Introduction to Sayu

Genshin Impact Sayu is a unique four-star Anemo character in Genshin Impact who wields a Claymore. Don’t let her small stature fool you; she possesses surprising strength, attributed to her Anemo Vision granted by Barbatos. While she might prefer napping and avoiding responsibilities, Genshin Impact Sayu is a versatile character who can function as both a healer and a support unit for your team. Notably, her kit features split scaling, with her healing capabilities tied to both her Attack and Elemental Mastery, which also influences her Swirl reaction damage. This flexibility allows for various approaches to building and utilizing her on the battlefield. Many players initially might overlook her, but with the right understanding of her abilities and constellations, Sayu can become a valuable asset to many team compositions.

Genshin Impact Sayu’s Talents

Normal Attack: Shuumatsuban Ninja BladeYoohoo Art: Fuuin DashYoohoo Art: Mujina Flurry

Her Normal Attack, known as Shuumatsuban Ninja Blade, consists of up to four consecutive strikes. She also has a Charged Attack where she drains Stamina to perform continuous spinning attacks, ending with a more powerful slash, and a Plunging Attack that deals AoE damage upon impact. However, compared to other four-star Claymore users, the scaling of her Normal Attacks is relatively low, making a pure Physical Damage build less recommended.

The heart of Genshin Impact Sayu’s kit lies in her Elemental Skill, Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash. This skill allows Sayu to curl up into a rolling Fuufuu Windwheel, smashing into opponents at high speed and dealing Anemo damage. The skill has two modes: Press and Hold. Pressing the skill will make Genshin Impact Sayu roll forward a short distance and end with a Fuufuu Whirlwind Kick, dealing AoE Anemo damage. This Press version can deal decent overall damage and generates two elemental particles. Holding the skill allows Genshin Impact Sayu to roll continuously for up to 10 seconds, increasing her resistance to interruption and allowing control over her rolling direction. During the Hold state, Sayu can deal multiple instances of Anemo damage and potentially absorb Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, or Electro elements she comes into contact with, dealing additional elemental damage of that type (Elemental Absorption can only occur once per skill use). Ending the Hold state early by using the skill again unleashes a stronger version of the Fuufuu Whirlwind Kick. While the Hold skill offers unique mobility and can Swirl multiple times, it’s often more efficient in combat to use the Press skill or a short Hold followed by the kick for better damage and energy particle generation. The Hold skill generates one particle upon casting and two at the end, with additional particles during its duration.

Genshin Impact Sayu’s Elemental Burst, Yoohoo Art: Mujina Flurry, summons a Muji-Muji Daruma to aid her. Upon casting, it deals Anemo damage to nearby opponents and heals all nearby party members, with the healing amount based on Genshin Impact Sayu’s Attack. The Daruma then remains on the field and acts at specific intervals: if nearby characters have over 70% HP, it attacks a nearby opponent with Anemo damage; if there are active characters with 70% or less HP, it heals the active character with the lowest HP percentage left; if no opponents are nearby, it heals active characters even if they have more than 70% HP. The Daruma can deal seven ticks of Anemo damage in a small AoE and can Swirl approximately five times during its 12-second duration. However, before unlocking her first constellation, the Daruma will not attack or apply Anemo to enemies if the active character’s HP is below 70%.

Genshin Impact Sayu also possesses several powerful Passive Talents. Her first Ascension passive, Someone More Capable, triggers when Sayu causes a Swirl reaction while active, healing all party members and nearby allies for 300 HP, plus an additional 1.2 HP for each point of her Elemental Mastery. This effect can occur once every 2 seconds. Her fourth Ascension passive, No Work Today!, enhances the Muji-Muji Daruma by making its healing also affect nearby characters for 20% of the healed amount and increasing the AoE of its attacks. Finally, her Utility Passive, Yoohoo Art: Silencer’s Secret, prevents your active party members from startling Crystalflies and certain other animals when getting near them, making the collection of Crystal Cores easier.

Understanding Genshin Impact Sayu’s Constellations

ConstellationEffectC1 – Multi-Task no JutsuRemoves HP restriction on Elemental Burst. Muji-Muji Daruma can attack and heal simultaneously, improving both damage and healing consistency.C2 – Egress PrepIncreases damage of Elemental Skill. Fuufuu Whirlwind Kick in Tap Mode gains 3.3% damage, and in Hold Mode, damage increases by 3.3% every 0.5 seconds, up to 66%. Less impactful for Elemental Mastery builds.C3 – Eh, the Bunshin Can Handle ItIncreases Level of Elemental Burst (Yoohoo Art: Mujina Flurry) by 3, up to a max of Level 15.C4 – Skiving: New and ImprovedProvides 1.2 Energy every time a Swirl reaction is triggered (once every 2 seconds), improving energy regeneration for consistent Elemental Burst uptime.C5 – Speed Comes FirstIncreases Level of Elemental Skill (Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash) by 3, up to a max of Level 15.C6 – Sleep O’ClockMuji-Muji Daruma benefits from Elemental Mastery. Each point of Elemental Mastery increases its damage by 0.2% ATK (up to 400% ATK) and healing by 3 HP (up to 6,000 HP restored). Highly boosts damage and healing for Elemental Mastery builds.

Genshin Impact Sayu’s Constellations significantly enhance her abilities and unlock her full potential.

Constellation 1, Multi-Task no Jutsu, is a significant upgrade as it removes the HP restriction on her Elemental Burst. The Muji-Muji Daruma will ignore HP limits and can simultaneously attack nearby opponents and heal characters. This allows Genshin Impact Sayu to consistently deal damage and provide healing with her Burst, making her a much more reliable support.

Constellation 2, Egress Prep, increases the damage of her Elemental Skill, Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash. The damage of the Fuufuu Whirlwind Kick in Tap/Press Mode is increased by 3.3%, and every 0.5 seconds in the Fuufuu Windwheel state (Hold Mode) further increases the Kick’s damage by 3.3%, up to a maximum damage increase of 66%. While this adds damage to her Skill, it is considered less impactful, especially if Genshin Impact Sayu is built around Elemental Mastery.

Constellation 3, Eh, the Bunshin Can Handle It, simply increases the Level of Yoohoo Art: Mujina Flurry (Elemental Burst) by 3, with a maximum upgrade level of 15.

Constellation 4, Skiving: New and Improved, provides Genshin Impact Sayu with 1.2 Energy every time she triggers a Swirl reaction. This effect can occur once every 2 seconds. This constellation helps with energy regeneration, ensuring more consistent uptime on her valuable Elemental Burst.

Constellation 5, Speed Comes First, increases the Level of Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash (Elemental Skill) by 3, with a maximum upgrade level of 15.

Constellation 6, Sleep O’Clock, is a game-changer for Elemental Mastery-focused builds. It allows the Muji-Muji Daruma created by her Burst to benefit from her Elemental Mastery. Each point of Elemental Mastery increases the damage dealt by the Daruma’s attacks by 0.2% ATK (up to a maximum of 400% ATK gained this way) and increases the HP restored by the Daruma by 3 (up to a maximum of 6,000 additional HP restored). This constellation significantly enhances both Genshin Impact Sayu’s damage and healing based on her Elemental Mastery, making it highly desirable.

Overall, her first and sixth constellations are considered the most impactful, greatly enhancing her support capabilities.

Optimal Builds for Genshin Impact Sayu

Genshin Impact Sayu’s flexible scaling allows for different build paths depending on your team composition and desired role. Generally, she can be built as a Swirl Support/Healer or as a more damage-oriented Sub-DPS.

For a Swirl Support and Healer build, the primary focus is on maximizing Elemental Mastery and Energy Recharge.

  • Artifact Sets: The 4-piece Viridescent Venerer (VV) set is almost universally recommended for Anemo support characters like Genshin Impact Sayu. Its 2-piece bonus provides an Anemo DMG Bonus +15%, while the 4-piece bonus increases Swirl DMG by 60% and decreases opponents’ Elemental RES to the element infused in the Swirl by 40% for 10 seconds. Alternatively, especially for maximizing healing before C6, a 4-piece Maiden Beloved set can be used, which increases Character Healing Effectiveness by 15% (2-piece) and increases healing received by all party members by 20% for 10s after using an Elemental Skill or Burst (4-piece). A hybrid set of 2-piece Maiden Beloved and 2-piece Ocean-Hued Clam can also provide a significant healing bonus. After C6, 4-piece Gilded Dreams, which provides Elemental Mastery +80 (2-piece) and further buffs based on the elemental types of other party members after triggering an Elemental Reaction (4-piece), becomes a strong contender for maximizing both Swirl damage and healing.
  • Main Stats: The recommended main stats on artifacts are generally Energy Recharge or Elemental Mastery on the Sands, Elemental Mastery on the Goblet, and Elemental Mastery or Healing Bonus on the Circlet. Energy Recharge on the Sands is crucial for consistent Burst uptime, especially before obtaining energy-related constellations. After C6, focusing purely on Elemental Mastery across all three main stats can be highly effective.
  • Substats: Prioritize Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery, and then ATK% in your artifact substats. Energy Recharge is key for consistent Burst usage, while Elemental Mastery directly boosts Swirl damage and, at C6, also enhances healing and Burst damage. ATK% will improve her healing from her Burst before C6.
  • Weapons: For this build, weapons that provide Energy Recharge or Elemental Mastery are ideal. The Favonius Greatsword is an excellent choice for its high Energy Recharge substat and passive ability to generate Elemental Particles on Crit hits (requiring some Crit Rate investment). The Sacrificial Greatsword is another strong option with an Energy Recharge substat and the chance to reset her Elemental Skill cooldown, allowing for more rolling and Swirl procs. The craftable Katsuragikiri Nagamasa from Inazuma also offers high Energy Recharge and regenerates energy after using an Elemental Skill. For maximizing Elemental Mastery, the Rainslasher is a good 4-star option. Five-star options like Skyward Pride offer high base ATK and Energy Recharge, although its passive is less relevant for Genshin Impact Sayu.

For a Sub-DPS build, the focus shifts towards increasing her personal Anemo damage and Swirl damage.

Artifact Sets

In Remembrance of Viridescent FieldsViridescent Venerer’s DeterminationViridescent Arrow FeatherViridescent Venerer’s DiademViridescent Venerer’s Vessel
  • 4-piece Viridescent Venerer is the best choice for Genshin Impact Sayu. It boosts Anemo damage and shreds Elemental Resistance, which greatly enhances Swirl damage.
Dreaming SteelbloomFeather of JudgmentThe Sunken YearsHoneyed Final FeastShadow of the Sand King
  • 4-piece Gilded Dreams is another viable option for reaction-based teams. It provides Elemental Mastery and ATK buffs depending on the team composition.
In Remembrance of Viridescent FieldsViridescent Venerer’s DeterminationGladiator’s DestinyGladiator’s TriumphusGladiator’s Intoxication
  • 2-piece Viridescent Venerer + 2-piece Gladiator’s Finale (or other ATK-boosting sets) is a strong hybrid option for increasing raw Anemo damage.

Main Stats

  • Sands: ATK% or Energy Recharge
  • Goblet: Anemo DMG Bonus
  • Circlet: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG
  • Energy Recharge is still important to maintain consistent Elemental Burst uptime.

Substats Priority
Focus on the following substats in order of importance:

  • CRIT Rate
  • CRIT DMG
  • ATK%
  • Energy Recharge

Weapons

WeaponRarityEffect
Wolf’s Gravestone5★High Base ATK + team-wide ATK buff. Excellent for maximizing overall damage.
Skyward Pride5★High ATK and Energy Recharge, great for Burst uptime.
Blackcliff Slasher4★CRIT DMG substat; boosts ATK after defeating enemies.
Serpent Spine4★Increases CRIT Rate and damage; needs careful play to manage passive stacks.
  • High Base ATK and CRIT stats are preferred overall.
  • Wolf’s Gravestone (5★): Excellent due to its high ATK and team-wide ATK buff.
  • Skyward Pride (5★): Offers high ATK and bonus Energy Recharge, helping with Burst uptime.
  • Blackcliff Slasher (4★): Provides CRIT DMG and scales well with defeating enemies.
  • Serpent Spine (4★): Increases CRIT Rate and overall damage, but requires careful use due to its passive.

Genshin Impact Sayu’s Role in Team Compositions

Genshin Impact Sayu’s versatility allows her to fit into various team archetypes. She excels as a Swirl Support in teams that focus on Elemental Reactions, providing valuable Anemo application for triggering Swirl and the 4-piece Viridescent Venerer’s Elemental Resistance shred. She can be paired with various Elemental DPS characters like Arlecchino (Pyro), Ayato (Hydro), or Ganyu (Cryo) to amplify their damage.

Genshin Impact Sayu also functions as a capable Healer, especially with investment in her Attack or Elemental Mastery (after C6). Her Burst provides AoE healing, and her first Ascension passive offers additional team-wide healing through Swirl reactions. This makes her a good fit in teams that lack a dedicated healer or need supplementary healing.

Furthermore, Genshin Impact Sayu can serve as an Anemo Battery for other Anemo characters like Xiao, providing some Energy Recharge, although she might not be as efficient as Sucrose in this specific role. However, she compensates with her healing capabilities.

Some example team compositions include:

ArlecchinoAyatoYelanFischlZhongliKazuha
  • Swirl Support: Genshin Impact Sayu, Elemental DPS (e.g., Arlecchino, Ayato), Sub-DPS (e.g., Yelan, Fischl), Flex Support (e.g., Zhongli, Kazuha).
FurinaAyatoFischlRaiden ShogunKuki ShinobuDori
  • Taser (Electro-Charged): Genshin Impact Sayu (on-field driver), Hydro Sub-DPS (e.g., Furina, Ayato), Electro Sub-DPS (e.g., Fischl, Raiden Shogun), Healer/Electro Applier (e.g., Kuki Shinobu, Dori).
XianglingGanyuKaeyaFurinaYelan
  • Vapemelt: Genshin Impact Sayu, Pyro Sub-DPS (e.g., Xiangling), Cryo Sub-DPS (e.g., Ganyu, Kaeya), Hydro Sub-DPS (e.g., Furina, Yelan).
XianglingBennettFischlRaiden Shogun
  • Overload Swirl: Genshin Impact Sayu, Pyro Sub-DPS (e.g., Xiangling, Bennett), Electro Sub-DPS (e.g., Fischl, Raiden Shogun), Flex.

The key to teambuilding with Genshin Impact Sayu is to choose characters whose off-field abilities synergize well with her Anemo application for consistent Swirl reactions.

Talent Priority

The priority in which you level Genshin Impact Sayu’s talents depends on her intended role.

Sayu BuildTalent PriorityNotesSwirl Support/Healer1. Elemental Burst (Mujina Flurry)
2. Elemental Skill (Fuuin Dash)
3. Normal AttackBurst boosts healing & Swirl damage; Skill contributes to Swirl; Normal not neededSub-DPS1. Elemental Skill (Fuuin Dash)
2. Elemental Burst (Mujina Flurry)
3. Normal AttackSkill is main damage; Burst adds support; Normal still low priority
  • For a Swirl Support/Healer build focused on maximizing Swirl damage and healing from her passive, prioritize leveling her Elemental Burst (Yoohoo Art: Mujina Flurry) first, followed by her Elemental Skill (Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash). Her Normal Attacks can be left at a lower level. Leveling her Burst increases its initial damage and healing, while her Skill’s level has a less significant impact on Swirl damage.
  • If you intend to use Genshin Impact Sayu more as a Sub-DPS, focus on leveling her Elemental Skill first, as it will be her primary source of direct damage. Then, level her Elemental Burst for its supportive capabilities. Again, her Normal Attacks are the lowest priority.

Sayu’s Ascension Materials

To fully ascend Genshin Impact Sayu and unlock her potential, you will need the following materials:

MaterialSourceUsageVayuda Turquoise (Sliver → Gemstone)Anemo Hypostasis, StormterrorAscensionCrystal MarrowFound in InazumaAscensionWhopperflower Nectar SeriesDropped by Whopperflowers
(Nectar → Shimmering → Energy)Ascension & Talent Level-UpMarionette CoreDropped by Maguu KenkiAscension
  • Vayuda Turquoise: Sliver, Fragments, Chunks, Gemstones (dropped by Anemo Hypostasis, Stormterror)
  • Crystal Marrow: A local specialty found in Inazuma.
  • Whopperflower Nectar, Shimmering Nectar, Energy Nectar: Dropped by Whopperflowers.
  • Marionette Core: Dropped by the Maguu Kenki boss.

The specific amounts required for each ascension level are detailed in the sources. Farming these materials will be essential to maximizing Sayu’s stats and talent levels.

In conclusion, Sayu is a deceptively strong and versatile character who can excel in various team compositions as a healer and support, particularly when built around triggering Swirl reactions and utilizing the Viridescent Venerer artifact set. While her constellations significantly enhance her capabilities, she remains a functional and enjoyable character even at C0, offering unique exploration utility and team support. Remember to tailor her build and talent priorities to best suit your team’s needs and your preferred playstyle.