Building Hu Tao for Vaporize Dominance
Hu Tao, the Ghost of the Guili Plains, is a powerful Pyro Polearm user who excels at dealing massive damage with her Elemental Skill, "Guide to Afterlife." While she can be built in a variety of ways, a Vaporize-focused build maximizes her potential and allows her to melt enemies with fiery fury. Let’s dive into the best artifacts and strategies to make Hu Tao a Vaporize powerhouse!
Artifact Set: The Foundation of Your Build
Two artifact sets reign supreme for Vaporize Hu Tao:
1. Crimson Witch of Flames (4-piece): This set is the cornerstone of your build. It provides a whopping +15% Pyro Damage Bonus and increases the Pyro damage of your Elemental Skill by a further 15%. The 4-piece bonus also boosts the damage of your Pyro attacks after using your Elemental Skill by 15% for 10 seconds. This means Hu Tao’s attacks will hit even harder after activating "Guide to Afterlife," perfectly aligning with the Vaporize reaction.
2. Crimnson Witch of Flames (2-piece) + Noblesse Oblige (2-piece): This alternative combines Crimson Witch’s Pyro damage bonus with Noblesse’s increased Elemental Burst damage. While not as powerful as the full Crimson Witch set, it provides an excellent alternative if you lack the perfect Crimson Witch pieces.
Stats: Boosting Hu Tao’s Pyro Prowess
Prioritize these stats to amplify Hu Tao’s Vaporize damage:
- HP%: Hu Tao’s attacks scale with her Max HP. This is your primary stat focus. Aim for high HP% on your main stats (Flower, Feather, Sands) and substats (Goblet, Circlet).
- Pyro Damage Bonus: This stat is the second most important. Look for a Pyro Damage Bonus Goblet for a significant boost to Hu Tao’s Pyro attacks.
- Critical Rate/Damage: While not as important as HP% and Pyro damage, having decent Critical Rate and Critical Damage helps you maximize the damage output of your Vaporize reactions. Aim for a 50/100 ratio (50% Crit Rate/ 100% Crit Damage).
- Energy Recharge: Hu Tao doesn’t have a huge energy cost, but some Energy Recharge on your substats can help you get her Elemental Burst back faster.
Weapons: The Cutting Edge of Vaporize
- Staff of Homa: The pinnacle of Hu Tao weapons, this 5-star Polearm provides a substantial boost to HP%, Attack, and Critical Damage. It also enhances her damage based on her Max HP, making it perfect for a Vaporize build.
- Dragon’s Bane: If you don’t have Homa, this 4-star Polearm is a great alternative. It provides a powerful bonus against enemies affected by Hydro, further amplifying your Vaporize reaction.
- Blackcliff Pole: This F2P option offers decent base attack and increases your Critical Damage when you defeat an opponent. While not as potent as the others, it’s a solid option if you lack other good weapons.
Team Composition: The Perfect Vaporize Synergy
- Hu Tao (Pyro)
- Xingqiu (Hydro): A vital teammate! Xingqiu’s Elemental Skill, "Rain Swords," provides constant Hydro application, ensuring the Vaporize reaction occurs consistently. His Elemental Burst also provides a powerful shield and damage boost.
- Zhongli (Geo): Zhongli’s shield protects Hu Tao from interruptions, allowing her to focus on dealing damage. His Elemental Burst further amplifies your team’s overall damage.
- Yelan (Hydro): Another excellent Hydro support. Yelan’s Elemental Skill provides high damage and consistent Hydro application, while her Elemental Burst can further boost your team’s overall damage output.
Gameplay: Unleashing the Power of Vaporize
- Start with Xingqiu’s Elemental Skill: Ensure the enemy is affected by Hydro before you deploy Hu Tao.
- Activate "Guide to Afterlife": This will lower Hu Tao’s HP, granting her a damage boost and making her attacks more effective.
- Vaporize Time!: Use Hu Tao’s Normal Attacks, Charged Attacks, and Elemental Skill to trigger Vaporize reactions.
- Keep the Hydro Application Up: Keep Xingqiu’s Elemental Skill active and/or use Yelan’s Elemental Skill to sustain the Vaporize effect.
- Rotate Hu Tao Off: When Hu Tao’s HP falls too low, rotate her off and let another character take over to recharge her HP.
- Elemental Burst Power: Use Hu Tao’s Elemental Burst for additional damage when you need a burst of power.
With the right artifacts, weapons, and team composition, Hu Tao can become a devastating Vaporize force, obliterating enemies and leaving a trail of fiery destruction in her wake. Happy smashing!
