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Who to use with Qiqi?

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Who to Use with Qiqi: Team Compositions and Synergies for the Undying Healer

Qiqi, the diminutive zombie from Liyue, often sparks debate in the Genshin Impact community. While her healing prowess is undeniable, her lack of energy generation and other utility can make team building a challenge. So, who should you use with Qiqi? The answer lies in understanding her strengths: unparalleled on-field healing, decent Cryo application, and reliance on Attack for scaling. Therefore, optimal team compositions for Qiqi focus on enabling sustained damage dealers who benefit from constant healing and occasional Cryo reactions, while also addressing her weaknesses in energy regeneration. This article will delve into specific character synergies and team archetypes that maximize Qiqi’s potential, turning her into a valuable asset in your Genshin Impact roster.

Understanding Qiqi’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Before diving into team compositions, it’s crucial to acknowledge both what Qiqi excels at and where she falls short:

  • Strengths:

    • Exceptional Healing: Qiqi’s healing is incredibly potent, particularly when she’s actively attacking. Her Elemental Skill, Adeptus Art: Herald of Frost, applies Cryo and provides consistent healing, while her Elemental Burst, Adeptus Art: Preserver of Fortune, marks enemies, allowing characters attacking them to heal.
    • Attack Scaling: Both her Skill and Burst healing scale directly with her Attack stat, making ATK-focused builds viable and powerful.
    • Cryo Application: While not her primary function, Qiqi provides some Cryo application, enabling reactions like Superconduct and Freeze.
    • Survivability: Qiqi has a high base defense, making her fairly tanky.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Energy Generation: Qiqi generates very few Elemental Particles, making it difficult to recharge her Burst. This is her most significant drawback.
    • Limited Utility: Beyond healing and some Cryo application, Qiqi doesn’t offer significant utility, such as buffs, debuffs, or crowd control.
    • Off-Field Healing Only on Burst: Qiqi’s off-field healing is limited to the duration of her Burst and requires active attacks on marked enemies.

Ideal Teammates and Team Archetypes for Qiqi

Given these strengths and weaknesses, here are several team compositions that synergize well with Qiqi:

1. Physical DPS Comps (Eula/Razor)

This is perhaps Qiqi’s most popular and effective team role.

  • Main DPS: Eula or Razor
  • Sub DPS: Fischl or Beidou
  • Support: Qiqi
  • Flex: Raiden Shogun, Rosaria, Diona

The rationale behind this composition lies in Qiqi’s ability to trigger Superconduct, a reaction that reduces enemy Physical Resistance. Eula and Razor, both heavily reliant on Physical DMG, benefit immensely from this. Fischl or Beidou provide off-field damage and additional Electro application, while the Flex slot can offer further damage, energy recharge, or defensive support. Raiden Shogun drastically improves the team’s energy economy, which is especially helpful for Qiqi and Eula.

2. Freeze Comps (Ayaka/Ganyu)

While not optimal due to Qiqi’s energy problems, Freeze comps can still function if built correctly.

  • Main DPS: Ayaka or Ganyu
  • Sub DPS/Battery: Rosaria or Diona
  • Support: Qiqi
  • Hydro Enabler: Mona, Kokomi, or Xingqiu

The goal here is to maintain a constant Freeze state on enemies. Qiqi’s Cryo application helps contribute to this, while her healing ensures the team’s survivability. However, it’s crucial to include a reliable Cryo battery like Rosaria or Diona to help recharge Qiqi’s and the main DPS’s Bursts. A Hydro enabler like Mona, Kokomi, or Xingqiu is essential for consistent Freeze application.

3. Overworld Exploration Teams

Qiqi’s unparalleled healing makes her invaluable for exploring Teyvat, especially in areas with challenging enemies or environmental hazards.

  • Core: Qiqi + Main DPS (flexible) + Utility Character (flexible) + Flex

This composition is highly adaptable. The “Main DPS” can be any character you enjoy playing, while the “Utility Character” could be someone like Kaeya for crossing water, Amber for puzzles, or a character with a useful exploration passive (e.g., Ningguang for finding ore). The Flex slot can be filled based on the specific challenges of the area you’re exploring.

4. Hu Tao Sustain Team

While counterintuitive due to Hu Tao’s low HP playstyle, Qiqi can provide reliable healing without overhealing if used carefully.

  • Main DPS: Hu Tao
  • Sub DPS: Xingqiu or Yelan
  • Support: Qiqi
  • Flex: Geo character (Zhongli, Albedo) or another elemental reaction enabler

The key here is to avoid using Qiqi’s burst preemptively. Instead, utilize her skill when Hu Tao’s HP gets dangerously low, and focus on auto-attacking to heal her back up gradually. Xingqiu or Yelan provide off-field Hydro application for Vaporize reactions, while a Geo character like Zhongli or Albedo provides shields or additional damage. It requires careful management to avoid ruining Hu Tao’s passive, but it can work.

5. “Immortal” Teams

These teams prioritize survivability above all else, making them useful for difficult content or players still developing their dodging skills.

  • Core: Qiqi + Tanky DPS (e.g., Noelle) + Shielder (e.g., Zhongli, Diona) + Flex

The primary goal is to create a team that’s virtually unkillable. Qiqi provides constant healing, a Tanky DPS provides the main source of damage, and a Shielder absorbs incoming attacks. The Flex slot can be filled with another damage dealer, support, or utility character.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Using Qiqi

1. Is Qiqi good with Diluc?

While Qiqi can provide healing for Diluc, their synergy isn’t optimal. Diluc benefits more from Bennett’s Attack buff and Pyro resonance. Qiqi doesn’t contribute much to Diluc’s damage output beyond minimal Cryo application.

2. Can I use Qiqi with Ayaka?

Qiqi can be used with Ayaka for Freeze comps, but she’s not ideal. Her lack of energy generation makes it difficult to sustain Ayaka’s Burst. Other Cryo characters like Diona or Rosaria are generally preferred due to their energy particle generation and additional utility.

3. Is Qiqi a healer or DPS?

Qiqi is primarily a healer. While she can deal some damage with an ATK-focused build, her main strength lies in her unparalleled healing capabilities. Building her as a DPS is not recommended.

4. What weapon is best for Qiqi?

The Sacrificial Sword is often considered one of Qiqi’s best weapons. Its ability to reset the cooldown of her Elemental Skill addresses her long skill cooldown and allows for more frequent Cryo application and healing. High ATK weapons like the Aquila Favonia are also good choices, as her healing scales with ATK.

5. Is Qiqi the worst 5-star?

This is a subjective question, and opinions vary. While Qiqi is often considered one of the weaker 5-star characters due to her lack of energy generation and utility, her healing is undeniably powerful. In certain team compositions and situations, she can be very valuable. Her actual usefulness comes down to the player’s specific needs and playstyle.

6. Does Yanfei work with Qiqi?

Yanfei can work with Qiqi, particularly if you need a dedicated healer to keep Yanfei alive. Yanfei’s ranged attacks allow her to easily trigger Qiqi’s Burst healing. The combination, however, isn’t a particularly strong elemental reaction duo.

7. Do Qiqi and Hu Tao work well together?

The synergy between Qiqi and Hu Tao is a mixed bag. Qiqi’s healing can interfere with Hu Tao’s low-HP playstyle. However, if used carefully, Qiqi can provide emergency healing when Hu Tao’s HP gets critically low. The pairing requires careful player management.

8. Is Keqing or Qiqi better?

“Better” depends on your needs. Keqing is a DPS character, while Qiqi is a healer. Keqing is better for dealing damage, while Qiqi is better for keeping the team alive.

9. Is Qiqi good with Beidou?

Qiqi can work with Beidou. Qiqi provides healing, and Beidou can deal consistent Electro damage. The Superconduct reaction triggered by Qiqi’s Cryo application can also reduce the Physical Resistance of enemies, benefitting Beidou’s attacks.

10. Is Barbara or Qiqi better?

Both Barbara and Qiqi are healers, but they have different strengths. Barbara provides Hydro application and consistent healing, while Qiqi offers higher healing numbers and some Cryo application. Barbara’s healing scales off HP, whereas Qiqi’s healing is based off ATK. Barbara also applies Wet status to your own characters, making them vulnerable to freeze. Qiqi is generally considered a better pure healer, but the choice depends on team needs.

11. Is Qiqi worth it to build?

Whether Qiqi is worth building depends on your team composition and playstyle. If you need a dedicated healer and don’t have other options, Qiqi is a solid choice. She is particularly useful in Physical DPS teams.

12. Does Qiqi work well with Xiao?

Qiqi can work well with Xiao, especially since Xiao drains his own HP during his burst. Qiqi’s healing can help to counteract this HP drain, keeping Xiao alive. The Superconduct reaction can also be useful if the team includes a Physical DPS character alongside Xiao.

13. Is Qiqi rare in Genshin?

As a 5-star character, Qiqi is statistically rarer than 4-star characters. However, she’s part of the standard banner, so she doesn’t have a limited-time banner that would make her especially difficult to obtain compared to other standard banner 5-stars.

14. What artifacts are best for Qiqi?

For a healing-focused build, the Ocean-Hued Clam set is often considered the best, providing additional damage based on her healing output. Alternatively, a 2-piece Pale Flame and 2-piece Bloodstained Chivalry set can increase her Physical Damage. An ATK build is essential for optimal healing.

15. What talents should I prioritize for Qiqi?

Prioritize leveling Qiqi’s Elemental Skill (Adeptus Art: Herald of Frost) and Elemental Burst (Adeptus Art: Preserver of Fortune), as these are the sources of her healing. Leveling her Normal Attack is less important, though still useful for triggering healing during her Burst.

Conclusion

Qiqi, while often debated, is far from useless. Her exceptional healing capabilities make her a valuable asset in specific team compositions, particularly Physical DPS and exploration teams. By understanding her strengths and weaknesses, and carefully selecting teammates that complement her abilities, you can unlock Qiqi’s full potential and turn her into a powerful and reliable member of your Genshin Impact roster. Remember to always consider your own playstyle and needs when building your team.

Furthermore, the complexity of team-building in Genshin Impact highlights the intricate game mechanics and strategic thinking involved. Learning more about these aspects can be both entertaining and educational. For insights into game-based learning and educational applications, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. They explore the intersection of gaming and education, providing resources and research on how games can be used to enhance learning experiences.

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