Genshin Impact Cyno Build Guide: Weapons, Artifact Sets, Roles, Constellations, and more

Genshin Impact - Cyno Build Guide

Cyno is a playable 5-star Electro character in Genshin Impact. Although young and not a well-known researcher, he is the General Mahamatra of the Akademiya in Sumeru, leading the Akademiya’s disciplinary officers to enforce academic integrity.

While Cyno takes this position and his academics seriously, he has a pretty relaxed personality outside his duties. In fact, he likes visiting Collei and loves to tell jokes! However, making people laugh is clearly not his area of expertise, as he almost always has to explain his jokes. And he does so with his usual straight face, defeating the purpose of his attempt at being funny in the first place.

This guide will discuss Cyno‘s talents, constellations, recommended roles, best weapons, artifact sets, and more! So, if you want to add this character to your team, feel free to read on.

Cyno’s Talents and Priority

Cyno’s talents are designed in a way that he takes the most field time in your party. For instance, his Elemental Burst transforms him into the Pactsworn Pathclearer, and in this state, his Normal Attacks (including charged and plunge) are converted to Electro DMG that cannot be overridden by other infusions.

Moreover, while the Pactsworn Pathclearer is active, using his Elemental Skill will deal AoE Electro DMG and even extend the duration of his current state, which, again, means that he needs to stay on the field.

Genshin Impact - Cyno's Ascension Materials
Credit: HoYoverse

With this in mind, Cyno’s potential can be maximized following the Talent priority below:

  • 1st Priority – Elemental Burst
  • 2nd Priority – Elemental Skill
  • 3rd Priority – Normal Attack

For more details about his Talents, check out the table below:

Normal Attack – Invoker’s SpearNormal Attack
Performs up to four consecutive spear strikes.

Charged Attack
Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to lunge forward, dealing damage to enemies along the way.
Elemental Skill – Secret Rite: Chasmic SoulfarerPerforms a swift thrust, dealing Electro DMG to opponents along the path.

When Cyno is under the Pathsworn Pathclearer state triggered by the Elemental Burst “Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness,” he will instead unleash a Mortuary Rite that deals thunderous AoE Electro DMG and extends the duration of Pathsworn Pathclearer.
Elemental Burst – Sacred Rite: Wolf’s SwiftnessCalls upon a divine spirit to indwell him, morphing into the Pactsworn Pathclearer.

Pactsworn Pathclearer
Cyno’s Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks will be converted to Electro DMG that cannot be overridden. Cyno’s Elemental Mastery and resistance to interruption will increase, and he gains immunity to Electro-Charged DMG. This effect will be cancelled when Cyno leaves the field and lasts a maximum of 18s.
1st Ascension Passive – Featherfall JudgmentWhen Cyno is in the Pactsworn Pathclearer state activated by Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness, Cyno will enter the Endseer stance at intervals. If he activates Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer while affected by this stance, he will activate the Judication effect, increasing the DMG of this Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer by 35%, and firing off 3 Duststalker Bolts that deal 100% of Cyno’s ATK as Electro DMG.

Duststalker Bolt DMG is considered Elemental Skill DMG.
4th Ascension Passive – Authority Over the Nine BowsCyno’s DMG values will be increased based on his Elemental Mastery as follows:
– Pactsworn Pathclearer’s Normal Attack DMG is increased by 125% of his Elemental Mastery.
– Duststalker Bolt DMG from his Passive Talent Featherfall Judgment is increased by 250% of his Elemental Mastery.
Utility Passive – The Gift of SilenceGains 25% more rewards when dispatched on a Sumeru Expedition for 20 hours.

READ MORE: GENSHIN IMPACT: CYNO’S ASCENSION MATERIALS AND LOCATIONS

Constellations and Effects

Even at C0, Cyno has an amazing damage potential. However, C2 will definitely make a significant difference, and this is the constellation that we recommend if you don’t want to spend too much for C6. With C2, hitting enemies with his Normal Attacks will increase his Electro DMG by 10% for up to 5 stacks! Of course, if you have C2, this means that you also have C1. Both constellations work extremely well, as C1 can greatly increase his Normal ATK speed while using his Burst.

If you’re new to the game, Constellations are acquired when you get another character copy.

LEVELNAMEEFFECT
1Ordinance: Unceasing VigilAfter using Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness, Cyno’s Normal Attack SPD will be increased by 20% for 10s. If the Judication effect of his Passive Talent Featherfall Judgment is triggered during Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer, the duration of this increase will be refreshed.

You need to unlock the Passive Talent “Featherfall Judgement.”
2Ceremony: Homecoming of SpiritsWhen Cyno’s Normal Attacks hit opponents, his Electro DMG Bonus will increase by 10% for 4s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.1s. Max 5 stacks.
3Precept: Lawful EnforcerIncreases the Level of Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness by 3.
Maximum upgrade level is 15.
4Austerity: Forbidding GuardWhen Cyno is in the Pactsworn Pathclearer state triggered by Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness, after he triggers Electro-Charged, Superconduct, Overloaded, Quicken, Aggravate, Hyperbloom, or an Electro Swirl reaction, he will restore 3 Elemental Energy for all nearby party members (except himself.) This effect can occur 5 times within one use of Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness.
5Funerary Rite: The Passing of StarlightIncreases the Level of Secret Rite: Chasmic Soulfarer by 3.
Maximum upgrade level is 15.
6Raiment: Just ScalesAfter using Sacred Rite: Wolf’s Swiftness or triggering the Judication effect of the Passive Talent “Featherfall Judgment,” Cyno will gain 4 stacks of the “Day of the Jackal” effect. When he hits opponents with Normal Attacks, he will consume 1 stack of “Day of the Jackal” to fire off one Duststalker Bolt.

“Day of the Jackal” lasts for 8s. Max 8 stacks. It will be canceled once Pactsworn Pathclearer ends.

A maximum of 1 Duststalker Bolt can be unleashed this way every 0.4s.
You must first unlock the Passive Talent “Featherfall Judgment.”

Recommended Roles and Teams for Cyno

As mentioned previously, Cyno’s Burst requires him to stay on the battlefield most of the time to deal damage. With this, he would definitely take the role of the Main DPS.

As for his teams, Cyno is perfect for an Aggravate-focused team, considering that he can consistently deal Electro DMG during his Elemental Burst. Moreover, Aggravate can CRIT, and it should be noted that Cyno’s ascension stat is Crit DMG. You may also use other teams such as Hyperbloom and Electro-charged.

sumeru banner leaks cyno
Credit: Hoyoverse

AGGRAVATE TEAM

Main DPSOff-field DendroAnother ElectroShielder or Anemo VV Support
– Cyno– Nahida
– Dendro Traveler
– Fischl
– Kuki Shinobu
– Yae Miko
– Raiden Shogun
– Zhongli
– Kazuha
– Sucrose
  • In this team, Cyno will need to have an off-field Dendro applicator such as Collei, Dendro Traveler, or Nahida. However, since Cyno can extend his Burst duration, the longer the off-field Dendro application is, the better. With this in mind, Nahida is the best off-field Dendro character to be paired with Cyno since her Seed of Skandha lasts 25 seconds, more than enough of what Cyno needs. Aside from this, she can also provide an EM buff.
  • Cyno has quite a high Energy Cost. Therefore, you might consider bringing another Electro character for the Electro Elemental Resonance. If you don’t want to rely heavily on Cyno’s damage output and want to have an off-field character with decent damage, Fischl is a 4-star character who can do the job. If you want an Electro healer, you have Shinobu and Dori as your options. If you want an Electro character who can significantly increase Cyno’s damage, go for C6 Kujou Sara. Her 60% Electro Crit DMG bonus is something that you might want to consider. However, note that it won’t cover the entire duration of Cyno’s field time.
  • For more defensive gameplay, the last slot may go to a shielder who won’t mess up your Aggravate-focused play style. Of course, Zhongli is the best for this slot. For more offensive gameplay, you may use Kazuha or another Anemo support with a 4-piece Viridescent Venerer to reduce enemies’ Elemental RES.

HYPERBLOOM TEAM

Main DPSOff-field DendroAnother ElectroOff-field Hydro
– Cyno– Nahida– Kuki Shinobu
– Beidou
– Yelan
– Xingqiu
  • To have a Hyberbloom Team for Cyno, you can use the template of the Aggravate Team with the exception of the Shielder or Anemo VV Support. The slot for the said role will need to be replaced by a reliable off-field Hydro applicator, which can either be Yelan or Xingqiu.
  • However, you need a slower Electro applicator for the other Electro unit since you should aim for Cyno to trigger Hyperbloom. Kuki Shinobu might steal some of Cyno’s Hyperbloom DMG, but the good thing is she can heal. On the other hand, while Beidou can’t heal, she will leave most of the Hyperbloom DMG to Cyno while providing him buffs (especially Beidou’s 4th ascension).

READ MORE: GENSHIN IMPACT TIGHNARI BUILD GUIDE: WEAPONS, ARTIFACT SETS, ROLES, TALENTS, CONSTELLATIONS, AND MORE

ELECTRO-CHARGED TEAM with CANDACE

Main DPSSupport/Sub-DPSSupport/Sub-DPSSupport/Sub-DPS
– Cyno– Candace– Yelan
– Xingqiu
– Zhongli
– Kazuha
– Sucrose
  • In this team, Cyno will take the role of the Main DPS while Candace will buff his Normal Attacks and partly apply Hydro to enemies. If you’re worried about Candace‘s Hydro infusion (from her Burst) messing up with Cyno’s Electro DMG, don’t be. As mentioned, Cyno‘s Electro Normal Attacks during his Burst cannot be overridden. This means that he can take advantage of Candace‘s Normal Attack buff without decreasing his Electro DMG potential.
  • Candace can take the role of Hydro applicator more effectively only at C6, so you might consider having another Hydro character who can apply the Hydro aura consistently while off-field. Here, Yelan is a great option. If you need healing, you can go for Kokomi. But if you don’t have these 5-star characters, you can use Xingqiu or Barbara. What’s great about having another Hydro character is the Hydro Elemental Resonance, which increases your character’s Max HP. This will greatly benefit HP-scaling characters such as CandaceYelanKokomi and Barbara.
  • For the last slot, you can opt for more offense or defense. For more offensive gameplay, include an Anemo character with a 4-piece Viridescent Venerer set to decrease opponents’ Elemental RES. A great candidate for this is Kazuha, but if you don’t have this 5-star character, Sucrose can take the slot. On the other hand, you can place a shielder such as Zhongli in this slot for more defensive gameplay.

Recommended Weapons for Cyno

Cyno‘s signature weapon, Staff of the Scarlet Sands, is his best choice. However, if you don’t have this, you might consider equipping other 5-star weapons, the 4-star polearm Kitain Cross Spear or even the 3-star White Tassel! Check out our insights for each weapon below the table for more information.

WEAPONDETAILS
Staff of the Scarlet Sands (5 stars)Base ATK (Lv 1 -90): 44 – 542
Base Bonus Stat (Lv 1 -90): CRIT Rate 9.6% – 44.1%
Base Skill Effect: The equipping character gains 52% of their Elemental Mastery as bonus ATK. When an Elemental Skill hits opponents, the Dream of the Scarlet Sands effect will be gained for 10s: The equipping character will gain 28% of their Elemental Mastery as bonus ATK. Max 3 stacks.
Staff of Homa (5 stars)Base ATK (Lv 1 -90): 46 – 608
Base Bonus Stat (Lv 1 -90): CRIT DMG 14.4% – 66.2%
Base Skill Effect: HP increased by 20%. Additionally, provides an ATK Bonus based on 0.8% of the wielder’s Max HP. When the wielder’s HP is less than 50%, this ATK bonus is increased by an additional 1% of Max HP.
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear (5 stars)Base ATK (Lv 1 -90): 48 – 674
Base Bonus Stat (Lv 1 -90): CRIT Rate 4.8% – 22.1%
Base Skill Effect: On hit, increases ATK by 3.2% for 6s. Max 7 stacks. This effect can only occur once every 0.3s. While in possession of the maximum possible stacks, DMG dealt is increased by 12%.
Kitain Cross Spear (4 stars)Base ATK (Lv 1 -90): 44 – 565
Base Bonus Stat (Lv 1 -90): Elemental Mastery 24 – 110
Base Skill Effect: Increases Elemental Skill DMG by 6%. After Elemental Skill hits an opponent, the character loses 3 Energy but regenerates 3 Energy every 2s for the next 6s. This effect can occur once every 10s. Can be triggered even when the character is not on the field.
White Tassel (3 stars)Base ATK (Lv 1 -90): 39 – 401
Base Bonus Stat (Lv 1 -90): CRIT Rate 5.1% – 23.4%
Base Skill Effect: Increases Normal Attack DMG by 24%.

Staff of the Scarlet Sands

While Staff of the Scarlet Sands has a lower base attack than the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear in this list, it wins by providing Cyno with more consistent CRIT attacks and a potentially much better passive. Since Cyno needs to have a lot of Elemental Mastery, ideal for an Aggravate or Hyperbloom team, this weapon converts a huge chunk of that EM into bonus ATK. However, this polearm can only be obtained via the limited-time weapon banner Epitome Invocation.

Genshin Impact - Cyno - Staff of the Scarlet Sands
Credit: HoYoverse

Staff of Homa

With its high ATK and CRIT DMG bonus, Staff of Homa works well for Cyno. If you happened to pull for this polearm and don’t have Cyno’s signature weapon, this is one of your best alternatives. You can learn more about Staff of Homa here.

Primordial Jade Winged-Spear

If you don’t have his signature weapon, Primordial Jade Winged-Spear is another 5-star option for Cyno. It has a CRIT Rate bonus stat that complements his CRIT DMG ascension stat. You can learn more about Primordial Jade Winged-Spear here.

Kitain Cross Spear

For a 4-star weapon, this polearm provides a relatively high attack for Cyno. It also provides the Elemental Mastery that her needs. Most importantly, it can be easily acquired by forging.

White Tassel

It might feel a little weird to have Cyno equip a 3-star polearm. However, this weapon definitely works for him. As Cyno will make a lot of Normal Attacks during his Burst, the Normal Attack DMG bonus provided by this polearm can do wonders. The base bonus is only 24% and may not sound tempting. However, White Tassel can be easily acquired via the chests in Liyue and, therefore, easy to refine. At max refinement, the bonus will be at 48%!

READ MORE: GENSHIN IMPACT GANYU BUILD GUIDE: WEAPONS, ARTIFACT SETS, ROLES, TALENTS, CONSTELLATIONS, AND MORE

Recommended Artifact Sets and Stat Priority for Cyno

Below are our recommended artifact sets for Cyno:

ARTIFACT SETEFFECTS
Gilded Dreams x4– Elemental Mastery +80
– Within 8s of triggering an Elemental Reaction, the character equipping this will obtain buffs based on the Elemental Type of the other party members, ATK is increased by 14% for each party member whose Elemental Type is the same as the equipping character, and Elemental Mastery is increased by 50 for every party member with a different Elemental Type. Each of the aforementioned buffs will count up to 3 characters. This effect can be triggered once every 8s. The character who equips this can still trigger its effects when not on the field.
Thundering Fury x4– Electro DMG Bonus +15%
– Increases DMG caused by Overloaded, Electro-Charged, Superconduct, and Hyperbloom by 40%, and the DMG Bonus conferred by Aggravate is increased by 20%. When Quicken or the aforementioned Elemental Reactions are triggered, Elemental Skill CD is decreased by 1s. Can only occur once every 0.8s.

You may focus on Cyno’s Elemental Mastery using the Gilded Dreams x4 set, especially if you are going to equip the Staff of the Scarlet Sands as his weapon. The bonus EM from this set will be vital for increasing the bonus ATK from the polearm.

However, you can also focus on Cyno’s Electro DMG with Thundering Fury x4, considering he can consistently deal with Electro DMG.

As for his artifact stat priority, we recommend the following:

  • Sands – Elemental Mastery or ATK% (EM is better but not easy to farm so you may opt for ATK%)
  • Goblet – Electro DMG Bonus
  • Circlet – CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG, depending on what you need

That’s everything you need to know about building Cyno! We hope that our recommendations will help you along the way.

Genshin Impact is an action role-playing game developed by miHoyo, also known as HoYoverse. The game is available on PC, PS4, PS5, iOS, and Android, while a release on Nintendo Switch is currently in the works

Similar Posts