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Should You Pull for Yelan or Kokomi in Genshin Impact? A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing which character to pull for in Genshin Impact can be a daunting task, especially with the limited resources available to most players. Yelan and Kokomi are both exceptionally strong Hydro characters, but they fulfill different roles and excel in different team compositions. The short answer: pull for Yelan if you prioritize high off-field damage and flexible team options, or pull for Kokomi if you need a reliable healer, Hydro applicator, and someone who can enable unique team archetypes like Bloom or Electro-Charged. Let’s break down the specifics to help you make the best decision for your account.

Yelan: The Hydro DPS Powerhouse

Understanding Yelan’s Strengths

Yelan is primarily an off-field DPS character who deals significant Hydro damage through her Elemental Burst, Depth Clarion Dice. This Burst creates coordinated attacks that follow your active character, mimicking Xingqiu’s Rain Swords but with potentially higher damage output. Yelan’s damage scales with HP, making her relatively easy to build, and her Elemental Skill, Lingering Lifeline, is excellent for quickly applying Hydro and navigating the overworld.

High Off-Field Damage: Yelan’s primary role is to provide consistent and substantial damage without needing to be on the field.
Hydro Application: Her Burst and Skill allow for reliable Hydro application, enabling reactions like Vaporize, Electro-Charged, and Bloom.
Damage Buff: Yelan’s A4 passive increases the active character’s damage based on how long her Burst is active, providing a valuable damage boost.
Flexibility: Yelan fits into a wide variety of teams due to her off-field damage and Hydro application, making her a versatile unit to have.

Considering Yelan’s Weaknesses

While Yelan is incredibly powerful, she does have some drawbacks to consider.

Energy Recharge Needs: Yelan requires a significant amount of Energy Recharge to consistently use her Burst off cooldown, especially at lower constellations.
Weaker Hydro Application Than Xingqiu in Some Scenarios: While generally strong, her Hydro application can be less consistent than Xingqiu’s in specific situations, particularly against single targets.
Limited Utility Outside of Damage and Hydro Application: Yelan primarily focuses on damage and application, lacking defensive utility like shields or significant healing.

Kokomi: The Unparalleled Healer and Hydro Enabler

Delving Into Kokomi’s Strengths

Kokomi is a Hydro catalyst user renowned for her exceptional healing capabilities and consistent Hydro application. Her Elemental Skill, Kurage’s Oath, summons a jellyfish that heals active characters and applies Hydro to nearby enemies. Her Elemental Burst, Nereid’s Ascension, enhances her Normal and Charged Attacks, increases her resistance to interruption, and further boosts her healing.

Unmatched Healing: Kokomi’s healing is unparalleled, ensuring your team’s survival in even the most challenging content.
Consistent Hydro Application: Her jellyfish provides continuous Hydro application, making her ideal for enabling reactions like Bloom, Electro-Charged, and Freeze.
On-Field DPS Potential: While not her primary role, Kokomi can function as an on-field DPS during her Burst, dealing significant damage, especially with the Ocean-Hued Clam artifact set.
Resilience and Survivability: Her high HP and healing capabilities make her incredibly tanky and resistant to damage.

Recognizing Kokomi’s Weaknesses

Despite her strengths, Kokomi also has a few limitations.

Cannot Crit: Kokomi’s passive talent prevents her from dealing critical hits, limiting her damage potential compared to crit-based DPS characters.
Limited Damage Outside of Burst: Her damage outside of her Burst is relatively low, making her less effective when her Burst is on cooldown.
Niche Team Compositions: While versatile, Kokomi excels in specific team compositions like Bloom and Electro-Charged, which may not appeal to all players.

Yelan vs. Kokomi: Which One Should You Choose?

The decision between Yelan and Kokomi depends on your current account needs and playstyle preferences.

If you need a strong off-field DPS and Hydro applicator for Vaporize, Electro-Charged, or Hyperbloom teams: Choose Yelan. She provides substantial damage and fits seamlessly into many popular team compositions.
If you need a reliable healer, consistent Hydro applicator, and a character who can enable Bloom or Electro-Charged teams: Choose Kokomi. She ensures your team’s survival and allows for unique and powerful team archetypes.
If you already have Xingqiu built: Yelan is a strong upgrade and allows you to run both her and Xingqiu in separate teams.
If you struggle with survivability in the Spiral Abyss: Kokomi can significantly improve your team’s sustain and make clearing difficult content easier.

Ultimately, both Yelan and Kokomi are valuable additions to any Genshin Impact account. Consider your current team compositions, your preferred playstyle, and your account’s specific needs when making your decision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Kokomi work well with Yelan?

Yes, Kokomi and Yelan work exceptionally well together. Their combined Hydro application is excellent for enabling reactions like Electro-Charged or Bloom. Furthermore, Kokomi’s healing ensures Yelan’s survivability, especially since Yelan doesn’t provide any defensive utility herself. They’re a strong core for many team compositions. Pairing Yelan with Sangonomiya Kokomi indeed allows for greater Hydro resonance and survivability.

2. Is Kokomi worth getting if I already have Barbara?

Yes. While both are Hydro healers, Kokomi offers significantly more utility than Barbara. Kokomi provides consistent Hydro application with her jellyfish, can function as an on-field DPS during her Burst, and her healing is generally more reliable and effective than Barbara’s. Kokomi is considered a substantial upgrade.

3. Is Yelan a must-pull character?

Yelan is arguably one of the most valuable characters in Genshin Impact due to her high damage output, versatility, and ease of building. While not strictly a “must-pull,” she is highly recommended for players looking to strengthen their account.

4. Is Kokomi a must-pull character?

For players struggling with survivability or looking to enable specific team compositions like Bloom or Electro-Charged, Kokomi is a highly valuable character. She is not a “must-pull” in the same way as some DPS characters, but her healing and Hydro application make her a strong addition to any roster. Many would consider Kokomi to be arguably among the few characters in Genshin Impact that can be considered a must-pull.

5. What are the best artifact sets for Yelan?

The best artifact sets for Yelan include:

Emblem of Severed Fate: Provides Energy Recharge and increases Burst damage. This is generally considered her best-in-slot.
Tenacity of the Millelith: Boosts HP and increases the party’s ATK. A good option for support builds.
2-piece combinations of HP% and Hydro DMG Bonus: Can be used for a balanced build.

6. What are the best artifact sets for Kokomi?

The best artifact sets for Kokomi include:

Ocean-Hued Clam: Converts healing into damage, making her a viable on-field DPS.
Tenacity of the Millelith: Provides HP and increases the party’s ATK. A good option for support builds.
Heart of Depth: Increases Hydro DMG Bonus. Can be used for a more damage-focused build.

7. Who are Yelan’s best team compositions?

Yelan excels in teams that utilize off-field damage and Hydro reactions. Some of her best team compositions include:

Hyperbloom Teams: Paired with characters like Raiden Shogun or Kuki Shinobu.
Vaporize Teams: Works well with Hu Tao, Diluc, or Yoimiya.
Electro-Charged Teams: Paired with characters like Fischl, Beidou, or Raiden Shogun.
National Team Variations: Can replace Xingqiu in the Raiden National team.

8. Who are Kokomi’s best team compositions?

Kokomi shines in teams that require healing and consistent Hydro application. Some of her best team compositions include:

Bloom Teams: Paired with Dendro characters like Nahida, Alhaitham, or Collei.
Electro-Charged Teams: Works well with Fischl, Beidou, or Raiden Shogun.
Freeze Teams: Paired with Cryo characters like Ayaka, Ganyu, or Shenhe.
Mono-Hydro Teams: Focuses on maximizing Hydro damage with characters like Yelan and Xingqiu.

9. Is Yelan better than Xingqiu?

Yelan is generally considered a sidegrade to Xingqiu. She offers higher damage potential but requires more Energy Recharge. Xingqiu provides better defensive utility and more consistent Hydro application in some scenarios. Having both is ideal, as they can be used in separate teams. Yelan is widely known as the substitute for Xingqiu in Genshin Impact.

10. Can Kokomi be a DPS?

Yes, Kokomi can function as an on-field DPS during her Burst, especially when using the Ocean-Hued Clam artifact set. While she cannot crit, her consistent Hydro application and healing make her a surprisingly effective DPS option. Kokomi has different ways to help the party as an on-field DPS.

11. What are Yelan’s weaknesses?

Yelan’s weaknesses include her high Energy Recharge requirements, weaker Hydro application compared to Xingqiu in some situations, and lack of defensive utility. Needs Energy Recharge to perform.

12. What are Kokomi’s weaknesses?

Kokomi’s weaknesses include her inability to crit, limited damage outside of her Burst, and niche team compositions.

13. Is Kokomi good for F2P players?

Yes, Kokomi is an excellent choice for F2P players due to her healing capabilities and consistent Hydro application. She allows for more forgiving gameplay and enables team compositions that don’t rely on expensive or difficult-to-obtain characters.

14. What weapon should I use on Yelan?

Good weapon choices for Yelan include:

Aqua Simulacra (5-star): Her signature weapon, providing high HP and damage.
Elegy for the End (5-star): Provides Energy Recharge and buffs the party.
Favonius Warbow (4-star): Provides Energy Recharge and generates energy for the team. This is her most popular Abyss weapon.
Fading Twilight (4-star): A good F2P option that provides damage buffs.

15. Is it better to pull for Yelan or wait for another character?

The decision to pull for Yelan or wait for another character depends on your current account needs and future character releases. If you need a strong off-field DPS and Hydro applicator, Yelan is an excellent choice. However, if you have other priorities or are waiting for a specific character, it may be better to save your Primogems. You can learn more about games and education at the Games Learning Society: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Should I pull for Yelan or Kokomi?