The Azhdaha trounce challenge is one of the trickier weekly bosses in Genshin Impact, mostly because he juggles up to five elements across three phases. Knowing his phase triggers and bringing a shielder makes this fight far more manageable.
- Azhdaha unlocks after finishing Zhongli’s Story Quest, Historia Antiqua Act II.
- He starts in a Geo phase, then infuses two more elements as his HP drops.
- The domain entrance shows which two elements he’ll use that week.
- A shielder is the single most important team slot for this fight.
- Never attack from the side, since that triggers his dangerous Body Slam.
How To Unlock the Azhdaha Trounce Challenge
Beneath the Dragon-Queller, the domain housing this fight, sits under Mt. Hulao in Liyue. Access to it opens only after completing Zhongli’s second Story Quest, which explains his history with Azhdaha before the dragon was sealed. Once unlocked, the domain can be cleared for rewards once per week, though repeat attempts without rewards are still possible.
Reading the Domain Entrance Before You Fight
Before stepping into the Azhdaha trounce challenge, check the two colored sigils above the domain entrance. These symbols show which elements Azhdaha will infuse that week, and they stay fixed until the next weekly reset. Avoid bringing a DPS that shares either of those elements, since Azhdaha gains heavy resistance to them once infused.
Azhdaha’s Three Phases Explained
Phase 1: Geo Form
Azhdaha starts with innate Geo damage and high Geo resistance. He’ll slam his body into the ground for shockwaves and occasionally burrow to launch charge attacks. This phase ends once his HP drops to roughly 75%.
Phase 2: First Elemental Infusion
At 75% HP, Azhdaha infuses the first of his two weekly elements, gaining resistance to it on top of his Geo resistance. Any hit landed on an unshielded character applies a lingering elemental mark that drains HP over time.
Phase 3: Second Elemental Infusion
Once his HP reaches 45%, Azhdaha absorbs a second element and burrows underground, leaving only his tail exposed. He can’t be defeated during this phase no matter how much damage lands. Wait for him to resurface, avoid his tail-sweep attacks, and land the finishing hit once he’s vulnerable again.
Best Team Comp for the Azhdaha Trounce Challenge
- Shielder – Zhongli, Diona, or Thoma. A shield prevents the elemental mark entirely, making this the most important role in the fight.
- Healer – Optional but useful if your shield isn’t strong enough to fully block incoming damage.
- Anemo or Dendro DPS – Since Azhdaha never infuses these elements, they avoid his resistance boosts entirely.
- Support with RES shred – Characters who lower elemental resistance help offset the DMG loss from his infusions.
If Physical damage is more your style, a build guide like the best weapons for Xinyan is worth a look, since Physical DPS options ignore Azhdaha’s elemental resistances entirely.
Positioning and Attack Tips
- Always attack from the front or back, never the side, to avoid triggering his wide Body Slam.
- When you see the “about to absorb” warning, retreat immediately instead of trying to squeeze in extra hits.
- Bow and Catalyst users can deal safe damage from range during his shockwave attacks.
- Don’t use Elemental Burst i-frames to tank hits in Phase 2 or 3, since the elemental mark still applies even during burst animations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I unlock the Azhdaha trounce challenge?
Complete Zhongli’s Story Quest, Historia Antiqua Act II: No Mere Stone, to unlock Beneath the Dragon-Queller in Mt. Hulao, Liyue.
What elements should I avoid using against Azhdaha?
Avoid Geo entirely, along with whichever two elements are shown on the domain entrance’s sigils that week, since Azhdaha gains heavy resistance to those.
Why can’t I kill Azhdaha in his final phase?
During his underground tail phase, Azhdaha is immune to defeat no matter how low his HP drops. You must wait for him to resurface before landing the finishing blow.
Do I need a shielder for this fight?
A shielder isn’t mandatory, but it’s the easiest way to avoid the elemental mark that continuously drains HP after getting hit.
