Mastering Diluc in Genshin Impact: A Complete Guide for Optimal Gameplay

"Mondstadt's Guardian of Justice" Diluc's Guide to Dominance

Diluc, affectionately known as "Lord Diluc," probably got this nickname because NPCs in the storyline refer to him as "Lord Diluc," and it just rolls off the tongue better than just "Diluc," right? Initially, travelers also teased him with nicknames like "Human Lighter" and "Diluc Pot," mostly because, during the beta, Lord Diluc's power level wasn't exactly top-notch. His Elemental Skill's damage multiplier wasn't even as high as Xiangling's Guoba spitting fire. That's likely where the "Diluc Pot" moniker originated. But after some adjustments to his damage multipliers, Lord Diluc truly stood up, proving himself as the formidable "Lord Diluc" we know today.

Diluc (respectfully referred to as "Lord Diluc" from here on), a 5-star Pyro claymore wielder, gets a crit rate boost as his ascension attribute, reaching a total of 24.2% crit rate at level 80 ascension. Crit rate and crit damage, aka the "double crit," are crucial for a main DPS, and Lord Diluc's ascension boosts his crit rate, easing the formation of his double crit stats and reducing the pressure on finding perfect artifacts. His role, based on the double crit boost from ascension, is clearly that of a main DPS (but remember, being a main DPS isn't just about having double crit ascension boosts).

Lord Diluc's mechanics are well-balanced, from his constellations to his talents. His Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst are his main sources of damage, with no significant support utility, so if resources aren't an issue, it's best to level up all three talents simultaneously. If resources are tight, prioritize the Elemental Skill and then the Elemental Burst (since the Elemental Skill is versatile and benefits significantly from constellations 3, 4, and 6).

His constellations primarily enhance Diluc's damage output without necessarily boosting his mechanics, focusing on damage, attack speed, and playstyle adjustments. So even at C0, Lord Diluc is a powerhouse (with no mechanical boosts, C0 is already his final form!).

Talent Overview

Normal Attack [A]: Tempered Sword

• 1.1 Normal Attack: Lord Diluc's basic attack chain consists of four physical attacks under normal circumstances. After activating his Elemental Burst, these attacks are imbued with Pyro, dealing elemental damage instead. The fourth strike in the chain has a noticeable wind-up and recovery time, so it's generally skipped in combat (unless you've unlocked constellation 6).
• 1.2 Charged Attack: Among all claymore wielders, only Diluc, Eula, and Beidou have distinctive charged attacks; the rest just spin around with their swords. These three have a rhythmic forward slash with their greatswords. Although Diluc's charged attack can also be infused with Pyro, it's not very practical or a major source of DPS, and it's rarely used in actual combat. Upon reaching character ascension level 20, Diluc unlocks a passive talent called "Relentless," which reduces the stamina cost of his charged attacks by 50% and extends their duration by 3 seconds, for a total of 8 seconds.
• 1.3 Plunging Attack: Diluc's plunging attack is more than just a simple descent; it can be elevated into a special technique known as "Dragonstrike," making it worth mentioning here. Dragonstrike is a special maneuver that can enhance Diluc's damage output and add some fun to gameplay, but it requires practice. It's advised not to use it in serious combat until mastered, and it's better attempted on PC due to its difficulty on mobile. The technique involves attacking at the moment of impact, followed by a sprint+jump into a plunging attack. For practice, a team with double Anemo characters is recommended. Similarly, each segment of his Elemental Skill can chain into a Dragonstrike, adding complexity but becoming more manageable with practice. Of course, if you're not into such mechanics, feel free to skip it. It's just for fun, after all.

Elemental Skill [E]: Searing Onslaught

This skill has three segments, each dealing Pyro damage. Each hit on an enemy drops one Pyro particle.

• Cooldown: 10 seconds, starting the moment the first strike is unleashed.
• If the second segment isn't executed within 4 seconds after the first, it'll go straight into cooldown.
• Regardless of which segment you're on, you can switch characters within those 4 seconds and then switch back to continue the combo. For instance, after launching the first strike, switch out to buff or dish out some damage with another character, and switch back to Lord Diluc to proceed with the second strike, all within 4 seconds. There's plenty of time to play around with character switching, making it quite flexible.
• Try not to unleash all three segments back-to-back. Mixing them with normal attacks maximizes damage output.
• All three Pyro damage outputs are considered weak Pyro applications.
• Diluc is incredibly versatile. Even after deploying his Elemental Skill, you can switch characters and switch back to continue unleashing it, or if you accidentally used his Elemental Skill without his Elemental Burst, don't sweat it; just launch the Burst and then continue with the Skill. The 4-second reset time is pretty forgiving.

The excellent feel of this character also comes from the interplay between his Elemental Skill and normal attacks. It's smooth and efficient, without any drag:

• EAEAEA;
• EAAEAAEAA;
• EAAAEAAAEAAA.

Diluc's combo moves are straightforward: unleash the Burst when it's up, followed by the EA combo. You can throw in a few normal attacks (A) as you like, depending on your preference. The damage difference isn't massive, so choose the combo that feels best for you. However, it's advised not to spam the Elemental Skill without integrating normal attacks, as that's not the recommended approach. The difference among these three combo types also lies in the cooldown duration of the Elemental Skill. After the third combo type, the Skill is almost ready again, allowing you to chain into the Burst with virtually no downtime in damage output, ensuring continuous and stable damage. This highlights one of Diluc's mechanical strengths, offering a silky-smooth experience.

Elemental Burst [Q]: Dawn

Diluc's Elemental Burst packs a punch with damage, knockback, and Pyro infusion capabilities. It comes with about 2 seconds of invincibility frames, which can be a lifesaver when you're low on health. Just cozy up in Bennett's or Diona's Burst area for some stress-free healing.

• Key points to remember about Dawn:
• The damage spreads in a straight line;
• Enemies caught up in Venti's Burst or those pesky Hilichurl Shamans on their pillars? They're all fair game for this Burst;
• Though it delivers continuous damage in about 10 hits, immovable enemies won't feel the full wrath;
• It's got a nice push effect on enemies. When facing a group, try to cast it from the edge to cluster scattered foes together-if you get the angle just right;
• The Pyro infusion from this Burst sticks around even if Diluc leaves the field, offering some slick flexibility.

Diluc's Combat Mechanics and Talents Explained

Only enemies right up in Diluc's grill will take the slash damage, those in the middle get the sustained damage, and the ones at the tail end suffer the explosive damage. Against enemies with low stagger thresholds, it continuously knocks them back, but don't expect to bully the tougher or shielded ones this way. A major plus of this Burst is that it imbues Diluc's normal attacks with Pyro, switching his damage from physical to Pyro.

After hitting level 60 ascension, Diluc unlocks a passive talent called "Flaming Sword, Nemesis of Dark." This bad boy extends the Pyro infusion on his normal attacks from 8 to 12 seconds, matching the Burst's cooldown, ensuring permanent Pyro infusion. Mainly, popping this Burst nets you a sweet 20% Pyro DMG bonus.

The core of this talent lies in the extended Pyro infusion period, during which Diluc enjoys a 20% boost to Pyro damage-a virtually constant buff. Even the initial slash from unleashing the Burst benefits from this 20% increase in Pyro damage.

Inherent Talent: Tradition of the Dawn Knight

• When forging those claymore weapons at the blacksmith, just think of Lord Diluc, and you're golden.

Constellation Introduction

C1: Conviction

This constellation grants a permanent 15% damage increase against enemies with more than 50% health. However, once their health drops below 50%, the bonus is nullified, and frankly, the boost isn't that high.

It's somewhat similar to the refinement ability of the Prototype Archaic-a 15% increase might not be groundbreaking, but it's better than nothing. Against enemies above 50% health, it's a modest damage boost. So, C1 doesn't seem to be a game-changer for Diluc.

C2: Searing Ember

• Activated when Diluc takes damage, this constellation can stack up to 3 times. If you're adventuring in the open world, standing on burning grass can quickly max out this effect. Even if Diluc is shielded, the effect still triggers, making a shield support a great pairing to avoid sudden KOs.
• Without a shield support, though, it's risky to take hits deliberately for the sake of this damage boost. It's manageable against enemies that deal multiple low-damage hits, but high-damage foes? Not so much.
• C2 offers valuable but situational benefits. Against single, slow-attacking enemies, stacking up takes time, but it's quicker with multiple foes. For Diluc, a full stack means 30% increased ATK and 15% increased ATK SPD, which can be consistently maintained with continuous hits. Want high damage? Learn to take a hit-or just bring a shield support.

C3: Fire and Steel

Increases the level of Diluc's Elemental Skill (E) by 3. Since Diluc's main damage comes from his AEQ combo, which is already well-balanced, adding 3 levels to his E is a nice buff. Getting his Elemental Skill to level 6 means it's effectively at level 9 with this constellation.

C4: Flowing Flame

The timing isn't fixed; just wait 2 seconds after using E, then unleash the next segment to trigger this constellation's damage boost. This effect fades 4 seconds after casting E (2 seconds to activate + 2 seconds effective), aligning with the cooldown mechanism. So, with C4, Diluc's standard combo pattern could be EAAEAAEAA.

C5: Phoenix, Harbinger of Dawn

Raises the level of Diluc's Elemental Burst (Q) by 3, similar to C3's logic.

C6: Flaming Sword, Nemesis of Dark

Boosting attack speed not only improves the feel of combat but also increases damage, especially in tandem with C4. At C6, Diluc's normal attack sequence doesn't reset between combos, allowing him to utilize the highest damage multiplier of his 4th normal attack. The recommended combo here is EAAAEAAEAAA.

Each of Diluc's constellations offers a balanced enhancement, mainly boosting damage without adding specific mechanics, just different approaches. So, a C0 Diluc already has his mechanics fully fleshed out. If comparing, C6 offers a bit more value.

Weapon & Artifact Recommendations

Weapons to Arm Diluc With

• Wolf's Gravestone: The Wolf's Gravestone is pretty straightforward and versatile, fitting most claymore users (except for a fully constellated Noelle, not the best match). Its main gig is all about boosting ATK-a weapon born to elevate your attack stats. With its high ATK, it's easy to build around, but it does put a bit of pressure on getting your artifacts right. When Diluc wields the Wolf's Gravestone, choosing an ATK% Sands might not yield the most impressive gains due to the weapon's already high ATK boost. In such cases, opting for a Sands with Elemental Mastery could be a smart move.
• Song of Broken Pines: Not highly recommended mainly because it's Eula's signature weapon, and let's face it, Diluc carrying it around might look a bit off. However, the Song of Broken Pines suits Diluc pretty well, with its ability to trigger its effect by weaving normal attacks into his rotation. The trigger conditions are easy to meet, and the boosts in ATK SPD and ATK are beneficial for Diluc. Plus, activating its effect gives the whole team an ATK and ATK SPD boost, which is quite handy. Although you'll lose out on the Physical DMG bonus when Diluc's Burst converts his normal attacks to Pyro, it's still effective when his attacks aren't imbued.
• The Unforged: Similar to Wolf's Gravestone but with slightly lower bonuses. It really shines when paired with a shield support to fully utilize its refinement effect.

Best Claymores for Diluc in Genshin Impact

Skyward Pride: Ranked as the last pick among 5-star weapons, Skyward Pride enhances Diluc's gameplay with its Energy Recharge sub-stat, ensuring his Burst is consistently available. Its unique refinement effect, when paired with Diluc's ability to chain Bursts, triggers vacuum blades every 12 seconds, aligning perfectly with his combat style.

• Prototype Archaic: Standing at the top among 4-star claymores, Prototype Archaic is celebrated for its high overall performance. It elevates both physical and Pyro damage for Diluc, unaffected by the attack type. The Crit Rate sub-stat diminishes the need for meticulous artifact selection, simplifying the build process.
• Blackcliff Slasher: Distinguished by its Crit DMG sub-stat, the Blackcliff Slasher fulfills Diluc's critical damage requirements. While it shares the artifact stat pressure relief with Prototype Archaic, its refinement benefits are less impactful in challenging or singular enemy encounters.
• Prototype Archaic is acclaimed for its accessibility and adaptability, mirroring the 4-star counterpart of Wolf's Gravestone. It's an excellent fallback for claymore users dealing with low ATK stats, especially when preferred weapons are out of reach.

Other weapons, including the Sacrificial Greatsword, are not recommended for serious gameplay but may offer an entertaining alternative for casual play.

Artifact Choices for Diluc

The Crimson Witch of Flames set is like a match made in heaven for our man Diluc. The 4-piece set bonus, which requires triggering an Elemental Skill for up to 3 stacks, fits perfectly with Diluc's triple-segment Elemental Skill and its 10-second cooldown, allowing for a flawless synergy.

For non-reaction builds, the Lavawalker 4-piece set is a solid choice. When it's tough to get a good artifact set, mixing 2 pieces of the Crimson Witch with 2 pieces from either the Noblesse Oblige or Gladiator's Finale sets can be a great interim solution.

PS: For the Sands of Eon main stat, when rocking weapons with high ATK stats like the Wolf's Gravestone, Song of Broken Pines, or The Unforged, consider opting for Elemental Mastery to maximize Diluc's damage potential.

Team Compositions for Diluc

Diluc + Xingqiu + Kazuha + Bennett

With this lineup, Kazuha's Burst tends to imbue Pyro due to Bennett's influence, which might compete with Diluc for reactions. However, Kazuha's Burst only lasts 8 seconds, so it's not a big deal, and it doesn't always hijack the reactions.

The order of play: Bennett's Q then Kazuha's E + A + Q then Xingqiu's E + Q + E then Diluc's Q + E + A + A + E... This team has great synergy and damage output, capable of sustained bursts.

Diluc + Mona + Sucrose + Bennett

The classic nuclear trio, a damage-dealing powerhouse.

The order of play: Bennett's E + Q then Sucrose's E then Mona's E + Q then Diluc's Q. This setup requires some practice to avoid awkward situations where enemies aren't defeated in one go. It's not the best for cycling but can manage. Great for bossing in the open world, but for high-stress situations like the Abyss, a team with better rotation might be preferable.

Bennett is arguably the best support for Diluc, offering damage boosts, healing, and Pyro resonance. Even at low health, being in Bennett's Burst area, coupled with Diluc's invincibility frames from his Burst, eases a lot of pressure. Overall, it's a strong combo, and Bennett ensures Diluc has enough energy for seamless Burst usage. Even accidentally activating Bennett's C6 just adds icing to the cake when paired with Diluc.

Wrapping It Up

When it comes to leveling talents for Diluc in "Genshin Impact," since his damage output is pretty balanced across the board, it's recommended to level up his Elemental Skill (E), Elemental Burst (Q), and normal attack (A) simultaneously. If resources are tight, prioritize his Elemental Skill, given its significant contribution to his combo (EA) usage, which is a frequent part of his damage-dealing routine. Ideally, try to level all three talents concurrently for maximum efficiency.

As for constellations, each of Diluc's constellations offers a boost, all designed to enhance damage. The special C4 and C6 not only refine his technique but also ramp up his damage output. None of the constellations introduce new mechanics, so a C0 Diluc is already in his prime form-no need to chase after constellations aggressively.

Weapon-wise, if you have a 5-star, use it. The best 4-star options include the Prototype Archaic, followed by the Prototype Archaic and Blackcliff Slasher. The Sacrificial Greatsword is also viable for some fun with its potential for a 6-segment E. The Crimson Witch of Flames 4-piece set is the best match for artifacts, with a 2-piece Crimson Witch plus 2-piece Noblesse Oblige/Gladiator's Finale as a good transitional setup.

Diluc can basically do it all-whether it's pioneering, farming, tackling the Abyss, or mining, Diluc is your go-to guy in "Genshin Impact." His versatility, smooth gameplay, and sustained output make him especially user-friendly and straightforward to use. For those looking to push the envelope, practicing the Dragonstrike technique can elevate his damage ceiling even further.