Genshin Impact - Best DPS, tanks and healer builds

Latest Twitch sensation Genshin Impact has been a pleasant surprise - a free-to-play RPG in the vein of Breath of the Wild with a healthy dose of gacha to collect all those powerful party members. Once you actually have your party though, the next step is working out what artifact combos to use.

Here are a few builds that will do the trick.

(Picture: moHiYo)

DPS

Key stats: ATK and CRT

Every party is going to need at least one person who’s dedicated to dealing damage. That generally means focusing on finding a way to maximise damage output out of one core ability, be that basic attacks or consistent elemental damage.

Look for these artifacts to offer increased ATK and CRT, but a health dose of Elemental Mastery won’t see you far wrong if your character is using a lot of elemental attacks.

(Picture: miHoYo)

Best artifact sets:

• Gladiator’s Finale
  • 2-Piece:
    ATK +18%.
  • 4-Piece:
    Characters equipping this set who use a Sword, Claymore, or Polearm gain +35% increased regular attack damage.
  • Great for melee auto-attackers like Diluc and Razor.
• Wanderer’s Troupe
  • 2-Piece:
    Increases Elemental Mastery by 80.
  • 4-Piece:
    Increases Charged Attack DMG by 35% if the character uses a Catalyst or a Bow.
  • A massive boon for archers who love to use their element-infused charged shots, with Venti and Fischl being the S-tier options. Also powerful on casters like Mona and Lisa
• Thundering Fury/Crimson Witch of Flames
  • 2-Piece:
    Electro/Pyro 15% DMG
  • 4-Piece:
    Elemental Reaction 40% DMG, plus additional Elemental Burst bonuses
  • Elemental DPS options for Electro and Pyro respectively, which are the best elemental typings for DPS as of writing. Use it on Xiangling, Diluc, Fischl, Mona, Lisa, Keqing, Razor… it’s viable on all of these characters and more!

Bargain artifact sets:

• Resolution of Sojourner (strong)
• Beserker (situationally strong)
• Martial Artist (strong)
• Bloodstained Chivalry
• Brave Heart

Tanks/Healers

Key Stats: DEF and HP

No surprises in what Tanks and Healers want as their primary stats on the surface, but under the hood HP and DEF are even more important to these characters’ builds. In Genshin Impact, Tanks and Healers skill effects actually scale off HP and DEF. While which stat is the focus varies (Noelle for example scales off DEF), you are best served by indexing as heavily into that stat as you can.

In other words, the more HP/DEF you have, the more powerful your heals, shields and even damage become.

Noelle is a great Tank and a passable healer - and a guaranteed drop for beginners! (Picture: moHiYo)

Best artifact sets:

• Maiden Beloved
  
  • 2-Piece:
    Increases Healing done by 15%.
  • 4-Piece:
    For 10 seconds after casting an Elemental Skill or Burst, Teammates receive +20% additional healing.
  • The best set for healers in Genshin Impact right now. Use with the likes of Barabara, but Jean, Noelle, Qiqi and other healers can definitely make use of this
• Defender’s Will
• • 2-Piece:
    DEF +30%.
  • 4-Piece:
    For every element your party members have, gain 30% RES to that element.
  • Fantastic Tank stats, with a huge percentage increase in defence plus elemental resists. Very strong on Noelle (guaranteed drop via the Beginner’s Wish).

Bargain artifact sets:

• Lucky Dog
• Traveling Doctor

Casters/Supports

Key stats: Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge

All about getting off as many powered-up elemental skills as possible as fast as possible. Something of a catch-all group with a wide variety uses, but characters in this class generally want to synergise with other characters to use and abuse elemental effects either by themselves or by making it easier for other party members to do that damage for them.

Most Anemo users fall into this category because of Swirl’s ability to spread elements and prolong them.

The quintessential caster, Mona. (Picture: moHiYo)

Best artifact sets:

• Noblesse Oblige
  
  • 2-Piece:
    Elemental Burst DMG +20%.
  • 4-Piece:
    After using an Elemental Burst, all teammates get +20% ATK. Lasts 12s, does not stack.
  • Your straight nuke build for casters. Mona, Lisa and even venti can definitely use and abuse these artifacts.
• Viridescent Veneerer
  
  • 2-Piece:
    Anemo DMG +15%.
  • 4-Piece:
    Increases Spread DMG +60%. Depending on the Element, reduces the RES of enemies hit by Spread by 40%. Lasts 10s
  • The Anemo build, maximising the already impressive spread DMG the element is known for. Venti, Jean and your own PC (assuming they’re currently attuned to Anemo) all make great use of this.

Bargain artifact sets:

• Gambler (strong)
• The Exile (strong)
• Instructor
• Martial Artist (situational)