage and reaction damage, aligning perfectly with her playstyle. Alternatively, 2-piece Crimson Witch and 2-piece ATK% sets (like Gladiator’s Finale or Shimenawa’s Reminiscence) are solid options for balanced builds. For a shielder setup (C4), focus on HP and ER artifacts like Tenacity of the Millelith and Emblem of Severed Fate.
Weaponry Wonders: Catalysts for Combustion
Yanfei has many weapon options. Kagura’s Verity is the top five-star choice. The Widsith shines as a four-star option, especially with high refinements. It provides significant damage boosts but has some randomness. The Widsith and Favonius Codex are accessible and effective choices. Other solid four-star picks include Mappa Mare (for elemental reaction teams), Solar Pearl (Battle Pass item), and Prototype Amber (craftable weapon). If you participated in the Midsummer Island Adventure event, Dodoco Tales is a great F2P choice. TheGamer’s Yanfei facts article offers fun trivia on her, but optimized weapon builds are found in detailed guides.
F2P Feasibility: Yanfei on a Budget
Can Yanfei perform well as a F2P character? The answer is complex. She is not inherently F2P friendly as she needs investment and specific team setups to excel. Still, she can be built effectively without real money. She synergizes well with F2P characters like Xiangling, Barbara, and Lisa. Craftable weapons like Mappa Mare and Prototype Amber are good fits. Artifact farming requires effort, but Crimson Witch is farmable. Thus, while she demands more work than some F2P-friendly DPS characters, Yanfei is viable for F2P players willing to invest time.
Yanfei Unveiled: Identity and Lore Snippets
Beyond combat, who is
Yanfei is the top legal advisor in Liyue Harbor. She’s a half-illuminated beast, over 100 years old. Yet, she looks like a teenager. Unlike most illuminated beasts, she hasn’t signed a contract with Rex Lapis. This gives her freedom. She values fairness and upholds the law diligently. She’s categorized as a “Medium Female” in Genshin Impact. Her parents travel far. Madame Ping, a well-known NPC, cares for her.
Comparative Combustion: Yanfei vs. Other Pyro DPS
How does Yanfei compare to other Pyro DPS? Ningguang can deal more damage. Xiangling is a strong Pyro DPS too. She excels in off-field Pyro application and damage. Yanfei shines in teams where Xiangling’s Burst cannot hit enemies, like Venti’s Burst. Klee offers more utility and AoE damage but has a complex play style. Yanfei occupies a unique role. She’s accessible and fun to play.
Why the Yanfei Hype? Strengths Summarized
Why is Yanfei strong? Key factors include her burst damage rotation. She combines Normal Attacks, Charged Attacks, Elemental Skill, and Burst effectively. She serves as a strong main DPS. Yanfei dishes out massive damage with her Charged Attacks. She’s a top-tier Pyro DPS, performing well even against five-star characters. She is a force to reckon with.
Yanfei’s Guardians: Who’s Looking Out for Her?
Yanfei’s parents travel the world. She’s under Madame Ping’s care in Liyue Harbor. Growing up among locals, she enjoys freedom uncommon for illuminated beasts. This shows her independent spirit and her role in Liyue’s vibrant society.
In conclusion, Yanfei is a strong and versatile Pyro DPS character in Genshin Impact. She requires investment and focus on elemental reactions. The results are impressive. She can defeat enemies and bosses alike. Is she worth your Primogems? For a strong, engaging Pyro DPS, Yanfei is a worthy choice.
