Understanding Physical Damage
Defining Physical Damage
At its most basic, Physical Damage is a damage type in Genshin Impact that is distinct from the seven elemental damage types: Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, Electro, Anemo, Geo, and Dendro. Physical Damage, as the name suggests, focuses on raw, unadulterated force. It’s damage dealt by the force of impact, the swing of a blade, or the strike of a fist. Crucially, Physical Damage does not trigger elemental reactions. It exists independently and interacts with the game’s mechanics in its own way. Think of it as pure kinetic energy impacting your opponents.
Calculating Physical Damage
The calculation of Physical Damage is a bit more complex than simply looking at a character’s attack stat. Several factors influence the final damage output. The core calculation involves your character’s attack (ATK), the weapon used, and bonuses like Physical DMG Bonus, along with the enemy’s defense (DEF) and Physical RES.
The ATK stat is the foundation; it’s your character’s raw attack power. A higher ATK stat will generally lead to more damage. However, Physical DMG Bonus is where things get interesting. This bonus, which can be found on artifacts and weapons, directly increases the Physical Damage dealt. Enemy Physical RES, on the other hand, acts as a damage reduction. The higher an enemy’s Physical RES, the less damage you will deal. This is why understanding enemy stats is key to effective team building and damage optimization.
Physical Attacks and Damage Types: Clearing Up the Confusion
The Common Misconception
A common misconception, especially among newer players, is that every time a character performs a “physical attack,” the damage dealt is automatically Physical Damage. This isn’t always true. The term “physical attack” is a broad descriptor encompassing a variety of character actions, such as normal attacks, charged attacks, and plunging attacks. While these attacks often deal Physical Damage, they are not always guaranteed to. The key lies in understanding the specific character’s abilities and how their attacks are categorized.
The influence of weapon attack can not be understated. A weapon’s base attack contributes significantly to overall damage. Regardless of the character or their abilities, a higher base attack translates to more damage output. The weapon’s stats also have other effects, like crit rate, crit damage, and bonus damage.
Let’s dive into character archetypes and break down the nuances of physical attacks and their damage types.
Characters Dedicated to Physical Damage
Character Archetypes
Certain characters are specifically designed to excel in dealing pure Physical Damage. These characters are the archetypes, the champions of raw power, and often rely on a combination of high ATK stats, Physical DMG Bonus, and enemy resistance shredding.
Take, for instance, Eula. Her entire kit is geared towards maximizing Physical Damage output. Her normal attacks, charged attacks, and burst all deal primarily Physical Damage. Her Ascension talents further enhance her Physical Damage potential, making her a formidable powerhouse.
Characters such as Razor also fall into this category. He channels Electro energy in his attacks, and his damage is influenced by Physical Damage. Their playstyles often emphasize quick, powerful normal attacks or devastating charged attacks, and building around them is about maximizing attack stats and physical damage bonuses to achieve the highest possible damage output.
Building a character specialized in pure physical damage involves carefully selecting weapons and artifacts that complement their kit. The focus is on maximizing ATK, Physical DMG Bonus, Crit Rate, and Crit DMG. Weapons that provide bonus physical damage like the “Song of Broken Pines,” or weapons with high base attack are ideal choices. Artifact sets like “Pale Flame” and “Bloodstained Chivalry” can drastically improve physical damage output and ensure every swing hits hard.
Attacks That Deal Physical Damage: The Foundation of Combat
Attacks Characteristics
Physical attacks, as we mentioned, encompass the most fundamental combat actions in Genshin Impact. Normal attacks, charged attacks, and plunging attacks all typically fall into this category. The damage output, however, is influenced by the character’s stats, weapon, and any buffs or debuffs active at the time of the attack.
There are many characters with attacks dealing physical damage, such as physical builds for the Traveler. Their attacks, weapon choices, and artifact sets have to be chosen carefully to maximize damage.
These characters need to have an optimal balance to maximize their power. Many characters that deal physical damage may require a specific approach to their builds.
Attacks with Damage Conversion: Blending Elements
Damage Transformation
Things get more complex with characters who possess the ability to convert their physical attacks into elemental damage. This often happens through abilities that infuse their weapon with an element, changing the type of damage dealt. While it can seem like Physical Damage is lost in these instances, it’s more accurate to say that it is *transformed*. The physical damage gets converted to elemental damage, opening up the door to elemental reactions.
Consider certain character abilities. When they use their skills to infuse their weapons with an element, their normal attacks, charged attacks, and occasionally even their plunging attacks, are converted to that element. The physical damage aspect is lost. The damage is still derived from the character’s attack, but is now based on the specific elemental damage type, and the corresponding elemental RES of the enemy applies.
Therefore, understanding whether a character’s attacks deal pure Physical Damage or undergo damage conversion is vital for effective team building and strategy. It impacts the artifacts and weapons you select, as well as the elemental reactions you can trigger.
Factors Affecting Physical Damage: The Nuances of Battle
Enemy Resistances
The enemy’s Physical RES plays a crucial role. The higher the Physical RES, the less damage you will deal. Some enemies have naturally high Physical RES, making them tougher opponents for physical damage-focused teams. Strategies to mitigate this include using characters who can reduce enemy resistance.
Buffs and Debuffs
Buffs provide a significant boost to your damage output. ATK buffs, for example, increase your character’s attack stat, leading to more damage. Physical DMG Bonus buffs, such as those granted by certain artifact sets or character abilities, directly increase the damage dealt by physical attacks.
Conversely, debuffs that lower the enemy’s Physical RES can be incredibly effective. Several characters possess abilities that lower enemy resistance to physical damage, effectively increasing your damage output.
Artifacts and Weapon Stats
Artifacts are essential for optimizing your damage. The “Pale Flame” set, in particular, provides a significant Physical DMG Bonus, and bonus effects for continuous physical damage. Weapons also play a vital role, with higher base attack and weapons with Physical DMG Bonus offering an immediate advantage. The main and substats of your artifacts need to be carefully selected.
Understanding these factors, and building your characters with these elements in mind, will allow you to take advantage of the game’s mechanics.
In Conclusion: Unveiling the Truth
To reiterate, while physical attacks are a fundamental part of combat in Genshin Impact, not all of them translate directly to Physical Damage. The specific character’s abilities, whether they undergo elemental infusion or not, and the enemy’s resistances all determine the type and amount of damage inflicted. Characters can deal pure Physical Damage, and others can convert it.
Therefore, for maximizing your damage, you must thoroughly understand your character’s kit, the strengths and weaknesses of your team, and the importance of building your characters accordingly.
To effectively utilize Physical Damage, focus on maximizing ATK, Physical DMG Bonus, Crit Rate, and Crit DMG. Utilize characters that provide resistance shred, and consider weapons and artifacts that support your preferred playstyle. Be aware of enemies with high physical resistance, and adapt your strategies accordingly.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to conquering the world of Teyvat.
