The best builds for Gorou in Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact Gorou build guide: raise a banner with this canine commander
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Want a decent Genshin Impact Gorou build for his release? This general of the Watatsumi Island resistance has been around since version 2.0, but is only just arriving in-game as a playable character. He’s a pretty strong Geo support, and it’s likely that long-term, he’ll be the most widely used character from theGenshin Impact 2.3update—please don’t hit me,Itto.
Genshin Impact Eula build: Spindrift KnightGenshin Impact Albedo build: Chief AlchemistGenshin Impact Thoma build:PyroretainerGenshin Impact Hu Tao build:Unusual undertakerGenshin Impact Aloy build:Cryo hunterGenshin Impact Childe build:Fatui Harbinger
While Gorou’s ability damage scales with defense once you unlock his ‘Favor Repaid’ passive, one of the reasons he’s so strong is that his banner buffs are based on the number of Geo party members you have. This makes him a great party-specific elemental support character in a way we haven’t really seen in the game so far. Arataki Itto could be compared toNoelle, for example, but the closest comparison for Gorou that I can think of is C6Bennettas a Pyro buff character.
In this Genshin Impact Gorou build guide, I’ll go through his abilities, ascension materials, as well as a theorycrafted build to make the most of him as a Geo support.
Builds
The best Genshin Impact Gorou build
Gorou is a strong Geo-specific support character, offering banner-based buffs depending on the number of Geo party members you have. In this sense, a good build would focus around energy recharge and cooldown.
Geo Support
These are pretty typical weapon picks for bow-based support characters. The Favonius Warbow offers energy recharge and means that crits have a 60% chance to give you six energy every 12 seconds, letting Gorou use his powerful burst more. The Sacrificial Bow, on the other hand, grants energy recharge, but also gives a 40% chance of immediately ending a skill’s cooldown when you deal damage with it.
Either of these four-stars should let you use Gorou’s abilities more often, though if you go with Favonius, make sure to prioritise some crit rate stat artifacts so it can be effective.
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While the new Husk of Opulent Dreams set is perfect if you want to run Gorou as a damage dealer, it’s less good for him as a support. Noblesse Oblige offers a burst damage bonus of 20%, and for four-pieces, a 12 second attack bonus of 20% for all party members when you use a burst.
This is a nice party boost, adding to the buffs that Gorou already applies with his banners. Considering Gorou’s ability damage also scales with defense, it’s a good idea to prioritise this stat to fulfill that potential once you’ve unlocked his ‘Favor Repaid’ passive.
How to unlock
How to get Gorou in Genshin Impact
Now that the Eula and Albedo reruns are coming to an end, Gorou is set to arrive onDecember 14. He’ll be the featured four-star to Arataki Itto’s five-star on the Oni’s Royale banner, and will be available alongsideXianglingandBarbara. As he’s a four-star, he’ll undoubtedly be available again before too long, but this is the best chance if you want to grab him soon.
Abilities
Gorou’s abilities
Here are Gorou’s abilities, passives, and Constellations:
Ascension materials
Gorou’s Ascension materials
Character
There are specific Ascension materials you’ll need to find to level up Gorou. The Geo Hypostasis and Golden Wolflord dropPrithiva Topazvariants, but you’ll want to fight the Perpetual Mechanical Array instead, as that dropsPerpetual Heartsas well. You’ll also need the following items:
TheSpectralitems are dropped by Specter enemies, found on both Watatsumi and Seirai Island.Sango Pearlsare also found on Watatsumi Island, near water.
Talents
You’ll need these Ascension materials to level up Gorou’s talents:
Teachings of Lightand its variants are rewards from the Violet Court domain on Wednesdays and Saturdays, andSpectralitems are dropped by Specters, as mentioned above.Molten Momentis an item dropped by the La Signora world boss at level 70 or above. TheCrown of Insightis a reward for upgrading the Frostbearing Tree in Dragonspine or the Sacred Sakura in Inazuma. You can also get it from various seasonal activities, like the recent Shadows Amidst Snowstorms event.
Genshin Impact guide:Beginner tipsGenshin Impact characters:Full tier listGenshin Impact code:Redeem for free rewardsGenshin Impact build:Best of the bunch
Sarah started as a freelance writer in 2018, writing for PCGamesN, TechRadar, GamingBible, Red Bull Gaming and more. In 2021, she was offered a full-time position on the PC Gamer team where she takes every possible opportunity to talk about World of Warcraft and Elden Ring. When not writing guides, most of her spare time is spent in Azeroth—though she’s quite partial to JRPGs too. One of her fondest hopes is to one day play through the ending of Final Fantasy X without breaking down into a sobbing heap. She probably has more wolves in Valheim than you.
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