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Is Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers Good for Baizhu? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (TTDS) can be a surprisingly good weapon choice for Baizhu, especially in the early to mid-game or for players on a budget. While it might not be his absolute best-in-slot option for all team compositions and end-game min-maxing, its unique buffing capabilities, ease of acquisition, and refinement potential make it a valuable asset for many Baizhu builds. The key lies in understanding how to use it effectively and when its strengths outweigh its limitations.

Understanding Baizhu’s Kit and Needs

Before diving into the specifics of TTDS, it’s crucial to understand what Baizhu brings to a team and what he needs to function optimally. Baizhu is primarily a support character who excels at providing:

Healing: His healing scales directly with his HP.
Shielding: He offers a small, but recurring shield that also scales with HP, providing interruption resistance.
Dendro Application: While not his primary strength, he does apply Dendro, enabling reactions like Bloom, Hyperbloom, Quicken, and Spread.
Buffing: His A4 passive provides damage buffs to characters based on his HP.

Therefore, the ideal Baizhu build focuses on maximizing his HP, ensuring sufficient Energy Recharge to keep his Elemental Burst up, and considering his role in triggering Dendro reactions.

The Appeal of Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers

Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is a 3-star catalyst with a simple yet powerful effect: when the character equipping it switches out, the incoming character gains a significant ATK boost (48% at R5) for 10 seconds. This makes it particularly appealing for Baizhu due to several reasons:

Ease of Acquisition and Refinement: As a 3-star weapon, TTDS is readily available through gacha pulls, making it easy to obtain and refine to its maximum potential (R5).
ATK Buff: While Baizhu himself doesn’t scale with ATK, boosting the damage output of the team’s main damage dealer is a valuable contribution.
Low Investment: TTDS requires minimal investment in terms of resources and levels to provide its core benefit – the ATK buff.
Synergy with Baizhu’s Playstyle: Baizhu’s typical gameplay involves casting his Elemental Skill and Burst, then quickly switching him out to allow the main DPS to take over. This perfectly aligns with the TTDS’s activation condition.

When Thrilling Tales Shines

TTDS works exceptionally well in teams where a substantial ATK buff can significantly increase the DPS character’s damage. Here are some scenarios where TTDS Baizhu is a viable and effective option:

Hyperbloom Teams: In Hyperbloom teams, the Electro character triggering the Hyperbloom reaction (e.g., Raiden Shogun, Kuki Shinobu) often benefits greatly from increased ATK.
Spread and Aggravate Teams: Similarly, in teams focused on Spread (Dendro) or Aggravate (Electro) reactions, the main damage dealer can utilize the ATK buff to amplify their reaction damage.
Teams with ATK-Scaling DPS Characters: Characters like Alhaitham, Ganyu, or Yoimiya, whose damage scales heavily with ATK, will see a noticeable improvement from the TTDS buff.

Limitations and Alternatives

Despite its advantages, TTDS isn’t always the optimal choice for Baizhu. Here’s why and what alternatives to consider:

HP Loss: TTDS has very low base stats and doesn’t provide any HP, which is crucial for Baizhu’s healing and shield strength.
Short Buff Duration: The 10-second buff duration might not be sufficient for all DPS rotations, especially in teams with longer field time requirements.
No Energy Recharge: Baizhu needs a significant amount of Energy Recharge to consistently use his Burst, and TTDS offers none. This necessitates focusing on Energy Recharge through substats and potentially an Energy Recharge sands.
Better Alternatives: As you progress in the game and acquire better weapons, options like Prototype Amber, Favonius Codex (for Energy Recharge), and Jadefall’s Splendor become more desirable due to their HP scaling, Energy Recharge, and other supporting capabilities.

Optimal Artifacts and Stats for TTDS Baizhu

When using TTDS on Baizhu, prioritize the following:

Artifact Sets:
- Deepwood Memories (4-piece): Excellent for maximizing Dendro damage in reaction-based teams.
- Ocean-Hued Clam (4-piece): Boosts healing and provides additional damage based on overhealing.
- Tenacity of the Millelith (4-piece): Provides a team-wide ATK buff and shield strength increase.
- Two-piece combinations: Mix and match two-piece sets that provide HP, Energy Recharge, or Healing Bonus.
Main Stats:
- Sands: Energy Recharge (if needed) or HP%
- Goblet: HP%
- Circlet: HP% or Healing Bonus (if you have enough HP already)
Substats: Prioritize HP%, Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery, and some Crit Rate/Crit DMG (if using Ocean-Hued Clam).

The goal is to balance sufficient HP for effective healing and shielding with enough Energy Recharge to maintain consistent Burst uptime. If you are struggling to get enough energy, consider using ER/HP/HP.

Summary

Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers can be a very valuable weapon for Baizhu, particularly in the early to mid-game, for free-to-play players, or in specific team compositions where the ATK buff significantly benefits the main DPS. It is easily accessible, cheap to refine, and requires very low investment. However, its lack of HP and Energy Recharge necessitates careful artifact selection and team building. As you progress and acquire better weapons, consider transitioning to options that provide more comprehensive support capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers on Baizhu

1. Does TTDS’s ATK buff affect Baizhu’s healing or shield strength?

No, the ATK buff from TTDS does not affect Baizhu’s healing or shield strength. His healing and shield scale exclusively with his HP. The ATK buff only affects the damage output of the character receiving the buff.

2. How much Energy Recharge does Baizhu need with TTDS?

The amount of Energy Recharge Baizhu needs varies depending on the team composition and enemy energy particle generation. Generally, aim for at least 180% to 220% Energy Recharge to ensure consistent Burst uptime. You can also reduce this requirement slightly if you have another Dendro character in the team.

3. Is Prototype Amber always better than TTDS for Baizhu?

Prototype Amber is generally a better all-around choice for Baizhu as it provides HP, heals the team after using his Burst, and regenerates energy for himself. However, in teams where the ATK buff from TTDS provides a more significant damage increase than the extra healing and energy from Prototype Amber, TTDS can still be a viable option.

4. Can TTDS Baizhu work in a Nilou Bloom team?

TTDS Baizhu can work in a Nilou Bloom team, but it might not be optimal. In Nilou Bloom teams, the primary focus is on maximizing Elemental Mastery and HP on your bloom triggers. While the ATK buff can still benefit other characters in the team, prioritizing a weapon that provides HP or Elemental Mastery would be preferable.

5. What is the ideal rotation for using TTDS on Baizhu?

The ideal rotation involves casting Baizhu’s Elemental Skill and Burst, then immediately switching to the character you want to buff with the TTDS effect. This ensures that the incoming character receives the ATK buff for the duration of their field time.

6. Does the TTDS buff stack with other ATK buffs?

The ATK buff from TTDS stacks additively with other ATK buffs from sources like Bennett’s Elemental Burst, Noblesse Oblige artifact set, or other weapon effects.

7. Can the TTDS buff be snapshot?

Yes, the TTDS buff can be snapshot. If a character uses an ability that snapshots their stats (e.g., Xiangling’s Elemental Burst, Beidou’s Elemental Burst) while the TTDS buff is active, the ability will retain the ATK buff for its entire duration, even if the TTDS buff expires.

8. What are some alternative weapons for Baizhu besides Prototype Amber and Jadefall’s Splendor?

Other viable weapon options for Baizhu include:

Favonius Codex: Provides Energy Recharge and generates energy particles for the team.
Everlasting Moonglow: Provides HP and Healing Bonus (Kokomi’s signature weapon).
Hakushin Ring: Provides Energy Recharge and buffs the team’s Electro damage after triggering an Electro reaction.

9. Is it worth leveling TTDS to 90 for Baizhu?

No, it is generally not worth leveling TTDS to 90 for Baizhu. The primary benefit of TTDS is its passive ATK buff, which doesn’t scale with the weapon’s level. The small increase in base stats from leveling it to 90 does not justify the resource investment. Leveling it to 50 or 60 is sufficient.

10. How does TTDS compare to Hakushin Ring on Baizhu teams involving Electro characters?

Hakushin Ring is generally better than TTDS in teams that heavily rely on Electro reactions, as it provides Energy Recharge and directly buffs the Electro damage of the team. However, if you need the ATK buff more than the Electro damage bonus, TTDS can still be a viable option.

11. What substats should I prioritize on my artifacts if I’m using TTDS with Baizhu?

When using TTDS, prioritize the following substats:

HP%: The most important stat for increasing Baizhu’s healing and shield effectiveness.
Energy Recharge: Crucial for ensuring Baizhu can consistently use his Elemental Burst.
Elemental Mastery: Useful if Baizhu is triggering Dendro reactions.
Crit Rate/Crit Damage: Only relevant if using a 4-piece Ocean-Hued Clam set to maximize the set’s damage output.

12. Is Baizhu better with TTDS than Yaoyao?

Whether Baizhu is better with TTDS than Yaoyao depends on your team composition and needs. Yaoyao provides consistent healing and decent Dendro application, but doesn’t offer the ATK buff from TTDS. Baizhu with TTDS can provide both healing and the ATK buff, but may require more investment in Energy Recharge.

13. Can I use TTDS on other support characters besides Baizhu?

Yes, TTDS can be used on other support characters who primarily function as buffing enablers. Examples include Mona, Lisa, or Sucrose.

14. Does the ATK buff from TTDS apply before the character switches in?

No, the ATK buff from TTDS applies after the character switches in. The character who receives the buff is the one who comes onto the field after the character with TTDS is switched out.

15. Where can I learn more about optimizing my Genshin Impact gameplay and team compositions?

You can find valuable resources and communities dedicated to Genshin Impact optimization and team building on various platforms, including online forums, social media groups, and content creator channels. Websites like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org offer insights into the mechanics and strategies behind game design and player behavior, which can further enhance your understanding of Genshin Impact and other games.

Is Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers good for baizhu?