Genshin Impact Cyno build and materials guide
The best Genshin Impact Cyno build needs to find the right balance between providing enough Energy Recharge and Elemental Mastery, as both are of vital importance if you want to dish out some judgment with the Sumeru Akademiya’s General Mahamatra.
Cyno is relatively easy to use, coming with a straightforward Elemental Skill, Chasmic Soulfarer, and a powerful Elemental Burst, Wolf’s Swiftness. His Burst morphs Cyno into the Pactsworn Pathclearer, who attacks enemies with electric wolf claws that deal Electro damage, which can not be overwritten. All of that damage is increased based on Cyno’s Elemental Mastery thanks to his Authority over the Nine Bows talent. Thus, Elemental Mastery not only helps this Main DPS with his reaction-based damage, but also with his base damage.
Read to learn more on how you need to equip Cyno, which teams are good fits for him, and how you get all his ascension and talent upgrade materials.
Genshin Impact's Cyno with his signature weapon.
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Best Cyno weapons – Genshin Impact
Like many other 5-star characters, Cyno has a signature weapon that came into the game at the same time as him. In his case, this is the polearm Staff of the Scarlet Sands. It increases Critical Hit Rate and lets the wielder gain 52% of their Elemental Mastery as bonus Attack. Hitting adversaries with an Elemental Skill can boost this effect up to three times by an additional 28% for ten seconds.
Here are the best weapons for Cyno in Genshin Impact:
- Staff of the Scarlet Sands (5-star polearm)
- Primordial Jade-Winged Spear (5-star polearm)
- Staff of Homa (5-star polearm)
- Deathmatch (4-star polearm)
- Blackcliff Pole (4-star polearm)
- White Tassel (3-star polearm)
Best Cyno artifacts – Genshin Impact
In general, there are two different ways to go about kitting out Cyno, depending on the playstyle you want to go with – and the equipment you have on your hands.
If you’re aiming for a reaction-based style and have Cyno’s signature weapon, then a full set of Gilded Dreams is a very good choice. It will provide massive buffs to Elemental Mastery, which are going to be even greater if you’re fielding a team with diverse elemental types.
Under the same conditions you could also go for a full set of Thundering Fury, which on paper will enable Cyno to reach his maximum damage output thanks to its buffs to Electro damage as well as Electro reactions. Since this style will depend on triggering Elemental Skill when Cyno’s Elemental Burst is active, interruptions or disadvantageous enemy positioning will be very punishing, resulting in a net loss in damage output compared to the other options.
If you don’t have access to Staff of the Scarlet Sands and favor a playstyle that’s less dependent on reactions, we’d recommend a full set of Gladiator’s Finale, which is going to maximize Cyno’s Attack.
There are two playstyles for Cyno and three strong artifact sets to consider.
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You’ll want the following stat distribution on your set for Cyno, regardless of which one you go with:
- Flower: HP (main stat), Energy Recharge, Critical Damage, Critical Hit Rate, Elemental Mastery (secondary stats)
- Plume: Attack (main stat), Energy Recharge, Critical Damage, Critical Hit Rate, Elemental Mastery (secondary stats)
- Sands: Elemental Mastery (main stat), Energy Recharge, Critical Damage, Critical Hit Rate, Attack % (secondary stats)
- Goblet: Electro Damage % (main stat), Energy Recharge, Critical Damage, Critical Hit Rate, Elemental Mastery (secondary stats)
- Circlet: Critical Hit Rate or Critical Damage (main stat), Energy Recharge, Critical Damage or Critical Hit Rate, Elemental Mastery, Attack % (secondary stats)
Best Cyno teams – Genshin Impact
Cyno is a typical Main DPS, who spends most of his time on the field, which necessitates that you team him up with some great off-field characters that provide effects for elemental reactions and support him through healing and energy generation.
- Cyno (Main DPS), Nahida (Sub DPS), Yelan (Sub DPS), Kuki Shinobu (Support)
This Hyperbloom team created Dendro Cores through the Dendro-Hydro interactions between Nahida and Yelan, which Cyno can then hit with his Electro attacks, enabling massive damage through Hyperbloom. Shinobu is there for healing and could be switched out in favor of Dori.
Best characters to team up with Cyno
As usual, Yelan is replaceable by Xingqiu. A variation of this team with Kokomi instead of Yelan and Fischl or Raiden Shogun for Shinobu is effective as well.
- Cyno (Main DPS), Nahida (Sub DPS), Fischl (Sub DPS), Zhongli (Support)
This Aggravate team helps boost the damage of Cyno’s regular attacks. Nahida and Fischl can use their off-field abilities to provide those reactions, while Zhongli shields the team and carries Tenacity of the Millelith for a further damage buff. Dendro Traveler is a good alternative for Nahida here.
Cyno ascension materials – Genshin Impact
You’ll want to quickly raise Cyno’s level when you pull him, which means that you’ll need to farm his ascension materials. You’ll also require some materials to fully upgrade his talents.
Here’s what you need to get Cyno to level 90:
- Vajrada Amethyst Sliver x1
- Vajrada Amethyst Fragment x9
- Vajrada Amethyst Chunk x9
- Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone x6
- Divining Scroll x18
- Sealed Scroll x30
- Forbidden Curse Scroll x36
- Scarab x168
- Thunderclap Fruitcore x46
- Mora x2,092,530
Vajrada Amethyst is available from any Electro-affiliated boss on the world map, such as the Electro Hypostasis or the Electro Regisvine. Since you’ll need Thunderclap Fruitcores as well, which only drop from the Electro Regisvine in Sumeru, you should focus on that to cover both materials.
Scrolls are a common material from Samachurls, which are the priest-like Hilichurls with elemental powers. Scarabs can be found in Sumeru’s deserts, mainly around the grand Mausoleum of King Deshret. Blossoms of Wealth are the best source to make Mora.
Here’s what you need to upgrade all of Cyno’s talents to their maximum level:
- Divining Scroll x18
- Sealed Scroll x66
- Forbidden Curse Scroll x93
- Teachings of Admonition x9
- Guide to Admonition x63
- Philosophies of Admonition x114
- Mudra of the Malefic General x18
- Crown of Insight x3
- Mora x4,957,500
You’ll have to defeat more Samachurls to get Scrolls and also farm some more money to upgrade the talents. Books of Admonition are found in the Steeple of Ignorance Domain on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday after completing the challenges.
Mudra of the Malefic General is a boss material from fighting Raiden Shogun on Inazuma. Finally, Crowns of Insight are often up for grabs in limited events and you can claim them by progressing through the reward tracks of places like the Tree of Dreams.
