Genshin Impact Cyno Guide - Theria Games

Introduction

Cyno is a formidable 5-star Electro polearm user in Genshin Impact, known for his strong burst damage and his role as the General Mahamatra in Sumeru. He uses his unique abilities to punish those who misuse knowledge, which plays into his feared reputation. Cyno excels in high-damage output, especially through his Elemental Burst, and works best with a build that emphasizes his Electro abilities and energy efficiency.

In this guide, we’ll delve into maximizing Genshin Impact Cyno’s potential by exploring his talents, ideal artifact sets, weapons, team compositions, optimal combos, and rotations. Additionally, we’ll look at how his constellations improve his effectiveness and offer tips and tricks for enhancing his gameplay. Whether you’re new to Cyno or looking to refine your build, this guide will help you unlock his full potential in various combat situations.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Cyno, a 5-star Electro polearm user, possesses a range of strengths and weaknesses that shape his role in Genshin Impact. His Elemental Burst, Pactsworn Pathclearer, has exceptionally high uptime, allowing Cyno to deal continuous and consistent damage over an extended period. This makes him an excellent hypercarry, especially in teams centered around reactions like Hyperbloom and Aggravate.

His scaling with Elemental Mastery significantly boosts both reaction-based damage and his personal output, enhancing his ability to trigger powerful Electro reactions when paired with other elements. Additionally, his high base Crit DMG makes his attacks hit harder, further improving his overall DPS potential. The feeling of playing Cyno as a main DPS is satisfying, with fluid handling and strong abilities that let him deal powerful attacks on the field.

However, Cyno’s effectiveness is heavily dependent on his Elemental Burst, and without it, his damage output drops dramatically. His Pactsworn Pathclearer form requires him to stay on the field to maintain its benefits, meaning that swapping Cyno out during his Burst immediately cancels the entire effect, cutting off the potential for sustained damage. To make the most of Cyno’s Elemental Skill, Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer, players need to time it correctly during the Burst to trigger the Judication effect from his 1st Ascension Passive. This precise timing is essential for maximizing Cyno’s damage output while his Burst is active.

Cyno’s Elemental Burst demands a high energy cost of 80 energy, which means he relies on sufficient Energy Recharge to maintain his Burst uptime. This increases his reliance on energy generation, whether from team batteries or specific weapons. In addition, Cyno’s lack of quick-swapping abilities or supporting skills limits his flexibility in team compositions, as he cannot easily support other characters or fulfill utility roles in teams. His playstyle demands that he stays on the field for extended periods to maximize damage, making him a less versatile character in certain team compositions.

Despite his relatively narrow role in some team setups, Cyno excels when properly supported and can dish out tremendous amounts of damage when built around his strengths. However, players must be mindful of his Burst dependency and ensure their team can support his energy needs to get the most out of his abilities.

Talents and Playstyle

Cyno’s abilities are centered around his Elemental Burst, Pactsworn Pathclearer, which transforms him into a powerful Electro-infused fighter. When using Cyno, prioritize leveling his Elemental Burst and Elemental Skill to maximize his damage output, leaving his Normal Attack talent at a lower priority. Cyno’s Elemental Skill, Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer, unleashes a swift dash that deals Electro damage, but when used during his Elemental Burst, it triggers a Mortuary Rite that extends the Burst’s duration and deals AOE Electro damage.

Cyno’s Elemental Burst grants him Electro Infusion and an Elemental Mastery buff, while also making his Normal, Charged, and Plunging attacks Electro-based. His Ascension 1 Passive, Featherfall Judgment, adds additional damage to the Elemental Skill when in the Endseer stance, while his Ascension 4 Passive, Authority Over the Nine Bows, boosts the damage of his Normal Attacks and Duststalker Bolts based on Elemental Mastery. His Utility Passive, The Gift of Silence, increases the rewards from Sumeru Expeditions.

In terms of playstyle, Cyno is best used as an on-field damage dealer. His high uptime in his Burst form makes him an ideal hypercarry in teams focused on reaction-based damage like Quickbloom, Aggravate, or Quickburn. When using Cyno, timing is crucial: ensure his Elemental Skill is used when the Endseer stance activates, to trigger the Judication effect for increased damage. His gameplay revolves around weaving Normal Attacks and Elemental Skill usage while staying in the Pactsworn Pathclearer state, avoiding swapping out during this phase to maximize his damage potential.

Artifacts

Selecting the ideal artifacts for Cyno is crucial to unlocking his full potential. The 4-piece Thundering Fury set is his optimal choice, granting a 15% Electro DMG Bonus with the 2-piece effect. The 4-piece bonus increases damage caused by Electro reactions such as Overload, Electro-Charged, and Aggravate, while also reducing the cooldown of Elemental Skill by 1 second, improving Cyno’s efficiency and significantly lowering his Energy Recharge (ER) requirements. For those running more elemental mastery-based teams, 4-piece Gilded Dreams is also an excellent choice.

It provides a huge Elemental Mastery boost and buffs Cyno’s damage, as well as supporting teammates with additional damage bonuses depending on their respective elemental types. In teams focused on physical or normal attack damage, 4-piece Gladiator’s Finale remains an option. It provides a flat 18% ATK bonus and increases Cyno’s Normal Attack damage by 35%. While effective, this set is more specialized compared to Thundering Fury or Gilded Dreams.

Another good option is the 4-piece Thundersoother set, which offers a 35% damage increase against Electro-afflicted enemies. This set is highly effective when Cyno can reliably apply the Electro status to opponents, especially if paired with characters who can continuously trigger Electro-related reactions. 4-piece Flower of Paradise Lost becomes competitive in niche Quickbloom teams, especially when used with characters like Xingqiu or Dendro users, providing synergistic bonuses to Elemental Mastery and attack, though it’s less universally effective than the aforementioned sets.

Substats are just as critical as main stats when optimizing Cyno’s artifacts. Energy Recharge (ER) should be prioritized to ensure that Cyno can consistently activate his Elemental Burst, which is central to his playstyle. Ideally, Cyno wants at least 120-140% ER, depending on the artifact set and team composition. A Crit Rate substat is also essential to ensure consistent damage output, especially when aiming for a Crit DMG value of at least 160% for non-double-crit weapons and above 190% for weapons with double-crit potential.

Elemental Mastery (EM) is another important stat to prioritize, especially when aiming for higher reaction-based damage, which works well with his Ascension 4 Passive that scales off Elemental Mastery. Similarly, ATK% will provide substantial damage increase, particularly if using high-base attack weapons like Staff of the Scarlet Sands. This weapon synergizes well with an Elemental Mastery focus in the artifact build, especially when running Quickbloom teams.

Main Stats play a crucial role in ensuring that Cyno performs optimally. On his Sands, always opt for Elemental Mastery (EM) over ATK%, as it benefits his reaction-based damage. For the Goblet, the Electro DMG Bonus is a must-have to amplify his damage output, but EM Goblets also work in niche team compositions like Quickbloom. For the Circlet, Crit Rate or Crit DMG will depend on your team’s focus. If using Staff of the Scarlet Sands, Elemental Mastery Circlet performs well. Otherwise, aim for Crit Rate Circlets, particularly for Quickburn or Aggravate teams.

To fully maximize Cyno’s damage potential, aim to stack high Crit Rate and Crit DMG. While Crit Rate should be around 70% for a decent consistency, Crit DMG should generally exceed 190% for those using double-crit weapons. For non-double-crit weapons, aim for at least 160% Crit DMG. Given the synergy between Cyno and Elemental Mastery, you should balance EM with ATK% depending on your weapon choice. If using high-base weapons like Jade Spear, ATK% becomes more valuable due to Cyno’s high base attack scaling.

Finally, Cyno’s Energy Recharge needs careful attention. While Thundering Fury helps reduce his Energy Recharge requirements due to faster Elemental Skill cooldown, players should aim for at least 120-140% ER if using this set. For other artifact sets, like Gilded Dreams or Gladiator’s Finale, expect a higher requirement closer to 140%-180%, depending on your team and playstyle. When using Cyno as the solo Electro unit, or paired with other high-demand characters, his ER may need to go as high as 180%. Thus, it’s important to consider both your weapon choice and team composition when determining the right Energy Recharge for Cyno.

With these considerations, Cyno can truly shine as a powerful Electro carry. Make sure to carefully balance his Elemental Mastery, Crit Rate, and Energy Recharge while keeping his Electro DMG Bonus high to maximize his potential. Each set and stat combination can complement different team compositions, so take care in selecting the best option based on your personal playstyle and available characters.

Weapons

Choosing the right weapon for Cyno is essential to maximize his damage potential. The Staff of the Scarlet Sands stands out as his best-in-slot weapon, offering a high Crit Rate and a passive that boosts Cyno’s ATK based on his Elemental Mastery. The more Elemental Mastery he has, the stronger the bonus, making this weapon especially effective for Aggravate teams. Primordial Jade Winged-Spear is also a top-tier choice, boosting Crit Rate and providing a bonus ATK passive that works well with Cyno’s extended field time.

For those focusing on Crit DMG, Staff of Homa is an excellent option. It provides substantial Crit DMG and includes a passive that increases ATK when Cyno’s HP is low, allowing him to be more self-sufficient in teams without needing a dedicated shield character. Ballad of the Fjords is another solid option, particularly in Quickbloom teams. Even at R1, it offers decent performance, and at R5, it comes close to Staff of the Scarlet Sands. The weapon boosts Elemental Mastery, which is beneficial for Cyno’s reaction-based damage.

For 4-star options, Deathmatch is a versatile choice, offering Crit Rate and performing well against multiple enemies. White Tassel provides Crit Rate and a passive that boosts Normal Attack damage, making it a great budget-friendly option. Kitain Cross Spear, a craftable weapon, offers Elemental Mastery as its main stat and a passive that increases Elemental Skill damage. It also helps with Cyno’s energy needs, making it useful for teams where Cyno is paired with an Electro support.

When selecting a weapon, prioritize those with Crit Rate, Crit DMG, Elemental Mastery, and ATK. If you’re using Primordial Jade Winged-Spear for its high base attack, focus on an ATK Sands and more ATK on artifacts. For weapons with lower base attacks like White Tassel or Cyno’s signature weapon, opt for Elemental Mastery on the Sands. If you’re missing out on 5-star weapons, Deathmatch and White Tassel are great alternatives. While weapons that increase Energy Recharge, like Engulfing Lightning, Skyward Spine, and Kitain Cross Spear, can be helpful, they may reduce Cyno’s overall DPS, so they should be used cautiously.

Team Compositions

Cyno excels as an on-field Electro DPS, and building a team around him requires careful attention to synergies that support his long field time and reaction-based damage. The most effective teams for Cyno should include off-field support characters who can provide consistent Elemental application, allowing Cyno to maximize his reactions while he stays on the field. Having a shield or interruption resistance from a teammate is also vital, as Cyno can be staggered during his Elemental Burst.

For general team building, Cyno benefits from having a Dendro unit in every team to enable powerful reactions such as Aggravate and Quickbloom. A secondary Electro unit like Fischl can help lower Cyno’s Energy Recharge (ER) requirements, making his long Elemental Skill uptime more manageable. Defensive characters, like Zhongli, are important for maintaining Cyno’s field time without interruptions, and off-field supports that provide long-lasting buffs or damage application are highly recommended to complement Cyno’s needs.

Quickbloom is Cyno’s most consistent and high-performing team composition. In this team, Cyno is paired with a Dendro unit like Nahida or Baizhu, a Hydro character like Yelan or Xingqiu for consistent reaction triggers, and a flexible fourth member. The focus in Quickbloom is on achieving high Aggravate uptime while keeping Dendro Core generation to a minimum. This team excels in high-field uptime and consistent reaction-based damage. Teammates like Kuki Shinobu provide healing, lower Cyno’s ER requirements, and trigger Hyperbloom, while Fischl helps with Electro particle generation. Beidou offers AoE Electro damage and interruption resistance, ensuring Cyno can maintain his rotation.

Aggravate teams work well with Cyno as a main DPS. These teams typically include a Dendro unit for quick application of Dendro to trigger reactions, paired with a second Electro character like Fischl or Yae Miko to enhance Aggravate damage. The use of double Electro or double Dendro elements helps to reduce ER requirements and increases the potential for reactions. In these setups, it’s crucial to have characters who can provide damage boosts, such as Zhongli or Kazuha, who can apply universal resistance shred or amplify Cyno’s Electro damage, while a defensive unit like Zhongli ensures Cyno’s uninterrupted burst uptime.

Quickburn teams focus on a synergistic application of Quicken and Burning status effects, making use of both Electro and Pyro characters. The team typically includes Nahida for Dendro application, Thoma for his ability to apply the Burning status, and either Hydro or Electro characters to trigger Aggravate and Overload. In Quickburn teams, Cyno’s role is to trigger reactions both from Quicken and the Burning status to deal significant damage. While these teams require more precise coordination, they excel in maximizing the potential of both Aggravate and Overload reactions.

When building teams around Cyno, prioritize teammates who can consistently apply Dendro, Electro, or Hydro status effects while also offering healing, shields, or energy recharge. Teams that can trigger a variety of reactions—especially Aggravate and Electro-Charged—will benefit from Cyno’s DPS potential. Furthermore, characters like Kuki Shinobu and Fischl provide excellent synergy by lowering Cyno’s ER requirements and applying consistent Electro damage. Ensure you balance offense and defense to maintain Cyno’s field uptime while supporting his damage output.

Combos and Rotations

Maximizing Cyno’s damage requires understanding his combos and rotations, which depend on his Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst. Cyno’s damage mainly comes from his Burst, and his normal, charged, and plunging attacks are converted into Electro damage during this state. His Elemental Skill extends his Burst duration, and timing it correctly activates his A1 Passive, which triggers an Endseer stance, dealing AoE damage with Duststalker Bolts.

A standard rotation begins with using Cyno’s Elemental Skill, followed by Elemental Burst, then normal attacks. Use the Elemental Skill again when the Endseer stance appears, repeating the cycle until the Burst ends. You can also Dash Cancel during your attack rotations, which helps reduce downtime and set up your supports.

For those using the Thundering Fury set, the combo focuses on frequent Elemental Skill usage during the Endseer stances to maximize the benefit from the set bonus. The rotation here includes using multiple Elemental Skills interspersed with normal attacks, aiming to refresh Endseer stances efficiently while maintaining consistent Electro damage output.

An important consideration is using Cyno’s Elemental Skill as soon as possible after activating his Burst to ensure that every subsequent skill occurs within the Endseer window. Also, while Charged Attacks might seem tempting, they are not efficient within Cyno’s damage rotations, so it’s best to focus on his regular attacks and Elemental Skills. Team composition is also crucial, with teammates offering healing, shields, and energy recharge to ensure Cyno’s uptime and sustain during his extended Burst duration.

Constellations

Cyno is effective at C0, but his constellations significantly enhance his abilities. C1 increases Cyno’s Normal Attack speed by 20% for 10 seconds after using his Elemental Burst, improving both his damage output and his ability to execute 4-piece Thundering Fury combos. C2 provides the largest DPS boost by increasing Cyno’s Electro DMG Bonus by 10% for 4 seconds per Normal Attack hit, stacking up to 5 times for a maximum 50% DMG increase.

C3 increases the level of his Elemental Burst, offering a slight boost to his Burst damage. C4 restores Elemental Energy for nearby teammates after Cyno triggers certain reactions during his Elemental Burst, but its overall significance is minimal. C5 increases the level of his Elemental Skill but is the least impactful constellation since his Burst deals the majority of his damage. C6 significantly enhances his gameplay by enabling Cyno to fire additional Duststalker Bolts with his Normal Attacks, further increasing his damage potential.

Pulling Recommendations: Cyno remains effective at C0, and players who wish to enhance his damage should aim for C2 and C6. For those already with C0 Cyno, focusing on his signature weapon or reaching C1 may be more beneficial than aiming for additional constellations.

Tips and Tricks

To maximize Cyno’s effectiveness in Genshin Impact, focus on timing his Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst together. When used during his Burst, the skill triggers an enhanced stomping effect, dealing more damage, especially when synced with the Featherfall Judgment passive. Prioritize Elemental Mastery as it boosts Cyno’s damage, including Normal Attacks and the Duststalker Bolt from his Passive Talent. Energy Recharge is crucial since his Burst costs 80 energy; using energy-generating characters like Fischl or Yae Miko can help alleviate this need.

Level up both his Elemental Burst and Skill simultaneously to maximize damage potential. Cyno works best with Dendro characters, and pairing him with another Electro unit boosts his effectiveness in reactions like Hyperbloom and Aggravate. Constellations enhance his damage, with C2 and C6 providing notable boosts. Lastly, be mindful that Cyno’s Elemental Burst ends when he leaves the field, and he requires a defensive teammate for better survival, as his resistance to interruption during Burst is limited.