What is the best way to use Elemental Reactions against Ruin Guards in Genshin Impact?

Ruin Guards are one of the more challenging enemies in Genshin Impact due to their high durability and powerful attacks. To effectively use Elemental Reactions against them, you need to understand their weaknesses and how to exploit them. Ruin Guards are mechanical enemies, which means they are weak to Electro and Cryo elements. These elements can trigger Superconduct, which reduces their physical resistance, making them easier to defeat. Additionally, Overload, which is triggered by combining Pyro and Electro, can deal significant AoE damage and stagger them, interrupting their attacks.

First, let's discuss the mechanics involved. Elemental Reactions occur when two different elements interact. For Ruin Guards, the most effective reactions are Superconduct and Overload. Superconduct is triggered by combining Cryo and Electro, reducing the target's physical resistance by 40% for 12 seconds. This is particularly useful because Ruin Guards have high physical resistance. Overload, triggered by Pyro and Electro, deals AoE Pyro damage and can stagger enemies, making it useful for interrupting the Ruin Guard's spinning attack or missile barrage.

To use these reactions effectively, you need a team that can consistently apply Cryo, Electro, and Pyro. A good team composition might include characters like Fischl or Raiden Shogun for Electro application, Kaeya or Rosaria for Cryo, and Xiangling or Bennett for Pyro. Start by applying Cryo to the Ruin Guard using Kaeya or Rosaria's abilities. Then, switch to Fischl or Raiden Shogun to apply Electro, triggering Superconduct. This will reduce the Ruin Guard's physical resistance, making your physical damage dealers like Razor or Eula more effective. After triggering Superconduct, you can use Xiangling or Bennett to apply Pyro, triggering Overload for additional damage and stagger.

Important tips and considerations include timing your Elemental Reactions correctly. Ruin Guards have a weak spot on their eye, which can be hit with a bow user to temporarily disable them. Use this opportunity to set up your Elemental Reactions without interruption. Additionally, be mindful of your stamina management, as Ruin Guards have powerful attacks that require dodging. Always keep an eye on their attack patterns and dodge accordingly.

Common mistakes to avoid include using elements that do not synergize well against Ruin Guards. For example, using Hydro and Electro to trigger Electro-Charged is less effective because Ruin Guards are not weak to Hydro. Another mistake is not taking advantage of their weak spot. Hitting the weak spot can give you a crucial window to set up your Elemental Reactions and deal significant damage.

Advanced techniques include using characters with high energy regeneration to keep your Elemental Bursts ready. For example, Raiden Shogun can provide consistent Electro application and energy regeneration for your team. Additionally, using characters with crowd control abilities like Venti or Sucrose can help group multiple Ruin Guards together, making it easier to trigger AoE Elemental Reactions like Overload.

For artifact and weapon recommendations, focus on increasing your characters' Elemental Mastery and Energy Recharge. For example, Fischl can benefit from the Thundering Fury artifact set, which increases Electro damage and reduces skill cooldowns. Raiden Shogun can use the Emblem of Severed Fate set to boost her Energy Recharge and Elemental Burst damage. Weapons like the Stringless for Fischl or the Engulfing Lightning for Raiden Shogun can further enhance their effectiveness.

In specific scenarios, such as fighting multiple Ruin Guards in the Spiral Abyss, it is crucial to manage your Elemental Reactions carefully. Use crowd control abilities to group them together and trigger AoE reactions like Overload. This will not only deal significant damage but also stagger them, giving you more time to focus on one target at a time.

In conclusion, using Elemental Reactions effectively against Ruin Guards involves understanding their weaknesses, timing your reactions correctly, and building a team with good synergy. By focusing on Superconduct and Overload, you can reduce their physical resistance and deal significant damage. Always be mindful of their attack patterns and use their weak spot to your advantage. With the right team composition, artifacts, and weapons, you can take down Ruin Guards efficiently and effectively.