Unlocking Candace's Potential: A Comprehensive Genshin Impact Guide

For the longest time, the Genshin Impact community playfully teased about the rarity of Hydro characters, often locked behind premium 5-Star banners. Inazuma came and went without introducing a single 4-Star Hydro character, until the Sumeru update changed the game. Breaking the community's long-standing joke, HoYoVerse finally introduced Candace, a 4-Star Hydro character and a formidable desert-folk warrior, marking the first such addition since the game's launch.

As the guardian protector of Aaru Village, Candace is celebrated for her gentleness and compassion, welcoming desert dwellers and travelers seeking refuge from the harsh desert. Yet, her reputation also carries a warning: when angered, even the hardy Eremites tread carefully. Armed with a lance, shield, and a Hydro vision, Candace ensures that those who violate Aaru Village's rules or harm its people meet their fate in the unforgiving desert.

In this CandaceGenshin Impact guide, we delve into the facets of Candace, exploring her playstyles and build options to enhance your gaming experience in Teyvat.

Versatile Builds for Candace

Candace can adapt to various roles within a team, each requiring specific artifact sets and combinations. Here are some noteworthy builds for her popular roles:

1. Heart of Depth

• 2-Piece Set: Hydro DMG Bonus +15%
• 4-Piece Set: After using Elemental Skill, increase Normal Attack and Charged Attack DMG by 30% for 15s.

The Heart of Depth artifact set suits DPS Candace, given her above-average Normal Attack multipliers for polearm users. For players struggling to obtain a full set or wanting to use her as a sub-DPS, alternative artifact sets granting Hydro DMG Bonus, HP%, or Elemental Mastery can suffice.

2. Noblesse Oblige

• 2-Piece Set: Elemental Burst DMG +20%
• 4-Piece Set: Using an Elemental Burst increases all party members’ ATK by 20% for 12s (effect does not stack).

For a support role, the 4-piece set of Noblesse Oblige is the preferred choice to enhance her Elemental Burst's Hydro infusion, providing a substantial ATK buff to the entire team upon casting her Elemental Burst.

Priority Artifact Stats for Candace

Candace's stat priorities vary depending on her role:

• HP%/ Energy Recharge (Sands or substats)
• CRIT Rate/ CRIT DMG (Circlet and substats)
• Hydro DMG Bonus (Goblet or substats)
• Elemental Mastery/ ATK% (substats)

Candace's damage and buff scaling relies heavily on her HP stat. Hence, HP% sands are generally recommended, although Energy Recharge sands can help maintain her Elemental Burst uptime. Balancing her CRIT rate and CRIT DMG for an offensive build can significantly boost her Burst and Skill damage. For those focusing on elemental reactions, Hydro DMG Bonus goblets and Elemental Mastery substats will enhance her damage potential.

Best Weapons for Candace

Candace wields a spear and shield to protect Aaru Village. While there are no shield weapons in Genshin Impact, numerous polearms can complement her abilities:

1. Staff of Homa (CRIT DMG)

• HP increased by 20%.
• Provides an ATK Bonus based on 0.8% of the wielder's Max HP. When HP falls below 50%, this ATK Bonus increases by an additional 1% of Max HP.

The Staff of Homa, a limited 5-Star polearm, is ideal for HP-dependent Hydro DPS characters like Candace. It offers substantial CRIT DMG and boosts her ATK based on her Max HP, further enhancing her damage output.

2. Staff of the Scarlet Sands (CRIT Rate)

• The wielder gains 52% of their Elemental Mastery as bonus ATK.
• When an Elemental Skill hits opponents, the Dream of the Scarlet Sands effect is gained for 10s, granting 28% of Elemental Mastery as bonus ATK (max 3 stacks).

Candace wields the Staff of the Scarlet Sands in her official trailer despite her 4-star rarity. This polearm offers high CRIT Rate and converts some Elemental Mastery into raw ATK, making it ideal for elemental reaction-based teams.

3. Skyward Spine (Energy Recharge)

• Increases CRIT Rate by 8% and Normal ATK SPD by 12%.
• Normal and Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to trigger a vacuum blade that deals 40% of ATK as DMG in a small AoE (once every 2s).

Skyward Spine's increased Energy Recharge complements Candace's need to maintain her Elemental Burst consistently. It also slightly boosts her CRIT Rate and enhances her mobility during her Burst.

Budget Alternatives

If top-tier weapons are elusive, several budget options can still be effective:

1. The Catch (Energy Recharge)

• Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 16% and Elemental Burst CRIT Rate by 6%.

The Catch, easily obtainable through fishing, enhances Energy Recharge and Elemental Burst DMG, making it a great budget choice for Candace.

2. Black Tassel (HP%)

• Increases DMG against slimes by 40%.

Despite its 3-star rarity, the Black Tassel's HP% secondary stat can rival 4-star options, making it a viable free-to-play weapon.

3. Dragon's Bane (Elemental Mastery)

• Increases DMG against enemies affected by Hydro or Pyro by 20%.

Dragon's Bane excels for Candace in elemental reaction-focused teams, offering the highest Elemental Mastery secondary stat.

Candace's Talent Priorities

Candace's talent priorities depend on her role:

• Sacred Rite: Heron's Sanctum (Elemental Skill): Maximizing this skill first is ideal for DPS Candace, as it offers the highest damage potential.
• Sacred Rite: Wagtail's Tide (Elemental Burst): For a support-oriented build, prioritizing this talent enhances the team's overall damage output.
• Gleaming Spear - Guardian Stance (Normal Attack): While support characters often neglect Normal Attack leveling, it's crucial for a DPS build, ensuring Candace's damage potential is fully realized.

Candace's counter-attack ability can trigger the fully charged version of her Skill, dealing maximum damage when timed correctly. Additionally, her passive increases the Elemental DMG bonus for the entire team's Normal Attacks based on her max HP, benefiting both melee and ranged attackers.

Building the Ideal Team with Candace

Candace's versatility allows her to fit into various teams in need of Hydro or elemental-based normal attackers. She thrives in vaporize teams, bloom teams, infusion teams, or freeze teams. Here are some synergistic characters to consider:

• Ayato: A Hydro DPS character amplified by Candace's Normal Attack DMG boost and Hydro resonance.
• Yelan: An off-field Hydro sub-DPS, damage amplifier, and source of Hydro resonance.
• Diluc: Can self-trigger vaporize with Candace's Hydro infusion.
• Bennett: A Pyro support character who provides a teamwide ATK buff and healing.
• Xiangling: An off-field Pyro applier and Pyro sub-DPS for vaporize reactions.
• Wanderer: An on-field DPS catalyst user, benefiting from Candace's damage boost.
• Yaoyao: An off-field Dendro applier and healer.
• Dendro Traveler: A F2P Bloom enthusiast and Dendro applier.

Candace excels in vaporize teams as a Hydro DPS. Pair her with Pyro characters for consistent Pyro application and Anemo characters to amplify the reaction through Swirl and resistance reduction. Candace's role, whether DPS or support, ensures that foes wisely avoid the wrath of this benevolent protector.