Genshin Impact Version 2.0 is out! This is one of the biggest releases in the game, for all the deets be sure to check out that article here. With every update comes of course new characters. The first to debut is Ayaka, a 5-Star Cryo Sword user.

I’d classify Ayaka as a strong Cryo DPS character with high attack and speed. Her element has the potential to deal significant amounts of damage with the right build. And her presence is set to shake up the Genshin Impact meta. Xiao, the current strongest DPS in the game, is one of the fastest characters available. Ayaka’s normal attacks hit quickly with a high critical hit rate, which scales with her as a sub-stat as you level her up.

Ayaka is going to prove especially useful during Inazuma. The nation is filled with Electro-type enemies, meaning her Cryo abilities will prove rather useful. For our full elemental combo guide click here.

If built correctly, Ayaka could likely become one of the best DPS characters in the entire game. So let’s break down everything you need to know about her here and whether she’s worth the pull. Spoiler: she is.

 

Who Is Ayaka In Genshin Impact?

Kamisato Ayaka is the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan, from Inazuma. Being beautiful, elegant and graceful, the common folks have nothing to bad-mouth Ayaka about. Because of her social status as the eldest daughter and as the Shirasagi Himegimi, Ayaka is seen as a model of perfection, which contributes to her not having many friends.

Working in tandem with her elder brother and the current head of the clan, Kamisato Ayato. Ayato is in charge of government affairs while Ayaka watches over the clan’s internal and external affairs. She is a perfectionist with an earnest personality. She holds the people of Inazuma dear to her heart and often goes out of her way to personally assist them in all kinds of matters. People are often moved by her dedication, and those close to her gave her the honorary title of Shirasagi Himegimi,

 

Ayaka’s Character Banner

Set to release on July 21st, Ayaka‘s character banner will be run for 3 weeks. Her banner will be released with three other four-star characters – Chongyun, Ningguang and Yangfei.

For those of you that haven’t figured out the math of Genshin Impact‘s gacha system yet, 5-star character drop rates are a 0.6% chance. But after 89 attempts you’re guaranteed a 5-star character. If you wish on that particular character’s banner it will increase their rate by 50%. This means, at most, you’ll need 180 wishes to get Ayaka.

 

Ayaka Talents & Passives

| Weapon: Sword | Role: DPS | Skill: Freeze Enemies |

Talent	Type	Description
Hyouka	Normal / Charged Attack	Launches opponents in an AoE Cryo attack
Senho	Elemental Skill	Ayaka cloaks herself in fog that lets her walk on water. This action consumes stamina When Ayaka reappears, the fog inflicts Cryo on nearby enemies and turns normal, charged, and plunging attacks into Cryo attacks.
Soumetsu	Elemental Burst	Summons an ice storm that attacks enemies repeatedly and deals Cryo damage for five seconds. After five seconds, the snowstorm explodes and deals AoE Cryo damage
Fruits of Shinsa	Passive Talent	10% chance to receive double the product when Ayaka crafts weapon materials
Amatsumi Kumitsumi Sanctification	Passive Talent	After using Hyouka, Ayaka’s normal and charged attack damage increases by 30% for six seconds
Kanten Senmyou Blessing	Passive Talent	After Senho’s fog applies Cryo to enemies, Ayaka receives 10 stamina and, for 10 seconds, an 18% increase in Cryo damage

 

Best Weapons For Ayaka

The new 5-Star Mistsplitter Reforged sword is likely intended as Ayaka’s ideal weapon. It boasts high damage, an increase to the user’s critical hit rate, and increases to Elemental damage under certain conditions.

Base ATK	48
Bonus Effect	Physical DMG + 9%
Skill	ATK + 20%

Mindsplitter’s Sheath:

• Gain a 24% Elemental DMG Bonus for every element and receive the might of Mistsplitter’s Seal.
• Mistsplitter’s Seal provides a 16/32/56% Elemental DMG Bonus for the character’s Elemental Type.
• The character will obtain 1 stack of Mistsplitter’s Seal in each of the following scenarios:
  • Normal Attack deals Elemental DMG (stack lasts 5s),
  • Casting Elemental Burst (stack lasts 10s): Energy is less than 100% (stack disappears when Energy is full).
  • Each stack’s duration is calculated independently.

For our full list of best Sword weapons in Genshin Impact check it out here. And if you’re very unlucky with weapon Wishes, the forge-able Prototype Rancour is always a suitable alternative.

 

Best Artifacts For Ayaka

A Cryo DPS is going to need all the Cryo boosting artefacts out there. So you should get your hands on the Blizzard Stayer set, coupled with 2-pieces of Gladiator’s Finale.

Set	Bonuses
Blizzard Stayer	Cryo DMG Bonus +15% When a character attacks an opponent affected by Cryo, their CRIT Rate is increased by 20%. If the opponent is Frozen, CRIT Rate is increased by an additional 20%.
Gladiator’s Finale	ATK +18% If the wielder of this artifact set uses a Sword, Claymore or Polearm, increases their Normal Attack DMG by 35%

For more information on the best artifacts in the game be sure to check out our list here.

 

Ayaka Constellations

Constellation	Description
Snowswept Sakura	When normal or charged attacks deal Cryo damage, there’s a 50% chance of reducing Hyouka’s cooldown by 0.3 seconds.
Blizzard Blade Seki no To	Soumetsu generates two additional frostflakes that each deal 20% of the original’s total damage.
Frostbloom Kamifubuki	Increases Soumetsu’s level by three
Ebb and Flow	Enemies damaged by Soumetsu’s frostflakes have defense reduced by 30% for six seconds
Blossom Cloud Irutsuiki	Increases Hyouka’s level by three
Dance of Suigetsu	Every 10 seconds, Ayaka gains a buff that increases charged attack damage by 298%. This resets 0.5 seconds after a charged attack connects with a foe.

 

Ayaka’s Level-Up Materials

Ayaka’s Talent materials and level-up materials are almost all brand-new items, except the usual Shivada-series items. Here’s what to keep an eye out for.

• Sakura Blossom – Gather from around Inazuma
• Perpetual Heart – Dropped by Perpetual Mechanical Arrays (level 30+). These resemble Hypostasis enemies, and you’ll find them on Narukami Isand.
• Handguard-series items – Dropped by Nobushi, Inazuma’s human enemies
• Bloodjade Branch – Obtained from completing Azhdaha battles (level 70+)

For her Talent materials, you’ll be farming the new Elegance series of items and using more Handguard items.

 

Genshin Impact version 2.0 is going to be keeping everyone plenty busy! If you’re looking for some more help our additional guides should help get you started! Be sure to look through them all here! Or simply search what you’re looking for in the search bar.