Yes, Xianyun can provide a significant buff to Raiden Shogun's damage, particularly by enhancing her Plunging Attacks during her Elemental Burst.
Xianyun, also known as Cloud Retainer, is a character primarily designed to support Plunging Attack-focused team compositions. Her Elemental Burst, Stars Gather, Frost Enlightens, creates a field that grants a substantial Plunging Attack damage bonus to active characters, with the buff scaling based on Xianyun's Attack stat.
How Xianyun Synergizes with Raiden Shogun
The key to Xianyun's buffing capability for Raiden Shogun lies in Raiden's unique ability to perform Plunging Attacks while in her Musou Isshin state, activated by her Elemental Burst.
- Plunging Attack Enhancement: When Raiden Shogun is in her Musou Isshin state, her normal and charged attacks are infused with Electro damage. Critically, if Raiden performs a Plunging Attack during this period, it will still be considered a Plunging Attack and will fully benefit from Xianyun's Plunging Attack damage bonus provided by her Elemental Burst.
- Confirmed Compatibility: Unlike some other characters whose unique states might prevent them from fully interacting with external buffs, Raiden Shogun effectively triggers and benefits from Xianyun's Elemental Burst when executing Plunging Attacks within her own burst duration. This interaction confirms a direct mechanical compatibility, allowing for a unique and potent damage amplification strategy.
Mechanics of the Buff
The table below outlines the core interaction between Xianyun and Raiden Shogun's abilities:
| Character | Ability/Role | Key Buff/Effect | How Raiden Utilizes Xianyun's Buff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xianyun | Elemental Burst: Stars Gather, Frost Enlightens | Increases Plunging Attack DMG for active characters based on Xianyun's ATK. | Provides the core damage amplification to Raiden's Plunging Attacks. |
| Raiden Shogun | Elemental Burst: Musou Shinsetsu (Musou Isshin state) | Converts Normal/Charged Attacks into Electro-infused attacks. | Can perform Plunging Attacks during this state, which then gain Xianyun's DMG bonus. |
For a deeper understanding of Plunging Attack mechanics in Genshin Impact, refer to comprehensive Genshin Impact character guides.
Optimizing the Synergy
To maximize the damage output when pairing Xianyun with Raiden Shogun:
- Xianyun's Build: Prioritize building Xianyun with a high Attack stat through artifacts (e.g., ATK% main stats on Sands, Goblet, and Circlet) and weapons to enhance the Plunging Attack damage bonus she provides. Energy Recharge is also important to ensure consistent Burst uptime.
- Raiden Shogun's Playstyle: While Raiden's traditional playstyle often involves continuous normal attacks during her burst, this synergy encourages incorporating Plunging Attacks into her rotation. Mastering the fast Plunging Attack technique is crucial to capitalize on Xianyun's buff.
- Team Composition: Consider adding teammates who can provide additional buffs (e.g., Elemental Mastery for Electro-Charged, Hyperbloom, or Aggravate reactions), debuffs (e.g., resistance shred), or off-field damage to supplement the Plunging Attack strategy.
In summary, Xianyun indeed buffs Raiden Shogun by enabling a powerful Plunging Attack-focused damage output during Raiden's Elemental Burst, offering a distinct and viable playstyle for the Electro Archon.
