Gameplay and Combat System

Genshin Impacts' action RPG combat system includes five weapon types, physical and elemental attacks, along with unique ways of leveling up and upgrading equipment. For detailed information on gameplay and how to fight in Genshin Impact, check out this guide!

Genshin Impact Gameplay and Combat System

Battle System Overview

Genshin's combat system occurs in real time and is action based. The player's party consists of up to four characters at a time, and each character has a specific weapon type and element. Characters cannot be switched in combat or in dungeons, so be careful to manage your party before entering combat!

Click on the text to jump to a section!
	Five types of weapons are available
	Combat involves a unique Elemental System
	HP does not recover automatically
	There is a leveling system, but mainly based on items

Five Types of Weapons

Each of the five weapon types in Genshin have their own characteristics. While exploring the landscape and adventuring, you can switch between them to effectively match the weapon to the situation.

Weapon Type	Characteristics
Swords	・A melee-range weapon. ・Can easily inflict knockback on foes. ・Lightweight and quick, but doesn't hit as hard as a Claymore.
Claymores	・A melee-range weapon. ・Charge attack is a massive spin move. ・Can easily break through stone. ・Slow attack speed leaves you vulnerable between swings, but very powerful.
Bows	・A ranged weapon to hit from a distance. ・Allows you to hit flying enemies. ・Can aim headshots to deal heavy elemental damage and knockback. ・A versatile and easy-to-use weapon.
Polearms	・A melee-range weapon. ・ Charge attacks launch the player straight forward. ・Has high attack speed and damage output.
Catalysts	・A medium-range weapon. ・Charged attacks increase the range. ・Standard and charged attacks are elemental.

Elemental Reactions for Extra Damage

Elemental Reactions Inflict a Variety of Effects

By combining different Elemental Skills and Elemental Bursts, you can trigger Elemental Reactions for increased damage and other effects. For more information about Elemental Reactions, check out the guide below!

Elemental Reactions Guide

HP Recovery and Cooking

How to Recover HP
Eat Food	Visit an Element Statue
Enlarge	Enlarge

As characters' HP does not recover naturally, players will need to eat food to recover, or alternatively, visit one of the statues of the seven elemental gods found across the map. Additionally some characters such as Barbara have skills that recover HP.

EXP Mainly Provided by Items

Unlike many RPGs, characters receive minimal experience points from battles in Genshin Impact. The main method for leveling up is based on using Character EXP Materials to raise their characters' levels. These items can be collected by opening treasure chests, completing Quests, and more. Because of this, it's not very productive to farm enemies for EXP, and exploring the map to find EXP items is far more productive.

How to Level Up Characters

Five Types of Attacks

Click on the text to jump to a section!
	Normal Attack
	Charged Attack
	Plunging Attack
	Elemental Skill
	Elemental Burst

Normal Attacks

Normal Attacks in Genshin Impact are executed by simply tapping the attack button. Normal Attacks are a quick way to deal damage but don't deal much knockback.

Charged Attacks

Charged Attacks in Genshin Impact are executed by holding the attack button down. This deals more damage and knockback than a Normal Attack, but is much slower and costs a small amount of stamina. Look for an opening before commiting to a Charged Attack!

Plunging Attacks

Plunging Attacks are executed by pressing the attack button while in mid-air. This allows the player to come crashing down on unsuspecting enemies and get the upper hand in battle.

Bow Characters are Slightly Different

Bow users play by a different ruleset, and have access to an aiming mode that other classes do not, allowing bow users to attack from long distances. Tapping the attack button allows for rapid-fire shots that don't need to be manually aimed. Charged Attacks which are executed by manually aiming imbue the arrow with that character's given element. Landing a headshot on an enemy also deals bonus damage.

Elemental Skills

Elemental Skills are a type of special attack which are unique to each character. The effects vary significantly, so while most are offensive skills, there are others that provide stat boosts, healing, and more.

Each Elemental Skill has a specific cooldown period but can otherwise be used freely. Some will get stronger if you hold and charge the skill before releasing it, at the cost of a longer cooldown.

Elemental Bursts

Elemental Bursts are a powerful attack which, like Elemental Skills, are unique to each character. After a character has defeated a certain number of enemies, they will begin to gather energy around them, indicating that the Elemental Burst is ready to use.

For this reason, Elemental Bursts can only be used occasionally, but are extremely powerful, so save one for a tight spot and let ‘er rip to take down hordes of enemies in a single blow.

Combat Achievements

Purveyor of Punishment Achievement

Achievement	Rank	Primogem Reward
Purveyor of Punishment	★	5 Primogems
Objective : Deal over 5,000 CRIT DMG.

Fantastic Four Achievement

Achievement	Rank	Primogem Reward
Fantastic Four	★	10 Primogems
Objective : Complete a Domain using 4 Characters of the same Elemental Type

Achievement List and Rewards

Related Guides

All Tips and Tricks Guides

All Tips & Tricks Guides

Before Starting The Game

• Everything to Know First

Element Guides

• Pyro Element
• Cryo Element
• Electro Element
• Hydro Element
• Anemo Element
• Geo Element
• Dendro Element
• Crystallize Reaction
• Swirl Reaction
• Melt Reaction
• Frozen Reaction
• Shatter Reaction
• Superconduct Reaction
• Electro-Charged Reaction
• Hyperbloom Reaction
• Burgeon Reaction
• Bloom Reaction
• Quicken Reaction
• Aggravate Reaction
• Spread Reaction
• Overloaded Reaction
• List of Elemental Reactions
• Best Elemental Resonance

Leveling and Grinding Guides

• How to Level Up
• Character Ascension Guide
• Adventurer Handbook
• How to Level Up Statue of the Seven
• How to Increase Stamina and Effects
• How to Raise Your Adventure Rank
• How to Raise Your World Level
• How to Raise Elemental Mastery
• How to Unlock Constellations
• How to Level Up Talents
• How to Get the Best Artifact Stats
• How to Refine and Enhance Weapons
• Ore Chunks and Crystals Farming Guide
• Artifact Farming Routes
• How to Farm Artifacts
• Treasure Chest List
• List of Trophies

Tips to Remember

• How to Farm and Spend Mora
• How to Use Primogems
• How to Farm Primogems
• How to Get Free Fates
• What to Trade Primogems For
• Stardust and What to Trade it for
• Starglitter and What to Trade it for
• How to Use and Restore Original Resin
• How Do Artifacts Work
• How to Cook Food
• How to Process Ingredients
• How to Use Gadget Quick Swap
• How to Use Oculus Resonance Stone
• How to Use Treasure Compass
• How to Convert Character Materials
• How to Go On Expeditions
• Ley Line Outcrop Guide
• Daily Commissions
• Teleport Waypoints
• How to do a Charged Attack

Miscellaneous Guides

• How to Unlock Shrine of Depths
• How to Add and Play With Friends
• Character Customization
• What Happens on Your Birthday?
• How to Solve the Luhua Pool Fire Puzzle
• Where to Find the Nameless Treasures
• Elemental Burst Guide
• Dandy's Time Trial Challenge
• How to Increase Friendship Level
• How to Do Plunging Attacks
• Secrets, and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier
• CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG Guide
• Bond of Life Guide
• Weekly Bounty Guide
• Electric Lamp Puzzle Guide
• How to Avoid Balethunder Damage
• How to Increase Clearance
• How to Fix Error 31-4302
• How to Fix Error 4201
• How to Uninstall Genshin Impact
• How to Activate Global Illumination
• Quest Profile Icons and How to Unlock
• Search in the Sea of Algae Brainstorm Answers
• How to Decode the Levels' Puzzles
• How to Undergo the Garland Trials
• How to Connect the Oracle Pillars
• What are Astral Marks?

FAQs

• What is the Battle Pass?
• What is Energy Recharge?
• How to Leave Co-Op
• Can You Erase Save Data?
• How to Unlock Online Multiplayer
• How to Change the Main Character's Name
• How to Revive Characters
• How to Get Characters
• Which Main Character Should You Choose?
• How to Switch Characters
• Character Creation Guide
• What Are Elite Bosses?
• When Do Treasure Chests Reappear?
• What to Spend Genesis Crystals On?