Updated on August 15, 3:22 p.m. (GMT+8): Definitions of Dendro reactions have been added following the V3.0 special program.

Over-what? Super-huh?

There are seven Genshin Impact elements present in the world of Teyvat, but do players know how to fully optimize their reactions?

As a fellow Genshin player who’s seen insane 100,000 damage combo compilations, it turns out that elements play a crucial role in bringing those numbers to life.

To help you decipher the words that pop up during your fights, here’s a quick guide to Genshin Impact elements and how their reactions work.

List of all Genshin Impact elements

Official art of Traveler, Mona, and Fischl in Genshin Impact
Credit: miHoYo

Players can utilize Genshin Impact elements to apply special status effects on themselves and their opponents.

As of now, HoYoverse has released playable characters in every element except for Dendro.

Here is the list of all seven Genshin Impact elements and their status effects:

GENSHIN IMPACT ELEMENTSSTATUS EFFECT
AnemoNone
CryoApplies the freezing Cryo status; slows all animation speed of those affected
DendroNone
ElectroApplies the Electro status
GeoNone
HydroApplies the Wet status
PyroApplies the Pyro status; periodically damages those affected


Genshin Impact elements and elemental reactions explained

Raiden Shogun reveals her tachi in Genshin Impact
Screenshot by Joseph Asuncion/ONE Esports

Aside from having their own initial status effects, Genshin Impact elements can be combined into reactions that bolster your efforts on the battlefield.

Here is a full list of all elemental reactions and their effects:

FIRST ELEMENTSECOND ELEMENTREACTION AND EFFECTS
PyroHydroVaporize: Deals 1.5x Pyro damage
PyroDendroBurning: Deals Pyro damage over time

Grass is considered Dendro and will spread the effect around the area
PyroElectroOverloaded: Deals AoE Pyro damage and causes an explosion

The explosion is considered a heavy attack that can interrupt larger foes like Lawachurls
PyroCryoMelt: Deals 2x Pyro damage
HydroPyroReverse Vaporize: Deals 2x Hydro damage
HydroElectroElectro-Charged: Deals Electro damage over time until it expires, with every tick interrupting an enemy’s action

It also creates a lightning bolt that transfers to a nearby Wet target and deals Electro damage
HydroCryoFrozen: Freezes the target

If the frozen target is hit by a Claymore, a Sword plunge attack, or Geo damage (excluding Geo Catalyst plunge), it will receive the Shattered status effect and take additional physical damage
HydroDendroBloom: Generates a Dendro Core

A Dendro Core will explode and deal AoE Dendro damage if its duration ends. If a new Core is created when the limit of five Cores is reached, a pre-existing Core will explode.

Burgeon (Dendro Core + Pyro): Dendro Core will explode and deal greater AoE Dendro damage
Hyperbloom (Dendro Core + Electro): Dendro Core will transform into homing projectiles that attack the enemy
AnemoAll elementsSwirl: Infuses an element and deals the element’s damage while spreading the status effect to nearby enemies

Swirl does not deal Anemo damage and can only be infused with one element at any time
ElectroPyroOverloaded: Deals AoE Pyro damage and causes an explosion

The explosion is considered a heavy attack that can interrupt larger foes like Lawachurls
ElectroHydroElectro-Charged: Deals Electro damage over time until it expires, with every tick interrupting an enemy’s action

It also creates a lightning bolt that transfers to a nearby Wet target and deals Electro damage
ElectroDendroCatalyze: applies a Quicken reaction to a target

Aggravate (Quickened + Electro): When a Quickened target is attacked by Electro, the move will trigger Aggravate, which increases Electro damage dealt by the initial attack
Spread (Quickened + Dendro): When a Quickened target is attacked by Dendro, the move will trigger Spread, which increases Dendro damage dealt by the initial attack
ElectroCryoSuperconduct: Deals AoE Cryo damage and reduces the target’s physical damage resistance by -40% for 12 seconds

Each Superconduct reaction deals damage to enemies within its range once
CryoPyroReverse Melt: Deals 1.5x Cryo damage
CryoHydroFrozen: Freezes the target

If the frozen target is hit by a Claymore, a Sword plunge attack, or Geo damage (excluding Geo Catalyst plunge), it will receive the Shattered status effect and take additional physical damage
CryoElectroSuperconduct: Deals AoE Cryo damage and reduces the target’s physical damage resistance by -40% for 12 seconds

Each Superconduct reaction deals damage to enemies within its range once
GeoAll elementsCrystallize: Absorbs the element and drops a crystal; the crystal grants an element-specific shield when picked up

The shield absorbs all types of damage, but it protects the player more efficiently against the shield’s element
DendroPyroBurning: Deals Pyro damage over time

Grass is considered Dendro and will spread the effect around the area
DendroHydroBloom: Generates a Dendro Core

A Dendro Core will explode and deal AoE Dendro damage if its duration ends. If a new Core is created when the limit of five Cores is reached, the pre-existing Core will explode.

Burgeon (Dendro Core + Pyro): Dendro Core will explode and deal greater AoE Dendro damage
Hyperbloom (Dendro Core + Electro): Dendro Core will transform into homing projectiles that attack the enemy
DendroElectroCatalyze: applies a Quicken reaction to a target

Aggravate: When a Quickened target is attacked by Electro, the move will trigger Aggravate, which increases Electro damage dealt by the initial attack
Spread: When a Quickened target is attacked by Dendro, the move will trigger Spread, which increases Dendro damage dealt by the initial attack

Best reactions to use for beginners

Genshin Impact, Zhongli
Credit: miHoYo

Since a lot of players are farming for their best artifact set and weapon, elemental reactions come in handy as another way to amplify your characters’ abilities.

If you’re looking to destroy your opponents with a deadly one-two, we suggest using the Melt reaction for Pyro DPS characters and the Reverse Vaporize reaction for Hydro DPS characters.

If you ascend your world level and you find you have a hard time staying alive, you can recruit a Geo character for your party to provide extra shields during combat.

If you don’t have a resident Geo character available, Traveler actually has the power to change into a Geo user. All you have to do is go to any of Liyue’s Statues of the Seven, and select the option “Resonate with Geo” to harness the specific element. This also works in other nations and their designated elements.

Now that you understand the unique effects of Genshin Impact elements and reactions, it’s time to dish out a killer elemental combo on a Nobushi warrior or Lawachurl.

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