Varka Guide and Best Builds

Varka Guide & Best Builds

Welcome to our Varka build guide for Genshin Impact. Varka is a 5-Star Anemo Main DPS Character who is also considered a Hexerei character and is focused around a mixed damage infusion playstyle. In our guide, we will cover everything you need to know to get the most out of your Varka, from building the best Artifacts and Weapons to important stat priorities and rotations.

Best Weapons for Varka

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

Gest of the Mighty Wolf

Indomitable Chivalry

Base ATK: 608

CRIT Rate: 33.1%

Increase ATK SPD by 10%. Every time the equipping character's Normal Attack(s) hit opponent(s), when they cast their Elemental Skill, or when they begin their Charged Attack(s), gain 1/2/2 stacks of Four Winds' Hymn respectively: DMG dealt is increased by 7.5% / 9.5% / 11.5% / 13.5% / 15.5% for 4s. Max 4 stacks. This effect can be triggered once every 0.01s.\nAdditionally, when the party has the "Hexerei: Secret Rite" effect, each stack of Four Winds' Hymn also increases the equipping character's CRIT DMG by 7.5% / 9.5% / 11.5% / 13.5% / 15.5%.

A Thousand Blazing Suns

Sunset Reignites the Dawn

Base ATK: 741

CRIT Rate: 11.0%

Gain the "Scorching Brilliance" effect when using an Elemental Skill or Burst: CRIT DMG increased by 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40% and ATK increased by 28% / 35% / 42% / 49% / 56% for 6s. This effect can trigger once every 10s.\nWhile a "Scorching Brilliance" instance is active, its duration is increased by 2s after Normal or Charged attacks deal Elemental DMG. This effect can trigger once every second, and the max duration increase is 6s.\nAdditionally, when the equipping character is in the Nightsoul's Blessing state, "Scorching Brilliance" effects are increased by 75%, and its duration will not count down when the equipping character is off-field.

Beacon of the Reed Sea

Desert Watch

Base ATK: 608

CRIT Rate: 33.1%

After the character's Elemental Skill hits an opponent, their ATK will be increased by 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40% for 8s. After the character takes DMG, their ATK will be increased by 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40% for 8s. The 2 aforementioned effects can be triggered even when the character is not on the field. Additionally, when not protected by a shield, the character's Max HP will be increased by 32% / 40% / 48% / 56% / 64%.

Other Claymore Options

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Serpent Spine

Wavesplitter

Base ATK: 510

CRIT Rate: 27.6%

Every 4s a character is on the field, they will deal 6% / 7% / 8% / 9% / 10% more DMG and take 3% / 2.7% / 2.4% / 2.2% / 2% more DMG. This effect has a maximum of 5 stacks and will not be reset if the character leaves the field, but will be reduced by 1 stack when the character takes DMG.

Prototype Archaic

Crush

Base ATK: 565

ATK: 27.6%

On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 240% / 300% / 360% / 420% / 480% ATK DMG to opponents within a small AoE. Can only occur once every 15s.

Other Claymore Options

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Best Artifacts for Varka

A Day Carved From Rising Winds

A Day Carved From Rising Winds

2-Piece Set: ATK +18%.

4-Piece Set: After a Normal Attack, Charged Attack, Elemental Skill or Elemental Burst hits an opponent, gain the Blessing of Pastoral Winds effect for 6s: ATK is increased by 25%. If the equipping character has completed Witch's Homework, Blessing of Pastoral Winds will be upgraded to Resolve of Pastoral Winds, which also increases the CRIT Rate of the equipping character by an additional 20%. This effect can be triggered even when the character is off-field.

Desert Pavilion Chronicle

Desert Pavilion Chronicle

2-Piece Set: Anemo DMG Bonus +15%

4-Piece Set: When Charged Attacks hit opponents, the equipping character's Normal Attack SPD will increase by 10% while Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attack DMG will increase by 40% for 15s.

Shimenawa's Reminiscence

Shimenawa's Reminiscence

2-Piece Set: ATK +18%.

4-Piece Set: When casting an Elemental Skill, if the character has 15 or more Energy, they lose 15 Energy and Normal/Charged/Plunging Attack DMG is increased by 50% for 10s. This effect will not trigger again during that duration.

Varka's Stat Priority

: ATK %

: Pyro DMG / ATK %

: CRIT DMG >= CRIT Rate

Substats: CRIT Rate/DMG > ATK % > Elemental Mastery > Energy Recharge

Varka wants a Pyro Goblet if he is C0 and in a Pyro Team. The Pyro Goblet is around 3% stronger than the ATK Goblet otherwise simply go for ATK % especially if you plan to use Varka in a range of teams. At C2+ specifically you can also use an Anemo Goblet, as the DMG will be similar, but only if it has better sub stats than your ATK % Goblets.

When using A Day Carved From Rising Winds we recommend a CRIT DMG Circlet due to the set and signature already increasing CRIT Rate but it can depend on your build options.

Recommended Stats for Varka

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

You need to build at least 2500 ATK in order to reach the damage bonus cap for Varka. You do get increased Crit Rate if you use his BiS Artefact Set, so invest the rest to get his Crit DMG as high as possible. If you want to play Varka in the most optimal way, you do not really want to use his Elemental Burst. This means that you do not need to focus on any Energy Recharge. It is perfectly fine to burst every other rotation making ER requirements unimportant.

Varka's Talent Priority

Varka's most important talents to level are his Elemental Skill and then his Elemental Burst. You do not need to level his Normal Attack since the amount of DMG your Normal Attack will deal will depend on the level of your Elemental Skill.

How to Play Varka

Varka is a Main DPS, but you do not want to stay on him for too long. Most of his damage happens inside team buff windows. Once those buffs expire, his overall damage drops quickly. Because of that, it is usually better to finish your combo and rotate back to your supports instead of extending his field time unnecessarily.

Varka is primarily an Anemo DPS, but his attacks also deal additional Elemental DMG based on the elements present in your party. This means he will always deal Anemo damage, and at the same time he also triggers a second element depending on your teammates (Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo).

The core of his kit is his Elemental Skill Windbound Execution. For exploration, holding the skill allows him to leap in the air over a long distance. In combat, you will always tap the skill.

After tapping his Elemental Skill, Varka enters Sturm und Drang mode. He deals an initial instance of AoE Anemo DMG, and for the duration of this state his Normal and Charged Attacks are enhanced. During this time, his attacks deal increased damage and additionally deal Elemental DMG based on the elements in your team. This state lasts around 12 seconds, and the skill itself has a 16-second cooldown.

When Varka is in Sturm und Drang, his Elemental Skill is also converted into an enhanced version and gains 2 charges. These charges can either be used to cast the enhanced skill, or consumed to perform Special Charged Attacks. These Special Charged Attacks deal both Anemo and the additional Elemental DMG, and importantly, they do not consume stamina.

In most cases, spending these charges on Special Charged Attacks is more efficient than using the enhanced skill directly, as they tend to deal more DMG, but the Charged Attack has a longer animation, so it can depend on your team and the fight you are in.

Varka's Elemental Burst is not that important. It deals nice damage but it costs 60 Energy with a 15-second cooldown and does not grant a ton of benefits. on top of that, Varka's own buffs often do not count for his Burst, so there is really no good reason to focus on his Burst. Most of his damage comes from his Skill. In practice, the Burst is usually used as bonus damage, often at the end of a rotation so it does not eat into important team buff uptime.

Varka's Combo

Varka has multiple combo he can use, and some are easier than others. It will all depend if you just want an easy to execute combo, or the most optimised one. However, keep in mind that if you are unable to execute the optimised version, you will actually lose DPS, so the Standard combo might be the most comfortable to use.

Keep also in mind that Varka's Burst is not optimal in any situation. You can use it when it is up, but it will not really bring you anything, so you might want to just burst at the end of his combo if the ability is ready.

Standard Combo

• Use his Elemental Skill
• Perform 5 Normal Attacks
• Follow with 1 Special Charged Attack
• Perform 4 Normal Attacks
• Use another Charged Attack
• Finish with 2 Normal Attacks

This is one of the most consistent optimised combos. It fits well inside most team buff windows and avoids the unnecessary dash cancels. You will want to use the enhanced versions of his Charged Attacks during his Windbound Execution Skill state. It gives you a stronger sustained damage without overcomplicating the execution.

Keep in mind that after each rotation you want to swap back to your support to get all the buffs back up.

If you want to use an even easier combo, you can go Elemental Skill - 5 Normal Attacks - 2 Special Charged Attacks. It does work good enough in most situations.

Optimised Combo

• Use his Elemental Skill
• Perform 3 Normal Attack and dash cancel
• Perform 2 Normal Attack and dash cancel
• Perform 3 Normal Attacks and dash cancel
• Perform 1 Normal Attack
• Use 1 Special Charged Attack
• Perform 1 Normal Attack
• Use 1 Special Charged Attack
• Finish with 2 Normal Attacks

This version is designed to better maintain certain team buffs (for example for Iansan's buff uptime). It includes dash cancels because you need to adjust positioning and timing. It is more technical and not recommended for beginners, but it can improve your DMG in specific team setups.

Varka's Best Constellations

Varka's Constellations are rather good overall. His C1 is only worse if you go for more, we would not recommend you invest in his C1 unless you also go for his C2, especially if you have to pick between Varka's C1 and his Weapon, go for the Weapon. You either want to stop at C2 because it gives a good amount of additional DMG, or go up to C6. His last Constellation is excellent, increasing his Crit DMG by 15% among other nice benefits. However, stopping at his C2 is recommended.

Varka's Best Team Compositions

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

Changelog