How do I counter the Rifthound Arches in Genshin Impact?
Rifthound Arches are one of the more challenging enemies in Genshin Impact due to their mobility, high damage output, and the Corrosion debuff they inflict. To effectively counter them, you need to understand their mechanics, plan your team composition, and execute strategies that minimize their strengths while exploiting their weaknesses.
Rifthound Arches are part of the Rifthound family, which includes both the smaller Rifthound Whelps and the larger Rifthound Arches. They are highly mobile, often teleporting or dashing around the battlefield, making them difficult to hit. Their attacks can inflict Corrosion, a debuff that causes your entire team to lose HP over time, regardless of shields. This makes them particularly dangerous in prolonged fights. Additionally, Rifthounds have an elemental alignment, either Electro or Geo, which influences their attacks and resistances.
To counter Rifthound Arches, start by understanding their attack patterns. They often teleport to a distance before charging at you, or they may perform a spinning attack that deals AoE damage. When their HP drops below a certain threshold, they enter a berserk state, increasing their aggression and attack speed. During this phase, they become even more dangerous, so itÔÇÖs crucial to finish them off quickly.
One effective strategy is to use characters with crowd control abilities to limit their mobility. Anemo characters like Venti, Kazuha, or Sucrose can group them together, making it easier to deal damage. Freeze teams, which combine Hydro and Cryo characters, are also highly effective. Freezing Rifthound Arches prevents them from moving and attacking, giving you a window to deal significant damage. Characters like Ayaka, Ganyu, or Mona paired with a Cryo support like Diona or Rosaria can create a strong Freeze team.
Another important aspect is managing the Corrosion debuff. Since Corrosion bypasses shields, characters like Zhongli or Diona, who rely on shielding, are less effective. Instead, prioritize healers who can restore HP to the entire team. Characters like Jean, Bennett, or Kokomi are excellent choices. Bennett, in particular, not only heals but also provides an attack boost, making him a versatile pick.
When building your team, consider elemental synergies. Rifthound Arches are weak to the element opposite to their alignment. For example, Electro Rifthounds are weak to Pyro, while Geo Rifthounds are weak to Hydro. Including characters that can exploit these weaknesses will increase your damage output. For instance, a Pyro DPS like Hu Tao or Diluc can quickly dispatch Electro Rifthounds, while a Hydro DPS like Childe or Ayato can handle Geo Rifthounds.
Artifact and weapon choices are also crucial. For DPS characters, prioritize artifacts that boost their elemental damage and critical stats. For example, the Crimson Witch of Flames set is ideal for Pyro DPS characters, while the Heart of Depth set works well for Hydro DPS characters. For healers, the Maiden Beloved set or the Ocean-Hued Clam set can enhance their healing capabilities. Weapons should complement your charactersÔÇÖ roles. For DPS characters, weapons like the Staff of Homa or the Mistsplitter Reforged are excellent choices. For healers, weapons like the Prototype Amber or the Favonius Sword can provide energy regeneration and healing bonuses.
In combat, focus on dodging their attacks while maintaining consistent damage output. Use elemental skills and bursts strategically to trigger reactions and maximize damage. For example, if youÔÇÖre using a Freeze team, apply Hydro with a character like Mona, then follow up with Cryo attacks from Ayaka to freeze the Rifthounds. This not only stops their movement but also sets them up for additional damage.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting healing and relying too much on shields. Since Corrosion bypasses shields, you need a reliable healer to keep your team alive. Another mistake is not paying attention to their elemental alignment. Using the wrong element can result in significantly reduced damage, so always match your DPS element to their weakness.
Advanced techniques include timing your bursts to coincide with their berserk state. When Rifthound Arches enter this phase, they become more aggressive but also more vulnerable. Using a high-damage burst during this window can quickly finish them off. Additionally, using characters with high burst damage, like Raiden Shogun or Eula, can help you capitalize on these moments.
In summary, countering Rifthound Arches requires a combination of crowd control, elemental synergy, and effective healing. Build a team that can exploit their elemental weaknesses, use artifacts and weapons that enhance your charactersÔÇÖ strengths, and focus on managing the Corrosion debuff. By understanding their mechanics and executing these strategies, you can effectively counter Rifthound Arches and minimize their threat in combat.
Rifthound Arches are part of the Rifthound family, which includes both the smaller Rifthound Whelps and the larger Rifthound Arches. They are highly mobile, often teleporting or dashing around the battlefield, making them difficult to hit. Their attacks can inflict Corrosion, a debuff that causes your entire team to lose HP over time, regardless of shields. This makes them particularly dangerous in prolonged fights. Additionally, Rifthounds have an elemental alignment, either Electro or Geo, which influences their attacks and resistances.
To counter Rifthound Arches, start by understanding their attack patterns. They often teleport to a distance before charging at you, or they may perform a spinning attack that deals AoE damage. When their HP drops below a certain threshold, they enter a berserk state, increasing their aggression and attack speed. During this phase, they become even more dangerous, so itÔÇÖs crucial to finish them off quickly.
One effective strategy is to use characters with crowd control abilities to limit their mobility. Anemo characters like Venti, Kazuha, or Sucrose can group them together, making it easier to deal damage. Freeze teams, which combine Hydro and Cryo characters, are also highly effective. Freezing Rifthound Arches prevents them from moving and attacking, giving you a window to deal significant damage. Characters like Ayaka, Ganyu, or Mona paired with a Cryo support like Diona or Rosaria can create a strong Freeze team.
Another important aspect is managing the Corrosion debuff. Since Corrosion bypasses shields, characters like Zhongli or Diona, who rely on shielding, are less effective. Instead, prioritize healers who can restore HP to the entire team. Characters like Jean, Bennett, or Kokomi are excellent choices. Bennett, in particular, not only heals but also provides an attack boost, making him a versatile pick.
When building your team, consider elemental synergies. Rifthound Arches are weak to the element opposite to their alignment. For example, Electro Rifthounds are weak to Pyro, while Geo Rifthounds are weak to Hydro. Including characters that can exploit these weaknesses will increase your damage output. For instance, a Pyro DPS like Hu Tao or Diluc can quickly dispatch Electro Rifthounds, while a Hydro DPS like Childe or Ayato can handle Geo Rifthounds.
Artifact and weapon choices are also crucial. For DPS characters, prioritize artifacts that boost their elemental damage and critical stats. For example, the Crimson Witch of Flames set is ideal for Pyro DPS characters, while the Heart of Depth set works well for Hydro DPS characters. For healers, the Maiden Beloved set or the Ocean-Hued Clam set can enhance their healing capabilities. Weapons should complement your charactersÔÇÖ roles. For DPS characters, weapons like the Staff of Homa or the Mistsplitter Reforged are excellent choices. For healers, weapons like the Prototype Amber or the Favonius Sword can provide energy regeneration and healing bonuses.
In combat, focus on dodging their attacks while maintaining consistent damage output. Use elemental skills and bursts strategically to trigger reactions and maximize damage. For example, if youÔÇÖre using a Freeze team, apply Hydro with a character like Mona, then follow up with Cryo attacks from Ayaka to freeze the Rifthounds. This not only stops their movement but also sets them up for additional damage.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting healing and relying too much on shields. Since Corrosion bypasses shields, you need a reliable healer to keep your team alive. Another mistake is not paying attention to their elemental alignment. Using the wrong element can result in significantly reduced damage, so always match your DPS element to their weakness.
Advanced techniques include timing your bursts to coincide with their berserk state. When Rifthound Arches enter this phase, they become more aggressive but also more vulnerable. Using a high-damage burst during this window can quickly finish them off. Additionally, using characters with high burst damage, like Raiden Shogun or Eula, can help you capitalize on these moments.
In summary, countering Rifthound Arches requires a combination of crowd control, elemental synergy, and effective healing. Build a team that can exploit their elemental weaknesses, use artifacts and weapons that enhance your charactersÔÇÖ strengths, and focus on managing the Corrosion debuff. By understanding their mechanics and executing these strategies, you can effectively counter Rifthound Arches and minimize their threat in combat.