KEY POINTS

  • Hu Tao is best used as a main DPS carry
  • She requires a certain degree of skill to use effectively
  • Players will have to manage her health and ability timers to maximize her damage output

Among the many characters in “Genshin Impact,” Hu Tao arguably has the highest skill ceiling due to how her kit works. She’s a selfish main DPS Pyro carry that can consistently deal high amounts of damage in relatively short windows of opportunity.

Players who want to get as much damage as possible out of Hu Tao means they will have to master how her kit works on top of getting perfectly-rolled artifacts to get her DPS as high as possible. This makes her a bit harder to use compared to other Pyro carries like Klee or Diluc, but players who enjoy a more active and aggressive playstyle will find Hu Tao to be an absolute joy to play.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to build Hu Tao and some general pointers on how she should be used.

How To Play Hu Tao

Hu Tao relies on her Elemental Skill, Guide to Afterlife, to boost her abysmal ATK stat to extreme levels. The skill increases her ATK based on a percentage of her max HP while also converting all of her damage to Pyro damage. However, this ability will drain 30% of Hu Tao’s current HP every time it’s activated.

Hu Tao sacrifices her health to gain high amounts of Pyro damage on her attacks
Hu Tao sacrifices her health to gain high amounts of Pyro damage on her attacks Genshin Impact

To somewhat offset the HP loss, Hu Tao’s Elemental Burst, Spirit Soother, has a built-in heal effect based on the number of enemies hit. She also has a passive that increases her Pyro damage whenever her HP falls below 50%. Players will want to keep her below this health threshold and carefully juggle her HP so she doesn’t die in one hit.

Weapons and Artifacts

Staff of Homa is Hu Tao’s best weapon because of the passive HP and the HP-based damage buff that it grants. Alternatively, players can opt for any other weapon that boosts her ATK, CRIT Rate or CRIT damage.

As for artifacts, Crimson Witch is the most ideal set for her since she’s a Pyro carry. However, Lavawalker may not be a bad choice since Hu Tao will ideally always be dealing Pyro damage.

For artifact stats, focus on HP/HP%, Pyro DMG% and as much critical hit rate/damage as possible. Stacking ATK% on Hu Tao is bad because she has the lowest Base ATK values in the game.

Team Compositions

Xingqiu is arguably the best offensive support for Hu Tao as he can allow for constant Vaporize procs. Kaeya can perform a similar role but for Melt instead.

Ideally, a shield support like Zhongli or Noelle should also be included in the party to prevent Hu Tao from getting downed since her HP will always be low.

RELATED STORIES