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Is Skyward Harp Good for Amber? A Deep Dive into Genshin Impact’s Outrider

Yes, the Skyward Harp is a very good weapon for Amber in Genshin Impact, though perhaps not her absolute best in every situation. It’s a five-star bow that provides a significant boost to her Crit Rate and Crit Damage, as well as having a high base attack. This allows her to deal more consistent and significant damage, improving her overall performance, especially when built as a DPS or sub-DPS. Its passive effect, dealing AoE physical damage, can also contribute to her overall damage output. Whether the Skyward Harp is optimal depends heavily on your team composition, Amber’s role, and your preferred playstyle. But in general, it’s a fantastic choice.

Understanding Amber’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Before we delve into the specifics of the Skyward Harp, let’s quickly recap Amber’s role and potential in Genshin Impact. Amber, the Outrider of the Knights of Favonius, is often considered one of the weaker characters in the game. This perception often stems from her kit’s limitations and the relatively high investment required to make her truly shine. However, with the right build and team composition, Amber can be surprisingly effective, especially in specific roles:

Main DPS: With constellations and proper gear, Amber can be built as a main damage dealer, leveraging her charged attacks and Elemental Burst.
Sub-DPS/Burst Support: Amber can quickly deploy Baron Bunny for distraction or Pyro application, or use her Burst for consistent Pyro damage over an area.
Puzzle Solver/Utility: Amber’s aimed shots are crucial for lighting torches, triggering mechanisms, and solving puzzles throughout Teyvat.

Knowing these roles helps us understand how the Skyward Harp impacts her performance in each of these situations.

Skyward Harp: A Detailed Look

The Skyward Harp is a five-star bow that boasts the following:

Base Attack: Very High (674 at Level 90)
Secondary Stat: Crit Rate (22.1% at Level 90)
Passive Effect: Increases Crit Damage by 20%. Hits have a 60% chance to inflict a small AoE attack, dealing 125% Physical ATK DMG. Can only occur once every 4s.

These stats make the Skyward Harp appealing to any bow user focused on dealing damage. The high base attack directly increases attack power, a stat that almost every character benefits from. The Crit Rate is invaluable for ensuring consistent critical hits, while the Crit Damage buff further amplifies the impact of those critical hits. The AoE physical damage passive adds an additional layer of damage, which can be helpful for clearing weaker enemies.

How Skyward Harp Benefits Amber

For Amber, the Skyward Harp offers several key advantages:

Increased Damage Output: The most significant benefit is the sheer damage increase. Amber relies heavily on ATK, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage, all of which the Skyward Harp provides in abundance.
Consistent Critical Hits: The Crit Rate secondary stat is crucial for Amber, who often struggles with consistent critical hits without significant investment. The Skyward Harp alleviates this problem, allowing her to deal more reliable damage.
Improved Burst Damage: Amber’s Elemental Burst, Fiery Rain, can deal significant damage if properly built. The Skyward Harp’s Crit stats amplify this burst damage, making her burst more impactful.
Versatility: Whether you’re using Amber as a main DPS focusing on charged shots, or as a burst support deploying Fiery Rain, the Skyward Harp contributes meaningfully to her damage output.

When Skyward Harp Might Not Be the Best Choice

While the Skyward Harp is excellent, there are situations where other bows might be more optimal:

Energy Recharge Needs: If your Amber is primarily focused on being a burst support and needs to frequently cast her Elemental Burst, the Favonius Warbow might be a better choice, given its Energy Recharge secondary stat and particle generation capabilities.
Specific Team Compositions: Some team compositions might benefit more from weapons that buff the entire team, such as the Elegy for the End, even if it means sacrificing some of Amber’s personal damage.
F2P Alternatives: For free-to-play players, weapons like the Prototype Crescent (craftable) can be very strong on Amber, particularly if you are skilled at hitting weak points. The Blackcliff Warbow from the Starglitter Exchange is also a potent choice.

Optimizing Amber’s Build with Skyward Harp

To maximize the effectiveness of the Skyward Harp on Amber, consider the following:

Artifacts: Prioritize artifacts with Crit Rate, Crit Damage, ATK%, and Elemental Mastery substats. Good artifact sets include:
- Wanderer’s Troupe (4-piece): Excellent for charged attack-focused builds, increasing charged attack damage and Elemental Mastery.
- Crimson Witch of Flames (4-piece): Best for maximizing Pyro damage and reactions, especially if you are frequently triggering Vaporize or Melt.
- Noblesse Oblige (4-piece): If Amber is primarily a burst support, this set will buff the entire team’s ATK after using her Elemental Burst.
Talent Priority: Focus on leveling her Elemental Burst and charged attack. Her normal attacks are generally less important.
Team Composition: Pair Amber with characters who can consistently apply Hydro or Cryo to trigger Vaporize or Melt, such as Xingqiu, Yelan, or Rosaria. Bennett is also an excellent teammate, providing ATK buffs and Pyro resonance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Skyward Harp is an excellent weapon for Amber, providing a significant boost to her damage output and versatility. While other weapons might be better suited for specific situations, the Skyward Harp’s raw damage potential and valuable Crit stats make it a top-tier choice for almost any Amber build. If you have the Skyward Harp, it’s definitely worth considering equipping it on Amber, especially if you want to make her a more effective DPS or sub-DPS character. Just remember to consider your team composition and preferred playstyle to optimize her build fully.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Skyward Harp and its effectiveness on Amber:

1. Is Skyward Harp better than Rust for Amber?

Generally, Skyward Harp is better than Rust for Amber, especially if you aim for Crit Rate and Crit DMG ratios. Rust only boosts Normal Attack damage, which isn’t Amber’s primary damage source (charged attacks and burst).

2. What’s the best F2P bow for Amber?

The Prototype Crescent is generally considered the best F2P bow for Amber, especially if you are good at hitting weak points. The crafted Hamayumi is a good choice too.

3. Can Amber be a viable DPS?

Yes, Amber can be a viable DPS, but she requires significant investment in terms of constellations, weapon refinement, and artifact optimization. She is usually better as a sub-DPS.

4. How does Skyward Harp compare to Amos’ Bow for Amber?

Skyward Harp is often preferred over Amos’ Bow for Amber. While Amos’ Bow provides a substantial ATK boost, the Skyward Harp’s Crit Rate and Crit Damage are more valuable for maximizing Amber’s overall damage output.

5. What is the best artifact set for Amber with Skyward Harp?

The Wanderer’s Troupe (4-piece) is generally considered the best for charged attack-focused builds, while the Crimson Witch of Flames (4-piece) is great for maximizing Pyro damage and reactions. Noblesse Oblige is great if you’re using Amber solely for her Burst.

6. Does Amber benefit from Elemental Mastery?

Yes, Amber benefits from Elemental Mastery, especially if you are using her to trigger Vaporize or Melt reactions.

7. What team compositions work well with Amber and Skyward Harp?

Good team compositions include Amber with Xingqiu/Yelan (for Vaporize), Rosaria/Kaeya (for Melt), and Bennett (for ATK buff and Pyro resonance).

8. What are Amber’s ideal stats with Skyward Harp?

Aim for a Crit Rate of at least 60-70%, a Crit Damage of 150%+, high ATK (2,000+), and some Elemental Mastery (100+).

9. Is Skyward Harp worth pulling for Amber?

It depends on your priorities. If you specifically want to main Amber and have the resources, Skyward Harp is a worthwhile investment. However, if you have other characters who can benefit more from it, prioritize them first.

10. How does Skyward Harp affect Amber’s Baron Bunny?

Skyward Harp does not directly affect Baron Bunny’s damage, as Baron Bunny scales with Amber’s HP and talent level. However, more ATK on Amber can increase Baron Bunny’s explosion damage.

11. Can I use Skyward Harp on other bow characters?

Yes, Skyward Harp is an excellent weapon for many bow characters who rely on Crit Rate and Crit Damage, such as Yoimiya, Fischl (DPS build), and Tighnari.

12. How important are Amber’s constellations?

Amber’s constellations can significantly improve her viability. C2 makes Baron Bunny explode manually, C4 reduces her Elemental Burst cooldown, and C6 increases her and her team’s ATK after using her Burst.

13. What are the best talent levels for Amber with Skyward Harp?

Prioritize leveling her Elemental Burst and charged attack talents. Leveling her normal attack is less crucial.

14. Does Skyward Harp’s passive work well with Amber?

Yes, the Skyward Harp’s passive AoE damage can contribute to Amber’s overall damage output, especially when clearing weaker enemies.

15. What is the best way to test Amber’s damage with Skyward Harp?

Test Amber’s damage against a consistent enemy, such as the Primo Geovishap or a Ruin Guard, and record the damage numbers for her charged attacks and Elemental Burst. Experiment with different artifact sets and team compositions to optimize her build.

Is Skyward Harp good for Amber?