Introduction

The Genshin Impact Wanderer, formerly known as Scaramouche, is a unique and versatile five-star Anemo Catalyst user in Genshin Impact. Having a significant history within the game’s lore, marked by his creation as a puppet by Ei, his escape during the Inazuma storyline, and his confrontation with the Traveler in Sumeru, his gameplay reflects this distinct background. As a playable character, the developers have paid special attention to his design, making him a compelling addition to any player’s roster. His skills offer a high degree of flexibility, allowing for diverse playstyles centered around his Anemo vision.

Understanding Genshin Impact Wanderer’s Core Gameplay: The Windfavored Form

The cornerstone of the Genshin Impact Wanderer’s gameplay lies in his Elemental Skill. Upon activation, his normal stamina bar is replaced by a cyan-colored bar, indicating the duration of his Windfavored state. During this state, Genshin Impact Wanderer gains the ability to hover and fly, granting him exceptional mobility both in and out of combat. This unique mechanic consumes the Elemental Skill bar, allowing you to perform various actions similar to those that consume normal stamina, such as sprinting and even crossing water by dashing over it.

Within the Windfavored form, you can ascend to greater heights by pressing and holding the jump button, although the consumption of the skill bar will increase rapidly after a few seconds, limiting your maximum altitude. Dashing forward while hovering allows for swift movement across the battlefield or the open world, but like sprinting, it also depletes the skill bar at an increased rate if the dash button is repeatedly pressed instead of held.

Notably, performing Charged Attacks while in the Windfavored state does not cost any stamina or deplete the Elemental Skill bar, making them a significant source of damage, especially against groups of enemies due to their relatively fast execution. An important benefit of the Windfavored form is that your original stamina bar will begin to regenerate while you are hovering, allowing for strategic use of his skill after periods of normal sprinting or climbing.

Essential Combat Maneuvers and Considerations

Normal Attack: Yuuban MeigenHanega: Song of the WindKyougen: Five Ceremonial Plays

To maximize Genshin Impact Wanderer’s combat effectiveness, several key tips should be kept in mind. One crucial aspect is the Elemental Absorption, triggered upon the initial activation of his Elemental Skill. Depending on the element that comes into contact with Genshin Impact Wanderer’s Anemo aura (Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, or Electro), he will gain specific buffs. For instance, absorbing Cryo increases his Crit Rate by 20%, while absorbing Electro restores Energy for his Elemental Burst upon hitting enemies with Normal or Charged Attacks.

Pyro absorption grants a 30% ATK increase, and Hydro absorption increases the maximum capacity of his Elemental Skill bar, extending the duration of his Windfavored state. You can obtain a maximum of two of these buffs with each Skill activation, and this can be increased to three if you have his fourth constellation. Therefore, carefully selecting your team composition to facilitate desired elemental reactions is paramount to optimizing Wanderer’s damage and utility.

While in the Windfavored state, certain actions are restricted. For example, you cannot revitalize flowers to claim rewards using Original or Condensed Resin, nor can you pick up mob drops immediately after a fight. Instead of waiting for the Elemental Skill bar to fully deplete, you can instantly cancel the Windfavored state by pressing the Skill button again. This will immediately end the hovering and initiate the skill’s cooldown, which starts after the skill bar is fully depleted and Genshin Impact Wanderer returns to the ground. This allows for greater control over his active time on the field.

Upon ascending Genshin Impact Wanderer, you will unlock the Gales of Reverie passive talent. When activated, hitting opponents with Normal and Charged Attacks during his Elemental Skill has a chance to grant the Descent effect, indicated by a shining symbol on Genshin Impact Wanderer’s body. When this effect is active, your next dash will consume no Elemental Skill bar and will unleash four Anemo arrows that deal damage to nearby enemies. This passive not only provides additional damage potential but also enhances his mobility and can help avoid crowd control.

The interaction between Genshin Impact Wanderer’s Elemental Skill and Burst requires careful timing. Activating his Burst while in the Windfavored state will immediately end the skill and put it on cooldown without providing any additional buffs at zero constellations. However, with his second constellation unlocked, the damage of his Elemental Burst is increased based on the remaining Kuugoryoku Points (Elemental Skill bar) when the Burst is activated.

There is also a slight delay after the Burst animation ends before you can seamlessly use his Elemental Skill again. Attempting to activate the Skill too early after the Burst can result in it being immediately deactivated. This can be particularly problematic in timed challenges like the Spiral Abyss, so it’s advisable to wait for the Burst’s damage to fully occur before re-engaging with his Elemental Skill.

It’s also worth noting potential synergies and anti-synergies with other characters. For instance, Diona’s Elemental Burst provides consistent Cryo application and her Skill offers a valuable shield, which is beneficial for Genshin Impact Wanderer as he can be vulnerable to crowd control while hovering. However, a complication arises if Genshin Impact Wanderer uses his Elemental Skill within Diona’s Burst and presses the jump button to ascend; this action will cause Diona’s Burst to stop healing the character. Therefore, when using them together, it’s best to avoid jumping or fighting on uneven terrain to maintain Diona’s healing.

Genshin Impact Wanderer: An Excellent Choice for Open-World Exploration

Unlike many DPS characters whose primary damage-enhancing abilities have significant cooldowns, making them less convenient for exploring a world with scattered enemies, Genshin Impact Wanderer excels in open-world exploration. His Elemental Skill has a relatively short cooldown of six seconds, which begins after the Windfavored state ends. This allows for near-constant use of his hovering ability and significant damage output without the need for extensive setup. Even when not in his Windfavored form, Genshin Impact Wanderer’s basic attacks boast high multipliers, making him a reliable damage dealer at all times.

Building the Genshin Impact Wanderer for Success

When building the Genshin Impact Wanderer, several factors come into play, including talent prioritization, weapon selection, and artifact choices.

Talent Priority: According to community discussions, the general consensus is to prioritize his Normal Attack talent, as it constitutes a significant portion of his damage, especially in the Windfavored state. Following that, his Elemental Skill is the next most important to upgrade, as it dictates the effectiveness and duration of his primary combat mode. While his Elemental Burst provides valuable AoE damage, it is generally considered the lowest priority for talent upgrades, especially at lower constellation levels.

However, for players who highly invest in Genshin Impact Wanderer, especially those with his second constellation, fully upgrading all three talents (“triple crowning”) is often seen as worthwhile due to the substantial damage increase. A common recommendation for those not wishing to triple crown immediately is to aim for a talent level distribution of 10 for Normal Attacks, 9 for Elemental Skill, and 8 (or 9 at C2) for Elemental Burst.

Weapon Build

WeaponRaritySummaryBest For
Tulaytullah’s Remembrance★★★★★Signature weapon with CRIT DMG boost and ATK SPD buff after Skill.Best-in-slot for main DPS builds
Skyward Atlas★★★★★High base ATK and Elemental DMG bonus for consistent damage.Consistent Anemo + Normal ATK damage
Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds★★★★★Increases CRIT Rate and gives ramping Elemental DMG over time.Long field time, sustained DPS
The Widsith★★★★☆Rotating powerful buffs (ATK, Elemental DMG, EM) on field entry.Burst DPS, top F2P option
Mappa Mare★★★★☆Craftable weapon with stacking Elemental DMG after reactions.Easy to obtain, Elemental reaction builds
Dodoco Tales★★★★☆Boosts ATK and Charged ATK DMG after Normal Attacks.Charged Attack-focused builds (Event-exclusive)

Tulaytullah’s Remembrance (5★)
Signature & Best-in-Slot weapon.
Massive CRIT DMG boost and Normal ATK SPD buff after using Elemental Skill.

Skyward Atlas (5★)
High raw ATK scaling and Elemental DMG bonus.
Great for consistent Anemo and Normal ATK damage.

Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5★)
CRIT Rate boost and Elemental DMG increase over time.
Ideal for long-field time and sustained DPS.

The Widsith (4★)
Top-tier F2P-friendly burst damage.
Rotating buffs (ATK, Elemental DMG, EM) every time Genshin Impact Wanderer takes the field.

Mappa Mare (4★)
Craftable Catalyst with Elemental DMG scaling.
Grants stacking Elemental DMG bonuses after triggering reactions.

Dodoco Tales (4★, Event)
Excellent for Charged Attack-focused builds.
Boosts ATK and Charged ATK DMG after using Normal Attacks.

Artifact Build

The First Days of the City of KingsEnd of the Golden RealmTimepiece of the Lost PathDefender of the Enchanting DreamLegacy of the Desert High-Born

Desert Pavilion Chronicle (4-piece)
Best-in-slot for Genshin Impact Wanderer’s main DPS build.
2-piece: +15% Anemo DMG Bonus.
4-piece: Increases Charged Attack DMG after using Elemental Skill and boosts Normal/Charged/Plunging ATK SPD.

Entangling BloomShaft of RemembranceMorning Dew’s MomentHopeful HeartCapricious Visage

Shimenawa’s Reminiscence (4-piece)
High-risk, high-reward DPS option.
2-piece: +18% ATK.
4-piece: Consumes 15 Energy to boost Normal/Charged/Plunging ATK DMG by 50% for 10s.

Soulscent BloomSymbol of FelicitationJade LeafFlowing RingsChalice of the Font

Echoes of an Offering (4-piece)
Enhances Normal Attack consistency.
2-piece: +18% ATK.
4-piece: Normal Attacks have a chance to boost DMG by 70%, based on ATK SPD.

2-piece Anemo DMG Bonus2-piece Anemo DMG Bonus2-piece ATK%2-piece ATK%2-piece ATK%any artifact that has an Anemo DMG bonusany artifact that has an Anemo DMG bonusany artifact that has an ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%

2-piece Anemo DMG Bonus + 2-piece ATK%
Flexible and effective hybrid.
Boosts overall damage with consistent buffs to both Anemo and ATK stats.

2-piece ATK%2-piece ATK%2-piece ATK%2-piece ATK%2-piece ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%any artifact that has an ATK%

2-piece ATK% + 2-piece ATK%
Maximizes raw attack output.
Great for simpler builds with strong scaling from ATK stats.

Artifact Main Stats and Substats: The primary stats to focus on for Genshin Impact Wanderer’s artifacts are ATK% on the Sands, Anemo DMG Bonus on the Goblet, and Crit Rate or Crit DMG on the Circlet, depending on your current Crit Ratio. For substats, prioritize Crit DMG% and Crit Rate%, followed by ATK%, and then potentially Elemental Mastery or Energy Recharge% depending on your team composition and weapon choice.

Gathering the Necessary Resources: Ascension and Talent Materials

Ascension Materials: To fully ascend Genshin Impact Wanderer, you will need:

MaterialTypeHow to ObtainVayuda Turquoise (All tiers)Elemental CrystalDropped by Anemo Hypostasis, Maguu Kenki, Algorithm, Stormterror, Scaramouche; exchange via Dust of Azoth.Rukkhashava MushroomsRegional SpecialtyFound in Sumeru (Mawtiyima Forest, Apam Woods); respawn every 48h; use Tighnari/Nahida for easier farming.Handguards (Old, Kageuchi, Famed)Enemy DropDropped by Nobushi & Kairagi in Inazuma; required for both ascension and talent upgrades.Perpetual CaliberBoss DropDropped by Aeonblight Drake (Sumeru, Devantaka Mountain); accessed via grapple after Dendro flower activation.Teachings/Guides/Philosophies of PraxisTalent BookFarmed from Steeple of Ignorance (Wed/Sat/Sun); features Ruin Drakes as enemies.Daka’s BellWeekly Boss DropDropped by Scaramouche (Trounce Domain); unlocked after Sumeru Archon Quest Act V; convert with Dream Solvent.Crown of InsightSpecial ItemObtained through major events and region expansions; used for maxing talents to level 10.
  • Vayuda Turquoise Crystals (Sliver, Fragments, Chunks, and Gemstones), which are Anemo elemental crystals obtained primarily by defeating world bosses like the Anemo Hypostasis, Maguu Kenki, and the Algorithm of Semi-Intransient Matrix of Overseer Network, as well as weekly bosses such as Stormterror and the Trounce Domain: Scaramouche. World bosses are generally a more reliable source for these crystals. You can also obtain crystal slivers and fragments from various in-game events and exchange other elemental crystals for Vayuda Turquoise using Dust of Azoth, which can be purchased from the Paimon Shop with Stardust.
  • Rukkhashava Mushrooms, a regional specialty of Sumeru found abundantly in areas like Mawtiyima Forest and Apam Woods. These mushrooms are often hidden in somewhat inconvenient locations and respawn every 48 hours. Characters like Tighnari and Nahida can significantly aid in farming these, with Tighnari’s passive revealing nearby specialties and Nahida’s Skill allowing collection from a distance.
  • Handguards (Old, Kageuchi, and Famed), which are exclusively dropped by Nobushi and Kairagi enemies found throughout the Inazuma region. These are common enemy drops, so consistent farming in Inazuma is necessary.
  • Perpetual Caliber, a unique world boss drop obtained from the Aeonblight Drake located in the Devantaka Mountain of Sumeru. You can reach this boss by activating a Dendro flower near the northern Teleport Waypoint in Devantaka Mountain, which will spawn grapples leading to its cave. Note that this boss does not drop Vayuda Turquoise crystals.

Talent Materials: Upgrading Genshin Impact Wanderer’s talents requires:

  • Teachings, Guides, and Philosophies of Praxis, which can be obtained by clearing the Steeple of Ignorance domain located in the northern Sumeru Rainforest on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This domain features battles against two Ruin Drakes.
  • Handguards (Old, Kageuchi, and Famed), the same as those needed for his ascension.
  • Daka’s Bell, a weekly boss material dropped by Scaramouche in his weekly boss fight, which is unlocked after completing Act V of Sumeru’s main Archon Quest. Defeating this boss can be challenging and may require specific team compositions. You have a chance to receive one of three unique items from this boss, including Daka’s Bell, and you can use Dream Solvents (obtained from any weekly boss) to convert other weekly boss materials into Daka’s Bell.
  • Crown of Insight, a rare material obtained from major limited-time events and new region releases, required for fully upgrading a talent to level 10.

Keep in mind that the talent materials listed are for upgrading a single talent. To maximize Genshin Impact Wanderer’s potential, you will ideally want to upgrade all three of his talents, requiring three times the listed materials.