Hu Tao is the fourth Polearm user to be added to Genshin Impact. As the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she is important in carrying out the final rites of those who leave this world. According to her in-game description, it is her job to preserve the world’s yin and yang. Here is how to play Hu Tao in Genshin Impact.
Attacks and Skills
Attack: Secret Spear of Wangsheng – Hu Tao wields a polearm which can perform a 6 attack chain. Hu Tau can use a charged attack at the cost of stamina, lunging forward and dealing damage along the way.
Elemental Skill: Guide to Afterlife – Hu Tao increases her attack at the cost of HP for a short duration. Damage is converted to Pyro damage when Guide to the Afterlife is activated. The attack boost scales off of Hu Tao’s Max HP. Additionally, charged attacks during this time apply Blood Blossoms, which deal Pyro damage over time. Only one Blood Blossom can be applied to an enemy at a time.
Elemental Burst: Spirit Soother – Hu Tao uses a spirit to deal Pyro damage around her. For each enemy this hits, it regenerates a portion of Hu Tao’s max HP. This effect can only stack 5 times. If Hu Tao is at or below 50% HP, both the damage and HP regeneration are increased.
Passive Talents
Flutter By: Ascension 1 – When a Paramita Papilio state activated by Guide to Afterlife ends, all allies in the party (excluding Hu Tao herself) will have their CRIT Rate increased by 12% for 8s.
Sanguine Rouge: Ascension 4 – When Hu Tao’s HP is equal to or less than 50%, her Pyro DMG Bonus is increased by 33%.
The More the Merrier – When Hu Tao cooks a dish perfectly, she has a 18% chance to receive an additional “Suspicious” dish of the same type.
Constellations
C1: Crimson Bouquet – While in a Paramita Papilio state activated by Guide to Afterlife, Hu Tao’s Charge Attacks do not consume Stamina.
C2: Ominous Rainfall – Increases the Blood Blossom DMG by an amount equal to 10% of Hu Tao’s Max HP at the time the effect is applied. Additionally, Spirit Soother will also apply the Blood Blossom effect.
C3: Lingering Carmine – Increases the Level of Guide to Afterlife by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
C4: Garden of Eternal Rest – Upon defeating an enemy affected by a Blood Blossom that Hu Tao applied herself, all nearby allies in the party (excluding Hu Tao herself) will have their CRIT Rate increased by 12% for 15s.
C5: Floral Incense – Increases the Level of Spirit Soother by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
C6: Butterfly’s Embrace – Triggers when Hu Tao’s HP drops below 25%, or when she suffers a lethal strike:
Hu Tao will not fall as a result of the DMG sustained. Additionally, for the next 10s, all of her Elemental and Physical RES is increased by 200%, her CRIT Rate is increased by 100%, and her resistance to interruption is greatly increased. This effect triggers automatically when Hu Tao has 1 HP left and can only occur once every 60s.
Artifacts and builds for Hu Tao
Hu Tao is classified as a burst DPS. This is due to her base Crit Damage which scales on ascension, and her reliance on her Elemental Skill and Burst to deal lots of damage.
Her base attack stat is one of the lowest in the game, making Attack % stats not as helpful for damage. However, while under the effect of Guide to Afterlife, she gains bonus damage. Focus on leveling up her Attack Talent, then Guide to Afterlife, and level her Elemental Burst last. Hu Tao pairs well with sub DPS characters with healing, such as Bennett and Xingqiu.
For artifacts, you will want to use the 4-piece Crimson Witch of Flames. This will further boost her Pyro damage output as well as increasing her Elemental reaction damage. Look for Pyro Damage percentage on your goblet, as well as any Health or Health % sub stats. A 4-piece Lava Walker’s set will also give you a 35% damage bonus against enemies who are affected by Pyro.
