Raiden Shogun: The Ultimate Guide to Genshin Impact’s Electro Archon
The Raiden Shogun, also known as Ei, is one of the most compelling and powerful characters in Genshin Impact. More than just a playable character, she is the Electro Archon, the God of Eternity, and the ruler of Inazuma. This comprehensive guide delves deep into everything you need to know about the Raiden Shogun, from her lore and abilities to her optimal builds and team compositions. We aim to provide unparalleled insight, drawing on extensive gameplay experience and expert community analysis to deliver a definitive resource that goes beyond basic character guides. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your journey in Teyvat, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to master the Raiden Shogun and harness her incredible power. We’ll explore her intricate backstory, dissect her unique mechanics, and provide practical strategies to maximize her effectiveness in various combat scenarios. Prepare to unlock the secrets of the Raiden Shogun and elevate your Genshin Impact experience.
Understanding the Raiden Shogun: Lore and Background
The Raiden Shogun’s story is one of profound loss, unwavering dedication, and a relentless pursuit of eternity. As the Electro Archon, she presides over Inazuma, an island nation inspired by feudal Japan. However, her reign is marked by isolationism and a decree known as the Vision Hunt Decree, which sought to confiscate all Visions within the nation. This seemingly tyrannical act stems from her deep-seated fear of change and her belief that only through unchanging eternity can true peace be achieved. The Raiden Shogun isn’t a single entity but rather two: Ei, the true Electro Archon, and the Shogun, a puppet created to rule Inazuma according to Ei’s ideals. This separation of consciousness allows Ei to meditate in the Plane of Euthymia, an eternal realm of her own creation, while the Shogun executes her will in the mortal world.
Ei’s Past and Motivations
To truly understand the Raiden Shogun, it’s crucial to delve into Ei’s past. She witnessed the devastation of the Archon War and the loss of her twin sister, Makoto, the original Electro Archon. This trauma deeply scarred Ei, leading her to believe that change is inherently destructive and that only eternity can offer true salvation. This belief became the cornerstone of her rule and the driving force behind her actions in Inazuma.
The Shogun Puppet: A Manifestation of Eternity
The Shogun puppet is a meticulously crafted automaton designed to perfectly execute Ei’s will. It lacks emotions, independent thought, and the capacity for deviation. This unwavering obedience ensures that Ei’s vision of eternity is upheld without question. However, this also creates a disconnect between the Shogun and the people of Inazuma, leading to discontent and rebellion.
Raiden Shogun’s Abilities and Talents: A Deep Dive
The Raiden Shogun’s abilities are a testament to her power as the Electro Archon. Her kit revolves around energy regeneration, Electro damage, and a unique burst mechanic that transforms her into a formidable melee fighter. Understanding each of her talents is crucial for maximizing her potential.
Normal Attack: Origin
The Raiden Shogun’s normal attack consists of a five-hit combo with her polearm. While her normal attacks deal Physical damage, they are primarily used to generate energy particles and set up her Elemental Skill.
Elemental Skill: Transcendence: Baleful Omen
The Raiden Shogun’s Elemental Skill, Transcendence: Baleful Omen, deals AoE Electro damage and grants all party members the Eye of Stormy Judgment. This eye provides coordinated attacks that deal additional Electro damage whenever the character deals damage to opponents. Critically, it also increases the Elemental Burst damage of party members based on their Elemental Burst’s energy cost. This makes the Raiden Shogun an invaluable asset to teams that rely on Elemental Bursts.
Elemental Burst: Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu
The Raiden Shogun’s Elemental Burst, Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu, is her signature ability. Upon activation, she unleashes a powerful Electro attack and enters the Musou Isshin state. In this state, she wields a tachi (a type of Japanese sword) and her attacks deal Electro damage that cannot be overridden by other infusions. Furthermore, her attack speed and resistance to interruption are increased. The Musou Isshin state lasts for a limited duration, but it allows the Raiden Shogun to deal massive damage and regenerate energy for the entire team.
Passive Talents
The Raiden Shogun’s passive talents further enhance her abilities and utility:
* **Enlightened One:** Each 1% above 100% Energy Recharge that the Raiden Shogun possesses grants her 0.6% greater Energy restoration from Musou Isshin and a 0.4% Electro DMG Bonus.
* **Shogun’s Ambition:** While in the Musou Isshin state activated by Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu, the Raiden Shogun’s attacks will restore Energy for all nearby party members when they hit opponents. The maximum Energy that can be restored this way is 5 Energy.
* **All-Preserver:** Decreases Mora expended when ascending Swords and Polearms by 50%.
Optimal Builds for the Raiden Shogun: Weapons and Artifacts
Choosing the right weapons and artifacts is crucial for maximizing the Raiden Shogun’s potential. Her optimal build depends on her role in the team, whether she’s primarily a damage dealer or a battery for other characters.
Best Weapons for Raiden Shogun
* **Engulfing Lightning:** The Raiden Shogun’s signature weapon, Engulfing Lightning, is arguably her best-in-slot option. It provides a significant Energy Recharge boost and increases her ATK based on her Energy Recharge. Furthermore, it grants an Electro DMG Bonus after using an Elemental Burst.
* **Staff of Homa:** While not specifically designed for the Raiden Shogun, the Staff of Homa is a powerful stat stick that provides a massive Crit DMG boost and increases her HP. The HP increase also translates to increased ATK, making it a viable option for damage-focused builds.
* **The Catch:** A free-to-play friendly option, The Catch is a polearm obtainable through fishing in Inazuma. It provides Energy Recharge and increases Elemental Burst DMG and Crit Rate, making it a great choice for players who don’t have access to the 5-star options.
Best Artifact Sets for Raiden Shogun
* **Emblem of Severed Fate:** The 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate set is the Raiden Shogun’s best-in-slot artifact set. It provides a significant Energy Recharge boost and increases Elemental Burst DMG based on her Energy Recharge. This set synergizes perfectly with her kit and maximizes her damage output.
* **Noblesse Oblige:** The 4-piece Noblesse Oblige set can be used in support builds to provide an ATK buff to the entire team after using an Elemental Burst. This set is particularly useful if no other character in the team is using it.
Artifact Stats Priority
The ideal artifact stats for the Raiden Shogun are:
* **Sands:** Energy Recharge or ATK%
* **Goblet:** Electro DMG Bonus
* **Circlet:** Crit Rate or Crit DMG (depending on your Crit Ratio)
Substats should prioritize Crit Rate, Crit DMG, Energy Recharge, and ATK%.
Team Compositions for the Raiden Shogun: Synergies and Strategies
The Raiden Shogun excels in teams that rely on Elemental Bursts and benefit from her energy regeneration capabilities. Her ability to amplify Elemental Burst damage and provide consistent Electro application makes her a valuable asset to various team compositions.
Raiden National Team
The Raiden National Team is one of the most popular and effective team compositions in Genshin Impact. It consists of the Raiden Shogun, Bennett, Xiangling, and Xingqiu. This team relies on continuous Elemental Burst rotations and benefits greatly from the Raiden Shogun’s energy regeneration and damage amplification.
* **Raiden Shogun:** Provides energy regeneration, Electro application, and significant damage output during her Musou Isshin state.
* **Bennett:** Provides ATK buff, healing, and Pyro resonance.
* **Xiangling:** Deals massive Pyro damage with her Pyronado.
* **Xingqiu:** Provides Hydro application, damage reduction, and additional damage with his Rain Swords.
Raiden Hypercarry Team
The Raiden Hypercarry Team focuses on maximizing the Raiden Shogun’s damage output. It typically consists of the Raiden Shogun, Kujou Sara, Bennett, and a flex slot (usually Kazuha or Sucrose). This team relies on buffs and debuffs to amplify the Raiden Shogun’s damage to astronomical levels.
* **Raiden Shogun:** The primary damage dealer.
* **Kujou Sara:** Provides ATK buff and Crit DMG buff to the Raiden Shogun.
* **Bennett:** Provides ATK buff and healing.
* **Kazuha/Sucrose:** Provides Elemental DMG Bonus and resistance shred.
Other Viable Team Compositions
* **Raiden Shogun + Eula + Rosaria + Bennett:** A physical damage-focused team that utilizes the Raiden Shogun’s Electro application to trigger Superconduct and reduce enemy Physical resistance.
* **Raiden Shogun + Yae Miko + Kazuha + Kokomi:** An Electro-charged team that utilizes the Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko’s Electro damage to trigger Electro-charged reactions.
The Significance of Constellations for Raiden Shogun
While the Raiden Shogun is a formidable character at C0 (Constellation 0), her constellations significantly enhance her abilities and damage output. Understanding the impact of each constellation is crucial for deciding whether to invest further in her banner.
C1: Ominous Inscription
While in the Musou Isshin state activated by Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu, the Raiden Shogun’s attacks will decrease opponents’ Electro RES by 15% for 12s.
C2: Steelbreaker
While in the Musou Isshin state activated by Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu, the Raiden Shogun’s attacks will ignore 60% of opponents’ DEF.
C3: Shinkage Bygone
Increases the Level of Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
C4: Pledge of Propriety
When the Musou Isshin state applied by Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu expires, all nearby party members (excluding the Raiden Shogun herself) gain 30% ATK for 10s.
C5: Discerning Eye
Increases the Level of Transcendence: Baleful Omen by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
C6: Wishbearer
While in the Musou Isshin state activated by Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu, the Raiden Shogun’s attacks will decrease the CD of nearby party members’ (excluding the Raiden Shogun herself) Elemental Bursts by 1s. This effect can be triggered once every 5s.
Constellation Analysis
C2 is widely considered the Raiden Shogun’s most impactful constellation, as it significantly increases her damage output by ignoring a large portion of the enemy’s DEF. C3 is also valuable as it increases the level of her Elemental Burst, further boosting her damage. C6 is a strong support constellation that can significantly reduce the cooldown of her teammates’ Elemental Bursts, allowing for more frequent rotations.
Raiden Shogun: A Critical Review and Expert Verdict
The Raiden Shogun is undeniably one of the most powerful and versatile characters in Genshin Impact. Her ability to deal massive damage, regenerate energy for the team, and provide consistent Electro application makes her a valuable asset to various team compositions. After extensive testing and analysis, we’ve found her to be an exceptionally well-designed character with a unique and engaging playstyle. Her impact on the meta is undeniable, and she remains a top-tier choice for both new and veteran players.
User Experience and Usability
The Raiden Shogun is relatively easy to use, even for players who are new to the game. Her Elemental Skill is straightforward, and her Elemental Burst is visually stunning and impactful. However, mastering her rotations and maximizing her energy regeneration requires some practice and understanding of her mechanics.
Performance and Effectiveness
The Raiden Shogun excels in both single-target and AoE combat. Her Musou Isshin state allows her to deal massive damage to single targets, while her coordinated attacks from her Elemental Skill provide consistent Electro application for AoE situations. Her energy regeneration capabilities also ensure that the team can consistently use their Elemental Bursts, making her a valuable asset in long battles.
Pros
* **High Damage Output:** The Raiden Shogun can deal significant damage with her Elemental Burst and coordinated attacks.
* **Excellent Energy Regeneration:** She provides consistent energy regeneration for the entire team, allowing for more frequent Elemental Burst rotations.
* **Versatile Team Compositions:** She can fit into various team compositions and synergizes well with many different characters.
* **Easy to Use:** Her abilities are relatively straightforward, making her accessible to players of all skill levels.
* **Visually Stunning:** Her Elemental Burst is visually impressive and satisfying to use.
Cons/Limitations
* **Energy Recharge Dependency:** Her damage output is heavily reliant on her Energy Recharge stat, requiring careful artifact management.
* **Constellation Dependency (to an extent):** While she is strong at C0, her constellations significantly enhance her abilities, particularly C2.
* **Polearm Requirement:** She requires a polearm to function, limiting weapon choices.
* **Burst DPS Playstyle:** She is primarily a burst DPS character, which may not appeal to all players.
Ideal User Profile
The Raiden Shogun is best suited for players who enjoy burst DPS characters, value energy regeneration, and appreciate visually stunning abilities. She is also a great choice for players who are looking for a versatile character that can fit into various team compositions. She is particularly effective for players who are willing to invest in her constellations.
Key Alternatives
* **Yae Miko:** Another Electro DPS character who focuses on dealing damage with her Sesshou Sakura turrets. While Yae Miko offers different gameplay, she can fill a similar role in certain team compositions.
* **Fischl:** A 4-star Electro character who provides consistent Electro application and decent damage output. Fischl is a more accessible alternative for players who don’t have access to the Raiden Shogun.
Expert Overall Verdict & Recommendation
The Raiden Shogun is a top-tier character in Genshin Impact and one of the best Electro characters in the game. Her unique mechanics, high damage output, and excellent energy regeneration make her an invaluable asset to any team. We highly recommend pulling for the Raiden Shogun if you have the opportunity, as she will undoubtedly enhance your Genshin Impact experience.
Raiden Shogun: Insightful Q&A
Here are ten insightful questions and expert answers about the Raiden Shogun that address common user pain points and advanced queries:
1. **Q: How does the Raiden Shogun’s Energy Recharge affect her damage output?**
**A:** The Raiden Shogun’s Energy Recharge is directly linked to her damage output through her passive talent, Enlightened One. For every 1% above 100% Energy Recharge, she gains a 0.6% increase in Energy restoration from Musou Isshin and a 0.4% Electro DMG Bonus. This means that stacking Energy Recharge not only allows her to use her Elemental Burst more frequently but also significantly increases her damage potential.
2. **Q: Is it better to prioritize Crit Rate or Crit DMG on the Raiden Shogun?**
**A:** The ideal Crit Ratio for the Raiden Shogun is generally considered to be around 1:2 (Crit Rate:Crit DMG). This means that you should aim for a Crit Rate of around 50-60% and a Crit DMG of around 100-120%. If your Crit Rate is significantly lower than your Crit DMG, it’s generally better to prioritize Crit Rate to ensure that your attacks are consistently critting.
3. **Q: What is the optimal rotation for the Raiden National Team?**
**A:** The optimal rotation for the Raiden National Team typically involves using Bennett’s Elemental Skill and Burst, Xingqiu’s Elemental Skill and Burst, Xiangling’s Elemental Skill and Burst, and then switching to the Raiden Shogun to use her Elemental Burst and deal damage during her Musou Isshin state. The exact rotation may vary depending on the specific situation and the energy requirements of each character.
4. **Q: How does the Raiden Shogun’s C2 affect her performance against high-defense enemies?**
**A:** The Raiden Shogun’s C2, Steelbreaker, is particularly valuable against high-defense enemies as it allows her attacks to ignore 60% of their DEF while in the Musou Isshin state. This significantly increases her damage output against enemies with high defense, making her a more effective damage dealer in challenging content.
5. **Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when playing the Raiden Shogun?**
**A:** Some common mistakes to avoid when playing the Raiden Shogun include neglecting her Energy Recharge stat, not optimizing her rotations, and not utilizing her Elemental Skill to its full potential. It’s also important to remember that she is primarily a burst DPS character and should be played accordingly.
6. **Q: How does the Raiden Shogun interact with characters who have high Energy costs for their Elemental Bursts?**
**A:** The Raiden Shogun synergizes particularly well with characters who have high Energy costs for their Elemental Bursts, as she can significantly reduce their energy requirements and allow them to use their Bursts more frequently. This makes her a valuable asset to teams that rely on Elemental Bursts for damage.
7. **Q: Can the Raiden Shogun be used effectively as a support character?**
**A:** While the Raiden Shogun is primarily a damage dealer, she can also be used effectively as a support character due to her energy regeneration capabilities and her ability to buff the Elemental Burst damage of her teammates. She is particularly useful in teams that require frequent Elemental Burst rotations.
8. **Q: What is the ideal talent level priority for the Raiden Shogun?**
**A:** The ideal talent level priority for the Raiden Shogun is typically to prioritize her Elemental Burst (Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu), followed by her Elemental Skill (Transcendence: Baleful Omen), and then her Normal Attack (Origin). Her Elemental Burst is her primary source of damage, so it should be leveled up as high as possible.
9. **Q: How does the Raiden Shogun compare to other Electro characters in terms of damage output and utility?**
**A:** The Raiden Shogun is generally considered to be one of the strongest Electro characters in the game, offering a combination of high damage output, excellent energy regeneration, and versatile team compositions. While other Electro characters like Yae Miko and Fischl have their own strengths, the Raiden Shogun’s overall performance and utility make her a top-tier choice.
10. **Q: What are some future team compositions or strategies that might emerge for the Raiden Shogun with the release of new characters and content?**
**A:** As Genshin Impact continues to evolve with the release of new characters and content, it’s likely that new team compositions and strategies will emerge for the Raiden Shogun. For example, the introduction of new Dendro characters could potentially lead to new Electro-based reaction teams that utilize the Raiden Shogun’s Electro application. It’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the game and experiment with different team compositions to discover new synergies and strategies.
Conclusion
The Raiden Shogun stands as a testament to compelling character design and impactful gameplay mechanics within Genshin Impact. Her story, entwined with themes of eternity and loss, resonates deeply with players, while her abilities offer a unique and rewarding combat experience. We’ve explored her lore, dissected her abilities, and analyzed her optimal builds and team compositions, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of this formidable character. Her versatility and power make her a valuable addition to any team, and her impact on the meta is undeniable. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to Teyvat, the Raiden Shogun offers a rewarding and engaging gameplay experience. As Genshin Impact continues to evolve, the Raiden Shogun’s place in the meta is likely to remain secure. Share your experiences and favorite Raiden Shogun team compositions in the comments below! We encourage you to explore our other in-depth character guides and resources to further enhance your Genshin Impact journey.
