Unveiling Genshin Impact’s Damage Dealing Champion: Which Reaction Reigns Supreme?

The question of which elemental reaction in Genshin Impact deals the most damage is a common one, fraught with nuance and heavily dependent on team composition, character builds, and enemy types. However, to cut to the chase: Hyperbloom, when executed correctly, currently stands as the reaction capable of the highest sustained damage output in most practical scenarios. Its ease of execution and character-friendly investment needs give it a significant edge. That said, reactions like Melt and Vaporize can achieve higher single instance damage numbers under ideal conditions. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of elemental reactions and break down why Hyperbloom claims the top spot, and the trade offs of other reactions.

The Elemental Reaction Hierarchy

Genshin Impact’s combat system revolves around elemental reactions. These reactions occur when two or more elements are applied to an enemy, creating unique effects that can significantly increase damage output. Understanding these reactions and how they scale is crucial for maximizing your team’s potential. Broadly, reactions can be grouped into Transformative, Amplifying, and Additive types, with each having its own scaling mechanics and suitability for different content.

Amplifying Reactions: Vaporize and Melt

Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro) and Melt (Cryo + Pyro) are the quintessential amplifying reactions. These reactions amplify the damage of the triggering attack by a significant multiplier. Pyro-triggered Melt deals 200% damage, while Pyro-triggered Vaporize deals 150% damage. Conversely, Cryo-triggered Melt and Hydro-triggered Vaporize deal 150% and 200% damage respectively.

These reactions are highly dependent on character stats, particularly Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and Attack/Elemental Mastery. They are often used in “nuke” compositions, aiming for massive single-hit damage numbers. However, their effectiveness can be hindered by the need for precise elemental application and cooldowns.

Transformative Reactions: Overload, Electro-Charged, Superconduct, Swirl, Crystallize, Burning, Bloom, Hyperbloom, Burgeon, Shatter, and Quicken-related reactions

Transformative reactions focus on dealing damage over time, or applying crowd control effects. These reactions scale primarily with character level and Elemental Mastery (EM), making them more accessible for players with limited resources, although investment into other stats can certainly improve performance.

• Overload (Pyro + Electro): Deals AoE Pyro damage with each trigger. Overload has the highest single instance of damage of any Electro transformative reaction. It can knock back smaller enemies which can be disruptive, and its scaling with EM is substantial.
• Electro-Charged (Electro + Hydro): Deals Electro damage over time. Electro-Charged hits twice and arcs between wet enemies, making it effective against groups.
• Superconduct (Cryo + Electro): Deals AoE Cryo damage and reduces Physical Resistance of enemies. Primarily used to support Physical damage dealers.
• Swirl (Anemo + Cryo/Pyro/Electro/Hydro): Deals additional elemental damage and spreads the triggering element to nearby enemies. Swirl is excellent for crowd control and amplifying damage in AoE situations.
• Crystallize (Geo + Cryo/Pyro/Electro/Hydro): Creates elemental shards that provide shields. Primarily used for survivability.
• Burning (Dendro + Pyro): Deals continuous Pyro damage over time.
• Bloom (Dendro + Hydro): Creates Dendro Cores that explode after a short delay, dealing AoE Dendro damage.
• Hyperbloom (Electro + Dendro Core): Transforms Dendro Cores into homing projectiles that deal single-target Dendro damage. Hyperbloom has a 3x multiplier compared to Bloom.
• Burgeon (Pyro + Dendro Core): Causes Dendro Cores to explode immediately, dealing AoE Dendro damage.
• Shatter (Claymore/Geo on Frozen enemies): Deals additional Physical damage. Niche use-case.
• Quicken (Dendro + Electro): Applies the Quicken status to enemies, allowing for Aggravate (Electro) and Spread (Dendro) reactions.
• Aggravate (Electro on Quickened): Amplifies Electro damage.
• Spread (Dendro on Quickened): Amplifies Dendro damage.

Additive Reactions: Quicken, Catalyze, Aggravate, and Spread.

The Dendro element brought a new type of reaction, where the element first applies a debuff to the enemy, allowing additional reactions to add damage to attacks of a specific element. With these reactions, characters that were once thought to be lacking may now have a chance to shine and prove that they’re more than capable.

Why Hyperbloom Reigns Supreme (For Now)

Several factors contribute to Hyperbloom’s dominance:

1. High Damage Potential: Hyperbloom boasts a high damage multiplier scaling with Level and Elemental Mastery. The projectile nature of Hyperbloom allows for consistent single target damage.
2. Ease of Use and Accessibility: The core components of a Hyperbloom team (Dendro application, Hydro application, and an Electro trigger) are relatively easy to assemble. Characters like Nahida, Yelan/Xingqiu, and Raiden Shogun/Kuki Shinobu are easily built using readily available resources.
3. Consistent Damage Output: Unlike Melt or Vaporize, Hyperbloom’s damage output is less reliant on precise timing and rotations. The homing projectiles ensure that damage is consistently applied to the target.
4. Survivability: Many Hyperbloom teams include healers or shielders, providing excellent survivability alongside high damage.
5. Team Flexibility: While certain characters synergize particularly well with Hyperbloom, the core reaction is flexible enough to accommodate various team compositions and playstyles.

Drawbacks of Hyperbloom

Despite its strengths, Hyperbloom is not without its drawbacks:

1. Single-Target Focus: Hyperbloom excels in single-target scenarios, but its effectiveness diminishes in situations with numerous enemies. While the homing projectiles can target different enemies, the overall damage output is less efficient compared to reactions like Swirl or Electro-Charged.
2. Dendro Core Limit: The number of Dendro Cores that can exist simultaneously is limited, which can constrain the overall damage potential.
3. Self-Damage: Dendro Core explosions, and thus Burgeon and Bloom, can cause damage to the active character, necessitating defensive measures. Hyperbloom is safe.
4. EM Scaling: Elemental Mastery is one of the major stats to focus on when building for Hyperbloom. Without decent EM, Hyperbloom will not deal much damage.

The Ever-Evolving Meta

Genshin Impact is a constantly evolving game. New characters, weapons, and artifact sets are regularly introduced, which can shift the balance of power between different elemental reactions. While Hyperbloom currently reigns supreme, it is possible that future updates will introduce new reactions or character kits that dethrone it.

Elemental Mastery vs Attack in Transformative Reactions

The main difference between Elemental Mastery and Attack is that Elemental Mastery affects the damage or healing of the Elemental Reactions that you inflict, while Attack increases the damage dealt by your character’s Normal, Charged, Plunging Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts.

Optimizing Your Team for Maximum Damage

Regardless of which elemental reaction you choose to focus on, optimizing your team is essential for maximizing damage output. This includes:

• Choosing characters with complementary elemental skills and bursts.
• Equipping characters with appropriate artifacts and weapons.
• Leveling up characters and talents.
• Understanding enemy weaknesses and resistances.

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FAQs: Demystifying Elemental Reactions

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the complexities of elemental reactions in Genshin Impact:

1. Which reaction does the most single-target damage?

While Hyperbloom excels in sustained damage, Melt or Vaporize, when perfectly executed, can achieve the highest single-instance damage numbers. This usually involves characters like Hu Tao or Ganyu with high Crit stats and powerful buffs.

2. Which Electro reaction deals the most damage?

Overload has the highest single instance of damage of any reaction, but Electro-Charged can be more powerful against groups of enemies due to its AoE and damage-over-time effects.

3. Is Aggravate or Spread better?

Spread has a slightly higher damage multiplier than Aggravate. However, the choice between the two depends on your team composition and preferred playstyle. It usually depends on whether you have a stronger Dendro character over an electro one, or vice versa.

4. Is Overload bad?

Overload itself isn’t “bad,” but its knockback effect can be disruptive, scattering enemies and making it harder to maintain consistent damage. However, certain team compositions can mitigate this drawback.

5. Why is Nahida the best Dendro character?

Nahida is the best Dendro character due to her exceptional Dendro application, allowing for consistent triggering of Dendro-related reactions. Her Elemental Skill also provides a significant Elemental Mastery buff to the active character.

6. Is Hyperbloom electro or Dendro damage?

Hyperbloom deals Dendro damage. The Electro character simply acts as the trigger, converting the Dendro Core into a homing projectile.

7. How much damage does Aggravate increase?

When Electro is applied on a Quickened enemy, Aggravate occurs. The added damage will be 1.15x the character’s Level Multiplier.

8. What does Quicken and Aggravate do?

Applying Dendro to Electro creates Quicken. Applying additional Electro damage to a character that is affected by Quicken will trigger Aggravate which increases Electro character’s damage.

9. What is Dendro weak to?

Dendro is seemingly weakest to Electro, which triggers the Catalyse, Aggravate, and Hyperbloom reactions. Pyro damage is also effective against Dendro since it triggers the Burning reaction at an expedited rate.

10. Is Raiden Shogun good for Aggravate teams?

Yes, Raiden Shogun can be a strong member of Aggravate teams. Her Electro application and energy recharge capabilities can contribute significantly to the team’s overall damage output.

11. How to make Dendro cores?

Bloom is triggered when you apply Hydro to a Dendro-afflicted target or vice versa, after which a Dendro Core is created.

12. Which is better Hyperbloom or Bloom?

Hyperbloom generally offers higher damage potential than Bloom due to its single-target focus and ease of execution. Bloom requires tighter grouping and is more prone to self-damage.

13. What is the best reaction in Anemo?

Swirl is the best reaction in Anemo, allowing the Anemo character to spread other elements and deal additional damage.

14. Does Electro react with Cryo?

Yes, Electro reacts with Cryo to create Superconduct. This reaction deals AoE Cryo damage and reduces the Physical Resistance of enemies.

15. How does Elemental Mastery affect Transformative Reactions?

Transformative reactions like Hyperbloom scale directly with Elemental Mastery. The higher the triggering character’s Elemental Mastery, the greater the damage dealt by the reaction.

Conclusion

While Hyperbloom is a damage dealing champion, the best reaction ultimately depends on your playstyle, character roster, and the specific challenges you are facing. Experimenting with different teams and reactions is key to finding what works best for you. Remember to adapt to the game’s constant evolution and embrace new strategies as they emerge.