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All Genshin Impact Elements, Elemental combos, and Reactions

A guide on Elemental Reactions and Resonance bonuses in Genshin Impact.

Genshin Impact has a unique combat system where players can utilize different Elements that can be combined to create Reactions that deal status effects and massive damage to enemies. There are seven Elements, each corresponding to an Archon that rules the major nations in Teyvat:

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  • Anemo (Wind)
  • Cryo (Ice)
  • Dendro (Grass)
  • Electro (Lightning)
  • Geo (Rock)
  • Hydro (Water)
  • Pyro (Fire)

How to activate Transformative Elemental Reactions in Genshin Impact

Elemental Reactions occur when combining various Elements in a specific order. They can be classified into two types: Transformative and Amplified Reactions. Transformative Reactions deal a fixed base damage, which is determined by the level and Elemental Mastery of the character triggering the Reaction (the second Element).

  • Superconduct
    • Activation—Apply Cryo onto an enemy, and then inflict Electro Damage (or vise versa) to trigger Superconduct.
    • Effect—Deals AoE Cyro damage and reduces Physical resistance of all enemies within the AoE by 40 percent for 12 seconds.
  • Swirl
    • Activation—Apply Anemo on targets already inflicted by Pyro, Hydro, Cyro, or Electro.
    • Effect—Spreads the Swirled Element and deals non-Anemo Elemental damage.
  • Overloaded
    • Activation—Apply Pyro onto an enemy, and then inflict Electro damage (or vise versa) to trigger Overloaded.
    • Effect—Deals AoE Pyro damage and knocks back enemies.
  • Electro-Charged
    • Activation—Apply Hydro onto an enemy, and then inflict Electro damage (or vise versa) to trigger Electro-Charged.
    • Effect—Deals Electro Damage over time and spreads across nearby enemies with the Wet status.
  • Shattered
    • Activation—Attack Frozen enemy with a Blunt Attack. Any attack that can break ores falls under this category, including claymores and most Plunging Attacks and Geo damage.
    • Effect—Breaks the enemy out of Frozen and deals damage based on the character's level and Elemental Mastery.

Related: How does Energy Recharge work in Genshin Impact

How to activate Amplified Elemental Reactions in Genshin Impact

There are two Amplified Reactions in the game. These multiply the damage of existing attacks by 1.5x or 2x depending on what Element triggers the Reaction. As a result, you need to carefully set up your teams to apply Elements in a specific order to maximize the damage output of Amplified Reactions.

  • Melt
    • Activation—Apply Cryo onto an enemy, and then inflict Pyro (or vise versa) to trigger Melt.
    • Effect—Dispels both Elements and increases the damage of the attack that triggered the Reaction.

The best possible outcome damage-wise is to inflict Cyro damage first and then cause Pyro damage to trigger the 2x damage multiplier.

  • Vaporize
    • Activation—Apply Pyro onto an enemy, and then inflict Hydro (or vise versa) to trigger Vaporize.
    • Effect—Increases the damage of the attack that triggered the Reaction.

It's best to apply Pyro first, then use Hydro to trigger the Reaction. Doing so will merit you the 2x damage multiplier, versus 1.5x if you inflict the Elements in reverse order.

Elemental Reactions that don't inflict damage

These Reactions don't deal any damage but help provide character buffs and enemy debuffs.

  • Frozen
    • Activation—Apply Hydro onto a target, then inflict Cryo damage to trigger Frozen.
    • Effect—Freezes the target, so they are unable to move for a certain amount of time.
  • Crystallize
    • Activation—Apply Geo on targets already inflicted by Pyro, Hydro, Cyro, or Electro.
    • Effect—Generates a shard that can be picked up to create a shield corresponding to the non-Geo Element.

Dendro Elemental Reactions

Dendro elemental reactions can be more complex, as some of them involve using up to three separate elements. They tend to heavily scale on the Elemental Mastery character stat.

  • Burning
    • Activation—Apply Dendro to a target, then follow up with Pyro (or vice versa).
    • Effect—Deals moderate amounts of continuous damage over time. This will also leave a Pyro Aura on the enemy, until Burning wears off.
  • Bloom
    • Activation—Apply Dendro to a target, then follow up with Hydro (or vice versa).
    • Effects—Drops a Dendro Core onto the field. After a set amoun tof time, the Dendro Core will explode, dealing AoE Dendro damage to enemies and player characters within range. If a Dendro spore comes into contact with either Pyro or Electro before it explodes, one of the following reactions will occur:
      • Burgeon (Pyro)—Deals a greater amount of AoE Dendro damage over a wider area.
      • Hyperbloom (Electro)—The Dendro Core will not explode, and will instead summon homing Sprawling Shots. These shots will only target enemies.
  • Catalyze
    • Activation—Apply Dendro to a target, then follow up with Electro (or vice versa).
    • Effects—Once activated, enemies will have the Quicken status applied to them. The Quicken status does not deal damage, but will remain on an enemy for eight seconds. When quickened, attacking enemies with Dendro or Electro will trigger the following reactions:
      • Aggravate (Electro)—Will deal significant Electro damage to an enemy. This damage can be a critical strike.
      • Spread (Dendro)—Will deal significant Dendro damage to an enemy. This damage can be a critical strike.

Related: Everything we know about Genshin Impact’s upcoming Sumeru characters based on leaks – Scaramouche, Kusanali, Tighnari, and more

Elemental Resonance

Building a party with Elemental combinations can buff your team, whether in combat or exploration. In particular, there are plenty of benefits in having two members with the same Element.

  • Protective Canopy
    • Condition—All four characters in the party must be of unique Elements.
    • Effect—All Elemental resistance +15 percent, Physical resistance +15 percent.
  • Enduring Rock
    • Condition—Have two Geo characters in your party.
    • Effect—Increases shield strength by 15 percent. Characters protected by a shield will have the following special characteristics: damage dealt increased by 15 percent, dealing damage to enemies will decrease their Geo reistance by 20 percent for 15 seconds.
  • Impetuous Winds
    • Condition—Have two Anemo characters in your party.
    • Effect—Stamina consumption decreases by 15 percent, movement speed increases by 10 percent, and skill cooldown reduction decreased by 5 percent.
  • Shattering Ice
    • Condition—Have two Cryo characters in your party.
    • Effect—Reduces the duration of being affected by Electro by 40 percent. Increases Crit Rate against foes that are Frozen or affected by Cryo by 15 percent.
  • Soothing Water
    • Condition—Have two Hydro characters in your party.
    • Effect—Reduces the duration of being affected by Pyro by 40 percent and increases Max HP by 25 percent.
  • Fervent Flames
    • Condition—Have two Pyro characters in your party.
    • Effect—Reduces the duration of being affected by Cryo by 40 percent and increases Attack by 25 percent.
  • High Voltage
    • Condition—Have two Electro characters in your party.
    • Effect—Reduces the duration of being affected by Hydro by 40 percent. Elemental Reactions Superconduct, Electro-Charged, Overloaded, Quicken, Aggravate, or Hyperbloom have a 100 percent chance to drop an Electro Elemental particle. The effect can only be applied once every 5 seconds.
  • Sprawling Greenery
    • Condition—Have two Dendro characters in your party.
    • Effect—Elemental Mastery increased by 50. After triggering Quicken, Bloom, or Burning reactions, all nearby party members gain 30 Elemental Mastery for six seconds. After triggering Aggravate, Spread, Hyperbloom or Burgeon reactions, all nearby party members gain 20 Elemental Mastery for six seconds. The durations of the aforementioned effects will be counted independently.

Check out our guide on How does the Sunfire Jean Reaction work in Genshin Impact to trigger a special Reaction in the game.


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Michaela Schulte
Michaela Schulte is a Mom, gamer, and Contributing writer for Pro Game Guides. She was hooked on fantasy lands in childhood, during her first trip through Hyrule. She's also been to Pallet Town, Whiterun, and Novigrad. Currently traveling through Sumeru. Her travel partners include her husband, two boys, and their dog, Ellie.
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Nicki Si
Nicki is a freelance writer with 5 years of writing experience. She's a fan of anything from HoYoverse, from Genshin Impact to Tears of Themis and Honkai: Star Rail. She also loves rhythm games like BanG Dream! and D4DJ.
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Mark Carpenter
Mark Carpenter is the Assigning Editor at Pro Game Guides. With over four years of experience in the games media, his work has graced platforms such as Metro UK and Game Rant, along with other smaller publications. He has been a devoted gamer since the Amiga days, a journey spanning roughly 31 years. When not immersed in gaming, Mark enjoys delving into the worlds of D&D, strumming his guitar, and indulging in a good read. His heart belongs to RPGs, the Final Fantasy series, and The Legend of Zelda. Moreover, he has a keen affection for dogs.