Over time, the Cryo element has consistently demonstrated its significance within Genshin Impact. This importance is evident in the elemental reactions it produces and the characters who wield this element. The prevalence of team compositions like Melt and Freeze teams exemplifies this popularity.
The introduction of Shenhe as the latest Cryo character in Genshin Impact raises the question of how he measures up against the existing Cryo characters.
Character Overview
Shenhe, a 5-star character wielding a Cryo element and a polearm weapon, debuted in version 2.4. He brings a unique approach to the game compared to other characters.
Shenhe’s primary focus is enhancing Cryo damage potential. He possesses various abilities geared towards boosting Cryo damage, reducing Cryo resistance, and delivering additional damage through his Elemental Skill known as “Icy Quill.”
Icy Quill adds extra Cryo damage based on Shenhe’s current Attack stat whenever a character inflicts Cryo damage. This effect adjusts to Shenhe’s stats dynamically and carries a significant damage multiplier.
However, Icy Quill has limited charges—5 when the Elemental Skill is tapped and 7 when held. Importantly, this quota applies independently to each character in the team. Shenhe’s quota system can be leveraged to its fullest potential with a short cooldown and effective team rotation.
At first glance, Shenhe seems like a character designed to boost Cryo damage for the team, a role typically filled by Support characters like Bennett or Gorou. However, Shenhe is a sub-DPS character because he can deliver substantial off-field damage.
This off-field damage doesn’t come from his Elemental Skill or Burst but rather from the Icy Quill mechanism. It enhances every instance of Cryo damage while Icy Quill charges are available. In essence, Icy Quill only requires characters capable of inflicting Cryo damage. More details can be found in the video below:
As described, Icy Quill’s potency extends beyond Cryo characters alone and can also work with characters featuring Elemental Absorption abilities, such as Kazuha, Venti, and Sucrose. Furthermore, it complements Chongyun’s Elemental Skill, which converts attacks from sword, claymore, and polearm-wielding characters into Cryo damage.
Talent Priority: Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst.
Artifact Recommendations
When selecting artifacts, consider combinations such as 2 Gladiator’s Finale + 2 Shimenawa’s Reminiscence or 2 Emblems of Severed Fate, based on your specific stat requirements.
Alternatively, if no other team member is utilizing it, you can equip Shenhe with 4 Noblesse Oblige artifacts. For a Freeze team setup, you can opt for 4 Blizzard Strayer artifacts when playing Shenhe.
Shenhe benefits most from maximizing his Attack stat while maintaining an Energy Recharge of approximately 160-180%. Here are the recommended main and substations:
Main Stats to Prioritize:
- Sands: ATK% or Energy Recharge%.
- Goblet: ATK%.
- Circlet: ATK% or Crit Rate%.
For Shenhe with a Circlet, consider using Crit Rate if wielding the Favonius Lance weapon to access its passive effect. However, if you can attain sufficient Crit Rate from substats (around 40-50% Crit Rate), opt for the primary ATK% stat.
Substat Priority: ER% > ATK% > Crit Rate/DMG% > flat ATK.
Weapon Selection
The weapons section can be divided into the best and best F2P (Free-to-Play) options.
Shenhe’s top-tier weapon is the Calamity Queller, released alongside him. It boasts a high base Attack and a passive effect that doubles the Attack when off-field.
Alternatively, consider Engulfing Lightning, Skyward Spine, or Vortex Vanquisher, as they provide the essential stats Shenhe needs: ATK% and Energy Recharge%. The Staff of Homa and Primordial Jade Winged-Spear are also viable choices due to their high base Attack.
For F2P players, the Favonius Lance is a solid option. It features a high base Attack, an Energy Recharge substrate, and a passive effect that generates energy particles for the team. Other alternatives include The Catch, Lithic Spear, Prototype Starglitter, Wavebreaker’s Fin, or Deathmatch.
Team Composition
Shenhe typically finds her place in the Freeze team composition, a prevalent choice. Within this setup, Shenhe effectively augments the damage potential of DPS Cryo characters like Ayaka and Ganyu. Alternatively, if Ayaka or Ganyu aren’t available, you can partner Rosaria with Shenhe.
Your options for the Hydro character slot in this squad include Kokomi, Mona, or Xingqiu, depending on your roster and needs. As for the Anemo character, you can select from Venti, Kazuha, or Sucrose.
Beyond the Freeze team, the Mono Cryo team can be employed. This formation prioritizes maximizing Cryo damage, which Shenhe enhances significantly. This team consists of Shenhe and two Cryo characters paired with one Anemo character. It excels against adversaries impervious to freezing effects, particularly when confronting formidable foes like bosses.
You can explore Shenhe’s role within the Reverse Melt team to diversify your team dynamic. This setup centers around the melt reaction, orchestrated by Burst Xiangling, Shenhe, and Rosaria, with Bennet bolstering the team’s attack power and providing healing.
Shenhe Genshin Impact Tips
Here are some valuable tips to optimize Shenhe’s performance:
Elemental Skills Usage: When employing Elemental Skills, it’s advisable to use the “pressed” version rather than the “held” one. Shenhe’s pressed Elemental Skill enhances the damage output of the team’s Elemental Skill and Burst abilities. In contrast, the held version boosts the damage of Normal Attacks, Charged Attacks, and Plunge Attacks.
Note that the “pressed” skill grants fewer Icy Quill stacks, limited to 5, but comes with a shorter cooldown of 10 seconds compared to the 15-second cooldown of the “held” skill.
Skill Rotation: To maximize the Icy Quill Shenhe Stack, you can effectively exploit the 10-second skill cooldown. Start battles with Shenhe’s Elemental Burst, then activate her Elemental Skill. Subsequently, deactivate all other characters’ Skills and Bursts on your team. Finally, switch to Shenhe and trigger her Elemental Skill again.
Crit Rate vs. Attack: Shenhe’s unique mechanic means that Attack is more valuable than Crit Rate for her, unlike many other sub-DPS characters. While Crit Rate only boosts Shenhe’s personal attack damage, such as her Elemental Skill and Burst, it does not affect the Icy Quill damage from other characters. Shenhe draws a Crit Rate from each team member, enhancing Icy Quill’s damage output.
Shenhe’s presence in Genshin Impact is widely appreciated, primarily for her role as a sub-DPS character that opens up diverse team composition possibilities. However, it’s worth noting that Shenhe excels especially when paired with Cryo characters, making her a versatile yet situationally niche addition to your roster.
As a limited 5-star character, Shenhe came with high expectations. Before her release, miHoYo had experimented with various niche support characters, including 4-star characters like Kujou Sara, Thoma, and Gorou. The culmination of these successes and failures led to the introduction of Shenhe as a 5-star character, marking a significant milestone in character design choices by miHoYo.
Those are some things about Shenhe Genshin Impact that you can recognize. This article can be a reference for you in playing Genshin Impact. Always remember to Top Up Genshin Impact only on UniPin right now!