When it comes to good rerun banners, Shenhe and Ayaka reruns are some of the best banners in Genshin Impact. Both units synergize to form a strong Cryo duo that can carry Freeze and Mono-Cryo teams.
For players considering pulling for both Ayaka and Shenhe, there's no need to hesitate since they are one of the best pairs in Genshin Impact. Both Ayaka and Shenhe are important characters to have, as each excels in their respective roles.
Ayaka Or Shenhe In Genshin Impact
To evaluate which character to pull for, players must learn more about Ayaka and Shenhe, especially:
- Their weapons
- Their artifacts
- Their roles
Weapons
DPS units in Genshin Impact are expected to deal high DMG, which can be difficult to achieve with 4-star weapons. Unfortunately, Ayaka suffers from a lack of viable 4-star weapon options that can match the performance of a 5-star weapon. Her best weapon is the Mistsplitter Reforged, with the Haran Geppaku coming in second place. As for 4-star options, R5 Amenoma Kageuchi is Ayaka’s best weapon since it helps with her Energy requirements to cast her Burst more frequently.
Finding the best weapon for Shenhe is more forgiving since she works perfectly with Favonius Lance. When it comes to 5-star options, any weapon with high Base ATK can be a decent choice for Shenhe. However, for players who want their Shenhe on the best build possible, Calamity Queller, Engulfing Lightning, and Skyward Spine are solid picks that allow players to take full advantage of Shenhe’s Icy Quill effect.
Artifacts
Ayaka is similar to other traditional DPS characters in Genshin Impact. Players can maximize her damage output by focusing on increasing her ATK%, Cryo DMG, and Critical DMG stats. As most of her teams consist of either Freeze or Mono-Cryo teams, Ayaka's best artifact set is 4-Blizzard Strayer, allowing her to trigger more critical hits without relying on Critical Rate. This gives players the opportunity to maximize Ayaka's Critical DMG stat.
Shenhe primarily relies on her Elemental Skill to enhance her team's Cryo DMG. Her Icy Quill scales with her total ATK, so unlike other buffers in Genshin Impact, ATK% is Shenhe's most important stat. To fully utilize her kit, Shenhe's ideal artifact set is 4-Noblesse Oblige as it increases her team's ATK% by an additional 20%.
Roles
Ayaka and Shenhe have different roles in Genshin Impact. Ayaka is an excellent DPS, while Shenhe performs better as an off-field buffer. However, the two units synergize well with each other due to their shared Element. Shenhe can do more than just increase Cryo DMG, such as being a reliable battery for other Cryo units. Furthermore, Shenhe's ability to reduce enemies' resistance to Cryo DMG makes her an essential asset in battles.
On the other hand, although Ayaka can infuse her DMG with Cryo at any time, her primary source of DMG comes from her Elemental Burst (assuming that it hits effectively). She is a forgiving DPS character since players can easily switch her in and out without losing her utility.
Ayaka Vs Shenhe In Genshin Impact
To summarize, players should pull for Ayaka if they:
- Have a good 5-star sword or are ready to forge an R5 Amenoma Kageuchi
- Have 4-Blizzard Strayer or are ready to farm the set
- Want a great DPS unit that can fit in many team compositions
Meanwhile, players should pull for Shenhe if they:
- Already have a good Cryo DPS like Ganyu or Ayaka
- Have a set of 4-Noblesse Oblige with ATK% on all its main stats
- Have an Engulfing Lightning or R3 Favonius Lance, or are ready to get Calamity Queller
- Want a Support that can insanely buff other Cryo units on her team
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.