Genshin Impact is due for another major update, and the 5.2 special program has finally revealed details for the upcoming patch. Here’s everything new coming to Genshin Impact in Version 5.2, titled Tapestry of Spirit and Flame, which releases on November 20.

Genshin Impact 5.2 Trailer

Genshin Impact 5.2 livestream Primogem codes

6ALMWAVKLK35
7TLMXSD243JR
JS45ETDJLKMD

Each code grants 100 Primogems, along with some other useful materials. Redeem them either in-game or on Genshin Impact’s official redemption page. Ac??t fast; special program redemption ??codes expire quickly!

Genshin Impact 5.2 Banners

The first half of Genshin Impact Version 5.2 will feature character banners for Chasca (5-star Anemo Bow) and Lyney (5-star Pyro Bow). They will be accompanied by the 4-star Electro Bow character Ororon. The weapon banners will feature Chasca’s 5-star signature Astral Vulture's? Crimson Plumage, as well as Lyney’s signature The First Great Magic.

The banners in the second half of Genshin Impact 5.2 will rerun Zhongli (5-star Geo Polearm) and Neuvillette (5-star Hydro Catalyst). The weapon banner will include Neuvillette’s signature Catalyst Tome of the Eternal Flow. The other 5-star weapon will probably be Staff of Homa, though there’s a small chance for Vortex Vanquisher? instead.

Two new 4-star weapons will make their debut o??n the weapon banners: Waveriding Whirl (Catalyst) and Flower-Wreathed Feat??hers (Bow). It’s still unconfirmed whether they will run in the first half or the second.

New characters: Chasca and Ororon

Chasca and Ororon have featured prominently in Genshin Impact’s story in Natlan, and n??ow, they join the playable roster. The sp?ecial program revealed some new information about how these characters will play.

Chasca is a 5-star Anemo Bow character who’s really neither Anemo nor a Bo?w user. Her attacks infuse different elements based on Pyro, Hydro, Electro, and Cryo teammates, so Chasca deals mixed-element â€??œrainbowâ€?damage instead of just Anemo. And although she equips a Bow, Chasca actually summons a giant revolver which she rides like a flying steed and fires like a shotgun. Chasca looks to be a unique on-field DPS who focuses on mixed-element damage.

Ororon is a 4-star Electro Bow character who deals off-field Electro damage using his Skill and Burst. His kit incentivizes Ele?ctro-Charged teams utilizing Electro and Hydro characters. It sou?nds like he’ll be a possible alternative to Fischl in Electro-Charged teams that require Nightsoul mechanics. Ororon has the ability to leap high into the air before gliding slowly to the ground, and if you enter aiming mode while in the air, Ororon can hover in place.

Genshin Impact’s Xbox release and special wings

With Version 5.2, Genshin Impact will be available to play on Xbox Series X|S. Travelers logging into Genshin Impact on Xbox will receive a new pair of green wings (Wings of Fate's Course Intertwined), as well as two Intertwined Fates and a Northlander Billet Trove. Going forward, Xbox users will receive additional exclusive goodies with each patch, consisting of Fates/Primog??ems a??nd other upgrade materials.

Users on other platforms won’t receive the Fates and other materials, but they can still get the Xbox wings! During Version 5.3, everyone logging into Genshin Impact on any platform will receive the Xbox wings in their mailbox. This only lasts through Version 5.3, going away once 5.4 rolls around. However, Xbox users will be able to claim the wings anytime by logging in on their Xbox Series X|??S.

The post Gens??hin Impact 5.2 new characters, banners, and release d??ate appeared first on Destructoid.

With the release of Zenless Zone Zero's 1.3 update, a n?ew Special Agent quest was introduced. If you've started the quest and are seemingly unable to continue the story due to a sudden soft lock, I've got the solution that will fix your problem, though it is a bit unusual.

Zenless Zone Zero 1.3 Special Agent Story Soft Lock Workaround (Fix)

If you're playing Zenless Zone Zero on the PC client, you might encounter a point in the new Special Agent story where progress halts, leaving you ?stuck in Immersive Storytelling mode with no way to advance. You are also unable to move, thus softlocking you and preventing you from really doing anything else in the game. Normally, you'd have to wait for the developers to fix this sort of problem in?? this scenario. Although a fix is likely coming soon, there's a workaround you can use now to keep playing the rest of the update content.

To be clear, this problem only exists on the PC client, so if you're stuck, the solution is to load up Zenless Zone Zero through its mobile client. You can do this on any mobile device, though it may take a little time to download if it's not already installed. Once installed, open the game and attempt to continue the storyline on the device. Doing this should resolve t?he soft lock for you, allowing you to continue playing and prog?ressing on the PC client.

If this solution does not work for you, then I'm afraid you will have to wait for the developers to fix the problem and release a fix. Fortunately, HoYoverse, the developers behind Zenless Zone Zero, are quick to fix ?such disruptive problems and will also likely reward pull currency as com?pensation for your troubles.

The post How to Fix the Zenles??s Z??one Zero 1.3 Story Soft Lock Issue appeared first on Destructoid.

Burnice, Zenless Zone Zero's newest five-star pyromaniac, has finally touched down with quite the explosive hype behind her. If you're planning to pull her, or already have and are looking to build from scratch, here's everything y?ou need to know to ensure Burnice can utterly crem??ate your enemies.

Best Burnice Build in Zenless Zone Zero

Starting with some surface-level details, Burnice is a Fire Anomaly character with a huge focus on Fire DoT (Damage over Time) and Off-field damage. You read that correctly: Burnice deals a large portion of her damage while not on the field, contrasting with every other character in Zenless Zone Zero. That isn't to say she isn't capable of playing like a standard DPS, however, as all of her abilities have very high damage scaling. This means that Bunri?ce is very flexible with her role, and has several teams and gea?r setups where she can excel.

Burnice's Gameplan

Burnice's most fundamental game plan is to come on-field and apply Burn and her unique Afterburn mechanic to as many enemies as possible. Enemies afflicted with Afterburn take additional Burn Build-up and Fire Damage when hit by any of her allies, allowing her to fight off the field while taking up as lit?tle field time as possible.

Afterburn can only be applied when Burnice has enough Heat, which is her secondary resource that determines how long Afternburn can stay applied. When she has more than 50% Heat, she will enter Nitro-Fuel Cocktail State, which, while active, allows her to?? apply Afterburn? to enemies.

When Afterburn is triggered, Burnice uses a portion of her Heat gauge. To regain Heat, she must use Energy by using EX Specials, cre?ating a constant need to balance both her Energy and Heat gauges. If her Heat is fully drained, she loses her Nitro-Fuel Cocktail S??tate, drastically weakening her overall abilities. Without Heat, she can no longer activate Afterburn or use her Enhanced Basic Attacks, making careful resource management crucial to maintaining her strength.

Best Drive Disks for Burnice in Zenless Zone Zero

Since Burnice is an Anomaly character, she values ATK% and Anomaly Proficiency (AP) above all other stats, thanks to Burn being such a large part of her damage. However, because of her overall stat scaling, can she be built viably with Crit, Crit DMG, PEN Ratio, Anomaly Mastery (AM), and Energy Regen (ER) as secondary stats t?o look out for on Drive ??Disks.

• Disk 4 - AP or ATK%. Note that ATK% should only be used if you have good AP sub-stats on it.
• Disk 5 - ATK% or Fire DMG%. PEN Ratio% is an option if you have other sources of the stat already.
• Disk 6 - ATK%, AM, or ER.

The Drive Disk sets you should use on Burnice depend on h??ow you plan to build her and how much investment you're willin?g to put into her.

Sub-DPS Burnice

Burnice is at her strongest when she is played with ATK% an?d AP as her focus while serving as a Sub-DPS for team compositions. With this in mind,?? Burnice has a few options.

• 4p-Chaos Jazz / 2p-Piece Freedom Blues - This provides a walloping 60 AP to Burnice while also boosting the power of her EX-Specials when swapped in from being off-field. For a majority of roles, this is Burnice's best setup.
• 4p-Chaos Jazz / 2p-Swing Jazz - Instead of the 30 extra AP, Burnice will gain more Energy Regen, making it easier to maintain her Heat Gauge. Only use this if you're having issues with Energy.
• 4p-Chaos Jazz / 2p-Puffer Electro - Puffer Electro offers Burnice some extra PEN Ratio for ignoring enemy defenses. I only recommend this if your Burnice already has additional sources of PEN Ratio from weapons, buffs, or Cinemas/Mindscapes.

Hypercarry Burnice

If you plan to play Burnice on-field as your main DPS character, then there are a few more options open to her for Drive Disks outside of Chaos Jazz. However, as a warning, Hypercarry Burnice is very expensive to build optimally, as she wants ATK%, AP, CRIT Rate, and CRIT DMG on as many Discs as possible to be truly effective. Note: I don't recommend this setup unless you're prepared to invest significant time farming for Burnice's gear.

• 4p-Inferno Metal / 2p-Chaos Jazz or Freedom Blues - Gives free 28% CRIT Rate to Burnice when any target is Burning, while providing 30 additional AP.
• 4p-Inferno Metal / 2p-Swing Jazz - On-field Burnice may need additional energy, which Swing Jazz will provide.
• 4p-Inferno Metal / 2p-Puffer Electro - As before, the additional PEN Ratio from Puffer Electro will be more effective if Burnice already has additional sources of the stat.
• 4p- Chaos Jazz / 2p-Inferno Metal - Provides Burnice with the largest amount of Fire DMG% she can possibly get. You will also still want to swap characters on occasion to gain the full benefit from Chaos Jazz.

Best W-Engines for Burnice in Zenless Zone Zero

Unsurprisingly, Burnice's best W-Engine is her signature Flamemaker Shaker, as it provides Burnice with everything she needs to be a strong DPS in any team role. That said, Electro-Lip Gloss(R5) and Fusion Compiler are?? strong competitive options that allow Burnice to dish out large sums of damage. Fusion Compiler, in particular, works exceptionally well if you can stack Burnice with other sources of PEN Ratio %.

B??eyond these t??hree options, I don't recommend using anything else outside of niche situations.

Best Mindscapes for Burnice in Zenless Zone Zero

It’s important to note that Burnice is already fu?lly viable and hi?ghly effective in the current meta, even at M0. She doesn’t require any of her Mindscapes to excel. However, her Mindscapes amplify her existing strengths and role options, making them even more potent. If you aim to invest in a few, M2 is the ideal stopping point for most players. For your convenience, here’s a breakdown of how each of Burnice's Mindscapes enhances her effectiveness.

• Kindred Flames (M1) - Burnice's M1 is highly potent, as it allows her more leniency on how much Heat you can use, while simultaneously increasing the damage multiplier of Afterburn by a massive 100%. Said Afterburns also accumulate 25% more Burn status. This is a silly strong M1 and is worth the investment if you can get it.
• Extra at No Additional Charge (M2) - This M2 is strong by default, effectively giving Burnice and her allies a free 20% PEN Ratio at all times if playing around Afterburn correctly. However, this Mindscape gets considerably more powerful if running with additional, outside sources of PEN Ratio %.
• Optimistic by Nature (M3) - An across-the-board multiplier boost to most of Burnice's kit. Nice, but not worth the investment if you're planning to stop here.
• Ultimate Fuel Supply (M4) - This Mindscape enhances Burnice's ability to dish out direct damage by giving her Assist and EX Special Attacks a free 30% CRIT Rate at all times. Honestly, this is a really strong Mindscape if you're playing CRIT, but if your focus is on AP, then this is, at best, a nice little extra. It's... okay.
• Dance of Fire and Ice (M5) - This Mindscape is exactly the same as her M3, just even more of a boost.
• Burning Invitation (M6) - M6 is a game-changer for Burnice as it allows her to 'proc' her own special version of Afterburn that doesn't consume Heat and without the need of her teammates. Additionally, using EX Special Attack Double Shot causes Burnice's special Afterburn, Double Shot, and Burn effects to ignore 25% Fire Resistance. If that wasn't insane enough, Double Shot's end fireblast will deal a colossal 1800% additional DMG to Burning Targets, once every 20 seconds. Needless to say, this Mindscape is ridiculously strong, if you can get it.

Best Team Comps for Burnice in Zenless Zone Zero

Burnice has several strong team compositions? that she works very well fo??r thanks to her versatile build options.

Burnice/Jane/Caeser

This is Burnice's strongest team composition, and it functions with Burnice herself acting as sub-DPS for Jane Doe. The team's goal is to cause Disorder, a status effect that occurs when two different Anomalies are applied to an enemy. Ideally, you want Burnice to inflict Burn first and then have Jane 'pop' the Burn with an Assault, which triggers Disorder for massive damage. Caeser's part in the team is for the additional 1000 flat ATK she gives to the on-field Agent, wh??ich will mostly be Jane in this composition.

Burnice/Piper/Lucy

This composition is also powerful and has the same goal as the Jane team previously mentioned: Disorder. The main difference is that both Burnice and Piper will be playing the sub-DPS role together, and you'll switch back and forth between them far more often than the Jane team. Lucy and Caeser are largely interchangeable in this team, though M6 Lucy offers more damage output specifically for Piper and Burnice because of the continuous nature of their EX Specials??.

Burnice/Caeser/Lucy

If you're playing Burnice as a Hypercarry, this is the strongest composition she has access to thanks to the considerable ATK buff both Caeser and Lucy can consistently provide. This resu??lts in a Burnice that will dish out massive damage through her Afterburn, Burn status, and direct damage abilities. Caeser's shield also protects her while she is channeling her flamethrower, and flamethrower hits also activate Lucy's M6, simu??ltaneously.

Burnice/Koleda/Lucy

This team comp also features Burnice as the main damage dealer, aiming to make use of Stun windows for the highest possible Burn damage. As a mono Fire team, her Burns will be diluted between all three characters, which is why you want to ensure that Koleda and Lucy are built with damage in? mind (CRIT sub-stats, etc...). Additionally, having CRIT sub-stats on Burnice will also help.

Burnice/Rina/Lucy or Caeser

If you're running Burnice with Fusion Compiler and/or are using her M2, then PEN Ratio becomes a highly compet??itive stat for her to stack. Rina provides a large amount of additional PEN Ratio, and large amounts of it make it stronger overall. Lucy/Caeser continues to provide competent levels of damage while still providing Burnice with her large ATK buff. Ideally, Rina should be M1 and Lucy should be M6 for this team to be competitive with the other comps mentioned.

The post Best Burnice build in Zenless Zone ??Zero �Best Drive Discs, W-?Engines, Mindscapes, and Team Comps appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact has several gacha ba??nners that change on a three-week basis. Read on for a??n analysis of the current and upcoming banners and see where you should spend your wishes!

Current Banners in Genshin Impact

Current banners end on:
October 29, 2024

Genshin Impact’s current rate-up 5-star characters are Xilonen (Geo Sword) and Chiori (Geo Sword). They are accompanied by the 4-star characters Collei (Dendro Bow), Candace? (Hydro Po?learm), and Dori (Electro Claymore).

Genshin Impact’s current rate-up 5-star weapons are Peak Patrol Song (Sword) and Uraku Misugiri (Sword). They are accompanied by the 4-stars Mountain-Bracing Bolt (Polearm), Rust (Bow), Sturdy Bone (Sword), Sacrificial Greatsword (Claymore), and Favoniu?s Codex (Catalyst). Of the 4-stars, Moun?tain-Bracing Bolt and Sturdy Bone are exclusive to the weapon banner and cannot be obtained via standard wishes.

There is currently no Chronicled Wish banner in Genshin Impact.

Upcoming Genshin Impact Banners

Genshin Impact 5.1 banners

The second half of Genshin Impact 5.1 will feature Nahida, a 5-star Dendro Catalyst character, along with Hu Tao,?? a 5-star Pyro Polearm character. We can expect Nahida and Hu Tao's banners o?n October 29.

Genshin Impact 5.2 banners

There are two new characters coming to Genshin Impact in Version 5.2. They are the Anemo Bow user Chasca and Electro user Ororon.

How good are the current Genshin Impact banners?

Disclaimer: There is no pity for a specific 4-star character or weapon. Do not pull for a specific 4-star unless you are prepared to pull several 5-stars along the way. The weapon banner is even more punishing than the character banners. Do not pull unless you are okay with receiving at least one of each featured weapon.

How good is Xilonen?

Xilonen is a strong support who debuffs enemies and provides healing. Geo characters usually synergize poorly with other elements, but Xilonen breaks the mold by actively encouraging Pyro, Hydro, Electro, and Cryo teams. With the Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City artifact set, Xilonen provides additional buffs when she triggers Crystallize. Unless you play primarily Anemo, Dendro, or Geo teams, Xilonen will be a valuable pickup. Her kit functions differently depending on which elements are present in her team, though, so be sure you know how she will work in your team before you decide to pull.

How good is Chiori?

Chiori is a decently strong off-field Geo DPS unit. She hasn't had a particularly strong presence in the meta since her release, primarily because Geo teams just aren't that popular. Still, even if Chiori is rarely the best option for a team, she's never the ??worst option either. If you like Chiori, be sure to play her in a Geo team where she can synergize with other characters' Geo constructs. If you don't play Geo teams, and you're not in love with Chiori, then she's an easy skip.

4-Star Characters

The featured 4-star characters are Collei, Candace, and Dori. None of them are particularly exciting. If you're thinking about pulling for Xilonen or Chiori's Constellations, you might want to hold off until they rerun with less tragic 4-stars you'll actually wan??t to?? play.

Of the three 4-stars, Collei is the strongest. She's a Dendro Bow user with decent (if unreliable) Dendro application. E?very player gets Collei for free upon clearing Floor 4 of the Spiral Abyss, but her Constellations improve her ability to deal damage and apply Dendro. If you want to play Collei, I recommend getting as many Constellations for her as you can.

Candace and Dori are both niche support characters. Neither of them see much play, simply because so few characters want what they offer. Candace converts melee attacks to Hydro damage and buffs Normal Attacks. Dori heals and provides Energy generation. Most teams that can use either Candace or Dori will be better off replacing them with someone else. Constellation 6 Candace allows her to apply some extra Hydro, though??, which can enable some unique Vaporize or Bloom teams.

5-Star Weapons

Peak Patrol Song is Xilonen's signature weapon. This 5-star Sword has a DEF% secondary stat and allows Xilonen to buff teammates even more than she already does with the Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City artifact set. Peak Patrol Song is the only weapon in Genshin Impact that fully synergizes with Xilonen's kit. 4-star alternatives include Favonius Sword for some bonus Energy, or Flute of Ezpitzal to improve h??er healing.

Uraku Misugiri is Chiori's signature weapon, but?? you can use it on DPS Xilonen or Albedo too. For the very few characters can take advantage of its passive, it's a significant DPS upgrade over their 4-star options. Even with Uraku Misugiri, though, it's?? hard for me to recommend playing DPS Xilonen without at least Constellation 2.

4-Star Weapons

The 4-star weapons, in general, are quite good. Rust is useful for Normal Attackers, Favonius Codex can be a good for supports, and Sacrificial Greatsword has its uses on the likes of Chongyun. Sturdy Bone is a new banner-exclusive 4-star Sword that increases Normal Attack damage after sprinting. Mountain-Bracing Bolt is a banner-exclusive 4-star Polearm that increases Skill damage. Neither of these new weapons are game changers, but the Pol?earm could be an interesting option for Kachina, Emilie, or Cyno.

The post Genshin Impact current and upcoming banners (5.1) appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact is ?infamous for its incomprehensible ability descriptions, and the new character Xilonen takes this wordiness to the nex?t level. If you don’t want to spend an evening reading the novel that makes up her kit, here’s a quick run-down on how to play Xilonen as both a support and DPS. You’re welcome.

Is Xilonen a DPS or support?

Xilonen’s kit enables her to function as either an on-field DPS or an off-field support. Despite this flexibility, Xilonen is far more effective as a support than a DPS. You can still play Xi??lonen as an on-field DPS, but I recommend obtaining at least Constellation 2 and a 5-star CRIT weapon if you choose to go this route. 

DPS Xilonen uses different combos than support Xilonen. Scroll d??own to the relevant section based on how yo??u want to play her.

How to play support Xilonen

As an off-field support, Xilonen requires a team with at least two characters that are Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo. This team element requirement is critical since it significantly alters how Xilonen functions. You can see whether your team qualifies by using Xilonen’s Skill and looking at the colors of the three triangles next to her Nig??htsoul meter. Only one triangle is allowed to be yellow. If at least two ?triangles are orange, blue, purple, or light blue, then your team will work with Xilonen.

Once you have your team, you need to figure out your rotation. Xilonen should take the field before your on-field DPS in order to activate her buffs. Switch to Xilonen, use her Burst, then Skill, then two Normal Attacks. After two Normal Attacks, her Nightsoul meter should fill up and disappear. If your combo is interrupted, you may need an additional Normal Attack to fill up the m?eter, since it passively drains over time.

Xilonen’s Burst heals the on-field characte?r over time, and filling up the Nightsoul meter activates her debuf??fs. After you’ve finished her Normal Attacks, you can switch Xilonen for your on-field DPS, who will then deal increased damage and enjoy some healing.

How to play DPS Xilonen

I don’t recommend building Xilonen as a DPS unless you’re either a whale or just really dedicated. Her damage isn’t amazing for a 5-star, but it’s still good enough for most content. For reference, in similar teams, my DPS C0 Xilonen with Uraku Misugiri does about 20-30% more damage than my C6 Noelle with Redhorn Stonethresher. Your r??esults may v??ary.

DPS Xilonen requires at least two Geo teammates. I recommend Gorou and either Albedo or Chiori. If you lack any of those, Navia, Zhongli, and Y??un Jin are al??so potential options. Once you have your team set up, try using Xilonen’s Skill. At least two of the triangles next to her Nightsoul meter should be yellow.

Having two Geo teammates changes how Xilonen’s kit functions. Instead of Normal Attacks filling up her Nightsoul meter, the meter will constantly drain over time. Sinc??e Xilonen’s Normal Attacks deal increased Geo damage while her Skill is active, they will be her main source of damage.

To play Xilonen as an on-field DPS, first rotate through your supports to set up their abilities. Then, switch to Xilonen and use her Burst, then Skill. Follow up with as many Normal Attacks as you can before her Nightsoul meter ?completely drains. This will usually be three sets of four Normal Attack combos, for a total of 12 hits.

The post How to play Xilonen in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact has never seen a character like Xilonen before. She’s a Geo character, but she can buff multiple elements and heal her teammates. With suc??h str??ong supportive abilities, will Xilonen affect the meta, or can you afford to skip her?

Is Xilonen worth pulling in Genshin Impact?

Xilonen is shaping up to be an incredibly strong support for Pyro, Hydro, Electro, and Cryo teams. Xilonen’s flexibility and ease of use in Genshin Impact teams definitely make her worth your pulls. Ev??en at Constellation 0 with 4-star weapons (Favonius Sword or Flute of Ezpitzal), she can enable your team t?o hit for bigger numbers while simultaneously keeping them alive.

Xilonen’s role in teams is similar to that of Kazuha, an Anemo unit who provides similar elemental buffs and debuffs. Xilonen can??’t replace Kazuha’s crowd-control and sustained elemental ?application, but she can provide healing instead. If you’re looking for a buffer for your elemental teams, Xilonen is a good option and an alternative to Kazuha.

Outside of meta reasons, Xilonen is just nice to have for exploration. She skates faster than Kachina’s Turbo Twirly and saves stamina when climbing cliffs. She a??lso generates some Phlogiston when other characters trigger their Nightsoul Transmission traversal abilities. There’s also the sheer cool factor of a DJ cat woman on rollerblades who can transform into a glittery ocelot. Her tra??iler theme is an absolute banger, too, if you haven’t checked it out already.

Are Xilonen’s Constellations worth it?

Xilonen is already strong at C0, but her Constellations further improve her abilities to various degrees. You don’t need Constellations for Xilonen to perform well against most enemies. I only recommend pulling for Constellations if you’re not saving up for future ch??aracters and/or you have the disposable income for extra wishes.

It’s not worth pulling for Xilonen’s first Constellation on its own. It improves her exploration perks by allowing her to skate for longe??r. Constellation 1 can mostly?? be considered a stepping stone on the way to Constellation 2.

If you do choose to pull for Constellations, Constellation 2 is my recommended stopping point for Xilonen. Constellation 2 improves Xilonen’s buffs based on the elements present i?n her team. I?t also allows her to support Geo DPS teams. If you want to play Xilonen specifically with Itto, Noelle, Albedo, or Chiori, Constellation 2 is a must-have.

Constellations 3 through 5 improve X??ilonen’s supportive capabilities, but to a lesser degree. Constellation 6 allows Xilonen to become an on-field DPS. These higher Constellations exist for whales who want to hyper-invest into their Xilonen. 

Is Xilonen’s signature weapon worth it?

Xilonen’s signature 5-star Sword is the Peak Patrol Song. It has a DEF% secondary stat with a passive that buffs your team’s elemental damage based on the equipping character’s DEF. In short, it improves Xilonen’s buffing abilities, making it Xilonen’s best weapon overall. Peak Patrol Song is worth it if you want a weapon that synergizes well with Xilonen’s kit.

Xilonen has perfectly usable 4-star options. Favonius Sword takes care of her Energy Recharge needs while providing more energy for the entire team. Flute of Ezpitzal can be crafted using billets and improves Xilonen’s healing. There aren’t any 4-star weapons that directly improve Xilonen’s unique kit, though. If you want a weapon that actually feels like it belongs on Xilonen, ?you’ll need Peak Patrol?? Song.

Don'?t worry too much about how your weapon looks on Xilonen. During normal team rotations, you won't actually see her weapon. Xilonen prefers to kick enemies with her rollerblades instead.

Should you pull for Xilonen’s C2 or her signature weapon?

Maybe you have the ??extra wishes for either Constellation 2 or Peak Patrol Song, but not? both. Which one is better for your Xilonen?

For most teams, Xilonen’s Constellation 2 is better than R1 Peak Patrol Song. However, with the recent changes to Genshin Impact’s weapon banner, Constellation 2 can be about twice as expensive as a 5-star weapon. If you’d rather save some pulls for future Natlan characters like Chasca or Mavuika, Peak Patrol Song is the cheaper option. You can alwa??ys obtain C??2 Xilonen when she reruns.

If you plan to play Xilonen primarily with an Electro DPS, keep in mind that her C2 bonus for Electro is finicky. 25 energy is nice, for sure �and it?? affects the whole team, not just your Electro characters. But you won’t be able to take advantage of the extra energy or the 6s Burst cooldown reduction unless you specifically build your team for it.

The post Is Xilonen good in Genshin Impact? appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact has released? preview images (known in the community as “drip marketing� for its next cohort of upcoming characters. This round of drip marketing features the peacekeeper Chasca and the enigmatic Ororon. Here’s what we know about them so far.

Chasca the Anemo archer

If you’ve played through the first couple of Archon Quests in Natlan, then you’ve already met Chasca. She’s a Bow user from the Flower-Feather ??tribe, which represents the Anemo element. Apparently, Chasca was raised by Saurians, resulting in a combative nature. When she was found and adopted by a human family, Chasca had to learn how to navigate human interactions in a more peaceful manner. Now, Chasca embraces her role as Peacemaker, resolving tribal conflicts wherever they may arise.

As for Chasca’s playable kit, we’ve seen her use a Bow during cutscenes, and her Anemo Vision is clearly visible at her hip. Other than her weapon and element, though, we don’t know how Chasca will actually play. Given Chasca’s story involvement ??and how her element matches her tribe’s theme, it’s likely that Chasca will be a 5-star character. More details should be on their way in a few weeks.

Ororon the enigmatic traitor?

We never actually saw Ororon during the Archon Quests in 5.0, b??ut we did hear him speak a few lines. He appears to be from the Masters of the Night-Wind �the Natlan tribe symbolizing the Cryo element. Despite his tribal affiliat?ion, though, Ororon is shown to have an Electro Vision. The Archon Quest reveals that Ororon is collaborating with the shady Fatui Harbingers, though it's unclear whether he’s being coerced or acting of his own free will. Aside from his brief involvement in the Archon Quests, we don’t know much else about Ororon.

Ororon officially has an Electro Vision, but his weapon type remains unknown. We haven’t even seen him in-game yet, hindering speculation about his playable kit. Fun fact: Ororon is only the fourth male Electro character to join the Genshin Impact roster. All ten other Electro characters in Genshin Impact are female, resulting in the most skewed gender ratio of all elem??ents.

When are Chasca and Ororon coming to Genshin Impact?

Going by past release trends, we can expect Chasca and Ororon to become playable sometime during Genshin Impact Version 5.2. Our roadmap puts 5.2 at a November 20 release date. The two newcomers should make their debut either on that date or three weeks later on?? December 11, depending on how Ho?Yoverse staggers their banners.

Whi??le we wait for Chasca and Ororon, Geo Sword user Xilonen is releasing very soon on October 9. Be sure to c??heck back then for more resources on Xilonen’s builds and if she is worth pulling!

The post Chasca and Ororon to soar into Genshin Impact’s playable roster in 5.2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact recently celebrated its fourth anniversary since its launch in September of 2020. In addition to a plethora of other anniversary rewards, there’s a web event where you can grab some extra goodies, including Prim??ogems and an event-exclusive recipe. Here are all of the puzzle answers so you can breeze through and claim?? all of the prizes!

Genshin Impact’s fourth anniversary web event, titled Teyvat’s Special Delivery, can be accessed via its official webpage. Be sure to log into your Genshin Impact account before?? starting, since your prizes will be delivere?d directly through your in-game mail.

Click through the tutorial until you get to a list of locations. For ea??ch location, you’ll have to deduce the correct package recipient based on a b??rief description. 

Before you submit an answer, you’ll need to complete some missions to gain stamina. These missions include various activities within Genshin Impact, as well a??s clicking some social media links. You don’t consume stamina for wrong answers, but solutions for each location and description are below.

1. Mondstadt

This is a delivery to Mondstadt. Recipient: Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius
Answer: Albedo

2. Liyue

This is a delivery to Liyue. Recipient: “Famous�poet of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
Answer: Hu Tao

3. Inazuma

This is a delivery to Inazuma. Recipient: Divine Priestess and Strategist
Answer: Sangonomiya Kokomi

4. Sumeru

This is a delivery to Sumeru. Recipient: Botanical expert and Amurta researcher
Answer: Tighnari

5. Fontaine

This is a delivery to Fontaine. Recipient: “Angel of Salvation�and head nurse
Answer: Sigewinne

6. Natlan

This is a delivery to Natlan. Recipient: Veteran guide of the People of the Springs
Answer: Mualani

Once you’ve delivered packages to all six nations of Teyvat, claim your event rewards. Your prizes will appear in your Genshin Impact mailbox, including a cooking recipe you can only earn through this event. Be sure to log into your Genshin Impact account and collect these rewards bef?ore they expire??! Happy anniversary!

The post Genshin Impact 4th ?anniversary web event solutions appeared first on Destructoid.

Lingsha is the newest character available to pull on Honkai: Star Rail, and as one that serves the Abundance role, she has significant competition. With this in mind, is Lingshi still worth your S??teller Jades, or should you pass her?? up for a future character?

Is Lingsha worth pulling in Honkai: Star Rail?

Lingsha is in an interesting place. She's a Break/Follow-up-centric Fire Abundance character that focuses on offense to do her healing. Thanks to her plethora of buffs for both Break and Follow-up archetypes, she fits like a glove in those teams. Moreover, she is universally strong on every possible team in Honkai: Star Rail thanks to her constant cleansing and emergency healing, and if you factor in Eidol??ons (s??pecifically her E1), I'd argue she is the strongest Abundance character outright.

While this sounds like a no-brainer pull, I can't say I agree for one big reason: her competition. What do I mean by this? We've had many Abundance and Preservation units that redefined the meta since the game's release, and those characters remain among the best in meta even now. These characters all work to sustain your team so they aren't killed the moment something strong comes along. Lingsha also fits in well here, being able to keep your team alive in the direst situations, but if you already have one of these meta supports, I'd argue that Lingsha is pretty unnecessary.

Unlike DPS units, sustain-base supports have a much longer lifespan in the meta of most gacha games, and that remains true for Honkai: Star Rail as well. So, the issue or concern isn't whether or not Lingsha will be a good addition to your account roster. She absolutely will be. It's 'Do you actually need her to replace one of your meta-already supports?'. If the answer to this question is 'no,' then there's not really a point in pulling her ?unless you just like her aesthetics or playstyle.

Sustain characters like Aventurine and HuoHuo are meta because they have unique niches that work extraordinarily well?? on specific teams despite being universally useful if you just need healing support. Lingsha wou??ld sit right in the same boat, side-by-side, with these characters, as her niche is the unique power she brings to Break and Follow-up teams. However, to use her in, say, a Follow-up team, she'd have to replace Aventurine, who is widely considered the best Follow-up support thanks to his Skill Point positive playstyle, passive sustain, and great damage. At this impasse, is it worth pulling a new character who will perform similarly to Aventurine in the same team? For me, I don't think so.

That all said, I'd say Lingsha is a fantastic pull if you don't already have at least two meta sustainers (Aventurine, HuoHuo, Fu Xuan, Gallagher, Luocha). Otherwise, I recommen??d skipping Lingsha for future pastures.

The post Should you pull for Lingsha in Honkai: Star Rail? appeared first on Destructoid.

With the release of Zenless Zone Zero version 1.3, Caesar and Burnice ?make their official debut as rate-up characters on the game's character banner. While Caesar is already available, Burnice will be coming in just a few weeks, but as they are both rather expensive to pull, which one should you prioritize over the other?

Caesar King vs Burnice - Zenless Zone Zero

There are many factors involved when deciding which of these two five-star characters to pull, but if you're looking for a quick and dirty answer: Caesar King offers the biggest bang for your buck, thanks to her incredibly universal k?it. This is not to say Burnice is any sort of slouch, but breaking down both characters and their roles will give a clearer picture as to why.

Caesar King

Caesar King has one of the most overloaded kits I've ever seen in Zenless Zone Zero. Despite being a Physical Defense character, she's the ultimate "Jack-of-all-trades, Master-o??f-One," able to thrive in every team role, seamlessly fitting into any team composition, while also offering the best team ??defense buffs in the entire game.

She provides an almost unbreakable team-wide shield, a 25% damage debuff on enemies with nearly constant uptime, and a massive 1000 ATK buff to allies, also with near-permanent uptime. Her st??unning capabilities and ability to parry attacks without character swapping add to her absurd versatility, all while she can deliver constant viable DPS.

These factors allow her to easily serve as both the main DPS and stunner on any team, which is something no other character in Zenless Zone Zero can currently claim. Mind you, this is all Caesar King at C0, without additional Cinemas. Needlessly to say, her insane versatility makes her one of the easiest pull recommendatio??ns I can give.

Burnice

Burnice, on the other hand, is much more specialized, the norm for most characters in Zenless Zone Zero. She is a Fire Anomaly character whose main role is to dish out as much Fire DoT (damage over time) as possible. Her goal is to burn everything to the ground with her dual flamethrowers, and sh??e excels at doing this without question.

In terms of raw damage, Burnice will vastly outperform Caesar because she can be played in dual Anomaly teams, allowing Discord procs to utterly destroy? her foes. Additionally, because Burnice does so much damage on her own, she can be your main on-field DPS while running with two supports.

What's more, Burnice's actual kit allows her to dish out massive Fire damage while?? she is off-field, too, thanks to her Afterburn mechanic. Afterburn is a debuff she can apply that will allow her teammates to 'proc' additional Fire damage when they strike the afflicted foe.? This means that Burnice will also excel in teams where she is the sub-DPS instead, as she does not need much field time to set up her debuff on every enemy on screen.

Beyond that, Burnice does not offer much else for a team. She is a tried-and-true damage dealer, and she?? is designed around that concept, pigeonholing her into that role. While Burnice's damage is very impressive, Caesar offers so much more than just dam?age that will allow her to remain relevant long into Zenless Zone Zero's life. Burnice is far less versatile than Caesar, which is why Caesar is the one you should invest in if you have to pick just one of these characters.

The post Sh??ould you pull for Caesar or Burnice in Zenless Zone Zero? appeared first on Destructoid.

It feels like just yesterday that Genshin Impact had a massive update that introduced Natlan. But the team at HoYoverse isn’t done, and we now have details for Genshin’s next major update: Version 5.1, titled The Rainbow Destined to Burn.

Genshin Impact Version 5.1 releases on October 9, 2024. Check back later for even more details, as ?well as pre??-install information and maintenance rewards.

Genshin Impact 5.1 trailer

Genshin Impact 5.1 livestream Primogem codes

XSME6NV4GX2Z
KALF66CLGXKM
PT5WP6D5GXJ9

Each code awards 100 Primogems on top of various other materials. To redeem, visit the official webpage or enter the code in-game. The?se codes expire soon af?ter the special program premiere, so get going!

Genshin Impact 5.1 Banners

The first half of Version 5.1 will feature Xilonen (5-star Geo Sword) and Chiori (5-star Geo Sword). They ?will be accompanied by their signatur?e 5-star Swords, Peak Patrol Song and Uraku Misugiri.

The second half of Version 5.1 will feature reruns of Nahida (5-star Dendro Catalyst) and Hu Tao (5-star Pyro Polearm?). Their 5-star signature weapons are A Thousand Floating Dreams and Staff of Homa.

In addition to these 5-stars, three new 4-star weapons will be available on the weapon banners. These are Sturdy Bone (Sword), Mountain-Bracing Bolt (Polearm), and Fruitful Hook (Claymore). Mountain-Bracing Bolt, in particular, appears to be Kachina’s preferred weapon, at least in cutscenes. There's no informati??on ye?t on which banners will include these weapons.

Xilonen

There’s one new 5-star character coming to Genshin Impact in 5.1: Xilonen. Xilonen is a famous smith from the Children of Echoes whose handiwork can be seen in everything from the Pyro Archon’s sunglasses to Kachina’s Turbo Twirly. She’s a DJ on the side, and she’s crafted herself a special pair of earbuds so she can listen to music on the go. Xilonen us??es her special rollerblades to skate around Natlan, even traversing sheer cliffs.

There are two way??s to play Xilonen. If you have two or more Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, or Electro characters in your team, Xilonen will be able to support them by reducing enemy RES to those elements. Give her the new Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City artifact set, and she’ll provide DMG buffs, too! If your team is primarily Geo, t??hough, Xilonen will function more as a damage dealer.

Events

The flagship event for Genshin Impact 5.1 is Chromatic Ode of Candies and Roses, aka the Sabzeruz Festival. Travelers will return to Port Ormos and collaborate with Sumeru characters to plan a birthday surprise for Nahida. Given all that she’s been through, Nahida deserves a proper birthday celebration. This event will feature several minigames, including a flower carriage rhythm game, a spot-the-anomaly game, and some combat trials. Completing the event rewards players with the usual Primogems and Ascension materials, as well as a free Candace.

The other events in this patch consist of Aphid Treasure Trace (use Xilonen’s net to capture corrupted aphids), Feast of Pursuit (a? high-difficulty combat event), and Reminiscent Regimen: Thrill (a co-op combat event). Liben will also be making a return to the city of Mondstadt, trading various valuable goods in exchange for odds an?d ends.

Other additions to Genshin Impact 5.1

We can expect new Archon Quests that co??ntinue Natlan’s storyline. Acts 3 and 4 of Natlan’s Arch?on Quests will feature some new characters: Citlali and Ororon. Neither of them is playable in Version 5.1, but they probably will be added to the roster in future updates.

A new world boss will be available in Natlan: the Secret Source Constructor. This is a mysterious ancient machine that looks like a larger version of ??the Secret Source machines in Natlan’s open world. Xilonen will likely use the S?ecret Source Constructor’s boss materials to Ascend.

Exploration rewards will be added for the existing regions of Natlan. Complete exploration objectives before the end of Version 5.2 to receive Primogem rewar?ds. Future regional releases wi?ll also have exploration rewards for the two Versions following their introduction.

New Envisioned Echoes trails will be added for Zhongli and Keqing. Zhongli’s Echo looks like golden dragon scales, while Keqing’s has little purple flowers. Use Keys of Echoes to ?unlock their respective trials and unlock these cosmeti?cs.

If you’ve been regularly clearing the Spiral Abyss, your experience will now be streamlined. Completing Floor 12 with full stars will allow you to skip Floors 9 and 10 in the next cycle, claiming their rewards directly from the Aby?ss screen. Completing Floor 11 ?with full stars only allows you to skip Floor 9.

The crafting experience will receiv?e an overhaul, allowing you to sort by character at the crafting bench. No more scrolling through pages and pages of items �just select the character you’re trying to level up and see the materials they need.

5.1 appears to be a lighter patch for Genshin Impact, adding no new region??s and only one new character. Still, I'm grateful for the opportunity to catch up on exploration, and I'm excited to see how ?Natlan's story will continue.

The post Genshin I??mpact 5.1 release date, Primogem c??odes, banners, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to raw power, Acheron is often compared to Firefly, and now Feixiao, as they rank among the top-tier characters in Honkai: Star Rail. With Feixiao being the newest addition to the roster, and both characters requiring a significant investment of currency (whether real or in-game), the question arises: Who truly stand?s out betw?een her and Acheron?

Is Feixiao stronger than Acheron in Honkai: Star Rail?

If you're looking for a quick and dirty answer, she is not stronger than Acheron overall. However, there are nuances you should know about so you understand exactly why that is. The first I want to note is that Feixiao is largely superior to Acheron in pure single-target scenarios. This means that in any endgame mode that places Feixiao and Acheron against a single target, Feixiao will dish out more damage and allow you to kill the enemy faster. This makes sense with the roles of each character. Feixiao is a Hunt character while Ac??heron is Nihility. Hunt characters should be superior in a single t??arget, as that is where their niche in a team lies.

However, Acheron is no slouch in single-target DPS. In fact, in most cases, you won't need the type of damage output that Feixiao is capable of, because Acheron can dish out more than enough to end fights just as fast. For added measure, the moment more than one target is on the screen, Acheron completely outdoes Feixiao in terms of raw damage output. Acheron can consistently attack every enemy on the field with no sacrifices necessary. While Feixiao does have some light cleave, in this type of encounter Acheron is just better on all fronts. Feixiao is more restrictive than Acheron because she is almost entirely single-target-focused.

To counter this, Feixiao's team composition is less limiting than Acheron's because she has more options to run with. Thanks to Feixiao's flexible kit, she only needs to play with strong follow-up attackers to gain the most out of running her. Acheron, however, requires two Nihility units on her team for her to be at maximum effectiveness, which is a point for Feixiao. However, once Acheron does have those two units, she can face anything in the game without any problems, som??ething Feixiao can never say due to her lack of AoE (Area of Effect).

So, all in all, Acheron is the strongest of the two characters because she is more versatile, adaptable, and consistent. She is extremely strong in all scenarios when her team composition is sound. While Acheron does deal less single-target damage, this hardly ma??tters when she still deals massive single-target damage, while also doing that damage to all enemies on the field. Hopefully, this makes sense and helps you decide which one to pull for.

The post Honkai: Star Rail – Feixiao vs Acheron, Who is better? appeared first on Destructoid.

The newest member of Zenless Zone Zero's Special Response Team, Seth, has the ability to decrease the Anomaly Buildup Resistance of targets while also providing both a sturdy shield and a handy Anomaly Proficiency boost. It makes him a must-have for all Anomaly-focused teams in ZZZ.

But how should you build him? Here's the best Seth Lowell build in Zenless Zone Zero,?? as well as a few teams sure to get the most from his presence.

• Table of Contents:

  • Best W-Engines for Seth
  • Best F2P W-Engine
  • Best Drive Disks
  • Best teams for Seth in ZZZ

Best W-Engines for Seth

The best W-Engine for Seth in ZZZ is his signature one, Peacekeeper - Specialized. Pairing its 624 base ATK and a 25% ATK substat at level 60 with a 0.4-second Energy Regen increase and 36% EX Special and Assist Follow-Up Anomaly Buildup boost when shielded, the engine will both strengthen Seth's shield and a?llow him to add to his team's ability to trigger Shock and Disorder. All values above are related to the item at one star.

Given Seth's ATK-focused set, the Battle-Pass exclusive Spring Embrace will be my second pick. Apart from being the only other Defence engine in the game to have an ATK substat, the A-Rank will ??also allow him to provide your DPS with a handy boost in Energy Generation.

Best F2P W-Engine in Zenless Zone Zero

If you cannot get his signature and don't want to go with a Defense engine as your Battle-Pass pick, the 4-star Bunny Band will be the best for Seth. Available for crafting at the gadget ??shop, the engi?ne will provide him with 594 base ATK at level 60 and boost his ATK while shielded by 10% (at one star).

Best Drive Discs for Seth in ZZZ

As his kit revolves around his EX Special and ability to perform enhanced attacks after acquiring 75 Resolve, the best Drive Disc set for Seth in ZZZ is a 4-piece Swing Jazz paired with a 2-piece Freedom Blues.

While Swing Jazz takes center stage given its 20% ER boost and team-wide 15% DMG Bonus passive, Freedom Blues' increase in Anomaly Buildup will allow Seth to double down as support. If you are like me and have yet to ?get the best main stats for the latter, using a 2-piece Thunder Metal can also work.

Recommended stats and substats for Seth

As Seth's shield is just as vital?? as his ability to produce Anomaly stacks, I recommend focusing on ATK for the fifth and fourth drive disc partitions. For the sixth, go with Anomaly Mastery. If you want to boost his offensive repertoire and don't mind losing on shield strength, going with Anomaly Proficiency for the fourth disc can also work. Prioritize Anomaly Proficiency and ATK when fishing for substats.

Best teams and Bangboos for Seth in Zenless Zone Zero

As an Anomaly-focused support, the best team for Seth in Zenless Zone Zero will feature Jane Doe as its main on-field DPS and Grace as its sub-DPS. Thanks to Seth's buffs and Grace's ability to quickly trigger Shock, this team will be a??ble to fully enable Jane and deal massive amounts of both Assault and Disorder DMG. In all Seth teams, always place your main DPS in the agent slot before his, so they will be called as a quick assist and get his shield and buff.

If you don't have Grace, using Rina can work given her ability to boost both the team's PEN Ratio and the duration of Shock. Anby or Qingyi can also do well as alternatives, and they will add a massive dose of Daze to the mix. To recap, here are the best Seth teams in ZZZ, as well as a few alternatives for those who coul??d not get Jane:

• Grace + Seth + Jane Doe (BIS, capable of easily triggering Anomaly effects at quick intervals for massive amounts of damage)
• Anby/Qingyi + Seth + Jane Doe (The best of both worlds, capable of dealing huge amounts of daze while also enabling Disorder)
• Jane Doe + Seth + Rina (A variation of Seth's best team)
• Grace + Rina/QingyiAnby + Seth (A pure Shock team focused on dealing huge amounts of damage over time)
• Seth + Grace + Piper (A light version of our main Jane team. Will allow you to deal a good chunk of damage and trigger reactions by relying on Piper's EX Special)

When taking any of the teams above to battle, make sure to always bring an Electric Bangboo with you to boost your Shock output. For the role, Plugboo will be my first choice, followed closely by a five-s?tar Electroboo.

The post Bes?t Seth build in Zenless Zone Zero �Best Drive Discs, W-Engines, and team compositions appeared first on Destructoid.

The ferocious Feixiao has finally made her way into full release in Honkai: Star Rail version 2.5?. With it, it's time to ask the question that always pops into the mind of those considering pulling a new charac??ter: Is she worth it?

Is Feixiao worth pulling in Honkai: Star Rail?

Feixiao is an extraordinarily powerful character with a lot of easy-to-access damage in her kit. In terms of raw strength, she offers a ton of value to any account, but the amount depends on who else you already own. This is because Feixiao is a follow-up character, and as with most follow-up characters in HSR, they thrive depending on who they have on their team. With Topaz and Robin being her best teammates by far, than?ks to their potent buffs to follow-up attacks, having them on your account makes Feixiao an interesting consideration.

Furthermore, Feixiao being a Hunt character means she deals top-tier single-target dama??ge, but a big plus is that her AoE potential? isn't all that weak despite her typing. Her follow-up mechanic is rather unique for a follow-up character because, unlike most, her follow-up does not require any special condition to build or activate. An ally hitting an enemy is enough to increase her counter, meaning she is highly versatile and can fit on most teams without much trouble.

That said, despite Feixiao’s solid value, she isn’t a must-pull for a few key reasons. Her biggest drawback is the stiff competition she faces from Firefly and Acheron. While Feixiao can dish out ?just as much damage as these two, you don't need to pull for her if you already have one or both. Firefly and Acheron are in the same power tier as Feixiao, and her slight edge in single-target damage isn’t enough to justify spending Stellar Jades for such a minor upgrade. This is especially true in AoE-heavy content like Pure Fiction, where Feixiao struggles to compete in any meaningful metric and is far less effective than the aforementioned.

So, should you pull for Feixiao? Is she worth your time and investment? The answer depends on your roster. If you already have her ideal teammates, like Topaz and Robin, or if you're missing Firefly and Acheron, she could be a great addition. But, if you're only after her for meta reasons, weigh these factors before commit??ting. Ultimately, if you love her design, go for it! Your enjoyment should be the ??top priority. Just make sure you're certain before pulling the lever.

The post Should you pull for Feixiao in Honkai: Star Rail? appeared first on Destructoid.

After some cheeky teasing on Twitter/X, Genshin Impact has revealed more details on its collaboration event with McDonald’s. Here’s everything we know about Genshin Impact’s first fast food collab in the United States.

The Genshin Impact x McDonald’s collaboration event is limited to participating locations in the United States from September 17 through 29. That’s less than a two-week duration to? get your tasty food and in-game ??goods.

Genshin Impact x McDonald’s rewards

So what do you get from this event? There are two McDonald’s menu items related to the event: the Genshin Impact Apple Pie and Genshin Impact Deluxe McCrispy�Meal. The apple pie comes in a special Genshin-themed box featuring special art of Kazuha and Beidou. The Deluxe McCrispy�Meal also has the limited-edition apple pie, along with a crispy? chicken sandwich, fries, and a drink. Each ?item comes with different rewards, delivered via a redemption code.

How to participate in the event

The Genshin Impact x McDonald’s collaboration event only runs from September 17 through 29, 2024. You’ll need to be in the United States near a participating McDonald’s locatio?n. If you (or a friend) can make it to a participating McDonald’s within this time period, here’s how to get your rewards??.

1. Download the McDonald’s app. Make sure you’re registered in the McDonald’s Rewards program and enable email notifications.
2. Open the McDonald’s app and tap on the Genshin Impact x McDonald’s collaboration event banner.
3. Select the item(s) you want. You can only get one of each reward package per order.
4. Check your email for the redemption code(s).
5. Redeem your code(s) either in-game or on Genshin Impact’s official redemption page. The rewards will be sent to your in-game mailbox.

The fine print states that you can only get one redemption code per apple pie or meal purchase. If you want multiple of each reward package, you’ll need to make multiple orders. Redemption codes will work for all global servers, so if you live outside the United States, you can still redeem the rewards if a friend grabs you a code. Each reward package can only be redeemed once per Genshin Impact account, so you can’t hoard Golden Apple Pastry items by buying apple pies in real lif?e.

The post Get exclusive rewards through the Genshin Impact x McDonald’s collaboration event this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact could be teaming up with?? fast food giant?? McDonald’s, going by an unusual post on Twitter/X. 

The tweet features an image with nine items from Genshin Impact laid out in a row. From left to right, they are Mora, Cecilia, Dandelion Seeds, Onigiri, Noctilucous Jade, Apple, Lakelight Lily, Dandelion Seeds, and Silk Flower. The first letter of each name spells out �strong>MCDONALDS.�nbsp;

For its part, McDonald's has made its own Twittter/X post with a "quest" to text a certain number. From the account's bio, it looks like there will be more quests to come. They've also changed their profile picture and banner to feature images from Mondstadt, which is a nice touch. In turn, the Genshin Impact account ??responded with a picture of Paimon wearing a McDonald's service?? visor.

Genshin Impact has partnered with fast food chains before, like KFC, Dominos, and Pizza Hut. Each collaboration event came with in-game goodies like Primogems, Ser??enitea Pot furnishings, and exclusive wind gliders.? However, these collaboration events have been limited to east Asian locations. The cryptic post on the English-language Twitter/X account could mean there’s a McDonald’s collaboration event coming to North America.

A McDonald’s collab would be a great opportunity to hand out the fancy red Wings of Delicacies, an exclusive wind glider that was previously only available in China and South Korea. Genshin Impact tweeted back in July that the wings would become available in more regions, with more details revealed by the end of the year. For those outside of Asia, this could be the event we've be??en waiting for.

Or not. The previous two fast food gliders (Wings of Feasting and Wings of the Starlit Feast) were distributed globally via a Twitch event and Amazon Prime, respectively. If the new Wings of Delicacies are given out via a McDonald’s collab, it would mark the first time ??a special glider is distributed via an actual fast food ?chain in North America.

If you’re looking to get your hands on a fancy red wind glider in Genshin Impact, or just curious to see what comes next?, keep an eye out for another ??announcement from HoYoverse. Maybe grab a few friends to share some burgers with.

The post Genshin Impact teases McDonald’s collab in cryptic tweet appeared first on Destructoid.

Kachina is a free 4-star Geo character in Genshin Impact. Depending on how you want to play her, Kachina’s build will be slightly different. Here’s an overview of the different builds you can use on Kachina depending on your playstyle.

Best Kachina build for exploration

If you don’t intend to use Kachina in difficult combat scenarios, her build isn’t too important. Her damage scales with her DEF stat, so equip a Polearm that gives her CRIT, DEF, or Energy Recharge. Natlan’s craftable 4-star Polearm, Footprint of the Rainbow, is an easily obtainable option. Participate in Genshin Impact’s Natlan web event to get one for free in your mail.

Kachina’s artifact sets are flexible for overworld exploration. 4pc Noblesse Oblige or 4pc Tenacity of the Millelith will allow Kachina to grant teammates a 20% ATK buff. Yo??u can also use the 4pc Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City set to grant team buffs when Kachina triggers Crystallize. Since the latter is a new artifact set in Version 5.0, though, you may just want to stick with whatever suppo?rt set you already happen to have.

As for Kachina’s artifact stats, aim for DEF or Ene?rgy Recharge sands, Geo DMG goblet, and CRIT circlet. Her artifact substats should prioritize CRIT, DEF, and Energy Recharge. I like to have at least 150% Energy Recharge, just so I can use Kachina’s Burst more often, but don’t worry too much about Energy Recharge.

Best Kachina support build

As an off-field unit, Kachina should try to maximize her DPS while still maintaining support capabilities. Favonius Lance single-handedly takes care of Kachina’s Energy Recharge needs while providing Energy for the team. If you don’t have Favonius Lance, the Natlan craftable Footprint of the Rainbow is a good second ?choice.

If playing Kachina in actual teams with proper rotations, her artifact set should be 4pc Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City. You can use 4pc Noblesse or 4pc Tenacity o?f the Millelith as interim sets, but the new Sc??roll artifact set should be your end goal.

Kachina’s artifact main stats should be DEF sands, Geo DMG goblet, an??d CRIT circlet??. Prioritize CRIT and DEF substats. Try for at least 120% Energy Recharge, but it’s okay to just use Kachina’s Burst every other rotation.

Best Kachina build for DPS

Kachina doesn’t make for the best on-field DPS unit, but you can absolutely play her as one! Be sure to prioritize CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG as much?? as possible. This means equipping her with a CRIT or DEF polearm, like Staff of Homa, Staff of the Scarlet Sands, White Tassel, or Footprint of the Rainbow.

As for artifact sets, DPS Kachina should use 4pc Obsidian Codex, which gives her 40% CRIT Rate while on-field in her Nightsoul’s Blessing state. No other set comes close in terms of DPS.

DPS Kachina’s artifact main stats should be DEF, Geo DMG, and CRIT DMG. She shouldn’t need additional Energy Recharge ?if paired with Gorou or another Geo support, but you can build some if you like. As an on-field?? DPS, Kachina will be able to gain more Energy for herself, anyway.

The post Best Kachina builds in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Starting from Version 5.0, Genshin Impact has a new way to create artifacts with custom stat loadouts. Of course, there are limitations. Here’s everything you need to know about the Artifact Transmuter in Genshin Impact, including how to obtain and use it.

How to get the Artifact Transmuter in Genshin Impact

Before we get started, you need to own the Artif??act Transmuter. This gadget can be obtained from ??the Adventurer’s Handbook.

1. Open the Adventurer’s Handbook (F1 on PC).
2. Click the Embattle tab toward the bottom left.
3. Use the arrow keys toward the top to turn to Chapter IV.
4. Claim your Artifact Transmuter at the top of the list.

You need to have obtained at least 25 5-star artifacts before you can claim the Artifact Transmuter. This shouldn’t be an issue if you’ve been playing Genshin Impact for any length of time. If y?ou don’t meet this requirement, don’t worry. You can farm 5-star artifacts fairly easily once you reach Adventure Rank 45, but you’ll start earning them naturally before that.

How to use the Artifact Transmuter in Genshin Impact

The process of creating an artifact is called Defining. You can Define one artifact of each artifact set per Version. For example, if you Define a Viridescent Venerer piece, you must wait for the next Version update to Define another Viridescent Venerer piece. But?? you can Define a Marechause??e Hunter piece right away.

To use the Artifact Transmuter to Define?? a custom artifact, follow the steps below.

1. Go to your inventory and use your Artifact Transmuter in your Gadgets bag.
2. Choose your desired artifact set from the list on the left.
3. Choose the piece you want to create. Flowers and feathers cost one Sanctifying Elixir, sands cost two, circlets cost three, and goblets cost four.
4. Choose your desired main stat and two substats.
5. Select “Define�to consume your Sanctifying Elixir(s) and obtain your custom artifact!

As long as you pick different artifact sets, y?ou can Define as many artifacts as you like, provided you have enough Sanctifying Elixirs. These are a limited resource, though, with precious few available through repeatable means.

How to get Sanctifying Elixirs in Genshin Impact

Now that you know how to use the Transmuter, you need Sanctifying Elixirs to start crafting custom artifacts. The most reliable way to obtain th??ose is to extract them from your existing leveled artifacts. Take these steps to convert your artifacts into a Sanctifying Elixir.

1. Go to your inventory and use your Artifact Transmuter in your Gadgets bag.
2. Select the Artifact Extraction tab at the top.
3. Select the artifacts you want to consume. They can only be 5-star artifacts of level 4 or higher, and each artifact grants a different amount of points.
4. Once you reach 100 points, select Extract to create your Sanctifying Elixir.

You can only convert artifacts into a Sanctifying Elixir once per Version. More Sanctifying El?ixirs can be earned by exploring Natlan’s open world or reaching level 26 on the premium Battle Pass (Gnostic Hymn). There may also be Sanctifying Elixirs included?? in event rewards, like the anniversary rewards that will be mailed to all players during Version 5.0.

The post How to use the Artifact ?Transmuter in Genshin Impact �Sanctifying Elixirs ??explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Just like Fontaine characters had Arkhe, Natlan characters in Genshin Impact have a new mechanic called Nightsoul. Here’s everything you need to know about Nightsoul and how to take advanta??ge of it!

Nightsoul’s Blessing state

All Natlan characters so far can enter a “Nightsoul’s Blessing�state, usually by using their Elementa??l Skill. This results in a stance change. You can tell when a character is in their Nightsoul’s Blessing state by looking for a colorful, glowing outline, along with some? glowing markings on their body.

Nightsoul’s Blessing manifests differently for each character. Kachina hops into Turbo Twirly and rides it around. Mualani summons an inflatable shark and surfs across terrain. Check your cha??racter’s Talent information to see what their Nightsoul’s Blessing does.

Nightsoul points

While in their Nightsoul’s Blessing state, Natlan characters generate and consume Nightsoul points. The specifics vary by character. In general, Nightsoul points influence how long a character can stay in their Nightsoul’s Blessing state.

For example, Mualani gains 60 Nightsoul points when she enters her Nightsoul Blessing state, and she consumes them at a steady rate. She can gain ??20 points back when she picks up a Pufferfish from one of her passive abilities, essentially extending how long she can stay on her shark.

Nightsoul Burst

When you have one or more Natlan characters in your party, dealing Elemental damage triggers Nightsoul Burst. You can tell when this happens when a white sun symbol appears over your screen. Having more Natlan characters in your party lets you trigger Nightsoul Burst more often. A character does not have to be from Natlan to trigger Nightsoul Burst. They just need to deal Elemental damage.

Nightsoul Burst in and of itself does not deal damage, nor does it increase your character’s damage. It’s just an event that c?an be used to trigger other effects. 

Some Natlan characters or artifacts have passives that trigger upon a Nightsoul Burst. For example, Kachina gains 20% Geo DMG when a? party member triggers Nightsoul Burst. The 2pc set bonus for the Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City artifact set generates some Energy when Nightsoul Burst is triggered.

Nightsoul Transmission

Nightsoul Transmission refers to Natlan characters�ability to smoothly transition into their traversal skills in Natlan. While your active character is sprinting or in certain states of movement, swapping to a Natlan character causes them to automatically enter their Nightsoul Blessing state. You c??an tell when a character’s Nightsoul Transmission is ready by an orange glow around their name in your team sidebar.

Those are all the Nightsoul-related terms in Genshin Impact. Hopefully, this glossary was helpful to you. It will be interesting to see how future Natlan characters ?will incorporate Nightsoul mechanics into their kits.

The post What is Nightsoul in Genshin Impact? Natlan m??echanics explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Welcome to Natlan, the nation of Pyro in Genshin Impact! With a new nation comes a new set of 4-star craftable weapons, some of which are actually quite good. Here’s where to find the blueprints?? f??or Natlan’s weapons so you can craft as many as you need.

Natlan Smithy location: Stadium of the Sacred Flame

All of Natlan’s craftable weapon blueprints can be purchased from Alom at Natlan’s Smithy. The Smithy i??s located in the southern section of the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. From the teleporter at the entrance to the Stadium, walk forward until you see a small set of stairs to the left. Go up the stairs and through the door. Head down the corridor, and you should be face to face with the Smithy.

Talk to Alom and ask to buy some weapons. He has the forging blueprints for Natlan’s craftable weapons for sale. They don’t cost Mora, though. Instead, you’ll need to trade various Natlan regional ??materials as well as Condessence Crystals.

Once you have the blueprints, the we??apons can be forged using Condessence Crystals, White Iron Chunks, and Borderland billets. If you don’t have Borderland billets, you can convert billets of anot??her type at an Alchemy bench. Before you spend your precious billets, though, you might be able to get some of them for free.

Get some Natlan weapons for free

At the time of writing, Genshin Impact has a web event with three of the craftable weapons as prizes. All three weapons have been unlocked as rewards, so all you need to do is click through the web event to receive them. This only takes a few minutes, and your rewards should be delivered instantly via in-game mail. The web event runs until September 24, so if you haven’t participated yet, do it now!

The post How to get Natlan craftable weapon blueprints in Genshin ?Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

The new nation of Natlan is here in Genshin Impact, and with it comes a new Reputation system. Natlan’s Reputation system works a bit differently from other nations� and it requires a few steps to unlock in the first plac??e. Here’s a brief overview of Natlan’s Reputation system and how to unlock it.

How to access Natlan Reputation boards

Natlan’s Reputation system is split across the six major tribes of the region. As of Version 5.0, only three tribes are accessible: the Children of Echoes, Scions of the Canopy, and People of th??e Springs. The central hub for each tribe has its own NPC in charge of Reputation.

You can’t just run up to them and talk to them, though. To unlock the Reputation system in general, you need to progress through Natlan’s first Archon Quest. It took me about three hours from starting the Archon Quest to get to the point where I could access the Reputation system. You’ll receive a pop-up notice in-gam??e alerting you that Natlan’s Reputation system is unlocked for you.

Once you’ve unlocked the Reputation system, talk to the Reputation NPC for each tribe, identified by a triangle icon above their head. For the Children of Echoes, that’s Cauich. A little boy named Aclla manages Reputation for the Scions of the Canopy, and Kahuna is in charge for the People of the Springs. Once you see the triangle-shaped Reputation icons on your map, you can click the Reputation icons to teleport to the Reputation NPCs immediately.

Natlan’s Reputation system, explained

Each tribe has its own Reputation board. Complete the Tribal Chronicles quests, explore the region, and participate in some World Quests to earn Reputation EXP. Each tribe has its own list o??f Reputation rewards.

Once you’ve maxed out Reputation levels for each tribe, you can earn additional rewards based on how many tribes you’ve hel?ped. The rewards here are more valuable, including Natlan’s treasure compass, Pyroculus resonance stone, and Natlan’s wind glider.

How to get Natlan’s wind glider in Genshin Impact

Natlan’s wind glider, Wings of Soaring Flame, is red and black, with a distinct fiery flair. In order to obtain this rare red set of wings, you’ll need to reach maximum Reputation level with five different tribes of Natlan. Version 5??.0 only ?features three of the six total tribes, so the Wings of Soaring Flame are unobtainable as of Natlan’s debut. Keep working on each tribe’s Reputation level, though, and you should be able to claim them eventually.

The post How to unlock Natlan Reputation in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

So, you’ve got your free Natlan 4-star character. Congrats! Kachina is a Geo character in Genshin Impact who is incredibly helpful for exploring Natlan. Here’s how to play Genshin Impact's Kachina,?? both for overworld traversal and in combat.

How to ride in Kachina’s drill

Kachina’s Skill summons a little drill car called Turbo Twirly. Simply tapping the Skill button summons it as a separate entity. Kachina can then swap to other characters, leaving Turbo Twirly to deal AoE Ge?o damage pe??riodically.

If you want to keep Kachina on-field, hold the Skill button to summon Turbo Twirly and hop inside. You can then ride around using normal directional inputs. Running into ??a wall will cause Turbo Twirly to latch on and start? climbing. This is a great way to scale large vertical surfaces while saving stamina!

Using a Normal Attack while riding Turbo Twirly will deal an instance of AoE Geo damage. Use this to damage enemies or to interact with the puzzle elements scattered around Natlan. Kachi??na and Turbo Twirly is basically an alternative to using a Tepetlisaur. Anytime you can use a Tepetlisaur to climb walls or break ores, you can use Kachina to do the same thing.

While Turbo Twirly is on the field, Kachina can use her Skill again to mount or dismount Turbo Twirly. T??his is a good way? to reposition Turbo Twirly, if you need to.

How to play Kachina in a team

Kachina has great overworld utility, but you might also want to use her in a team. Kachina does well with other Geo teammates like Navia, Noelle, or Itto. In these teams, Kachina will be in an off-field role. Tap Kachina’s Skill to summon Turbo Twirly, use her Burst, then switch to teammates. Turbo Twirly will deal a small amount of damage while generating Geo particles for your tea???mmates. 

In a more active role, you can use Kachina’s Burst, then hold Skill. You can then ri??de around spamming Normal Attacks to deal Geo damage to nearby enemies. Kachina’s damage might not be particularly high, but you can supplement it with off-field DPS units like Albed??o and Xiangling. 

The post How to play Kachina in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Mualani is a hard-hitting 5-star DPS character in Genshin Impact who deals dama?ge while surfing on a shark. Now that you have the whole new region of Natlan to explore, here are Mualani’s best weapons and artifacts to get you starte?d!

Mualani’s best weapons

Mualani’s best weapon is her signature 5-star Surf’s Up. It gives her a good amount of CRIT DMG and HP, as well as a buff to her Normal Attacks. It is a 5-star weapon, though, so you’ll have to rely on the gacha system to obtain it. If you happen to have A Thousand Floating Dreams or Tome of the Eternal Flow, those a?re good 5-star options? too, though not as strong as Surf’s Up.

The 4-star Ring of Yaxche is an effective, accessible weapon for Mualani. It has an HP secondary stat and its passive increases its wielder’s Normal Attack damage by a portion of their HP. As an HP-scaling Normal Attacker, Mualani can take full advantage of this weapon. Best of all, Ring of Yaxche can be obtained for free. Go to the Natlan Smithy to obtain its blueprint and craft as many copies as you have the billets for. You can also get one in your mail for free by participating in the Natlan web event.

The Battle Pass exclusive Sacrificial Jade is?? a risky play. It is possible for Sacrificial Jade t?o outperform Ring of Yaxche under some circumstances, but it is difficult to build around. Since Mualani gets so much CRIT Rate from her Ascension stat and artifact set (see artifact section below), Sacrificial Jade can result in too much CRIT Rate and not enough CRIT DMG. Unless you’ve somehow gotten very lucky with your artifacts, or you have an R5 Sacrificial Jade lying around, I recommend just sticking with Ring of Yaxche.

Best artifact sets for Mualani

Mualani’s best artifact set is 4pc Obsidian Codex. This is a new artifact set in the Natlan region whose pass?ive centers around the Natlan-exclusive Nightsoul mechanic. Mualani is able to trigger the artifact buffs through normal play, gaining up to 15% DMG and 40% CRIT Rate. No other artifact sets come close to Obsidian Codex. Your end-game goal for Mualani’s build should be a 4pc Obsi?dian Codex set.

While you’re farming for Obsidian Codex, though, what can you use in the meantime? If you happen to have 4pc Gilded Dreams or 4pc Heart of Depths, those can serve as interim artifacts. ?Otherwise, try combining 2pc set bonuses that increase Normal Attack DMG, Hydro DMG, or HP. 

Artifact stat priorities for Mualani

HP Sands will usually be better than Elemental Mastery, but they’re fairly similar, depending on your weapon. A CRIT R??ate circlet is not recommended, since Mualani has so much CRIT Rate baked into her ki??t and artifacts. Go CRIT DMG if at all possible.

As for substats, prioritize CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, HP, and Elemental Mastery. Energy Recharge is nice to have, but don’t go out of your way to build more than abo??ut 120%. Mualani’s Burst damage is roughly on par with one of her fully-charged Normal Attacks. It’s okay to forgo casting her Burst every rotation i??f it means you can build more offensive stats overall.

Mualani can be e??xtremely strong when built with the ab??ove specifications. She’s plenty of fun, too, so I hope you enjoy playing her as much as I did!

The post Best Mualani DPS builds in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

With the release of Natlan, there’s a lot of interest in the first 5-star character from the new nation. Mualani is an on-field Hydro DPS, but how does she stack up against other DPS options? Is Mualani strong enough to redefine Genshin Impact’s meta?

Is Mualani worth pulling?

Mualani is available in the character event banner for the first half of Version 5.0. She’s the first character in Genshin Impact who can truly take advantage of the Vaporize reaction with a Hydro trigger. With the proper Pyro teammates, Mualani is incredibly strong. If you do decide to? pull for Mualani, then you won’t be disappointed by her damage.

In terms of raw damage, Mualani in a Vaporize team is roughly on par with Neuvillette in a mono Hydro Furina team. Neuvillette is still unique for his ability to sustain himself with his own healing. Mualani can’t heal ?herself, but she can be useful for open-world exploration.

Only pull for Mualani if you like her. If you’re pulling for meta reasons alone, there are plenty of other strong DPS options to choose from. While Mu?alani may be the only character specializing in forward Vaporize teams, very few scenarios will call for that spe?cific strategy.

Are Mualani’s Constellations worth it?

Mualani’s Constellations increase her damage to varying degrees. Her first two Constellations both provide noticeable increases. If you choose to pull for Mualani’s Constellations at all, I recommend stopping at C1 or C2. However, if you have to choose between Constellations and her signature weap??on, the signature weapon might be a b?etter value.

The rest of her Constellations provide smaller damage increases, with the exception of C6, which is a massive damage boost. Only pull for C6 Mualani if you have the budget and you really like her; there’s no content in Genshin Impact th??at’s hard enough to require C6 5-star characters.

Is Mualani’s weapon worth it?

Mualani’s signature 5-star weapon, Surf’s Up, is her best weapon by a sizable margin. When compared to Ring of Yaxche, the damage increase from Surf's up is slightly higher than Constellation 1 alone. However, C?onstellation 1 and 2 together result in?? more damage than Surf’s Up alone. 

Especially with the recent changes to the weapon banner, Surf’s Up provides better value for your Primogems. You only need one Fate Point to guarantee your desired weapon, and the weapon banner has a more g??enerous pity system. If you have the Primogems to spare, I recommend prioritizing Mualani’s weapon over her Constellations.

Mualani is a complete unit at C0 with fr?ee-to-play weapons. Her Constellations? and weapon make her stronger, but she’s plenty strong already. Don’t feel pressured to spend Primogems you don’t have, and engage with the gacha system responsibly.

The post Is Mualani good in Genshin Impact? appeared first on Destructoid.

Mualani is the first 5-star DPS character from?? Natlan, and her kit contains some new Natlan mechanics. Her in-game skill descriptions can be pretty confusing, so here’s a summa?ry of what you need to do when playing Mualani!

Mualani’s kit and Nightsoul explained

Nightsoul Blessing is the state that Mualani enters when you?? use her Skill. When Mualani is riding her shark, she is in her Nightsoul Blessing state. In this state, Mualani will continuously consume points and drain the meter to her left. The meter is a handy way of visualizing how much time Mualani can spen??d in her Nightsoul Blessing state.

You’l??l see three fish icons next to the meter, too. These icons represent Wave Momentum stacks, which?? increase the damage of Mualani’s next Normal Attack. Ideally, all three fish icons should be glowing when you use a Normal Attack.

Mualani’s best rotation in Genshin Impact

Start by setting up your teammates�abilities. Ideally, this includes a Pyro character like Xiangling to keep a Pyro aura on enemies. You can also supplement with a Dendro character to induce Burning, and maybe a shielder to keep Mualani safe. As long as there’s consistent ?Pyro application, though, Mualani will be happy.

Swap to Mualani and immediately use her Skill. Ride through enemies three times to mark them and gain stacks of Wave Momentum. You can ride through different enemi?es or the same enemy three times. It’s better to mark different enemies if you can, but you need to be quick, so don’t go too far out of your way to travel t??o an enemy.

??Once all three fish icons are glowing, use a Normal Attack. Mualani’s shark will deal a powerful hit of Hydro damage on the nearest character. At the same time, several missiles will be launched toward other marked enemies.

You should be able to repeat this combo three times. Ride through enemies to apply a mark and gain stacks, then use a Normal Attack. If you see a pink Pufferfish on the field, try to pick it up. It will give you more time to ride you??r shark. Otherwise, you might run out of time during your th??ird combo. If you see your meter running low but you only have two stacks, just use a Normal Attack and consume the stacks while you still can. It’s better to deal reduced damage with two stacks than to miss out on the attack altogether.

After Mualani hops off of her shark, if she has the Energy for it, cast her Burst. Depending on your team and how much Energy Recharge Mualani has, you might not be able to use her Burst every rotation. This is totally fine! Just use her Burst at the end? of her combo if it happens to be available.

From here, you can swap back to Mualani’s supports and restart your?? rotation. ?Good luck in your battles!

The post How to play Mualani in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Kachina, a 4-star Geo character, is coming to Genshin Impact as part of a free event wish. There’s no catch. No gambling. Just follow a few simple steps to have Kachina join your party as you journey through Natlan. Here’s exactly what you need to do to get your free Kachina in Genshin Impact.

How to get Kachina in Natlan

All Travelers will receive Kachina for free as they progress through the Natlan Archon Quests, titled “Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn.�Archon Quests are the main story quests in Genshin Impact, and you’ll want to prioritize them wherever possible. If you’re not caught up on Genshin’s Archon Quests, though, you can ski??p forward to the Natlan Archon Quests via a Quick Start function in the events menu. The Quick Start function will only be available until Version 6.0. If you want to skip forward in the Archon Quests to get Kachina, you’ll need to do it before Version 6.0.

You can only receive one copy of Kachina this way. If you want Kachina’s Constellations, you’ll have to pull for them on one of Genshin’s myriad banners.

Is Kachina good in Genshin Impact?

Most of Kachina’s value comes from her exploration utility. With Kachina in your party, you have a conveni??ent means of scaling cliffs and interacting with puzzles, even if there are no Tepetlisaurs nearby. If you’re looking for an off-field Geo DPS, Albedo and Chiori will deal far more damage. The Scroll of the Hero of Cinder?? City artifact set has the potential to make Kachina a good support for elemental teams, though, since it provides a significant buff to teammates when she triggers Crystallize.

Since Kachina can be obt?ained for free, I can’t complain about Kachina’s value. She’s a decent enough 4-star character, and I suspect she will only ??become more popular as we discover more synergies with teammates.

Are Kachina’s Constellations worth it?

Kachina’s Constellations improve her damage and make her kit smoother. They are completely unnecessary if you just want to use Kachina for exploration. If you want to build your Kachina for difficult combat sc??enarios, then I definitely recommend pulling for Constellations.

The 4-star characters on Version 5.0’s first set of character banners aren’t great. Mualani and Kazuha are great units, but Xinyan isn’t, and you probably already have a maxed-out Bennett. Kachina’s Constellations are welcome if you’re pulling for either of the ??two 5-stars, but don’t pull ??on the event banners specifically for Kachina.

The post How to get Kachina for free in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Kaedehara Kazuha made his Genshin Impact debut in 2021, becoming one of the most powerful 5-star Anemo characters on the roster. Now, with the release of Natlan in 2024, are K??azuha and his Constellations still worth it?

Kazuha is great with no constellations at C0

Kazuha is a strong unit without any Constellations. Kazuha’s C?onstellations? improve his crowd control, Energy Recharge, and buffing capabilities, but the only one that significantly changes his gameplay is Constellation 6.

If you do decide to pull for Kazuha’s Constellations, I recommend stopping at Constellation 2. C2 lets Kazuha buff his teammates�Elemental Mastery, making him an upgrade over Sucrose in teams that w?ould otherwise prefer her.

Kazuha’s Constellations explained

Kazuha’s Constellation 1 shortens his Skill cooldown and allows him to cast his Skill again after he Bursts. This gives him an extra charge of his crowd control ability and allows him to generate more energy for himself.? It also me??ans he takes a few more seconds of field time, though.

Ka?zuha’s Constellation 2 buffs your team’s Elemental Mastery by 200 for the duration Kazuha’s Burst is active. This is a significant buff to reaction teams who rely on Elemental Mastery. This is also a good stopping point for most players.

Constellation 3 adds three levels to Kazuha’s Skill talent. This has minimal impact if Kazuha is primarily built with E?lemental Mastery.

Constellation 4 allows Kazuha to regenerate some energy for himself when using h?is Skill. He’ll also passively regenerate energy while gliding, though this rarely comes into play during combat.

Constellation 5 adds three le??vels to Kazuha’s Burst talent. It’s better than Constellation 3, but you should only get t?his if you intend to go for Constellation 6.

Constellation 6 infuses Kazuha’s Normal Attacks with Anemo after using a Skill or Burst. He also ?gains a DMG bonus on his Normal A?ttacks based on his Elemental Mastery stat. This Constellation allows Kazuha to be played on-field.

Is Kazuha still good in Genshin Impact 5.0?

As we enter the new nation of Natlan, Kazuha remains a powerful unit in many teams. His ability to Swirl, buff, debuff, and gather enemies is still unmatched. If you don't have C0 Kazuha already, he's one of the few Genshin Impact characters I recommend with no caveats.

Kazuha's Constellations are still optional. They haven't decreased in value, but you might want to save your Primogems for upcoming Natlan characters.

The post Genshin Impact: Are Kazuha’s Constellations worth pulling? (Updated 5.0) appeared first on Destructoid.

Genshin Impact comes with several banners you can wish on to obtain rare characters and?? weapons. Each banner is a different type of slot machine, and understanding their probabilities is key to avoiding disappointment.

This article is part of a series on Genshin Impact’s convolut?ed gacha system. It’s important to understand exactly what you’re getting into when you engage with predatory gambling mechanics like these. By knowing your chances, you can get a realistic idea of what to expect from your pulls and make smarter decisions when spending your precious Primogems.

Genshin Impact wishes, explained

The standard banner is a great place to start learning about Genshin Impact’s complicated wishing system. The character and weapon banners function similarly, with small differences. The Chronicled Wish banner is the most unique, and it’s only available o??n rare occasions. You can read about these special banners on their own pages.

Genshin Impact’s standard banner uses blue Acquaint Fates as its pull currency at a rate of one Fate for one pull. No other banner uses Acquaint Fates. You can spend Primogems on the standard banner, but doing so is a mistake. Save your other pull currencies for the event banners. Only use Acquaint Fates t?o ??pull on the standard banner.

When you make a wish (or “pull�, you’ll usually receive a blue-rarity 3-star weapon. I recommend keeping at least ??one Refinement Rank 5 copy of these weapons in your inventory. Some of these 3-star weapons, like Harbinger of Dawn or Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers, are actually worth using.

Occasionally, you’ll get a rarer purple 4-star prize. On the standard banner, this can be either a character or a weapon. The 4-star prize pool is massive, and you can see exactly what’s in it from the banner deta??ils in-game. The base rate for getting a 4-star on any given pull is 5.1%.

Very rarely, you’ll get an orange 5-star prize. On the standard banner, the 5-star prize pool includes both characters and weapons. The base rate?? for getting a 5-star on any given pull is 0.6%. There is no way to home in on a specific 5-star of your choice; it’s always random. As of?? Version 5.0, the list of standard 5-star characters and weapons is as follows:

Genshin Impact soft and hard pity

All banner types in Genshin Impact have a pity system. This means that after a certain number of wishes (or “pulls�, the game will take pity on you and give you a rare item. The base probabilities for 4-st?ar and 5-star prizes are pretty low, but the pity system effectively bumps up those rates to achieve a more consistent pulling experience.

After a certain number of pulls without a 4 or 5-star prize, your chances of pulling a rarer prize will gradually increase. This is called soft pity. As you continue to pu?ll on the standard banner, the probability for a rarer item keeps increasing until it reaches 100%.

Hard pity is the absolute maximum number of pulls you have to make in order to get the rare item. If you reach hard pity, you are guaranteed to pull a rare prize. The number of ??pulls you have to make in order to reach soft and hard pity is different for 4-stars and 5-stars.

Genshin Impact’s standard banner rates and pity

From your last 5-star pull, you’ll need to do 74 pulls to reach the soft pity range. Additional pulls ??from here on out have increased chances of getting a 5-star prize. Your 90th pull is guaranteed to be a 5-star. When you see the golden shine indicating a 5-star, your prize can be any of the standard 5-star characters and weapons from the table above. 

From your? last? 4-star pull, your 9th pull has an increased chance of being a 4-star prize. If this fails, then your 10th pull is guaranteed to be a 4-star.

Does the standard banner guarantee pulling a weapon after a character?

There is a slight weighting system that ensures you don’t get too many 5-star characters in a row wi??th no weapons and vice versa. It’s definitely possible to pull three Jeans one after the other, but your next 5-star will probably be a weapon. Your 4-stars are also weighted, so you don’t get too many characters or weapons in a row. I've never pulled more than three consecutive 4-star characters or weapons.

Additions to Genshin Impact's standard banner

Occasionally, new 4-star and 5-star characters are added to the standard banner's prize pool. All new 4-star characters make? their way to the standard banner in the Version after their debut. Dehya and Tighnari are the only 5-stars to be added to the standard banner, and HoYoverse made this clear when the characters were first announced. Unless you're waiting for a specific 4-star character to be added to the standard banner, there's no?? real reason to hoard Acquaint Fates without spending them.

Now that you understand the standard banner, try looking at some of the special event banners that are Genshin Impact’s bread and butter.

The post Genshin Impact wishes explained: the standard b?anner appeared first on Destructoid.

A new web event for Genshin Impact takes us on a delightful tour of the new nation of Nathan. In addition to the usual Primogems, however, this web event offers an opport?unity to ??win some brand-new Natlan weapons. Here’s how you can get in on the action.

How to participate in Genshin Impact’s Natlan web event

The Natlan-themed web event, titled “Off We Go to the Nation of Pyro!�lasts until September 24 and can be accessed via its official webpage. Wait for the page to load, then click or swipe through the animations to reach the end. You can also skip this initial showcase with a b?utton in the top left corner. Afte??r getting through the showcase, there are two things you need to do to claim all of the web event rewards.

Cheer for the Natlan weapons

Scroll down or click on the middle tile to Cheer for the Sacred Flame Pilgrimage. This part of the web event wi??ll award the new Natlan weapons. To participate, log into your Genshin Impact account and press the Cheer button at the bottom. You’ll add anywhere between 1-8? Cheers to the total Cheer count. When the web event counts 30 million Cheers across all servers, all participants will receive three of the new craftable Natlan weapons at the start of Version 5.0, as well as some materials.

A little tip: You can Cheer once per UID. This ?means that if you used your account to create characters on multiple servers, you can Cheer again for each additional character you have.

Once Version 5.0 is live, all participants should receive their prizes via in-game mail. Be sure to log in after the Natlan update on August 28 to claim ??your prizes and check out the new content.

Are the Natlan weapons good?

The three weapons featured in the web event are 4-star craftable weapons from Natlan. The Polearm, Earth Shaker, has a DEF secondary stat and gives its wielder additional DEF when casting a Skill. The Catalyst, Ring of Yaxche, has an HP secondary stat and improves Normal Attack damage b??ased on its wielder’s maximum HP. The Claymore, Earth Shaker, has an ATK secondary stat and gives its wielder additional Skill damage when triggering a Pyro reaction.

Given the weapon types, it’s likely that the Polearm, Catalyst, and Claymore will be good options for Kachina, Mualani, and Kinich, respectively. If you want to save some Primogems and billets, it’s a good idea to try to snag these weapons early. These weapons are especially nice since, even though they're four-stars, the materials used to craft them are quite rare. Genshin Impact has never given out weapons as w??eb event rewards before.

If you miss out on this web event, you can still obtain these weapons by playing Genshin Impact. After Version 5.0 releases, these weapons will be craftable at any smithy using we?apon billets. Just be sure to buy the blueprints from Alom at Natlan’s smithy.

Free Primogems

Of course, no web event is complete without Primogems. From the main page, click on the right tile for the Version 5.0 Preview. Scroll until you get to the page showcasing three new Elite enemies. Click a button at the bottom of the screen to claim your Primogem rewards. Your Primogems will arrive in your Genshin Impact inbox immediately �no need to wait for 5.0!

The post PSA: Participate in Genshin Impact’s web event to earn free Natlan weapons (and Primogems) appeared first on Destructoid.

Envisaged Echoes is a method of obtaining cosmetic particle effects for certain characters in Genshin Impact. If you want to unlock a fiery feat??her trail for Diluc, the 5-star Pyro character, here’s what you’ll need to do.

Unlock Diluc’s Envisaged Echoes challenge

In order to even qualify for the challenge, your Diluc must be level 90 and Friendship level 8. You can earn Friendship levels by having Diluc in your team whenever you spend Resin, o??r by placing him in your Serenitea Pot.

Once your Diluc has reached these level requirements, you can unlock his challenge from the colorful easel in the Imaginarium Theater room. Head downstairs in the Knights of Favonius library, enter the Imaginarium Theater room, and the easel will be to your left. Unlock Diluc’s challenge using two Keys of Echoes. Keys can be earned by completing Imaginarium Theater cycles, which reset on the first of every month.

Best Diluc build for Envisaged Echoes

Before you enter the challenge, review your Diluc’s build. Though Diluc is usually built to take advantage of teammates, he will be on his own during the challenge. If you have a meta build with the 4pc Crimson Witch set and high Elemental Mastery, you may want to consider temporarily swapping out some gear. Focus on raw CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG and try for a roughly 1:2 ratio of CRIT Rate to CRIT DMG. His artifact main stats should be ATK, Pyro DMG, and CRIT Rate or DMG. You can try for 2pc artifact sets that boost Pyro DMG, Norm??al Attacks, or ATK, but just having enough CRIT stats should be sufficie?nt for clearing the challenge.

How to complete Diluc’s Envisaged Echoes challenge

When you begin the trial, you’ll see a set of f??ive Pyro monuments. These all need to be lit in quick succession, and you don’t have time to run around and hit them all individually. There are multiple solutions to this puzzle, but this one was the easiest for me:

1. Place Diluc right in front of the center monument closest to where you spawn. 
2. Aim for the farthest monument in the back, and cast Diluc’s Burst.
3. Quickly turn around and use a Normal Attack on the monument to your right that wasn’t hit by the Burst.

Once the ??portcullis opens, head forward into the second part of the challenge �a combat trial. There are three waves of enemies to contend with:

1. 4 Hilichurls and 1 Dendro shield Mitachurl
2. 2 Hilichurls and 1 Cryo shield Mitachurl
3. 2 Cryo Abyss Mages

Fight your way through each wave. Use Diluc’s Burst to temporarily infuse his Normal Attacks with Pyro, allowing him to deal increased damage with his Pyro Normal Attacks. His Skill has three charges too, all of which deal Pyro damage. Spam Diluc’s Burst, Normal Attacks, and Skills as often as you can. Diluc’s Pyro attacks should b??e pretty effective against the enemies�shields, even if it takes a few hits to burn the Den?dro shield down.

Defe??at all 10 enemies within the time limit, and you’re done! Equip Diluc’s Envisaged Echo from the Dressing Room in his character screen, and show off your achievement.

The post How to get Diluc’s Envisaged Echoes in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.