Genshin Impact

Elemental Reactions Guide and How it Works

Genshin Impact - Elemental Reactions Explained

Elemental Reactions occur when two Elements are applied together, which triggers powerful combat effects in Genshin Impact. See how the effects of each Elemental Reactions work, the chart for all Elemental Reactions, and the best characters for it in this guide!

What are Elemental Reactions

Two Elements Trigger a Reaction

An Elemental Reaction triggers when characters apply two different Elements to an opponent. An enemy with an Elemental status will only trigger if a specific Element is used. If the same Element was applied, the status will simply prolong.

Some reactions are more effective based on which Element was applied first. For example, Vaporize is 2x as effective if Hydro is the triggerer to an enemy with a Pyro status, but it's only 1.5x effective if it's the other way around.

More Effective with Elemental Mastery

Genshin - Elemental Mastery Sands

Elemental Mastery is a character stat that increases the effectiveness or damage of your Elemental Reactions. You can get more Elemental Mastery by equipping them with weapons, levelling your artifact stats, or activating skills with character buffs.

Note that only the reactor that triggers the reaction is the only character where Elemental Mastery matters. Characters who simply apply the Element to any enemies without any statuses yet will not use their Elemental Mastery.

What is Elemental Mastery

List of All Elemental Reactions and Effects

Depending on the Elemental combination, each reactions will have different effects:

Name Element Effect
Swirl Anemo ➡︎
Pyro Hydro
Cryo Electro
Deals AoE damage based on the reacted Element, then spreads that element to nearby enemies.
Crystallize Geo ➡︎
Pyro Hydro
Cryo Electro
Creates a crystal shield you can pick up that is effective against the element that created the reaction.
Vaporize
Pyro ⬅︎➡︎ Hydro
An instance of damage dealt will be multiplied based on the reacting Element.
Melt
Pyro ⬅︎➡︎ Cryo
An instance of damage dealt will be multiplied based on the reacting Element.
Electro-Charged
Electro ⬅︎➡︎ Hydro
Target takes Electro damage over time.
Frozen
Hydro ⬅︎➡︎ Cryo
Target is temporarily frozen in place and stopping all enemy actions except Bosses.
Overloaded
Electro ⬅︎➡︎ Pyro
Target explodes, knocking back enemies in proximity and deals AoE Pyro damage.
Superconduct
Electro ⬅︎➡︎ Cryo
AoE Cryo damage occurs and decreases Physical resistance.
Burning
Pyro ⬅︎➡︎ Dendro
Deals Pyro damage over time.
Bloom
Hydro ⬅︎➡︎ Dendro
Creates a Dendro Core. Dendro Cores explode when too many are made or after a set durtion.
Burgeon
Pyro ➡︎Dendro Core
Pyro damage detones a Dendro Core, dealing AoE Dendro damage.
Hyperbloom
Electro ➡︎Dendro Core
Electro damage detones a Dendro Core, transforming it into a Sprawling Shot that deals Dendro damage.
Quicken
Electro ⬅︎➡︎ Dendro
Afflicts the enemy with Quicken. This enables follow-up catalyze reactions.
Aggravate
Electro ➡︎Quicken Infusion
Deals increased Electro damage to a Quickened enemy.
Spread
Dendro ➡︎Quicken Infusion
Deals increased Dendro damage to a Quickened enemy.

Swirl

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Anemo ImageAnemo
Effect
・Current Elemental Status spreads and remains on the enemy.
・Anemo cannot be applied as an Elemental Status.

The Swirl elemental reaction activates when Anemo is used on an enemy that has Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo already applied to it. When a Swirl reaction occurs, the element reacted will spread to nearby enemies as AoE damage and apply that element to them as well.

For example, when Hilichurls and Cryo Slimes are standing on water, hitting the Cryo Slime with Anemo will spread Cryo to all nearby enemies, freezing the Hilichurls due to the Frozen reaction!

The only way to increase Swirl DMG is by increasing the Elemental Mastery of the character triggering the reaction.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Crystallize

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Crystallize

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Geo ImageGeo
Effect
・Creates a Crystallize Shard, which provides an elemental shield to the active character.
・Shield created is more effective against the Element it reacted from.
・Status is removed until the element is depleted.

Crystallize activates when a Geo attack hits an enemy that has Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo applied to it. When a Crystallize reaction occurs, the applied element on the enemy will disappear and a pickable elemental shield shard corresponding to the element will spawn.

The shield spawned will protect the player based on Geo character's Elemental Mastery. However, it will be more efficient in protecting against attacks corresponding to the element of the shield.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Vaporize

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Vaporize

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Pyro ImagePyro (x1.5)
⬅︎ Hydro ImageHydro (x2)
Effect
・Increases an instance of Pyro or Hydro damage dealt multiplied based on which Element was used second.
・Elemental Mastery increases the damage dealt before the damage is multiplied.
・Status is removed until the element is depleted.

Vaporize activates when Pyro comes into contact with Hydro and vice versa. When Vaporize occurs, the target will take increased multiplicative damage and their previously applied element will be removed.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Melt

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Melt

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Cryo ImageCryo (x1.5)
⬅︎ Pyro ImagePyro (x2)
Effect
・Increases an instance of Cryo or Pyro damage dealt multiplied based on which Element was used second.
・Elemental Mastery increases the damage dealt before the damage is multiplied.
・Status is removed until the element is depleted.

Melt occurs when Pyro and Cryo come into contact with one another. When a target is hit with Melt, the target will take increased multiplicative damage and their previously applied element will be removed.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Electro-Charged

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Electro-Charged

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Hydro ImageHydro
⬅︎ Electro ImageElectro
Effect
・Deals Electro damage over time and affects enemies affected with Hydro.
・Electro and Hydro statuses both remain briefly on the original enemy, and can trigger two effects at once.
・Electro status will be used and removed first when the DoT ends or when an additional reaction is triggered.

Electro-Charged occurs when Hydro or Electro come into contact with each other, which deals Electro damage over time. When an Electro-Charged reaction activates, nearby targets with Hydro status will also take the effect, but will not receive the Electro-Charged status.

When it's raining, the Wet status will be applied to everything in the area, making it easy to cause an Electro-Charged reaction. Increasing the Elemental Mastery of the character triggering Electro-Charged will increase the damage over time caused by the reaction!

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Frozen

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Frozen

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Hydro ImageHydro
⬅︎ Cryo ImageCryo
Effect
・Immobilizes freezable enemies except Bosses or Cryo-immune enemies.
・Cryo status will remain until a different Element is applied.
・Frozen enemies hit by a strong blunt attack such as Claymore hits will Shatter the enemy, which removes the Frozen status and deals damage based on the shatterer's Elemental Mastery.

Frozen occurs when Hydro and Cryo come into contact with one another. When Frozen activates, the target will be unable to move. Frozen can be set off against enemies in water or rain.

Frozen enemies can be shattered, which deals Physical Damage. Examples of attacks that can shatter frozen enemies are Claymores, Plunging Attacks and Geo Attacks. Increasing the Elemental Mastery of the character triggering the shatter will cause it to deal more damage.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Overloaded

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Overloaded

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Pyro ImagePyro
⬅︎ Electro ImageElectro
Effect
・Explodes an area and deals Pyro AoE damage.
・Lightweight enemies will be knocked away from the source of the explosion.
・Frozen enemies or objects around the reaction can break from the reaction.
・Status is removed until the element is depleted.

Overloaded occurs when Electro and Pyro come into contact. When Overloaded activates, AoE Pyro damage will hit all nearby enemies. However, enemies will also be knocked back, which can cause other attacks to miss!

Damage dealt by the Overloaded reaction can be increased by increasing the Elemental Mastery of the character triggernig the overload effect.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Superconduct

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Superconduct

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Cryo ImageCryo
⬅︎ Electro ImageElectro
Effect
・Damages an area and deals Cryo AoE damage.
・Lowers the Physical Resistance of enemies hit by the explosion.
・Status is removed until the element is depleted.

Superconduct occurs when Electro and Cryo come into contact. When a Superconduct reaction activates, AoE Cryo damage will hit nearby enemies and will lower their physical resistance for 12 seconds.

The damage of Superconduct can be increased by the amount of Elemental Mastery the character who is triggering the reaction has. The amount of the physical resistance reduced will always be a fixed amount of about -40%.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Burning

Genshin - Elemental Reaction - Burn

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Dendro ImageDendro
⬅︎ Pyro ImagePyro
Effect
・Deals Pyro damage over time.
・A burning enemy will be under a strong Pyro and Dendro status that can be used to create reactions such as Melt until the Dendro aura is depleted from the burning.
・Burning status is removed until the Dendro aura depletes, but only the Pyro status will remain.

Burning activates when Pyro comes into contact with Dendro. When a Burning reaction occurs, Pyro damage will be dealt over time for around 5 seconds. Burning can also remain on an enemy to set-up reactions like Melt as long as Dendro and Pyro are constantly applied.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Bloom

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Hydro ImageHydro
⬅︎ Dendro ImageDendro
Effect
・Leaves a Dendro Core beside the enemy. These cores are used for Burgeon or Hyperbloom reactions.
・Dendro Cores will remain on the field until Electro or Pyro is applied to it. Otherwise, the Dendro Core will simply explode after a few seconds, dealing minor AoE Dendro DMG.
・Only a maximum of five cores can remain on the field. All subsequent creations of such cores will immediately detonate the oldest Bloom core.
・Hydro is removed from the enemy, but the Dendro status may remain until the max usage of its aura is depleted.

Hydro and Dendro mixing together will trigger Bloom and create a Dendro Core. Dendro cores can interact with Pyro, which will make the seed explode, or with Electro, which turns it into a homing missile. Dendro Cores can explode on their own after a set time or if too many are on the field.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Burgeon

Elemental Status Reactor
Dendro CoreDendro Core (Bloom)
⬅︎ Pyro ImagePyro
Effect
・Dendro Cores detonate after a Pyro attack is applied to it, dealing AoE Dendro damage based on the Pyro character's Elemental Mastery.
・The Dendro Core disappears after the reaction.

Dendro Cores will explode when it comes into contact with Pyro to cause Burgeon. The explosion will cause AoE Dendro DMG, but can also affect the player.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Hyperbloom

Elemental Status Reactor
Dendro CoreDendro Core (Bloom)
⬅︎ Electro ImageElectro
Effect
・Dendro Cores transforms into Sprawling Shots after an Electro attack is applied to it, which will home to the nearest enemy and deal AoE Dendro damage based on the Electro character's Elemental Mastery.
・The Dendro Core disappears after the reaction.

Dendro Cores will transform into homing missiles when it comes into contact with the Electro Element to cause Hyperbloom. These missiles seek out the nearest enemy and deals AoE Dendro damage, but may also affect the player.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Quicken

Elemental Status Reactor
⬅︎ Electro ImageElectro
⬅︎ Dendro ImageDendro
Effect
・Afflicts enemy with the Quicken status. Dendro or Electro attacks applied against a Quickened enemy will increase the damage dealt based on their Elemental Mastery.
・The aura lasts for 7 seconds.

When Electro and Dendro comes into contact with each other, it will apply the Quicken status. This status remains on the enemy for 7 seconds, signified by the greenish charges that emanate from the enemy.

This status will open enemies up to other Catalyze Reactions: Aggravate and Spread.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Aggravate

Elemental Status Reactor
QuickenQuicken Aura
⬅︎ Electro ImageElectro
Effect
・Increases the damage dealt of an Electro attack to a Quickened enemy.
・Quickened enemy can be prolonged with Electro as long as Dendro is still present.

Electro damage to a Quickened (Electro + Dendro) enemy will deal bonus damage in Aggravate. This is additive and not multiplicative to the base DMG.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Spread

Elemental Status Reactor
QuickenQuicken Aura
⬅︎ Dendro ImageDendro
Effect
・Increases the damage dealt of an Dendro attack to a Quickened enemy.
・Quickened enemy can be prolonged with Dendro as long as Electro is still present.

Dendro damage to a Quickened (Electro + Dendro) enemy will deal bonus damage in Spread. This is additive and not multiplicative to the base DMG.

▲ Return to Reactions Table ▲

Best Characters for Elemental Reactions

Recommended Characters to Set-Up Elemental Reactions

Best Characters for Setting Up Elemental Reactions
Kazuha Image Kazuha • Kazuha can infuse his Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst with the Element applied to himself. You can easily set-up reactions by self-applying an Element to Kazuha then Swirling it to buff and apply that element with your Burst!
Sucrose Image Sucrose • Sucrose can spread an Element to all nearby enemies while gathering them to a single location. Sucrose can also give Elemental Mastery to your teammates for more damage potential!
Venti Image Venti • Venti's infuses an Element with his Elemental Burst vortex, allowing you to freely hit enemies trapped there with any Element like Hydro and Cryo for Freeze.
Ayaka Image Ayaka • Ayaka's kit allows her to apply Cryo especially when she infuses her blade by using her special Sprint. With her Elemental Burst, you can also set-up constant Freeze with Hydro characters.
Ganyu Image Ganyu • Ganyu's wide AoE range on her Elemental Burst can apply Cryo to all enemies inside. She can set-up constant Freezes when paired up with Hydro characters like Mona or Kokomi.
Xingqiu Image Xingqiu • Xingqiu constantly applies Hydro to enemies with his Elemental Burst. Most of the time, Xingqiu will apply Hydro first, allowing you to set-up reactions like Vaporize with Pyro Main DPS's like Diluc or Hu Tao.
Tartaglia Image Tartaglia • Tartaglia is similar to Xingqiu, but instead of being a Sub-DPS, he can function like a Main-DPS as an enabler for Pyro Sub-DPS's like Xiangling. You can do tons of damage with Vaporize or Electro-Charged!
Fischl Image Fischl • When Fischl summons Oz, Oz will continuously attack enemies with Electro. This can set-up Superconducts or Electro-Charged reactions when fighting with enemies!
Raiden Image Raiden • Raiden Shogun's Elemental Skill constantly apply Electro when enemies are hit by any attacks from you or your party members. This sets up constant Superconducts for Physical characters like Eula.
Shinobu Image Shinobu • Shinobu's ring in her Elemental Skill is best for Hyperbloom team comps where she can shine as a Sub-DPS. She can also fill in the healer role at once.
Bennett Image Bennett • Bennett's fast Elemental Skill cooldown and powerful Elemental Burst ATK buff to your teammates while also applying Pyro can set-up big numbers for your main DPS. His burst field can also stick elements to your active character
Xiangling Image Xiangling • Xiangling's fast Pyro attacks on her Elemental Burst is currently the best when it comes to Pyro application. Her only issue is that her burst has an 80 energy cost.
Nahida Image Nahida • Nahida's Elemental Skill is the most powerful when it comes to applying Dendro. She can also buff the active character by giving them Elemental Mastery during her burst.

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