Unleash the Frostflake Heron: A Deep Dive into Building Kamisato Ayaka in Genshin Impact
Congratulations on pulling Kamisato Ayaka! She is a top-tier Cryo DPS character in Genshin Impact. Building her may feel daunting. With the right guide, Ayaka will glide effortlessly across Teyvat, defeating foes quickly. This guide covers weapons, artifacts, and more.
I. Arming the Heron: Weapon Choices for Ayaka
A warrior needs a strong weapon. Ayaka requires a blade that maximizes her icy potential. Let’s examine the best options, from high-end 5-stars to reliable 4-star picks.
Signature Supremacy: Mistsplitter Reforged (5-Star)
If you’re committed to Ayaka, her signature weapon, Mistsplitter Reforged, is ideal. This 5-star sword provides exceptional benefits. It features a high base attack plus a critical damage substat. However, its true strength lies in its passive.
This passive delivers an Elemental DMG Bonus, specifically Cryo DMG for Ayaka. It further boosts her ATK based on stacks. Ayaka easily gathers these stacks by dealing Elemental DMG with her attacks, enhanced by her Elemental Burst. Mistsplitter transforms her into a massive source of damage.
Excellent Alternatives: Top-Tier 4-Star Swords
Not everyone can access a 5-star weapon. Luckily, Genshin Impact has some robust 4-star swords that enhance Ayaka’s power. Here are some strong choices:
The Black Sword: Battle Pass Brilliance
First is The Black Sword. It offers style and effectiveness. Acquire it from the Battle Pass by upgrading to the Gnostic Hymn. With its Crit Rate substat, it boosts normal and charged attack damage by 20% initially, scaling to 40% at R5. To ascend it, obtain Boreal Wolf’s Milk Tooth from the Domain of Forgery. The Black Sword remains a reliable damage booster.
Amenoma Kageuchi: The F2P Powerhouse
Never underestimate Amenoma Kageuchi. This craftable sword provides an excellent free-to-play (F2P) option. Its synergy with Ayaka’s Elemental Burst, “Soumetsu,” enhances her damage output significantly. The weapon recovers energy, ensuring her Burst is available frequently. This leads to high Cryo damage, making crafting it advantageous.
Viridescent Hunt: Crowd Control Option
Another great Battle Pass weapon is Viridescent Hunt. While it does not boost damage as much as The Black Sword, it has unique benefits. Its passive creates a cyclone that gathers enemies together for powerful AoE attacks. This utility proves valuable in particular situations, especially in the Spiral Abyss.
Other Weapon Mentions
Here are some other weapons that could work for Ayaka in specific scenarios or if available:
- Haran Geppaku Futsu (5-star): This is an excellent 5-star sword for players using it on other characters as well.
- Wolf-Fang: A weapon that enhances skill and burst damage, fitting with an Elemental Burst playstyle.
- Summit Shaper (5-star): Great if running Ayaka as a main DPS while maintaining a shield for enhanced buffs.
- Dark Iron Sword (3-star): A quirky 3-star weapon that is no longer obtainable. If you own it, it’s unique.
II. Artifact Sets: Embracing the Blizzard
Now let’s focus on artifacts. The clear choice for Ayaka is the Blizzard Strayer set. Simply put, use Blizzard Strayer. Why? Its bonuses are tailored for Cryo characters, especially those in Freeze teams, where Ayaka excels.
- 2-Piece Bonus: Increases Cryo DMG Bonus by 15%. This boosts Ayaka’s core damage type.
- 4-Piece Bonus: Attacking an enemy affected by Cryo raises Crit Rate by 20%. If the target is Frozen, this increases by another 20%. This feature is where the magic happens.
Ayaka often pairs with Hydro characters to trigger Freeze reactions. In a Freeze team, she can gain a massive 40% Crit Rate bonus from the full Blizzard Strayer set, in addition to the base 20% against Cryo-affected enemies. This allows stacking Crit DMG without worrying much about Crit Rate, leading to high damage output. It is perfect.
III. Ascension Materials: Gathering the Frosty Necessities
To fully ascend Ayaka, gather specific materials. Like all characters, she has six Ascension phases that require gemstones, Mora, and special items. Prepare for substantial farming!
- Sakura Bloom: Ayaka’s local specialty is the stunning Sakura Bloom. These pink flowers grow only in Inazuma, mainly on Narukami Island. They respawn every two real-world days, so plan your routes wisely.
- Perpetual Heart & Shivada Jade Gems: Ascending Ayaka requires battling the formidable Perpetual Mechanical Array. This boss drops the essential Perpetual Heart and Shivada Jade Gems. You need 46 Perpetual Hearts for max ascension to level 90.
IV. Talent Materials: Honing Her Skills
Upgrading Ayaka’s talents is equally vital as ascension. Talent materials enhance her Normal Attacks, Elemental Skill, and Elemental Burst. You must farm specific Talent Books and Weekly Boss materials to maximize her talents to level 10 or higher with Constellations. You can elevate a Talent’s level to a maximum of 15 using constellations.
Crown of Insight. Crowns are limited, so select wisely which talents to crown. Ayaka’s Elemental Burst is an ideal choice due to its massive damage potential.
V. Talent Priority: Sharpening the Right Blades
Which talents should you prioritize leveling? It varies with your playstyle. Generally, focus on her Normal Attack and Elemental Burst.
- Kamisato Art – Kabuki (Normal Attack): This governs her normal, charged, and plunging attacks. If using Ayaka as an on-field damage dealer, leveling her Normal Attack matters.
- Kamisato Art – Soumetsu (Elemental Burst): Ayaka’s Burst creates Cryo blades that deliver immense damage. If her Burst damage is your primary focus, prioritize leveling this talent first.
For a balanced approach, leveling both her Normal Attack and Elemental Burst together works best. Her Elemental Skill, “Kamisato Art – Hyouka,” offers Cryo application with some damage but usually ranks lower compared to her Normal Attacks and Burst.
VI. Stat Goals: Aiming for Frosty Perfection
What stats should you chase on Ayaka artifacts? Here are general goals:
- ATK: Aim for at least 2000 ATK for a Freeze Ayaka. If experimenting with Melt Ayaka, around 1600-1800 ATK works since Bennett’s buffs can offset lower base ATK.
- Crit:
- Rate: The Blizzard Strayer set reduces your need for high Crit Rate. Aim for 30-40% Crit Rate. Against Frozen enemies, this set boosts you above 100% Crit Rate. Consistent crits matter a lot.
- Crit DMG: Focus on stacking Crit DMG! Aim for 180% or higher. With lower Crit Rate needs, you can concentrate on Crit DMG substats.
- Energy Recharge (ER): Ayaka’s Burst needs 80 Energy. You require Energy Recharge for steady Burst uptime. Aim for 120-150% ER. Your team and weapon choices may affect your ER requirements.
VII. Boss Drops: Perpetual Heart Hunting
You need Perpetual Hearts from the Perpetual Mechanical Array boss to ascend Ayaka. 46 Perpetual Hearts are required for max ascension to level 90. Therefore, make this boss your farming target. Use a strong Electro or Pyro character to break its shields quickly and collect hearts!
Building Ayaka is rewarding. With the right artifacts, weapons, and talent focus, she transforms into a Cryo powerhouse. She freezes battlefields and unleashes high damage. Equip your Frostflake Heron and conquer Teyvat with style!
