Genshin Impact Ganyu

An in-depth guide on how to build Genshin Impact’s Top DPS, Ganyu.

Updated: Jan 25, 2022 8:44 am
Genshin Impact Ganyu

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Ganyu is a 5-star Cryo Bow character available in the upcoming Character Event Wish banner, Adrift in the Harbour, from January 25th to February 15th, 2022. She is widely regarded as one of the best DPS characters in Genshin Impact – if not, the very best. Keep reading to find out what materials are needed to Ascend Ganyu, her best builds and an overview of how to use her effectively.

Ganyu Ascension Stat

All characters in Genshin Impact have a particular stat that levels up alongside their base stats. For Ganyu, this extra stat is CRIT DMG. This will enable her to deal massive DMG, whilst also making her more flexible to build in terms of Weapon and Artifact substats.

Ganyu Ascension Materials

Once you have obtained Ganyu and maxed her to Level 20, she can be further levelled up though Ascension. The materials you will need to Ascend Ganyu are as follows:

Level 20

  • Shivada Jade Sliver x 1
  • Qingxin x 3
  • Whopperflower Nectar x 3

Level 40

  • Shivada Jade Fragment x 3
  • Hoarfrost Core x 2
  • Qingxin x 10
  • Whopperflower Nectar x 15

Level 50

  • Shivada Jade Fragment x 6
  • Hoarfrost Core x 4
  • Qingxin x 20
  • Shimmering Nectar x 12

Level 60

  • Shivada Jade Chunk x 3
  • Hoarfrost Core x 8
  • Qingxin x 30
  • Shimmering Nectar x 18

Level 70

  • Shivada Jade Chunk x 6
  • Hoarfrost Core x 12
  • Qingxin x 45
  • Energy Nectar x 12

Level 80

  • Shivada Jade Gemstone x 6
  • Hoarfrost Core x 20
  • Qingxin x 60
  • Energy Nectar x 24

Shivada Jade Slivers, Fragments, Chunks and Gemstones can be obtained by defeating the Cryo Regisvine, located in Mondstadt, and the Cryo Hypostasis, located in Dragonspine.

Hoarfrost Cores can be obtained by defeating the Cryo Regisvine, located in Mondstadt.

Qingxin can be found growing high up on mountains in Liyue. They grow in abundance in Jueyun Karst, Qingyun Peak and the mountains near Qingce Village.

Whopperflower Nectar, Shimmering Nectar and Energy Nectar can be obtained by defeating Whopperflowers, which can be found all over Teyvat.

Ganyu Talent Materials

In order to make Ganyu stronger, you’ll need to upgrade her talents. The materials you will need are as follows:

  • Whopperflower Nectar
  • Shimmering Nectar
  • Energy Nectar
  • Teachings of Diligence
  • Guide to Diligence
  • Philosophies of Diligence
  • Shadow Of The Warrior

The Teachings, Guide and Philosophies of Diligence can be obtained by completing the Domain of Mastery: Heart of the Flames every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Meanwhile, the Shadow Of The Warrior is a potential drop from the Weekly Childe Boss.

Ganyu Best Weapons

Regardless of what role Ganyu will fill in your party, she has a lot of potential weapon options.

  • Amos’ Bow (5*)
  • Skyward Harp (5*)
  • Polar Star (5*)
  • Prototype Crescent (4*)
  • Hamayumi (4*)
  • The Viridescent Hunt (4*)
  • Blackcliff Warbow (4*)

Her best in slot is Amos’ Bow, which features an immense amount of ATK on top of a passive which boosts Charged Attack DMG, which is where Ganyu shines. Other five-star options include Skyward Harp and Polar Star, which both have a CRIT Rate substat and passives which Ganyu can benefit from. Thundering Pulse isn’t recommended for her, despite its massive CRIT DMG substat, because Ganyu can’t activate the Bow’s passive to its full potential. Therefore, she does not fully benefit from it like she does with the other 5-star options.

Ganyu also has some great 4-star options; The Viridescent Hunt and Blackcliff Warbow will boost her CRIT Rate and DMG respectfully, whilst also having useful passives. However, her best 4-star weapon is the Prototype Crescent: it’s F2P friendly, and with high Refinement it boosts her Charged Attack DMG massively – up to 72%. At max Refinement, it can even outclass the 5-star weapons. Ganyu can also make use of another craftable Bow, Hamayumi, although Prototype Crescent is generally the better option.

Ganyu Best Artifacts

Ganyu’s best Artifacts largely depend on what kind of team composition you’ll be using her in. There are two team comps where she truly shines: a Melt team and a Freeze team.

For a Melt team, she works best with 4-Piece Wanderer’s Troupe. This increases her Elemental Mastery which is great for Melt reactions, and it also boosts her Charged Attack DMG by 35%. 4-Piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence can also work well, although Ganyu benefits more from the extra Elemental Mastery from the Wanderer’s set.

For a Freeze team 4-Piece Blizzard Strayer is what you’ll want to go with. It will increase her Cryo DMG by 15%, and also increase her CRIT Rate against enemies affected by Cryo significantly – which works great against Frozen enemies.

If your Ganyu isn’t constrained to a particular team comp, however, then the safe, general option is 4-Piece Wanderer’s Troupe. Likewise, 4-Piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence is also viable.

For low-level players, 4-Piece Martial Artist works well until you’re able to get higher level Artifacts.

For your Artifact main stats, you will want to run:

  • ATK% Sands
  • Cryo DMG Bonus Goblet
  • CRIT DMG/Rate Circlet

In terms of Artifact substats, you’ll want to focus on ATK%, Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery and both CRIT DMG and CRIT Rate. However, Ganyu has a handy passive talent, Undivided Heart, which reads:

After firing a Frostflake Arrow, the CRIT Rate of subsequent Frostflake Arrows and their resulting bloom effects is increased by 20% for 5s.

This means you can actually run your Ganyu with less CRIT Rate than usual, with 30% – 40% being viable. In doing this you’ll be able to focus more on her CRIT DMG, which is how you’ll be hitting big numbers with her.

How to Use Ganyu

Her Elemental Skill, Trail of the Quilin, leaves a single Ice Lotus behind while Ganyu dashes backwards, dealing AoE Cryo DMG. The Ice Lotus taunts enemies and attracts their attacks. Its endurance scales based on Ganyu’s Max HP, and blooms when destroyed or once its duration ends, dealing AoE Cryo DMG.

Her Elemental Burst, Celestial Shower, continuously rains down shards of ice, striking opponents within an AoE and dealing Cryo DMG.

She has a unique mechanic with her Charged Attacks. While aiming, an icy aura will accumulate on the arrow. This has different effects based on how long you hold her Charged Attack before firing. At Charge Level 2, Ganyu fires off a Frostflake Arrow that deals Cryo DMG. The Frostflake Arrow blooms after hitting its target, dealing AoE Cryo DMG. It should be noted that this instance of AoE Cryo DMG scales massively, which is where the majority of her overall DMG output comes from.

As previously mentioned, there are two particular team comps where Ganyu can be used to the fullest. For a Melt comp, you’ll want to team her with a Pyro character to activate Melt, with the best contender being Xiangling. The other two slots largely depend on what characters you have; Bennett will work great to buff and heal, whilst also activating Pyro Resonance which will increase your team’s ATK, and act as a battery for Xiangling.

An Anemo character like Kazuha, Venti or Sucrose with 4-Piece Viridescent Venerer will decrease your opponent’s Elemental Res to a Swirled element, meaning your DMG output will be higher. Shenhe is also a viable support option, as she will increase Ganyu’s Cryo DMG. You’ll want to keep Ganyu on-field the majority of the time, only switching out to activate your other characters’ Skills or Bursts, and using Ganyu’s Charged Attacks, holding them until you get to Charge Level 2. By pairing her Charged Attacks with Xiangling’s Pyro Skill and Burst, you’ll deal large Melt DMG.

Alternatively, a Freeze team featuring Ganyu will need another Cryo unit to activate Cryo Resonance and to act as a battery for her, a Hydro character to Freeze enemies, and an Anemo character to spread Cryo and Hydro. Ayaka, Diona or Shenhe work great as Cryo units, whilst Mona and Kokomi are some of the better Hydro options, since their Hydro abilities persist while they are off-field. Kazuha, Venti or Sucrose are your best Anemo options. In this comp, you’ll be applying Hydro to your enemies and Swirling them, before applying Cryo with Ganyu’s Skill, Burst and Charged Attacks.


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