Gaming Genshin Impact Character Guide – Best Build, Teams, and More

TL;DR

Gaming (Yip Gaming) is a 4-star Pyro Claymore on-field DPS from Liyue, released in Version 4.4.
He is a Plunging Attack specialist who uses his Elemental Skill to leap and slam enemies with powerful Pyro plunges.
His Elemental Burst summons Man Chai, his dog companion, who resets his Skill cooldown allowing plunge spam.
Best artifact sets are Marechaussee Hunter (4-piece) or Crimson Witch of Flames (4-piece).
Best weapons are Serpent Spine, Verdict, or Fruitful Hook at high refinement.
He pairs best with Xianyun, Bennett, and Hydro or Dendro off-field supports.
C6 is his biggest power spike — adding 20% CRIT Rate and 40% CRIT DMG to his plunge attacks.

Table of Contents

Who Is Gaming in Genshin Impact?

Gaming — full name Yip Gaming — is a 4-star Pyro Claymore character from Liyue in Genshin Impact. He holds the title of Gold-Standard Guard at the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency, where he escorts goods and people between Liyue Harbor and Yilong Wharf. He is also the head of the Mighty Mythical Beasts Wushou troupe — a performing dance group that stages traditional lion dance performances across Liyue.

He became playable on January 31, 2024, during the Version 4.4 update, released alongside Xianyun to coincide with the Lantern Rite celebration. His constellation is Leo Minor, his birthday is December 22, and his titles are “Lion of the Dance” and “Gold-Standard Guard.” His special dish is the Hearty Wushou Delicacy, a variant of the Invigorating Kitty Meal.

Gaming is one of only a handful of characters in Genshin Impact whose entire combat identity revolves around Plunging Attacks. He leaps, slams, and bounces between enemies with a style directly inspired by the energy and showmanship of Chinese lion dancing. He is available on Android, iOS, PlayStation, Epic Games, and Xbox, and is obtainable from Standard Wish banners. He is also given as a free character during the annual Lantern Rite event.

Gaming Character Overview – Stats and Role

Gaming is an on-field main DPS who deals the majority of his damage through enhanced Plunging Attacks triggered by his Elemental Skill. His Elemental Burst enables a rapid cycle of Skill-based plunges by resetting his Skill cooldown repeatedly. He stays on the field throughout his damage window and does not contribute off-field.

Rarity: 4-Star
Element: Pyro
Weapon: Claymore
Region: Liyue
Role: On-Field Pyro Main DPS (Plunge Attack)
Released: January 31, 2024 (Version 4.4)
Constellation: Leo Minor
Ascension Stat: CRIT DMG%
Available Free: Every annual Lantern Rite event

Gaming Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Unique and satisfying plunge-focused playstyle unlike most other Claymore DPS characters
Plunging Attacks have no Internal Cooldown, enabling constant Vaporize and Melt triggering
Self-contained cooldown reset mechanic through Man Chai allows sustained damage without long downtime
Naturally built-in HP fluctuation synergizes with Marechaussee Hunter for consistent CRIT Rate stacking
Does not require Xianyun to plunge — his Skill independently launches him into the air
Available for free every Lantern Rite — excellent accessibility for new players
CRIT DMG ascension stat makes him relatively straightforward to build

Weaknesses

Entirely on-field — contributes no off-field damage or support
Finding and linking with Man Chai mid-fight can be awkward in chaotic environments
Elemental Skill does not always launch properly if the initial pounce fails to contact a target
Competitive Pyro DPS slot faces stiff competition from characters like Arlecchino and Hu Tao
Limited AoE outside of his plunge landing radius

Gaming

Gaming Skills and Abilities

Here is a complete breakdown of Gaming’s kit, including how each ability functions in combat.

Normal Attack – Stellar Rend

Gaming performs up to four consecutive Claymore strikes. His Charged Attack drains stamina for a spinning slash sequence ending in a stronger hit. His Plunging Attack — the standard version — deals AoE DMG on landing. Normal Attacks are rarely prioritized in his rotation. His enhanced Plunging Attack from the Elemental Skill is where his actual power lies.

Elemental Skill – Bestial Ascent

This is the foundation of Gaming’s entire combat identity. When used, he pounces forward using Wushou arts, leaping high into the air after making contact with any target or surface. Immediately performing a Plunging Attack after the leap triggers a special, more powerful plunge called Plunging Attack: Charmed Cloudstrider.

The Charmed Cloudstrider has several key properties:

Its damage is converted to Pyro, which cannot be overridden by other elemental infusions
It deals AoE Pyro DMG in a larger radius than a standard plunge
Upon landing, Gaming consumes a fixed amount of HP (approximately 4% of Max HP). His HP cannot drop below 10% from this effect
It has no Internal Cooldown, meaning every hit can trigger elemental reactions like Vaporize and Melt independently

The HP cost ties directly into his Marechaussee Hunter synergy and his 1st Ascension Passive, which restores some of that HP after each landing.

Elemental Burst – Suanni’s Gilded Dance

Gaming enters the Wushou Stance, briefly applies Pyro to himself, recovers a fixed amount of HP, and summons his loyal dog companion Man Chai, who crashes into a nearby enemy dealing AoE Pyro DMG. After the impact, Man Chai rolls around the field and moves toward Gaming.

When Man Chai links up with Gaming — by Gaming walking near it — Man Chai leaves the field and resets the cooldown of Bestial Ascent. This is the key mechanic of Gaming’s damage loop during his Burst window. While Wushou Stance is active:

Gaming’s resistance to interruption is increased
When he lands a Charmed Cloudstrider or completes the forward pounce from Bestial Ascent while above 50% HP, Man Chai is automatically summoned again
Only one Man Chai can exist at a time, and the effect cancels when Gaming leaves the field

The result is a sustained loop: use Burst → plunge with Skill → Man Chai links → Skill cooldown resets → plunge again → Man Chai links again → repeat. The dance of connecting with Man Chai between plunges is the skill expression of playing Gaming well.

Passive Talents

Dance of Amity (1st Ascension): After Bestial Ascent’s Plunging Attack: Charmed Cloudstrider hits an opponent, Gaming will regain HP equal to 1.5% of his Max HP per hit, once every 0.2 seconds. This partially offset the HP cost of landing plunges, keeping him sustainable through his rotation without needing constant external healing.
Skilled Wushou Performer (4th Ascension): If Gaming has more than 50% HP when the Charmed Cloudstrider or the forward pounce from Bestial Ascent connects, Man Chai will be automatically summoned. This is what enables the rapid plunge chain during his Burst window — as long as he stays above 50% HP, Man Chai keeps appearing without him needing to wait for his Burst cooldown again.
Utility Passive – Summer Festival: Increases the Movement Speed of all party members by 10% during the daytime (6:00–18:00). Not available in Domains, Trounce Domains, or Spiral Abyss. A nice exploration bonus for daytime overworld travel.

Best Gaming Builds in Genshin Impact

Gaming has two primary builds depending on team composition. The Marechaussee Hunter build is the easier to execute and more forgiving. The Crimson Witch build requires reaction-focused teams and offers a higher ceiling when Vaporize or Melt triggers consistently.

Marechaussee Hunter Build (Recommended for Most Players)

Gaming’s built-in HP fluctuation — from the HP cost of his plunges and the HP recovery from his passive — triggers the Marechaussee Hunter 4-piece bonus constantly during his rotation. Each time HP changes, he gains 12% CRIT Rate stacking up to 3 times (36% total). This frees up artifact substats from CRIT Rate investment and lets him focus on CRIT DMG.

Artifact Set: Marechaussee Hunter (4-piece)
Sands Main Stat: ATK% or Elemental Mastery (EM for Vaporize/Melt teams)
Goblet Main Stat: Pyro DMG Bonus%
Circlet Main Stat: CRIT DMG (Marechaussee gives CRIT Rate, so stack CRIT DMG here)
Substat Priority: CRIT DMG → CRIT Rate (to balance) → ATK% → Elemental Mastery → Energy Recharge
Energy Recharge Target: 155–175% (or less at C4 which restores energy on Skill hits)

Crimson Witch of Flames Build (Reaction-Focused)

Best in teams with consistent Hydro or Cryo application where every plunge triggers Vaporize or Melt. The 4-piece bonus increases Pyro DMG and amplifies reaction damage significantly. More difficult to build optimally but offers a higher damage ceiling when reactions fire every hit.

Artifact Set: Crimson Witch of Flames (4-piece)
Sands Main Stat: ATK% or Elemental Mastery
Goblet Main Stat: Pyro DMG Bonus%
Circlet Main Stat: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG
Substat Priority: CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG → ATK% → Elemental Mastery

Best Weapons for Gaming

Gaming scales with ATK%, CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and Elemental Mastery (in reaction teams). Here are the top weapon options:

Serpent Spine (4-star, Best in Slot): CRIT Rate substat with a passive that stacks up to 30% bonus DMG over time. His best overall weapon when maintained at full stacks with a shielder. The CRIT Rate stat directly complements his CRIT DMG ascension stat. Best-in-slot for most builds when at higher refinements.
Verdict (5-star): CRIT Rate substat. A strong premium stat stick that provides consistent CRIT Rate and an ATK bonus triggered by Elemental Reaction damage — relevant in Vaporize teams. Excellent for players who own it.
Beacon of the Reed Sea (5-star): CRIT Rate substat. The passive boosts ATK after using an Elemental Skill and when not shielded. Since Gaming uses his Skill repeatedly, the passive has consistent uptime. A top premium choice.
Fruitful Hook (4-star): At high refinement (R4+), this weapon becomes one of Gaming’s best options. Its passive scales well with his plunge-focused damage pattern and makes it competitive with premium 5-star alternatives.
Mailed Flower (4-star, Craftable): Elemental Mastery substat that buffs ATK and EM for 8 seconds after Skill hits or reactions. Excellent for Vaporize and Burgeon builds where EM directly amplifies his reaction damage. Very accessible as a craftable weapon.
Rainslasher (4-star): Elemental Mastery substat with increased DMG against Hydro- or Electro-affected enemies. Strong in Vaporize teams where enemies are almost always coated in Hydro. Use only in dedicated Vaporize compositions.

Best Gaming Teams in Genshin Impact

Gaming’s best teams give him a consistent Hydro or Cryo applier for Vaporize or Melt, a healer to manage his HP costs, and ideally Xianyun or Bennett for buff support.

Premium Vaporize Team (Best Overall)

Gaming / Xianyun / Furina / Bennett

This is Gaming’s strongest lineup. Xianyun provides a massive Plunging Attack DMG buff through her Elemental Burst while also enabling additional plunge-capable characters to leap freely. Furina applies off-field Hydro for consistent Vaporize on every Charmed Cloudstrider hit. Bennett heals Gaming to stay above 50% HP (triggering auto-summoning of Man Chai) and provides a massive ATK buff. Together these three supports create the highest possible damage window for Gaming’s plunge spam.

Vaporize Team (Classic)

Gaming / Xianyun / Xingqiu / Bennett

A reliable alternative replacing Furina with Xingqiu. Xingqiu applies Hydro off-field through his rain swords on every Normal Attack hit, enabling Vaporize on most plunges. Xianyun boosts plunge damage and enables the team. Bennett heals and ATK buffs. A strong and accessible lineup for players without Furina.

Melt Team

Gaming / Layla or Ganyu / Xianyun / Bennett

Ganyu’s off-field Cryo from Celestial Shower or Layla’s Cryo application can coat enemies with a Cryo aura for Gaming’s Pyro plunges to Melt through. This triggers Reverse Melt on every Charmed Cloudstrider hit. Xianyun amplifies plunge damage and heals. Bennett provides ATK buffing and sustain. A powerful option for players who want the highest single-hit Melt numbers. For more on Layla’s role as a Cryo support, see the Layla character guide.

Burgeon Team

Gaming / Nahida / Xingqiu / Thoma

Gaming’s Pyro plunges trigger Burgeon on Bloom Cores created by Nahida’s Dendro and Xingqiu’s Hydro. Thoma applies additional off-field Pyro for Burgeon detonations. In this build, swap to Crimson Witch of Flames or Flower of Paradise Lost and prioritize Elemental Mastery. A fun alternative for players who want to leverage reaction damage without focusing on pure amplifying reactions.

Budget Plunge Team (F2P)

Gaming / Furina or Xingqiu / Yaoyao / Bennett

A cost-effective lineup that does not require Xianyun. Furina or Xingqiu provides Hydro for Vaporize. Yaoyao heals with her radishes, keeping Gaming above the 50% HP threshold for Man Chai auto-summons. Bennett handles ATK buffing and emergency healing. Gaming uses his own Skill independently without needing Xianyun’s plunge-enabling Burst, which means this team sacrifices the plunge DMG bonus but stays fully functional.

Gaming Constellations Guide

Gaming’s constellations improve his damage, energy management, healing, and ultimately his plunge CRIT stats. Here is each one explained:

C1 – Joy-Bringing Wushou: When Gaming performs a Charmed Cloudstrider attack from Bestial Ascent, there is a 50% chance of spawning an additional Man Chai for each opponent hit, up to 1 additional per use. This chance cannot trigger if Man Chai already exists on the field. More Man Chai means more Skill cooldown resets, increasing Gaming’s plunge frequency and overall DPS output. A solid early constellation.
C2 – Plum Blossoms Underfoot (Best Early Stop): When Gaming receives healing and that healing overflows (exceeds his max HP), his ATK increases by 20% for 5 seconds. In normal play with Bennett and Xianyun in the team, healing overflow is common — Bennett frequently heals Gaming past full HP — making this a near-permanent 20% ATK buff during his active window. A significant damage increase that makes C2 the recommended early investment stopping point.
C3 – Awakening Spirit: Increases the talent level of Bestial Ascent (Elemental Skill) by 3. Directly boosts Charmed Cloudstrider’s damage scaling and the HP restored per hit.
C4 – Soar Across Mountains: Restores 2 Energy to Gaming when Bestial Ascent’s Plunging Attack hits an enemy. This can trigger once every 0.2 seconds. Reduces his Energy Recharge requirements noticeably, allowing more artifact investment into offensive stats.
C5 – Demon-Daunting Roar: Increases the talent level of Suanni’s Gilded Dance (Elemental Burst) by 3. Boosts Burst damage and Man Chai’s AoE Pyro DMG.
C6 – To Tame All Beasts (Best Overall Constellation): Gaming’s Charmed Cloudstrider CRIT Rate is increased by 20% and CRIT DMG is increased by 40%. Additionally, the landing radius of Charmed Cloudstrider is expanded. This is a massive personal DPS increase — the combined CRIT boost is the single largest constellation upgrade in his kit. At C6, Gaming’s plunge crits become substantially harder-hitting and his AoE coverage improves. This is the primary reason players who heavily invest in Gaming push for C6.

Investment priority: C2 is the best early stopping point for a significant ATK buff in standard healing teams. C6 is the long-term premium investment that fundamentally pushes his CRIT ceiling higher. C0 is fully playable — he does not need constellations to function, especially since he is obtainable for free each Lantern Rite.

Gaming Talent Priority

Here is the correct order to invest talent materials:

Elemental Skill – Bestial Ascent (Highest Priority): Charmed Cloudstrider’s damage multiplier scales directly with this talent. Since this is Gaming’s primary damage source in every rotation, leveling it first has the most immediate impact. Crown this for maximum output.
Elemental Burst – Suanni’s Gilded Dance (Second): The Burst triggers the damage loop and summons Man Chai. Higher talent levels increase its Pyro DMG and healing output. Level this second.
Normal Attack – Stellar Rend (Skip): Normal Attacks are almost never used in Gaming’s rotation. The Charmed Cloudstrider is considered Plunging Attack damage, not Normal Attack damage, and does not scale with this talent. Do not invest talent books here.

How to Play Gaming – Rotation and Man Chai Tips

Gaming’s rotation revolves around the Man Chai link-up loop. Here is the standard Vaporize rotation with Bennett, Xianyun, and a Hydro support:

Use Bennett’s Elemental Burst to set up the ATK field and heal Gaming.
Use Xianyun’s Elemental Skill and Burst to activate the Plunging Attack DMG buff.
Use your Hydro support’s abilities (Xingqiu Burst, Furina Skill, etc.) to set up Hydro application.
Swap to Gaming and activate his Elemental Burst — Suanni’s Gilded Dance. This heals him, summons Man Chai, and enters Wushou Stance.
Immediately use his Elemental Skill (Bestial Ascent) to leap and perform Charmed Cloudstrider.
After landing, run toward Man Chai to link with it. Man Chai resets the Skill cooldown.
Use the Skill again for another Charmed Cloudstrider. Man Chai auto-spawns again if Gaming is above 50% HP.
Run toward Man Chai to link again. Repeat until Wushou Stance expires.
Refresh supports as needed and restart the cycle.

The most important habit to develop: always prioritize linking with Man Chai before the next Skill use. Man Chai is what enables the rapid plunge chain. If you plunge too quickly before linking, you waste a reset. The timing is the entire skill expression of Gaming’s playstyle. With practice, the loop becomes natural and satisfying.

Gaming Ascension Materials

Here is everything needed to ascend Gaming to level 90:

Character Ascension Materials

Agnidus Agate (Sliver, Fragment, Chunk, Gemstone) — The standard Pyro ascension gem. Farmed from Pyro world bosses including the Pyro Regisvine in Mondstadt, the Pyro Hypostasis in Inazuma, and the Emperor of Fire and Iron in Fontaine. The Emperor drops Agnidus Agate alongside his unique material, making him a dual-farm boss for Gaming.
Emperor’s Resolution — Dropped by the Emperor of Fire and Iron, a massive armored crab boss found in an underwater cave in the nation of Fontaine. You need 46 total for full ascension. This is one of Gaming’s more unusual ascension sources — a Fontaine boss for a Liyue character — tying into the broader nature of his transport work crossing national borders.
Starconch — A local specialty found on the beaches and shorelines of Liyue, particularly in the northeastern coastal areas. Around 77–80 nodes exist across the world. You need 168 total, requiring roughly two full collection runs with 48-hour respawn timers between them. Starconch is also used by Tartaglia (Childe), so players who pulled him earlier may already have farming routes memorized.
Slime Drops (Slime Condensate, Slime Secretions, Slime Concentrate) — Dropped by Slime enemies found across all of Teyvat. You need 18 Condensate, 30 Secretions, and 36 Concentrate for full ascension, plus additional quantities for talent upgrades.

Talent Ascension Materials

Books of Prosperity (Teachings, Guide, Philosophies of Prosperity) — Farmed from the Taishan Mansion domain in Liyue, available on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday. Gaming shares these books with Xiangling, Qiqi, Ganyu, and other Liyue characters. You need 9 Teachings, 63 Guides, and 114 Philosophies to max one talent.
Slime Drops — Same enemy drops as above. Additional quantities needed for all three talent upgrade paths beyond the ascension requirement.
Everflame Seed — Dropped by the Pyro Regisvine weekly boss in Mondstadt. You need 18 total to max all three talents. Convert other drops from the same boss using Dream Solvent if needed.
Crown of Insight — One per crowned talent. Obtained from limited events, seasonal upgrade trees like the Sacred Sakura and Tree of Dreams, and Archon Quest milestones.

Gaming Lore and Story

Gaming was born in Qiaoying Village in Liyue. His father, Yip Tak, wanted him to pursue a stable, practical career — the kind of life that the family’s circumstances pointed toward. Gaming had other ideas. He was captivated by the art of Wushou dancing from an early age, and when his father made clear he disapproved, Gaming left the village to pursue it on his own terms.

The tension in that decision has never fully resolved. Gaming believes in the Wushou dance with a devotion that goes beyond performance — for him, it is about preserving something alive and meaningful in Liyue’s culture, bringing good fortune and joy to people in a way that nothing else can. But Wushou dancing alone does not pay enough to live on, which is how he ended up at the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency. He is, by all accounts, the finest guard the agency has — observant, quick, and effective at deterring trouble before it starts. The plaque of gratitude on the agency wall compares him to a suanni, the lion-like mythical beast that his dance troupe is named after.

The Version 4.4 storyline — tied to the Lantern Rite and Xianyun’s arrival in Liyue — centers on resolving Gaming’s relationship with his father. The Adeptus Xianyun, deeply invested in making things right before they become unsalvageable, engineers a scenario to bring the two of them together. After a complicated plan involving a staged bandit attack, a conversation guided by Zhongli himself, and the intervention of several Adepti, Gaming and his father reconcile beneath the Lantern Rite fireworks. In the celebration that follows, Xianyun uses her cloud-riding powers to let Gaming perform his Wushou dance on the surface of the water — a spectacular sight that even his father cannot help but admire.

Gaming’s design was inspired by the Chinese lion dance — a traditional performance rooted in Cantonese culture that is associated with good fortune and celebration. The lion dance head that becomes part of his combat visual when performing the Wushou arts, his companion Man Chai (named for a person who operates the rear of a two-person lion costume), and his entire fighting style were all built around bringing this cultural tradition into Genshin Impact’s world. His English name sparked widespread fan discussion and affection when it was first revealed — the name Gaming rendered in Roman letters from a perfectly ordinary Chinese name turned into an accidental piece of gaming culture irony that the community embraced wholeheartedly.

Is Gaming Worth Building in Genshin Impact?

Yes — especially since he is available for free every Lantern Rite. Gaming offers a genuinely unique playstyle among 4-star characters, and the satisfaction of executing his Man Chai plunge loop smoothly is something few other characters in the game can match.

He is not the meta pick for Pyro DPS in endgame content — Arlecchino, Hu Tao, and Yoimiya all have advantages in different scenarios. But Gaming is fun, accessible, culturally rich, and more competitive than his rarity suggests, especially in Vaporize and Melt teams with Xianyun support. At C2, the overflow healing ATK buff makes him noticeably stronger in standard team compositions. At C6, his CRIT stats become genuinely impressive.

For players who want a Pyro main DPS that plays differently from every other option in the game, Gaming delivers something special. His combat rhythm — the pounce, the slam, the sprint to Man Chai, the next pounce — has a momentum to it that reflects the energy of the lion dance he embodies. To build the supports who bring out his best performance, check out the Xianyun character guide, the Bennett character guide, and the Furina character guide for the team that puts Gaming at his highest ceiling.