Cryo

Best Cryo Characters in Genshin Impact 2026

The control element — Cryo removes enemy actions and multiplies Pyro damage.

How Cryo Works

Cryo has the best defensive-to-offensive conversion in the game. Freeze removes enemy actions entirely while granting your carry up to 55% free CRIT Rate through Blizzard Strayer and Cryo resonance. Cryo also enables Melt, which provides the largest per-hit multiplier available for Pyro carries.

16 Cryo characters · 5 S-tier

Cryo Reactions

Reaction
With
What it does
Freeze
Hydro
Immobilises enemies and enables Blizzard Strayer's CRIT Rate bonus. Enemies that cannot be frozen ignore this entirely.
Melt
Pyro
Cryo onto Pyro = 1.5x damage. Pyro onto Cryo = 2x for the Pyro hit.
Superconduct
Electro
Reduces Physical RES by 40%, which is the foundation of Physical teams.
Cryo Resonance
Two Cryo units
Grants 15% CRIT Rate against Cryo-affected or frozen enemies.

Best Cryo Teams

Freeze (Ayaka / Ganyu)

Cryo carry + Shenhe + Kazuha + Kokomi

Cheapest archetype to gear for endgame, because CRIT Rate comes from the set and resonance instead of artifacts.

Melt (Ganyu)

Ganyu + Xiangling + Bennett + Zhongli

Reverse Melt turns Ganyu's charged shots into the largest single Cryo numbers in the game.

Melt for Pyro carries

Mavuika or Arlecchino + Citlali + Bennett + flex

Cryo aura lets the Pyro carry hit the 2x Melt multiplier on its biggest hits.

Physical (Eula)

Eula + Raiden + Mika + Zhongli

Superconduct from Raiden reduces Physical RES, which is mandatory for Eula's burst to land at full value.

All Cryo Characters

Frequently Asked Questions

Freeze or Melt for a Cryo carry?

Freeze by default — it is safer, cheaper to gear, and works on more enemies. Switch to Melt for boss chambers where Freeze does nothing, or when you want the higher ceiling.

How much CRIT Rate does a Freeze carry need?

Very little. Blizzard Strayer 4pc plus Cryo resonance gives up to 55% CRIT Rate, so 30-45% from artifacts is usually enough. Put the rest into CRIT DMG.

What is the biggest weakness of Cryo teams?

Bosses that cannot be frozen. Against those enemies, Freeze teams lose their CRIT Rate sources, their crowd control, and most of their damage.

Browse Other Elements

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