Yelan is a top-tier Hydro sub-DPS: off-field coordinated Hydro attacks that trigger on normal attacks, massive personal DMG that scales with HP, and a ramping DMG buff for the active character. She is basically a 5-star Xingqiu with more damage and slightly less Hydro application. This guide covers everything you need to build her optimally in v5.6.
1. Best Weapons (Ranked)
| Rank | Weapon | Rarity | Base ATK | Sub-stat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aqua Simulacra | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 542 | CRIT DMG 88.2% | Signature. Massive CRIT DMG + HP% + DMG bonus. Perfect synergy. |
| 2 | Favonius Warbow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 454 | ER 61.3% | Best F2P. ER main stat + energy particles. Solves ER needs completely. |
| 3 | Sacrificial Bow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 565 | ER 30.6% | Extra E charge = more particles + more DMG. Good for C0. |
| 4 | The Stringless | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 510 | EM 165 | Skill + burst DMG bonus. Use in reaction teams (vape). |
2. Best Artifact Sets
4-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate is the optimal set for Yelan.
Main Stats Priority
| Slot | Main Stat | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sands | HP% / ER% | HP% best for damage. ER% if below 180% (solo Hydro needs 200%+). |
| Goblet | Hydro DMG | Always Hydro DMG. HP% goblet only with Aqua + very high HP subs. |
| Circlet | CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG | Aim for 1:2 ratio. ~70% CR, ~140%+ CD. |
Sub-stat Priority
- Energy Recharge (to 180-200% — C1 lowers this to ~160%)
- CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG (1:2 ratio — she needs both)
- HP% (more damage — Yelan scales entirely off HP)
- Flat HP (minor boost — less efficient than HP%)
3. Best Team Compositions
👥 Tao + Yelan
Hu Tao + Yelan + Xingqiu + Zhongli. Double Hydro resonance (+25% HP) benefits both Yelan and Hu Tao. Massive single-target DMG.
👥 Yelan + Nahida
Yelan + Nahida + Kuki/Raiden + Flex. Yelan provides Hydro for bloom seeds. Kuki triggers hyperblooms. High floor damage.
👥 Kokomi + Yelan
Kokomi + Yelan + Kazuha + Xingqiu. Triple Hydro feeds everyone's energy. Kazuha buffs Hydro DMG. Fun and surprisingly effective.
4. Talent Priority
5. Rotation Guide
Zhongli hold E → Yelan E Q → Xingqiu E Q E → Hu Tao E → CA spam (jump/dash cancel) → Q (when HP low)
6. Common Mistakes
❌ ❌ Building ATK instead of HP. Yelan scales ENTIRELY on HP. ATK does literally nothing for her.
❌ ❌ Too little ER. Solo Hydro Yelan needs 200%+ ER. Below 180%, burst won't be up. Use Favonius Warbow or an ER sands.
❌ ❌ Leveling NA. Yelan's burst triggers off anyone's NA — she never uses her own normal attacks as a sub-DPS.
❌ ❌ Using her as solo Hydro in energy-hungry teams. Yelan needs either C1, Sac Bow, or Fav Bow to battery herself solo. Otherwise pair with Xingqiu.
