For players who like to play from a safe distance but sucks at using Archers (me), using a Catalyst is the best choice to go. You don’t have to be too near with the enemies, plus the attack is automatically redirected to nearby targets. Catalysts are so neat.
As of version 1.3., Genshin Impact has 6 characters who are Catalysts: Barbara, Klee, Lisa, Mona, Ningguang, and Sucrose. This is a really cool girl gang, if I might say. To add on, two of them, Barbara and Lisa, join our party for free after finishing certain quests in Monstadt.
Catalysts are rather big on their Elemental attacks; though, unfortunately, there is no Cryo Catalyst as of yet. The other element has one each except for Hydro who has two.
With only 6 Catalyst in total, making a top 5 would be too unfortunate for that one character left behind. So here’s a ranking for everyone instead:
6. Lisa
As one of the first Catalysts we’re introduced to in the Genshin Impact universe, Lisa is also the first Catalyst on the list.
Our humble librarian of Monstadt is the only current Electro Catalyst and we get her for free after completing the Sparks Amongst the Pages quest during Prologue Act I.
Lisa’s Elemental Skill, Violet Arc, brings forth a Lightning Orb that deals Electro DMG on hit. This can be stacked up to 3 times, creating a small AoE. The DMG isn’t a lot, but the Cooldown only lasts for 1 second, which means you can spam it to attack.
On hold, Violet Arc summons lighting to deal a massive Electro DMG to enemies nearby. This will reset the stacked number from before as it attacks.
Her Elemental Burst calls a Lightning Rose, which releases powerful lightning bolts that launches enemies nearby with Electro DMG. This effect lasts for 15 seconds and will continue to deal Electro DMG until the very last second.
On her 4th Ascension, enemies hit by Lisa’s Elemental Burst will have their DEF increased by 15% for 10 seconds. This, and her 1 second Elemental Skill cooldown makes Lisa a good support for the team.
As Sumeru Academia’s most distinguished graduate in 200 years, it is no surprise that Lisa’s knowledge brings in passive skill where she has a 20% chance to refund a portion of materials used in crafting potions.
Why Lisa is Great:
- Her Elemental Skill CD is 1 second
- Her continuous Electro DMG makes it easier to trigger an Elemental Reaction that reacts with Electro (i.e., Superconduct, Overload, etc.)
- Her Ascension 4 weakens enemies’ defense under her Elemental Burst
- She is free :D
Lisa Details:
- Star: 4
- Element: Hydro
- How to Get: Gacha / Completing Sparks Amongst the Pages quest
- Nation: Monstadt
- Constellation: Crater
5. Barbara
Our sweet, Idol of Monstadt, Barbara makes quite a few appearances throughout the Genshin Impact stories; from the Prologue, to the Chalk Prince and the Dragon Event.
Barbara makes a really good healer; she can be used as support though she shines the most fulfilling her role inUtility. Her Elemental Skill, Let The Show Begin, summons her Melody Loop, which heals everyone in the party on Hit and in a regular interval. This also helps in applying Wet status to your active character and opponents nearby.
That Melody Loop would work wonders if you wish to use her as a support. It lasts for 15 seconds and you can switch her back and forth to trigger Elemental Reaction like Frozen, Vaporize, Electro-Charged.
As a healer, her Elemental Burst regenerates everyone’s HP in the party with a big amount at once. The amount of HP given is based on Barbara’s Max HP.
Furthermore, she can revive a fallen party member with full HP if you manage to unlock her 6th Constellation, though this particular skill can only be triggered once every 15 minutes.
Why Barbara Is Great:
- Her healing ability is pretty top-notch even if you don’t max her to Lv. 90
- Barbara’s Melody Loop helps a lot when you want to trigger an Elemental Reaction that’s combined with water
- Her C6 automatically revives a fallen character with Max HP
- She’s free :D
Barbara Details:
- Star: 4
- Element: Hydro
- How to Get: Gacha / Completing the Baptism of Song Event
- Nation: Monstadt
- Constellation: Crater
4. Sucrose
An avid fan of chemistry and all its branches, Sucrose, lands the 4th place.
As the one and only Anemo Catalyst, Sucrose works the best as a Utility. Her skills are a big buff to the rest of the party; calling winds to do her bidding.
Sucrose’s Elemental Skill, Astable Anemohpoyasis Creation – 6308, brings in a small Wind Spirit, whichdeals Anemo DMG in an AoE. This wind would then pull the enemies in before launching them.
Her Elemental Burst, Forbidden Creation – Isomer 75 / Type II, summons a large Wind Spirit to the battle field. This Wind Spirit deals an AoE DMG as it pulls and launches nearby enemies for as long as the skill goes (6 seconds).
Additionally, in the case that the Wind Spirit comes into contact with another reaction (except for Geo), it will absorb that element and deals an extra DMG accordingly. This only happens to the first element that it comes in contact with.
As Albedo’s apprentice and someone very passionate about alchemy, it is very appropriate that her passive skill comes in the form of efficiency: when you craft a Character and Weapon Enhancement Materials with Sucrose, there’s a 10% chance to obtain twice the amount you’re making.
Why Sucrose Is Great:
- Her Elemental Burst works well with almost every element; dealing extra damage on top of the original DMG
- Her Wind Spirit helps in keeping the enemies in a safe distance
- She has a pretty rare passive skill; a 10% chance to double the crafting products of Character and Weapon Enhancement Materials.
- She can also be used as a support
Sucrose Details:
- Star: 4
- Element: Anemo
- How to Get: Gacha
- Nation: Monstadt
- Constellation: Ampulla
3. Ningguang
The famous Ningguang is currently the only Catalyst who comes from Liyue. I’ve seen a lot of people ask if she’s really a four-starred character because she seems like she deserves to be a five-starred character and I couldn’t agree more.
From her design to her skills, Ningguang is really pleasing to look at. Not only is she the sole Catalyst from Liyue, she’s also the only Catalyst with a Geo Element. It makes sense that the only Catalyst from Liyue would be a Geo one.
Ningguang summonsher Jade Screen to the field as her Elemental Skill. This screen brings an AoE Geo DMG and even blocks certain attacks like a shield. The endurance of the Jade Screen is based on Ningguang’s Max HP and lasts for 12 seconds.
At Ascension 4, a character that goes through her Jade Screen gets a 12% Geo DMG Bonus for 10 seconds.
Her Elemental Burst, Starshatter, works just about the same as the name implies. When Starshatter is activated, Ningguang gathers a number of gems and then scatters them all at once (you know, like the stars). These gems work like projectiles, dealing a massive Geo DMG to nearby opponents with a 87% DMG per Gem.
In addition, when her Starshatter is activated together with Jade Screen nearby, the Jade Screen would also shoot additional gems at the same time.
Ningguang’s passive skill shows the location of certain ores on the mini-map. She’s a Geo user through and through is what I’m saying.
Why Ningguang Is Great:
- Her Jade Screen deals DMG and provides some kind of shield at the same time
- The Jade Screen can also work as a buff once you get to her Ascension 4
- Ningguang works best as a main DPS, though it’s entirely up to you if you wish to use her Elemental Skill as a support only
- Here Elemental Burst attacks all nearby enemies at once
- (She is really pretty)
Ningguang Details:
- Star: 4
- Element: Geo
- How to Get: Gacha
- Nation: Liyue
- Constellation: Opus Aequilibrium
2. Klee
With the best intention in mind, Klee who loves explosives just wishes to share and play with what she loves best (bombs). It brings her a lot of trouble; but not us as a player.
As the only Pyro Catalyst, Klee brings in a lot of damage everywhere she goes. She throws around her little explosives as her Normal Attack, which would deal an AoE Pyro DMG as a result.
Her Charged and Plunging Attack also brings in Pyro DMG to the enemies; Klee is just full of fire and she’s unapologetic about that.
To furthermore infuse the Pyro DMG, her Elemental Skill, Jumpy Dumpty, also brings around a bomb that jumps three times; dealing AoE Pyro DMG everytime it bounces. At the last jump, Jumpy Dumpty breaks into little mines that explode once it’s touched by the enemies (or once time is up).
As if that’s not enough, her Elemental Skill and Normal Attacks gets a 50% chance to acquire an Explosive Spark. This will fuel the next Charged Attack, making it costs no Stamina and gets a 50% additional DMG on Ascension 1.
To nobody’s surprise, Klee’s Elemental Burst, Sparks ‘n’ Splash, is just even more bombs. For 10 seconds, Klee summons Sparks ‘n’ Splash to attack the enemies near her over and over again. I don’t think it’s important anymore to say that it deals an AoE Pyro DMG.
That is not all. If you manage to unlock her 4th Constellation, her Elemental Burst will trigger an explosion that deals 555% of her ATK if you change her during the course of Sparks ‘n’ Splash to another character in your party.
As the cherry on top, her passive skill marks your map with Monstadt Specialties (like Philanemo Mushroom, Dandelion Seed, etc.). Very fitting for a girl that loves treasures and adventures.
Why Klee Is Great:
- Her skills are easy to use and they’re pretty much on auto pilot
- She is a great main DPS (on contrary of everyone else who shines better as a support)
- Klee deals a big AoE Pyro DMG with almost all of her skills
- Which means you don’t exactly have to aim to deal DMG; just click away
- Her passive skill helps you when you’re farming Monstadt Specialties
Klee Details:
- Star: 5
- Element: Pyro
- How to Get: Gacha
- Nation: Monstadt
- Constellation: Trifolium
1. Mona
The great astrologist Mona takes the first place of the best Catalyst list. Is anyone surprised? Not me. I promise this is not biased even if I’ve been wishing to get her on my party.
Mona is the only Hydro Catalyst as of now; and she’s very proud and loud of her Hydro Vision that she calls water to do as she wishes. She can even glide on water, which helps a lot so you don’t have to risk swimming or make an ice path with a Cryo character.
Her Elemental Skill is called Reflection of Doom, which is appropriately named as she summons an illusion from her water. This illusion not only taunts the enemies, but it also deals Hydro DMG while doing so. Once the duration is up, it will explode and bring in an AoE Hydro DMG. Those enemies are doomed for sure.
On top of that, Mona’s Elemental Burst, Stellaris Phantasm, summons the waves which reflect the starry sky that applies the Illusory Bubble status to opponents in a pretty wide AoE. She’s a great astrologist, all right.
The Illusory Bubble will trap opponents in a kind of Omen which makes them Wet and even stuns the weaker ones. The Omen will give you a DMG Bonus, which not only boosts the DMG from the bubble, but also raises the amount of DMG taken from whichever ATK that is dealt during then.
Why Mona Is Great:
- Her passive skill lets you glide on water
- Her Elemental Skill deals DMG while it also functions as a Crowd Control
- Mona’s Elemental Burst can trap enemies in a bubble
- As a Hydro Catalyst, Mona can attack from a safe range whilst dealing a great amount of DMG
- Mona is great to be used as any role you wish her to be
Mona Details:
- Star: 5
- Element: Hydro
- How to Get: Gacha
- Nation: Monstadt
- Constellation: Astrolabos
