Hello guys
Welcome to another genshin impact guide. This time we'll be focusing on own main boi direct from Snezhnaya. I'm hoping people are used by now with terms such as E.Skill(your skill 1,Skill E) and E.Burst(2nd skill, ultimate, Skill Q).
Let's analyze Childe talents then we'll make assumption on what's good or not for him.
1- Normal Attack - Current Torrent
This is your basic 6-combo normal-range Physical dmg attack.
If this attack is charged, it will gain additional dmg which is also converted to Hydro dmg and applies Riptide to the target.
What is Riptide?
Riptide is a 10s debuff. This duration can be extended to 18s at Ascension 1.
It can be initially applied by using a charged normal range attack. Riptide can also be applied via Childe E.Burst. Ascension 4-Sword Torrents will allow you to apply Riptide with Crit hit on normal and charged attack.
Why is Riptide so important?.
Now we know how to apply Riptide we need to know what it does. As shown in the picture below the debuff has a similar icon to Childe's E.Burst when it's active on a target.
Riptide Flash - hitting an enemy affected by Riptide with a range attack does a Hydro AoE of 22% x3 every .7 second.
Riptide Burst - killing an enemy with Riptide does a 66.7% Hydro AoE
Both Riptide Flash and Riptide Burst scale from Talent 2.
Riptide Slash - This attack can only occur every 1.5s. It does a 60% Hydro dmg and scales from Talent 2
Note that all Riptide Flash, Burst and Slash are all considered as Elemental Skill dmg thus scaling
with weapon such as The Stringless.
2 - Raging Tide
Converts your normal-range attack into Hydro-melee attack. Ascension 4 as mentioned above will allow you to apply Riptide with normal and charged Crit attack
3- Obliteration
Melee stance - Does 464% AoE Hydro dmg + applies Riptide Blast
Riptide Blast only will work on enemies that has Riptide and will cause an explosion doing 120% Hydro dmg. Note that this explosion can occur more than once depending on the number of enemies. Making this extremely good AoE dmg. Riptide Blast is considered as a Elementa Burst dmg
Range stance - Does 378% Single-Target Hydro dmg and applies Riptide.
It also returns 20 Energy at the end of the AoE. Making this more a support-style to use this.
Childe as a support.
Childe has some support capabilities. Riptide debuff applied by Childe can be triggeredby your team
for elemental reaction. However his ultimate has different effect +120% AoE dmg
or 20 Energy recharge which makes gearing Childe versatile. His Talent +1 for his team might be something you might look at for your team. This can make childe a good support with a Cryo main. Needless to say though he's in a lower tier as support than Mona due to the limited elemental reaction
and mechanism to trigger Riptide as support would work.
Childe as a main dps.
Childe was meant to be a main dps and he excels at it in every possible way.
Childe can be a Physical dps though i'd say since Hydro dmg doesn't stack with Physical dmg it would be a bad idea even so his Talent +1 is a trap which people shouldn't fall into. As much as possible, i'd say Crit rate & crit dmg and then Attack Power with Hydro dmg on your Goblet. The Skyward Harp is thus one of the best weapon for Childe.
Gear type:
Style 1 - Rust, Gladiator set x1 , Berserker set x1, Hydro dmg goblet, Crit rate Helm
If you don't have Skyward Harp, Rust is automatically your next best weapon
due to her Attack power substat and more importantly its whopping 40% dmg increase on normal attack
Even with the higher attack power base on Skyward Harp, both Skyward Hard and Rust can do almost identical dmg if you're able to keep other stat constant which means even if you don't have Skyward Harp. Don't be sad your childe can perform great however you can't rely on charged attack.
Rust can be better since you can refine way easier than Skyward harp, also if you consider than
you're crit efficient at 45-50% crit rate.
Style 2- Skyward Harp, Gladiator set x1, Martial Artist set x1 , Hydro dmg goblet, crit dmg helm
Due to the 20% Crit dmg on the weapon and crit rate sub stat, you'd want to go with crit dmg on your helm, martial artist set will increase your normal attack dmg by 15% which is maybe the next best set (for now as of patch 1.1) for Childe however you'd limit yourself on using charged attack which do more dmg.
Childe main dps rotation
-Childe Raging Tide , needs perfect management or you'll be caught in one of the hugest cd in this game for an E.Skill- 45s.
-You're expected to remove him from his melee stance when you're not attacking so you're not caught off guard. The cd will still be affected by how long you've kept it off but it's still a -10cd. This is important in the Abyss when enemies come in waves.
-You should pay attention to the red icon that warns you that Raging Tide is about to end.
-Alternatively Childe doesn't need to stay in Raging Tide to max his dps, since you'll want to swap to an Anemo Support with Viridescent set or a Pyro Support with Noblesse Oblige. This will give time for Raging Tide to refresh it cd. You should time your Raging Tide duration with the duration you take to do your support rotation. If for e.g you'll take 25 second to put your support skill then you should be using Raging Tide around this time.
-Finally you can also use Childe Charged attack to apply Riptide however this isn't a must once you have unlock Sword Torrents. You still want to make sure you're in melee stance with Riptide on your target
to make Obliterate trigger Riptide Blast.
When to use Childe and When not to use Childe.
Childe heavily focus on Hydro dmg, you want to make sure not to use him against Hydro Slime or Hydro Shield enemies.
He will perform averagly against Electro/Cryo Slime/Shield enemies. Since both Electro-charged
and Frozen will be absorbed by their shield or cause no elemental dmg reaction to the slime.
Childe is very strong against Pyro unit and against crowd once he has fully ascend
with Sword Torrent and enough crit built.
Note: At C6( if you are whaling)
C6 Childe should heavily consider having Energy recharge in their build.
This will allow them to use Obliteration which will wipe off the cd on Raging Tide.
Congrats to anyone who got Childe.
Hopefully this guide will define your childe playstyle.
