Introduction to Yaoyao

Genshin Impact Yaoyao made her debut in Genshin Impact as the game’s first dedicated Dendro healer, a role that was notably lacking prior to her introduction. According to Braxophone’s video transcript, Genshin Impact Yaoyao was considered a significant addition, being a good four-star character that feels complete and functional even at constellation zero. Her arrival helped fill a much-needed niche, providing healing capabilities within Dendro-centric teams, which previously often relied on non-Dendro healers like Kuki Shinobu or Kokomi. This makes Genshin Impact Yaoyao a valuable and accessible support unit for various team compositions.

Abilities and Playstyle

Normal Attack: Toss ‘N’ TurnRaphanus Sky ClusterMoonjade Descent

Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s kit revolves around her Elemental Skill and Burst, both of which involve summoning a Yuegui rabbit. Her Elemental Skill, Raphanus Sky Cluster, summons a single Yuegui that periodically launches white jade radishes. These radishes serve a dual purpose: they deal Dendro damage to enemies and heal allies. The targeting of these radishes depends on the active character’s HP; if below 70%, the radishes will prioritize healing.

Once above 70% HP, they will focus on damaging nearby enemies. It’s important to note that even when the radishes hit an enemy for damage, nearby allies can still receive healing. Additionally, Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s second Ascension passive grants a small portion of healing to characters within the AOE of her rabbit, based on her Max HP. While her Dendro application through the skill has an internal cooldown based on time rather than hits, the randomized targeting can still lead to Dendro being applied to multiple enemies simultaneously. Furthermore, her skill generates one Dendro particle per hit, which is crucial for fueling her Elemental Burst.

Her Elemental Burst, Moonjade Descent, transforms Genshin Impact Yaoyao and summons up to three Yuegui bunnies on the field for a duration of five seconds. During her burst, both her healing and damage scalings are increased, providing a significant boost. The burst unleashes a burst heal that affects the entire team, making her a reliable Dendro healer when her burst is active. While in her burst state, Genshin Impact Yaoyao also receives movement speed and Dendro resistance buffs.

However, as she is generally not intended to be on the field for extended periods, the primary benefit of her burst lies in the strong team-wide healing and additional Dendro application. Her first passive talent causes her to throw extra radishes when sprinting, jumping, or running during her burst, further enhancing her healing and Dendro application while the burst is active. Due to the high energy cost of her burst (80 energy) and the fact that she is often off-field, energy management is a key consideration in her build.

Talent Priority

TalentPriorityReasonElemental SkillHighCore to her healing and Dendro application. Enhances both healing and damage output.Elemental BurstHigh / MediumProvides strong burst healing and AoE Dendro. High energy cost may reduce frequency.Normal AttacksLowNot a main DPS. Can be left at low level without affecting overall support performance.

When leveling Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s talents, it is generally recommended to prioritize her Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst equally. Her Elemental Skill is central to her kit, providing consistent healing and Dendro application. Leveling this talent will directly enhance both her healing output and Dendro damage, making it beneficial for most team compositions.

While her Elemental Burst offers powerful burst healing and team-wide Dendro application, its situational nature and high energy cost might make it a secondary priority depending on your team’s needs. Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s Normal Attacks are less crucial as her primary role is support rather than main damage dealer, so these talents can be upgraded last or left at a lower level without significantly impacting her performance.

Best Artifacts

Labyrinth WayfarerScholar of VinesA Time of InsightLamp of the LostLaurel Coronet

4pc Deepwood Memories – BiS for Dendro support; shreds Dendro RES by 30% for 8s, boosting reaction damage.

Flower of AccoladesOrichalceous Time-DialCeremonial War-PlumeGeneral’s Ancient HelmNoble’s Pledging Vessel

4pc Tenacity of the Millelith – Buff support alt; boosts Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s HP and team ATK via Skill hits.

Dreaming SteelbloomFeather of JudgmentThe Sunken YearsHoneyed Final FeastShadow of the Sand King

4pc Gilded Dreams – Reaction DPS setup; grants EM and buffs ATK/EM based on team elements.

Instructor’s BroochInstructor’s Pocket WatchInstructor’s Feather AccessoryInstructor’s CapInstructor’s Tea Cup

4pc Instructor – Low-investment EM support; increases team EM after Skill use.

Maiden’s Distant LoveMaiden’s Passing YouthMaiden’s Heart-stricken InfatuationMaiden’s Fading BeautyMaiden’s Fleeting Leisure

4pc Maiden Beloved – Pure healing; enhances healing but outclassed by utility set

Genshin Impact Yaoyao has several viable artifact set options depending on her role in the team. For teams focusing on Dendro reactions like Quicken or Bloom, the 4-piece Deepwood Memories set is highly recommended if no other Dendro character in the party is using it. This set enhances Dendro application and reaction damage by reducing the Dendro RES of enemies by 30% for 8 seconds when hit by an Elemental Skill or Burst.

If another character is already using Deepwood Memories, the 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith set is an excellent alternative, especially in Aggravate setups. It increases HP by 20%, which benefits Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s healing, and provides an ATK bonus to all party members when her Elemental Skill hits an enemy, a buff she can consistently maintain due to her skill’s continuous damage.

For teams where Genshin Impact Yaoyao might contribute more significantly to reaction damage, such as in Bloom or Hyperbloom compositions, the 4-piece Gilded Dreams set can maximize her personal reaction damage by granting Elemental Mastery and boosting ATK or EM based on the elemental composition of the party.

The 4-piece Instructor set is a good option for a low-investment build or if Genshin Impact Yaoyao is the primary source of Elemental Mastery in reaction-based teams, as it increases her EM and provides an additional EM boost to the team after using her Elemental Skill. While Genshin Impact Yaoyao is a healer, the 4-piece Maiden Beloved set, which enhances healing, is generally not as valuable as the utility provided by sets like Deepwood or Tenacity, as her healing is sufficient without it.

The priority for main stats on her artifacts should generally be Energy Recharge on the Sands, HP% on the Goblet, and a Healing Bonus on the Circlet to maximize her healing and ensure consistent burst uptime. However, if you are using Favonius Lance, a Crit Rate Circlet might be necessary to reliably trigger its passive. Sub-stats to prioritize include HP%, Elemental Mastery, and Energy Recharge. Crit stats are useful only if using Favonius Lance.

Optimal Weapon Selection

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Star Weapons

Weapon⭐ RarityTypeEffect / Notes
Favonius Lance⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Energy RechargeTop support option; Crit-triggered particles help with team and Burst uptime.
Skyward Spine⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Energy RechargeHigh ER and bonus Crit Rate; smooth energy flow, supports Favonius trigger rate.

Favonius Lance – Best support option; ER substat + particle generation on Crit = consistent Burst uptime.
Skyward Spine – High ER + Crit Rate; smooths Favonius passive triggers and ensures energy recharge.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4-Star Weapons

Weapon⭐ RarityTypeEffect / Notes
Prototype Starglitter⭐⭐⭐⭐Energy RechargeCraftable; consistent ER for Burst uptime—great for early to mid-game builds.
Moonpiercer⭐⭐⭐⭐Elemental MasteryBoosts ATK on Dendro reaction; ideal for Bloom/Hyperbloom teams.
Kitain Cross Spear⭐⭐⭐⭐Elemental MasteryEM substat + energy refund; fits well in reaction-heavy teams like Bloom.

Prototype Starglitter – Craftable ER polearm; stable Burst uptime, great early/mid-game option.
Moonpiercer – EM-based; grants ATK buff on Dendro reaction—strong in Bloom/Hyperbloom teams.
Kitain Cross Spear – EM + minor energy refund; solid choice for reaction-focused teams like Bloom.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3-Star Weapons

Weapon⭐ RarityTypeEffect / Notes
Black Tassel⭐⭐⭐HP%Great F2P healing option; high HP% boosts healing but offers no energy support.

Black Tassel – F2P healing stick; large HP% boost for max healing, but lacks ER support.

Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s weapon selection is fairly straightforward, with support-oriented weapons being the most effective for her primary role as a healer and Dendro enabler. The Favonius Lance is almost universally recommended if you have it. Its high Energy Recharge substat helps alleviate her burst cost issues, and its passive ability to generate Elemental Particles on Crit hits can significantly enhance energy regeneration for the entire team. To reliably trigger this passive, you might need to invest in some Crit Rate through sub-stats or a Circlet.

If Favonius Lance is unavailable, other Energy Recharge polearms like Skyward Spine or the craftable Prototype Star Glitter are viable alternatives to help with her energy needs. The Sumeru craftable polearm, Moonpiercer, can be a good option as it provides Elemental Mastery and its passive grants an ATK buff to the on-field character when Genshin Impact Yaoyao triggers a Dendro reaction, which can be beneficial in teams where the main DPS benefits from the extra ATK.

While Elemental Mastery polearms like Dragon’s Bane or Kitain Cross Spear are not generally top priorities unless you are specifically using her in a Bloom team to trigger blooms, Kitain Cross Spear offers both EM and some energy restoration through its passive. For a purely free-to-play option focusing on healing, the Black Tassel, a 3-star weapon with a significant HP% substat, can be used to maximize her healing output, although it does not help with energy recharge.

Team Compositions

Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s versatility allows her to thrive in a wide range of team compositions that rely on Dendro reactions or need a reliable healer. As a Dendro support and healer, she provides consistent off-field Dendro application with her Elemental Skill while also sustaining the team with her healing, making her an excellent fit in both reaction-heavy and general support teams.

NilouNahidaYelanXingqiu

Bloom teams benefit greatly from Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s Dendro application and healing capabilities. In teams centered around Nilou’s Bountiful Cores, Genshin Impact Yaoyao ensures constant Dendro uptime and counters the self-damage from Bloom reactions. She works well alongside Dendro characters like Nahida or Dendro Traveler and Hydro supports such as Xingqiu or Yelan. Her healing keeps the team safe during chain Bloom explosions.

FischlShinobuRaiden ShogunXingqiuYelan

Hyperbloom teams rely on her steady Dendro application to generate Dendro Cores, which Electro characters like Fischl, Kuki Shinobu, or Raiden Shogun then trigger into powerful homing projectiles. Pairing her with a Hydro unit like Xingqiu or Yelan ensures a continuous Core generation cycle. Her ability to heal passively while supporting the core rotation makes her an ideal enabler in these teams.

KeqingRaiden ShogunYae Miko

Quicken teams, which focus on Aggravate and Spread, also benefit from Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s Dendro uptime. By enabling reactions with Electro units like Keqing, Raiden Shogun, or Yae Miko, she boosts their damage through reaction-based scaling. Flex support options such as Anemo characters or additional Electro/Dendro units round out these compositions. Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s healing ensures survivability in more aggressive playstyles.

AyatoThoma

Burgeon teams involve triggering Dendro Cores with Pyro for explosive damage. In these comps, Genshin Impact Yaoyao supports units like Ayato and Thoma, with her healing mitigating the self-damage caused by Burgeon reactions. Her off-field Dendro application and team-wide healing make her one of the safest options for sustaining aggressive Burgeon setups.

General support teams that don’t rely heavily on Dendro reactions still benefit from Genshin Impact Yaoyao’s healing. She can act as a secondary Dendro applier and support character, offering flexible utility while helping enable occasional reactions depending on the team’s elements. She is especially useful in teams with HP-drain characters like Furina, as her healing offsets their health loss and keeps the team stable.

When building teams around Genshin Impact Yaoyao, prioritize consistent Hydro or Electro application to fully utilize her Dendro role in reaction-focused teams. In all cases, her healing provides a strong safety net, allowing teams to focus on offense without sacrificing survivability.

Constellation Impact

ConstellationEffectBenefitC1White Jade Radish explosions restore stamina and grant Dendro DMG Bonus to the active character.Useful for stamina-heavy characters and enhances Dendro-focused teams.C2Generates 3 Energy for Yaoyao when her Elemental Burst is used.Improves energy regeneration and burst uptime.C4Increases Yaoyao’s Elemental Mastery based on her Max HP after using Skill or Burst.Greatly boosts her reaction damage in Bloom/Hyperbloom teams.C6Summons Mega Radishes during Burst with larger AoE and stronger healing/damage scaling on HP.Significantly enhances her healing and reaction utility during Burst.

While Genshin Impact Yaoyao is a fully functional character at C0, her constellations offer various enhancements to her abilities. C1 grants the active character a Dendro DMG Bonus and restores Stamina when a White Jade Radish explodes, which can be useful in Dendro-centric teams and for characters with high stamina consumption. C2 provides additional Energy when using her Elemental Burst, helping to reduce her energy requirements and ensure more frequent burst uptime.

C4 increases her Elemental Mastery based on her Max HP when using her Elemental Skill or Burst, which can significantly benefit her performance in reaction-based teams like Bloom or Hyperbloom. C6 introduces Mega Radishes during her burst that have increased AOE and healing/damage based on her Max HP, dramatically increasing her overall utility. While these constellations can make Genshin Impact Yaoyao a stronger unit, they are not necessary for her to fulfill her primary role as a Dendro healer and support.

Playstyle and Advanced Strategies

Effective play with Genshin Impact Yaoyao involves understanding the targeting mechanics of her radishes. Managing team HP to stay below 70% can ensure that her Elemental Skill prioritizes healing when needed. Balancing her Energy Recharge is crucial for consistent burst uptime, especially if her burst is your primary source of team-wide healing. In reaction-focused teams, strategic positioning can help her Yuegui target multiple enemies for wider Dendro application.

If you have unlocked her constellations, adjusting your playstyle to take advantage of their effects can further optimize her performance. For example, at C6, staying on the field longer during her burst to utilize the enhanced Mega Radishes becomes more valuable. In other team compositions, utilizing her primarily off-field for passive healing and Dendro application is generally more efficient. Pairing her with a shielder can also reduce the need for constant active healing, allowing more focus on damage and reactions. Remember to choose her weapon based on your team’s specific needs, whether it’s Energy Recharge for more frequent bursts, ATK buffs for your DPS, or Elemental Mastery for maximizing reaction damage.

Ascension and Talent Materials

MaterialSourceDiligence BooksTaishan Mansion (Tue/Fri/Sun)Slime MaterialsDropped by Slimes (Condensate → Concentrate)Daka’s BellScaramouche Weekly Boss (Joururi Workshop)Crown of InsightLimited-time/event currencyMoraRequired for each level upgrade

To fully ascend Genshin Impact Yaoyao to level 90, you will need Nagadus Emerald gems, Slime Condensate, Slime Secretions, Slime Concentrate (dropped by Slimes), Quelled Creepers (dropped by the Dendro Hypostasis), and Jueyun Chilis (a Liyue local specialty). For leveling her talents, you will need Teachings, Guides, and Philosophies of Diligence (obtained from the Taishan Mansion domain in Liyue on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), as well as Slime materials and Daka’s Bell (dropped by the Scaramouche weekly boss in the Joururi Workshop). Crown of Insight is required to fully level a talent to level 10.

Conclusion

Genshin Impact Yaoyao is a highly versatile and valuable four-star character, excelling as a Dendro healer and a capable Dendro enabler. Her ability to provide both healing and Dendro application makes her a strong addition to many different team compositions, particularly those revolving around the Dendro element and its reactions. Whether you need a reliable healer for your Bloom or Hyperbloom teams, a Dendro applicator for Quicken or Spread compositions, or simply a consistent source of healing, Yaoyao is a fantastic choice that doesn’t heavily rely on constellations to be effective. Her accessibility and diverse utility make her a welcome addition to any Genshin Impact player’s roster.