Complete Guide to Cyno in Genshin Impact

Cyno, the electro five-star character in Genshin Impact, brings a unique playstyle focusing on Electro damage and a transformative Elemental Burst.

This guide covers all aspects of Cyno, from abilities and playstyle to artifacts, weapons, team compositions, and combat strategies.

Let's dive in!

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Complete Guide to Cyno in Genshin Impact: Best Builds and Team Compositions

Cyno's Abilities and Playstyle

Elemental Burst: Sacred Rite Wolf's Swiftness

Transforms Cyno into a stance where his normal attacks become Electro-infused claw strikes.

Significantly increases Elemental Mastery and resistance to interruption.

Base duration is 10 seconds but can be extended through the use of Elemental Skill.

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Elemental Skill: Secret Rite Chasmic Soulfarer

Outside Burst is a simple dash forward that deals Electro damage and generates energy particles.

Inside Burst is a reduced cooldown to 3 seconds, becomes crucial for extending Burst duration and dealing rapid Electro damage.

Generates less energy when used inside Burst compared to outside.

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Passive Talents

Significantly enhances Cyno's damage output based on his Elemental Mastery.

Increases normal attack damage by a percentage of his Elemental Mastery.

Duststalker Bolts, triggered by using Elemental Skill at specific times during Burst, deal additional Electro damage based on Cyno's attack and Elemental Mastery.

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Talent Priority

Elemental Burst

‍This should be your top priority.

Cyno's Burst transforms his attack style and infuses his attacks with Electro, which is central to his DPS output.

Upgrading this talent increases the damage of his Burst significantly, making it essential for maximizing his damage potential.

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Elemental Skill‍

Next in line is his Elemental Skill.

When used during his Burst, it extends the duration of the Burst and triggers additional effects, making it a crucial part of maintaining his high damage output.

Additionally, it has its own damage scaling, contributing significantly to his overall DPS.

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Normal Attack

‍Finally, upgrade his Normal Attack talent.

While his Normal Attacks are less crucial compared to his Burst and Skill (since they transform during his Burst phase), they still form the basis of his damage output outside of his Burst.

Upgrading this talent can still contribute to overall efficiency in combat, especially in situations where his Burst is on cooldown.

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Building Cyno: Artifacts

Thundering Fury (4-Piece)

Ideal for an electro-reaction focused playstyle, particularly in teams where Cyno can frequently trigger reactions like Overload or Electro-Charged.

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Gladiator's Finale (4-Piece)

A strong choice for increasing Cyno's overall damage output, especially if he’s used primarily for his Normal Attacks.

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Gilded Dreams (4-Piece)

Suitable for teams with diverse elemental types and if Cyno is played in a team that focuses on elemental reactions.

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Thundersoother (4-Piece)

A viable option if you can maintain a high Electro application on enemies.

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Main Stats

• Sands: ATK% or Elemental Mastery (if focusing on reaction damage).
• Goblet: Electro DMG Bonus.
• Circlet: Crit Rate or Crit DMG (depending on which stat needs balancing based on substats and weapon).

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Substats Priority

• Focus on Crit Rate and Crit DMG to maximize his DPS potential.
• ATK% and Elemental Mastery are also valuable.
• Energy Recharge is important but secondary to other stats. Aim for enough Energy Recharge to use his Burst frequently without over-investing.

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Optimal Weapons for Cyno

Best 5-Star Weapons

Staff of the Scarlet Sands (Signature Weapon)

Offers 44% Crit Rate and converts Elemental Mastery into ATK.

Ideal for Cyno due to its synergy with his kit, enhancing both reaction-based and direct damage.

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Primordial Jade Winged-Spear

Provides high base ATK and Crit Rate.

Its passive increases ATK by stacking, which is easily achievable with Cyno's fast attack rate.

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Staff of Homa

Offers Crit DMG and a HP-related ATK bonus.

Effective for boosting Cyno's damage, especially if you can manage his HP to maximize the weapon's passive.

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Vortex Vanquisher

High base ATK and ATK% bonus.

Best used with a shield support for its shield-related damage bonus.

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Top 4-Star and 3-Star Weapons

Deathmatch (Battle Pass Weapon)

Grants Crit Rate and increases ATK or DEF based on the number of enemies around.

Consistent performance makes it a solid choice for Cyno.

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Blackcliff Pole

Provides Crit DMG and a passive that boosts ATK after defeating an enemy.

Effective in situations with multiple enemies, like Abyss floors.

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White Tassel (Free-to-Play Option)

Increases Normal Attack DMG by a significant margin.

Its high Crit Rate stat complements Cyno’s kit well.

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Lithic Spear

Benefits from increased ATK and Crit Rate based on the number of Liyue characters in the team.

Viable option if your team composition aligns with its passive.

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Team Compositions

Aggravate Teams (Electro + Dendro)

Use the Aggravate reaction between Electro and Dendro for increased damage.

Characters like Nahida, Baizhu or the Dendro Traveler for Dendro application.

Kuki Shinobu, Fischl or Yae Miko for consistent off-field Electro application, enhancing reaction damage.

Anemo support like Kazuha for crowd control and damage buffs, or a shield/healer like Zhongli or Diona for survivability.

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Electro-Charge Teams

Focus on Electro-Charge reaction for continuous AoE Electro damage.

Xingqiu or Yelan for consistent Hydro application.

Characters like Beidou or Raiden Shogun can synergize well with Cyno’s Electro application.

Anemo support like Sucrose or Venti for grouping enemies and elemental shred, or a healer for sustain.

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Hyperbloom Teams

Use Hyperbloom reaction (Electro + Dendro + Hydro) for explosive damage.

Essential for setting up Hyperbloom reactions.

Xingqiu or Yelan for reliable Hydro application.

Anemo support for crowd control and buffs, or a healer/shielder for team protection.

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Mono Electro or Overload Teams

Increases the synergy between multiple Electro characters or create Overload reactions.

Fischl, Beidou, or Raiden Shogun for enhanced Electro resonance or reaction damage.

Characters like Xiangling or Bennett for Overload reactions.

Depending on the team's focus, an Anemo character for buffs and enemy grouping, or a healer/shielder for defense.

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Physical Damage Support Teams

Enhance Cyno's physical damage output alongside his Electro abilities.

A Cryo character like Rosaria or Ganyu to reduce enemy physical resistance.

An Electro support for resonance and energy, plus an Anemo character for resistance shred or a healer for survivability.

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Constellations Impact

C1: Ordinance Unceasing Vigil

Increases normal attack speed by 20% during the Elemental Burst.

Enhances Cyno's DPS potential during his Burst phase.

Faster attack speed means more hits within the Burst duration, leading to higher overall damage output.

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C2: Ceremony Homecoming of Spirits

Grants 10% Electro DMG Bonus for 4 seconds after normal attacks hit enemies during the Burst.

Stacks up to 5 times.

This is a significant power spike.

It potentially provides a 50% Electro DMG Bonus, greatly increasing Cyno's core damage output.

Ideal for maximizing damage in his Burst phase.

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C4: Austerity Forbidding Guard

When triggering an Electro-related elemental reaction during the Burst, Cyno regenerates 3 Energy for all party members (except himself) every 2 seconds.

Useful for energy generation in teams, especially in reaction-heavy compositions.

Helps support characters recharge their Elemental Bursts faster, enhancing team synergy.

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C6: Raiment Just Scales

During the Burst, after using the Elemental Skill, Cyno's normal attacks unleash Duststalker Bolts.

Each bolt deals 35% of his ATK as Electro DMG.

Adds another layer of damage to Cyno’s already potent Burst phase.

These additional bolts significantly increase his damage output, especially in prolonged combat scenarios.

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Advanced Combat Strategies

Maximizing Elemental Burst Damage

Key to Cyno's playstyle is timing his Elemental Skill (Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer) during his Elemental Burst.

It extends the Burst’s duration and unleashes additional damage.

Watch for the "Endseer" markers (eyes) during the Burst.

Triggering the Elemental Skill when these markers appear unleashes powerful Duststalker Bolts, greatly enhancing damage.

Integrate normal attacks between Skill usages.

His normal attacks during the Burst are electro-infused, contributing significantly to overall damage.

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Energy Management

Pair Cyno with an Electro battery like Fischl or Raiden Shogun to ensure a consistent supply of energy.

Consider using the 4-piece Thundering Fury set for additional Elemental Skill cooldown reduction, allowing more frequent use within the Burst phase.

Balance his Energy Recharge rate through artifacts and weapons to ensure his Burst is ready as often as possible without overly compromising his damage stats.

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Synergy with Elemental Reactions

In a Dendro team, use Cyno to trigger Aggravate or Quicken reactions for increased damage.

In Hyperbloom teams, Cyno can set off these reactions, although he may need a Hydro support for consistency.

In a Physical DPS build, use Superconduct (Electro + Cryo) to reduce enemy physical resistance.

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Using Supports for Enhanced Performance

Characters like Kazuha or Sucrose can group enemies and provide Elemental DMG bonuses.

Ensure Cyno's survival during close-range combat, especially if using riskier weapons like Serpent Spine.

Bring characters like Bennett for ATK buffs or Zhongli for enemy debuffing and shielding.

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Field Awareness and Mobility

Stay mobile and position Cyno strategically to hit multiple enemies with his AoE attacks.

Use his resistance to interruption during the Burst to maintain attack chains without being staggered.

Increase environmental factors (like water bodies in Electro-Charge teams) for added effect.

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Final Thoughts on Cyno

Cyno emerges as a dynamic and powerful Electro DPS character in Genshin Impact, with a playstyle that hinges on the strategic use of his Elemental Burst.

His unique ability to transform into a formidable Electro-infused attacker during this state, complemented by his skill to extend the duration of this mode, places him as a character who thrives on sustained and focused combat.