Columbina Guide and Best Builds

Columbina Guide and Best Builds

Columbina is a 5-star Hydro Catalyst character in Genshin Impact. Our Columbina build guide will focus on Columbina's best weapons, best artifacts, skills, constellations and Columbina's best teams.

Last updated on Jan 13, 2026 at 21:00 by GxG Noir
Hydro Element
Catalyst Weapon
Rarity
Emi Lo EN Voice Actor
Lynn JP Voice Actor

Columbina Guide & Best Builds

Welcome to our Columbina build guide for Genshin Impact. Columbina is a powerful 5-Star Hydro Sub DPS Character and the "Archon"-Type character for Nod-Krai. In our guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to get the most out of your Columbina, from building the best Artifacts and Weapons to important stat priorities and rotations.

Best Weapons for Columbina

Listed below are Columbina's best weapons. While weapons are listed in a priority order, what's best to build on your Columbina can vary depending on the exact team composition and level of investment you want to put into Columbina.

Nocturne's Curtain Call (R1) 140%

Ballad of the Crossroads

Base ATK: 542

CRIT DMG: 88.2%

Max HP increases by 10%. When triggering Lunar reactions or inflicting Lunar Reaction DMG on opponents, the equipping character will recover 14 Energy, and receive the Bountiful Sea's Sacred Wine effect for 12s: Max HP increases by an additional 14%, CRIT DMG from Lunar Reaction DMG increases by 60%. The Energy recovery effect can be triggered at most once every 18s, and can be triggered even when the equipping character is off-field.

Nocturne's Curtain Call is Columbinas best in slot weapon by far. This Catalyst provides Columbina with immense amounts of CRIT DMG %, HP %, and Energy Recovery, making it around 40% stronger than her free to play options like Prototype Amber.
Reliquary of Truth (R1) 119%

Essence of Falsity

Base ATK: 542

CRIT DMG: 88.2%

CRIT Rate is increased by 8% / 10% / 12% / 14% / 16%. When the equipping character unleashes an Elemental Skill, they gain the Secret of Lies effect: Elemental Mastery is increased by 80 / 100 / 120 / 140 / 160 for 12s. When the equipping character deals Lunar-Bloom DMG to an opponent, they gain the Moon of Truth effect: CRIT DMG is increased by 24% / 30% / 36% / 42% / 48% for 4s. When both the Secret of Lies and Moon of Truth effects are active at the same time, the results of both effects will be increased by 50%.

Reliquary of Truth is a decent 5-Star option, providing massive amounts of CRIT DMG, some CRIT Rate and EM. In Lunar Bloom teams, especially if Columbina is used on-field, this weapon becomes much more effective and will be her second best option. But off-field without Lunar Bloom, it is around 13% better instead.
Sacrificial Jade (R5) 122%

Jade Circulation

Base ATK: 454

CRIT Rate: 36.8%

When not on the field for more than 5s, Max HP will be increased by 32% / 40% / 48% / 56% / 64% and Elemental Mastery will be increased by 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80. These effects will be canceled after the wielder has been on the field for 10s.

Excellent weapon providing three stats that Columbina uses well - HP %, EM, and CRIT Rate. However, the large amount of CRIT Rate it provides can make it hard to avoid overcapping on the stat, which would lower its value. It's also worth noting that Sacrificial Jade's effect does not work if Columbina is kept on-field for too long, so won't be ideal for her on-field DPS teams.
Waveriding Whirl (R5) 109%

Fangs Flying To and Fro

Base ATK: 454

Energy Recharge: 61.3%

Decreases Swimming Stamina consumption by 15%. In addition, for 10s after using an Elemental Skill, Max HP is increased by 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40%. For every Hydro Elemental Type character in the party, Max HP is increased by another 12% / 15% / 18% / 21% / 24%, and the maximum increase that can be achieved in this way is 24% / 30% / 36% / 42% / 48%. Can be triggered once every 15s.

Waveriding Whirl, especially if refined, can be one of Columbina's best weapon options. The main stat provides a large 61.3% ER, while the passive provides large amounts of HP %, even more if there is a second Hydro unit on the team.
Surf's Up (R1) 107%

Aqua Remembrance

Base ATK: 542

CRIT DMG: 88.2%

Max HP increased by 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40%. Once every 15s, for the 14s after using an Elemental Skill: Gain 4 Scorching Summer stacks. Each stack increases Normal Attack DMG by 12% / 15% / 18% / 21% / 24%. For the duration of the effect, once every 1.5s, lose 1 stack after a Normal Attack hits an opponent; once every 1.5s, gain 1 stack after triggering a Vaporize reaction on an opponent. Max 4 Scorching Summer stacks.

5 Star CRIT DMG stat stick weapons can be good options for Columbina. In particular, Surf's Up and Tome of the Eternal Flow, as they provide 88% CRIT DMG plus some HP %.
Prototype Amber (R5) 100%

Gilding

Base ATK: 510

HP: 41.3%

Using an Elemental Burst regenerates 4 / 4.5 / 5 / 5.5 / 6 Energy every 2s for 6s. All party members will regenerate 4% / 4.5% / 5% / 5.5% / 6% HP every 2s for this duration.

Prototype Amber is a great free to play weapon option for Columbina, providing her with a useful HP % main stat, and a good a mount of Energy. It also gives her some healing, which can help with sustain in teams that do not have a healer or shielder.
Favonius Codex (R5) 103%

Windfall

Base ATK: 510

Energy Recharge: 45.9%

CRIT Hits have a 60% / 70% / 80% / 90% / 100% chance to generate a small amount of Elemental Particles, which will regenerate 6 Energy for the character. Can only occur once every 12s / 10.5s / 9s / 7.5s / 6s.

Favonius Codex is also a great option - the Energy Recharge main stat plus the particles the weapon produces, makes it fantastic for meeting Columbina's Energy requirements. The particles from the weapon will also lower the rest of the team's Energy requirements, which can make Favonius Columbina's overall best free to play option.
Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (R5) 83%

Heritage

Base ATK: 401

HP: 35.2%

When switching characters, the new character taking the field has their ATK increased by 24% / 30% / 36% / 42% / 48% for 10s. This effect can only occur once every 20s.

Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers can allow Columbina to provide an ATK % buff to the character she swaps to. However, it is usually more ideal to use her on a better weapon to increase her personal damage.

Best Artifacts for Columbina

Aubade of Morningstar and Moon

Aubade of Morningstar and Moon

2-Piece Set: Increases Elemental Mastery by 80.

4-Piece Set: When the equipping character is off-field, Lunar Reaction DMG is increased by 20%. When the party's Moonsign Level is at least Ascendant Gleam, Lunar Reaction DMG will be further increased by 40%. This effect will disappear after the equipping character is active for 3s.

This is the set to use if you want to maximize Columbina's personal damage from off-field. However, in teams where she is a lower portion of the overall team damage, it can be better to use her on more supportive sets instead. Note that this set also does not work if Columbina is used on-field. Most Columbina teams will have Ascendant Gleam, but if yours does not, then this set is not worth using.
Night of the Sky's Unveiling

Night of the Sky's Unveiling

2-Piece Set: Increases Elemental Mastery by 80.

4-Piece Set: When nearby party members trigger Lunar Reactions, if the equipping character is on the field, gain the Gleaming Moon: Intent effect for 4s: Increases CRIT Rate by 15%/30% when the party's Moonsign is Nascent Gleam/Ascendant Gleam. All party members' Lunar Reaction DMG is increased by 10% for each different Gleaming Moon effect that party members have. Effects from Gleaming Moon cannot stack.

Columbina can be used on-field instead of off-field. If using her this way, you will want to use this set to maximize her damage.
Silken Moon's Serenade

Silken Moon's Serenade

2-Piece Set: Energy Recharge +20%.

4-Piece Set: When dealing Elemental DMG, gain the Gleaming Moon: Devotion effect for 8s: Increases all party members' Elemental Mastery by 60/120 when the party's Moonsign is Nascent Gleam/Ascendant Gleam. The equipping character can trigger this effect while off-field. All party members' Lunar Reaction DMG is increased by 10% for each different Gleaming Moon effect that party members have. Effects from Gleaming Moon cannot stack.

This set should be included in just about any team with Ascendant Gleam. Thus, if no other support is free to use this set, then Columbina should use Silken Moon's Serenade.
Deepwood Memories

Deepwood Memories

2-Piece Set: Dendro DMG Bonus +15%.

4-Piece Set: After Elemental Skills or Bursts hit opponents, the targets' Dendro RES will be decreased by 30% for 8s. This effect can be triggered even if the equipping character is not on the field.

Deepwood Memories is crucial to include on Lunar Bloom teams, as the 30% RES Shred is a large damage increase. If there is no other support on the team free to use this set, then Columbina can use it instead.
Tenacity of the Millelith

Tenacity of the Millelith

2-Piece Set: HP +20%

4-Piece Set: When an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, the ATK of all nearby party members is increased by 20% and their Shield Strength is increased by 30% for 3s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5s. This effect can still be triggered even when the character who is using this artifact set is not on the field.

This can be a good set to use on Columbina, providing a useful 20% HP, and a teamwide 20% ATK buff. It will usually be better to use Columbina on the Morningstar set for her own personal damage, but in teams where most of the damage comes from Attack-scaling units, such as Flins and Ineffa, then this set can be good. The 30% Shield Strength it provides also makes Ineffa's Shield much more durable

Columbina's Stat Priority

Sands of Eon: HP % / Energy Recharge > EM
Goblet of Eonothem: HP %
Circlet of Logos: HP % / CRIT Rate / DMG
Substats: ER to requirements > HP % > CRIT Rate / DMG > EM

Columbina scales with 5 different stats: CRIT Rate / DMG, HP%, EM, and ER. This makes it rather easy to get a good build on her. She scales best with CRIT and HP %, so these stats should always be prioritized over EM.

CRIT Rate has no effect beyond 100%, so balance your build to ensure you do not go over this limit. Columbina also wants to Burst every rotation, meaning it is important to prioritize Energy Recharge until you have enough. The exact amount of ER can vary heavily depending on the exact team and weapon. Use an ER Sands instead of HP % if needed to hit your Energy Requirements.

Recommended Stats for Columbina

Build recommendations assume a "decently built" level of artifact rolls alongside Columbina's best free to play weapon, Prototype Amber. Using other weapons may increase or decrease certain stats relative to these recommendations.

HP: 32,000-36,000
ATK: 900-1100
CRIT Rate: 75-85%
CRIT DMG: 170-190%
ER: 180-190%

Columbina's Talent Priority

Talent Priority: Eternal Tides > Moonlit Melancholy > Moondew Cascade

Columbina's Elemental Skill is the most important Talent to level as this is the vast majority of her damage comes from. Her Burst should be leveled next, as this increases the amount of Lunar DMG % it provides, up to 40 % at level 10. Columbina's Normal Attack talent can be ignored, but should be leveled if using her in an on-field Lunar Bloom team.

How to Play Columbina

Columbina's playstyle is very simple - you cast her Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst before swapping to the next character. With her Skill, Eternal Tides, Columbina will continuously apply AoE Hydro every 2 seconds, and every 6 seconds she will deal high amounts of Direct Lunar Reaction damage, corresponding to the reaction used the most by your team (ex: in a Lunar-Charged team she deals Lunar-Charged damage).

Columbina will also buff the damage of these Lunar Reactions. Although her primary playstyle is as an off-field DPS and buffer, Columbina can be used as an on-field DPS, utilizing her special Charged Attack to deal consume Verdant Dew and deal more Lunar Bloom damage.

Columbina's Best Constellations

Constellation % of C0 % From Previous Constellation
C0 100%
100%
C1 106% 106%
C2 128% 121%
C3 132% 103%
C4 143% 108%
C5 146% 102%
C6 189% 129%

Most of Columbina's Constellations are primarily focused around increasing her own personal damage, while also providing Elevation to increase the team's Lunar Reaction damage. C1 provides additional utility, most noteworthy being that it allows Columbina to create Hydro Shields in Lunar Crystalize teams. C2 will also provide some minor buffing. C6 provides good buffing via 80 CRIT DMG to characters when they trigger Lunar Reactions. C2 and C6 are her best Constellations overall.

Investment Priority: Weapon > Constellation 1 > Constellation 2

Columbina's Best Team Compositions

To learn all about Columbina's synergies and best team compositions, check our dedicated Columbina team page below:

Changelog

  • 13 Jan. 2026: Columbina guide updated for release.
  • 10 Jan. 2026: Columbina guide updated for release.
  • 03 Dec. 2025: Columbina guide released.
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