Gamers of any genre would agree that food is essential on any occasion. Be it filling the hunger bar, boosting the party's attack, or even resurrecting the dead. Food always plays a vital role in any game we play. That’s why in this guide we will venture thru the best defense-boosting dishes in Genshin Impact.
10. Wakatakeni
The Inazuman dish is a nod to a Japanese dish called “Takenoko no Wakatakeni” which literally translates to “Simmered Bamboo Shoot”. Simplicity is the key to this dish, making it appealing to players who are still starting out, exploring, and farming for ingredients. Though the defense raise would be on the lower side of the spectrum, the dish would still be popular due to its simple ingredients.
What is it?
A light-colored vegetarian dish. Broth is first poured into the pot before the bamboo shoots, and then the seaweed, are added in. The result is an elegant product with a light mouthfeel that agrees well with all palates. Suitable as a pre-meal appetizer or as a side to a main dish.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 107 for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: sold in Kiminami Restaurant
- Ingredients: 3 x Bamboo Shoots, 2 x Seagrass
9. Jewelry Soup
This simple dish with Chinese origins is one of the go-to dishes in the game in terms of its simplicity during the early stages of the game. It is a hearty soup consisting of Snapdragon, Lotus Seeds, and Tofu instead of Chicken as stated in the original recipe.
What is it?
- A simple vegetable soup. The mild-tasting soup is filled with the fragrance of fresh vegetables. This down-to-earth and heart-warming soup can rival any luxurious dish.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 126 for 300s.
How to get it?
- Recipe: Custodian of Clouds quest reward
- Ingredients: 2 x Snapdragon, 2 x Tofu, 1 x Lotus Head
8. Fisherman’s Toast
The English-based sandwich was popularized in the 1950s. This was one of the first dishes encountered or cooked by travelers in their adventures in Teyvat. With a basic defense boost, the dish can be your handy partner when exploring the region around Mondstadt.
What is it?
- Onion-covered toast. A favorite amongst fishermen, they will stuff a bag with it and sit by the river all day.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 107 for 300s.
How to get it:
- The recipe is available by default
- Ingredients: 3 x Flour, 2 x Tomato, 1 x Onion, 1 x Milk
7. Sakura Tempura
Anyone who recognizes Japanese food should know about Tempura, and this delicious-looking delicacy is one of the defense staples in the game. Though acquiring the recipe would be daunting, this dish is worth the trip. This dish is useful to defense-type characters such as Zhongli, Gorou, Noelle, Yunjin, Xinyan, Albedo, and Itto.
What is it?
- A dish deep-fried in oil. Incorporate the marinated sakura blossom petals into the batter before giving the fresh shrimp and vegetables an even coating, frying, and then draining the oil. This all sounds simple enough, but good tempura making is not something achieved in a mere day.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' Shield strength by 25% for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: Gourmet Supremos: Assemble quest reward
- Ingredients: 4 x Shrimp Meat, 2 x Lavender Melon, 2 x Sakura Bloom, 1 x Flour
6. Rice Cake Soup
If you are an Anime or Manga fan, you will recognize this dish from its name alone. Rice Cake are staple in Japanese cuisine and one of the deadly cuisines in the country. Though the dish gives adequate defense boost, it is quite a chore making this dish as it requires an ingredient that needs cooking time, which makes it unpopular to travelers who are in a hurry.
What is it?
- Commonly-seen city cuisine. The ingredients have gorged themselves on the soup, making them most enticing indeed. They say that in the first, this dish only had a scant few ingredients, but more were added as time passed, resulting in its present form.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 200 for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: Inazuma Reputation Level 4 Reward
- Ingredients: 2 x Sausage, 1 x Tofu, 1 x Fish, 1 x Lavender Melon
5. Lotus Flower Crisps
As the fandom quote, “You do not play Genshin Impact if you do not recognize Lotus Flower Crisps.” This dish is essential in the early phases of the game when farming for materials and talents in troublesome domains and bosses. With a decent defense boost, this dish is a go-to by any traveler in exploring the Liyue region.
What is it?
- One of Liyue's traditional snacks. Sweet stuffed lotus wrapped in a crispy, deep-fried crust. Its layers of flower petals unravel perfectly in the palm of your hand.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 200 for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: Liyue Reputation Level 4 reward
- Recipe: 4 x Almond, 2 x Flour, 2 x Butter, 1 x Sugar
4. Calla Lily Seafood Soup
One of the first 3-star dishes encountered in the game. This crab soup is a must-try while exploring the area around Mondstadt and conquering Dvalin. Seasoned travelers often recall their regrets about not using defense dishes during the game's early phases and forgetting this dish which is available in the City.
What is it?
- A balanced combination of seafood. The delicacy of crab and mint makes for a clear soup, and the calla lily brings it a refreshing taste.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 200 for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: sold by Good Hunter in Mondstadt
- Ingredients: 4 x Crabs, 1 x Calla Lily, 2 x Mint
3. Moon Pie
A traditional dish in Mondstadt as it is inspired from the English dish Beef Wellington. As one of the first 4-star defense dishes in the game, the dish gives not only defense it also reinforces the shield strength of defense-type characters in your team composition. This dish is extremely helpful in boss fights and grinding for materials and talents.
What is it?
- A traditional staple from Mondstadt. Not only is the pickled meat within deeply flavorful, but the meringue has also maintained its sweetness and moisture through the baking process. This dish is not to be missed at any festival in Mondstadt.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' Shield Strength by 30% and DEF by 200 for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: Mondstadt Reputation Level 7 reward
- Ingredients: 4 x Raw Meat, 4 x Bird Egg, 3 x Butter, 2 x Flour
2. Golden Crab
This work is one of the go-to dishes of long-time players of Genshin Impact. This dish is popular in the game because of its simple ingredients to make this strong dish. It effectively raises not only the defense of the team but also the healing effects of food and ability in the team composition.
What is it?
- A crab dish cooked in the ancient ways. The crab has been chopped into pieces and battered with flour, before being stir-fried till golden and rich with flavor. It is worthy of the word "gold," whether in terms of appearance or quality.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' DEF by 261 and healing effects by 8% for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: To Mondstadt quest reward
- Ingredients: 5 x Bird Egg, 5 x Flour, 4 x Crab, 2 x Salt
1. Chili-Minced Cornbread
A dish made by Xiangling and Guoba. This dish not only gives a big defense boost, but it also gives a stunning 25-35% boost in shield strength which is very effective to characters like Zhongli, Itto, Garou, and most Geo Characters. This is truly a dish made with the help of a God.
What is it?
- A traditional snack from Liyue. The fresh dough is turned out into a round, rested, and then placed inside a cage to steam. The meat and vegetables are then washed, diced, before being fried quickly in an oiled wok. When eaten, the fried condiments must be placed into the empty space in the middle of the buns before they are eaten together. Between the crisp vegetables and the flavorful meat.
Stats:
- Increases all party members' Shield strength by 25/30/35% and DEF by 165/200/235 for 300s.
How to get it:
- Recipe: Three to Get Ready, Here We Go quest reward
- Ingredients: 4 x Raw Meat, 2 x Jueyun Chili, 3 x Flour, 2 x Cabbage
The objective of this guide was to showcase the best defense-boosting dishes in the game in terms of their availability and ease of acquiring ingredients in the game. Though some of the recipes may only be available in some events, those dishes gave a significant impact on the meta and gave a substantial improvement in gameplay that made players love those said dishes.
