Crits in Genshin Impact: how crit chance and critical damage work

Critical Damage and Critical Hit Chance Genshin Impact - one of the character indicators on which the damage they inflict depends. In this article, we will examine these two concepts in detail and find out which heroes need crits, as well as what their ratio is optimal.

What is crit chance and critical damage

These terms are inseparably related: crit chance determines the likelihood with which a character will deal a critical hit.

Critical damage is additional damage to the hero's full attack power.

Conventionally speaking, with a ShK of 70% and a KU of 130%, in 10 hits a fighter can inflict increased damage 7 times, equal to the full damage of the attack multiplied by (1+130%).

You can find out these characteristics of your specific hero in the character menu, in the “Details” tab. For most characters (not counting Sangonomiya Kokomi), ShK and KU at level 1 are 5% and 50%, respectively.

Critmass and Crit Factor

These concepts were created by players to evaluate artifacts in the case of critical mass and the entire character in the case of critical factor.

To see the crit indicators of artifacts specifically, go to the appropriate tab and click “Details”. Bonuses from artifact sets (Blizzard Strayer, Berserker) are not taken into account here.

The formula for critical mass is as follows:

ShK*2 + KU

The critical factor is calculated using the following formula:

1 + KU*SHK

It characterizes the effectiveness of your hero's crit ratio. To calculate the approximate damage your Achievement: Hero will deal per critical hit, use this formula:

x * (1+KU*ShK), where x is a non-crit strike

How to balance crit chance and damage

The generally accepted ratio of ShK and KU is 1:2, that is, the percentage damage should be twice the chance.

It is worth adhering to this proportion up to 100% ShK. It is useless to increase this parameter further, so if you suddenly reach this number, you can completely focus on CG. However, the ratio may be violated depending on the specific character - we will talk about this a little later.

Getting 100% in the Shk stat can be extremely difficult, so 75–80% can be considered optimal numbers, and the rest can be achieved through external factors.

This balance is aimed at increasing the average damage of the hero - that is, the arithmetic average of all his hits and, as a result, the total damage. Let's look at an example.

A Achievement: Hero with stats of 40.4%/85% more or less fits the 1:2 standard. For the purity of the experiment, he does not receive any bonuses from artifacts, weapons or from the outside; we are testing physical damage.

The damage from a normal attack, as we see, is 683, from a critical hit – 1264. Let’s calculate the arithmetic average for the conditional 10 attacks, of which 4 are critical:

(683*6 + 1264*4) / 10 = 915

Now let's change the balance towards the CG, creating an approximate ratio of 1:3. Normal damage has not changed, critical damage has become higher - 1343.

However, now statistically out of 10 hits only 3.3 will be critical, therefore the average damage is:

(683*6.7 + 1343*3.3) / 10 = 900

The difference may seem small, since we initially have small indicators in both cases, but it is still noticeable - when the balance was disrupted 1:2, the average damage became lower.

Turning to the critical factor formula, we note similar results:

683*(1+40%*85%) = 915

683*(1+33%*96%) = 899

We advise you not to get hung up on the subtleties and remember that the critical factor and critical mass are not decisive for the hero’s damage. They do not take into account the possibility of getting critical hits from outside and, in general, are only components of one large damage formula, consisting of a bunch of other indicators. Huge crits are useless without sufficient attack power or other indicators that affect the character's damage. Some people don’t need crits at all - for many supports/healers, other parameters that increase their buffs or healing effectiveness are much more important.

Which characters should I get crits?

Basically, the main damage dealers need high numbers of ShK and KU. Fortunately, many DPS have one of these stats increasing with elevation, so you can focus your build on the second stat.

So, when fully ascended, the following heroes gain an additional 38.4% CP:

Critical hit chance increases by 19.2% for the following heroes:

Arataki Itto
Diluc
Yelan
Yoimiya
Lyney
Wanderer
Xiao
Furina
Yae Miko

A special situation arises with Cryo heroes ( Kamisato Ayaka, Ganyu ) – they are able to get a +40% chance from the “Blizzard Strayer” set, another 15% from Cryo Resonance and no more than 15% from Rosaria’s passive; Ganyu passive also gives her 20% HP for 5 seconds after the shot. Thus, these characters receive a huge bonus to their crit chance from the outside, which allows us to fully focus on KU in artifacts and when choosing weapons; for them, if all these conditions are met, an indicator of 20-40% ShK will be sufficient.

Now let's talk about supports. For the most part, they do not need large ShK and KU, and their skills are based on other indicators (HP, VE, MS, and so on). The exception is Rosaria and carriers of weapons from the Favonia line. The nun from Mondstadt distributes ShK to the rest of the squad in the amount of 15% of her crit chance, so this indicator should be high. Characters with Favonius weapons create additional elemental particles on critical hits, so they also need a high HP.

Finally, some characters receive bonuses from critical hits, so the more often they crit, the better. This is Yanfei (additional area attack), Xinyan (+ attack speed on C1) and again Rosaria (+ attack speed and damage on C1, + 5 units of energy on C4).

How to increase crit chance and damage

As we noted earlier, these parameters can be increased with the help of equipment and external means. Let's consider all the methods.

Artifacts

Both indicators can be found in the substats of any element of the set; in the main stats - only in the crown of reason. The maximum you can get in substats on one artifact is 46.62% CP or 23.34% HC, in the main stat - 62.2% CP and 31.1% HC.

Some artifact sets also provide crit bonuses:

Resolution of Sojourner (3-4 stars) – 4 pieces: +30% HQ to charged attack
Berserker (3-4 stars) – 2 pieces: +12% ShK; 4 pieces: +24% HP when HP is below 70%
Blizzard Strayer (4-5 stars): 4 pieces: +20% HK against enemies with Cryo effect; another +20% HQ if the enemy is frozen
Marechaussee Hunter: 4 pieces: +12% Shk when HP level changes; the effect stacks up to 3 times and lasts 5 seconds

Weapon

There are many weapons of all types in the game that have crits in their main stats or increase them with the help of a passive.

One-handed

Harbinger of Dawn (3 stars): CV 10.2–46.9%; CC for CP > 90% – 14-28%
Royal Longsword (4 stars): when damaging an enemy +8% HP; can stack up to 5 times, but stacks are reset on the first critical hit
Blackcliff Longsword (4 stars): 8-36.8% CG
The Black Sword (4 stars): 6-27.6% HK
Wolf-Fang (4 stars): 6-27.6% HQ; when an E-shka or ult hits an enemy, +2% Shk to the skill or ult (the effects act independently, can stack up to 4 times)
Carrier Flev Sandr (4 stars): +8-16% HC of elemental skill
Skyward Blade (5 stars): 4-8% HQ
Primordial Jade Cutter (5 stars): 9.6-44.1% HQ
Mistsplitter Reforged (5 stars): 9.6-44.1% CU
Haran Geppaku Futsu (5 stars): 7.2-33.1% HK
Light of Foliar Incision (5 stars): 19.2-88.2% CL, 4-8% CL
Still Waters Shine (5 stars): 19.2-88.2% CL

Two-handed

Royal Greatsword (4 stars): +8-16% HP when hitting an enemy; the effect stacks up to 5 times and is reset with the first critical hit
Serpent Spine (4 stars): 6-27.6% HQ
Blackcliff Slasher (4 stars): 12-55.1% CU
Lithic Blade (4 stars): +3% Shk for each hero from Liyue in the squad
Talking Stick (4 stars): 4-18.4% HQ
Redhorn Stonethresher (5 stars): 19.2-88.2% CI
Reed Sea Lighthouse (5 stars): 7.2-33.1% HK

Spears

White Tassel (3 stars): 5.1-23.4% HK
Deathmatch (4 stars): 8-36.8% HK
Blackcliff Pole (4 stars): 12-55.1% CU
Royal Spear (4 stars): +8-16% HP when hitting an enemy; the effect stacks up to 5 times and is updated with each crit. blow
Lithic Spear (4 stars): +3% Shk for each hero from Liyue in the squad
“The Catch” (4 stars): +6-12% HP of ultimate attack
Ballad of the Fjords (4 stars): 6-27.6% HK
Skyward Spine (5 stars): 8-16% HQ
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear (5 stars): 4.8-22.1% HQ
Staff of Homa (5 stars): 14.4-66.2% CU
Staff of Staff of the Scarlet Sands (5 stars): 9.6-44.1% HQ

Bows

Sharpshooter’s Oath (3 stars): 10.2-46.9% CU
Slingshot (3 stars): 6.8-31.2% HQ
Messenger (3 stars): 6.8-31.2% CG
The Viridescent Hunt (4 stars): 6-27.6% HK
Royal Bow (4 stars): +8-16% HP when hitting an enemy; the effect stacks up to 5 times and is updated with each crit. blow
Blackcliff Warbow (4 stars): 8-36.8% CP
Scion of the Blazing Sun (4 stars): 4-18.4% HK
Skyward Harp (5 stars): 4.8–22.1% HR; 20-40% CU
Aqua Simulacra (5 stars): 19.2-88.2% CU
Polar Star (5 stars): 7.2-33.1% HQ
Hunter’s Path (5 stars): 9.6-44.1% HK
Thundering Pulse (5 stars): 14.4-66.2% CU
The First Great Magic (5 stars): 14.4-66.2% CG

Catalysts

Twin Nephrite (3 stars): 3.4-15.6% HQ
Royal Grimoire (4 stars): +8-16% HP when dealing damage to an enemy; the effect stacks up to 5 times and is reset with the first critical hit
The Widsith (4 stars): 12-55.1% CU
Solar Pearl (4 stars): 6-27.6% HK
Blackcliff Agate (4 stars): 12-55.1% EC
Sacrificial Jade (4 stars): 8-36.8% HQ
Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5 stars): 7.2-33.1% HQ
Kagura’s Verity (5 stars): 14.4-66.2% CU
Tulaytullah’s Remembrance (5 stars): 9.6-44.1% CV
Tome of the Eternal Flow (5 stars): 19.2-88.2% CL
Cashflow Supervision (5 stars): 4.8-22.1% ShK

Elemental Resonance

Cryo resonance (requires 2 Cryo heroes in a squad) gives +15% to HP when attacking enemies under the Cryo effect or Freeze.

Dish

There is quite a lot of food in the game that can increase HK (and occasionally KU), but its effects are always temporary (300 seconds), so you will have to spend quite a lot of resources for a long battle. In addition, food cannot be used in Twisted Abyss, so keep this in mind when building your heroes.

2-star dishes add from 6 to 12% HK depending on quality. Special dishes from heroes add 16% HQ:

Satisfying Salad
Der Weisheit Letzter Schluss (Life): Mona's special variation of the previous dish
Jueyun Chili Chicken
Rocker chicken: a special variation of the previous dish from Xinyan
Masala Cheese Balls
Fontaine Aspic
Stone Harbor Delicacies
Radish and Fish Stew
Berry & Mint Burst: gives 16% to HQ, but is not a special dish (sold in the tavern)

3-star dishes add 10-20% HK. Special dishes give a 20% bonus to both ShK and CG:

"“Pile ‘Em Up”"
"“Once Upon a Time in Mondstadt”": Special previous dish from Diluc
Come and Get It
No Tomorrow: Qiqi 's special previous dish
Cured Pork Dry Hotpot
Baklava
Imported Poultry
Pate de Fruit
Cubic Tricks: Lyney 's special previous dish
Consomme
“Consomme Purete”: Nevillet's special previous dish
“Pure Water” (also gives a bonus of 320 ATK)

4-star dishes give a bonus of 6–10% HQ and a bonus to another indicator:

Meat "Tianshu": ShK and 25-45% physical. damage
Chicken Tofu Pudding: ShK and 224-320 ATK
"Jade Parcels": ShK and 224-320 ATK
Bountiful Year: ShK and 224-320 ATK
Tandoori Roast Chicken: ShK and 224-320 ATK
Meat Lovers’ Mushroom Pizza: ShK and 224-320 ATK
Super great pizza: ShK and 25-45% physical. damage
Sashimi Platter: ShK and 224-320 ATK
Chicken in a bubble: ShK and 25-45% physical. damage

The only legendary dish in the game - “Adeptus’ Temptation” - gives a bonus of 8-12% HK and 260-372 ATK.

Talents

Some characters increase crits for themselves or the entire squad using passive talents:

Ganyu : After a fully charged attack, gains +20% Shk to its damage
Keqing : activating the ult gives Keqing +15% ShK and VE for 8 seconds
Nahida: for each unit of MS above 200 gives bonus damage to E-shki and 0.03% to ShK (maximum 24%)
Rosaria: attacking with an E-shank from the back gives +12% Rosaria's HP for 5 seconds; Ulta distributes 15% of ShK from Rosaria's ShK to other allies
Wanderer: if the skill comes into contact with Cryo, gains +20% HQ
Hu Tao : after the end of the effect, E-shki distributes 12% Shk to allies for 8 seconds
Amber: +10% Ultimate Shk

Constellations

Quite a few heroes receive a large bonus to crits when they have constellations. True, this can be too expensive, so it is usually better to knock out a critical weapon rather than try to get several consts on a legendary hero. However, here are the characters that receive crits on certain constellations:

Alhaitham: on C6 +10% ShK and 70% KU at max. number of mirrors of light
Arataki Itto: at C6 +70% AC of charged attacks
Gorou: at C6 +10/20/40% of critical Geo damage of all team members after E-shki or ult
Dehya: on C6 +10% ShK ult; on a critical hit, the ult +15% KU
Kaeya: at C1 +15% HP of normal and charged attacks against enemies with Cryo effect
Lyney: on C2 every 2 seconds +20% CU (maximum 60%)
Mika: at C6 +60% critical physical. damage to the active hero under the influence of E-shka
Mona: at C4, hits by any squad member on an enemy with the Omen status give +15% ShK
Nahida: at C2, enemies affected by Seed Skandha can receive critical hits from reactions with Dendro; Reaction CL – 20%, CL – 100%
Nevillet : at C2 can get up to 42% CG; 14% for each level of Dragons' Past Glory
Nilou: at C6 +0.6% ShK and 1.2% KU for every 1000 units. Max. HP (maximum 30% and 60% respectively)
Traveler (Geo): on C1 +10% HK for squad members within the range of the ult
Wriothesley : at C6 receives +10% ShK and +80% AC of a charged attack
Razor: at C2 +10% ShK against enemies with HP below 30%
Kujou Sara: at C6 +60% critical Electro damage to allies who received a bonus from E-shka
Xinyan: on C2 +100% SC physical. ultimate damage
Tighnari: on C1 +15% SC of charged attack
Faruzan: at C6 +40% KU to squad members who deal damage to Anemo under the influence of the ult
Freminet: on C1 +15% ShK E-shki; on C6 +12% CG after activating Freeze, Superconductor or “Broken”
Hu Tao : on C4 +12% ShK to allies after defeating an enemy who was under the influence of the Bloody Flower (one of the effects of the E-shka, which applies only to one enemy)
Shikanoin Heizou: at C6 +4% Shk E-shki for each level of Deviation (the effect of long pressing E-shki); at level 4 Deviations +32% CG
Shenhe: at C2 +15% critical Cryo damage to an active squad member located in the area of the ult
Yanfei: +20% HP of charged attack against enemies with HP below 50%