Genshin Impact Aloy Guide

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Introduction

Aloy, the Nora hunter from Horizon Zero Dawn, entered the world of Genshin Impact as a 5-star Cryo Bow character through a special collaboration event, becoming the game’s first crossover character. She was made available to all players for free during the Version 2.2 update, allowing her to join any roster without the need for gacha pulls. As a Cryo character, Aloy offers versatility in team compositions, making her a useful addition for players who invest in her talents and builds. While she may not be the most popular or optimal character in every scenario, Aloy can serve as an effective member of your team when used strategically.

Her kit is designed to function in multiple roles, allowing her to adapt as either a main DPS or a sub-DPS depending on team needs. Her Elemental Skill, Frozen Wilds, throws a Freeze Bomb that deals AoE Cryo damage and scatters Chillwater Bomblets. These bomblets deal additional Cryo damage and generate a significant number of Cryo particles, making Aloy an excellent Cryo battery for energy regeneration in Cryo-centric teams.

Her Elemental Burst, Prophecies of Dawn, unleashes a Cryo-infused explosive arrow with a low energy cost, dealing considerable AoE damage and adding to her versatility. These abilities enable Aloy to excel in team compositions that rely on Elemental Reactions like Freeze or Superconduct, offering consistent Cryo application and synergy with Hydro or Electro characters.

Aloy is also a practical choice for free-to-play players, as her free availability provides a solid Cryo option for players who may not have other high-tier Cryo units. In freeze teams, for example, she can replace characters like Diona to provide Cryo application and energy generation. With proper investment in artifacts and weapons, such as prioritizing Critical Rate, Critical Damage, Attack, and Energy Recharge, Aloy can deliver reliable performance in battle. Her free nature and adaptability make her a valuable character, particularly for players who are exploring different team setups without relying on luck-based pulls.

To fully utilize Aloy’s potential, understanding her abilities, playstyle, optimal builds, and team compositions is essential. This guide will cover her strengths and weaknesses, recommended weapons and artifacts, ideal teammates, and material farming strategies, ensuring you can make the most out of this unique crossover character in Genshin Impact.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: How to Obtain Aloy on Mobile

Aloy was initially released as a PlayStation-exclusive character in Genshin Impact version 2.1, but she became available to all players in Version 2.2. Prior to this, players on PC and mobile platforms could not directly obtain Aloy. However, a workaround allowed them to get her early by linking their accounts to a PlayStation Network account.

To do this, players needed access to a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, where they would create a new PlayStation profile and a new PlayStation Network account, using a different email address from their existing Genshin Impact account. After linking the new PlayStation Network account to their Genshin Impact account, Aloy and other PlayStation-exclusive rewards were sent to their in-game mailbox.

As of Version 2.2, this method is no longer necessary. Aloy is now available to all players, and to obtain her, you simply need to reach Adventure Rank 20 or higher, then check your in-game mailbox to claim the email containing Aloy. Once claimed, she will be added to your roster. The previous account linking method is no longer recommended, as it may not grant any additional rewards.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Aloy’s Talents and Playstyle

Aloy can perform up to 4 consecutive shots with her bow, and she can charge an aimed shot that deals Cryo damage. However, her normal attacks are generally not the focus of her gameplay. While her normal attacks can be infused with Cryo through her Elemental Skill, this process is difficult to manage and inconsistent, making it less reliable for dealing significant damage.

Aloy’s Elemental Skill, Frozen Wilds, involves throwing a Freeze Bomb that explodes, dealing Cryo damage, and then splits into Chillwater Bomblets. These both decrease enemy ATK and grant Aloy Coil stacks, with each stack increasing her Normal Attack DMG. Once she reaches 4 Coil stacks, Aloy enters the Rushing Ice state, which converts her Normal Attack DMG to Cryo DMG. This skill also generates 5 Cryo particles on its initial hit, and the Chillwater Bomblets can be grouped by certain Anemo abilities, enhancing their effectiveness in combat.

Aloy’s Elemental Burst, Prophecies of Dawn, involves throwing a Power Cell that detonates, dealing AoE Cryo damage. As of version 4.5, this is the highest single instance of Cryo damage in the game. The burst has a short 12-second cooldown and a low energy cost of just 40, making it efficient for consistent damage output. Additionally, at Ascension 1, Aloy’s passive talent boosts her ATK by 16% when she gains a Coil stack, while nearby party members receive an 8% increase to their ATK, enhancing overall team damage.

Aloy’s Cryo DMG Bonus increases by 3.5% every second while in the Rushing Ice state, with a maximum increase of 35%. This scaling boost significantly enhances her Cryo damage output during this state, making it a key part of her damage potential when she reaches full Coil stacks.

Talent Priority: Burst > Skill > Normal Attack.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Aloy’s Builds

Aloy can be built as a Reverse Melt DPS, Freeze/Mono Cryo Support, or Quickswap DPS.

Reverse Melt DPS: This build utilizes Pyro and Anemo teammates.

Artifact Stats: ER% (until requirement) > CRIT > EM > ATK%.

Artifact Sets: 4pc Emblem of Severed Fate, 4pc Gilded Dreams, 4pc Lavawalker, or 2pc Mixed Sets.

Aloy’s artifact sets should be selected based on her role in the team, whether as a damage dealer or support. For a support build, the 4-piece Noblesse Oblige set is recommended. This set provides a 20% ATK buff to the entire team after Aloy uses her Elemental Burst, and since her Burst has a short cooldown and low energy cost, she can easily maintain this buff. For a damage-focused build, the 4-piece Blizzard Strayer set is ideal when using her in a freeze team, as it offers a significant 40% Crit Rate increase against frozen enemies, allowing you to focus on Crit Damage in other stats.

If she is not used in a freeze team, the 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate set is a strong choice, as it boosts her Burst damage and provides energy recharge, which is important for her damage output.

A hybrid build using 2-piece Noblesse Oblige and 2-piece Blizzard Strayer boosts both her Burst damage and Cryo damage. If used in a melt team, a 4-piece Gilded Dreams set is beneficial due to the elemental mastery it provides, or a 4-piece Lavawalker set, which is almost always active in Reverse Melt teams. For teams with Furina, the 4-piece Marechaussee Hunter set is an excellent option. When selecting artifacts, prioritize energy recharge (ER) until the requirement is met, followed by Crit Rate/Crit Damage, ATK%, and Elemental Mastery (EM) depending on your team composition.

Weapons: Polar Star, Sacrificial Bow (R4+), 5-star CRIT Bows, Elegy for the End, The Stringless, Prototype Crescent, Song of Stillness.
Aloy’s weapon choice largely depends on her role in the team, whether as a damage dealer or support. For maximizing her damage output, several bows are effective. The Skyward Harp is a top choice due to its high base attack and crit stats. Other strong 5-star options include Polar Star, Aqua Simulacra, Hunter’s Path, and Thundering Pulse, though some of their passives may be less useful for Aloy. The Stringless is a great 4-star option, increasing elemental skill and burst damage while providing elemental mastery, which is particularly beneficial for melt teams.

The craftable Prototype Crescent is also a solid choice for damage. For a support build, the Sacrificial Bow is excellent, especially at high refinements (R4+), as it can potentially allow for a second Elemental Skill cast, generating more energy particles and increasing the chances of triggering her passive. The Favonius Warbow is another support option that helps generate energy for the team. The Elegy for the End is a 5-star support bow that provides energy recharge and buffs for the team, though its passive may not always activate every rotation.

The craftable Song of Stillness offers an ATK% secondary stat and DMG% when its passive is active, making it a good support option. While the Predator Bow matches Aloy aesthetically, it is generally not recommended, as its passive buffs normal attacks and is only available for PlayStation users. Ultimately, the best weapon for Aloy depends on her build, with a focus on energy recharge being key for support builds.

Aloy can be effectively used in several team compositions, depending on her role. In a Freeze or Mono Cryo Support setup, she serves as a Cryo battery and buffer. The optimal artifact stats for this build focus on Energy Recharge (ER%) until the requirement is met, followed by Critical Damage (CRIT DMG), Critical Rate, and Attack Percentage (ATK%). Ideal artifact sets include 4-piece Noblesse Oblige, 4-piece Blizzard Strayer, 4-piece Marechaussee Hunter, or a mix of 2-piece sets. Recommended weapons for this build are Polar Star, Skyward Harp, Aqua Simulacra,

The First Great Magic, Thundering Pulse, Prototype Crescent, Song of Stillness, Hunter’s Path, Sacrificial Bow (R4+), Amos’ Bow, Alley Hunter, The Viridescent Hunt, and Favonius Warbow. In team comps, Aloy works well in a Freeze setup as the primary Cryo DPS, supported by Hydro and Anemo characters, or in a Mono Cryo comp with another Cryo unit like Shenhe and Anemo support from Kazuha. For a quickswap DPS build, Aloy’s Elemental Burst makes for a strong nuke with a low energy cost, and pairing her with a Sacrificial Bow allows for quick burst rotations. Emblem of Severed Fate is a strong artifact set choice for this playstyle.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Team Compositions

Aloy + Ayaka + Kokomi + Kazuha

Aloy acts as a sub-DPS and Cryo enabler.
Aloy + Mona + Venti + Diona

Aloy acts as a main DPS and Cryo enabler.

Permafrost teams, also known as permafreeze teams, are a popular strategy in Genshin Impact that focus on consistently freezing enemies, offering both defensive and offensive benefits. These teams rely on the Freeze reaction, which combines Cryo and Hydro to immobilize enemies, making them easier to control and increasing damage output.

This constant freezing can reduce the need for a dedicated shielder. Aloy is a versatile pick for these teams, capable of functioning as either a main DPS or a sub-DPS depending on the team composition and player preferences. The Cryo resonance from multiple Cryo characters, coupled with the Blizzard Strayer artifact set, boosts Crit Rate significantly, allowing players to focus on maximizing Crit Damage and other offensive stats. Aloy pairs well with characters like Ayaka, Kokomi, and Kazuha or Mona, Venti, and Diona, creating powerful and synergistic permafrost teams that excel in both damage output and crowd control.

Aloy + Xiangling + Sucrose + Diona

Aloy acts as a main DPS and Cryo enabler.
Aloy + Nahida + Xiangling + Bennett

Aloy acts as a main DPS and Cryo enabler.

Melt teams are a powerful option in Genshin Impact, offering high damage potential through the Melt reaction, which occurs when Cryo and Pyro elements interact. When Cryo is applied first, followed by Pyro, the Melt reaction provides a 1.5x damage multiplier, while applying Pyro first and then Cryo results in a 2x damage multiplier. Aloy can be effective in Melt compositions, particularly in reverse melt setups, where Pyro is applied first, followed by her Cryo abilities. To achieve high damage output, consistent Pyro application is key, and with careful planning, Aloy can trigger strong Melt reactions.

Effective team compositions for Melt teams include pairings such as Xiangling, Sucrose, and Diona, which provide good synergy and are more accessible for free-to-play players. Another powerful option is Nahida, Xiangling, and Bennett, where Nahida’s Dendro application enables the Burning reaction, consistently applying Pyro to enemies and maximizing Melt damage. In Melt teams, Aloy can function as a main DPS, utilizing her Elemental Skill, Elemental Burst, and Normal Attacks to trigger Melt reactions with Pyro.

Beyond permafrost and melt compositions, Aloy can fit into a variety of other team setups, often serving as a flexible Cryo support or sub-DPS. She can be a viable replacement for characters like Diona in teams that need a Cryo battery but don’t heavily rely on shields or healing. For example, in aquick swap team where multiple characters use their elemental bursts in quick succession, Aloy’s low-energy-cost Elemental Burst and energy generation ability can be highly valuable. She can also be used in teams that focus on reverse melt reactions with Pyro characters. While she may not always be the most optimal choice,

Aloy provides a good balance of damage and support, making her a strong option for free-to-play players due to her free availability. Aloy can also synergize with Electro characters, especially in teams utilizing the Superconduct reaction to lower physical resistance. However, she is not recommended for teams that require a shielder. In conclusion, while not a meta-defining character, Aloy is versatile and fits into a variety of team compositions, offering value as a flexible support or sub-DPS.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Material Farming

To ascend Aloy and enhance her abilities, you’ll need to gather specific materials found throughout Teyvat. For her character ascension, you’ll need Jade Fragments and Jade Chunks, which are common Cryo ascension materials dropped by Cryo-based world bosses. Additionally, Aloy requires Crystalline Blooms, which are dropped by the Cryo Hypostasis in Dragonspine.

It’s recommended to bring Pyro characters to trigger Melt reactions, making the battle more efficient. Another key material for Aloy’s ascension is Crystal Marrow, which can be found in Inazuma, particularly near bony structures and in the Tatarasuna area. Lastly, you’ll need Spectral Husks, Spectral Hearts, and Spectral Nucleus, which are dropped by Specters. These enemies can be found in various locations, such as atop waypoints, at Gokki Village, and on the western side of Watatsumi Island in Inazuma.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

Aloy offers several strengths that make her a valuable character in Genshin Impact. As a free-to-play character, she is easily accessible to all players. She serves as an excellent Cryo battery, generating significant energy for the team, and her low-energy cost Elemental Burst provides good scaling for damage output. Additionally, her Ascension 1 passive buffs the team’s attack, further enhancing her support role. Aloy also fits seamlessly into freeze teams, making her a reliable choice for Cryo-based compositions. Furthermore, she can be an effective user of the 4-piece Noblesse Oblige set, which boosts her team’s overall damage potential.

Weaknesses:

Aloy has some weaknesses that may affect her performance in certain situations. Her normal attacks are difficult to reliably infuse with Cryo, limiting her damage output in some cases. Additionally, while she is versatile, she is not considered a top-tier DPS unit compared to other characters. Her Elemental Skill also has a relatively long cooldown, which can hinder her ability to generate Cryo particles consistently. Aloy lacks constellations, meaning she doesn’t benefit from the additional buffs that constellations provide. Furthermore, she does not offer healing or shields, which limits her support capabilities in team compositions.

Genshin Impact Aloy Guide: Conclusion

Aloy is a viable free-to-play character, particularly for freeze teams, where she excels as a support unit. Her energy generation, burst damage, and team-buffing capabilities make her a valuable asset in Cryo-based compositions. While she may not be a meta-defining character, she can still be a solid addition to any team, especially for players who enjoy her unique playstyle and appreciate her character. With the right build and strategy, Aloy can contribute effectively to various team setups, offering both utility and consistent damage.