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Yelan vs. Ayato: A Comprehensive Comparison – Who Reigns Supreme?

Ultimately, neither Yelan nor Ayato is definitively “better”; their value hinges entirely on your existing team composition, preferred playstyle, and account needs. Yelan excels as an off-field Hydro applicator and damage dealer, boosting the damage output of your main DPS through her Elemental Burst. Ayato, on the other hand, functions as an on-field Hydro DPS, providing consistent Hydro application and dealing significant damage with his Elemental Skill. The “better” choice is determined by what your roster needs most: off-field support or on-field DPS.

Diving Deeper: Yelan’s Strengths

Yelan truly shines as a sub-DPS and Hydro enabler. Her Elemental Burst, Depth-Clarion Dice, is the cornerstone of her kit. It provides continuous off-field Hydro application that scales with her max HP, triggering reactions like Vaporize and Electro-Charged with remarkable efficiency.

Key Advantages of Yelan:

Exceptional Off-Field Hydro Application: Her Burst allows for consistent Hydro application without needing to stay on the field.
Damage Buffing: Yelan’s A4 passive talent, “Adapt With Ease,” increases your active character’s damage output, making her a potent damage amplifier.
HP Scaling: Yelan’s damage scales primarily with HP, making her relatively easy to build. Focus on HP, Energy Recharge, and Crit stats.
Exploration Utility: Her Elemental Skill allows for fast travel across open-world environments, a significant quality-of-life improvement.
Versatility: She fits into a wide array of team compositions, making her a highly adaptable unit.

Unveiling Ayato’s Power: The Kamisato Art

Ayato is a powerful on-field Hydro DPS who dishes out significant damage during his Elemental Skill, Kamisato Art: Kyouka. This skill infuses his Normal Attacks with Hydro, allowing him to rapidly apply Hydro and deal substantial damage to groups of enemies.

Key Advantages of Ayato:

Consistent Hydro Application: His Elemental Skill allows for reliable and sustained Hydro application for reactions.
High DPS Potential: Ayato can deal impressive damage, particularly in teams focused on enabling Elemental Reactions.
Easy to Play: His simple rotation makes him a relatively straightforward character to pilot effectively.
Good Area of Effect: His Hydro-infused attacks cover a wide area, making him effective against multiple enemies.
Team Flexibility: While he shines in certain team comps, he’s adaptable enough to fill the DPS role in various team compositions.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Yelan vs. Ayato

Here’s a breakdown of the key differences to help you decide:

Feature	Yelan	Ayato
:—————-	:——————————————————————————————————-	:——————————————————————————————————-
Role	Off-Field Sub-DPS, Hydro Enabler	On-Field Hydro DPS
Hydro Application	Consistent, Off-Field (via Burst)	Consistent, On-Field (via Skill)
Damage Scaling	HP	ATK, Crit
Ease of Build	Relatively Easy (focus on HP, ER, Crit)	More Complex (ATK, Crit, Hydro DMG Bonus)
Team Comp	Fits into a wider range of teams, excels with on-field DPS characters	Best suited for teams where he’s the primary on-field DPS
Exploration	Superior exploration utility due to her Elemental Skill	Limited exploration utility
Constellation Value	C1 significantly improves Energy Recharge and QoL; C2 boosts damage; C6 provides a substantial DPS increase.	C2 is generally considered his most valuable constellation; C6 offers a significant personal damage boost.

Team Compositions: Where Each Shines

Yelan Teams: She shines in teams that rely on powerful on-field DPS characters who benefit from her Hydro application and damage buff. Examples include:
- Hu Tao, Yelan, Xingqiu, Zhongli
- Yoimiya, Yelan, Yun Jin, Bennett
- Raiden National (Raiden Shogun, Yelan, Xiangling, Bennett)
Ayato Teams: He excels in teams where he can take the field and consistently trigger reactions with off-field supports. Examples include:
- Taser (Ayato, Fischl, Beidou, Kazuha/Sucrose)
- Vaporize (Ayato, Xiangling, Bennett, Kazuha/Sucrose)
- Freeze (Ayato, Ganyu/Ayaka, Kazuha/Venti, Diona/Kokomi)

Final Verdict

Choose Yelan if you need a versatile off-field Hydro applicator, damage buffer, and have an existing strong on-field DPS. Choose Ayato if you need a reliable on-field Hydro DPS and lack a strong main DPS character. Consider your account’s needs and resources before making a decision. And don’t forget the importance of personal enjoyment! Pull for the character whose playstyle you find more engaging.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Yelan replace Xingqiu?

In some teams, yes, Yelan can functionally replace Xingqiu. However, Xingqiu provides some damage reduction and minor healing, which Yelan lacks. They both excel at Hydro application but offer different supplemental utilities. Some team compositions even benefit from running both!

2. Is Ayato a good main DPS?

Yes, Ayato is a very capable main DPS. His Elemental Skill allows him to consistently deal Hydro damage over a short period. He excels in teams built around enabling reactions like Vaporize or Electro-Charged.

3. What are Yelan’s best artifacts?

The Emblem of Severed Fate artifact set is generally considered Yelan’s best set, providing both Energy Recharge and increased Burst damage. Alternatively, a 2-piece Tenacity of the Millelith and a 2-piece Heart of Depth can also work well, focusing on HP and Hydro DMG Bonus.

4. What are Ayato’s best artifacts?

The Heart of Depth artifact set is a solid choice for Ayato, boosting Hydro DMG Bonus and Normal Attack DMG after using an Elemental Skill. Alternatively, a 4-piece Echoes of an Offering can work with fast ping, or the 4-piece Gladiator’s Finale is a consistent ATK increase.

5. What are Yelan’s best weapons?

Aqua Simulacra is considered Yelan’s BiS (Best in Slot) weapon, but other good options include Elegy for the End, Favonius Warbow (for energy support), and Fading Twilight (free event weapon).

6. What are Ayato’s best weapons?

Haran Geppaku Futsu is Ayato’s signature weapon and his BiS. Other viable options include Primordial Jade Cutter, Mistsplitter Reforged, and Black Sword (Battle Pass weapon). The Blackcliff Longsword is also a good F2P option.

7. Is Yelan free-to-play friendly?

Yes, Yelan is quite free-to-play friendly. Her damage scales primarily with HP, making her easier to build, and she has several viable free-to-play weapon options, such as Favonius Warbow or Fading Twilight.

8. Is Ayato constellation reliant?

Ayato is effective at C0 (no constellations), but his constellations can significantly enhance his damage output and utility. C2 and C6 are generally considered his most impactful constellations.

9. How important is Yelan’s C1?

Yelan’s C1, which provides an additional charge to her Elemental Skill, significantly improves her Energy Recharge and overall quality of life. It makes her less reliant on Energy Recharge substats and allows her to use her Burst more consistently.

10. What talents should I prioritize for Yelan?

Prioritize leveling Yelan’s Elemental Burst (Depth-Clarion Dice) first, followed by her Elemental Skill (Lingering Lifeline). Her Normal Attack talent can be left unleveled.

11. What talents should I prioritize for Ayato?

Prioritize leveling Ayato’s Elemental Skill (Kamisato Art: Kyouka), followed by his Elemental Burst (Kamisato Art: Suiyuu). Leveling his Normal Attack talent is important for maximizing his damage output during his Skill.

12. Can Yelan work well with Ayato?

Yes! Yelan and Ayato can work very well together in certain team compositions. Ayato can provide on-field Hydro application, while Yelan provides off-field Hydro application and damage buffs, creating a powerful Hydro core.

13. Is Ayato a meta character?

Yes, Ayato is considered a strong and versatile character who fits into many meta team compositions. He’s a reliable on-field DPS with consistent Hydro application.

14. What is Yelan’s biggest strength?

Yelan’s biggest strength is her consistent off-field Hydro application coupled with her damage-buffing capabilities, making her an invaluable asset to many teams.

15. How does the Games Learning Society relate to Genshin Impact?

While seemingly disparate, understanding game mechanics and character optimization in Genshin Impact involves strategic thinking, resource management, and problem-solving. These skills are transferable to real-world scenarios, aligning with the principles explored by the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org), which studies how games can be used for educational purposes. You can learn more about it at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Is Yelan better than Ayato?