Elemental reactions are crucial to the combat mechanics in Genshin Impact. The game’s most effective teams harness powerful reactions such as Melt, Vaporize, and Hyperbloom. Recent updates, including version 5.2, have also enhanced other reactions like Electro-Charged, Overload, Shatter, and Superconduct. However, some elemental reactions, like Shatter, pale in comparison to their more potent counterparts. In this article, we delve into five of the least effective elemental reactions in Genshin Impact and discuss the reasons behind their shortcomings.
The Five Least Effective Elemental Reactions in Genshin Impact
5. Burning
The Burning reaction occurs when enemies are afflicted with both Pyro and Dendro elements. It inflicts ongoing Pyro damage while applying a Pyro aura to the foes. Although some teams utilize Burning, particularly against challenging bosses like the Tenebrous Papilla in the Spiral Abyss, its overall damage output is minimal. The effectiveness of this reaction hinges on Elemental Mastery (EM) and the character’s level that initiates the reaction.
Characters like Emilie and Kinich can leverage Burning; Emilie amplifies her Dendro damage through its activation, while Kinich benefits from additional Nightsoul points. Nonetheless, the intrinsic weaknesses of the Burning reaction limit its viability.
4. Overloaded
Triggered by combining Pyro and Electro elements, the Overloaded reaction delivers area-of-effect (AoE) Pyro damage upon contact. Despite recent buffs to its damage output, the reaction remains less effective in team compositions focused on Overload. One significant drawback is that it knocks back smaller enemies, complicating attacks from active characters.
While Chevreuse can enhance Overload team setups, she can only do so effectively in parties filled with Electro and Pyro characters. To counteract the enemy dispersal caused by Overload, players may need an Anemo support to regroup the enemies.
3. Crystallize
The Crystallize reaction happens when Geo element interacts with Pyro, Hydro, or Electro influences. This results in a weak shield, which fails to absorb substantial damage. Moreover, this reaction does not inflict damage on enemies but solely generates a shield. The protective barriers formed by characters like Lan Yan, Zhongli, Citlali, and Layla are significantly more robust than those created through Crystallize.
Although Navia can utilize this reaction by collecting the shields to enhance her damage, the limited utility of Crystallize solidifies its place as one of the game’s weakest reactions.
2. Superconduct
Occurring with an Electro and Cryo attack against an enemy, Superconduct inflicts minor AoE Cryo damage and reduces the physical resistance of foes. This reaction is predominantly beneficial for physical damage teams, making it one of its primary limitations.
Only characters like Eula and Razor can make full use of this buff, and the restrictive nature of their team compositions can hinder their effectiveness against crucial bosses such as the Tenebrous Papilla. The only support capable of amplifying physical damage, Mika, requires his C6 constellation to surpass the benefits provided by Bennett.
1. Shatter
Regarded as the least effective reaction in Genshin Impact, Shatter is characterized by its extensive restrictions. Despite recent increases in damage outputs, very few characters can effectively utilize Shatter.
To activate Shatter, players must first freeze an enemy using Cryo and Hydro elements and then hit the frozen enemy with Geo or Claymore attacks, resulting in non-critical physical damage. The drawbacks stem from the fact that Shatter’s effectiveness relies on the EM of the character triggering it, while no Geo characters benefit from EM. Furthermore, Geo teams seldom incorporate Hydro or Cryo elements. Freminet is the sole character with a passive boosting his damage for triggering Shatter, but he does not depend on EM; rather, he scales with the ATK attribute.
For all these reasons, Shatter remains the weakest reaction in Genshin Impact, as no character or team can leverage it satisfactorily.