Mastering the Flames: A Comprehensive Guide to Unleashing Hu Tao's Fiery Power in Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact boasts a diverse cast of intriguing characters, each with captivating narratives that resonate with players from various backgrounds. Among these characters is Hu Tao, the enigmatic and beloved funeral director of Liyue, who offers a unique blend of humor and talent.

Hu Tao, the 77th Funeral Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, assumed her role at a young age, inheriting the business from her grandfather. Despite her mischievous nature, which can sometimes vex characters like Qiqi, she is remarkably responsible when it comes to her funeral duties. Hu Tao's cheerful disposition might seem unconventional for her profession, but her profound understanding of death as an integral part of life allows her to live without regrets.

Neglecting Hu Tao's development in your party is considered a grave mistake by many. To prevent this, follow this comprehensive guide for optimizing her performance in Genshin Impact.

Best Artifacts for Hu Tao

Selecting the right artifact sets for your characters can significantly enhance their effectiveness. For Hu Tao, the following sets are highly recommended:

Crimson Witch of Flames

• 2-Piece Bonus: Pyro DMG Bonus +15%
• 4-Piece Bonus: Increases Overloaded, Burning, and Burgeon DMG by 40%. Enhances Vaporize and Melt DMG by 15%. Using Elemental Skill increases the 2-Piece Set Bonus by 50% of its initial value for 10 seconds, up to a maximum of 3 stacks.

The Crimson Witch of Flames set is the ideal choice for enhancing the Pyro DPS capabilities of characters like Hu Tao. Since Hu Tao's Elemental Skill infuses her attacks with Pyro, this set's Pyro DMG Bonus provides unmatched damage amplification, making it a popular choice for Hu Tao players who focus on Vaporize reactions in their team compositions.

Shimenawa's Reminiscence

• 2-Piece Bonus: ATK +18%
• 4-Piece Bonus: When casting an Elemental Skill with 15 or more Energy, expend 15 Energy and increase Normal/Charged/Plunging Attack DMG by 50% for 10 seconds. This effect cannot trigger again during that duration.

Shimenawa's Reminiscence offers a viable alternative to the Crimson Witch of Flames set. It provides Hu Tao with a substantial 50% boost to her Normal and Charged Attacks at the cost of 15 energy. This set becomes valuable when Hu Tao's Elemental Burst is less essential, especially when her team includes proficient shielders or healers.

Artifact Stats to Prioritize

While substats are subject to randomness, selecting the primary stats is within the player's control. Ideally, Hu Tao's artifacts should have the following stats:

• Pyro DMG Bonus (Goblet)
• CRIT Rate/ CRIT DMG (Circlet and substats)
• HP% (Timepiece and/or substats)
• Elemental Mastery (Timepiece and/or substats)
• Energy Recharge (Substats)

Hu Tao's ascension stat is CRIT DMG, and her abilities revolve around Max HP and triggering Pyro elemental reactions. Therefore, prioritize equipping her with artifacts featuring high CRIT stats, HP%, and Elemental Mastery. Using an elemental goblet that matches her element significantly boosts her damage output. While Energy Recharge is not a primary stat, it serves as a useful substat for her survivability through her Elemental Burst.

Best Weapons for Hu Tao

Premium 5-star weapons offer superior stats, powerful effects, and stylish aesthetics. Though weapon banners can be challenging, the following weapons are worth considering for Hu Tao:

Staff of Homa (CRIT DMG)

Increases HP by 20% and provides an additional ATK Bonus based on 0.8% of Max HP. When HP falls below 50%, the ATK Bonus is further increased by 1% of Max HP.

The Staff of Homa is Hu Tao's signature best-in-slot weapon, boasting high base ATK and CRIT DMG secondary stats. Its effects synergize perfectly with Hu Tao, enhancing her Max HP and providing a substantial ATK boost when her HP is below 50%.

Staff of the Scarlet Sands (CRIT Rate)

Equipping character gains 52% of Elemental Mastery as bonus ATK. Landing an Elemental Skill hit triggers the Dream of the Scarlet Sands effect for 10 seconds, providing the equipping character with 28% of their Elemental Mastery as bonus ATK (up to 3 stacks).

While designed for crit-oriented DPS characters focusing on elemental reactions, the Staff of the Scarlet Sands can benefit Hu Tao due to its conversion of Elemental Mastery to Attack and high Critical Rate. It's a suitable option for those emphasizing Elemental Mastery builds.

Primordial Jade Winged-Spear (CRIT Rate)

On hit, increases ATK by 3.2% for 6 seconds (up to 7 stacks). When at the maximum stacks, DMG dealt is increased by 12%.

This 5-star polearm is widely accessible and offers a significant CRIT Rate boost. It also stacks ATK on each hit, providing a bonus damage increase at maximum stacks. Although not Hu Tao's absolute best choice, it is a viable option for those without specific polearm options.

Budget Alternatives

For players who cannot obtain 5-star weapons, these 4-star options are suitable alternatives:

Dragon's Bane (Elemental Mastery)

Increases DMG against Hydro or Pyro-affected opponents by 20%.

Dragon's Bane is an excellent 4-star polearm for characters that capitalize on the Vaporize reaction. Its damage bonus remains consistently active when enemies are affected by Hydro or Pyro, making it a reliable choice.

Deathmatch (CRIT Rate)

If there are at least 2 nearby opponents, ATK is increased by 16% and DEF is increased by 16%. If there are fewer than 2 nearby opponents, ATK is increased by 24%.

Available through Genshin Impact's Battle Pass, Deathmatch is a CRIT Rate weapon with an offensive effect dependent on the number of nearby enemies. While not as potent as 5-star options, it offers significant power and consistency.

Ballad of the Fjords (CRIT Rate)

When there are at least 3 different Elemental Types in your party, Elemental Mastery is increased by 120.

This polearm, introduced through the Battle Pass, rewards bonus Elemental Mastery if three different elemental types are present in your party. As Hu Tao typically fits into such team compositions, Ballad of the Fjords becomes a competitive choice.

Skill Priorities for Hu Tao

Prioritizing which skills to level can be essential due to limited resources. Here's the recommended order for leveling Hu Tao's skills:

1. Secret Spear of Wangsheng (Normal Attack): Hu Tao delivers up to 6 consecutive spear strikes, with her Charged Attack lunging forward and damaging enemies along the way.
2. Guide to Afterlife (Elemental Skill): Hu Tao consumes a portion of her HP to push back surrounding enemies and enter the Paramita Papilio state. This state boosts her ATK based on her Max HP at entry and converts her attack DMG to Pyro DMG, which cannot be overridden by other elemental infusions. Charged Attacks apply the Blood Blossom effect to affected enemies, dealing Pyro DMG over time. The effect can only be refreshed by Hu Tao herself or when its duration expires.
3. Spirit Soother (Elemental Burst): Hu Tao commands a blazing spirit to unleash a large AoE Pyro DMG attack. The skill also regenerates a portion of Hu Tao's Max HP when striking enemies, with the effect repeating up to 5 times based on the number of enemies hit. If Hu Tao's HP is at or below 50% when striking enemies, both the DMG and HP Regeneration are increased.

Hu Tao's optimal performance hinges on maintaining her HP below the 50% threshold, a state she can comfortably achieve with her skills. Most of her damage arises from her Normal Attacks, especially when her Elemental Skill is active. As a result, prioritize leveling her Normal Attacks, followed by her Elemental Skill for better scaling of her HP-based ATK bonus and Blood Blossom damage. Leveling her Burst should come last, reserving it for dire situations, as excessive healing above the 50% HP threshold can significantly impact her damage output.

Hu Tao Team Composition

Hu Tao primarily serves as the main DPS in a team, but her effectiveness depends on proper support. To maximize her performance, pair her with characters capable of creating shields and enabling elemental reactions. Consider the following characters as suitable companions for Hu Tao:

• Zhongli: Provides shields for protection.
• Layla: A Cryo shield user and Zhongli alternative.
• Xingqiu: Ideal for Vaporize teams, working well with Hu Tao.
• Yelan: Another strong Hydro sub-DPS for Vaporize reactions.
• Kazuha: Offers crowd control and reduces Pyro resistance.
• Albedo: Increases Elemental Mastery for the team.
• Rosaria: A Cryo character suitable for Melt reactions.
• Yanfei: A Pyro catalyst user capable of support and shielding with constellations.

In battle, aim to maximize Hu Tao's time within her Elemental Skill's Paramita Papilio state, as it provides essential buffs for dealing Pyro damage. Hu Tao isn't a selfish DPS character and performs best when her Elemental Skill is active. Therefore, it's essential to have allies who can support her until her next Skill activation. Even years after her release, Hu Tao remains an exceptionally powerful character, making her a fantastic choice for both new and experienced players.