How do I counter the Rifthound Noses in Genshin Impact?

Rifthound Noses are a unique enemy type in Genshin Impact that can be challenging to deal with due to their mechanics and behavior. These enemies are part of the Rifthound family, which includes both the Rifthound Whelps and the larger Rifthounds. Rifthound Noses are smaller, more agile versions of Rifthounds, and they often appear in groups, making them particularly troublesome if not handled correctly. To counter Rifthound Noses effectively, you need to understand their mechanics, use the right strategies, and build a team that can exploit their weaknesses.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics of Rifthound Noses. These enemies are highly mobile and can teleport short distances, making them difficult to hit with melee attacks. They also have a unique ability called Corrosion, which inflicts a debuff on your characters. This debuff causes your entire team to lose HP over time, even if the active character is shielded. The Corrosion effect can stack, meaning the more Rifthound Noses you are fighting, the faster your teamÔÇÖs HP will drain. Additionally, Rifthound Noses are resistant to physical damage, so relying solely on physical DPS characters like Eula or Razor may not be the most effective strategy.

To counter Rifthound Noses, you need to focus on elemental damage and crowd control. One effective strategy is to use characters with strong AoE (Area of Effect) abilities to deal damage to multiple Rifthound Noses at once. Characters like Ganyu, Venti, or Kazuha are excellent choices because their abilities can hit multiple enemies simultaneously, even if the Rifthound Noses are teleporting around. Additionally, using characters with crowd control abilities, such as Sucrose or Jean, can help keep the Rifthound Noses grouped together, making it easier to deal with them.

Another important aspect of countering Rifthound Noses is managing the Corrosion debuff. Since this debuff affects your entire team, itÔÇÖs crucial to have a healer in your party. Characters like Bennett, Jean, or Kokomi can provide consistent healing to counteract the HP loss from Corrosion. Bennett is particularly useful because his Elemental Burst not only heals but also provides an attack boost, which can help you take down the Rifthound Noses more quickly. If you donÔÇÖt have a dedicated healer, you can also use food or healing items, but this is less efficient and can be risky in prolonged battles.

When it comes to team composition, you want to focus on elemental synergy and versatility. A good team for dealing with Rifthound Noses might include a main DPS character like Hu Tao or Ayaka, a sub-DPS character like Xingqiu or Fischl, a crowd control character like Venti or Sucrose, and a healer like Bennett or Kokomi. This setup allows you to deal consistent elemental damage, control the battlefield, and keep your team healthy. For example, Hu Tao and Xingqiu can trigger Vaporize reactions, which deal massive damage, while VentiÔÇÖs crowd control keeps the Rifthound Noses in place.

Artifact and weapon choices are also important when countering Rifthound Noses. For your main DPS, focus on artifacts that boost elemental damage and critical rate, such as the Crimson Witch of Flames set for Pyro characters or the Blizzard Strayer set for Cryo characters. For sub-DPS characters, consider artifacts that enhance elemental mastery or energy recharge, such as the Emblem of Severed Fate set. Weapons should be chosen based on the characterÔÇÖs role and elemental focus. For example, Hu Tao benefits from the Staff of Homa, which increases her HP and attack, while Xingqiu works well with the Sacrificial Sword, which allows him to use his Elemental Skill more frequently.

One common mistake to avoid is underestimating the Corrosion debuff. Even if your main DPS character is shielded, the debuff will still affect your entire team, so itÔÇÖs important to keep an eye on your teamÔÇÖs HP and heal as needed. Another mistake is relying too heavily on physical damage. Since Rifthound Noses are resistant to physical attacks, you should focus on elemental damage instead.

Advanced techniques for dealing with Rifthound Noses include using elemental reactions to your advantage. For example, combining Hydro and Electro to trigger Electro-Charged can deal continuous damage to multiple enemies, while combining Pyro and Cryo to trigger Melt can deal massive burst damage. Additionally, using characters with high mobility, like Keqing or Xiao, can help you keep up with the Rifthound Noses as they teleport around the battlefield.

In summary, countering Rifthound Noses requires a combination of elemental damage, crowd control, and healing. Focus on building a team with strong AoE abilities and elemental synergy, and make sure to have a healer to counteract the Corrosion debuff. Avoid relying on physical damage and be mindful of your teamÔÇÖs HP. With the right strategy and team composition, you can effectively deal with Rifthound Noses and minimize their impact on your team.