How do I maximize Ayato's hydro damage in Genshin Impact?

To maximize Ayato's hydro damage in Genshin Impact, you need to focus on several key aspects of character building, including artifact selection, weapon choice, team composition, and understanding his mechanics. Ayato is a powerful hydro DPS character who excels in dealing consistent hydro damage through his elemental skill and burst. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to optimize his performance.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss AyatoÔÇÖs mechanics. AyatoÔÇÖs elemental skill, Kamisato Art: Kyouka, transforms his normal attacks into hydro-infused slashes, dealing significant hydro damage. His elemental burst, Kamisato Art: Suiyuu, creates a wide AoE that continuously deals hydro damage to enemies within its range. Both abilities scale off his attack and hydro damage bonus, making these stats crucial for maximizing his damage output. Additionally, AyatoÔÇÖs passive talents, such as Kamisato Art: Daily Cooking, provide utility and minor buffs, but the main focus should be on enhancing his hydro damage.

For artifacts, the best set for Ayato is the Heart of Depth set, which increases hydro damage by 15% and boosts normal and charged attack damage by 30% after using an elemental skill. This set synergizes perfectly with AyatoÔÇÖs playstyle, as it enhances both his elemental skill and normal attacks. Alternatively, you can use a combination of two pieces of Heart of Depth and two pieces of GladiatorÔÇÖs Finale for a balanced increase in attack and hydro damage. The main stats to prioritize on your artifacts are hydro damage bonus on the goblet, crit rate or crit damage on the circlet, and attack percentage on the sands. Sub-stats should focus on crit rate, crit damage, attack percentage, and energy recharge.

When it comes to weapons, Ayato benefits greatly from swords that boost his crit rate, crit damage, or attack. The best weapon for him is the Haran Geppaku Futsu, which increases elemental damage and provides a significant boost to normal attack damage. Other excellent options include the Primordial Jade Cutter for its high crit rate and attack bonus, and the Mistsplitter Reforged for its crit damage and elemental damage bonus. For free-to-play players, the Black Sword from the Battle Pass is a solid choice, offering crit rate and healing on normal attacks. The Amenoma Kageuchi, a craftable weapon, is also a good option for its attack bonus and energy regeneration.

Team composition is another critical factor in maximizing AyatoÔÇÖs hydro damage. Ayato works well in teams that can trigger powerful elemental reactions like vaporize or electro-charged. A popular team composition includes Ayato, Bennett, Xiangling, and Kazuha. Bennett provides healing and an attack boost, XianglingÔÇÖs burst synergizes with AyatoÔÇÖs hydro application for vaporize reactions, and Kazuha offers crowd control and elemental damage buffs. Another effective team is Ayato, Fischl, Beidou, and Sucrose, focusing on electro-charged reactions and AoE damage. In this setup, Fischl and Beidou provide consistent electro application, while Sucrose boosts elemental mastery and crowd control.

To optimize AyatoÔÇÖs performance, itÔÇÖs important to manage his energy recharge and cooldowns effectively. AyatoÔÇÖs burst has a high energy cost, so having a battery like Fischl or Raiden Shogun can help maintain uptime. Additionally, timing his elemental skill and burst to maximize damage during buffs, such as BennettÔÇÖs burst or KazuhaÔÇÖs elemental damage bonus, is crucial. Avoid using AyatoÔÇÖs elemental skill immediately after his burst, as the burstÔÇÖs hydro application can interfere with reactions. Instead, use his burst first, then follow up with his elemental skill to take full advantage of the hydro damage bonus.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting crit rate and crit damage, which are essential for maximizing AyatoÔÇÖs damage output. Another mistake is not utilizing elemental reactions effectively. AyatoÔÇÖs hydro application is fast, so pairing him with characters who can trigger reactions consistently is key. Additionally, avoid using Ayato in teams where hydro reactions are not beneficial, such as freeze teams without a strong cryo applicator.

Advanced techniques include animation canceling to increase AyatoÔÇÖs attack speed and damage output. By dashing or jumping at the right moment during his normal attack sequence, you can reduce the time between attacks and deal more damage. Another optimization is using AyatoÔÇÖs burst before his elemental skill to ensure that the hydro damage bonus is active during his skillÔÇÖs duration.

In summary, maximizing AyatoÔÇÖs hydro damage involves selecting the right artifacts and weapons, building a synergistic team, and understanding his mechanics. Focus on increasing his hydro damage bonus, crit rate, and crit damage, and pair him with characters who can trigger powerful elemental reactions. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting crit stats or mismanaging cooldowns, and utilize advanced techniques to further enhance his performance. With the right setup, Ayato can become a formidable hydro DPS capable of handling any challenge in Genshin Impact.