The best elemental reactions to take down shields - Genshin Impact

Elemental reactions are a key part of Genshin Impact’s gameplay, and nowhere is that more important than combat. Your combination of party members and their associated elements matched against the various elementally attuned enemies in Genshin Impact can often decide whether a fight is a walk in the park… or an unbeatable nightmare.

• Read more: Genshin Impact's latest event banner "Farewell of Snezhnaya" starting soon, including Childe 

This guide should help you out when it comes to working out which elemental reactions to favour when trying to bring down shields fast - perfect for those tricky Spiral Abyss floors and Domain challenges.

(Picture: moHiYo)

Elemental Shield weaknesses

Geo

• Claymores, Geo, Overloaded (Pyro+Electro)
• Examples: Hilichirls with stone shields (Liyue), Geo Slimes, Stonehide Lawachurls

Electro

• Cryo (Superconduct)
• Examples: Fatui Electro-hammer Vanguard, Electro Cicin Mage

Dendro

• Pyro (Burning)
• Examples: Hilichurls with wooden shields (Mondstadt), Dendro Slimes

Pyro

• Hydro (Vaporise)
• Examples: Abyss Mage (Pyro), Fatui Pyro-slinger Bracer

Cryo

• Pyro (Melt)
• Examples: Abyss Mage (Cryo), Cryo Slimes, Fatui Cryo-gunner Legionnaire

(Picture: miHoYo)

Hydro shields: the odd one out

A quick note here that Hydro shields are… odd. Different Hydro shields react to different elements, so keep your wits about you!

“Standard” Hydro 

• Cryo (Frozen)
• Example: Abyss Mage (Hydro)

Fatui Hydro

• Electro (Electro-Charged)
  Example: Fatui Hydro-gunner Legionnaire

As a final note, there are no true anemo shields in Genshin Impact right now, so no need to worry about them! The one pseudo example, Fatui Anemoboxers, need to be flanked not attacked straight on.