KEY POINTS

  • Elemental Gauge Theory suggests entities have hidden gauges that track how much of an elemental damage type is stored within them
  • Players will be able to efficiently proc multiple elemental reactions from just one initial elemental attack on an enemy
  • Players who want to min-max their damage numbers may want to understand how it works

The elemental combat system in “Genshin Impact” is simple at first glance; mix and match different elements to create different elemental reactions. This dynamic between elements is the core of the game’s combat, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Data miners and curious players have extensively tested how the combat system actually works in “Genshin Impact.” The result of this community effort is the Elemental Gauge Theory, which has been archived in the Keqing Mains website for all players to read.

For those who want to understand more of the game and deal more damage with their team compositions, here’s an abridged version of the Elemental Gauge Theory to make things a little easier to understand.

What are Elemental Gauges?

The Elemental Gauge Theory (also known as the Gauge Unit Theory) is used to measure the amount of elemental units affecting an entity in "Genshin Impact."

This community-crafted theory suggested that all characters in “Genshin Impact” have a hidden Elemental Gauge that determines how much of an element is currently affecting them. This elemental level is measured in Gauge Units (GU) and is increased or decreased whenever a target is hit by an elemental attack.

How Elemental Gauges Work

Elemental Gauges fill up when elemental attacks make contact. Conversely, Gauge levels decrease over time, and hitting a filled gauge with an elemental reaction will decrease its current amount. The reduction is based on the reaction’s damage multiplier and the triggering skill’s damage category.

Different characters apply different amounts of GU based on the attack they perform. These attacks are separated into three categories: 1A, 2B and 4C. For simplicity’s sake, 1A applies the least amount of GU but decays over a longer period of time. Conversely, 4C applies the most amount of GU but decays the fastest. Each character’s attack classifications can be found here.

For example, Beidou’s Elemental Skill will apply an Electro aura worth 2GU on an enemy’s invisible Elemental Gauge upon contact.

Beidou equipped with the Prototype Archaic unleashing her Tidecaller against a Hilichurl in Genshin Impact
Beidou equipped with the Prototype Archaic unleashing her Tidecaller against a Hilichurl in Genshin Impact Genshin Impact

If this 2GU Electro aura meets a 1GU Pyro element, for example, then Overloaded will occur. The Electro Elemental Gauge will be partially decreased by 1.25GU because of the 1.25x damage multiplier on Overloaded. However, since there is still some Electro GU in the enemy Gauge, another Electro-based reaction can still be procced on the same target.

What is this good for?

Understanding the Elemental Gauge Theory is entirely optional, but clever players will be able to exploit the game’s very systems to their advantage if they know how to use this knowledge properly.

The main takeaway from this theory is that players will be able to perform multiple elemental reactions with just one initial elemental attack if the right abilities are used. This is why Reverse Melt and Reverse Vaporize reactions are considered better than their normal counterparts.

YouTuber AoShenCraft explained this theory very clearly in his video:

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