The School of Evil: An Analysis of Ganyu’s Martial Arts System and Cultural Implications in Genshin Impact
In the vast and fantastical world of Genshin Impact, a figure from a frigid homeland is about to arrive. Her name is Ganyu, a single-handed swordsman who wields the power of ice. Her martial arts system is meticulously crafted, making it a subject worthy of in-depth exploration.
As a five-star character, Ganyu possesses a comprehensive martial arts system. Her martial path can be examined from three primary aspects: Gekido: Kyoku, Gekido: Sen, and Gekido: Metsu. These three skills form her unique combat style, resembling a meticulously choreographed sword dance.
Gekido: Kyoku serves as her basic attack method, comprising normal attacks, charged attacks, and plunging attacks. Her normal attacks consist of up to five consecutive sword strikes, showcasing the stern beauty of her icy homeland; her charged attacks involve spinning icicles that tear through enemy defenses, akin to the unstoppable shattering of ice on warm land; and her plunging attacks deliver devastating blows to ground enemies, resembling the collapse of glaciers.
Even more exquisite is her elemental skill, Gekido: Sen. This skill has two forms: a tap and a hold. Upon tapping, Ganyu enters the Shichimen no Kamae (Seven Masks, One Flash) mode, granting her 45 points of Hebi no Jō (Serpent’s Cunning); holding the skill allows her to move quickly and continuously while enhancing her resistance to interruption. This skill evokes imagery of an ancient dragon frolicking in water, embodying immense power within its agility.
As for her elemental burst, Gekido: Metsu, it represents the pinnacle of her martial arts. Once she accumulates sufficient Hebi no Jō, she can unleash this finishing move, tearing through space to deliver rapid slashes and inflict devastating area-of-effect damage. Notably, while in Shichimen no Kamae mode, her elemental burst is replaced by Gekido: Jin, a special skill that does not consume Hebi no Jō and boasts even greater potency.
In terms of fixed skills, her three talents—Ri no Ri, Banri no Jaku, and Sho no Kage—form her unique combat philosophy. Ri no Ri allows her to create cracks in the void and absorb these cracks to enhance her strength; Banri no Jaku grants her the Deathly Gaze effect upon leaving the party, further boosting her combat prowess; and Sho no Kage provides synergy for her team, enabling other characters to gain elemental skill level boosts under specific conditions.
Regarding her constellations, her six constellations are named Yūen, Shinsen, Zekkō, Ryūjin, Keisei, and Shinsei. These constellations not only enhance her skills but also grant her more formidable combat capabilities. For instance, the Yūen constellation summons icicles to attack enemies after absorbing void cracks; the Shinsen constellation improves the damage calculation of her elemental burst; and the Shinsei constellation introduces the Gekido: Jin effect, significantly enhancing her sustained damage output.
As for her signature weapon, the sword “Kokuryū” boasts a base attack of 608 and a critical hit rate of 33.1%. Its passive effect, “White Mountain’s Grace,” provides a substantial attack boost after using an elemental skill, with further enhancements to critical damage under specific conditions. This aligns perfectly with the “weakness overcoming strength” philosophy embedded in her martial arts system.
Through an in-depth analysis of Ganyu, it becomes evident that her design encompasses more than just a simple combination of ice-based skills. Instead, it represents a complete and intricate martial arts system.