Head of the Kamisato estate, Genshin Impact’s Ayato is a hardworking and intelligent young man. He’s always up for a prank or some hijinks when he gets a spare moment to himself, especially if said fun involves a cup of bubble tea. In this guide, we dive into the two best Genshin Ayato builds – for DPS and burst-based sub-DPS roles -both of which he flourishes at. He’s got lightning-fast attacks and a fantastic AoE hydro application in his burst and makes a big splash on the battlefield.
If you’re new to Genshin Impact, you might want to check out our Genshin Impact tier list to see which characters are worth your time – or, if you’re a longtime player, you can see where your favorites rank. We also have a Genshin Impact codes guide because we can’t say no to free primogems and a Genshin Impact next banner guide.
Now grab a cup of boba tea and see what we, his retainers, recommend for the best Genshin Impact Ayato build.
What’s the best Genshin Impact Ayato build?
Kamisato Ayato is a five-star sword-wielding hydro user with some interesting utility, especially since the dendro element’s release. His burst offers great off-field hydro application, and his normal attack deals incredibly quick damage that is devastating to both single targets and groups. Ayato is a very unique unit and excels in both burst sub-DPS and main DPS roles, as well as seeing him slot into both standard and quick-swap rotations.
To get the most out of main DPS Ayato, you’ll want to ensure you have his elemental skill active as often as possible by ensuring you have plenty of energy recharge. We also recommend you build him with as much normal attack damage as you can and make sure his max health is at a decent level to help him live up to his high DPS potential.
If you want to use Ayato as a sub-DPS or burst support, you need to maximize the use of his burst. This build has great potential for supporting your team with constant hydro application and attack speed buffs.
What are the best Genshin Impact Ayato weapons?
Naturally, the best weapon for DPS Ayato is Haran Geppaku Futsu, his signature weapon. Alternatively, Mistsplitter Reforged and Summit Shaper are great choices.
If you’re looking for the best four-star weapon for Ayato, the Black Sword from the battle pass is a brilliant option that comes with a little bit of HP regeneration. The Lion’s Roar is an interesting choice for Ayato, but due to its skill only triggering when used on enemies affected by pyro or electro, you should only give him this weapon if you’re using him in electro-charged, hyperbloom, or vape comps to get the most out of it.
Ayato DPS weapons
| Weapon | Effect | How to obtain |
| Haran Geppaku Futsu (five-star) | Bonus effect: Increases crit rat Skill: Obtain a 12% bonus to all elemental damage. When other nearby party members use elemental skills, the character equipping this weapon will gain one wavespike stack, for a maximum of two stacks |
Weapon banner (alongside Ayato) |
| Mistsplitter Reforged (five-star) | Bonus effect: Crit damage +9.6% Skill: Gain a 12% elemental damage bonus for the wielder’s elemental type. At stack one/two/three, elemental damage is further increased by 8/16/28%. Stacks gotten through normal attacks with elemental damage have a five-second duration, through elemental burst have a ten-second duration, and through having less than 100% energy last until your energy is fully recharged |
Weapon banner (alongside Ayaka) |
| Summit Shaper (five-star) | Bonus effect: Attack +10.8% Skill: Increases shield strength by 20%. When you score hits on opponents, it increases your attack by 4% for eight seconds, for a maximum of five stacks. This can only occur once every 0.3 seconds. While protected by a shield, the attack buff is increased by 100% |
Weapon banner |
| The Black Sword (four-star) | Bonus effect: Crit rate +6% Skill: Damage dealt by normal and charged attacks is increased by 20%, and you regenerate 60% of attack as HP when your normal and charged attacks score a crit hit. This effect can occur once every five seconds |
Battle Pass reward |
| Lion’s Roar (four-star) | Bonus effect: Attack +9% Skill: Increases damage against enemies affected by pyro or electro by 20% |
All banners |
Ayato sub-DPS weapons
As with DPS Ayato, Mistsplitter Reforged is a good choice for sub-DPS Ayato because of its energy recharge and boost to his burst damage. Similarly, Skyward Blade and Primordial Jade Cutter are great for their buffs. However, all of the above are five-star weapons, so may be tricky to get. But you still have some great options if you’re looking for the best four-star weapon for Ayato in a sub-DPS role. Amenoma Kageuchi and Festering Desire are strong options, one of which you can forge via the Blacksmith.
| Weapon | Effect | How to obtain |
| Mistsplitter Reforged (five-star) | Bonus effect: Crit damage +9.6% Skill: Gain a 12% elemental damage bonus for the wielder’s elemental type. At stack one/two/three, elemental damage is further increased by 8/16/28%. Stacks gotten through normal attacks with elemental damage have a five-second duration, through elemental burst have a ten-second duration, and through having less than 100% energy last until your energy is fully recharged |
Weapon banner (alongside Ayaka) |
| Skyward Blade (five-star) | Bonus effect: Energy recharge +12% Skill: Increases crit rate by 4%. After you use an elemental burst, you gain Skypiercing Might, which increases movement speed by 10%, attack speed by 10%, and normal and charged attack damage by 20% for 12 seconds |
Standard banner |
| Primordial Jade Cutter (five-star) | Bonus effect: Crit rate +9.6% Skill: Increases HP by 20%, and provides an attack bonus based on Ayato’s max HP |
Weapon banner |
| Amenoma Kageuchi (four-star) | Bonus effect: Attack +12% Skill: After casting an elemental skill, you gain one Succession Seed. After using an elemental burst, all Succession Seeds are consumed and, after two seconds, Ayato regenerates six energy for each seed consumed. This effect can be triggered once every five seconds, each seed lasts for 30 seconds, and a maximum of three seeds may exist simultaneously |
Get the blueprint by completing the Farmer’s Treasure quest, then forge via blacksmith |
| Festering Desire (four-star) | Bonus effect: Energy recharge +10 Skill: Increases elemental skill damage by 16% and elemental skill crit rate by 6% |
The Chalk Prince and the Dragon event reward |
What are the best Genshin Impact Ayato artifacts?
Like our weapon suggestions, we’ll outline both DPS and sub-DPS choices for Ayato.
You’ve got two main choices for artifact sets for a DPS Ayato. If you want to use him as a hydro-focused DPS it’s best to go with Heart of Depth. This set is considered the most consistent choice for him, as it provides a boost to Ayato’s hydro damage, and increases his normal and charged attack damage after using an elemental skill.
The second option is Echoes of an Offering. This one has a very unique skill that is designed to complement Ayato’s kit. Alternatively, you can go for Gladiator’s Finale which is a pretty easy set to obtain and focuses solely on increased Ayato’s damage. Nothing wrong with a bit of extra bang for your buck.
For sub-DPS or burst support Ayato, you’ve got a few artifact options. First, you can go with a full set of Emblem of Severed Fate to increase his energy recharge, allowing him to use his burst more frequently, or you can also choose to give him a full set of Noblesse Oblige (if you don’t have someone on your team already using that set). Its four-piece, team-wide buff doesn’t stack. Alternatively, you can go with two pieces of Heart of Depth and two pieces of Noblesse Oblige to boost both his hydro and burst damage, in turn helping his buff and allowing him to make a big impact whenever he’s in the field.
Ayato DPS artifacts
| Artifact set | Effect | How to obtain |
| Emblem of Severed Fate | Two equipped: Increases energy recharge Four equipped: Increases elemental burst damage by 25% of energy recharge. You can obtain a maximum of 75% bonus damage in this way. |
Momiji-Dyed Court domain |
| Noblesse Oblige | Two equipped: Increases elemental burst damage Four equipped: Increases all party members’ attack by 20% for 12 seconds after using an elemental burst. This effect cannot stack. |
Clear Pool and Mountain Cavern domain |
| Heart of Depth | Two equipped: Increases hydro damage Four equipped: Increases normal and charged attack damage after using an elemental skill by 30% for 15 seconds. |
Peak of Vindagnyr domain |
| Nymph’s Dream | Two equipped: Hydro damage bonus Four equipped: After Ayato uses normal, charged, and plunging attacks, elemental skills, and elemental bursts hit opponents, one stack of Mirrored Nymph will trigger. When under the effect of 1/2/3 or more Mirrored Nymph stacks, attack increases by 7%/16%/25%, and hydro damage increases by 4%/9%/15%. |
Molten Iron Fortress domain |
Artifact stat recommendations for DPS Ayato
These are the stats to look for to get the most damage out of Mr. Kamisato:
Main stats:
- Sands: Attack, energy recharge
- Goblet: Hydro damage bonus
- Circlet: Crit rate or crit damage
Sub-stats:
- Energy recharge
- Crit rat
- Crit damage
- Attack
- HP
Ayato sub-DPS artifacts
| Artifact set | Effect | How to obtain |
| Echoes of an Offering | Two equipped: Increases attack Four equipped: When normal attacks hit opponents, there’s a 36% chance to trigger Valley Rite, which increases Ayato’s normal attack damage by 70%. The effect is dispelled 0.05 seconds after a normal attack deals damage. If a normal attack fails to trigger Valley Rite, the odds of it triggering the next time are increased by 20%. This trigger can occur once every 0.2 seconds |
Lost Valley domain |
| Heart of Depth | Two equipped: Increases hydro damage Four equipped: Increases normal and charged attack damage after using an elemental skill by 30% for 15 seconds |
Peak of Vindagnyr domain |
| Gladiator’s Finale | Two equipped: Increases attack Four equipped: Increases Ayato’s normal attack damage by 35% (due to using a sword) |
Dropped by world and weekly bosses, Gladiator’s Finale strongbox |
Artifact stat recommendations for sub-DPS Ayato
Here’s what you should prioritize for a sub-DPS build:
Main stats:
- Sands: Attack or energy recharge
- Goblet: Hydro damage bonus
- Circlet: Crit rate or crit damage
Sub-stats:
- Energy recharge
- Crit rate
- Crit damage
- HP
What are Genshin Impact Ayato’s abilities?
Here are Ayato Genshin Impact’s talents and what they do. Regardless of what build you go with, we recommend you prioritize leveling Kamisato Art: Kyouka Art first.
Active skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Normal attack: Kamisato Art: Marobashi | Normal: Perform up to five strikes Charged: Consume a certain amount of stamina to perform a more powerful attack Plunging: Plunge from mid-air to strike the ground, dealing AoE damage on impact |
| Elemental skill: Kamisato Art: Kyouka | Ayato shifts positions and enters the Takimeguri Kanka state, leaving a watery illusion behind him, which explodes to deal AoE hydro damage. While in this state, Ayato uses his Shunsuiken to engage in blindingly fast attacks, and his normal attacks are converted to hydro. Each hit on an enemy grants Namisen, which increases damage based on Ayato’s max HP. The initial maximum number of Namisen stacks is four, and you can gain one stack via Shunsuiken every 0.1 seconds. Ayato’s resistance to interruption is increased, but unable to use charged or plunge attacks. |
| Elemental burst: Kamisato Art: Suiyuu | Create a wide AoE where Bloomwater Blades constantly rain down, striking opponents and dealing hydro damage. Additionally, any allies with in the AoE gain a boost to their normal attack damage |
Passive skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Kamisato Art: Mine Wo Matoishi Kiyotaki (unlocked at ascension one) | Ayato’s elemental skill has the following properties: after use, it gains two Namisen stacks, and when the water illusion explodes, Ayato gains a Namisen effect equal to the maximum number of possible stacks |
| Kamisato Art: Michiyuku Hagetsu (unlocked at ascension four) | If Ayato isn’t on the field and his energy is low, he regenerates a set amount of energy at regular intervals |
| Kamisato Art: Daily Cooking (unlocked automatically) | You have the chance to receive a suspicious dish of the same type when cooking |
What are Genshin Impact Ayato’s constellations?
Here are all of Ayato’s constellations. Of course, in order to gain a constellation, you’ll have to be lucky enough to pull this handsome chap multiple times. Luckily, he’s pretty powerful at C0, but snagging any of these is always a bonus.
| Constellation | Effect |
| C1: Kyouka Fuushi | Shunsuiken damage is increased by 40% against opponents with 50% HP or less |
| C2: World Source | Namisen’s maximum stack count increases by five. When Ayato has at least three Namisen stacks, his max HP is increased by 50% |
| C3: To Admire the Flowers | Increases the level of Kamisato Art: Kyouka by three. Maximum upgrade level is 15 |
| C4: Endless Flow | After using Kamisato Art: Auiyuu, all nearby party members gain 15% increased normal attack speed for 15 seconds |
| C5: Bansui Ichiro | Increases the level of Kamisato Art: Suiyuu by three. Maximum upgrade level is 15 |
| C6: Boundless Origin | After using Kamisato Art: Kyouka, Ayato’s next Shunsuiken attack creates two extra strikes upon hitting opponents, with each one dealing 450% of Ayato’s attack as damage. Both of these Shunsuiken attacks are not affected by Namisen |
What are Genshin Impact Ayato’s ascension materials?
These are all the materials you need to ascend Ayato. You can gather sakura blooms by using electro on sakura clouds around Inazuma, and handguards drop from Nobushi enemies.
| Required level | Mora | Materials |
| 20 | 20,000 | Three sakura blooms, one varunada lazurite sliver, and three old handguards. |
| 40 | 40,000 | Two dew of repudiation, ten sakura blooms, three varunada lazurite fragments, and 15 old handguards. |
| 50 | 60,000 | Four dew of repudiation, 20 sakura blooms, six varunada lazurite fragments, and 12 Kageuchi handguards. |
| 60 | 80,000 | Eight dew of repudiation, 30 sakura blooms, three varunada lazurite chunks, and 18 Kageuchi handguards. |
| 70 | 100,000 | 12 dew of repudiation, 45 sakura blooms, six varunada lazurite chunks, and 12 famed handguards. |
| 80 | 120,000 | 20 dew of repudiation, 60 sakura blooms, six varunada lazurite gemstones, and 24 famed handguards. |
What are Gensin Impact Ayato’s talent materials?
Ayato requires the Elegance set of talent books, along with handguards farmed from the Nobushi in Inazuma, and a whole lot of mora. In his later levels, he needs Mudra of the Malefic General items, obtained from the weekly Raiden Shogun boss fight.
| Talent level | Mora | Materials |
| Two | 12,500 | Six old handguards, three teachings of elegance |
| Three | 17,500 | Three Kageuchi handguards, two guides to elegance |
| Four | 25,000 | Four Kageuchi handguards, four guides to elegance |
| Five | 30,000 | Six Kageuchi handguards, six guides to elegance |
| Six | 37,500 | Nine Kageuchi handguards, nine guides to elegance |
| Seven | 120,000 | Four famed handguards, four philosophies of elegance, one mudra of the Malefic General |
| Eight | 260,000 | Six famed handguards, six philosophies of elegance, one mudra of the Malefic General |
| Nine | 450,000 | Nine famed handguards, 12 philosophies of elegance, two mudra of the Malefic General |
| Ten | 700,000 | 12 famed handguards, 16 philosophies of elegance, two mudra of the Malefic General, crown of insight |
What are the best Genshin Impact Ayato team comps?
Ayato is a flexible unit that can slot into pretty much any team that needs reliable hydro application. Therefore, he can be a strong member of many vape, taser, hyperbloom, and permafreeze teams. Here are some examples of Ayato team comps:
| First character slot | Second character slot | Third character slot | Fourth character slot |
 Ayato |
 Fischl |
 Bennett |
 Beidou |
| Ayato |
 Yoimiya |
Bennett |
 Yun Jin |
| Ayato |
 Ganyu |
 Diona |
 Kazuha |
| Ayato |
 Nahida |
 Alhaitham |
 Kuki Shinobu |
And that’s everything we have on Genshin Impact’s Ayato. Make sure you check out our picks for the best mobile RPGs if you’re after other games like Genshin Impact. Then, take a look at our Honkai Star Rail tier list and Honkai Star Rail codes.
