Cryo

Bow

Ganyu

Plenilune Gaze

TierB

RolesMain DPS · Sub DPS

Release1.2

The Liyue Qixing's half-qilin secretary is a ranged Cryo carry built around her charged Frostflake Arrows, backed by a long-lasting Burst that rains ice on the battlefield. She shines in Freeze teams, where she can fire from a safe distance while enemies stay frozen, and in Melt teams for bigger single hits. Newer carries outclass her in 7.1, but she remains comfortable and effective.

Build Create a build card

Weapons

The First Great Magic BiS

5★ · CRIT DMG

Best in slot: Charged Attack DMG and big CRIT DMG.

+16% Charged Attack DMG; up to +48% ATK based on same-element party members.

Aqua Simulacra

5★ · CRIT DMG

CRIT DMG, HP and +20% DMG as long as enemies are nearby.

+16% HP and +20% DMG while opponents are nearby, even off-field.

Amos' Bow

5★ · ATK%

Her signature: ATK% and Charged Attack DMG that grows with arrow flight time.

+12% Normal and Charged Attack DMG, plus up to +40% more the longer the arrow flies.

Polar Star

5★ · CRIT Rate

CRIT Rate and stacking ATK; fine but less tailored to her.

+12% Skill and Burst DMG; Normal, Charged, Skill and Burst hits stack up to +48% ATK.

Prototype Crescent

4★ · ATK%

Best free option: craftable, +36% ATK on weak-spot hits.

Charged Attack hits on weak spots grant +36% ATK and +10% Movement SPD for 10s.

Hamayumi

4★ · ATK%

4-star ATK% bow with a Charged Attack bonus.

+16% Normal Attack DMG and +12% Charged Attack DMG, doubled while Energy is full.

Artifacts

Blizzard Strayer ×4

Best for Freeze: Cryo DMG Bonus and up to +40% CRIT Rate on Frozen enemies.

Set effects

2pCryo DMG Bonus +15%.

4pCRIT Rate +20% against enemies affected by Cryo, and another +20% if they are Frozen.

Marechaussee Hunter ×4

With Furina: Charged Attack DMG and 36% CRIT Rate, even on unfreezable bosses.

Set effects

2pNormal and Charged Attack DMG +15%.

4pWhen current HP increases or decreases, CRIT Rate +12% for 5s (max 3 stacks).

Wanderer's Troupe ×4

Simple, reliable Charged Attack option (+35%).

Set effects

2pElemental Mastery +80.

4pCatalyst and Bow users deal +35% Charged Attack DMG.

Main stats

Sands of Eon

ATK%

Goblet of Eonothem

Cryo DMG Bonus

Circlet of Logos

CRIT DMG / CRIT Rate

Substat priority

1CRIT DMG 2CRIT Rate 3ATK% 4Energy Recharge

Stat targets

CRIT Rate 20–35% on the stat screen: Blizzard Strayer (+40% on Frozen enemies), Cryo Resonance (+15%) and Undivided Heart (+20%) do the rest
CRIT DMG 200%+
Energy Recharge 110–130%
ATK 2,000+

Talent priority

Normal Attack

Elemental Burst

Elemental Skill

Don't overbuild CRIT Rate in Freeze: against Frozen enemies she easily reaches 100% in combat, so CRIT DMG is worth much more.

Weapons

Astral Vulture's Crimson Plumage BiS

5★ · CRIT DMG

Best in slot for Melt with an Anemo teammate: ATK after Swirl and big Charged Attack DMG.

+24% ATK after Swirl or Stellar Swirl; up to +48% Charged Attack and +24% Burst DMG with teammates of other elements.

Hunter's Path

5★ · CRIT Rate

Turns her Elemental Mastery into extra Charged Attack DMG.

+12% Elemental DMG; Charged Attack hits add 160% of Elemental Mastery to Charged Attack DMG (12 hits or 10s).

The First Great Magic

5★ · CRIT DMG

Strong CRIT DMG option, better with same-element teammates.

+16% Charged Attack DMG; up to +48% ATK based on same-element party members.

Amos' Bow

5★ · ATK%

Her signature, still solid in Melt.

+12% Normal and Charged Attack DMG, plus up to +40% more the longer the arrow flies.

Prototype Crescent

4★ · ATK%

Craftable fallback.

Charged Attack hits on weak spots grant +36% ATK and +10% Movement SPD for 10s.

Artifacts

Wanderer's Troupe ×4

Elemental Mastery and +35% Charged Attack DMG: the Melt standard.

Set effects

2pElemental Mastery +80.

4pCatalyst and Bow users deal +35% Charged Attack DMG.

Unfinished Reverie ×4

For Burning-Melt teams (Emilie), where enemies are always Burning.

Set effects

2pATK +18%.

4pDMG +50% after 3s out of combat; in combat it drops by 10%/s without a Burning enemy nearby for 6s, and climbs back 10%/s while one is.

Shimenawa's Reminiscence ×4

+50% Charged Attack DMG, at the cost of 15 Energy.

Set effects

2pATK +18%.

4pCasting a Skill with 15+ Energy drains 15 Energy and grants +50% Normal/Charged/Plunging Attack DMG for 10s.

Main stats

Sands of Eon

Elemental Mastery / ATK%

Goblet of Eonothem

Cryo DMG Bonus

Circlet of Logos

CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG

Substat priority

1CRIT Rate 2CRIT DMG 3Elemental Mastery 4ATK%

Stat targets

Elemental Mastery 100–200
CRIT Rate 40–50% on the stat screen (Undivided Heart adds 20%)
CRIT DMG 180%+
No real Energy target: fire the Burst when it is ready

Talent priority

Normal Attack

Elemental Skill

Elemental Burst

Teams

Recommended teams

Modern Freeze

Ganyu

Furina

Escoffier

Shenhe

Furina applies Hydro and buffs DMG, Escoffier shreds Hydro and Cryo RES and heals, Shenhe adds Cryo DMG and more shred.

Reverse Melt

Ganyu

Bennett

Xiangling

Zhongli

Xiangling keeps enemies Pyro-affected, Bennett buffs ATK and Zhongli protects Ganyu while she aims.

Budget Freeze

Ganyu

Mona

Venti

Diona

Mona freezes and buffs, Venti groups enemies and shreds RES, Diona shields and enables Cryo Resonance.

Guide

How to play

How she works

Her fully charged Aimed Shot fires a Frostflake Arrow that hits, then blooms for AoE Cryo DMG. Undivided Heart: after firing one, the next Frostflake Arrows and blooms get +20% CRIT Rate for 5s.
Trail of the Qilin (Skill, 10s cooldown) leaves an Ice Lotus that taunts enemies, then explodes for AoE Cryo DMG, while Ganyu leaps back. Its particles fuel her Burst.
Celestial Shower (Burst, 60 Energy) summons a Sacred Cryo Pearl that rains ice shards for 15s. Harmony Between Heaven and Earth gives +20% Cryo DMG Bonus to the active character inside its area.

Rotation

Freeze

Set up your Hydro and Cryo supports (Furina E+Q, Escoffier, Shenhe E).
Ganyu Q then E.
Fire Frostflake Arrows while standing inside the Burst area for the Cryo DMG Bonus.

Melt

Bennett Q, Xiangling Q+E (or other Pyro application).
Ganyu Q, E, then Frostflake Arrows on Pyro-affected enemies. Don't overwrite the Pyro aura with too much Cryo.

In Freeze teams, the Burst alone is a strong off-field Cryo source, so Ganyu can also work as a sub-DPS.

Strengths

Safe ranged damage, far from enemy attacks
Huge AoE from Frostflake blooms and her Burst
Flexible: Freeze, Melt or off-field Burst sub-DPS
Her Burst lasts 15s and has a short cooldown

Weaknesses

Aiming locks her in place during each charge
Melt play needs careful Pyro management
Freeze is weak against bosses that cannot be frozen
Outclassed by newer Cryo carries

Notable dupes · Constellation

Big upgrade

Frostflake Arrows shred 15% Cryo RES and refund Energy: a clear damage and comfort gain.

Solid upgrade

A second Skill charge: more particles and Cryo application.

Solid upgrade

Enemies in her Burst take up to 25% more DMG from the whole team.

Solid upgrade

One free, instant Frostflake Arrow after each Skill.

Community

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Updated September 25, 2026 · Version 7.1

Sources & references