If you’ve just started playing Genshin Impact, you might get a bit confused by all the elemental talk you get bombarded with. While most of the explanations make sense and you also get a tutorial to show you how each element and elemental reaction works, you might still need help with understanding what the best elemental combinations are and which ones to avoid (coughoverloadedcough).
Genshin Elements are almost always relevant in how you build your team, unless you end up pulling for something like C6 Itto, who is just a beast on his own – but for that you’d need to invest and some Genshin crystal top up..
What are the Elements
Characters in the Genshin Impact universe can sometimes get “Visions”. Visions are powers given to them by the “Gods” and they are only given to those who have greater ambitions than most. Each character that get’s a vision only get’s one element.
With only the main character – Traveler – being able to use elemental powers without a vision and they are able to swap elements. They’ve resonated with (Currently 5 of 7 Elements).
Element Types
- Anemo – We get introduced to this element at the start of the game. It’s a neutral element that doesn’t really do anything on its own, and its main use is to “Swirl” or rather spread other elements such as Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, or Electro.
- Geo – A true Neutral element that, aside from creating Crystalize shards which provide a small shield to your character, it doesn’t really interact with other elements.
- Electro – Doesn’t do anything on its own, but unlike Geo, it has a lot of reactions associated with it
- Dendro – Interacts with all genshin elements aside from Geo, Anemo, and Cryo, and has the most interesting reactions in the game as it can chain two or three different elemental reactions to create various effects.
- Hydro – Again, like most other elements – it doesn’t do anything on its own, but allows for Hydro-related reactions to occur.
- Cryo – Same as the other genshin elements, it has no inherent value on its own but causes Cryo-related reactions to occur when it interacts with the other elements
- Pyro – Feels like we’re repeating ourselves too much, but yeah – it only allows for other Pyro-related reactions to occur.
Elemental Resonance
Genshin Elemental Resonance is one of the core parts of building a team. It gives you stat bonuses when you have at least 2 of the same element in your party, E.G. – 2 Pyro Characters and 2 Hydro Characters, or 2 Pyro, 1 Hydro, 1 Geo (In which case you only get the Pyro Resonance).
- Fervent Flames (2 Pyro) – Affected by Cryo for 40% less time. Increases ATK by 25%.
- Soothing Water (2 Hydro) – Affected by Pyro for 40% less time. Increases Max HP by 25%.
- High Voltage (2 Electro) – Affected by Hydro for 40% less time. Superconduct, Overloaded, Electro-Charged, Quicken, Aggravate, or Hyperbloom have a 100% chance to generate an Electro Elemental Particle (CD: 5s).
- Shattering Ice (2 Cryo) – Affected by Electro for 40% less time. Increases CRIT Rate against enemies that are Frozen or affected by Cryo by 15%.
- Impetuous Winds (2 Anemo) – Decreases Stamina Consumption by 15%. Increases Movement SPD by 10%. Shortens Skill CD by 5%.
- Enduring Rock (2 Geo) – Increases shield strength by 15%. Additionally, characters protected by a shield will have the following special characteristics. DMG dealt increased by 15%, dealing DMG to enemies will decrease their Geo RES by 20% for 15s..
- Sprawling Greenery (2 Dendro) – Elemental Mastery increased by 50. After triggering Burning, Quicken, or Bloom reactions, all nearby party members gain 30 Elemental Mastery for 6s. After triggering Aggravate, Spread, Hyperbloom, or Burgeon reactions, all nearby party members gain 20 Elemental Mastery for 6s. The duration of the aforemention effects will be count independently.
Conclusion
Genshin Elements are a key component of the game. You should focus on learning how they work and their intricacies. Elemental Reactions deserve their own article with how many of them. There are and the intricacies behind how they work, but you can look forward to that in the future.
But hey, if you want to ignore the elements and just go for some really strong Constellation 6 5 Star characters, you can always trade now and get them for cheap!