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Does Kokomi Need Level 90? A Deep Dive into Sangonomiya Kokomi’s Leveling Efficiency

The question of whether to level Sangonomiya Kokomi, the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, to level 90 is a common one among Genshin Impact players. The short answer is: it depends on your specific team composition, resources, and overall goals. Leveling to 90 provides a slight increase to her HP scaling, which benefits both her healing and damage output (especially when using the Ocean-Hued Clam artifact set). However, the resource cost is significant, and the return on investment might not be as high compared to other characters or improvements. Let’s delve deeper to give you a comprehensive answer.

Understanding Kokomi’s Scaling

Kokomi’s unique kit revolves around HP, Healing Bonus, and Energy Recharge. Unlike many DPS characters who primarily scale with ATK, Kokomi’s healing and damage are directly tied to her HP. This makes leveling her to 90 potentially more valuable than leveling an ATK-scaling character.

HP Scaling: Kokomi’s Elemental Skill, “Kurage’s Oath,” summons a Bake-Kurage that heals the active character based on her Max HP. Her Elemental Burst, “Nereid’s Ascension,” further enhances her damage output based on her Max HP, allowing her to deal significant damage during its duration.
Healing Bonus: Increases the effectiveness of her healing, further improving her team’s survivability.
Energy Recharge: Crucial for consistently using her Elemental Burst, enabling her to deal damage and heal the team.

When Leveling to 90 is Worth Considering

Here are scenarios where investing in leveling Kokomi to 90 might be a good idea:

Main DPS Kokomi: If you’re using Kokomi as your primary damage dealer, especially with the Ocean-Hued Clam artifact set, leveling to 90 provides a noticeable increase in damage output. The Ocean-Hued Clam set converts healing into physical damage, making Kokomi’s healing output directly contribute to her DPS. The additional HP from level 90 translates to stronger heals, thus bigger clam procs.
Taser Team Pilot: While the original article mentioned this might be a waste, in certain hyper-invested Taser comps where Kokomi is the on-field driver, the extra survivability and slight damage increase from leveling to 90 can be beneficial, particularly in the Spiral Abyss.
Resource Abundance: If you have plenty of resources and are looking for ways to optimize your team, leveling Kokomi to 90 is a reasonable choice.
Personal Preference: Ultimately, if you enjoy playing Kokomi and want to maximize her potential, leveling her to 90 is a valid decision, regardless of meta considerations.

When Leveling to 90 Might Not Be Necessary

Support Role: If Kokomi is primarily used as a healer and Hydro applicator, the gains from leveling to 90 are less impactful. Her healing is already substantial at level 80, and the extra HP might not be necessary for most content.
Resource Constraints: Leveling characters to 90 is expensive, requiring significant amounts of Mora, experience books, and ascension materials. If you’re struggling to level other important characters or talents, it’s better to prioritize those investments.
Sufficient Healing: If your team already has sufficient healing to comfortably clear content, the additional healing from leveling Kokomi to 90 might be redundant.
Bloom Teams: While Kokomi can trigger blooms, her personal level does not directly affect the bloom damage, as bloom damage is based on Elemental Mastery and level of the character triggering the bloom.

Talents and Artifacts: More Important Investments

Instead of immediately leveling Kokomi to 90, consider investing in her talents and artifacts first.

Talents: Leveling her Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst talents significantly increases her healing and damage output. Prioritize these talents over her Normal Attack.
Artifacts: Equipping her with the right artifact set and stats is crucial for maximizing her potential. The Ocean-Hued Clam set is generally recommended for DPS Kokomi, while Tenacity of the Millelith can be useful for support builds. Focus on HP%, Healing Bonus, and Energy Recharge as main stats and substats.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Kokomi

Here are some frequently asked questions to address common concerns about Kokomi:

Is Kokomi a must-pull character?

Kokomi isn’t necessarily a “must-pull,” but she’s incredibly valuable. Her consistent healing and reliable Hydro application make her a strong addition to many teams, especially those that struggle with survivability.
Does Kokomi need Crit Rate?

No. Kokomi has a -100% Crit Rate passive, making Crit Rate and Crit DMG stats useless on her. Focus on HP%, Healing Bonus, and Energy Recharge instead.
Is Kokomi worth it for beginners?

Yes! Kokomi’s healing makes the game significantly easier, allowing newer players to progress through content more comfortably. She provides a level of “comfyness” similar to Zhongli.
What artifact sets are best for Kokomi?

The Ocean-Hued Clam set is generally the best for DPS Kokomi, as it converts her healing into physical damage. Tenacity of the Millelith can be useful for support builds, providing an ATK buff to the team. Heart of Depth is a viable, but generally less optimal, alternative.
What weapons are good for Kokomi?

The Everlasting Moonglow is her signature weapon and provides the best stats for her. Prototype Amber is an excellent F2P option, offering HP and energy regeneration. Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers can be used to buff the ATK of another team member (though swapping characters can be clunky).
What are good team compositions for Kokomi?

Kokomi excels in Taser teams (with characters like Fischl, Beidou, and Sucrose), Bloom/Hyperbloom teams (with characters like Nahida, Nilou, and Raiden Shogun), and Freeze teams (with characters like Ayaka, Ganyu, and Shenhe). She’s also a great addition to any team that needs a reliable healer and Hydro applicator.
Does Kokomi work well with Dendro?

Absolutely! Kokomi’s Hydro application enables her to trigger Bloom reactions consistently. She’s a key component in Nilou Bloom teams and Hyperbloom teams.
How much Energy Recharge does Kokomi need?

The amount of Energy Recharge Kokomi needs depends on her role and team composition. Generally, aim for around 160-200% Energy Recharge to ensure you can consistently use her Elemental Burst.
Is Kokomi better than Barbara?

Kokomi is generally considered better than Barbara due to her more consistent Hydro application, longer-lasting healing, and ability to deal damage with the Ocean-Hued Clam set. She also doesn’t apply Hydro to the active character when healing, unlike Barbara, preventing you from getting frozen.
Should I focus on HP or Healing Bonus on Kokomi?

Prioritize HP% on the Sands, as it directly increases both her healing and damage. Use a Healing Bonus Circlet to further amplify her healing output.
Is Kokomi’s C1 worth it?

Kokomi’s C1, which grants an extra fish during her burst, is not particularly impactful and is generally not worth pulling for unless you are a dedicated Kokomi main and have resources to spare.
Is Kokomi good for Spiral Abyss?

Yes, Kokomi is excellent for the Spiral Abyss. Her consistent healing allows teams to survive challenging encounters, and her Hydro application is valuable for various team compositions.
Does Kokomi have any weaknesses?

Kokomi’s main weakness is her inability to Crit, which limits her potential as a traditional DPS character. However, the Ocean-Hued Clam set helps to mitigate this weakness by converting her healing into damage.
Can Kokomi be used as a driver in Taser teams?

Yes, Kokomi can be an excellent driver in Taser teams, consistently applying Hydro to trigger Electro-Charged reactions.
Is Kokomi a good character for F2P players?

Yes, Kokomi is a great character for F2P players. Her healing and Hydro application make her a valuable asset to any team, and she can be built effectively with F2P-friendly weapons like Prototype Amber.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision to level Kokomi to 90 depends on your individual circumstances. While the additional HP scaling provides a slight increase to her healing and damage, the resource cost is significant. If you’re using Kokomi as a main DPS or have plenty of resources, leveling her to 90 might be worthwhile. However, if you’re primarily using her as a healer or are short on resources, focusing on her talents and artifacts might be a better investment. Evaluate your needs, resources, and team composition before making a decision.

Does Kokomi need lvl 90?