Genshin Impact: A Deep Dive into Cryo Manipulators

Genshin Impact boasts a diverse roster of characters, each wielding unique elemental powers. Among these, Cryo stands out for its ability to freeze enemies and create powerful elemental reactions. So, which characters in Genshin Impact can manipulate Cryo? The answer is that eleven playable characters in the game are built around this element. These characters are: Ganyu, Ayaka, Eula, Shenhe, Layla, Diona, Qiqi, Rosaria, Kaeya, Chongyun, and Wriothesley. Each of these characters has a unique playstyle, making Cryo a versatile and dynamic element. Let’s explore the world of Cryo manipulation in Genshin Impact.

Understanding Cryo Characters

Cryo characters, in general, are effective in a variety of roles. They are known for their capability to apply Cryo to enemies, triggering powerful reactions like Freeze, Superconduct, and Melt. These reactions, when executed strategically, can significantly boost team damage output. Here’s a closer look at how each of these characters function within the game:

Cryo DPS (Damage Per Second) Characters

These are characters primarily focused on dealing damage through their Cryo abilities:

Ganyu: Widely regarded as one of the strongest Cryo characters, Ganyu excels as a ranged DPS, thanks to her powerful Charged Attacks and her AoE (Area of Effect) Elemental Burst. She is known for her high damage ceiling and crowd control capabilities.
Ayaka: A fast-paced melee DPS, Ayaka is known for her mobility and consistent Cryo application. Her alternate sprint allows her to quickly reposition while applying Cryo, making her incredibly effective at Freezing enemies.
Eula: A Physical DPS who also inflicts Cryo damage, Eula uses her unique kit that centers around a Physical Damage Burst which has strong Cryo infusion through its abilities. She excels at dealing significant damage, especially when combined with Superconduct reactions.
Wriothesley: A unique catalyst DPS who uses Cryo infused punches and kicks to deal melee damage, he is also able to trigger cryo reactions with his abilities.

Cryo Support Characters

These characters focus on applying Cryo and boosting their team through abilities rather than primarily dealing damage:

Shenhe: Shenhe is a dedicated Cryo support character. Her abilities boost the Cryo damage of her teammates and provide additional support by reducing Cryo resistance.
Layla: A shield support character, Layla provides consistent cryo application and great utility as a shielder, offering great support for any team.
Diona: Diona offers both shielding and healing while also applying Cryo, making her a versatile support character. Her healing is crucial for team survival and her Cryo application can be useful for enabling reactions.
Qiqi: Qiqi’s focus is on healing. Although she applies Cryo with her Elemental Skill, it’s generally considered to be weaker compared to other cryo characters, she still remains a reliable healer for those who need it.
Rosaria: Rosaria is a versatile support/sub-DPS character. She can apply Cryo consistently, boost teammates’ Crit Rate with her burst, and work well in various team compositions, especially in melt and physical-based teams.
Chongyun: Chongyun’s Elemental Skill is unique, infusing normal attacks of melee characters with Cryo, making him an effective enabler for Cryo-based reactions, and is known as a strong 4 star Cryo unit.
Kaeya: A starter character who is also capable of applying Cryo consistently. His elemental burst is extremely useful in applying Cryo to multiple enemies, allowing him to be an effective support character, specifically in freeze-based teams.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Cryo characters in Genshin Impact:

1. Is Qiqi a Good Cryo Applicator?

Qiqi is primarily a healer, and while her Elemental Skill applies Cryo, it is generally considered to be weak and inconsistent. Her application is not ideal for setting up consistent elemental reactions, meaning she is generally not used for Cryo application.

2. What Characters Are Best Against Cryo?

The primary element to counter Cryo is Pyro. Most Pyro characters are effective, except for Thoma and Xinyan who have slower Pyro application. Pyro characters are particularly useful against Cryo Regisvine due to their ability to easily break its Cryo core.

3. Is Rosaria a Good Cryo Applicator?

Rosaria is considered an excellent Cryo applicator due to her consistent Cryo application through her abilities, making her versatile in various teams, and she is a strong 4-star Cryo unit.

4. Is Diona a Good Cryo Applicator?

Diona is a solid Cryo applicator. Her Elemental Burst creates a zone that provides healing and applies Cryo. While her Cryo application may not be as explosive as some DPS characters, she is quite capable of applying Cryo for reactions, making her a viable option.

5. Who is the Best Cryo Applicator?

Ayaka is considered one of the best Cryo applicators in Genshin Impact, with consistent cryo application thanks to her dash and infusion.

6. What is Cryo Weak To?

Cryo is primarily weak to Pyro. Using Pyro is the fastest way to break Cryo shields and core elements. Elements like Anemo, Electro and Geo can work, but are much slower than Pyro.

7. Who is the Best 5-Star Cryo Character?

The best 5-star Cryo characters often come down to personal preference and team composition. However, Ganyu, Ayaka, and Eula are often cited as the most powerful, each excelling in different areas, however, Ganyu is often considered one of the best overall.

8. Who is the Best 4-Star Cryo Character?

Many players believe Chongyun is one of the best 4-star Cryo characters because of his ability to enable Cryo infusion on other melee characters, making him a great enabler for various team comps. Rosaria is another 4 star cryo unit that many consider one of the best due to her versatility and damage output.

9. Should I Use Qiqi or Kaeya?

Kaeya is generally preferred over Qiqi for Cryo application. His elemental burst applies Cryo consistently which makes him useful for Freeze or Superconduct reactions, and his damage output is better overall than Qiqi’s.

10. Who is Better, Qiqi or Rosaria?

Rosaria is generally the better choice if you are looking for a support/sub-DPS character. She can apply Cryo consistently and boost teammates’ Crit Rate. Qiqi is a dedicated healer, but her Cryo application is inferior to Rosaria’s.

11. What are some good team comps for Cryo Characters?

Some strong team compositions include:

Permafreeze: Combining Cryo and Hydro characters for constant freezing (e.g., Ayaka, Ganyu, Mona, Kokomi)
Melt: Combining Cryo and Pyro characters for powerful Melt reactions (e.g., Rosaria, Xiangling, Bennett)
Superconduct: Combining Cryo and Electro characters to reduce Physical Resistance (e.g., Eula, Fischl, Beidou)

12. How Many Cryo Users Are There in Genshin Impact?

There are a total of eleven playable Cryo characters in Genshin Impact as of this article.

13. Can Rosaria Replace Chongyun?

In some team compositions, especially in VapeMelt teams, Rosaria can be a suitable replacement for Chongyun. Rosaria offers a similar function while being a sub-DPS unit.

14. Who is the Cryo Archon in Genshin Impact?

The Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya is the Cryo Archon, also a main antagonist in the game.

15. What element is Cryo weak to?

Cryo is mainly weak to Pyro, which can efficiently break down cryo elemental shields and cores. Elements like Anemo, Electro and Geo are able to, but are much less effective than Pyro.

Conclusion

The Cryo element in Genshin Impact offers a wide array of characters and playstyles. Understanding how each character applies Cryo, their roles, and their synergies can enhance your gameplay. Whether you prefer the raw damage of Ganyu and Ayaka or the supportive capabilities of Diona and Rosaria, Cryo provides options for all sorts of team compositions. By using this information to your advantage, you will surely be able to master the cryo element of Genshin Impact!

What Genshin characters can manipulate Cryo?