Is It Worth It To Level Up Bennett in Genshin Impact? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, leveling up Bennett in Genshin Impact is absolutely worth it for virtually any player. He is widely considered one of the best support characters in the game due to his incredible healing and massive attack buff provided by his Elemental Burst, Fantastic Voyage. However, the degree to which you level him, and how you build him, depends on your team composition and desired playstyle. This article will delve into the specifics, providing a detailed guide on maximizing Bennett’s potential.
The Core Reason: Fantastic Voyage
Bennett’s claim to fame is undoubtedly his Elemental Burst, Fantastic Voyage. This ability creates an Inspiration Field that provides several benefits:
- Healing: Characters within the field are healed up to 70% HP based on Bennett’s maximum HP.
- Attack Buff: Characters above 70% HP gain a significant attack bonus based on Bennett’s Base Attack.
The key to understanding Bennett’s value lies in the Attack Buff, as it directly scales with his Base Attack. Base Attack is determined by two factors:
- Bennett’s Character Level: The higher Bennett’s level, the more Base Attack he has.
- Weapon Base Attack: The higher the Base Attack of the weapon equipped on Bennett, the larger the buff.
Therefore, leveling Bennett and equipping him with a high Base Attack weapon is crucial to maximizing his effectiveness.
Level 90 or Not? The Great Debate
The question of whether to level Bennett to level 90 is a common point of discussion. Here’s a breakdown:
- Level 90 Benefits: Leveling to 90 provides a small increase to Bennett’s Base Attack compared to level 80 ascended. This translates to a larger attack buff for your team.
- Level 90 Drawbacks: Leveling to 90 requires a significant investment of resources (Mora and Hero’s Wit).
The Verdict: If you primarily use Bennett for his support capabilities (healing and attack buff), leveling to 90 is recommended. The increase in the attack buff is noticeable and valuable, especially in endgame content like the Spiral Abyss. If you are very early in the game, leveling to 80/80 is perfectly fine. However, as you progress and resources become less scarce, prioritizing him for level 90 will provide a noticeable improvement.
Talent Priorities: Fantastic Voyage First
When it comes to talent leveling, focus primarily on Fantastic Voyage (Elemental Burst). This is the source of his healing and attack buff, making it the most impactful talent to upgrade.
- Fantastic Voyage: Level this talent as high as possible, aiming for at least level 8, ideally level 9 or 10.
- Elemental Skill (Passion Overload): This skill has a short cooldown and can generate energy particles. It’s worth leveling up after Fantastic Voyage, especially if you plan to use Bennett as a sub-DPS.
- Normal Attack: Generally, you can ignore Bennett’s Normal Attack talent unless you are building him specifically as an on-field DPS character, which is not his ideal role.
Artifacts: Energy Recharge is Key
Bennett’s ability to consistently use his Elemental Burst is critical. Therefore, Energy Recharge (ER) should be your primary focus when choosing artifacts.
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Set Bonuses:
- Noblesse Oblige (4-piece): This is the standard set for Bennett, providing a team-wide attack buff after using his Elemental Burst.
- Emblem of Severed Fate (2-piece): Provides +20% Energy Recharge. Combine this with a 2-piece set that provides HP or Pyro DMG Bonus.
- Tenacity of the Millelith (4-piece): Works but generally not as good as Noblesse Oblige.
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Main Stats:
- Sands: Energy Recharge (prioritize this) or HP%
- Goblet: HP% (for healing) or Pyro DMG Bonus (if you want to increase his personal damage)
- Circlet: Healing Bonus (for maximum healing) or Crit Rate/Crit Damage (if you want to increase his personal damage)
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Substats: Prioritize Energy Recharge, HP%, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage.
Aim for at least 200% Energy Recharge to ensure you can consistently use his Elemental Burst.
Weapons: Prioritize Base Attack
As mentioned earlier, the attack buff from Fantastic Voyage scales with Bennett’s Base Attack. Therefore, prioritize weapons with the highest Base Attack possible.
- Best Options:
- Aquila Favonia (5-star): Highest Base Attack sword in the game.
- Mistsplitter Reforged (5-star): High Base Attack and Crit DMG substat, but the passive is less relevant for Bennett.
- Skyward Blade (5-star): High Base Attack and Energy Recharge substat.
- Favonius Sword (4-star): Provides Energy Recharge for the entire team, making it an excellent option if you’re struggling with energy.
- Sapwood Blade (4-star): High Base Attack crafted weapon that can buff ATK (requires Dendro reactions).
- Festering Desire (4-star): Event weapon with Energy Recharge substat (if you have it).
Constellations: C1 is the Sweet Spot
Bennett’s constellations can further enhance his abilities, but some are more valuable than others.
- C0 (Base): Bennett is already excellent at C0.
- C1 (Grand Expectation): Removes the HP restriction on the attack buff and increases the buff by 20% of Bennett’s Base ATK. This is his best constellation and significantly improves his support capabilities.
- C2 (Impasse Conqueror): Increases Energy Recharge by 30% when HP is below 70%. Helpful, but not as impactful as C1.
- C3 (Undivided Duty): Increases the level of Fantastic Voyage by 3. A solid increase to his healing and attack buff.
- C4 (Stand By Me): Uses Elemental Skill for a short time while within the Inspiration Field to perform a follow-up attack. Situationally useful.
- C5 (True Explorer): Increases the level of Passion Overload by 3. A small increase to his personal damage.
- C6 (Fire Ventures with Me): Infuses melee weapon characters with Pyro within the Inspiration Field. This constellation is controversial because it can interfere with certain team compositions that rely on elemental reactions other than Vaporize or Melt. Consider carefully before activating C6, as it can limit Bennett’s versatility. However, C6 Bennett is amazing with pyro main dps characters.
Team Compositions: A Universal Support
Bennett’s versatility makes him a valuable addition to almost any team composition. Some popular pairings include:
- National Team: Bennett, Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Raiden Shogun. This is a powerful and popular team composition that utilizes Vaporize and Overload reactions.
- Melt Ganyu: Bennett, Ganyu, Xiangling, and Zhongli (or a shielder). This team focuses on maximizing Ganyu’s Melt damage.
- Mono Pyro: Bennett, Xiangling, Klee/Yoimiya/Hu Tao, and Kazuha. This team amplifies Pyro damage and benefits from Bennett’s attack buff and Pyro resonance.
- Any Team with a Main DPS: Bennett can provide healing and attack buff to almost any main DPS character, making him a flexible addition to your roster.
Bennett as a Sub-DPS?
While Bennett excels as a support, he can also be built as a sub-DPS with the right artifacts and weapons. If you choose this route, focus on Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and Pyro DMG Bonus. However, keep in mind that his primary role is still support, and building him solely for DPS may diminish his overall utility.
Is Bennett Truly “Broken?”
The term “broken” is often used to describe Bennett due to his incredibly powerful healing and attack buff. While he may not be “broken” in the sense of being overpowered to the point of unbalancing the game, he is undoubtedly one of the most efficient and effective support characters available. His impact on team damage and survivability is undeniable, making him a highly sought-after unit for players of all levels.
Final Thoughts
Leveling Bennett is a worthwhile investment for any Genshin Impact player. His healing and attack buff can significantly enhance your team’s performance, making him a valuable asset in a variety of content. Prioritize leveling his Elemental Burst, building Energy Recharge, and equipping him with a high Base Attack weapon to maximize his potential. Whether you choose to level him to 80 or 90, Bennett will undoubtedly be a powerful addition to your team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Bennett worth building even if I have other healers?
Yes! While Bennett provides healing, his primary value comes from his attack buff. Many teams can benefit from both a dedicated healer and Bennett’s buff.
2. What is Bennett’s best weapon for F2P players?
The Favonius Sword is an excellent F2P option due to its Energy Recharge substat and team energy generation. The Sapwood Blade is a very good craftable option too.
3. Does Bennett need Crit Rate/Damage artifacts?
Only if you plan to build him as a sub-DPS. Otherwise, focus on HP% and Energy Recharge for optimal healing and burst uptime.
4. How much Energy Recharge does Bennett need?
Aim for at least 200% Energy Recharge. More is generally better, especially if you’re using him in energy-hungry team compositions.
5. Is C6 Bennett bad?
It depends. C6 infuses melee weapon characters with Pyro within his Burst’s AoE, which can interfere with certain elemental reactions. However, C6 Bennett is amazing with pyro main dps characters. Think carefully before activating his C6.
6. What is the best artifact set for Bennett?
Noblesse Oblige (4-piece) is the most common and generally best set for its team-wide attack buff.
7. Should I level up Bennett’s Elemental Skill?
Leveling his Elemental Skill is beneficial if you want to increase his personal damage and energy generation, but prioritize leveling his Elemental Burst first.
8. Is Bennett better than Xiangling?
They fulfill different roles. Bennett is a healer and attack buffer, while Xiangling is a Pyro sub-DPS. They often work well together.
9. Can Bennett be used as a main DPS?
Yes, but it’s not his optimal role. He’s much more effective as a support character.
10. What teams does Bennett excel in?
National Team, Melt Ganyu, Mono Pyro, and virtually any team that benefits from healing and an attack buff.
11. Why is Bennett so popular?
His healing and attack buff are incredibly efficient and valuable, making him a versatile and powerful support character.
12. Does Bennett need a lot of investment?
While he benefits from high investment (level 90, high talent levels, good artifacts), he’s still effective with minimal investment, making him valuable even for new players.
13. How do I avoid over healing with Bennett?
Bennett heals to 70% HP. If your character is above 70%, he won’t heal them further.
14. Is it worth pulling for Bennett constellations?
C1 is highly recommended. Other constellations are less essential but still provide benefits. C6 is controversial.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and character optimization?
You can find valuable resources and research about game mechanics and learning at the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org.