How do I build a strong Bloom team with Nilou in Genshin Impact?

Building a strong Bloom team with Nilou in Genshin Impact requires a deep understanding of her unique mechanics and how they interact with the Bloom reaction. Nilou is a Hydro character whose abilities are specifically designed to enhance the Bloom reaction, which occurs when Hydro and Dendro elements interact, creating Dendro Cores that explode after a short delay, dealing AoE Dendro damage. Nilou's passive talent, "Court of Dancing Petals," modifies the Bloom reaction when your team consists only of Hydro and Dendro characters, transforming the Dendro Cores into Bountiful Cores. These Bountiful Cores deal significantly more damage and have a larger AoE, making them the cornerstone of a Bloom team.

To start building a Bloom team with Nilou, you need to focus on team composition. The ideal team should consist of Nilou, another Hydro character, and two Dendro characters. This setup ensures that you can consistently trigger Bloom reactions while benefiting from Nilou's passive talent. For the second Hydro character, Kokomi or Barbara are excellent choices due to their healing abilities, which are crucial for sustaining the team since Bloom reactions can damage your own characters. For the Dendro characters, Nahida is the best option due to her strong Dendro application and EM buffs. Collei or Dendro Traveler can also work well as secondary Dendro characters to ensure consistent Dendro application.

When it comes to artifact sets, Nilou should be equipped with the 4-piece Gilded Dreams set or the 4-piece Flower of Paradise Lost set. Both sets provide significant Elemental Mastery (EM) bonuses, which are crucial for maximizing Bloom damage. The main stats to focus on are HP% for the Sands, Hydro DMG Bonus for the Goblet, and Crit Rate or Crit DMG for the Circlet. However, since Nilou's Bountiful Cores scale off her Max HP, prioritizing HP% substats is also important. For the other Hydro character, such as Kokomi or Barbara, the 4-piece Ocean-Hued Clam set is ideal, as it enhances their healing capabilities and provides additional damage. For the Dendro characters, the 4-piece Deepwood Memories set is recommended to reduce Dendro resistance, while the main stats should focus on EM, Dendro DMG Bonus, and Crit Rate or Crit DMG.

Weapon selection is another critical aspect of building a strong Bloom team. For Nilou, the Key of Khaj-Nisut is her best-in-slot weapon, as it provides HP% and increases the team's EM based on her Max HP. If you don't have this weapon, the Festering Desire or the Iron Sting are good alternatives that provide EM and increase her overall damage output. For Kokomi or Barbara, the Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is a great choice for its HP% substat and the ability to buff the next character's ATK. For the Dendro characters, weapons like the Sacrificial Fragments or the Wandering Evenstar are excellent for boosting EM and ensuring consistent Dendro application.

In combat, the strategy revolves around applying Hydro and Dendro elements in quick succession to generate as many Bountiful Cores as possible. Start by using Nilou's Elemental Skill to apply Hydro, then switch to your Dendro characters to apply Dendro and trigger Bloom reactions. Kokomi or Barbara can then heal the team and reapply Hydro as needed. It's important to manage your positioning carefully, as the Bountiful Cores deal AoE damage that can harm your own team. Using Kokomi's Elemental Skill or Barbara's Elemental Burst can help mitigate this self-damage.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting EM on your characters. Since Bloom damage scales off EM, it's crucial to stack as much EM as possible on your Dendro characters and Nilou. Another mistake is not managing your team's health properly. Bloom reactions can deal significant damage to your own characters, so having a reliable healer like Kokomi or Barbara is essential. Additionally, avoid using characters with elements other than Hydro or Dendro, as this will disable Nilou's passive talent and prevent the creation of Bountiful Cores.

Advanced techniques include optimizing your rotation to maximize Dendro Core generation and timing your abilities to ensure consistent elemental application. For example, using Nahida's Elemental Skill to mark enemies and then switching to Nilou to apply Hydro can create a steady stream of Bountiful Cores. Additionally, using Kokomi's Elemental Burst during high-damage phases can provide both healing and additional Hydro application.

In summary, building a strong Bloom team with Nilou involves careful team composition, artifact and weapon selection, and strategic combat execution. By focusing on EM, HP%, and consistent elemental application, you can maximize the damage output of Bountiful Cores and create a powerful team capable of handling even the toughest challenges in Genshin Impact.