Keqing vs. Razor: Who Reigns Supreme in Genshin Impact?

The age-old question – Keqing or Razor? – continues to plague Genshin Impact players. The answer, as with most things in Teyvat, is nuanced and depends heavily on your playstyle, team composition, and investment level. Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, offers a fast-paced, electro-infused combat style that shines with the right setup, particularly in Dendro-centric teams. Razor, on the other hand, is a more straightforward, physical damage dealer, exceptionally effective against single targets and relatively easy to build for early to mid-game progression. In short, if you crave high-speed electro reactions and have the resources to invest in her, Keqing is a formidable choice. If you need a reliable physical DPS that’s budget-friendly and can carry you through the early game, Razor is your wolfish warrior.

Deep Dive: Keqing, the Lightning Stiletto

Strengths of Keqing

• High Mobility: Keqing’s Elemental Skill, Stellar Restoration, grants her unparalleled mobility. She can teleport short distances, allowing for quick repositioning and evasion.
• Electro Infusion: Her Skill infuses her weapon with Electro, enabling constant Electro application for reactions like Aggravate, Electro-Charged, and Overload.
• Aggravate Powerhouse: The introduction of Dendro has catapulted Keqing into the meta. Her consistent Electro application makes her a fantastic enabler for Aggravate reactions, dealing significant damage.
• Stylish Gameplay: Let’s be honest, teleporting around the battlefield and slicing through enemies with lightning-fast attacks is incredibly satisfying.

Weaknesses of Keqing

• Stamina Consumption: Keqing’s charged attacks consume a significant amount of stamina. Managing stamina is crucial for maximizing her damage output.
• Reliance on Team Compositions: To truly shine, Keqing needs a well-built team that supports her Electro application and provides necessary buffs and reactions.
• Requires Investment: Keqing’s potential is locked behind investment in talents, artifacts, and potentially constellations.
• Electro Resistance: Some enemies are resistant or immune to Electro damage, which can severely hinder Keqing’s effectiveness in certain situations.

Unsheathed: Razor, the Wolfish Boy

Strengths of Razor

• Easy to Build: Razor is relatively easy to build, making him an excellent choice for new players or those with limited resources.
• Physical Damage Focus: He excels at dealing physical damage, making him effective against a wide range of enemies, even those resistant to elemental damage.
• Superconduct Reactions: Razor’s Electro application allows him to easily trigger Superconduct with a Cryo character, significantly reducing enemy physical resistance.
• Self-Sufficient: Razor’s Elemental Burst increases his attack speed, damage, and Electro resistance, making him a more self-sufficient DPS character.
• F2P Friendly: Many Free-to-Play weapons and artifacts are suitable for Razor

Weaknesses of Razor

• Vulnerable During Burst: While powerful, Razor is vulnerable during his Elemental Burst animation, leaving him open to attacks.
• Physical Damage Fall-Off: As you progress further into the game, physical damage becomes less effective against heavily armored enemies.
• Limited Team Compositions: Razor’s reliance on physical damage limits his team compositions, requiring a Cryo character for Superconduct.
• Less Synergistic with Dendro: As an Electro character, Razor does work with Dendro, however, his lack of constant Electro application means his ability to trigger Aggravate reactions is limited.

Team Compositions: Crafting the Perfect Synergy

• Keqing Team Compositions: Keqing thrives in Aggravate teams. Popular team compositions include:
  • Keqing, Nahida, Fischl, Kazuha: The quintessential Aggravate team.
  • Keqing, Dendro Traveler, Kuki Shinobu, Sucrose: A more budget-friendly Aggravate option.
  • Keqing, Yae Miko, Nahida, Kazuha: A high-damage Aggravate team with significant off-field Electro application.
• Razor Team Compositions: Razor relies on Superconduct to maximize his physical damage. Common teams include:
  • Razor, Kaeya, Rosaria, Bennett: A classic Superconduct team.
  • Razor, Diona, Fischl, Xingqiu: A more defensive and versatile option.
  • Razor, Layla, Mika, Fischl: A team focusing on Physical Damage buffs

Artifacts and Weapons: Gear Up for Success

• Keqing Artifacts:
  • Thundering Fury (4-piece): Amplifies Electro damage and reduces Elemental Skill cooldown.
  • Gilded Dreams (4-piece): Boosts Elemental Mastery and ATK, ideal for Aggravate teams.
  • 2-piece Thundering Fury, 2-piece ATK: A more balanced option.
• Keqing Weapons:
  • 5-star: Mistsplitter Reforged, Primordial Jade Cutter, Haran Geppaku Futsu.
  • 4-star: Lion’s Roar (for Electro-Charged teams), Blackcliff Sword, The Flute.
• Razor Artifacts:
  • Gladiator’s Finale (4-piece): Increases ATK and Normal Attack damage.
  • Pale Flame (4-piece): Boosts Physical DMG and ATK.
  • 2-piece Bloodstained Chivalry, 2-piece Pale Flame: A mixed set focusing on Physical DMG.
• Razor Weapons:
  • 5-star: Wolf’s Gravestone, The Unforged, Skyward Pride
  • 4-star: Serpent Spine (Battle Pass), Blackcliff Slasher, Prototype Archaic, Snow-Tombed Starsilver

The Final Verdict: Who Wins?

Ultimately, the choice between Keqing and Razor depends on your preferences and priorities. Keqing offers a more complex and rewarding gameplay experience, especially in the current Dendro meta, but requires significant investment. Razor is a simpler, more straightforward DPS that is easy to build and can carry you through the early game. Both characters are viable options, and the best choice depends on your individual circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Keqing worth pulling for? Generally, it’s not recommended to specifically pull for Keqing since she’s a standard banner character. She can spook you on any banner. However, if you enjoy her playstyle and have the resources to invest in her, she can be a very strong DPS.

2. Is Keqing the strongest DPS? No, Keqing is not considered the strongest DPS in the game. However, she’s a very viable DPS, especially in Aggravate teams.

3. Who is best with Keqing? Nahida, Fischl, and Kazuha form a powerful team with Keqing, maximizing Aggravate reactions and damage amplification.

4. Why is Keqing so good? Keqing’s consistent Electro application, high mobility, and synergy with Dendro make her a potent DPS character.

5. Is Razor still worth building? Yes, Razor is still worth building, especially for new players or those looking for a budget-friendly physical DPS. He excels in the early to mid-game and can clear content effectively with proper investment.

6. What weapon is best for Razor? Serpent Spine (Battle Pass) and Wolf’s Gravestone are excellent choices for Razor. F2P alternatives include Prototype Archaic and Snow-Tombed Starsilver.

7. Why is Keqing considered one of the “worst” DPS? This perception stems from the time before Dendro, when Electro reactions were generally weaker and Keqing’s stamina consumption was a significant drawback. With the advent of Dendro, this has changed.

8. Is Keqing hard to pull? Keqing is a standard banner character, so she doesn’t have her own rate-up banner. She has a chance to appear when you lose the 50/50 on a limited character banner, or on the standard banner.

9. Should I level Keqing to 90? Yes, leveling Keqing to 90 is recommended, especially if you’re using her in Aggravate teams. The increased damage from Aggravate scales with character level.

10. Is Keqing F2P friendly? While Keqing can be played F2P, she requires significant investment to reach her full potential. Using F2P weapon options like the Blackcliff sword can help to maximize her damage.

11. Is Razor a good DPS? Yes, Razor is a good DPS, particularly for early to mid-game progression. His straightforward playstyle and physical damage focus make him a reliable choice for clearing content.

12. Is Razor better than Fischl? It depends on the context. Razor is a main DPS, while Fischl is primarily an off-field support. Fischl is more versatile and can fit into more team compositions.

13. What artifact set is best for Razor? Gladiator’s Finale or Pale Flame are generally considered the best artifact sets for Razor, maximizing his ATK and Physical DMG.

14. What is Keqing’s best 4-star weapon? Lion’s Roar is a great 4-star option for Keqing, especially in Electro-Charged team compositions.

15. What boss does Keqing need? Keqing needs Lightning Prisms, which are obtained by defeating the Electro Hypostasis.

Ultimately, the best way to decide between Keqing and Razor is to try them both out and see which character you enjoy playing more. Both are capable DPS characters, and the most important thing is to have fun! To learn more about the science and theory behind video games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.