Ultimate Guide to Mastering Wriothesley in Genshin Impact: Skills, Builds, and Team Comps

Meet Mondstadt's Duke: Wriothesley's Guide in Genshin Impact

Hey there, Genshin Impact fans! Today, we're diving into the world of Mondstadt's very own Duke and top boss-Wriothesley! This guide is gonna break down everything about Wriothesley's skills, how to level 'em up, and the best team comps to make the most out of this frosty powerhouse.

• Quick Overview: Wriothesley is a character who dishes out continuous cryo damage with his rapid-fire punches. After using his skill, Wriothesley's normal attacks get a major boost, dealing more cryo damage. However, there's a catch-each hit costs him a bit of HP. But don't worry, periodically unleashing heavy attacks heals him right up. His Elemental Burst concentrates power into his gauntlets, unleashing a devastating cryo blast that damages enemies in a wide area.

Skill Analysis

Talent Priority: Normal Attack/Charged Attack (9+) > Elemental Skill (8+) > Elemental Burst (6+)

Wriothesley mainly relies on normal and charged attacks for damage output, so prioritize upgrading these first. Next, consider leveling up the Elemental Skill, and finally, upgrade the Elemental Burst. This is similar to the talent prioritization for characters like Yoimiya and Kazuha.

• Normal Attack/Charged Attack (A/Z): The basic attack consists of a 5-hit sequence delivering 6 instances of damage, with the fourth hit dealing damage twice, and the rest delivering a single instance of damage each. The fifth strike has a slight pre-motion delay.
• Both normal and charged attacks can apply a weak Cryo element on hit (1 elemental energy, 9.5 seconds), with normal attacks following standard application rules and charged attacks having independent application.
  • Standard application rules: Within 2.5 seconds of hitting an enemy, the 1st, 4th, 7th... attacks (also known as every other two attacks) apply elemental effects.
• When combined with Elemental Skill and innate talents, normal/charged attacks become Wriothesley's primary damage method. Consider the "5 normal attacks + 1 charged attack (5a1z)" combo for optimal output.

Elemental Skill (E) Damage Calculation

Damage Calculation of the Skill is similar to the Elemental Skill enhancement approach of Yoimiya and Kazuha. After using the Elemental Skill, the skill's enhancement effect directly boosts Wriothesley's normal attack damage multiplier but does not increase charged attack damage. For example, at level 90 Wriothesley with 1000 attack power, the first hit of a level 9 normal attack has a 50% multiplier, current Cryo damage bonus is 20%, no other damage bonuses, crit damage at 70%, and the enemy's Cryo resistance at level 90 is 10%, the first hit would deal approximately 734 damage (0.5 as the enemy defense coefficient, simplified for understanding). The skill's boost does not further enhance Yun Jin's Elemental Burst "Flying Cloud Flag Formation" effect.

• 2.1 The skill itself does not deal damage; it's an enhancement skill that increases Wriothesley's normal attack (Repulsion Fist) damage.
• 2.2 After using the skill, enhanced normal and charged attacks generate a Cryo elemental particle, sharing a 2-second cooldown for particle generation.
• 2.3 Under this skill's effect, hitting enemies with normal attacks causes Wriothesley to lose a certain amount of health, making it advisable to pair with the "Pale Flame" 4-piece set.
• 2.4 The duration of this state can be extended through strategic hit timing, allowing for three cycles of the 5a1z combo in most cases.

Elemental Burst (Q) & Innate Talents Overview

Elemental Burst Showcase: The Elemental Burst deals Cryo damage 5 times, applying weak Cryo element twice to the same enemy (1 elemental energy, 9.5 seconds), following the standard application rules. The burst unleashes a wild attack that deals Cryo damage without triggering elemental reactions, with a maximum of once every 10 seconds. If you take a closer look, you'll notice that Wriothesley's Elemental Burst has a damage multiplier not far off from characters like Yoimiya and Kazuha, making its upgrade priority lower than that of Normal/Charged Attacks and the Elemental Skill.

Innate Talents

• Innate Talent 1: Wriothesley's charged attacks apply elements independently, and triggering this talent increases damage (considered a damage bonus), also making charged attacks cost no stamina. Wriothesley can consider a 5a1z cycle, using this talent to boost the damage of charged attacks.
• Innate Talent 2: After using an Elemental Skill, Wriothesley's enhanced normal attacks on enemies will consume a certain amount of health, but Innate Talent 1 also has a healing effect, keeping the attack power boost stacks at full for an extended period.
• Innate Talent 3: This talent shares the same effect as Ayaka's third innate talent.

Artifact Recommendations

For Wriothesley, consider Elemental Mastery for Melt-focused gameplay. For direct Cryo damage, prioritize CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate.

Comparing Different Artifact Sets

No matter your playstyle with Wriothesley, prioritize a full set of "Pale Flame". If you can't get a good roll on "Pale Flame," consider using a well-rolled set of "Shimenawa's Reminiscence" or "Emblem of Severed Fate" temporarily.

"Emblem of Severed Fate" can be a bit tricky since it consumes energy when using the Elemental Skill, which can delay unleashing Wriothesley's wild attacks with his Elemental Burst. Use this set cautiously.

For mid-game transitions, mixing 2 sets could work, and early-game can consider "Berserker + Martial Artist" combo.

The "Blizzard Strayer" set is also an option for Freeze comps, but be aware that some enemies can't be continuously frozen, which diminishes the set's effectiveness for Wriothesley.

Wriothesley's output isn't solely from charged attacks but a mix of normal and charged, so "Wanderer's Troupe" isn't highly recommended.

Stats & Substats

• In a Melt comp, stack Elemental Mastery between 100-200, opting for an EM Sands if you don't have other sources of EM; if pairing with characters like Nahida, go for ATK Sands.
• With a higher than average rate of causing Melt, too much EM could actually decrease the damage of non-Melt attacks.
• With "Pale Flame," aim for 50-64% CRIT Rate. For non-CRIT weapons, aim for 170% CRIT DMG or above; for CRIT weapons, 220% CRIT DMG or above.
• For Cryo damage builds using "Blizzard Strayer," stacking CRIT stats is similar to "Pale Flame."
• For other sets, push for 70% CRIT Rate or above. For non-CRIT weapons, aim for 140% CRIT DMG or above; for CRIT weapons, 180% CRIT DMG or above.

Weapon Choices

Comparing Weapons for Different Playstyles

• Melt Playstyle
  • When Paired with Bennett Only
    Teaming up Wriothesley with Bennett usually aims for an extra ATK boost, typically in a double Pyro Melt comp. Without support characters providing additional Elemental Mastery (like Nahida or Sucrose), Wriothesley equipped with an EM Sands and weapons like "Haran Geppaku Futsu" or "The Widsith" perform quite well.
  • When Paired with Bennett and Nahida
    This setup leans towards a "Burn Melt" strategy (check out the Team Composition section below). With Bennett and Nahida in the squad offering extra ATK and EM boosts, the threshold for reaction-based EM isn't too high, which might reduce the appeal of EM-focused weapons.
• Cryo Damage Playstyle
  • Cryo Damage in a Layla and Diona Team
    In a team with Layla and Diona, where additional ATK boosts are scarce, weapons with higher base ATK show a significant advantage over those with lower base ATK.
  • Cryo Damage with Shenhe and Kokomi
    Shenhe's Cryo application works off base multipliers, narrowing the gap between weapons of differing base ATK. In this setup, Kokomi wearing "Ocean-Hued Clam" and a 4-piece "Tenacity of the Millelith," and Shenhe with a 4-piece "Noblesse Oblige," provide extra ATK bonuses.

Detailed Weapon Breakdown

Mistsplitter Reforged: The top pick for Wriothesley, as its bonuses align perfectly with him. The 22.1% CRIT Rate boost means you won't worry about going over the CRIT cap with a full set of "Pale Flame" - you can go for a CRIT DMG circlet and stack CRIT Rate through artifact sub-stats.

Memory of Dust: A second-best 5-star weapon for Wriothesley, just after Mistsplitter. With Wriothesley's playstyle of connecting multiple normal attacks with charged attacks (like the 5a1z combo), the ATK speed and normal attack bonuses from this weapon significantly increase his damage output.

The Widsith: When considering a Melt build, all three stat boosts from this weapon enhance Wriothesley's damage. Among 4-star weapons, and even outperforming some 5-stars, The Widsith is a top choice for an ATK-focused Wriothesley.

More 5-Star Weapons:

• Haran Geppaku Futsu: Best for Melt builds, this weapon stands out for its skill effect offering a substantial Elemental DMG bonus, making it a viable 5-star choice for Melt Wriothesley. Its effectiveness may decrease with more sources of Elemental Mastery in the team due to dilution.
• Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds: With a high CRIT DMG bonus, this can compensate for its lower base ATK when paired with characters like Bennett to boost Wriothesley's ATK. An option if you have spare copies and don't prioritize other characters.
• Skyward Atlas: High CRIT Rate bonus requires careful sub-stat management with "Pale Flame" to avoid CRIT overflow.
• Kagura's Verity: Offers a good CRIT DMG boost, but its weapon skill is practically ineffective for Wriothesley since his Elemental Skill attacks are still considered normal/charged attacks and don't benefit from the skill's Elemental Skill DMG bonus.
• Other 5-Star Weapons: If you lack the above, consider 4-star options or other 5-stars like Skyward Spine or Vortex Vanquisher (with shields), though be wary of ATK dilution with supports like Bennett, Shenhe, or Yun Jin.

More 4-Star Weapons:

• Prototype Amber: Craftable, considered for Melt builds. After triggering a Melt reaction, it increases Wriothesley's Cryo DMG, offering great value in early to mid-game.
• Solar Pearl: Battle Pass weapon. Requires Wriothesley to use his Elemental Burst first to activate the normal attack DMG bonus, which doesn't cover his full damage cycle.
• Mappa Mare: Craftable, synergizes with healers for quick weapon skill activation. Although Wriothesley's Talent 1 has a healing effect, it's not always triggered from the start (needs HP below 60%), which can lower this weapon's Elemental DMG bonus uptime.
• Dodoco Tales: Event weapon from Version 1.6. A solid early-game pick, as Wriothesley's primary damage comes from normal and charged attacks, allowing full utilization of the weapon's skill. A viable choice if lacking better 4-star weapons.

Constellation Analysis

C1: Reduced Stamina for Charged Attacks
Before unlocking this constellation, Wriothesley could perform a stamina-free charged attack every 5 seconds; after unlocking, this cooldown is reduced to every 2.5 seconds. This upgrade significantly enhances the output experience, especially when you're rocking the 5a1z cycle, slashing the stamina consumption big time.

C2: Boosted Elemental Burst Damage
This constellation ups the damage of Elemental Burst based on the stacks of Innate Talent 2, maxing out at a whopping 200% damage increase. It's all about dialing up the damage meter.

C4: Enhanced Healing and ATK Boost
Improves the healing from Talent 1 upon charged attack hits, and if the heal goes over, it pumps up Wriothesley's ATK, cranking up his damage output.

C6: Ultimate Damage Mode
Unlocking this constellation is like hitting the damage jackpot. It increases the damage ratio of charged attacks, with additional Cryo spikes causing independent weak Cryo application. This constellation is Wriothesley showing off his full power.

Overall
Even at C0, Wriothesley's damage mechanics feel pretty solid. The follow-up constellations mainly serve to boost his damage capabilities. Notably, C1 is a game-changer for reducing stamina consumption with the 5a1z strategy, making every strike feel smoother. If you're planning to unlock constellations, aiming for C1, C2, and C6 would be your go-to for maximizing Wriothesley's powerhouse potential in Genshin Impact.

Team Compositions

Wriothesley, Zhongli, Xiangling, and Bennett: The Double Pyro Melt Comp

Double Pyro Melt: Wriothesley paired up with Zhongli, Xiangling, and Bennett creates a dynamic melt synergy. Xiangling's role here is to stack Energy Recharge to ensure her Burst is always ready, aiming for around 240% ER (focus on damage after hitting the ER target, similar to a Ganyu comp).

Zhongli brings his shields to the party, boosting survival and reducing the "sudden knockout" scenarios from Bennett's Pyro application. For more damage, consider adding an Anemo character like Kazuha (shield for safety, Anemo for more damage).

Bennett can rock the "Noblesse Oblige" or "Instructor" set to amp up Wriothesley's damage output.

• Adding Kazuha to the Mix

Since all of Wriothesley's skills apply only a weak Cryo application, and his Elemental Burst can attach Cryo twice to the same enemy, pre-spreading Cryo with Kazuha's skill becomes crucial, especially before Xiangling's Burst to make spreading Cryo easier. Consider applying Cryo with normal attacks or a pre-burst to enable Kazuha's spread.

Without shield characters, managing Wriothesley's HP becomes crucial due to his average HP, HP consumption from his enhanced normal attacks post Elemental Skill, and being under Pyro influence. Kazuha's inclusion ups the gameplay skill requirement, so dodge those enemy hits!

Wriothesley, Nahida, Thoma, and Bennett: The Burning Melt Strategy

For this burn-and-melt strategy, prioritize boosting Thoma's Energy Recharge to 230%+ pre-C4, and around 200% after unlocking his C4, stacking HP to beef up his shield.

Nahida's go-to artifact sets are "Deepwood Memories" for universal use. Other sets to consider are "Gilded Dreams" (for boosted EM conversion) or "Tenacity of the Millelith" (for an ATK increase).

Full Constellation Shenhe for Melt Speedruns

• Wriothesley, Shenhe, Kazuha, and Bennett team up, requiring a C6 Shenhe. In this setup, Wriothesley's Elemental Burst comes at the end, with C6 Shenhe ensuring that Wriothesley's normal/charged attacks don't consume Icy Quills, although the Burst still does. Kazuha's role is to apply Pyro with his Burst, requiring him to stack Energy Recharge.

Cryo Damage with Layla, Diona, and Kazuha: The Layla, Diona, Kazuha Trio

If you don't have Kazuha, you can swap in other Anemo characters like Venti or Sucrose, paired with the "Viridescent Venerer" set for reducing resistance.

Against enemies that can be easily frozen, Mona can replace Diona. If you're up against enemies tough to freeze, stick with Diona.

For Cryo damage, the "Pale Flame" set is highly recommended (for a direct 36% CRIT Rate boost). The "Blizzard Strayer" set might lose you 20% CRIT Rate against non-frozen enemies, pushing the need for a higher CRIT Rate stack on Wriothesley.

With Mona: Use Diona's E, Kazuha's Q then E, Mona's Q then E, and follow up with Wriothesley's E for output. The strategy here is to apply Cryo or freeze the enemy first, then unleash Mona's Burst to extend the Omen bonus damage duration.

Layhe, Shenhe, Kazuha, and Kokomi: A Variation of Shenhe, Kazuha, and Kokomi

This lineup boosts Wriothesley's damage, similar to a team comp with Shenhe at the core but tailored to suit Wriothesley's output style of connecting multiple normal attacks with charged attacks, synergizing well with Diona for an increased damage bonus. With Wriothesley's high number of attack sequences, Shenhe's Cryo application gets quickly consumed before C6, making the rest of the attacks rely on Shenhe's Burst for resistance reduction and innate talents for damage increase, which may not be as effective as Diona's boosts.

Suggested output sequence:

• Shenhe EQ, Kazuha QE, Kokomi E, followed by Wriothesley E into normal attacks.

Pure Cryo/High-End Cryo Strategy

Simply put, a "Pure Cryo" team aims to maximize Wriothesley's damage with support characters like Bennett, Diona, Kazuha, high constellation Shenhe, and Yun Jin, focusing on high-end gameplay. The buffs from Bennett, Shenhe, and Yun Jin all apply to the base multiplier, with the strategy mainly picking one of the three (or more, if you're going all out).

For increased error margin, consider shield characters like Zhongli (for resistance reduction), Diona, or Layla; Anemo characters prioritize Kazuha for a damage boost, followed by other Anemo characters with the "Viridescent Venerer" set for resistance reduction.

"Seed Gate" Strategy

Seed Gate Strategy: Wriothesley, Nahida, Xingqiu, and Kujou Sara. This setup is more of a fun, experimental approach to diversify Wriothesley's team options, offering high damage floor but average ceiling. Wriothesley's team compositions still mainly focus on Melt and Cryo damage strategies.

Summary Time

Wriothesley's close-combat Cryo magic skillset suggests he's versatile in team compositions, with straightforward mechanics that are easy to grasp. His melee boxing attack style offers a satisfying gameplay experience, marking him as an impressive Cryo DPS character.

Weapons: For 5-star weapons, prioritize "Mistsplitter Reforged" and "Memory of Dust." For Melt strategies not paired with Elemental Mastery supports like Nahida, "Haran Geppaku Futsu" is a solid choice. Among 4-star weapons, "The Widsith" and "Solar Pearl" take precedence, with "Prototype Amber" being viable for Melt comps, and "Dodoco Tales" as an early transition option.

Artifacts: Go for a full set of "Pale Flame" first. If you've got well-rolled "Shimenawa's Reminiscence" or "Emblem of Severed Fate," those are directly usable too; for Cryo damage builds, a good "Blizzard Strayer" set works, but it's not recommended to farm specifically for it.

Substats: The main picks are ATK Sands, Cryo DMG Goblet, and CRIT Rate/Damage Circlet. Melt builds might opt for ATK or Elemental Mastery Sands, depending on your weapon and artifact substats.

Constellations: Aim to unlock constellations in the order of C1, C2, C3, and C6, considering each step by step.