Ayaka Genshin Impact Guide for Artifacts, Weapons, and Skills

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Well before Genshin Impact’s breakout success in 2020, gamers got their first glimpse of the game during its numerous Closed Beta Tests in 2019.

Although the game underwent significant changes during this period, the starting roster of playable characters remained unchanged upon its launch, with one notable exception: Kamisato Ayaka.

This made the sword-wielding Cryo princess, with a technique reminiscent of Devil May Cry’s Judgement Cut, one of the game’s most anticipated characters until her release in Version 2.0.

Ayaka hails from the esteemed Kamisato Clan of the Yashiro Commission. Revered for her grace, wisdom, and kindness, the people of Inazuma consider her the epitome of perfection, often referring to her as the Shirasagi Himegimi.

As someone in charge of her clan’s internal affairs, she prefers resolving matters diplomatically whenever possible. Although she is very responsible to her duties, she often longs and treasures moments where she can just be an ordinary girl.

Ayaka deserves nothing but the best so this Genshin Impact guide will delve into all of her best artifacts, weapons, and teams.

The Best Artifacts for Ayaka

Cryo characters, especially DPS ones, have the simplest decision when it comes to selecting their artifacts. It might be a little boring, but as the saying goes, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Though in this case, you should use this set because it’s absolutely broken for Ayaka.

Blizzard Strayer

• 2 Piece Bonus – Cryo DMG Bonus +15%
• 4 Piece Bonus – 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%

Before the release of Fontaine and their Marechaussee Hunter set, Blizzard Strayer is the only 5-Star artifact set that affected a character’s ability to CRIT in its effects. Making this set’s effects reliant on Cryo application sealed the deal and made it Ayaka’s best-in-slot artifact set. While the 4-piece set is the most ideal setup, players having difficulty obtaining the entire set can opt for combining a two-piece Blizzard Strayer with a 2-Piece artifact set like Gladiator’s Finale that boosts ATK%.

Artifact Stats to Prioritize

With her artifact set decided, aspiring Ayaka mains would want to acquire the following stats on her artifacts.

1. Cryo DMG Bonus (Goblet)
2. CRIT DMG (Circlet and substats)
3. CRIT Rate (Circlet and substats)
4. ATK% (Sands / Circlet and substats)
5. Energy Recharge (substats)

Ayaka’s Alternate Sprint imbues all her attacks with the Cryo element, making a Cryo Goblet an obvious choice for her artifact. While focusing on CRIT stats is essential for her, Blizzard Strayer allows you to deviate from the typical 1:2 CRIT ratio. Prioritize achieving a 40% CRIT Rate at max before going all in on CRIT DMG. Ayaka will also need a good amount of ATK in order to optimize her personal damage output. Energy Recharge is nice to have on her substats but is not necessary, especially if your team already has a Cryo ally that can serve as her battery.

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Best Weapons for Ayaka

Pulling for 5-Star weapons is an expensive endeavor, so it’s only fair that it rewards you with the finest stats and effects Genshin Impact has to offer. The real dilemma is in choosing which ones would fit your character the best, whether in terms of gameplay benefits or simply for their aesthetic appeal.

• Mistsplitter Reforged (CRIT DMG) – Gain a 12% Elemental DMG Bonus for all elements and receive the might of the Mistsplitter’s Emblem. At stack levels 1/2/3, Mistsplitter’s Emblem provides a 8/16/28% Elemental DMG Bonus for the character’s Elemental Type. The character will obtain 1 stack of Mistsplitter’s Emblem 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.

Without a doubt, the Mistsplitter Reforged stands as Ayaka’s best weapon.  Its Mistsplitter Emblem effect offers her a ton of bonuses to her Elemental DMG per stack especially at max stacks which she can easily achieve. This bonus is in addition to an already excellent passive effect, remarkably high base ATK, and a CRIT DMG secondary stat, making it ideal for a main DPS role.

• Haran Geppaku Futsu (CRIT Rate) – Obtain 12% All Elemental DMG Bonus. When other nearby party members use Elemental Skills, the character equipping this weapon will gain 1 Wavespike stack. Max 2 stacks. This effect can be triggered once every 0.3s. When the character equipping this weapon uses an Elemental Skill, all stacks of Wavespike will be consumed to gain Rippling Upheaval: each stack of Wavespike consumed will increase Normal Attack DMG by 20% for 8s.

Ayaka can effortlessly adopt her brother Ayato‘s distinctive weapon as her own. While it shares the same passive Elemental DMG Bonus as Mistsplitter Reforged, the key difference lies in their secondary effects. Haran doesn’t offer additional Elemental DMG Bonus; instead, it provides a stacking bonus to Normal Attack DMG. To maximize these stacks, players need to utilize Elemental Skills from other party members first.

• Primordial Jade Cutter (CRIT Rate) – HP increased by 20%. Additionally, provides an ATK Bonus based on 1.2% of the wielder’s Max HP.

Ayaka might not get an overly offensive effect from Primordial Jade Cutter but it is a great stat stick for her as it boasts the highest CRIT Rate given by a weapon. Having said that, the increased HP helps in making her a more durable DPS while she’s on the field since her playstyle involves giving her a lot of floor time.

Budget Alternatives

A sword is only as good as the person who is wielding. While budget weapons may not offer the best stats or effects, some of them can still synergize very well with our Shirasagi Himegimi. 

• Amenoma Kageuchi (ATK%) – After casting an Elemental Skill, gain 1 Succession Seed. This effect can be triggered once every 5s. The Succession Seed lasts for 30s. Up to 3 Succession Seeds may exist simultaneously. After using an Elemental Burst, all Succession Seeds are consumed and after 2s, the character regenerates 6 Energy for each seed consumed.

For gamers seeking a classic katana appearance that pairs well with Ayaka, Amenoma Kageuchi is the perfect choice for you. This Inazuman craftable sword offers a form of energy refund for her Burst, an extremely helpful effect as Inazuman characters like Ayaka typically have expensive energy costs. In order to craft this weapon, you’ll need to complete the Inazuman World Quest ‘The Farmer’s Treasure’ to obtain its diagram.

• Kagotsurube Isshin (ATK%) – When a Normal, Charged, or Plunging Attack hits an opponent, it will whip up a Hewing Gale, dealing AoE DMG equal to 180% of ATK and increasing ATK by 15% for 8s. This effect can be triggered once every 8 s.

The Kagotsurube Isshin is the free weapon given upon completing Kaedehara Kazuha’s Story Quest ‘Acer Palmatum’. It’s an ATK% scaling weapon like Amenoma Kageuchi which Ayaka does appreciate, though it falls slightly behind the latter due to the lack of utility on its weapon effect.

• The Black Sword (CRIT Rate) – Increases DMG dealt by Normal and Charged Attacks by 20%. Additionally, regenerates 60% of ATK as HP when Normal and Charged Attacks score a CRIT Hit. This effect can occur once every 5s.

You’ll have to invest on getting Genshin Impact’s monthly Battle Pass if you want your Ayaka to rock The Black Sword. It is a CRIT Rate weapon that increases her Normal Attack strikes while also giving her some sustain through scoring critical strikes. However, it only becomes a notable pick over the others if you’re struggling for some CRIT Rate or you already have high refinements on this weapon prior.

Skill Priorities for Ayaka

Any kit may look strong on paper but without proper practice and effort into leveling them up, you’ll lose out on all of their damage potential. Consider this when leveling Ayaka’s talents:

1. Kamisato Art: Soumetsu (Elemental Burst) – Summons forth a snowstorm with flawless poise, unleashing a storm of whirling icy winds that slashes repeatedly at every enemy it touches, dealing Cryo DMG. The snowstorm moves forward continuously and explodes after its duration ends, dealing AoE Cryo DMG.

2. Kamisato Art: Kabuki (Normal Attack) – Ayaka performs up to 5 rapid strikes. After consuming a certain amount of Stamina, she unleashes a flurry of sword ki for her Charged Attack.

3. Kamisato Art: Hyouka (Elemental Skill) – Ayaka’s Elemental Skill summons blooming ice to launch nearby opponents, dealing AoE Cryo DMG.

Ayaka’s abilities are centered around infusing her Normal Attacks with Cryo by incorporating her Alternate Sprint into her attack sequence. This technique allows her to maintain a near constant Cryo application, akin to a catalyst user. As to what you should level first, her Elemental Burst is her biggest source of damage and whose damage multipliers benefit the most from additional levels. Ayaka does have great Normal Attack damage which makes it ideal to level after her Burst. Her Elemental Skill is fairly simple compared to her Burst and Normal Attacks but can still deal a good chunk of damage and slight crowd control due to its knockup. In the long run, you’ll want to max all of her skills to showcase this skilled swordswoman’s mastery.

Ayaka Team Comp

Ayaka serves as a Cryo Main DPS, specializing in freeze and Mono-Cryo team setups. This makes assembling an ideal team for her relatively simple: include an Anemo support for grouping and debuffs, a Hydro unit to apply Hydro for freezing, and another Cryo character to offer utility support like shields, healing, or act as a battery.

• Kazuha (Provides crowd control, resistance shred, and elemental buffs)
• Venti (The OG crowd control king)
• Kokomi (Healer with great Hydro application; perfect for Freeze)
• Mona (Hydro enabler with a powerful Omen buff for Bursts)
• Shenhe (Cryo support that gives insane buffs to Cryo DPS)
• Diona (Cryo shielder, healer, and fantastic energy battery)
• Rosaria (Cryo sub-DPS with crit support through her Burst)
• Bennett (Pyro support with a healing AoE and massive ATK buffs)

Frozen opponents are unable to escape Ayaka’s flurry of cold steel, which only grows stronger with the help of Blizzard Strayer, ensuring every blow lands as a critical hit.. Although this strategy remains successful in numerous situations like overworld challenges and story progression, it has lost popularity in tougher content like the Spiral Abyss, where enemies are harder to group or freeze. Nevertheless, a properly built Ayaka can still effortlessly overcome her enemies, like a practiced strike perfected over a thousand times.