Kinich Build Guide (Patch 5.0)
Kinich’s Role and Skills
Kinich is a main Dendro DPS that hooks onto a nearby enemy before swinging and attacking them. His grappling play-style is to build his Nightsoul points by using Loop Shots (NA) before attacking with his Scalespiker Cannon (E) once full. While swigging around the enemy, a Blind Spot will be generated and Kinich can obtain 4 Nightsoul points if he enters it. Kinich’s Burst (Q) is pretty straightforward in which he summons Ajaw (the 2D pixelated dragon) to attack enemies periodically.
His A1 and A4 passives point towards the sort of team composition he is intended to be played with. A1 gives a boost to his Nightsoul points generation whenever an enemy is affected by Burning or Burgeon. This essentially means that he should be played with an off-field Pyro. A4 gives his Scalespiker Cannon (E) a damage buff when Natlan party member triggers Nightsoul Burst effectively giving an advantage to Natlan’s teammates.
Artifact set
Obsidian Codex (4)
Kinich’s universally best artifact is the Obsidian because it gives a whopping 40% Crit Rate simply by consuming Nightsoul point. Plus, the 2pc also gives him an extra 15% DMG while he’s in combat.
Its easily the best artifact for any DPS Natlan character since all of them utilizes the Nightsoul mechanic.
Unfinished Reverie (4)
Reverie would be Kinich’s 2nd Best-in-Slot (BiS) especially if you’re running him in Burn/BurnVape comp. Despite a lot of misconception, the 4pc 50% DMG bonus is obtainable if your character is on-field albeit it has to increase by 10% per second.
However, it is not recommended to farm for this set unless you don’t since its still marginally worse even in best case scenario. Only use this if you don’t have any an Obsidian set.
Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City (4)
This is a viable set if you’re running Kinich with Emilie as he can proc the 4pc and give an additional 28% Elemental DMG to Emilie. However its a very niche composition and Obsidian is still better for him in this scenario.
Weapon
Fang of the Mountain King (5✩)
Kinich’s signature
Kinich’s signature claymore is pretty much his best weapon as he is the only one who can fully utilize its passive buff and meet its prerequisites.
Each stack of Canopy’s Favor gives a 10% DMG buff onto his E and Q while also stacking up to 6 times. A stack is acquired by using E while 3 stacks are gained whenever Burning or Burgeon occurs.
Any 5-star DPS claymore (5✩)
Most 5-star claymore with a secondary DPS stat benefits Kinich as they can serve as a good stat stick. Beacon of the Reed Sea is his 2nd BiS 5-star option as he can proc its passive by taking self Burning damage putting it ahead of the rest.
Earth Shaker (4✩)
Kinich’s best 4-star and ‘F2P’ option as he can easily utilize its E damage buff. On top of that, its a craftable Natlan weapon meaning that getting high refinements is available to everyone.
At R5 the weapon will give up to 32% Elemental Skill (E) DMG bonus to Kinich.
Serpent Spine (4✩)
At max stack and refinement, it technically beats Earth Shaker but this requires you to build up each of its stacks every 4s by staying on-field and Kinich will also lose a stack every time he takes damage. This includes self ticks on Burning reaction meaning that its quite problematic.
Realistically, its pretty hard to maintain high stacks with the Serpent Spine on Kinich as his play-style doesn’t compliments its passive.
Talent
C0-C6
Skill (E) > Burst (Q) > Normal Attack (NA)
Kinich main source of damage is from his Scalespiker Cannon (E) after building up his Nightsouls to the max. This is considered his Elemental Skill (E) hence this should be his first priority over anything else. To recap, Kinich swings around an enemy building up his Nightsoul points before using Scalespiker Cannon (E).
Main stat and substat
Sand: ATK%
Goblet: Dendro DMG%
Circlet: Crit Rate / DMG
- Crit Rate / DMG
- ATK%
- Flat ATK
- Energy Recharge