What is the best way to use crowd control in Genshin Impact?

Crowd control in Genshin Impact is a crucial aspect of combat that allows players to manage multiple enemies effectively, reducing the chaos of battles and enabling more focused damage output. Crowd control involves using abilities or elemental reactions to immobilize, group, or disrupt enemies, making them easier to handle. This can be achieved through specific character skills, elemental reactions, and strategic team compositions.

One of the most common and effective crowd control mechanics in Genshin Impact is the use of Anemo characters, who can group enemies together using their abilities. Characters like Venti, Kazuha, and Sucrose excel in this role. VentiÔÇÖs Elemental Burst, WindÔÇÖs Grand Ode, creates a massive vortex that pulls in enemies and deals continuous Anemo damage. KazuhaÔÇÖs Elemental Skill, Chihayaburu, pulls enemies towards him and launches them into the air, while his Elemental Burst, Kazuha Slash, creates a field that deals Anemo damage and absorbs other elements for additional effects. SucroseÔÇÖs Elemental Skill, Astable Anemohypostasis Creation - 6308, and Elemental Burst, Forbidden Creation - Isomer 75 / Type II, also pull enemies together and deal Anemo damage.

To use crowd control effectively, start by positioning your Anemo character in a way that maximizes the number of enemies caught in their abilities. For example, when using VentiÔÇÖs Elemental Burst, aim to place the vortex in the center of a group of enemies to ensure they are all pulled in. After grouping enemies, switch to your main DPS character to deal concentrated damage. This strategy works particularly well in domains, Spiral Abyss, and against large groups of weaker enemies.

Another important aspect of crowd control is the use of elemental reactions. Combining Anemo with other elements can create powerful reactions like Swirl, which spreads the element to nearby enemies and deals additional damage. For example, applying Pyro to enemies before using VentiÔÇÖs Elemental Burst will cause the vortex to deal Pyro Swirl damage, spreading the Pyro effect to other enemies. This can be further amplified by using characters like Bennett or Xiangling to apply Pyro consistently.

When building a team for crowd control, consider including characters with complementary elements and abilities. A typical crowd control team might include an Anemo character for grouping, a Pyro or Electro character for elemental reactions, a Hydro or Cryo character for additional reactions, and a healer or shielder for sustainability. For example, a team with Venti, Bennett, Xingqiu, and Diona can provide strong crowd control, healing, and elemental reactions.

Artifacts and weapons also play a significant role in optimizing crowd control. For Anemo characters, the Viridescent Venerer artifact set is highly recommended, as it increases Anemo damage and reduces enemy resistance to the element infused in the Swirl reaction. Weapons like the Stringless for Venti or the Sacrificial Fragments for Sucrose can enhance their crowd control abilities by increasing Elemental Mastery or reducing cooldowns.

Common mistakes to avoid include using crowd control abilities too early or too late in a fight. Using VentiÔÇÖs Elemental Burst at the wrong time can result in enemies not being grouped effectively, wasting the ability. Additionally, failing to follow up with a strong DPS character after grouping enemies can reduce the overall effectiveness of the strategy.

Advanced techniques involve timing and positioning. For example, using KazuhaÔÇÖs Elemental Skill to group enemies and then immediately switching to a character like Ganyu to unleash a charged shot can maximize damage. Another technique is to use SucroseÔÇÖs Elemental Burst to group enemies and then apply a Hydro or Electro effect to trigger additional reactions.

In specific scenarios, such as the Spiral Abyss, crowd control can be a game-changer. For example, in floors with large groups of Hilichurls or Treasure Hoarders, using VentiÔÇÖs Elemental Burst to group them together and then following up with a Pyro DPS like Diluc can clear the floor quickly. Similarly, in domains with multiple waves of enemies, using SucroseÔÇÖs abilities to group and control enemies can make the run smoother and faster.

In conclusion, mastering crowd control in Genshin Impact involves understanding the mechanics of Anemo abilities and elemental reactions, building a balanced team, and optimizing artifacts and weapons. By positioning your characters correctly, timing your abilities, and following up with strong DPS, you can effectively manage and defeat large groups of enemies, making combat more manageable and efficient.