With Genshin Impact 2.7 now out, it's finally time for a proper Yelan build to come into play. We've spent months combing over every little bit of leaked information and rumours to figure out how to build the new five-star character, and we're going to lay it out below.
Things are, as always, subject to change. Not only will new Artifacts and Weapons release in the future, but even new characters can tweak the composition she's best suited to, mixing absolutely everything up. For now, though, the below Yelan build is what works best at launch.
Looking for more leaks and character tidbits? Earlier this year, we pieced together the best Genshin Impact Zhongli build and best Genshin Impact Ganyu build to celebrate the return of those fan-favourite five-star characters.
How to get Yelan In Genshin Impact
After a long, long wait from her initial teaser, Yelan first became available on May 31, 2022 during the 2.7 update. On February 8, 2023, she appeared in her first re-run banner.
Who is Yelan in Genshin Impact? - Genshin Impact Yelan lore
Despite her model being included in the Genshin Impact 2.6 build, there's still an awful lot we don't know about this the Genshin Impact Yelan lore.
For instance, her name was first discovered way back in the 2.1 patch cycle's Moonchase event. Most assumed she was simply a background character who needed a name, but as it turns out, that wasn't true at all.
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The latest patch has brought the Genshin Impact Yelan character back into the spotlight, and we know have a very clear idea of how she'll look in-game.
There's still no publically accessible in-game text talking about her - no voice lines from any character, or even flavour text on artifacts or items - but her highly detailed model is enough to insist that she'll be a playable character with plenty of deep and detailed storylines just like any other.
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The only thing we can glean from the Genshin Impact Yelan model is that she's a Vision holder from the Liyue region. With The Chasm area looking more and more likely to open up in upcoming patches, we expect her to have something to do with it.
What's the best Genshin Impact Yelan build?
Strong build guides have started popping up for Yelan (for those of us lucky enough to get her), so here are our thoughts.
Best Yelan weapon
Weapon | Secondary Stat | Passive Skill |
|---|---|---|
Aqua Simulacra | Critical Damage | Increases HP by 16%. When an opponent is nearby, the damage this weapon deals increases by 20% |
Polar Star | CRIT Rate + 7.20% | Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst DMG increased by 12% |
Thundering Pulse | CRIT DMG + 14.4% | Increases ATK by 20% and grants Thunder Emblem. |
It's pretty clear Hoyoverse intends the Aqua Simulacra as Yelan's weapon. The increase to HP translates to higher damage for her Skill and Burst, and as a DPS unit, Yelan is always going to be near foes, meaning she gets an automatic 20 percent damage boost.
Hamayumi is a good F2P alternative that boosts Yelan's normal and charged damage. It fits nicely with her Burst, which triggers when she uses a normal attack, and makes using charged attacks for the Breakthrough effect even more worthwhile.
Best Yelan artifacts
Artifacts | Two-Piece Effect | Four-Piece Effect |
|---|---|---|
Emblem of Severed Fate | Energy Recharge +20% | Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 25% of Energy Recharge |
Noblesse Oblige | Elemental Burst DMG +20% | Using an Elemental Burst increases all party members' ATK by 20% for 12s. This effect cannot stack. |
Echoes of an Offering | Attack +18% | When Normal Attacks hit opponents, there is a 36% chance that it will trigger Valley Rite, which will increase Normal Attack DMG by 70% of ATK. This effect will be dispelled 0.05s after a Normal Attack deals DMG. If a Normal Attack fails to trigger Valley Rite, the odds of it triggering the next time will increase by 20%. This trigger can occur once every 0.2s. |
There are still some questions lingering over Yelan's Artifacts. She seems very much like a character who will probably have a new set intended just for her.
For now, we're recommending these for the boost to her Burst and the overall damage boost for the party (and especially Yelan). The new Echoes of an Offering set is also a solid choice considering you'll be using normal attacks while her Burst is in play anyway.
If you're playing catch-up with the game right now, the latest Genshin Impact Spiral Abyss teams could be worth checking out for some easy Primogems. Likewise, our Genshin Impact Electroculus locations guide is there to help you pick up any you may have left back in Inazuma.