Genshin Team Building Guide 2026: Roles, On/Off-Field & How to Compose a Party
Team building isn't stacking your strongest units — it's making four roles complement each other: Main DPS on-field, Sub-DPS off-field, Support buffing/debuffing, survivability. One wrong slot and the rotation breaks.
Four core roles
| Role | Job | Examples | Build focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | On-field 50-70%, deals most damage | Hu Tao, Raiden, Alhaitham, Wanderer, Ayaka | ATK% / Crit / elemental DMG goblet |
| Sub-DPS | Off-field element application + damage, enables reactions | Xingqiu, Yelan, Xiangling, Fischl, Nahida | ER first for burst uptime, then damage/EM |
| Support | Buff / debuff / crowd control | Kazuha, Sucrose, Bennett, Furina, Zhongli | ER first, then the stat their buff scales on |
| Survivability | Heal / shield | Zhongli, Kokomi, Baizhu, Kuki, Bennett | HP (most heals/shields scale on HP) |
Viridescent Venerer (Anemo) shreds 40% RES — a single Anemo support lifts team damage 30-50%. Modern Abyss leans shields (Zhongli/Diona): they prevent damage and keep the rotation intact; healers (Kokomi/Baizhu) give higher error tolerance.
On-field vs off-field: the rotation
Main DPS deals damage on-field; Sub-DPS and Support abilities persist after swap (off-field). A good rotation = Main DPS on-field while off-field Sub-DPS keeps applying elements to trigger reactions. The most common beginner mistake is running two Main DPS — both want field time, leaving no room for support/survivability, so damage stays low and the team dies.
Application order: who gets the EM
For amplifying reactions (Vaporize/Melt), damage scales off the EM of the unit that applies the SECOND element. Convention: Sub-DPS/Support applies the first element, Main DPS applies the second — so the Main DPS benefits. Transformative reactions (Bloom/Hyperbloom/Overload) scale off the trigger's level and EM, independent of who's on-field.
Standard template & resonance
Safest starter: 1 Main DPS + 1 Sub-DPS + 1 buffer Support + 1 survivability, with flex overlap (Kokomi is both healer and Hydro Sub-DPS). Don't forget Elemental Resonance: double Pyro +25% ATK, double Cryo +15% Crit, double Anemo -ER/+move — all free bonuses.
Examples (proven teams)
- Raiden National: Raiden (Main/battery) + Xiangling (Pyro Sub) + Xingqiu (Hydro Sub) + Bennett (buffer/heal). Three 4-stars + Raiden, F2P-friendly, smooth Vaporize loop.
- Freeze: Ayaka (Main) + Kokomi (Hydro/heal) + Shenhe (Cryo buffer) + Kazuha (group/shred).
- Aggravate/Quicken: Alhaitham/Tighnari (Main) + Fischl (off-field Electro) + Nahida (off-field Dendro) + Zhongli/Kazuha (survive/shred).
Common traps
- Two Main DPS: fight for field time, no support/survivability.
- Ignoring resonance: double Pyro/Cryo free bonuses are free wins.
- Support skips ER: burst never comes up, whole team loses buffs.
- All damage, no survivability: dying in Abyss hurts more than slightly lower DPS.
- Blindly copying top comps: build 1+1+1+1 from your own roster first.
- Stellar-Conduct team building
- Free Stellar-Conduct teams
- Why Natlan teams need Natlan units
Quick Answers
What are the four core team roles?
Main DPS (on-field damage), Sub-DPS (off-field damage + element application), Support (buff/debuff/CC), and survivability (heal/shield). The safe starter is one of each, with overlap (Kokomi is both healer and Hydro Sub-DPS).
What's the difference between Main and Sub DPS?
Main DPS stays on-field 50-70% dealing most damage; Sub-DPS abilities persist after swap (off-field), keeping elements applied so the Main can trigger reactions. Examples: Xingqiu, Yelan, Xiangling, Fischl.
Why does Elemental Resonance matter?
Double Pyro +25% ATK, double Cryo +15% Crit, double Anemo -ER/+move — all free, no-gear bonuses. Pairing two same elements is often better than a random extra unit.
How should a beginner start a team?
Build 1 Main + 1 Sub + 1 buffer Support + 1 survivability from your own roster. Raiden National (Raiden+Xiangling+Xingqiu+Bennett) and Hyperbloom (Dendro Traveler+Barbara+Lisa+Kuki) are strong teams you can form early.
What stats should Supports build?
Most Supports prioritize ER (burst uptime), then the stat their buff scales on: Bennett builds HP (his ATK buff), Kazuha/Sucrose build EM (converted to team DMG), Zhongli builds HP (shield thickness).