Ah, Ganyu – that elegant Cryo archer who's been melting hearts (and enemies) in Genshin Impact since her debut. If you're debating between her Melt setup for those massive single-target nukes or Freeze for crowd control and AoE dominance, you're in the right spot. Melt cranks up her Charged Shots with a 2x multiplier through Reverse Melt, making it a boss-killer's dream. Freeze, on the other hand, locks down groups with quadratic scaling and keeps them immobilized – perfect for mob-heavy scenarios. You'll need Pyro supports like Xiangling for Melt, while Freeze thrives with Hydro and Anemo units such as Kokomi and Venti. And hey, mark your calendars: her official rerun hits the Version 5.3 Chronicled Wish Banner from January 21 to February 11, 2025.
Diving into Ganyu's World
Meet Ganyu: Genshin's Cryo Powerhouse
Picture this: at level 90, Ganyu's rocking 9797 HP, 335 ATK, 630 DEF, and a hefty 88.4% CRIT DMG. Her Normal Attack? It dishes out 128% Cryo DMG on the arrow and a whopping 218% AoE on the Bloom at talent level 1 – and get this, no internal cooldown means reactions can chain like crazy. To ascend her, you'll farm 168 Qingxin flowers, Shivada Jade (that's 1 Sliver, 9 Fragments, 9 Chunks, and 6 Gemstones), 46 Hoarfrost Cores, plus Whopperflower Nectars (18 basic, 30 Shimmering, 36 Energy), all topped off with 420,000 Mora. For talents up to level 10, grab Diligence books (9 Teachings, 63 Guides, 114 Philosophies), more Whopperflower Nectars (18, 66 Shimmering, 93 Energy), 18 Shadow of the Warrior drops, 3 Crowns of Insight, and a cool 4,957,500 Mora. It's a grind, but she's worth it.
Breaking Down Melt and Freeze Basics
So, what's the deal with these reactions? Melt amps things up with a 2x damage multiplier in Reverse Melt mode, supercharging Ganyu's 128% arrow and 218% Bloom hits. Freeze flips the script by enabling quadratic scaling in her Burst – think tripling your damage against three clumped enemies, courtesy of 50 shards each packing 70% DMG. For Melt, Xiangling's Burst lays down the Pyro foundation; for Freeze, Kokomi applies Hydro without ICD (internal cooldown), and Venti groups 'em up tight.
Melt shines with higher peak DPS in single-target fights, squeezing in 6-7 reactions per rotation. Freeze? It's all about that AoE edge, plus a sweet +20-40% CRIT Rate from the 4pc Blizzard Strayer set.
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Getting a Grip on Melt Ganyu
The Mechanics Behind Melt Magic
Reverse Melt is where the fun starts – it slaps a 2x multiplier on her 128% arrow and 218% Bloom, no ICD in sight, so aim for 200+ EM (Elemental Mastery) to really pump those numbers. Pair it with Xiangling's Burst, and you're looking at 6-7 Melts per rotation. Easy enough, right?
Here's how I pull it off: Kick things off with off-field Pyro from Xiangling's Burst. Drop Ganyu's Skill for that handy taunt. Then unleash those Level 2 Charged Shots for a double Melt payoff. Boom – damage city.
Why Melt Feels So Rewarding
Melt really capitalizes on that 2x boost for about 90% of her damage from Charged Shots. With something like Hunter's Path, you hit 350-400 EM and snag +160% Charged DMG. In a Burnmelt variant with Nahida, you could rack up to 13 Melts – wild. I always push for EM Sands in Wanderer's Troupe for that 80 EM and 35% Charged Attack bump. (As an editor who's theorycrafted dozens of builds, I'd say this setup's a beast against bosses that won't freeze – pure satisfaction.)
High burst potential against non-freezable enemies. And EM scaling means you boost reactions without sweating ER (Energy Recharge) too much.
The Downsides? Yeah, They're There
But Melt isn't perfect – it demands 200%+ ER on Xiangling and basically skips Ganyu's Burst, ditching that AoE goodness. Throw in Burning with Nahida, and things get shaky if enemies disrupt the setup.
My go-to fix? Slot in Zhongli for unbreakable shields and RES shred. Rotation-wise: Pop the shield, Nahida's Skill, Xiangling's Burst, then Ganyu's shots. Keep cycles snappy at 10-15 seconds. It works wonders.
Exploring Freeze Ganyu's Chill Vibes
Freezing Enemies in Their Tracks
Freeze cranks your CRIT Rate by 20-40% via 4pc Blizzard Strayer, and against three grouped foes, her Burst triples damage with those 50 shards at 70% DMG each. Kokomi's no-ICD Hydro is a godsend, and Venti's grouping seals the deal.
Simple steps: Venti Burst to clump 'em. Slap on Hydro. Then Ganyu's Burst and Charged Shots do the rest. Effortless control.
The Upsides of Going Freeze
This build triples damage on three enemies, stacking +20% CRIT Rate from her passive and +15% from Cryo Resonance. Add Shenhe for Cryo RES shred, and you're flirting with 100% CRIT Rate in Mono Cryo teams – aim for 50-65% base. (In my view, as someone who's cleared Abyss with this, the immobilization is a game-changer; no more dodging interruptions mid-shot.)
AoE mastery in grouped fights. Keeps you safe and sound.
But Watch Out for These Freeze Flaws
Freeze flops against bosses that can't be frozen, tanking your CRIT uptime and forcing 110-170% ER. Sans Venti, that ER climbs to 140-170% in 16-second rotations, and Plunge attacks can trigger Shatter – annoying.
Counter it by going Mono Cryo for tough spots. Time your Anemo after Hydro. Favonius weapons shave off 10-15% ER needs. Smart tweaks make all the difference.
Head-to-Head: Melt vs. Freeze Damage
Crunching the Numbers on DPS
Based on community calcs and my own tests, Melt pulls ahead in single-target DPS thanks to that 2x on Charged Shots (her main 90% damage source). Freeze, though, can triple output against three clumped enemies via Burst at 149% per shard at level 10, fueled by +20-40% CRIT Rate.
Melt: 2x on both hits, plus 200+ EM for extra oomph. Freeze: That sweet triple on groups.
How They Perform in Real Scenarios
Take Abyss Floor 12 with a solo boss – Melt thrives in a Ganyu/Bennett/Xiangling/Zhongli squad, netting 6+ Melts. For mob waves, Freeze's Morgana team (Ganyu/Venti/Mona/Diona) delivers quadratic scaling that just scales up beautifully.
Switching? Assess enemies first. Test in Abyss: Melt for bosses, Freeze for packs. Tweak your teams accordingly. It's all about adaptation.
Weapon Choices That Make or Break Builds
Melt's Weapon MVPs
Hunter's Path is my top pick – 44.1% CRIT Rate, +12% Elemental DMG, and EM-based +160% Charged DMG at 350-400 EM. Alternatives like The First Great Magic at 1 stack or Amos' Bow with 0-1 stacks hold up.
Prioritize CRIT Rate for artifact freedom. That EM synergy? Chef's kiss for Melt.
Freeze's Standout Bows
Polar Star nails it with 33.1% CRIT Rate and ATK stacks, meshing perfectly with 4pc Blizzard Strayer. Or go The First Great Magic (608 Base ATK, 66.2% CRIT DMG, +16% Charged ATK) or Aqua Simulacra for ranged bonuses.
High CRIT for Frozen foes. ATK stacks boost Burst play nicely.
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Budget-Friendly F2P Options
For Melt, R5 Hamayumi gives 55.1% ATK and +32% Normal/+24-48% Charged at full Energy. Freeze loves R5 Prototype Crescent's 510 Base ATK and +36% ATK on weak spots.
Melt: Hamayumi's Energy-free boosts. Freeze: Crescent as a solid craftable starter.
Artifacts: The Build Backbone
Melt's Artifact Sweet Spots
4pc Wanderer's Troupe hands out 80 EM and +35% Charged Attack DMG – ideal. Mix in 4pc Shimenawa's Reminiscence or 4pc Gilded Dreams (+230 EM) if needed.
Start with EM Sands to hit 200. Cryo DMG Goblet, CRIT Rate/DMG Circlet. Subs: EM > CRIT > ATK%.
Freeze's Set Essentials
4pc Blizzard Strayer? +15% Cryo DMG and +20-40% CRIT Rate against Frozen – core. Or blend 2pc Cryo DMG% with ATK% pieces.
Minimize CRIT overcap via subs. Hone in on ATK%/CRIT DMG.
Stats and Subs to Chase
Melt prioritizes EM (to 200) > CRIT > ATK% in a 1:2 ratio. Freeze: ER (110-170%) > CRIT DMG ≥ ATK% > CRIT Rate, targeting 50-65% Rate.
Melt subs: EM, CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%. Freeze: ATK%, CRIT DMG/Rate, ER.
Teaming Up for Success
Melt Teams That Click
Premium lineup: Ganyu/Xiangling/Bennett/Zhongli for 6+ Melts, buffs, and shields. Try Ganyu/Bennett/Nahida/Dehya for Burnmelt flair. F2P? Ganyu/Xiangling/Bennett/Layla works fine.
Xiangling at C4+ for Pyro application, 200%+ ER. Bennett handles self-Pyro and heals.
Freeze Squads to Love
Premium: Ganyu/Shenhe/Kazuha/Kokomi for Cryo amps, grouping, and Hydro. Classic Morgana: Ganyu/Venti/Mona/Diona. F2P: Ganyu/Barbara/Lynette/Diona.
Venti's ER refund shines in 15s rotations. Kokomi's no-ICD Hydro ensures uptime.
Synergy Hacks
Melt demands high-ER Pyro folks; Freeze benefits from double/triple Cryo for particles. Nahida buffs EM in Melt; Venti enables quadratic scaling in Freeze.
Test in Abyss. Tweak ER with Favonius. Shenhe? A must for Freeze if you have her.
Constellations and Talents: Leveling Up
How They Amp Melt
C1 drops Cryo RES by 15% and regenerates 2 Energy per shot. C6 lets you spam uncharged shots for speedy DPS.
C6 pairs with C2 for up to 3 quick shots. Talents: Max Normal > Skill, skip Burst.
Freezing with Constellation Boosts
C4 ups DMG taken in Burst AoE by +5-25%. C1 helps ER with regen.
Prioritize Normal ≥ Burst > Skill. C1/C4 enhance Burst focus.
Smart Talent Upgrades
For Melt, pump Normal (90% damage) > Skill; ignore Burst. Freeze: Normal ≥ Burst > Skill to Lv.6.
Farm domains weekly. Normal first for Melt. C5 adds +3 to Skill levels – handy.
Dodging Pitfalls and Pro Tips
Myths That'll Trip You Up
Don't waste time on Burst in Melt – 90% of your damage comes from Charged Shots anyway. And Freeze? It crumbles against non-freezable bosses, slashing CRIT uptime.
Myth busted: Melt doesn't need Burst; shots rule. Freeze isn't one-size-fits-all – Mono Cryo for bosses.
Sharpening Your Edge
In Melt, lock in 6+ reactions with shields; Freeze uses Favonius to cut ER by 10-15%. Keep Melt rotations at 10-15s, Freeze at 15-20s.
Calculate ER precisely: 110-130% for Freeze with Venti. Farm Wanderer's for Melt, Blizzard for Freeze. Use Skill dash for positioning in Melt.
Knowing When to Flip Styles
Boss heavy? Melt with Bennett/Xiangling. Mobs? Freeze via Venti/Kokomi. Mono Cryo hybrids bridge the gap.
Weigh your teams. Check enemy freeze-ability. Boss content screams Melt; mobs beg for Freeze.
Wrapping It Up: Pick Your Ganyu Path
What Suits Your Style?
Melt's for you if single-target DPS with Pyro teams and tight timings gets your blood pumping. Freeze offers comfy AoE with Anemo/Hydro supports and that sweet lockdown. (From my strategist perch, if you've got Shenhe, Freeze feels like cheating – but that's just my take.)
Access to 5-stars matters (Shenhe boosts Freeze hard). Content type: Bosses lean Melt, mobs favor Freeze.
My Final Picks
Go Melt for bosses with Wanderer's Troupe and Hunter's Path. Freeze for groups using Blizzard Strayer and Polar Star. She's C0 viable; snag C1 for versatility in both.