Is Burning Dendro Damage? Unpacking Genshin Impact’s Burning Reaction
Yes, burning is unequivocally Dendro damage in Genshin Impact. When Dendro interacts with Pyro, the Burning reaction is triggered, dealing continuous Pyro damage over time (DoT) to enemies within the affected area. This Pyro damage is considered Dendro-related because it originates from the initial Dendro application. The scaling of the Burning reaction is based on the character’s Elemental Mastery (EM) and character level.
Understanding the Burning Reaction in Detail
The Burning reaction is one of the fundamental Elemental Reactions involving Dendro. Unlike reactions like Vaporize or Melt, which deal a single burst of damage, Burning inflicts damage continuously for a set duration. The intensity and duration of this damage depend on several factors, making it a more nuanced reaction to understand than some of its counterparts.
Mechanics of the Burning Reaction
When Dendro is applied to an enemy already affected by Pyro, or vice versa, the Burning reaction initiates. This reaction creates a small area on the ground infused with Pyro. Any enemy standing within this area will take continuous Pyro damage. Crucially, this Pyro damage is boosted by the Elemental Mastery and level of the character who triggered the initial reaction. The duration of the Burning effect can vary, influenced by the amount of Dendro and Pyro applied.
Scaling and Factors Affecting Burning Damage
The damage output of the Burning reaction isn’t determined by attack or critical hit stats. Instead, it’s directly tied to:
- Character Level: Higher character levels result in significantly higher base damage for transformative reactions like Burning.
- Elemental Mastery (EM): EM boosts the damage dealt by the Burning reaction. The higher the EM, the more potent the reaction becomes.
- Enemy Resistance: Enemies have varying levels of resistance to different elements. An enemy’s Pyro resistance will reduce the damage dealt by Burning.
- Reaction DMG Bonus: Certain artifacts and character talents can provide a Reaction DMG Bonus, which increases the damage of transformative reactions.
Applications of the Burning Reaction
The Burning reaction has its uses, although it’s not always the most efficient reaction for dealing massive damage in a short time. It’s more suited for:
- Area of Effect (AoE) Damage: The Burning area can affect multiple enemies simultaneously, making it useful in situations with clustered foes.
- Sustained Damage: While not dealing huge numbers, the continuous Pyro damage of Burning can chip away at enemy health over time.
- Setting up other reactions: The lingering Pyro application can be used to trigger further reactions like Vaporize with Hydro, or Overload with Electro.
Drawbacks of the Burning Reaction
Despite its potential, Burning has some drawbacks:
- Low Initial Damage: The initial damage of the Burning reaction is relatively low compared to reactions like Vaporize or Melt.
- Interruptible Duration: The duration of the Burning effect can be shortened if the enemy is afflicted with another element that reacts with Pyro, such as Hydro removing the Pyro aura.
- Self-Infliction: Players should be cautious, as characters can also take Burning damage if they stand within the affected area. This can be especially problematic in close-quarters combat.
- Dendro Core Consumption: If the enemy is also affected by Hydro, the Burning reaction can trigger Burgeon, consuming the Dendro Core.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Burning in Genshin Impact
1. Does Burning scale with ATK or Crit?
No, Burning damage doesn’t scale with ATK or Crit. It scales with character level, Elemental Mastery, and enemy resistance.
2. Which characters are best for triggering Burning?
Characters with high Elemental Mastery and reliable Dendro or Pyro application are ideal. Examples include Nahida (Dendro), Bennett (Pyro), Xiangling (Pyro), and Collei (Dendro).
3. How does Burning interact with Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Burgeon?
If Hydro is also present, Burning can trigger Burgeon by consuming the Dendro Cores produced by the Bloom reaction. Hyperbloom is triggered when Electro reacts with a Dendro Core.
4. Can Burning be used to create other reactions?
Yes. The persistent Pyro aura applied by Burning can be used to trigger reactions like Vaporize with Hydro, Melt with Cryo, and Overload with Electro.
5. Is it possible to increase the duration of Burning?
Applying more Dendro and Pyro can extend the duration of the Burning effect, up to a certain limit governed by the game’s internal cooldown (ICD) system.
6. How does Burning work against shielded enemies?
Burning can chip away at shields, but it’s not the most effective method. Reactions like Overload and Shatter are generally better for breaking shields quickly.
7. Does Burning damage interrupt enemy actions?
The Burning damage itself doesn’t usually interrupt enemy actions. Reactions like Overload and Superconduct are more effective for staggering enemies.
8. Is Burning viable in the Spiral Abyss?
Burning can be viable in certain Spiral Abyss floors, particularly against enemies weak to Pyro or when used strategically to set up other reactions. However, it’s often outperformed by other reaction-based teams.
9. What Artifact sets are good for boosting Burning damage?
Artifact sets that increase Elemental Mastery are beneficial, such as Gilded Dreams and Flower of Paradise Lost. The Instructor set can also provide a team-wide EM buff.
10. Can Burning damage affect players?
Yes, characters can take Burning damage if they stand within the Burning area created by the reaction.
11. How is the Burning reaction affected by enemy elemental resistance?
Enemies with high Pyro resistance will take less damage from the Burning reaction. Conversely, enemies with low Pyro resistance will take more damage.
12. What is the difference between Burning and Overload?
Burning is a continuous damage-over-time effect caused by Dendro and Pyro, while Overload is a single instance of Pyro damage with a knockback effect caused by Pyro and Electro.
13. Does the order of applying Dendro and Pyro matter?
The order doesn’t significantly change the outcome. Whether you apply Dendro first then Pyro, or vice versa, the Burning reaction will still be triggered.
14. How can I maximize Burning damage output?
Focus on increasing the character’s level and Elemental Mastery. Also, consider team compositions that can provide EM buffs and reduce enemy Pyro resistance.
15. Is Burning a transformative or additive reaction?
Burning is a transformative reaction, meaning its damage scales primarily with character level and Elemental Mastery, not with ATK or Crit.