Alright, Genshin fans and new Travelers, let’s dive into Teyvat’s elemental combat. Tutorials are boring. We’ll break down Elemental Skills, Bursts, Reactions, and Mastery. This is your guide to stop button-mashing and start strategizing like an Archon.
Elemental Skill: Your Go-To Move (Cooldown Reminders)
Think of your Elemental Skill as your sidekick. It’s always ready to deal damage or provide effects without needing Energy like the Elemental Burst. We call it ‘Skill’ for efficiency.
Ready to unleash elemental chaos? Genshin offers seven elements—Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo. Each character’s Skill connects to one element, creating mini powerhouses. Damage varies based on the Skill and how you use it. Some are quick, others take time, each with their own flavor.
But here’s the twist—Skills have cooldowns. Just like a microwave dinner, you must wait before using it again. Each Skill has a specific timer. Spamming? Not here!
If you’re into artifacts, listen! There’s a bonus that enhances Elemental Skills. Using a Skill can buff your 2-Piece Set Bonus. Expect a 50% boost for 10 seconds, stacking up to three times. You’re cooking now!
Want stronger Skills? Elemental Mastery (EM) is essential. It boosts elemental reaction damage. Skills are excellent for causing reactions. Search for EM on Weapons and Artifacts. Find those stats!
Skill Showcase: Masters of Skill
Let’s highlight some Skill stars:
- Venti: Skyward Sonnet – The Crowd Control King Venti’s Skill acts like a vacuum for hilichurls. Skyward Sonnet has a low cooldown and controls crowds. Need to gather mobs? Venti’s your guy. It’s like saying, “Enemies, come here!” and they obey.
- Kazuha: Chihayaburu – The Anemo Acrobat Kazuha twirls and swirls! Chihayaburu creates a wind vortex pulling enemies close. Then, BAM! Kazuha flies up, sending foes away. It’s stylish and makes you feel like a ninja bard.
- Albedo: Solar Isotoma – The Geo Gardener Albedo’s Skill is botanical warfare. He conjures a Solar Isotoma, an alchemical flower that deals AoE Geo damage. Enemies entering its zone trigger Geo explosions. Set it and forget it—great for off-field damage.
- Scaramouche (Wanderer): Song of the Wind – The Airborne Ace Scaramouche flies with his Skill, Song of the Wind. He causes AoE Anemo damage and takes to the air in the Windfavored state. Suddenly, you’re dodging and dive-bombing foes. Who needs ground combat?
- Barbara: Melody Loop – The Healing Hymn Barbara heals through song… and Hydro. Melody Loop heals the whole team with Normal and Charge Attacks until it fades. She turns into a walking fountain. Cryo enemies can be a problem, though.
Here’s a bonus tip: Normal Attacks can boost your Skill and Burst damage by 20-40% for 6 seconds. Don’t stand there like a shocked hilichurl; use those Normal Attacks!
Elemental Burst: Unleash the Archon (Energy is Key)
Now, for the grand finale—the Elemental Burst. Some call it ‘Ultimate’ or ‘Q’. It’s your character’s showcase move, the powerful one. Usually, it’s stronger than your Skill, but there’s a catch—Energy.
Using a Burst is like taking a loan; you must have Energy. Energy fuels your Burst. In Genshin TCG, you need Energy and Dice. In battle, you need 40 to 90 Energy to unleash that ultimate move. Yes, looking at you, Yae Miko.
How do you fill that Energy tank? Charging your Burst Gauge is vital. You need 40-80 Energy, but how do you generate it?
Charging 101: Energy Basics
- Enemy Beatdown: Classic Approach Hitting enemies helps energize! Damaging enemies drops energy particles or orbs. It varies, but it helps. Think of it as foes donating energy for your moves.
- Elemental Reactions: Chain Energy Elemental Reactions also generate Energy. Triggers produce energy particles or orbs. Mixing elements is fun and efficient! Vaporize, Overload, Melt—these are also energy boosters.
Burst Bonanza: Feature the Ultimates
Let’s spotlight some Burst brilliance:
- Furina: Let The People Rejoice – The Hydro Hype Machine Furina’s Burst is a party starter! Let The People Rejoice grants Fanfare stacks based on HP changes within the team, increasing damage and healing. More HP changes equal bigger buffs.
- Lyney: Wondrous Trick: Miracle Parade – The Pyro Prestidigitator Lyney’s Burst is a showcase! Wondrous Trick: Miracle Parade turns him into a Grin-Malkin Hat. It deals Pyro damage and explodes for AoE damage, summoning a Grin-Malkin Cat to assist.
- Kaedehara Kazuha: Kazuha Slash – The Anemo Annihilator Kazuha strikes with Kazuha Slash. This AoE Anemo attack damages while absorbing elements it touches, creating additional elemental damage. It’s a vortex of destruction.
- Zhongli: Planet Befall – The Geo God’s Drop Zhongli summons a meteor down with Planet Befall. This massive attack petrifies enemies, making them stone and temporarily useless.
- Raiden Shogun: Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu – The Electro Empress’s Edict Raiden Shogun’s Burst declares Electro dominance. Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu unleashes heavy Electro damage while regenerating Energy for the team. She deals damage while refueling.
- Nahida: Illusory Heart – The Dendro Dream Weaver Nahida’s Burst creates the Shrine of Maya, offering buffs like Elemental Mastery based on party elements. A strategic Burst adapting to team combinations!
- Pyro Pioneer’s Projectiles Amber’s Burst, Fiery Rain, unleashes a storm of arrows. They rain down, causing AoE Pyro damage. This makes it effective for Pyro application and a solid Burst for our favorite Outrider.
- Xiao: Bane of All Evil – The Anemo Adeptus’s Assault Xiao transforms into a Yaksha powerhouse. Bane of All Evil has him wear a Yaksha mask. It boosts his jump height, enhances damage, and converts all damage to Anemo. He surges as a whirlwind of destruction, ideal for plunging attacks and airborne annihilation.
Normal Attack hits can pump up your Burst damage by 20-40% for 6 seconds. Continue those attacks!
Elements: The Building Blocks of Teyvat’s Beatdowns
Seven elements exist: Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo. These are the elemental foundation of Genshin combat. Each has its own traits, strengths, and weaknesses.
Hydro often ranks at the top of the elemental hierarchy. Well-known reactions like Vaporize and Bloom shine with Hydro. It provides HP buffs for parties too. Hydro naturally pairs well with numerous elements. It’s the star at this elemental gathering.
Next are Geo and Cryo. They’re good but face challenges. Geo reactions are limited, especially Crystallize. Cryo’s Freeze can feel reaction-dependent. They perform better in select teams rather than general scenarios.
Despite jokes about Anemo being the “weakest element,” it shines in utility. Pure Anemo damage won’t break damage records. But it offers crowd control through Swirl. It aids in exploration via wind currents, adding support capabilities. Anemo is the utility king, not the damage dealer. Let’s call it “specialized.”
Elemental Reactions: Mix, Match, and Mayhem
Elemental Reactions present the excitement of Genshin combat. Combining elements leads to damage chain reactions and unique effects. Chemistry class thrills unfold with explosions and less homework.
Elemental Mastery (EM) explains how two elements interact. It amplifies reaction damage. Pyro damage bonus affects Pyro damage alone, not for reactions. Understand it clearly.
Reaction Rundown: A Crash Course in Chaos
- Overloaded (Pyro + Electro): Kaboom! Overloaded merges Pyro and Electro. The result is a small AoE Pyro explosion that knocks back smaller enemies. It works well for crowd control and delivers big blasts.
- Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro or Pyro + Hydro): Damage Amplification Deluxe Vaporize multiplies damage effectively. A Hydro-affected enemy hit with Pyro grants x2 damage. Conversely, hitting Pyro-affected enemy with Hydro yields a decent x1.5 damage. Vaporize is key for Pyro and Hydro DPS characters.
- Melt (Cryo + Pyro or Pyro + Cryo): Even Bigger Damage Boosts Melt resembles Vaporize but even stronger. Cryo meets Pyro for damage amplification. The multipliers are similar to Vaporize but often deliver more forcefully, especially with Pyro as the trigger.
- Quicken/Aggravate (Dendro + Electro): Electro Empowerment Quicken sets the stage for Electro control. Dendro and Electro create Quicken aura. Hitting a Quickened enemy with Electro triggers Aggravate. This dramatically enhances Electro damage.
Elemental Mastery: The Reaction Amplifier
Elemental Mastery (EM) strengthens elemental reaction damage. It focuses on making reactions hit harder, but not crit-ier.
Want more EM? Seek out weapons and artifacts offering EM. Look for EM as a main stat or substat on artifacts. Specific weapons can offer substantial EM boosts too.
Is EM essential? It hinges on character and team composition. Some DPS characters rely on EM for damage. Others may see it as merely beneficial. For teams utilizing reactive focus? EM reigns supreme; for direct damage teams? Less so.
Take Kazuha, our Anemo samurai. He benefits greatly from EM. Each point increases Kazuha’s Normal, Charged, and Plunge Attack damage by 0.2%. Indeed, for each point. Accumulate EM, and Kazuha transforms into a powerful damage engine. He epitomizes EM scaling.
Characters: Meet the Stars of the Show
Genshin Impact thrives due to its diverse characters, many are elemental experts.
- Kaedehara Kazuha: The Anemo Ace Kazuha commands attention in Genshin with his popularity. Known for tremendous feats in the main story, he stands as the premier Anemo character. Versatile and powerful, Kazuha is stylish; thus a top-tier choice.
- Raiden Ei (Raiden Shogun): The Electro Archon Extraordinaire Raiden Ei reigns as the Electro Archon of Inazuma, also dubbed Beelzebul. Beyond her ruling role, she delivers enormous damage while recharging the team’s Energy. She fits into many strong team types. Her Burst animation enacts a spectacle.
Other Tidbits: Random but Relevant
Let’s summarize some Genshin insights:
- Elemental CD? Elemental C? Huh? “Elemental CD” or “Elemental C” could lead you outside Genshin’s realm. Cadmium (Cd) and Carbon (C) are elements in chemistry. Within Genshin, “CD” usually stands for Cooldown. Don’t confuse chemistry with combat unless making potions.
- Burst Skill = Elemental Burst (Duh) “Burst Skill” represents Elemental Burst. These terms align interchangeably, sharing ultimate power.
- Q and E (and R2/RT, Triangle/Y): Buttonology 101 For PC players, “E” signifies Elemental Skill; “Q” indicates Elemental Burst. On controllers, “R2” or “RT” denote Skill; “Triangle” or “Y” relate to Burst. Grasp these hotkeys to move toward Teyvat mastery.
- Energy Recharge (ER): Bursting More Often Energy Recharge (ER) enhances your Burst frequency. It determines your Energy gain from particles. Higher ER results in more frequent Bursts. For characters relying on Bursts, ER acts as an ally.
- Yae Miko: Queen of Energy Consumption Yae Miko emerges as the leader in Burst cost demanding character. Her Elemental Burst consumes 90 Energy with a cooldown of 22 seconds. Energy management matters with her; she’s strong but needs Energy.
- Traveler Element Swapping: Statue Shenanigans To change the Traveler’s element, locate a Statue of the Seven representing your chosen element and “Resonate.” Boom! Instant elemental shift. Hydro Traveler? Resonate with Hydro.
- Zhongli: The Unshakeable Archon Zhongli, the Geo Archon, often carries weight as the “best Archon.” His age, wisdom, and exceptional abilities boost his resume. His shields stand legendary, his damage robust, and his lore engaging. Zhongli: a unique build.
- Traveler Element: The “Light” Element? Not Quite. Some rumors suggest a “light element” for the Traveler exists. Currently unconfirmed, the Traveler absorbs various elements like Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo. “Light” is likely a misunderstanding or hints at future possibilities now remains unverified.
And there you have it! Dive into Genshin Impact’s elemental core now! Master skills, bursts, elements, reactions, and mechanics to conquer Teyvat through elemental reactions! Traveler ventures forth to unleash chaos everywhere!
