Quick Take: Melt Ganyu cranks out massive single-target DPS through reverse melt reactions, hitting enemies with that sweet 1.5x Cryo multiplier—perfect for boss rushes. Freeze Ganyu, on the other hand, locks down crowds with perma-freeze for steady AoE damage, plus a handy 40% CRIT Rate boost from artifacts. Pair Melt with Pyro or Dendro buddies like Xiangling and Bennett; go Freeze with Hydro and Anemo crew such as Kokomi and Kazuha. Both setups demand about the same grind, but Freeze edges out for F2P folks. Oh, and heads up—Ganyu's banner drops January 21 to February 11, 2025, in Version 5.3. Don't sleep on it if you're building her.
Breaking Down Ganyu's Two Main Playstyles: The Nuts and Bolts
Ever wonder why Ganyu feels like two characters in one? Let's dive into what makes each version tick, starting with the basics.
Melt Ganyu Unpacked (All About Reverse Melt)
Picture this: You slap Cryo on foes with Ganyu's Frostflake Arrows, then follow up with Pyro to trigger reverse melt. That flips the script for a 1.5x multiplier on your Cryo damage. Builds here chase 200-300 EM to really make those reactions pop. Her Charged Attack L2? It dishes out 128% Cryo DMG plus a 218% Bloom AoE that can double up in double reactions—think Xiangling's Guoba keeping the heat on.
The flow goes like this: First, Nahida's Skill drops a Dendro mark to sustain Burning without fizzling out. Next, fire off Xiangling's Burst for that Pyro aura. Finally, unleash Ganyu's Charged Shot within 0.5 seconds of the Pyro hit. Nail it, and bosses melt away. (Missed a few? Yeah, I've been there—timing's everything.)
Freeze Ganyu Demystified (Perma-Freeze in Action)
Freeze Ganyu mixes Cryo and Hydro to straight-up freeze enemies in place, letting you spam Charged Attacks without a care. Her Burst scales quadratically, firing off 70% Cryo shards in AoE every 1.3 seconds for a full 15 seconds at 60 Energy cost. Artifacts kick in +40% CRIT Rate from Freeze, stacking with Ganyu's +20% passive and Cryo resonance for a solid 75% baseline. In a classic Morgana setup, Venti herds the mobs to max that 218% Bloom AoE splash.
Break it down: Start with Kokomi's Skill for Hydro application. Tap Ganyu's Burst to lay down the Cryo field. Then Kazuha's Burst swirls it all, shredding resistances like butter. It's crowd control heaven—enemies can't touch you.
Spotting the Big Differences Right Away
Melt hinges on nailing that 0.5-second Pyro window for the 1.5x boost; Freeze leans on status effects for those 40% CRIT Rate gains without any extra multipliers. Range-wise, Melt demands you get up close for Pyro setup, risking interrupts—yikes. Freeze? It freezes 'em solid, so you snipe safely from afar.
Scaling tells the tale too: Melt loves 80 EM from the 2pc Wanderer's Troupe; Freeze builds around 88.4% base CRIT DMG at Level 90. Pros for Melt? Over 200k single-target DPS in boss squads. Cons? A 30% dip if your timing's off. Freeze shines with quadratic scaling against five-plus targets, but it flops hard versus Cryo-immune bosses. Based on KQM data dives, that's the real split.
If you're itching to level up your Genshin game with some fast resource top-ups, check out buy Genshin Impact crystals on BitTopup. Their competitive prices and instant delivery mean you can snag pulls for supports like Xiangling on the spot—no waiting around. Plus, secure transactions and 24/7 support make it a no-brainer for smooth sailing.
Crunching the Numbers: How Melt and Freeze Stack Up in DPS
The Max Potential (With the Math Behind It)
Melt Ganyu hits her stride with 1.5x reverse melt on those Frostflake Arrows—tack on 200 EM for an extra 20% reaction damage atop the 128% base Cryo. Freeze sticks to a 1x multiplier but counters with 40% CRIT Rate for a 60% baseline CRIT rate, pushing past 200k DPS. Double reactions in Melt? That nets a total 3x amp via Pyro self-melt. Hunter's Path throws in 48% Elemental DMG Bonus, turning a 100k base shot into 225k post-melt.
To figure it: Add 200 EM plus the 1.5x for Melt, factor in 75% CRIT for Freeze, and run tests through KQM tools. It's not just theory—I've seen these ceilings in practice.
Real-World DPS: What Happens in the Heat of Battle
In actual fights, Melt pulls 150-250k DPS on solo targets like Ruin Guards, thanks to Xiangling's Pyro uptime in seven-minute Abyss clears. Freeze holds steady at 120-200k AoE against hordes, with those 70% shards dropping every 1.3 seconds. Get reverse melt under 0.5 seconds? That's a 15% efficiency bump. Pair Ganyu with Bennett, and you melt bosses 20% quicker than Freeze ever could.
Keep it tight: Time your Pyro just before the Charged Shot, watch CRITs via Freeze uptime, and aim for 120% ER. Dodges happen, but these numbers hold up.
Single-Target Power vs. AoE Mayhem
Melt dominates single-target gigs, like Suanni bosses, with laser-focused bursts. Freeze? It owns AoE through that 218% Bloom splash and quadratic shards against five or more mobs. Data shows Melt shaving 10-15% off single-phase clears; Freeze skips the repositioning hassle entirely.
Pro tip: Melt for boss rooms, swap to Freeze for wave after wave. Toss in Furina for those Fanfare buffs, and you're golden.
Keeping Damage Steady and Predictable
Freeze locks in 90% uptime by pinning enemies down—no more 20-30% DPS bleed from their dodges. Melt? It can dip to 70% if Pyro fizzles. C1 gives 15% Cryo RES shred, lifting both by 10-15%. Zhongli's shields keep Melt from crumbling under pressure.
Stay on top: Shields first for Melt, constant Hydro for Freeze, and log your combats to track it all.
Gear Up Right: Top Artifact Sets for Each Style
Wanderer's Troupe: Melt Ganyu's Go-To (And Why the Stats Matter)
That 4pc Wanderer's Troupe? It hands over +80 EM from the 2pc and +48% Charged DMG based on EM for your 1.5x melts. Go Sands in ATK% or EM, Goblet Cryo DMG, Circlet CRIT DMG. Substats? CRIT DMG over CRIT Rate, then EM, ATK%. Hitting 200-300 EM amps reactions by 25%—game-changer.
Farm the Emblem domain, shoot for a 50/200 CRIT ratio, and test melts in training. (As an editor who's stared at resin sinks too long, this set's a grind, but worth it for the payoff.)
Blizzard Strayer: Freeze Ganyu's CRIT Machine
4pc Blizzard Strayer delivers +15% Cryo DMG from 2pc and +20% CRIT Rate against Cryo-affected (doubling to +40% on frozen), pushing you to 80%+ CRIT with passives alone. Sands ATK%, Goblet Cryo DMG, Circlet CRIT DMG. Subs: CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > ATK% > ER. It stacks toward near-100% CRIT for 200k+ DPS bursts.
Hit the Peak of Vindagnyr domain, cap CRIT Rate at 80%, and mix with 2pc ATK% if needed. Efficiency? Top-tier.
Other Artifact Picks (Like Shimenawa's or Gladiator's)
For Melt hybrids, 4pc Unfinished Reverie sneaks in EM on reactions. Budget Freeze? 2pc Blizzard plus 2pc ATK%. Shimenawa's pumps Charged DMG by 50% after Burst, but it's 20% less optimal overall. Low-EM Melt setups work here too.
Swap Gladiator's for pure Cryo teams, and refine those subs relentlessly.
Main Stats and Subs: How They Differ
Melt screams for EM Sands to hit 200+ total; Freeze wants ATK% Sands to fuel CRIT. Subs shift: Melt EM > ATK%; Freeze CRIT > ER at 110-130%. Her low base HP (9797 at Lvl 90) means Melt needs shields bad.
Lock in Goblet Cryo DMG first, cap ER at 120%, and run an optimizer for perfect ratios.
For steady progress without the hassle, BitTopup's your reliable Genshin Impact top up site—crystals land in under five minutes, rates up to 20% below market, full HoYoverse compliance, region-wide support, killer after-sales, and a 4.9/5 user score for zero-stress recharges.
Bow Picks: Arming Ganyu for Melt or Freeze Success
5-Star Showdown (Amos' Bow, Aqua Simulacra, Thundering Pulse)
Amos' Bow (608 ATK, 49.6% ATK%) piles on 12% Aimed DMG plus 8% per 0.1s in flight (up to 48%)—ideal for Freeze's long-range sniping. Hunter's Path (542 ATK, 22.1% CRIT Rate) builds 48% Elemental DMG Bonus, suiting Melt's needs. Aqua Simulacra (542 ATK, 88.2% CRIT DMG) adds +16% DMG against low-HP targets for either style. Amos' can juice Freeze Charged shots by 30% at distance.
Refine Amos' to R1 for Freeze, grab Hunter's for Melt CRIT pops, and always test on weak points.
Solid 4-Star Choices (Prototype Crescent, Hamayumi)
Prototype Crescent (510 ATK, 41.3% ATK%) gives +36% ATK on weak points—F2P gold for Freeze. Hamayumi (crafted, 41% CRIT Rate) amps Charged Attacks for Melt boss hunts. R5 Crescent holds its own against 5-stars in AoE scenarios.
Craft that Hamayumi, nail weak points with Crescent, and push to +20 upgrades.
Making It Work on a Budget
At C0, Crescent shines for close-range Freeze or Hamayumi for Melt without weak points. 5-stars bump DPS 15-20%. Refine smart, slot Skyward Harp for mono-Cryo, and skip low-stamina bows.
How Weapons Play Out Across Styles
Freeze loves Amos' max +48% stacks; Melt vibes with Hunter's EM focus. Hamayumi edges Crescent by 10% in Melt bursts. Match your team's range, calc base ATK, and swap for Abyss tweaks.
Squad Building: Teams That Make Melt Ganyu Sing
The Classic Melt Core: Ganyu, Bennett, Xiangling, Zhongli
Xiangling dishes off-field Pyro with Guoba and Burst; Bennett heals, buffs ATK, and adds +15% from Pyro resonance; Zhongli shields and shreds RES. That Pyro aura? It unlocks 1.5x melts every time. This crew clears Abyss Floor 12 in six minutes flat.
Run it: Zhongli's Skill for shield. Nahida's mark (or Collei as alt). Xiangling's Skill plus Burst for Pyro. Ganyu's Charged Arrows seal the deal.
Melt Twists (With Kazuha or Sucrose)
Try Ganyu, Xiangling, Dehya, Bennett—Dehya keeps Pyro safer. Kazuha brings VV shred and EM swirls. F2P swap: Ganyu, Xiangling, Barbara, Diona for a Hydro twist.
Sucrose handles VV, time Guoba before arrows, and keep Bennett's Burst fresh.
What Supports You Need (And Swaps)
Pyro's key (Xiangling over Dehya), shields mandatory (Zhongli beats Bennett C6), and Nahida for Burning sustain. Grab 'em from banners, level Xiangling to 80, and pump sub-DPS ER to 200%.
Melt Rotation Rundown
Shield with Zhongli's Skill. Mark via Nahida. Pyro from Xiangling's Skill and Burst. Nahida Burst for EM share. Ganyu Burst, Skill, then Charged Frostflakes. Skip her Burst if it's dicey—20-second cycles hit 80% uptime.
Squad Building: Teams That Lock in Freeze Ganyu
The Iconic Morgana: Ganyu, Mona, Venti, Diona
Venti clumps AoE fodder; Mona amps Hydro with Omen; Diona shields and feeds particles for endless Freeze. Quadratic Burst clears hordes 25% faster—pure chaos control.
Sequence: Diona's E. Ganyu's E then Q. Venti's E and Q. Mona's Q and E. Back to Ganyu's Charged.
Fresh Freeze Takes (Kokomi, Kazuha, Shenhe)
Ganyu, Shenhe, Kazuha, Kokomi: Shenhe pumps Cryo and ATK; Kazuha shreds; Kokomi heals and Freezes. Furina slots in for Fanfare stacks.
Kick off with Ganyu's Q. Skill taunt. Kazuha Burst. Kokomi Skill. Shenhe Burst and Skill. Ganyu Arrows.
F2P Freeze on a Dime
Ganyu, Barbara, Sucrose, Rosaria: Rosaria shares CRIT; Sucrose VV swirls. Barbara's E for Hydro, Rosaria Burst, Ganyu's Q, Sucrose Skill, then Charged shots.
Freeze Rotation Essentials
Ganyu's Burst first. Skill taunt. Kazuha's Burst and Skill. Kokomi Skill. Shenhe Burst and Skill. Ganyu's Charged. Venti refreshes; weave Skill after Charged for 10% DPS lift.
Resource Breakdown: How Much Grind for Each?
Artifact Hunt: The Resin Toll
Both styles eat about 300 resin—Wanderer's Troupe from the EM domain, Blizzard overlapping with other Cryo gear. Subs take 50-100 runs to dial in.
Focus 5-stars, chug food buffs, and prioritize Melt's EM if you're splitting time.
Getting the Characters (Those Tricky 5-Stars)
Melt grabs Xiangling free, Bennett via starglitter, Zhongli or Nahida from banners. Freeze needs limited pulls like Kokomi or Venti. Ganyu's on that January 21-February 11, 2025 banner.
Save for reruns, lean on F2P like Barbara.
Constellation Impact
C0 works fine for both. C1? ★★★ value with 15% Cryo RES shred and +2 Energy per arrow—bumps damage 10-15%. C4 adds 25% Burst DMG on multi-target.
Pull C1 if you can, skip C6, test the DPS delta.
Full Cost Rundown
Ascension: 168 Qingxin, 46 Hoarfrost Cores, 420k Mora. Talents: 9/63/114 Diligence books, 18 Shadow of the Warrior, 5M Mora. Weekly Childe boss grind.
Farm Jueyun Karst, spread over 2-3 weeks, refresh resin smart.
Weighing It Out: Melt vs. Freeze Pros and Cons
Why Melt Ganyu Wins (Peak Damage, Versatility)
That 1.5x multiplier? Highest single-target DPS around. It flexes into Vaporize or Burning with Hydro/Dendro swaps. And it supercharges your team via Xiangling's output.
Melt's Downsides (Tricky Execution, Stamina Drains)
0.5-second timing can cost 20% DPS. Close-range play begs for shields. Shields block it without shatter—frustrating.
Freeze Ganyu's Strengths (Reliable, Easy Mode, Killer CC)
Immobilize for safe AoE farming. Caps at 75% baseline CRIT. ★★★★★ meta pick for beginners—comfortable as heck. (Editor's take: If you're new, this is your safety net.)
Where Freeze Falls Short (Foe Limits, Rigid Teams)
Useless against Cryo-immune like Ruin Guards. Hydro locks you in. 1x multiplier caps boss potential.
Pitfalls to Dodge: Common Slip-Ups and Fixes
Melt Traps (EM Overload, Botched Rotations)
Pushing >300 EM? Wasted subs—cap at 200-250 with Hunter's Path for CRIT focus. Ditch Burst up close; Charged after Pyro instead. Time that 0.5s pre-release, add Zhongli, ER at 120-140%.
Freeze Fumbles (CRIT Waste, Hydro Hiccups)
Over 80% CRIT Rate? Pointless—Blizzard handles it, prioritize DMG. Lead with Kokomi to keep Hydro flowing. Skip Geo to avoid shatters, hold 110% ER, Venti for extra CC.
ER Blunders Across the Board
Aim 110-130% for both; Melt needs more sans C1. Favonius on supports, Skill for particles. C1's +2 Energy per arrow helps, Diona in Freeze, menu-check often.
Squad Mistakes
Melt without shields? Disaster—Zhongli mandatory. Freeze sans Anemo? Add Kazuha. Verify synergies, level supports to 80, rotation-test everything.
Abyss Domination: Where Each Shines
Floors That Love Melt
Single-target Floor 12 bosses like Suanni? Melt clears under seven minutes with Bennett battery. Ganyu plus Xiangling wrecks Ruin Graders. Pyro apply for melts, Hamayumi on non-weak points, chase those 9-stars.
Floors Built for Freeze
Horde waves, anti-gravity packs—Freeze CCs for 9-star sweeps. Morgana's perma-Freeze owns Floor 12's back half. Kazuha groups, shields against shatter, quadratic Burst for mob piles.
Boss Battles: Head-to-Head
Melt's 20% faster on pure DPS checks; Freeze handles immune/add phases better. R5 Proto Crescent keeps F2P viable. Melt for checks, Freeze for exploration, hybrid with Furina.
2025 Abyss Vibes
Both hold strong post-5.3—Melt pairs with Natlan's Mavuika, Freeze with Shenhe amps. Rotate quarterly, pull Ganyu in January 2025, optimize for 36 stars.
Your Call: Melt or Freeze? A Simple Guide
Go Melt If...
You've got Pyro/Dendro like Xiangling, Bennett, Nahida. Crave boss DPS bursts. Shields on deck (Zhongli). F2P with Hamayumi ready.
Pick Freeze If...
Hydro/Anemo stocked (Kokomi, Venti, Kazuha). Hordes demand safe AoE. Low EM, easy CRIT builds suit you. New account? Comfort first.
Running Both? (Swapping Sets)
Totally—farm dual Wanderer's and Blizzard, inventory-swap easy. C0 fine, Furina hybrids work. Both domains, mono-Cryo filler, Abyss tests.
Future Buddies to Watch
Melt: Emilie for Burning synergy. Freeze: Ayaka double Cryo. Both love C6 Bennett buffs. Hoard primos for 2025 banners, track meta shifts, quarterly team tweaks.
FAQ
Which Ganyu style hits harder?
Melt tops 250k+ single-target DPS via 1.5x reverse melt in Ganyu + Xiangling + Bennett + Zhongli squads—boss killers. Freeze pushes 200k+ AoE with 40% CRIT Rate and quadratic Burst for crowds. Melt for speed clears; Freeze for steady wins.
Is Melt tougher to master than Freeze?
Yep—Melt's 0.5s Pyro timing and close risks can tank 20% DPS. Freeze's immobilization forgives everything for safe plays. Rotations overlap, but Melt demands Zhongli shields.
Artifacts for Melt Ganyu?
4pc Wanderer's Troupe: +80 EM, +48% Charged DMG from EM; Sands ATK%/EM, Goblet Cryo DMG, Circlet CRIT DMG. Subs: CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > EM (200-300). Alt: 4pc Unfinished Reverie. Emblem farm, 120% ER cap.
Artifacts for Freeze Ganyu?
4pc Blizzard Strayer: +15% Cryo DMG, +40% CRIT Rate vs. frozen; Sands ATK%, Goblet Cryo DMG, Circlet CRIT DMG. Subs: CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate (80% cap) > ATK% > ER (110-130%). Budget: 2pc + 2pc ATK%. Peak of Vindagnyr grind.
Best F2P Ganyu team?
Freeze's Morgana (Ganyu + Mona + Venti + Diona) or budget (Barbara + Sucrose + Rosaria) leans on free/events and shared gear. Melt with free Xiangling + Bennett + Diona needs Hamayumi. Both C0 beasts; Freeze nails AoE easier.
Constellations needed for either?
C0 rocks both; Normal Attack talent's ★★★★★ must. C1 (★★★) brings 15% Cryo RES shred +2 Energy/arrow for +10-15% damage. C4 ups multi-target Burst. Pull in the January 21-February 11, 2025 banner if you can—F2P, skip ahead.