Is Heart of Depth the Best Artifact Set for Ayato? A Deep Dive

The short answer is: Heart of Depth is generally considered the best artifact set for Ayato when focusing on maximizing his personal Hydro damage output. The 4-piece bonus, which grants a 30% increase to Normal and Charged Attack DMG after using his Elemental Skill, synergizes perfectly with Ayato’s kit, particularly his Kamisato Art: Kyouka, where he unleashes rapid Hydro slashes. However, the optimal choice can depend on your team composition, weapon, and desired playstyle. Let’s delve into the details.

The Power of Heart of Depth

Understanding the Set Bonuses

The Heart of Depth artifact set provides the following bonuses:

• 2-Piece Bonus: Increases Hydro DMG Bonus by 15%.
• 4-Piece Bonus: After using an Elemental Skill, increases Normal Attack and Charged Attack DMG by 30% for 15s.

Why it Works for Ayato

Ayato’s primary damage source comes from his Elemental Skill, Kamisato Art: Kyouka. During this state, he converts his Normal Attacks into rapid Hydro slashes. The 4-piece Heart of Depth bonus directly amplifies this crucial damage window, making it incredibly effective. The 15-second duration aligns well with the duration of Ayato’s Skill, ensuring maximum uptime on the damage boost.

Alternatives and Considerations

While Heart of Depth is a strong contender, other artifact sets can be viable depending on specific scenarios:

• Gladiator’s Finale/Shimenawa’s Reminiscence (2-Piece/2-Piece): Combining two pieces of these sets provides an 18% ATK boost. This is a more general damage increase, potentially beneficial if you lack good substats on your Heart of Depth pieces. It is considered a weaker set because Ayato relies on his Skill damage more than his normal attacks.
• Echoes of an Offering: This set can be effective, but its reliability is somewhat inconsistent due to the RNG nature of its passive.
• Emblem of Severed Fate: This set would provide a boost in energy recharge, which is less important for Ayato, but might still be a consideration if one is seeking to achieve 100% uptime on his burst.
• Noblesse Oblige (4-Piece): While not ideal for Ayato personally, this set can be valuable if no other character in your team is using it, as it provides a 20% ATK buff to the entire team after using an Elemental Burst.
• Vermillion Hereafter (4-Piece): Not ideal as it is tailored for Xiao, but there is a case to be made for its Atk% scaling.

Substat Prioritization

Regardless of the chosen set, substats are crucial. Prioritize the following:

• CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG: Aim for a 1:2 ratio (e.g., 70% CRIT Rate and 140% CRIT DMG).
• ATK%: A significant boost to overall damage.
• Energy Recharge: Helps ensure consistent Burst uptime, though Ayato’s passive talent alleviates some of the ER requirements.
• HP%: Ayato’s Namisen stacks scale with HP, but this is a lower priority than the other stats.

Team Compositions and Weapon Choices

The optimal artifact set can also be influenced by your team composition and weapon choice:

• Vaporize Teams: If Ayato is part of a Vaporize team (with Pyro characters like Xiangling or Bennett), focusing on Elemental Mastery through substats or weapons can be beneficial.
• Taser Teams: In Taser teams (with Electro characters like Fischl or Beidou), Elemental Mastery can also contribute to Electro-Charged damage.
• Weapon Passives: Some weapons, like the Haran Geppaku Futsu (Ayato’s signature weapon), provide specific bonuses that might influence your artifact choices. Other weapons, like the Primordial Jade Cutter, scale with HP, therefore, HP would be a strong consideration for Ayato.

Conclusion

While Heart of Depth is generally considered the best artifact set for Ayato, it is essential to consider your specific team composition, weapon, and substat quality. Experiment with different sets and builds to find what works best for your playstyle. Remember that a well-rounded build with good substats is often more effective than simply chasing the “best” set.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ayato Artifacts

1. Should I prioritize CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG on Ayato?

Aim for a balanced ratio of 1:2 between CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG. A minimum of 50% CRIT Rate is generally recommended.

2. How much Energy Recharge does Ayato need?

The amount of Energy Recharge depends on your team and rotation. Generally, 120-140% Energy Recharge is sufficient, but this can vary. Ayato’s passive, which restores energy when he is off the field, helps to reduce the Energy Recharge needed.

3. Is Gladiator’s Finale a good alternative to Heart of Depth?

Gladiator’s Finale can be a decent placeholder if your Heart of Depth pieces have poor substats. However, Heart of Depth generally provides higher damage potential due to its specific synergy with Ayato’s Elemental Skill. Gladiator’s Finale only increases Atk% and has no added benefit for Hydro DMG, which makes it a less useful artifact.

4. What is the best main stat for each artifact piece?

• Flower: HP (always)
• Feather: ATK (always)
• Sands: ATK% (or Energy Recharge if needed)
• Goblet: Hydro DMG Bonus
• Circlet: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG (whichever helps you achieve the desired ratio)

5. How important is HP on Ayato?

HP is a secondary stat to consider, as Ayato’s Namisen stacks (increased Interruption Resistance and DMG Bonus from Normal Attacks) scale with his max HP during his Elemental Skill. However, it is less important than CRIT stats and ATK%.

6. Can I use a 2-piece Heart of Depth and a 2-piece Noblesse Oblige?

While this combination provides a Hydro DMG Bonus and a Burst DMG Bonus, it doesn’t synergize as well with Ayato’s primary damage source (his Elemental Skill) as the 4-piece Heart of Depth does. Noblesse Oblige can still be useful, so if it would benefit your team, consider using it.

7. Is Elemental Mastery important for Ayato?

Elemental Mastery becomes more important if Ayato is in a Vaporize or Taser team. In these teams, Elemental Mastery contributes to reaction damage.

8. Where can I farm the Heart of Depth artifact set?

The Heart of Depth artifact set can be farmed at the Peak of Vindagnyr Domain in Dragonspine.

9. What is the best F2P weapon for Ayato?

A popular F2P option is the Amenoma Kageuchi. Crafted at the blacksmith, it helps with energy regeneration. The Blackcliff Longsword is a decent option if you have enough Starglitter to purchase it from the shop, the Iron Sting can be a good budget option if you are focusing on Elemental Reactions.

10. How does Ayato’s signature weapon, Haran Geppaku Futsu, affect artifact choices?

The Haran Geppaku Futsu provides a CRIT Rate substat and a passive that increases Normal Attack DMG. This allows you to focus on CRIT DMG and ATK% in your artifact substats.

11. Is Ayato good as a main DPS?

Yes, Ayato excels as a main DPS due to his consistent Hydro application and high damage output during his Elemental Skill.

12. What are some good team compositions for Ayato?

• Vaporize: Ayato, Xiangling, Bennett, Kazuha/Sucrose
• Taser: Ayato, Fischl/Beidou, Sucrose/Kazuha, Healer (e.g., Kokomi)
• Freeze: Ayato, Ganyu/Ayaka, Venti/Kazuha, Diona/Kokomi

13. Should I level up Ayato’s Normal Attack talent?

Leveling up Ayato’s Elemental Skill is more important than leveling up his Normal Attack talent. His skill is a great source of DPS while his normal attacks do not matter as much.

14. How much ATK should I aim for on Ayato?

There’s no fixed number, but aim for a good balance with your CRIT stats. Generally, around 2,000 ATK is a decent benchmark.

15. Is Ayato worth pulling?

Yes, Ayato is a strong and versatile Hydro DPS character who can fit into various team compositions. He is a worthwhile addition to any Genshin Impact roster. To further enhance your understanding of game design and learning principles, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.