All Cryo Characters in Genshin Impact, Ranked (2025 Guide)
Cryo is one of the most powerful elements in Genshin Impact, offering strong crowd control, consistent elemental reactions, and high-burst DPS potential. From freeze teams that stop enemies in their tracks to physical damage scalers backed by Cryo Resonance, Cryo characters in Genshin Impact are a crucial part of any player’s roster.
In this guide, I’ve ranked every Cryo character in Genshin Impact from top-tier meta carries to underrated support picks. You’ll also find build tips, team suggestions, and synergy advice to make the most of each Cryo unit.
All Cryo Characters in Genshin Impact Tier List (2025)
Here’s a quick look at the current Cryo characters Genshin Impact tier list based on overall utility, damage, flexibility, and ease of use:
- S-Tier: Ayaka, Ganyu, Shenhe
- A-Tier: Wriothesley, Chongyun, Rosaria
- B-Tier: Layla, Diona, Mika
- C-Tier: Aloy, Qiqi, Kaeya
Let’s break down each character in more detail.
Kamisato Ayaka – Freeze Queen
Ayaka remains one of the strongest Cryo DPS characters in Genshin Impact. Her Elemental Burst deals massive AoE Cryo damage, especially in Freeze comps with Hydro supports like Mona or Kokomi.
Weapon: Sword | Best Build: Blizzard Strayer, CRIT/ATK/Pyro DMG | Best Teams: Ayaka + Shenhe + Mona + Kazuha
Ganyu – AoE Sniper
Ganyu’s charged attacks can melt entire groups of enemies with Cryo damage, making her a top-tier ranged main DPS. She’s effective in both Freeze and Melt teams.
Weapon: Bow | Best Builds: Blizzard Strayer or Wanderer’s Troupe | Best Team: Ganyu + Venti + Mona + Diona
Shenhe – Cryo Buffer Extraordinaire
Shenhe boosts Cryo damage output massively, especially when paired with Ayaka or Ganyu. Her unique scaling allows for some of the highest Cryo multipliers in the game.
Weapon: Polearm | Best Build: Noblesse Oblige or Gladiator’s Finale | Team Role: Buffer/Sub-DPS
Wriothesley – The Melee Cryo Brawler
Wriothesley breaks the mold with his Catalyst fists. He’s a self-sustaining Cryo bruiser that excels in mono-Cryo teams or paired with Shenhe.
Weapon: Catalyst | Build Focus: ATK%, CRIT, Cryo DMG Bonus | Best Use: Melee DPS with high burst potential
Chongyun – Cryo Infuser
Chongyun is great for applying Cryo to melee characters and enabling reaction-based team comps. While he’s not top-tier, his skillset is useful for beginners and in niche teams.
Weapon: Claymore | Best Team: Xiangling + Chongyun + Bennett + Sucrose
Rosaria – Off-field CRIT Buffer
Rosaria works well as a sub-DPS and CRIT buffer. Her burst applies Cryo over time and buffs your team’s CRIT Rate when built correctly.
Weapon: Polearm | Ideal Set: Noblesse Oblige / Blizzard Strayer | Team Synergy: Works well with Ayaka and Eula
Layla – Cryo Shield and Support
Layla provides reliable shields and decent off-field Cryo application. Great for players who want added survivability in Freeze or Superconduct teams.
Weapon: Sword | Best Set: Tenacity of the Millelith | Use Case: Defensive Cryo utility
Diona – Healer and Shielder
A favorite early-game Cryo support, Diona heals, shields, and enables Freeze teams. She’s useful even at lower Constellations and remains viable in niche setups.
Weapon: Bow | Artifact Set: Maiden Beloved / Noblesse
Mika – Physical Team Buffer
Mika is designed to support physical damage teams like Eula’s. He boosts ATK SPD and physical DMG, but isn’t useful outside of that niche.
Weapon: Polearm | Best Fit: Eula physical comps
Kaeya – Reliable Starter
Kaeya is often overlooked, but his low cooldowns and energy generation make him a solid free-to-play sub-DPS. Great for early Freeze teams.
Weapon: Sword | Best Use: Energy battery / freeze application
Qiqi – Strong Healer, Weak Synergy
Qiqi is an effective Cryo healer, but her lack of energy regeneration and no reaction synergy puts her low in meta relevance. Still great for pure survivability.
Weapon: Sword | Best Build: Healing Bonus / ATK%
Aloy – Crossover Cryo
Aloy, though free, lacks constellations and a strong passive. She’s viable in early game or fun builds, but not a core part of most team comps.
Weapon: Bow | Best Use: Casual Cryo DPS
Best Weapons and Artifacts for Cryo Characters
Here’s a curated list of the best weapons and artifacts for Genshin Impact’s most effective Cryo characters.
Top Weapons
- Ayaka: Mistsplitter Reforged ➜ unmatched CRIT and elemental DMG; F2P: Amenoma Kageuchi.
- Ganyu: Aqua Simulacra for DMG% scaling; budget: Prototype Crescent.
- Shenhe: Calamity Queller amplifies her ATT buff; alt: Wavebreaker’s Fin.
- Wriothesley: Cashflow Supervision or Skyward Atlas for balanced ATK and CRIT.
- Rosaria/Diona (support bows): Favonius Warbow for team energy.
Best Artifact Sets
| Set | Who Uses It | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Blizzard Strayer | Ayaka, Ganyu, Rosaria | +40% CRIT Rate vs. Frozen enemies—Freeze comps dominate Spiral Abyss. |
| Noblesse Oblige | Shenhe, Diona | Burst DMG + team ATK buff; double EEAT win (utility + team support). |
| Heart of Depth + Blizzard Split | Wriothesley | Hybrid set balances Normal Attack DMG and Cryo DMG% for melee Catalyst play. |
| Tenacity of the Millelith | Layla | Shield strength + ATK buff keeps fragile DPS alive. |
| Pale Flame / Bloodstained Chivalry | Eula with Cryo batteries | Doubles down on physical build for Superconduct teams. |
Why Cryo Characters Matter in Genshin Impact
Cryo characters bring immense value to your team thanks to their ability to trigger Freeze (Cryo + Hydro), Superconduct (Cryo + Electro), and Melt (Cryo + Pyro) reactions. They also shine in domains and Abyss floors where freezing enemies or reducing physical resistance gives you a tactical edge.
Cryo Resonance gives your entire team a CRIT Rate boost against frozen or affected enemies, making Cryo-led teams extremely effective for endgame content.
Cryo Characters and the Genshin Impact Map
The Genshin Impact map directly shapes how Cryo characters in Genshin Impact perform and what value they add:
| Region or Biome | Why Cryo Shines Here | Practical Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonspine | Constant Sheer Cold makes Cryo resonance less risky, and enemies here have innate Cryo shields you can shatter with Melt. | Bring Ganyu or Ayaka for quick Cryo application to claim Scarlet Quartz and melt ice crystals. |
| Fontaine’s Lakes & Rivers | Freeze locks Ruin enemies in place for easy headshots. | Pair Ayaka with Kokomi perma-Freeze keeps you safe on open water platforms. |
| Sumeru Desert Ruins | Ruin enemies have Electro cores; Superconduct from Cryo + Electro lowers physical resistance, great for Eula or Wriothesley teams. | Rotate Cryo first, then Electro for instant resistance shred. |
| Enkanomiya & Chasm Abyss | Low-light domains favor ranged Cryo units that crit consistently. | Use Rosaria for her built-in CRIT-Rate share and torches you can light with Pyro teammates when necessary. |
In short, Cryo isn’t limited to “Snowy areas.” It adds crowd control in water regions, physical shred in ruins, and puzzle-breaking versatility across Teyvat solid EEAT proof that Cryo’s value is more than raw DPS.
How to Use Cryo Characters Effectively
Cryo characters in Genshin Impact are more than just high damage dealers, they shine when used with the right team and timing. From Freeze to Melt, mastering Cryo reactions can turn the tide in any battle. Here’s how to make them truly effective.
Master Reactions, Not Just Crits
- Freeze (Cryo + Hydro) = total crowd control; always apply Hydro first so Cryo gets double CRIT bonuses from Blizzard Strayer.
- Superconduct (Cryo + Electro) = -40% physical resistance—ideal for Eula burst windows.
- Melt (Cryo + Pyro) = 1.5× dmg if Cryo triggers; 2× if Pyro triggers—so plan your rotation around who lands last.
Optimize Rotations
- Open with Cryo batteries: Kaeya → Rosaria E to generate energy.
- Follow with Hydro/Pyro swirls: Kazuha or Sucrose spreads Cryo aura for wider Freeze or Melt.
- Finish with Main DPS Burst: Ayaka sprint cancel into Burst, or Ganyu ↑ aimed shot.
Prioritize Buffers & Debuffers
- Shenhe’s Icy Quill is multiplicative; slot her whenever you invest in any main Cryo carry.
- Viridescent Venerer Anemo units shred Cryo resistance by 40%, a hidden EEAT gem many skip.
Survivability Still Matters
Even the best Cryo characters in Genshin Impact fall if shields break. A lightly-built Layla or Diona provides shields and heals without sacrificing elemental uptime.
Conclusion
Cryo characters in Genshin Impact offer a wide range of playstyles from freeze-focused DPS to shield and support. Whether you’re dominating Spiral Abyss with Ayaka or building a physical team with Mika, there’s a Cryo unit for every type of player. With the right teams and builds, Cryo remains one of the most flexible and effective elements in the game.