Images for thumbnail purposes
Intro
Long after Yanfei’s release in version 1.5, now we have Heizou to accompany her as a 4-star dedicated Main DPS. Will the detective be underwhelming like Yanfei, or will he make his way into the meta?
Conclusion
[Inserts infographic here]
Heizou’s best build is highly dependent on the number of enemies he’s fighting. He has different builds for single-target and multi-target.
Artifact Main Stat:
• Timepiece: ATK
• Goblet: Anemo DMG Bonus
• Circlet: Critical Rate or DMG
Artifact Set:
1. 4-Viridescent Venerer
2. 2-Viridescent Venerer + 2-ATK +18%
3. 2-Viridescent Venerer + 2-Wanderer’s Troupe
4. 2-Wanderer’s Troupe + 2-ATK +18%
5. 2-ATK +18% + 2-ATK +18%
Best Weapon:
1. Skyward Atlas
2. Lost Prayer of the Sacred Winds
3. Memory of Dust
4. The Widsith
5. Mappa Mare
6. Solar Pearl
7. Blackcliff Agate
Artifact Main Stat:
• Timepiece: Elemental Mastery (EM)
• Goblet: EM
• Circlet: EM
Artifact Set:
1. 4-Viridescent Venerer
2. 2-Wanderer’s Troupe + 2-ATK +18%
3. 2-Viridescent Venerer + 2-Wanderer’s Troupe
4. 2-Viridescent Venerer + 2-ATK +18%
5. 2-ATK +18% + 2-ATK +18%
Best Weapon:
1. Sacrificial Fragments
2. Skyward Atlas
3. The Widsith
4. Mappa Mare
5. Memory of Dust
6. Lost Prayer of the Sacred Winds
7. Solar Pearl
8. Blackcliff Agate
Elemental Skill
Has a Tap and Hold version. Both have the same damage and cooldown, so the Hold version is mainly there for Declension Stack.
Declension Stack (Max 4 Stacks)
• Obtained by using Hold Skill or by triggering Swirl reaction (every 0.1s).
• Each stack will grant bonus damage to Heizou's skill (additive to the Skill DMG multiplier).
• Generates 2-3 Elemental Particles depending on the Declension Stack.
• With 4 Stacks presence, Heizou's Skill will also deal Conviction DMG, enlarging the AoE of the attack and further increasing the DMG.
For comparison, here's what Heizou's Skill looks like with and without Declension and Conviction.
✦ Talent level 9 ✦
• Skill DMG without any Stacks = 368.8%
• Skill + 4 Declension + Conviction = 922%
On full power, Heizou’s Skill will deal 2.5x higher DMG than without any stack, so don’t underestimate the Declension count.
Elemental Burst
Hit the enemies with an Anemo attack.
If an enemy is affected with Hydro/Pyro/Cryo/Electro, they will get additional damage (Windmuster Iris). This damage will correspond with the Element they were affected with. Only one Windmuster Iris can be triggered on each enemy, maximum of four enemies.
1. Elemental Skill = Normal Attack
2. Elemental Burst
For Swirl Build, prioritize level over talents.
C1: For 5s after Shikanoin Heizou takes the field, his Normal Attack SPD is increased by 15%. He also gains 1 Declension stack for Heartstopper Strike. This effect can only be triggered once every 10s.
Priority: High
• This is the only Constellation you’d primarily want for DPS Heizou.
C2: The pull effect of the Arresting Windtunnel created by Windmuster Kick is enhanced, and its duration is increased to 1s.
Priority: ???
• I’m not entirely sure what this Constellation does at the moment. I’ll update this once I understand the importance of it.
C4: The first Windmuster Iris explosion in each Windmuster Kick will regenerate 9 Elemental Energy or Shikanoin Heizou. Every subsequent explosion in that Windmuster Kick will each regenerate an additional 1.5 Energy for Heizou. One Windmuster Kick can regenerate a total of 13.5 Energy for Heizou in this manner.
Priority: Medium to Low
• Heizou’s Burst only needs 40 Energy to be used, so this effect is rather negligible.
C6: Each Declension stack will increase the CRIT Rate of the Heartstopper Strike unleashed by 4% When Heizou Possesses Conviction, this Heartstopper Strike’s CRIT DMG is increased by 32%.
Priority: High
• Heizou’s C6 further enhances the damage of his Skill. Considering it deals a rather large damage, this effect is quite good.
Choosing the Artifact
Tested Sets:
1. 4-Viridiscent Venerer
2. 2-Viridescent + 2-Wanderer
3. 2-Viridescent + 2-ATK + 18%
4. 2-Wanderer + 2-ATK + 18%
Tested Main Stat:
1. ATK/Anemo/Crit
2. EM/Anemo/Crit
3. EM/EM/EM
Choosing the Weapon
Tested Weapons:
1. Skyward Atlas
2. Lost Prayer of the Sacred Winds
3. Blackcliff Agate
4. The Widsith
5. Mappa Mare
6. Solar Pearl
Simulation Assumptions
1. Shikanoin Heizou is level 90
2. Enemy is two level 90 Hilichurls, but the numbers will only show the damage to one enemy
3. Talent level 8/8/9 (I accidentally put the Burst as level 9 when taking screenshots lol)
4. Simulation is done assuming 3 NA sequences + 2 Skill casts + 1 Burst cast. Heizou will trigger 12 Swirls in the rotation (24 for multi-target)
• Note that Heizou may trigger other Elemental Reactions outside Swirl, but I won't include those here
Stat Overview
Just gonna put 4-Viridescent stat here
Damage Overview (Average Damage)
Simulation Overview
Assuming two Hilichurls are present, which will double the Swirl damage (Multi target scenario).
Result Overview
Here you’ll be able to see that EM/EM/EM is better for multi target scenario but worse against a single target.
Multi Target Scenario
Single Target Scenario
While I do have fun with Heizou, I feel like his damage is rather underwhelming. I can see him being included in some “fun” team compositions, but so far, I don’t think he’ll get too far in the meta.
As a main DPS, Heizou is easily overshadowed by top-tier damage dealers like Hu Tao and Ganyu, while as a sub DPS, he doesn't offer much except for an 80 EM bonus from his ascension passive. Anemo supports like Sucrose, Kazuha, and Venti are far better options as a sub DPS.
Are you having fun with Heizou?
Do you think Heizou is underwhelming?
Will Heizou be a meta character?
As usual, if you have any questions, corrections, or feedback, feel free to throw them in the comment!
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