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Is Gorou Even Good? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer? Yes, Gorou is good, but his effectiveness is highly specialized. He’s a dedicated Geo support character, excelling in teams that heavily invest in Geo damage. He’s less versatile than some other support options but, in the right team compositions, he provides substantial buffs, making him an indispensable asset. His value hinges on the team’s reliance on Geo damage dealers like Arataki Itto, Noelle, and Navia, and the number of Geo characters within the team.

Gorou: The Dedicated Geo Support

Gorou’s kit is designed to amplify Geo damage. His Elemental Skill, “Inuzaka All-Round Defense,” creates a General’s War Banner, providing various buffs based on the number of Geo characters in the party. His Elemental Burst, “Juuga: Forward Unto Victory,” creates a field that moves with the active character, offering similar buffs and further enhancing Geo damage. Understanding these buffs and how they scale is crucial to assessing his true value.

The Power of Geo Resonance

Before diving deeper, it’s essential to understand the Geo Resonance: “Enduring Rock.” This resonance increases interruption resistance and, when a character is protected by a shield, increases damage dealt by 15%. Gorou amplifies the benefits of this Resonance substantially. A team designed around Geo damage will typically incorporate this resonance, making Gorou’s buffs even more potent.

Understanding Gorou’s Buffs

Gorou’s buffs are layered, but the core mechanics are relatively straightforward:

One Geo Character: DEF Bonus
Two Geo Characters: Increased Interruption Resistance
Three Geo Characters: Geo DMG Bonus

These buffs scale with Gorou’s talents and, with constellations, become even more impactful. His C6, in particular, grants substantial Crit DMG to Geo characters based on his DEF, solidifying his position as a top-tier Geo support.

When Gorou Shines: Geo Main DPS Teams

Gorou truly shines in teams built around a Geo Main DPS. Arataki Itto teams are perhaps the most well-known example. Itto, as a powerful on-field damage dealer, benefits immensely from the DEF bonus, Interruption Resistance, and Geo DMG Bonus provided by Gorou. The same holds true for Noelle, especially at C6, where she transforms into a powerful Geo Hypercarry. Navia also sees a significant damage increase with Gorou’s buffs.

Beyond Itto and Noelle: Other Geo Synergies

While Itto and Noelle are the most common beneficiaries, Gorou also synergizes well with other Geo characters. Ningguang can benefit from the Geo DMG Bonus and Interruption Resistance. Even Geo Traveler can be a viable option, especially with the Geo Resonance providing additional damage. Furthermore, the release of Navia has further cemented Gorou’s value as a potent Geo support.

The Limitations: Non-Geo Teams

The biggest drawback to Gorou is his lack of versatility. If your team doesn’t rely heavily on Geo damage, Gorou offers little to no value. His buffs are exclusively tailored for Geo characters, making him ineffective in teams focusing on Elemental Reactions or other damage types. This specialization significantly limits his overall usage compared to more general supports like Bennett or Xingqiu.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gorou

Here are some common questions about Gorou, designed to help you understand his strengths, weaknesses, and optimal usage:

1. What are Gorou’s best weapons?

Favonius Warbow: The most common and arguably the best choice, providing energy for the entire team, solving Gorou’s own energy needs.
Elegy for the End: Another viable option if your team needs more Elemental Mastery.
Sacrificial Bow: Can be used for extra Elemental Skill uses, but the Favonius Warbow is generally preferred.
The weapon’s Base Attack is less important than its substat or passive effect, focusing on Energy Recharge.

2. What are Gorou’s best artifact sets?

4-Piece Husk of Opulent Dreams: Increases his DEF, further boosting the effects of his buffs and constellations.
4-Piece Noblesse Oblige: Provides an ATK buff to the entire team, but is typically better suited on another character.
4-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate: Helps Gorou meet his Energy Recharge requirements.
A mix of 2-Piece Husk of Opulent Dreams and 2-Piece Defender’s Will can also be viable early on.

3. What artifact stats should I prioritize on Gorou?

Energy Recharge (Sands): Absolutely essential to ensure consistent uptime on his Elemental Burst.
DEF% (Goblet): Increases the effectiveness of his C6 and overall survivability.
Crit Rate or Crit DMG (Circlet): If using Favonius Warbow, Crit Rate is important to trigger its passive. Otherwise, DEF% or Healing Bonus can be used.
Substats: Energy Recharge, DEF%, Crit Rate/DMG.

4. How important are Gorou’s constellations?

C0: Functional but limited.
C1: Reduces Elemental Skill cooldown, improving Energy Recharge.
C2: Extends the duration of his Elemental Burst, increasing uptime.
C4: Provides healing based on his DEF, adding survivability.
C6: Crit DMG bonus for Geo characters based on his DEF. Extremely important and transformative. C6 significantly boosts the damage output of any Geo DPS.

5. What is Gorou’s ideal team composition?

A typical team includes a Geo Main DPS (Itto, Noelle, Navia), Gorou, Albedo/Yunjin/Geo MC, and a flex slot (usually a healer or shielder). The exact composition depends on your character roster and preferred playstyle.

6. Is Gorou better than Bennett?

In Geo teams, Gorou is superior due to his specialized Geo buffs. In most other teams, Bennett is generally better due to his ATK buff and healing. It’s team-dependent.

7. Is Gorou worth pulling for if I don’t have Itto or Noelle?

If you plan to build a Geo team around Navia or another future Geo DPS, then yes. Otherwise, he’s likely not worth pulling unless you really like his character design.

8. How do I maximize Gorou’s Energy Recharge?

Use an Energy Recharge weapon like Favonius Warbow.
Prioritize Energy Recharge substats on artifacts.
Run another Geo character in the team to generate Geo particles.
Ensure Gorou is on-field to collect particles after using his Elemental Skill.

9. Can Gorou be used in Spiral Abyss?

Yes, especially on floors with enemies weak to Geo or when using a Geo-focused team. His buffs can significantly increase the damage output of your Geo DPS, allowing you to clear floors faster.

10. How does Gorou compare to other Geo supports like Yunjin?

Gorou is specifically designed for Geo damage, while Yunjin buffs Normal Attacks. They can sometimes be used together, especially with Normal Attack-oriented Geo characters, but they fill different roles.

11. What Talents should I prioritize leveling on Gorou?

Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst should be leveled equally as both contribute significantly to his buffing capabilities. His Normal Attack can be ignored.

12. How does Gorou interact with Geo shields?

Gorou’s buffs and the Geo Resonance work synergistically to increase damage dealt while protected by a shield, further amplifying the effectiveness of Geo teams.

13. Is Gorou viable at C0?

Yes, but his full potential is unlocked at C6. He provides valuable buffs even at C0, but his constellations significantly enhance his support capabilities.

14. What are some common Gorou team building mistakes?

Using him in a non-Geo team.
Ignoring his Energy Recharge requirements.
Not taking advantage of the Geo Resonance.
Underestimating the impact of his constellations.

15. Should I use Gorou with Navia?

Yes, absolutely! Navia benefits greatly from Gorou’s buffs, particularly at C6. He is one of her best support options.

In conclusion, Gorou is a powerful and highly specialized Geo support character. While his effectiveness is limited to Geo teams, he excels in that niche, providing substantial buffs and enabling Geo DPS characters to reach their full potential. If you’re invested in Geo characters like Itto, Noelle, or Navia, Gorou is an invaluable addition to your roster. However, if you primarily use other damage types, his value will be significantly diminished. Consider your team composition and playstyle before deciding to invest in Gorou.

Is Gorou even good?