How do I optimize my team for elemental mastery in Genshin Impact?

Optimizing your team for Elemental Mastery (EM) in Genshin Impact involves understanding how elemental reactions work and building a team that maximizes their potential. Elemental Mastery increases the damage of elemental reactions triggered by your characters, making it a crucial stat for teams that rely heavily on reactions like Vaporize, Melt, Overloaded, Electro-Charged, and Swirl. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you optimize your team for Elemental Mastery.

First, letÔÇÖs break down the mechanics. Elemental Mastery directly boosts the damage of elemental reactions. For example, if you trigger a Vaporize reaction (Hydro + Pyro), the damage multiplier is increased based on the EM of the character who triggered the reaction. This means that the character who applies the second element in the reaction sequence (the trigger) should have high EM to maximize damage. Reactions like Swirl, which spreads elements to nearby enemies, also benefit greatly from EM, as it increases both the Swirl damage and the damage of any secondary reactions caused by the Swirl.

To optimize your team for EM, start by selecting characters who excel at triggering reactions. Characters like Sucrose, Kazuha, and Venti are excellent for Swirl reactions due to their abilities to group enemies and spread elements. For reactions like Vaporize and Melt, characters like Xiangling, Hu Tao, and Ganyu are strong choices because they can consistently apply Pyro or Cryo to trigger these high-damage reactions. Electro characters like Fischl and Beidou are great for Electro-Charged and Overloaded teams.

Next, focus on building your characters with the right artifacts and weapons. For EM-focused characters, prioritize artifacts that provide EM as the main stat on the Sands, Goblet, and Circlet pieces. The Viridescent Venerer set is ideal for Anemo characters, as it increases Swirl damage and reduces enemy resistance to the swirled element. For Pyro, Hydro, or Electro characters, the Crimson Witch of Flames, Heart of Depth, or Thundering Fury sets are excellent choices, as they boost elemental damage and reaction damage. Weapons like the Sacrificial Fragments (for catalysts) and the DragonÔÇÖs Bane (for polearms) provide EM as a secondary stat, making them great options for reaction-focused builds.

Team composition is also critical. A typical EM-focused team might include an Anemo character for Swirl, a Pyro or Electro character for triggering reactions, and a Hydro or Cryo character for setting up reactions. For example, a team with Sucrose (Anemo), Xiangling (Pyro), Xingqiu (Hydro), and Bennett (Pyro) can create powerful Vaporize and Swirl reactions. SucroseÔÇÖs EM buffs will enhance the teamÔÇÖs reaction damage, while Xiangling and Xingqiu provide consistent Hydro and Pyro application for Vaporize.

When playing, timing and rotation are key. Start by applying an element to enemies, then use your Anemo character to Swirl that element and spread it to other enemies. Follow up with your reaction trigger character to maximize damage. For example, with the team mentioned above, you might start with XingqiuÔÇÖs Hydro application, then use SucroseÔÇÖs abilities to Swirl Hydro, and finish with XianglingÔÇÖs Pyro attacks to trigger Vaporize.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting EM on the trigger character, using the wrong artifact sets, or failing to properly set up reactions. For example, if your Pyro character has low EM, your Vaporize reactions will deal significantly less damage. Additionally, avoid using characters with conflicting elements that might disrupt your reaction setup, such as having two Pyro characters in a team where you want consistent Hydro application.

Advanced techniques include pre-stacking EM buffs before triggering reactions. For example, SucroseÔÇÖs passive talent increases the EM of the entire team when she triggers Swirl, so using her abilities before your main DPS attacks can significantly boost reaction damage. Another technique is using BennettÔÇÖs burst to provide an attack buff while also setting up Pyro for reactions.

In summary, optimizing your team for Elemental Mastery involves selecting the right characters, equipping them with EM-focused artifacts and weapons, and carefully managing your teamÔÇÖs elemental application and reaction triggers. By following these strategies, you can create a powerful team that excels at dealing damage through elemental reactions.