Raiden Shogun was the first 5-star character in Patch 2.1 of Genshin Impact. MeinMMO shows you how to fully unleash Raiden’s potential in this build and explains her skills in detail.
Who is Raiden Shogun? She is the ruler of the land of Inazuma and the current Electro Goddess. However, she is not one of the original Seven who emerged victorious from the Archon War. Raiden Shogun is the head of the “Inazuma Bakufu,” which consists of three parts of her army.
Raiden Shogun has commanded these armies to seize the visions of all residents in Inazuma, in order to place them into a statue of a god that possesses 1000 arms and 100 eyes. The reason behind this is still unknown.
Her goal is to gain control over the world and create an “unchanging eternity” for the people. You can get an impression of Raiden Shogun in the following character demo:
Raiden Shogun’s Abilities – Electro Goddess
What attacks and abilities does Raiden Shogun have? Her standard attack consists of five spear thrusts forward, while she consumes some stamina with her heavy strike and executes an upward slash.
With her elemental skill “Wonders – Sinister Sight,” she deals Electro damage to nearby opponents and grants nearby party members the buff “Sinister Eye of the Lightning Strike,” which lasts for 25 seconds and has the following effects:
- The eye deals extra Electro area damage every 0.9 seconds when you deal damage to opponents. It deals 20% of its original damage.
- During the duration, the special abilities of all party members deal more damage. This damage is based on the elemental energy costs of the respective special ability.
- Example: If her elemental skill talent level is 6 and you use the special ability that requires 90 elemental energy, you calculate 90 × 0.27. The result is 24.3%, meaning that the special ability, with the buff, deals 24.3% more damage.
- Cooldown: 10 seconds
| Talent Level | Special Attack Damage Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.22% |
| 2 | 0.23% |
| 3 | 0.24% |
| 4 | 0.25% |
| 5 | 0.26% |
| 6 | 0.27% |
| 7 | 0.28% |
| 8 | 0.29% |
| ab 9 | 0.30% |
Raiden Shogun accumulates “Resolve Power” with “Chakra Desiderate,” which is defined as follows:
- You can accumulate up to 60 stacks of Resolve Power.
- 300 seconds after leaving battle, your accumulated Resolve Power resets.
- Resolve Power is accumulated through the special abilities of party members. Raiden Shogun herself does not count.
- The elemental energy of the special abilities serves as a reference point and Raiden’s own talent level as a multiplier.
- Example: If Raiden Shogun’s special ability is level 6 and you use, for example, Klee’s special ability, which costs 60 elemental energy, you calculate 60 × 0.18. The result is 10.8 stacks.
- These stacks are important to increase Raiden Shogun’s damage during the effect of the special attack.
- Example: Let’s assume again level 6 and you reach the maximum 60 stacks, you calculate: 1.02 × 60 + 5.44%. This means that you gain a 66.64% attack bonus from Resolve Power. The 5.44% is a fixed bonus that you always receive at level 6.
Table with values up to Talent Level 15 for your calculations
| Talent Level | Calculate Stacks | Calculate Attack Bonus of Stacks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.15 × Elemental Energy | 0.73% × Number of Stacks + 3.89% |
| 2 | 0.16 × Elemental Energy | 0.78% × Number of Stacks + 4.18% |
| 3 | 0.16 × Elemental Energy | 0.84% × Number of Stacks + 4.47% |
| 4 | 0.17 × Elemental Energy | 0.91% × Number of Stacks + 4.86% |
| 5 | 0.17 × Elemental Energy | 0.96% × Number of Stacks + 5.15% |
| 6 | 0.18 × Elemental Energy | 1.02% × Number of Stacks + 5.44% |
| 7 | 0.18 × Elemental Energy | 1.09% × Number of Stacks + 5.83% |
| 8 | 0.19 × Elemental Energy | 1.16% × Number of Stacks + 6.22% |
| 9 | 0.19 × Elemental Energy | 1.23% × Number of Stacks + 6.61% |
| 10 | 0.20 × Elemental Energy | 1.31% × Number of Stacks + 7% |
| 11 | 0.20 × Elemental Energy | 1.38% × Number of Stacks + 7.39% |
| 12 | 0.20 × Elemental Energy | 1.45% × Number of Stacks + 7.78% |
| 13 | 0.20 × Elemental Energy | 1.54% × Number of Stacks + 8.26% |
| 14 | 0.20 × Elemental Energy | 1.63% × Number of Stacks + 8.75% |
| 15 | 0.20 × Elemental Energy | 1.72% × Number of Stacks + 9.23% |
Furthermore, Raiden Shogun’s special attack triggers Electro area damage, and she now wields her sword named “Musou no Hitotachi” and “Musou Isshin” in combat. The subsequent damage from the sword and the ability “Musou Isshin” is further increased based on her Resolve Power.
„Musou Isshin”:
- Standard attacks, heavy strikes, and falling attacks now deal Electro damage. It will now be considered special ability damage.
- The conversion to Electro damage cannot be overwritten by other elements (for example, C6 Bennett).
- If her attacks hit during the duration, she can restore elemental energy for the team every second. This effect can be triggered five times.
- Duration: 7 seconds.
- During the duration, Raiden is immune to damage from Electro reactions and is less likely to be interrupted during attacks.
- Cooldown: 18 seconds.
- If Raiden leaves the field, the special ability ends.
Raiden Shogun’s stats compared to other characters:
With a base attack of 337, she is just above the main DPS Diluc and Ganyu, who both have a value of 335. Xiao with 349 and Ayaka with 342 are close to her value. Her recharge rate increases, just like Mona’s, to a maximum of 32%.
Talents of Raiden Shogun
Which talents should you level up first? First, you should level up Raiden Shogun’s special ability because that’s what you rely on the most. It not only deals high damage but also regenerates the special abilities of your other team members.
What important passive talents does Raiden Shogun possess? She has the following three important passive talents:
- „Countless Wishes“:
- „Chakra Desiderate“ gains 2 stacks of Resolve Power when party members obtain elemental crystals or elemental particles. 3 seconds cooldown.
- Allows you to gather stacks for strengthening Raiden’s special ability faster.
- „True Enlightenment“:
- Each percentage point exceeding 100% of the recharge rate grants you the following effects:
- Increases the elemental energy she can restore with “Musou Isshin” by 0.6%.
- Increases the Electro damage bonus by 0.4%.
- This talent strengthens both Raiden Shogun’s offensive power and support capabilities.
- Each percentage point exceeding 100% of the recharge rate grants you the following effects:
- „World-renowned Guardian“:
- The ascension of one-handed and polearm weapons costs 50% less Mora.
Raiden Shogun’s most important constellations
What do the constellations provide? Constellations unlock new abilities and/or stats for characters. This listing shows you the most important constellations and what bonuses they provide.
- 1. Constellation (C1) „Sinister Omen“: „Chakra Desiderate“ can gather Resolve Power even faster when team members use their special ability:
- Electro characters: +80%
- Other element types: +20%
- 2. Constellation (C2) „Steelbreaker“: Raiden’s sword and “Musou Isshin” now ignore 60% of enemy defense.
- 4. Constellation (C4) „Oath of Decency“: At the end of Raiden’s special ability, the attack of all party members is increased by 30% for 30 seconds. She herself is excluded from this effect.
- 6. Constellation (C6) „Wishbearer“: During the duration of “Musou Isshin,” the cooldowns of all party members’ special abilities are reduced by 1 second if Raiden Shogun hits with her attacks. Raiden Shogun herself is excluded from the ability and can trigger this effect five times. The cooldown is 1 second.
If you want Raiden to deal even more damage and have the resources to do so, then unlock her C2. C4 and C6 are especially useful for your other team members.
Weapons that shine with Raiden Shogun
What weapons can bring out the best in Raiden Shogun? It is important to note that Raiden Shogun particularly benefits from recharge rate, attack, and critical damage (CD)/critical rate (CR).
The best 5-star weapon is the “Grasscutter’s Light” which is specifically tailored for Raiden Shogun. The recharge rate as a sub-stat guarantees the effect trigger of the spear. Moreover, she benefits from special attacks, so the 30% boost to recharge rate after using special abilities is very beneficial to have them ready again soon.
If you are focused on damage, the “Staff of Homa” can even surpass the Grasscutter’s Light partially when Raiden Shogun is below 50% HP. This is when the effect of this weapon is triggered, granting Raiden Shogun even more attack. However, there is no good way to keep her permanently below 50% HP. Additionally, the spear has critical damage as a sub-stat, which is also very useful for DPS.
A wonderful alternative is the “Vortex Vanquisher,” which can be very strong due to its high base attack, attack sub-stat, and interaction with a character like Zhongli.
“Primordial Jade Winged-Spear” and “Skyward Spine” are also alternatives because of their high base attack. While the Jade Spear has CR, the “Skyward Spine” has recharge rate as a sub-stat.
As 4-star alternatives, the following weapons are recommended:
- “Moonpiercer”
- “Royal Spear”
- “Blackcliff Polearm”
- “Favonius Lance”
What are the Free-to-Play alternatives? The best alternatives are the spear “The Catch” and the “Prototype Starglitter.” “The Catch” features the important sub-stat recharge rate and increases damage dealt by special abilities by 16%. Additionally, it enhances the CR of special abilities by 6%.
You can obtain this spear at refinement level 5 if you catch enough fish and trade it in Inazuma with the NPC “Kujirai Momiji.” This means you can increase damage to 32% and CR by 12%.
The “Prototype Starglitter” can be crafted at any time at the blacksmith. It also has recharge rate as a sub-stat and increases damage from normal attacks and heavy strikes by 8% for 12 seconds after using elemental abilities. This can stack twice, and at refinement level 5, you can gain a bonus of 16%.
Suitable Artifacts for Raiden Shogun
Which artifacts benefit Raiden Shogun the most? The undeniably best artifact set for her is “Emblem of Severed Fate,” which not only makes her special ability usable faster, but also fits perfectly with the weapon “Grasscutter’s Light.”
- 2-piece set bonus: Increases recharge rate by 20%.
- 4-piece set bonus: Increases damage dealt by special abilities based on 25% of recharge rate. A bonus of up to 75% is possible in this way.
If you have no luck farming this artifact set, you can equip variable combinations of the respective artifact sets:
- “Emblem of Severed Fate” or “Wanderer’s Troupe”
- 2-piece set bonus: Increases recharge rate by 20%.
- “Memories of Shimenawa” or “Gladiator’s Finale”
- 2-piece set bonus: Increases attack by 18%.
- “Thundering Fury”
- 2-piece set bonus: Increases Electro damage by 15%.
- “Noblesse Oblige”
- 2-piece set bonus: Increases damage of special abilities by 20%.
If you are looking for more details about the stats of weapons and artifacts, you can find them on Honey Impact.
What stats are important for the artifacts? If you play with the optimal equipment set on Raiden, that is the 4-piece set from “Emblem of Severed Fate” and the “Grasscutter’s Light,” it is worth taking recharge rate as the main stat on the sands and attack % on the cup.
Otherwise, the main stat varies depending on the weapon you have equipped. If you are using a weapon with a high base attack and possibly attack as a sub-stat, it can benefit you if you have attack % on the sands and Electro damage bonus on the cup.
However, if you are using a weapon that provides little attack, you can make up for it with attack % as the main stat on sands and cup. If damage is not as important to you and you prefer to constantly have your team members’ special abilities charged up, then put recharge rate on the sands.
If you play with attack boosts using characters like Sara and Bennett, you can use attack % as the main stat on the sands and Electro damage bonus on the cup.
However, with all artifacts, it applies: Depending on the sub-stats of all artifacts, you would use a CD/CR crown.
Make sure that the sub-stats of all artifacts include recharge rate, attack %, and CR/CD.
Raiden Shogun as a Team Member
What teams does Raiden Shogun fit into? She fits into many teams as a so-called battery. The task of a battery is to charge the abilities of others. Yae Miko is a perfect candidate to fight alongside Raiden Shogun. However, she can also function as main DPS, or burst DPS/sub-DPS. Team examples we suggest:
Under Electric Charge:
- Raiden Shogun
- Razor or Beidou as main DPS, since both special abilities cost 80 elemental energy and can gather even more Resolve Power stacks with Raiden Shogun’s C1; however, their special abilities do not work with Raiden Shogun.
- Otherwise: Eula as main DPS.
- Optimal: Xingqiu for Hydro application and reactions or alternatively Barbara, who can also heal.
- Optional slot for:
- Sucrose: Special ability costs 80 elemental energy, good for swirl reactions and lowering enemy resistances, grouping enemies together.
- Kazuha: For swirl reactions and lowering enemy resistances and boosting elemental mastery, grouping enemies together.
- Zhongli: As additional defense and/or if you have equipped the spear “Vortex Vanquisher,” it is very useful.
- Sara: Special ability costs 80 elemental energy, for the attack boost through her ability. With Raiden’s C1, even more Resolve Power can be gathered.
- Bennett: For attack boost and/or healing through Bennett’s special ability.
Overload:
- Raiden Shogun
- Yanfei: As main DPS, special ability costs 80 elemental energy, for elemental reactions.
- Bennett
- Optional slot for:
- Sara
- Kazuha
- Sucrose
- Fischl/Lisa: For Electro application, also off-field.
- Venti: Grouping enemies together and triggering swirls.
Pyro:
- Raiden Shogun
- Bennett
- Xiangling: For her special ability, which is usually ready due to Raiden.
- Sucrose / Kazuha / Xingqiu
Raiden’s task will be to feed your team with elemental energy to keep all special abilities constantly ready and deal more damage with them. You will then use her elemental skill. Subsequently, you use the enhanced special abilities of all, and at the same time, Raiden Shogun herself also becomes stronger. This creates an eternal cycle of support and DMG output from all team members.
Alternatively, she can also function as a DPS. You can decide for yourself, especially with several constellations.
What do you think of Raiden Shogun? Have you already pulled her or have you not had any luck so far? Are you possibly saving for upcoming characters? Let us know in the comments!
Genshin Impact: The 10 rarest items and how you can obtain them
