The combat in Genshin Impact revolves around the use of multiple elements and their interactions. This leads to all sorts of reactions, such as huge explosions or freezing opponents before they even get the chance to attack.
In this list, we’ll be tackling the top 10 best reactions in the game as of Patch 3.3. We’ll be assessing them based on utility, damage, and complexity. Read along to see what spot your favorite reaction got!
10. Superconduct
The queen of physical damage dances her way around the battlefield.
The go-to reaction for physical damage dealers. Superconduct reduces the physical resistance of enemies. It can be triggered by combining electro and cryo.
This physical resistance debuff can last 12 seconds, which should be enough time for any DPS to get their combos in. It’s also worth noting that the application of the reaction itself does a bit of damage.
Analysis
This reaction is very niche, as not every unit deals good physical damage. Most of the time, the game wants you to do elemental damage with different reactions. Focusing solely on physical damage limits the player by a lot, and there aren’t even that many good physical DPS units.
If you’re really going for a superconduct team, then luckily there are sets such as the Bloodstained Chivalry set and the Pale Flame set, which both directly increase your physical damage.
Superconduct Pros:
- Debuff lasts for 12 seconds.
- Units applying the reaction don’t need to be that well built.
- Nearly all units have the ability to do physical damage.
Choose Superconduct If:
- You want to leave elemental damage behind.
- You have a solid built Eula or Razor.
- You like having your main DPS hog all the field time.
Superconduct Power Rating:
75/100
9. Overload
When it comes to huge explosions, Klee's got your back.
The most destructive reaction in the game. Overload is caused by a combination of pyro and electro.
The result is an explosion that deals pyro damage and knocks back enemies. This can also deal good damage to certain enemy shields.
Analysis
The thing that makes overload so satisfying is also the biggest thing that holds it back. Pushing your enemies away isn’t something that you’d want to do, especially in time limited combat challenges. Having them thrown away from you requires a lot of dashing and a whole lot more effort if they’re scattered across the area.
The Crimson Witch of Flames set and the Thundering Fury set can both increase overload damage, depending on which element you’re using.
Overload Pros:
- Popping enemies back is satisfying, especially with Klee.
- Can destroy objects in the open-world.
- Can push enemies off of cliffs or into bodies of water to drown.
Choose Overload If:
- You are a pyromaniac.
- You have good pyro and electro units.
- You like mining.
Overload Power Rating:
77/100
8. Electro-charged
The Prinzessin der Verurteilung in her royal domain.
When hydro meets electro, you get a reaction that shocks your enemies’ entire beings. This current is passed on to their friends that are too close for comfort, making it ideal for groups.
Electro-charged teams rely on the consistent application of both elements to keep the damage going. Instead of being a one-shot type of reaction, this plays out as more of a DoT playstyle.
Analysis
In the early days of the game, this reaction wasn’t that much appreciated. As the community grew, we came to realize the power of EM and how it can make electro-charged viable with decent damage.
This gave birth to the so-called “tazer” teams, where electro and hydro application is at the core with decent EM, while the rest of the team either heals, buffs, or shreds enemy resistances.
Thundering Fury set will give you the most value for your electro-charged damage. You can also make use of the EM giving sets; Wanderers Troupe, Gilded Dreams, and the newest Flower of Paradise Lost set.
Electro-charged Pros:
- Has good free-to-play options.
- Good for camps of multiple enemies.
- Can be played with an anemo DPS.
Choose Electro-charged If:
- You have good electro and hydro applicators.
- Chaining continuous streams of damage is your thing.
- You have good EM sets.
Electro-charged Power Rating:
80/100
7. Swirl
Even ninjas need a little break.
The most flexible entry on our list. This reaction is caused whenever anemo comes into contact with pyro, hydro, electro, or cryo.
Swirl takes whatever element it is applied to and scatters it among enemies within the AoE. This pairs well with the fact that anemo units are known for their good crowd control skills.
Analysis
When used correctly, swirl can result in devastating, continuous damage. Elemental mastery is the main stat you need to look out for. Another thing this reaction has going for it is that it can make use of the elements in the open-world to its advantage.
Swirl enthusiasts are no strangers to the infamous Viridescent Venerer set. This set can shred enemy resistances by up to 40% just by swirling an element. It’s safe to say that even with the passing of time, the set still remains a must-have for any player.
Swirl Pros:
- Can shred enemy resistances with the Viridescent Venerer set.
- Can work well with most elements.
- Stack EM and you’re good to go.
Choose Swirl If:
- You want crowd control.
- You don’t mind having all sorts of elements flying around.
- You want to reapply elements to groups of enemies.
Swirl Power Rating:
83/100
6. Bloom
Nobody expected blooms to be this deadly.
One of the newer entries in our list. Bloom is created when dendro meets hydro, this results in a flower-like bud sprouting near the enemy and dealing AoE damage after some time.
What makes bloom so great is that it doesn’t stop there. These buds can be triggered with pyro to cause burgeon or with electro to trigger hyperbloom (more on that later).
Analysis
Bloom teams need a lot of EM to really stack up the numbers. It’s also important to remember that the blooms can also damage your character if they pop close to you. Better bring a shielder or capable healer to mitigate this self damage.
Another tip is that you should know who’s triggering the blooms and make sure that you don’t have any other elements that can possibly override this.
Currently, the Flower of Paradise Lost is the best set for bloom teams. Deepwood Memories is a great secondary option, but it would be best to have two units in your team carrying these sets to complement each other.
Bloom Pros:
- Innovative gameplay as blooms can be interacted with further with other elements.
- Good damage and trigger rate.
- Dendro Traveller is actually a good applicator for bloom teams.
Choose Bloom If:
- You have Nilou.
- You have a healer or shielder that can help you tank your own blooms.
- You like plants.
Bloom Power Rating:
85/100
5. Quicken (Aggravate and Spread)
What goes around comes around.
Another new reaction was born from the arrival of dendro. Quicken, in much simpler terms, occurs when dendro meets electro or vice versa. Electro attacks that would follow would be enhanced and called aggravate, while dendro attacks will also be enhanced but called spread.
Analysis
This was the buff that electro needed for such a long time. The game finally added a way for high-speed attackers to somehow keep up with those one-shot carries.
Thundering Fury and Deepwood Memories further enhance this reaction’s damage output. Any other set that provides EM would also do if you’ve been unlucky with artifact drops.
Quicken Pros:
- Makes units such as Keqing and Cyno top-tier.
- As I’ve mentioned, Dendro Traveller is a good free option.
- Works well against bosses.
Choose Quicken If:
- You have good dendro and electro applicators.
- You prefer a high-speed playstyle.
- Nahida is on your team.
Quicken Power Rating:
88/100
4. Hyperbloom
Kuki is the epitome of multitasking.
Yet another dendro related reaction. Hyperbloom is an enhanced version of bloom. This occurs when electro comes into contact with the blooms you created, this will result in the blooms being charged and popping instantaneously to home in on nearby enemies.
With this, you can go wild with your rotations and reactions as you can guarantee that among the three, electro will be the one to trigger hyperbloom so make sure you have your EM stacked up.
Analysis
This reaction ranks a bit higher than its other dendro counterparts, not because of its damage, but because of its inclusion of electro, where there are lots of good units. It’s also advantageous as the reaction utilizes a homing system, so you don’t have to worry much about not hitting your enemy.
The Flower of Paradise Lost set is currently the best option for this reaction. The Thundering Fury and Deepwood Memories sets are also good choices.
Hyperbloom Pros:
- Homing system based targeting.
- Can deal really good damage.
- Makes the most out of every unit you have in the team.
Choose Hyperbloom If:
- You want to maximize your Kuki.
- You’re into a quick swap playstyle.
- You have multiple good applicators.
Hyperbloom Power Rating:
90/100
3. Frozen
Funny how they seem so scary at first, then serve as damage test subjects as soon as you get into late-game.
We’ve all tried this reaction, and you have to admit that it really is fun to use. Frozen occurs when cryo meets hydro.
When enemies are frozen, they are incapable of movement until a certain duration or if another element hits them. Consistent application can keep foes frozen indefinitely.
Analysis
Freezing enemies at will definitely feels like a cheat sometimes. The only drawback to this is that the reaction itself deals no damage, you’re gonna have to rely on your character’s personal damage to actually take down the enemy.
The Blizzard Strayer set was handmade for this reaction. Not only does it boost cryo, but it also bumps up your crit rate by a good amount.
Frozen Pros:
- It’s really fun when the enemies are incapable of striking back at you.
- Can help a lot for setups.
- Lots of good options for teams.
Choose Frozen If:
- You want to walk on water.
- You have good hydro and cryo applicators.
- You have a cryo main DPS.
Frozen Power Rating:
92/100
2. Melt
Our valiant exorcist who needs a popsicle every now and then.
One of the notorious reactions for insane screenshot-worthy damage. Melt works in two ways, when cryo is applied to pyro, damage is multiplied by 1.5x. If pyro is applied to cryo, the damage will be applied by a whopping 2.0x.
It’s no surprise to see this reaction so high, as not only is the reaction good, but there are a lot of pyro units that can really make good use of it.
Analysis
If it were not for the poor options when it comes to cryo applicators, this reaction would’ve taken number 1. Melt has been a fan favorite for years already, and I don’t see it falling out any time soon. Rather, the arrival of new cryo units as time passes will only make it better.
Crimson Witch of Flames boosts melt damage even further by 15%. Any other set that would provide EM would also work to maximize damage output.
Melt Pros:
- Best damage multiplier in the game.
- Lots of good pyro choices.
- Good setups can lead to numbers up to 100k.
Choose Melt If:
- You have a good screenshot software.
- You want to make quick work of your enemies with minimal effort.
- You want to see the real power of units like Ganyu.
Melt Power Rating:
95/100
1. Vaporize
She looks as if she already knows what's going to happen.
Our top spot goes to the ever-reliant vaporize. It works similarly to melt but is caused by the combination of pyro and hydro. The multiplier for pyro is 1.5x while hydro gets 2.0x.
It’s awfully simple but it deals so much damage and can be done consistently that it ranks above all in this list.
Analysis
Some might argue that melt deserves the top spot because it has a better damage multiplier for pyro. My take is that hydro units are so much better than cryo units at applying their elements, and there are multiple ones to choose from. The setup is way easier, and hydro application is the best in the game.
The Crimson Witch of Flames set is the go-to for a pyro DPS. For a hydro DPS, any appropriate EM set would do great as well!
Vaporize Pros:
Elemental application is a small matter due to lots of good units.
Can be done with the use of bodies of water.
So good, even 4-star units can clear the Spiral Abyss with just this reaction.
Choose Vaporize If:
You have Mona, Xingqui, or Yelan.
You want to use the best reaction in the game.
You want high damage numbers that are also consistent.
Vaporize Power Rating:
96/100
