Kaeya build guide

Kaeya functions as a sub DPS character that deals off field cryo damage for his team. His Elemental Burst (Q) summons icicles that circles and damages nearby enemies similar to Xianling’s pyronado. On the other hand, his Elemental Skill (E) unleashes a cryo blast that deals cryo damage to enemies in front.

His 1st Ascension passive regenerates his own HP equal to 15% of his ATK every time his E hits an enemy. This Ascension is pretty weak in terms of how useful it is. Meanwhile his 2nd Ascension passive has an incomplete description in game. The full description should have been Kaeya’s E can produce up to two additional particles by either freezing or hitting frozen enemies. Meta wise, his 2nd Ascension makes him one of the best cryo batteries in game.

Maximize Kaeya

They way Kaeya is maximize is dependent on the team composition you’re running. For a freeze team and cryo team, you’ll be utilizing his E as a battery while his burst would act as an off field damage and cryo applicator. For a melt team, you’ll wanna run alongside with Xingqiu so your pyro DPS (Hutao or Bennett) can Melt or Vape some of their attacks. In this role, he is more of a cryo applicator for as oppose to a sub DPS. They key is that whichever team his running on, he must have his burst ready for each rotation.

Kaeya’s weakness

There are usually better options to replace whichever role Kaeya is filling in. A lot of other cryo characters such as Rosaria, Diona, Chongyun and even support Ganyu provides more damage or utility for the team. Some of them have more specialize role such as Rosaria who excels at Reverse Melt and Diona who helps provide shield and healing for the team. It hard to justify replacing them with Kaeya unless you don’t have these characters.

The other problem with Kaeya is his burst uptime. Although a 60 burst energy cost is not particularly high, more often than not if he’s not build for ER you would have trouble ensuring his burst is ready for each rotation. Generally if Kaeya is in a cryo/freeze team then aim for 120-140 ER; for Melt team aim for 160-180 ER.

More about Kaeya:

Kaeya’s Elemental Burst makes him an excellent source of Cryo application for characters that often stay in melee range, although his burst can’t be fully utilized with Reverse Melt teams due to how his Cryo damage is split into a barrage of attacks.
In most teams, investment for damage is not a necessity, most notable examples are Razor teams and Hutao Xingqiu teams where his general purpose is to apply Cryo, instead of being the damage dealer. This does not mean that he should not be invested, but is still useful even without proper investments.

Regarding Weapon Choices:

Freedom Sworn: This weapon’s ranking is assumed with Reverse Melt teams where the EM stat would be useful.
Skyward Blade: In teams with a 2nd Cryo unit generating energy, this weapon would have a lower priority as the Energy Recharge stat would mostly be wasted.
Lion’s Roar / The Alley Flash / Iron Sting: These weapons’ rankings are assumed with Reverse Melt teams where the passive and EM stat would be useful. At [R5], these weapons would outperform Summit Shaper.

Regarding Artifact Sets:

Instructor (4): Due to his ability to easily trigger Instructor’s passive, Kaeya is a good holder of Instructor (4) for Reverse Melt teams. Aside from ER%, most of his other main stats don’t matter as much, making this one of his budget support builds.
Noblesse Oblige (4): This set is only recommended if there is no other member of the team running Noblesse Oblige (4).