DPS characters need 120-140% ER, sub-DPS require 160-200% ER, supports need 200%+ ER. Team batteries like Raiden Shogun reduce these requirements by 30-50%.
Look, I've been optimizing Genshin teams for years now, and nothing frustrates players more than having their burst ready... almost. You know that feeling—you're one particle short, your rotation falls apart, and suddenly your meta team is doing less damage than a Barbara main DPS comp.
Energy Recharge isn't the sexiest stat to talk about. It doesn't have the immediate gratification of CRIT Rate or the obvious appeal of ATK%. But here's the thing: it's probably the most important stat for team synergy that nobody wants to farm for.
Understanding Energy Recharge in Genshin Impact
What is Energy Recharge?
Energy Recharge multiplies energy gained from Elemental Particles and Orbs—think of it as an efficiency multiplier for your energy economy. Base 100% ER means you're getting standard energy gain; bump that up to 200% ER and you're doubling energy from each source.
What it doesn't affect? Flat energy sources like The Exile's 4-piece bonus. That energy comes through regardless of your ER investment.
Elemental Particles (at 100% ER):
On-field same element: 2.7 Energy
Off-field same element: 2.4 Energy
Different element: 0.9/0.8 Energy (on/off-field)
Elemental Orbs provide 3x particle energy—these are the chunky energy drops you get from elite enemies. Generic particles? They give consistent energy regardless of whether elements match.
Energy Generation Methods
Four primary energy sources keep your bursts flowing: Elemental Skills (your most reliable option), enemy HP thresholds (usually around 50%), defeating enemies, and character-specific mechanics. Most characters generate 2-4 particles per skill use, though some overachievers like Fischl basically print energy.
Elite enemies drop orbs instead of particles. This provides significantly more energy, which is why your ER requirements feel different in the overworld versus Spiral Abyss.
Calculating Your ER Requirements
Basic ER Formula
Here's where things get interesting. 80-cost bursts without a same-element battery? You're looking at 200%+ ER minimum. With a matching battery, this drops to 160-180%—still substantial, but manageable.
Characters with 40-60 cost bursts are much more forgiving at 120-140% ER. Electro resonance guarantees particle generation from reactions, which reduces dual-Electro team requirements by 20-30%. (Honestly, this is one of the most underrated resonances in the game.)
The funneling technique—switching to your energy-hungry character before particles arrive—provides triple energy from same-element particles. Master this, and you can reduce ER needs by 20-40%.
Team Composition Impact
Multiple same-element characters create a shared energy economy that benefits everyone. Battery characters like Fischl (0.67 particles per Oz attack) or Raiden (flat energy restoration) dramatically lower team needs.
Favonius weapons generate clear particles for the entire team with 60-100% chance on CRIT hits. Don't sleep on these—a well-built Favonius user can single-handedly solve your team's energy problems.
ER Requirements by Character Role
DPS Characters (120-140% ER)
Main DPS units spend most of their time on-field absorbing particles, so their ER requirements are typically the lowest. Burst-dependent DPS like Itto or Xiao need more careful energy management when they're the solo element on the team.
Skill-focused DPS like Hu Tao? They need minimal ER investment since their damage comes from other sources.
Sub-DPS Characters (160-200% ER)
Xiangling is the poster child for high ER requirements. She needs 200-220% ER without Bennett, dropping to 160-180% with a Pyro battery. Her 80-cost Pyronado and Guoba's unreliable particle generation make her the primary candidate for The Catch and Emblem of Severed Fate.
This is why Xiangling builds often look weird to new players—she's stacking ER like her life depends on it because, well, her damage rotation does.
Support Characters (200%+ ER)
Faruzan requires 250-300% ER before C6 due to her 80-cost burst and minimal self-generation. It's honestly painful, but necessary for consistent Anemo support.
Bennett needs 180-200% ER for reliable healing and ATK buffs. Support burst uptime is crucial for team function—there's no point in having a support who can't support consistently.
Meta Team ER Requirements
Raiden National
This team's energy economy is beautifully designed:
Raiden: 200-250% ER for damage scaling and battery function
Bennett: 140-160% ER
Xiangling: 130-150% ER
Xingqiu: 160-180% ER
Raiden's flat energy restoration (12.5-27.5 energy based on burst costs) enables these surprisingly low requirements for everyone else.
Freeze Teams
Ayaka freeze teams have relatively comfortable ER requirements:
Ayaka: 130-150% ER
Mona: 160-180% ER (her ER converts to Hydro DMG at 20% rate—neat bonus)
Venti: 160-180% ER
Multiple Cryo characters and Cryo resonance create an efficient energy economy.
Hu Tao Vape
Xingqiu carries the energy burden here: 200%+ ER without Sacrificial Sword. Adding Yelan helps drop this to 160-180% ER while providing additional Hydro application. Zhongli provides minimal energy generation, so don't count on him for particles.
Itto Mono Geo
Itto: 130-150% ER for his 70-cost burst
Gorou: 180-200% ER for consistent DEF buffs
Albedo's skill generates particles every 2 seconds via Transient Blossoms, improving the team's energy economy significantly
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Best ER Artifacts and Weapons
Emblem of Severed Fate
This set is basically designed for ER-hungry characters:
2-piece: 20% ER
4-piece: Burst DMG increases by 25% of ER (max 75% at 300% ER)
Perfect for Xiangling, Xingqiu, Yelan, Beidou, and Raiden. It converts a utility stat directly into damage—elegant design.
ER Sands provides 51.8% ER at level 20. Use these when your character can't burst off-cooldown with ATK% sands. ER substats provide 4.5-5.8% per roll, so you'll need multiple high-roll pieces to replace ER Sands entirely.
Weapon Recommendations
5-Star: Engulfing Lightning (55.1% ER, converts ER to ATK at 28-56% rate—Raiden's signature for good reason). Skyward Blade (55.1% ER, high base ATK).
4-Star: Favonius series weapons (30.6-61.3% ER, generates clear particles on CRIT). The Catch (45.9% ER, 16-32% Burst DMG bonus, completely F2P via fishing). Sacrificial weapons reset skill cooldowns for double particle generation.
Advanced Optimization
Funneling and Rotation
Use your support's skill, then immediately switch to your DPS before particles arrive. Same-element funneling provides triple energy—this technique alone can transform your rotations.
Optimal rotations use skills early for particle generation. Always account for enemy behavior and invincibility phases that can disrupt energy timing. Nothing's more frustrating than perfectly timed particles hitting during an enemy's immune phase.
Common Mistakes
Over-investing beyond needed ER provides diminishing returns. Build 20-30% higher ER for Spiral Abyss compared to overworld—Abyss enemies are stingier with particles.
Multiple Favonius weapons can reduce team ER requirements significantly. I've seen teams run triple Favonius and suddenly everyone's energy problems disappear.
Calculation Tools
'gcsim' simulator provides the most accurate ER calculations with full rotation simulation. It's technical, but worth learning if you're serious about optimization.
Community spreadsheets offer accessible calculations for common teams. For quick testing, use the Masanori dummy or run consistent domain clears to gauge your energy economy.
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FAQ
How much Energy Recharge do I need for Xiangling? 160-180% ER with Bennett battery, 200-220% ER without Pyro support. Use The Catch and Emblem of Severed Fate for optimal damage scaling. She's energy-hungry, but the investment pays off.
What's the optimal ER for Bennett in different teams? 140-160% ER in Raiden National, 180-200% ER in teams without batteries. His 60-cost burst and moderate particle generation make him relatively self-sufficient compared to other supports.
How does Raiden Shogun affect team ER requirements? She reduces team ER by 30-50% through flat energy restoration (12.5-27.5 energy based on burst costs). This allows teammates to focus on damage stats while maintaining burst uptime—it's why Raiden National works so well.
Which artifacts give the most Energy Recharge? Emblem of Severed Fate 2-piece (20% ER) plus damage scaling from the 4-piece. ER Sands provide 51.8% ER maximum. ER substats give 4.5-5.8% per roll, but good luck getting consistent high rolls.
How do I calculate Energy Recharge needs for my team? Compare energy generation per rotation versus burst costs. Factor in team batteries, elemental resonance, and funneling efficiency. Use gcsim for precision or community spreadsheets for common team calculations.
Do I need ER sands on support characters? Often yes, due to high energy requirements and limited field time. Characters with ER ascension stats or strong team batteries might function with ER substats alone, but don't count on it. Prioritize burst availability over damage for supports—a support who can't use their burst isn't supporting anyone.