Best Ganyu Genshin Impact build: Artifacts, weapons, more

James Busby
Best Ganyu build

Ganyu is one of the most powerful characters in Genshin Impact, but what Artifacts and weapons should you be running to maximize her DPS? 

Ganyu is a five-star Cryo bow user who dominates the battlefield with her deadly ranged hits. She shreds through waves of Hilichurls and obliterates Genshin Impact bosses with critical hits.

Ganyu’s charged attacks explode into shards of ice, decimating everything that gets in the way. 

Whether you’re running Ganyu as your main DPS or high-damage support, you’ll want to kit her out with the best Artifacts and weapons.


Contents


Ganyu’s abilities in Genshin Impact

Ganyu abilities
Ganyu dominates the battlefield with critical Cryo hits.

Normal Attack: Liutian Archery

  • Normal Attack: Ganyu performs up to 6 consecutive shots with her bow.
  • Charged Attack: Ganyu performs a more precise Aimed Shot, which takes time to charge but deals increased DMG. While aiming, an icy aura will accumulate on the arrowhead before the arrow is fired.
    Charge Level 1: Fires off an icy arrow that deals Cryo DMG.
    Charge Level 2: Fires off a Frostflake Arrow that explodes and deals AoE Cryo DMG.
  • Plunging Attack: Ganyu fires a shower of arrows in mid-air, then strikes the ground, dealing AoE DMG upon impact.

Elemental Skill: Trail of the Qilin

Ganyu’s Elemental Skill leaves behind a single Ice Lotus and sees the Cryo user dash backward. The Ice Lotus continuously taunts surrounding opponents, forcing them to attack it. After a set amount of time has passed, the Ice Lotus will explode and deal AoE Cryo damage to all nearby enemies. 

Elemental Burst: Celestial Shower

Ganyu ultimate
Ganyu’s ultimate can quickly eliminate all your enemies.

Ganyu’s ultimate ability summons gigantic icicles that rain down onto her enemies in a large circle, dealing massive Cryo damage for 15 seconds.

When Ganyu’s 4th Constellation is unlocked, Celestial Shower deals 25% increased damage to all enemies that stand within the ultimate’s range.

Ganyu Constellations

Lucky enough to get multiple copies of Ganyu? Then you have these insane constellation buffs to look forward to.

  • Level 1 – Dew Drinker: Whenever an enemy takes damage from a Charge Level 2 Frostflake Arrow or Frostflake Arrow Bloom, it decreases opponents’ Cryo RES by 15% for 6s. A successful hit also regenerates two Energy for Ganyu. This effect can only occur once per Charge Level 2 Frostflake Arrow.
  • Level 2 – The Auspicious: Trail of the Qilin gains 1 additional charge.
  • Level 3 – Cloud-Strider: Increases the Level of Celestial Shower by 3.
  • Level 4 – Westward Sojourn: Enemies standing within the AoE of Celestial Shower take increased DMG, up to a maximum of 25% the longer they stay within Ganyu’s ult. 
  • Level 5 – The Merciful: Increases the Level of Trail of the Qilin by 3, with the maximum upgrade level being capped at 15.
  • Level 6 – The Clement: Using Trail of the Qilin causes the next Frostflake Arrow shot within 30s to not require charging.

Best Ganyu Artifacts in Genshin Impact

The best Ganyu build makes use of the amazing Blizzard Strayer set, which increases the bow user’s crit rate when an opponent is affected by Cryo. If that wasn’t tantalizing enough, if your enemies are Frozen, Ganyu’s crit rate is increased even further. 

As Ganyu’s abilities are tailored around dealing insane amounts of damage, you’re looking for any artifacts that boost CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, ATK, and Cryo DMG. 

Alternatively, you could run the 4-piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence to benefit from the Plunging Attack bonus, a key asset to Ganyu’s kit.

Here are the best Ganyu Artifacts you should be using in Genshin Impact:

Artifact Set Bonuses 
Blizzard Strayer
Blizzard Strayer
2-piece set bonus: Cryo DMG Bonus +15%.4-piece set bonus: When a character attacks an opponent affected by Cryo, their Crit Rate is increased by 20%. If the opponent is Frozen, Crit Rate is increased by an additional 20%.
Shimenawa’s Reminiscence 

Shimenawa's Reminiscence Artifact image

2-piece set bonus: ATK +18%.

4-piece set bonus: When casting an Elemental Skill, if the character has 15 or more Energy, they lose 15 Energy and Normal/Charge/Plunging Attack DMG is increased by 50% for 10s. This effect will not trigger again during that duration

Best Ganyu weapons in Genshin Impact

Ganyu is a powerful bow user who can decimate her foes with well-aimed charged shots, which means you’ll want to maximize her charged attack damage. 

As a result, her best option is Amos’ Bow. However, getting your hands on this 5-star bow can prove tricky, especially if you’re a F2P player or have yet to unlock this bow.

Fortunately, there are a few other options available that will allow Ganyu to massively boost her in-game performance. Be it the Aqua Simulacra, Thundering Pulse, or Prototype Crescent, Ganyu can make the most of her abilities when equipped with any one of these bows.

With that being said, be sure to pick one of the options below for Ganyu’s best weapon in Genshin Impact:

Weapon Details 
Amos’ Bow Amos Bow Increases Normal Attack and Charged Attack DMG by 18%. After a Normal or Charged Attack is fired, DMG dealt increases by a further 12% every 0.1 seconds the arrow is in the air.
Aqua Simulacra

Aqua Simulacra in Genshin Impact

HP is increased by 16%. When there are opponents nearby, the DMG dealt by the wielder of this weapon is increased by 20%. This will take effect whether the character is on-field or not.
Prototype Crescent

Prototype_Crescent bow

Charged Attack hits on weak points increase Movement SPD by 10% and ATK by 36% for 10s.

Ganyu Talent Level-Up and Ascension materials

Ganyu rerun
Ganyu’s Ascension and Talent Materials are easy to farm.

In order to get the most out of Ganyu, you’ll have to farm for Ascension and Talent Level-Up materials. The majority of Ganyu’s materials can be obtained in Mondstadt and Liyue. You’ll need to farm plenty of Whopperflowers, Cryo Regisvines, and even take on Childe.

However, to get started with Ganyu’s level-up and ascension mechanics, you’ll need to fight the Primo Geovishap. This boss drops the Juvenile Jade and other rare items, like Shivada Jade fragments, chunks, gemstones, and more.

As for Talent Level-Ups, you’ll want to focus on maxing out Ganyu’s Liutian Archery first, before her Celestial Shower and Trail of the Qilin. This is because you’ll constantly use charged attacks to maximize your DPS.

Apart from that, Ganyu’s weekly boss materials can be claimed by entering the Golden House. This is where you will get the chance to face off against the Fatui Harbinger Childe and earn Shadow of the Warrior resources for leveling up Ganyu’s talents.

Ganyu Talent Level-Up Materials

Talent Level-Up Materials
Talent Level-Up Materials Teachings of Diligence x9 Guide to Diligence x63 Philosophies of Diligence x114
Common Ascension Materials Whopperflower Nectar x18 Shimmering Nectar x66 Energy Nectar x93
Weekly Boss Materials Shadow of the Warrior x18

Ganyu Ascension Materials

Ascension Level Mora Cost Materials
1 20,000 Shivada Jade Sliver x1 Qingxin x3 Whopperflower Nectar x3
2 40,000 Shivada Jade Fragment x3 Hoarfrost Core x2 Qingxin x10 Whopperflower Nectar x15
3 60,000 Shivada Jade Fragment x6 Hoarfrost Core x4 Qingxin x20 Shimmering Nectar x12
4 80,000 Shivada Jade Chunk x3 Hoarfrost Core x8 Qingxin x30 Shimmering Nectar x18
5 100,000 Shivada Jade Chunk x6 Hoarfrost Core x12 Qingxin x45 Energy Nectar x12
6 120,000 Shivada Jade Gemstone x6 Hoarfrost Core x20 Qingxin x60 Energy Nectar x24

Ganyu trailer in Genshin Impact

Ganyu was introduced in the Version 1.2 update and HoYoverse gave fans a look into the Plenilune Gaze’s gameplay. The “Ganyu: Radiant Dreams” character demo showcases just how deadly this 5-star’s attacks can be, with the Hilichurl hordes being decimated by ranged Cryo attacks. 

Best Ganyu team

Best Ganyu team
The best Ganyu team is one that enhances her crit rate.

As Ganyu’s critical damage is amplified whenever her enemies are Frozen, you’ll want to pair her with Hydro characters. Mona and Barbara are two great choices, as their abilities will inflict enemies with Hyrdo, allowing you to instantly apply the Frozen elemental reaction for increased damage. 

Bennett is also a great support character who will help boost Ganyu’s ATK and even heal her if she finds herself facing particularly tough opponents. Having another Cryo user like Shenhe or Diona will also enable you to proc freeze more often while also increasing your Crit by another 15%. 

Ultimately, we recommend running a Melt team consisting of Ganyu, Xiangling, Bennett, and Zhongli. For a different support option, you could also use Diona instead of Zhongli.


Want more allies to pair Ganyu with? Check out our other Genshin Impact character guides below:

Best Albedo build | Best Aloy build | Best Ayaka build | Best Barbara build | Best Childe build | Best Eula build | Best Xingqiu build | Best Hu Tao build | Best Itto build | Best Jean build | Best Kazuha build | Best Keqing build | Best Klee build | Best Kokomi build | Best Mona build | Best Qiqi build | Best Raiden Shogun build | Best Shenhe build | Best Venti build | Best Xiao build | Best Yae Miko build | Best Yoimiya build | Best Yun Jin build | Best Zhongli build