Yanfei Build Guide (Patch 4.5)

Yanfei’s Role and Skills

Yanfei is a Pyro main DPS with a kit that revolves around dealing AoE damage with her Charged Attacks (CA). Her Charged Attacks (CA) relies on the number of “Scarlet Seals” she has to do more damage and lower its stamina consumption. Hence you are encourage to build Scarlet Seals using Yanfei’s E, Q and NA to maximize her damage.

Her Skill (E) deals AOE Pyro damage and grants her the maximum number of stacks. Meanwhile her Burst (Q) also deals AOE Pyro damage, grants maximum number of stacks and gives Yanfei a buff called “Brilliance”. Brilliance would give her an extra stack periodically while further increasing her Charged attacks damage.

Optimal Combo

Similar to every Pyro DPS, Vaporize with Xingqiu is the most reliable way to boost her damage. Apply hydro onto enemies first before starting her combos.
*N refers to each normal attack;

N1 -> N2 -> N3 -> Charged Attack

Yanfei’s best combo when running with Xingqiu for Vape

Artifact set

Crimson Witch FlowerCrimson Witch of Flames (4)

The Crimson set is her overall best artifact for Vaporize teams. Its Pyro DMG Bonuses boosts all her damage sources and also gives DMG Bonuses for all Pyro-related reactions.

Gilded Dreams FlowerGilded Dreams (4)

Yanfei’s best set if you’re building her for full EM and running her in an Overload team.
Provides 180 EM and 14% ATK in teams with a second Pyro, or 230 EM when she is solo Pyro. Yanfei can easily maintain the set bonus with her various Pyro attacks, though the effect can deactivate right before a Charged Attack hits.

Wanderers Troupe FlowerWanderer’s Troupe (4)

Universally a good set since it grants an unconditional boost to Yanfei’s Charged Attacks, which make up the majority of her DPS. Its 2pc effect also grants an EM bonus which enhances Elemental reaction damage.

Crimson Witch Flower
Crimson Witch of Flames (2)
+
Gladiator's Finale FlowerWanderers Troupe Flower
18% ATK set (2) / 80 EM set (2)

Viable combos if you don’t have any full set options particularly if they have great substats.

Shimenawa's Reminiscence FlowerShimenawa’s Reminiscence (4)

Trades her Burst and its passive Seals generation for a more consistent CA damage.

Yanfei will rarely have her Burst up due to the 15 energy cost on the 4pc effect, however she can instead maintain the CA DMG buff over a longer duration, making this set a good alternative to the other options.
Note that this set loses out on some value at higher constellations, as she can’t get her C4 effects without casting Burst.

Weapon

Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5✩)

Yanfei’s overall Best-in-Slot (BiS) weapon as it provides a substantial amount of Crit Rate and her long field time synergies well with the weapon passive.

Kagura’s Verity (5✩)

Kagura is strong choice due to its high CRIT DMG stat. It is also possible to maintain all stacks from its passive after the second rotation, further increasing its damage potential in extended fights.


Skyward Atlas (5✩)
Memory of Dust (5✩)

Both performs similarly under the right condition and has their value diminishes when used with external ATK buffers.

Skyward Atlast gives a large amount of ATK% and an unconditional Elemental DMG% Bonus.Memory of Dust performs similarly with Skyward if you have consistent shielder like Zhongli.

The Widsith (4✩)

Yanfei’s best 4-star option due to its offensive stat and passive taht she can utilize. When used as a Vaporize DPS, Yanfei can utilize all three possible buffs from the weapon passive, in addition to its CRIT DMG stat.
However, The EM buff is useless in Mono Pyro teams and the long cooldown on its passive makes its performance inconsistent in longer fights.

At higher refinements, it will often surpass most 5-star options.

Flowing Purity (4✩)

This craftable option works well in Vaporize playstyles and is her best free-to-play weapon for Mono Pyro teams. This weapon’s performance improves in teams with strong healers..

Dodoco Tales (4✩)

Dodoco is technically Yanfei’s best ‘F2P’ weapon since its passive can easily provide a 32% damage buff for her CA.
The weapon is only obtainable during the Midsummer Island Adventure event.

Talent

C0-C6

Normal Attack (NA) > Burst (Q) > Skill (E)

Yanfei’s entire kit is designed around her Charged Attacks so its no surprise that her NA will come above anything else.

Main stat and substat

Sand: ATK% OR Elemental Mastery
Goblet: Pyro DMG
Circlet: Crit Rate / DMG

  1. Crit Rate / DMG
  2. ATK%
  3. Energy Recharge
  4. Elemental Mastery

Energy Recharge Requirements

  • Generally: ~130%

Generally it is not recommended to sacrifice substats for ER to use her Burst (Q) every rotation as it will lead to DPS loss. Yanfei’s exact ER requirements will depend greatly on her team’s composition and gear.

In some cases Yanfei may opt to never cast her Burst, like when using 4-Piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence or when acting as a Transformative Reaction DPS who does not rely on her Burst’s buffs.

Constellation

C 1> C4 > C6

Teams

Yanfei

Vape:
Yanfei / Xingqiu / Furina / Bennett

Yanfei
Chevreuse

Overload:
Yanfei / Chevreuse C6 / Fischl / Bennett

Yanfei
Nahida

Burgeon:
Yanfei / Nahifa / Yelan / Kokomi