Element

The seven Elements of Teyvat are at the core of both gameplay and lore of Genshin Impact.

They act as special Status Effects and Damage types that can be applied in specific orders to trigger Elemental Reactions. The seven elements cover seven of the eight damage types, with the eighth being Physical.

Each element corresponds to an Archon and the nation that worships said Archon. The nature of the relationship between an Archon and their element is unknown. Similarly, while regions are heavily affected by their element, the nature of their relationship is also unknown. Notably, however, some modern nations are located in the former territory of the Dragon Sovereign that once ruled their element. The Dragon Sovereigns are directly born from the light realm , they were bestowed as the owners of the power of light realm and the eternal laws which stems from it, with seven authorities divide between them , suggesting a primeval connection between element and region. The entirety of Sumeru, for example, was once the domain of the Dendro Dragon, Apep, the Primordial Sea beneath Fontaine was once controlled by the Hydro Dragon, and Natlan was dominated by the Pyro Dragon, Xiuhcoatl, and his draconic kin.

List of Elements

Anemo

Geo

Electro

Dendro

Hydro

Pyro

Cryo

Gameplay

Characters

In the upper left corner of the character menu is a Vision icon that indicates each character's element, gameplay region, and Arkhe alignment if applicable (current alignment for Furina, and no Arkhe indicator for the Hydro Traveler). This icon is present even for the characters with non-standard Vision designs or without any Vision or Vision-like object on their model at all.

Typical gameplay functions are not disrupted for playable characters who lack Visions or Vision-like objects on their models, such as the Traveler or Diluc when wearing Red Dead of Night. The use of a character who genuinely wields a Vision and has one on their model is only required or otherwise encouraged in specific quests; these quests use the Vision objects on characters' models as visual indicators to determine the player's proximity to a source of elemental energy, and only the Vision objects that are genuine in lore will work for this specific mechanic.^[1][2]

Visions and Vision-like objects are also involved in the following special gameplay effects, with equivalent effects (or lack thereof) for character models without Visions noted in sub-bullets:

• When switching to a character with 100% Energy, their Vision will briefly give off an elemental symbol-shaped glow, and a specific sound effect corresponding to the character's element will play.
  • When characters are able to perform an Elemental Burst without 100% Energy, such as Varesa, their Vision will temporarily glow and will stop glowing when leaving their respective states.
  • Element symbols glow over the Traveler's chest plate, the leaf in Nahida's hair, and over the phoenix's eye on Diluc's chest when wearing his Red Dead of Night outfit.
  • The Raiden Shogun, Neuvillette, Mavuika, Skirk, and Columbina do not have an elemental symbol glow.
• While a character's Elemental Burst is ready, the gem's color also slowly pulses over time. Some characters, such as Diluc, Jean, Keqing, Alhaitham, and Dori, also have additional gems or ornaments that seem ordinary but also pulse with their respective colors when their Elemental Bursts are ready. These gems and ornaments usually, but do not always, match the color of the character's element.
  • Traveler's chest plate, Raiden Shogun's items with the Electro mitsudomoe, and various parts of Nahida's outfit will pulse.
  • Neuvillette, Mavuika, Skirk, Columbina and Diluc in his Red Dead of Night outfit have no areas with pulsing colors.
• When a character receives Energy, their Visions will light up. Elemental particles and orbs fly directly into the Vision, or whichever object gives off the elemental symbol.‍^{[which of the three Electro symbol items for Raiden?]}
  • In Neuvillette's case, elemental particles and orbs fly to the center of his character model (around his waist).
  • In Mavuika's case, elemental particles and orbs fly to the center of her chest.
• Characters who have an Arkhe alignment will have a Pneuma- or Ousia-colored glow on their Vision or equivalent, such as the Traveler's chest plate, when the corresponding attack's cooldown is done. When not in combat, this glow appears once when the cooldown ends and every time the character is switched to while the attack's cooldown is done. During combat, the glow is steady until the attack goes on cooldown.
  • In Neuvillette's case, the gem on his collar glows.

Some characters momentarily go invisible as part of their attacks, such as Keqing, Lisa, Hu Tao, and Rosaria. These may be abilities that use their Visions or equivalents, as these characters visually disappear and reappear with a flash of their element.

Element Manipulation Variations

The majority of playable characters' profiles list the source of their gameplay element as "Vision" after all content is completed. The following characters have something else listed instead:

Variant	Related Region	Characters
None			Traveler, Wonderland Manekin
Tri‑Lunar Convergence		Moon Goddess	Columbina
Ancient Dragon's Authority		Dragon Sovereign	Neuvillette
			Dainsleif
The Seven-Shifting Serpent	Khaenri'ah		Skirk
Gnosis		Archons	Venti, Zhongli, Raiden Shogun, Nahida, Mavuika
Moon Wheel	Nod-Krai	Nod-Krai 5★ characters and Zibai	Ineffa, Lauma, Flins, Nefer, Zibai, Linnea
Stellar Linchpin	Snezhnaya		Sandrone, Odette

Elements and Reactions

See also: Elemental Reaction and Elemental Resonance

		Applied Element
Triggered Element		—	Vaporize (‍1.5×Damage Multiplier‍)	Over­loaded	Melt (‍2×Damage Multiplier‍)	Burning	Swirl [Note 1]	—	— [Note 2]
		Vaporize (‍2×Damage Multiplier‍)	—	Electro-Charged Lunar-Charged	Frozen Shatter	Bloom Lunar-Bloom Bur­geon Hyper­bloom
		Over­loaded	Electro-Charged Lunar-Charged	—	Super­conduct Stellar-Conduct	Quicken Spread Aggra­vate
		Melt (‍1.5×Damage Multiplier‍)	Frozen Shatter	Super­conduct Stellar-Conduct	—	—		Stellar Swirl[Note 1]
		Burning	Bloom Lunar-Bloom Bur­geon Hyper­bloom	Quicken Spread Aggra­vate	—	—	—		—
		Swirl				—	—		—
		—			Stellar Swirl
		Crystallize				—	—		—
		—	Lunar-Crystallize	—

Elemental Damage Bonus

Main article: Damage Bonus § Elemental

These refer to Damage Bonuses (DMG Bonus) applied to specific elements.

Elemental Resistance

Main article: RES § Elemental Resistances

These refer to a character or enemy's Resistance (RES) to a particular elemental type of damage.

Auras

Main article: Aura

Certain enemies like those on Floors 9-12 of the Spiral Abyss may have Auras that cause certain buffs, debuffs, or attacks during battle.

Elemental Nodes

Main article: Elemental Node

Certain Domains and some parts of the overworld have Elemental Nodes or Infusion Stones that imbue nearby enemies with elemental affixes that can increase their offense and defense.

Elemental Gauge Theory

Main article: Elemental Gauge Theory

This theory intends to explain Same Element Superposition, Elemental Reactions, Shield Breaking and other mechanics related to Elements.

Lore

Elemental Authorities

Main article: Seven Sovereigns

The seven elemental Authorities were powers wielded by the Seven Sovereigns, the most powerful dragons of the old world before the Heavenly Principles's arrival. The Heavenly Principles stole portions of those powers, which were later tied to the Divine Thrones to establish the Archons' Authorities.^[3] Visions, which are wielded by people in Teyvat, are also derived from these Authorities.^[4]

Elemental Energy

See also: Light Realm

The Heavenly Principles created Elemental energy by dividing the raw Elemental currents of the Light Realm into seven using Phlogiston, Teyvat's primordial form of energy, as a base. This resulted in a form of Elemental power that was easier to control and more compatible with the Human Realm, which they intended to use to better counter the Abyss (Void Realm). Due to the foundational role of Phlogiston in the creation of Elemental energy, the latter can be considered the modern counterpart to the former.^[5]

Gnoses

Main article: Gnosis

The Heavenly Principles and an unidentified entity created seven Gnoses out of the remains of the Third Descender,^[6] one for each element, as a substitute for the Heavenly Principles's authority after it was gravely wounded in a great war.^[4] The Gnoses are said to resonate with Celestia directly, and are more powerful than Visions. The Fatui are gathering the Gnoses, which are held by their respective elemental Archons, for an undisclosed purpose.^[7]

Visions

Main article: Vision

Some beings in Teyvat are mysteriously granted Visions, which are external apparatuses that allow their owners to wield the elements. Visions take the form of crystals, each with the symbol and color of one element. Depending on the region in which they received their vision, they feature ornaments characteristic of that region.

After a Vision wielder dies, their Vision becomes a Masterless Vision, losing its power and all indicators of its element. Sometimes, Masterless Visions will resonate with a new person. For this reason, Masterless Visions are a commodity sought by the extremely rich.^[8]

Vision wielders are secretly known by the gods as "allogenes," people who have the potential to become gods in Celestia themselves.^[7]

Moon Wheels

Main article: Moon Wheel

Moon Wheels are objects created in a pact between the Heavenly Principles and the Moon Sisters prior to their imprisonment.^[9] They were distributed to the Moon Sisters' followers as a medium in which they could communicate.^[10] Moon Wheels are augmented by Kuuvahki, a primordial form of energy found predominantly in Nod-Krai and have similar characteristics to Visions. Unlike Visions, Moon Wheels can enable Lunar Reactions in combat.^[11]

Trivia

• Dendro was the only element which had no playable characters up until Version 3.0, which added Tighnari and Collei, as well as the Dendro-aligned Traveler.
  • Baizhu, although in the game at the time with a visible Dendro Vision, appeared as a quest-exclusive character; he would be released as a playable character in Version 3.6.
• The Traveler and Wonderland Manekins are the only characters in the game whose element can be changed as a playable character. Resonating with Statues of The Seven from a particular region will cause the Traveler and Manekin's element to change to the region's associated element (e.g., resonating with a Statue of The Seven in Liyue will cause the current Element to change to Geo).
  • No other playable character can change elements, even if they can wield more than one element in the story. Examples of characters who can wield multiple elements in the story include:
    • Tartaglia (who has a Hydro Vision and an Electro Delusion, but as a playable character, only wields Hydro).
    • Kaedehara Kazuha (who has an Anemo Vision, but reawakened a Masterless Vision that allowed him to temporarily use Electro. In gameplay, Kazuha can only wield Anemo).
• Abyssal energy can be used to evoke effects similar to the Elements through certain techniques, such as the "Seven-Shifting Serpent" (or "Chaos Permeation") spell invented by the Universitas Magistrorum of Khaenri'ah. Skirk, who learned this technique from her master, Surtalogi, uses it to disguise her Abyssal power as Cryo while traveling in Teyvat.^[12][13]

Notes

References

Navigation

Elements Pyro Hydro Anemo Electro Dendro Cryo Geo Elemental Reactions Bloom Lunar-Bloom Burning Catalyze Crystallize Lunar-Crystallize Electro-Charged Lunar-Charged Frozen Melt Overloaded Superconduct Stellar-Conduct Swirl Stellar Swirl Vaporize Manipulation Methods Delusion Gnosis Vision Moon Wheel Stellar Linchpin Related Terms Auras Elemental Absorption Elemental Burst Elemental Nodes Elemental Resonance Elemental Infusion Elemental Mastery Elemental Skill Ley Line Disorders Physical Wet

Attributes Basic Stats HP ATK DEF Elemental Mastery Stamina Advanced Stats CRIT Hit CRIT Rate CRIT DMG Healing Bonus Incoming Bonus Energy Recharge Cooldown Reduction Shield Strength Elemental Types DMG Bonus Anemo Cryo Dendro Electro Geo Hydro Pyro Physical RES Anemo Cryo Dendro Electro Geo Hydro Pyro Physical Hidden Stats ATK SPD Interruption RES Movement SPD Stamina Consumption DMG Reduction Related Terms Damage Elements Energy

Combat Damage Types Anemo Cryo Dendro Electro Geo Hydro Pyro Physical Element Mechanics Elemental Reactions Lunar Stellar Glimmer Elemental Gauge Theory Internal Cooldown Elemental Absorption Elemental Infusion Elemental Resonance Attributes Basic HP (HP Loss) ATK DEF Elemental Mastery Stamina Advanced CRIT Rate DMG Healing Bonus Incoming Bonus Energy Recharge Cooldown Reduction Shield Strength Damage Bonus RES Hidden ATK SPD Interruption Resistance Movement SPD Stamina Consumption DMG Reduction Talents Additional Talents Witch's Eve Rite Witch's Revelation Ascension Talents 1st Ascension 4th Ascension Combat Talents Normal Attack Charged Attack Plunging Attack Elemental Skill Elemental Burst Passive Talents Alternate Sprint Utility Night Realm's Gift Moonsign Benediction Stellar Jubilee Domains & Quests Abyssal Pylon Abyss Tumor Auras Door of Resurrection Elemental Node Ley Line Disorder Ley Line Monolith Slime Balloon Stealth Transport Balloon Void Ward Physics Weight Interruption Resistance Vacuum Field Struggle State Math Attribute Optimization Others Aggravation Area of Effect Arkhe Blunt Attack Charge Level Charge Constellation Cooldown Corrosion Conversion Damage Sequence Duration Energy Fallen Character Fury Hitlag Invincibility Frame Paired Opponents Parry Shield Snapshotting Status Talent Level Increase Targeting Team Bonus

Wiki Navigation Genshin Impact Character Teyvat Factions Manga Book Soundtrack Timeline Comics Game System Version Voice Actor Typeface Activities Domain Event Expedition Fishing Genius Invokation TCG Imaginarium Theater Ley Line Outcrop Miliastra Wonderland Repertoire of Myriad Melodies Reset Spiral Abyss Stygian Onslaught Exploration Statue of The Seven Teleport Waypoint Shrine of Depths Oculus Crimson Agate Key Sigil Lumenspar Spirit Carp Quest Archon Quest Story Quest Hangout Event Tribal Chronicles World Quest Commission Event Quest Anecdote Progression Adventure Rank Character EXP Adventurer Handbook Achievement Reputation Friendship Level Offering System Serenitea Pot Weapon Bow Catalyst Claymore Polearm Sword Item Original Resin Artifact Character Development Item Food Potion Material Gadget Furnishing Shop Combat Attribute Element Damage Energy Talent Constellation Co-Op Mode Enemy Common Enemy Elite Enemy Normal Boss Weekly Boss Wildlife Monetization Wish Battle Pass Blessing of the Welkin Moon Primogem Genesis Crystal Character Outfit