Anyone that's even looked at Genshin will know that characters each use different elements. But, there's a lot more to it than just that. Here's our guide to the Genshin Impact Elements.
In-game, the existing Elements have different effects whether they are applied alone or combined, and they have inherent bonuses that will affect your party depending on its composition. You can get some really fun battle mechanics from having different elements on your team, and we recommend experimenting. But remember to keep an eye on your enemies elements too, so you can beat them easily!
For more Genshin guides, we've got a page on the upcoming Dendro Element, the next Version Update, and a banner schedule for all the upcoming characters with boosted rates.
What are the Genshin Impact Elements?
There are Seven Elements flowing around the world of Teyvat, based on the prime elements with some extra additions. Think of them like Pokémon's types - they work together, and against each other, and can really pack a punch. The seven elements are:
Element | Type | Archon | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
Pyro | Fire | Murata, The Lady of Fire. | Natlan |
Anemo | Wind | Venti, or Barbatos. | Mondstadt |
Hydro | Water | Currently unknown. | Fontaine |
Geo | Earth, Rock, and Mineral Material | Zhongli, or Morax, Rex Lapis. | Liyue |
Cryo | Ice | Tsaritsa. | Snezhnaya |
Electro | Electricity | Ei the Raiden Shogun, or Beelzebul. | Inazuma |
Dendro | Plant life, likely named after 'dendrochronology', the study of tree rings. | Nahida, or Lesser Lord Kusanali. | Sumeru |
Each element has an associated Archon, one of The Seven that preside over the Seven Nations. They bestow part of their powers to mortals in the form of an elemental Vision. These selected wielders of the Elements are called Allogenes, and they use their different Visions to channel their mental energy so they can use the Elemental Power. These are the characters we play as!
Once an Allogene dies, their Vision crystal loses power, but it can be reactivated by an adequate person, thus the Vision crystals are a rare resource in the modern world, sought by the richest, most powerful people in Teyvat.
Which characters use Eeach Element?
Here is a handy table of all the elements, and which characters use them:
Element | Character |
|---|---|
Pyro | Amber, Bennett, Diluc, Hu Tao, Klee, Thoma, Xiangling, Xinyan, Yanfei, Yoimiya, Dehya |
Anemo | Traveler, Jean, Kaedehara Kazuha, Sayu, Shikanoin Heizou, Sucrose, Venti, Xiao |
Hydro | Barbara, Kamisato Ayato, Mona, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Tartaglia, Xinqiu, Yelan, Nilou |
Geo | Traveler, Albedo, Arataki Itto, Gorou, Ningguang, Noelle, Yun Jin, Zhongli |
Cryo | Chongyun, Diona, Eula, Ganyu, Kaeya, Kamisato Ayaka, Qiqi, Rosaria, Shenhe |
Electro | Traveler, Beidou, Raiden Shogun (Ei), Fischl, Keqing, Kujou Sara, Kuki Shinobu, Lisa, Razor, Yae Miko, Dori, Cyno |
Dendro | Traveler, Tighnari, Collei, Alhaitham, Nahida |
Note that we left the Traveler out, as they will be able to eventually use every element as the game progresses. For now, they can switch between Anemo, Geo, and Electro. Dendro will be available in Version 3.0.
What are the Elemental Reactions in Genshin Impact?
Elemental Reactions are effects on the battlefield that are triggered by the combination of two elements, applied to the same target. They last a few seconds and can be replaced by another Elemental Reaction.
While the reactions have no cooldown per se, the related skills that apply them have independent cooldowns. As of Version 2.8, there are no Dendro playable characters, so any reaction that involves the Dendro element will depend on external factors from enemies that use the element like Slimes or Samachurls.
These are the reactions currently in the game:
Vaporize
- Pyro x Hydro
The order of application is important - Pyro on a target with Hydro or Hydro state on a target with Pyro - implying different damage multipliers that will depend on the Element used to trigger Vaporize. Applying Hydro to a Pyro state will reap more damage.
Overloaded
- Electro x Cryo
This reaction causes an AoE explosion that deals Pyro damage, with both the damage done to the reaction target and the AoE damage effect having the same value.
Melt
- Pyro x Cryo
Similar to Vaporize, and unlike other reactions, the order of application is important. Applying Pyro to a Cryo state will give a 2x damage bonus.
Electro-Charged
- Electro x Hydro
It applies a damage over time effect, and targets will simultaneously have both a Hydro and Electro aura, allowing for multiple reactions to be triggered on them. If an Electro attack hits a body of water, the water will become Electro-Charged for a short amount of time and any target that walks into it will take Electro damage as well.
Burning
- Pyro x Dendro
Burning will inflict Damage over time. This reaction is commonly triggered by applying Pyro to the grass, and the damage inflicted will scale with your World Level.
Frozen
- Cryo x Hydro
Cryo will stun enemies for a short period of time. The length of the freeze is based on the lowest remaining duration of the two elements applied, and frozen enemies can be Shattered by using heavy attacks. Any Elemental Reactions (excluding Frozen) will remove the freeze, though in certain cases enemies can be immediately refrozen.
Superconduct
- Electro x Cryo
This reaction causes an AoE explosion that deals Cryo damage and reduces the Physical Resistance by 40% for 12 seconds. All enemies in the AoE explosion radius will receive the debuff, but only the ones that are inflicted with both the Cryo and Electro elements will take the AoE damage.
Swirl
- Anemo x Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Cryo
The Anemo Element is the only element that can trigger Swirl, by inflicting the Anemo state on a target that is already affected by Pyro, Electro, Hydro, or Cryo. This reaction has the unique effect of spreading the previous Element state to nearby targets. Possible secondary Elemental Reactions caused by the scattered Element will consider Elemental Mastery and level from the Anemo character.
Crystallize
- Geo x Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Cryo.
Like Swirl, Crystallize triggers when Geo comes in contact with Pyro, Electro, Hydro, or Cryo. It spawns a matching Pyro, Electro, Hydro, or Cryo Elemental Shard that will create a shield when it’s picked up, lasting up to 15 seconds. Picking a different elemental shard will replace the one active.
What is Elemental Resonance?
Elemental Resonance is a synergic bonus triggered by the combination of two party members using the same Element.
The bonus will affect the whole party and they will stack, both in single-player and co-op mode. Even if one of the two characters faints in combat, the Elemental Resonance will continue to apply.
- Fervent Flames - Pyro+Pyro
Affected by Cryo for 40% less time. Increases Attack by 25%. - Soothing Water - Hydro+Hydro
Affected by Pyro for 40% less time. Increases incoming healing by 30%. - High Voltage - Electro+Electro
Affected by Hydro for 40% less time. Superconduct, Overloaded, and Electro-Charged have a 100% chance to generate an Electro Elemental Particle (cooldown: 5 seconds). - Shattering Ice - Cryo+Cryo
Affected by Electro for 40% less time. Increases Critical Rate against enemies that are Frozen or affected by Cryo by 15%. - Impetuous Winds - Anemo+Anemo
Decreases Stamina Consumption by 15%. Increases Movement Speed by 10%. Shortens Skill cooldown by 5%. - Enduring Rock - Geo+Geo
Increases shield strength by 15%. Additionally, characters protected by a shield will have the following special characteristics: damage dealt increased by 15%, dealing damage to enemies will decrease their Geo Resistance by 20% for 15 seconds. - Protective Canopy - Any 4 Unique Elements
All Elemental Resistance +15%, Physical Resistance +15%.
When Dendro is added to the game, we'll update with what we know about it, too!