Kaeya Genshin Impact Build Guide – Best Weapons, Artifacts, Teams & Tips

TL;DR

• Kaeya is a free 4-star Cryo Sword character and one of the first you receive in the game.
• He works best as an Off-Field Cryo Sub-DPS in Freeze and Reverse Melt teams.
• His Elemental Burst (Glacial Waltz) follows the active character and applies off-field Cryo continuously.
• Best artifact: 4-piece Blizzard Strayer for Freeze teams; Emblem of Severed Fate for all other builds.
• Top weapons: Primordial Jade Cutter, Mistsplitter Reforged, Favonius Sword, or Amenoma Kageuchi (F2P).
• His ascension stat is Energy Recharge — aim for good Burst uptime above all else.
• Talent priority: Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack.
• C2 and C6 are his most impactful constellations. His constellations are hard to get as he has never been on a rate-up banner.

Who Is Kaeya in Genshin Impact?

Kaeya is a 4-star Cryo Sword character in Genshin Impact and one of the first characters players receive for free during the game’s Prologue chapter. He serves as the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt, acting as the most trusted aide to the current Acting Grand Master, Jean.

His backstory is one of the most layered and mysterious in the game. Kaeya was left as a small child near the Dawn Winery in Mondstadt, where he was taken in and raised by the Ragnvindr family — making him an adopted brother to Diluc. The two were once close friends, but their relationship fractured after Kaeya revealed his true origins. He carries the eyes unique to descendants of Khaenri’ah, a lost kingdom central to Genshin Impact’s overarching lore. His past missions and loyalties remain a carefully held secret that he guards behind an easy smile and smooth talk.

In battle, Kaeya is a reliable and efficient Cryo applicator. His Elemental Burst summons three revolving icicles that orbit the active character and deal off-field Cryo damage continuously. He is one of the best early-game Cryo units and remains useful in Freeze, Melt, and Superconduct teams even at higher Adventure Ranks.

He is also notable for his Utility Passive — he reduces Sprinting Stamina consumption by 20% for the whole party, making exploration more comfortable from the very start of the game.

You can play Genshin Impact on Android, iOS, PlayStation, Epic Games, and Xbox.

For more Mondstadt character guides, also check out our pages on Rosaria and Fischl — two popular teammates who pair well with Kaeya in Cryo and reaction teams.

Kaeya Genshin Impact

Kaeya’s Role and Playstyle

Kaeya is primarily an Off-Field Cryo Sub-DPS. His Elemental Burst, Glacial Waltz, summons three icicles that follow the active character around and deal Cryo damage automatically. This means he can be swapped off-field after using his Burst and still apply Cryo while your main DPS fights on-field.

This makes him extremely valuable in:

• Freeze teams – Pair him with a Hydro character to lock enemies in place. His icicles apply Cryo consistently to keep enemies frozen throughout your DPS window.
• Reverse Melt teams – Kaeya applies Cryo from off-field so that Pyro characters like Hu Tao or Xiangling can trigger Melt with their attacks, dealing amplified Pyro damage.
• Superconduct teams – Pair him with an Electro character to reduce enemy Physical Resistance by 40%. This is useful in Physical DPS teams featuring Razor or Eula.

He is also a very strong Cryo particle generator. His Elemental Skill has a very short cooldown (6 seconds), letting him quickly produce Cryo particles to fuel both his own Burst and the Bursts of other Cryo characters in the team.

Kaeya’s Abilities and Talents

Normal Attack – Ceremonial Bladework

Kaeya performs up to five consecutive sword strikes. His Charged Attack consumes Stamina to unleash two rapid sword swings. His Plunging Attack drops from mid-air for AoE damage on impact. This is his lowest priority talent and generally not worth investing in for most builds.

Elemental Skill – Frostgnaw

Kaeya unleashes a frigid blast that deals Cryo DMG to enemies in front of him. This skill has a very short cooldown of only 6 seconds. Each use generates Cryo elemental particles, making him one of the best Cryo particle generators in the game for supporting other Cryo team members.

His 1st Ascension Passive adds a useful layer: every hit from Frostgnaw heals Kaeya for 15% of his ATK. Enemies Frozen by Frostgnaw also drop additional Elemental Particles (up to 2 extra per cast). This makes his Skill very valuable in Freeze teams where enemies are consistently frozen.

Elemental Burst – Glacial Waltz

This is the core of Kaeya’s kit. He summons three revolving icicles that orbit around him and continuously deal Cryo DMG to enemies they pass through. The icicles follow whichever character is currently active on the field, meaning they apply Cryo off-field while your main DPS attacks. The Burst lasts 8 seconds (or longer with C2).

The icicles revolve roughly four times during the Burst’s base duration, giving Kaeya excellent off-field Cryo application. This is why his Energy Recharge is so important — the faster you can recharge his Burst, the more consistent his Cryo uptime becomes for the whole team.

1st Ascension Passive – Cold-Blooded Strike

Each hit from Frostgnaw regenerates HP for Kaeya equal to 15% of his ATK. Enemies that are Frozen by Frostgnaw drop up to 2 additional Elemental Particles. This makes Kaeya self-sustaining in many situations and boosts his particle generation in Freeze teams.

4th Ascension Passive – Glacial Heart

Opponents Frozen by Kaeya’s attacks have a chance to drop additional Elemental Particles when Kaeya’s Frostgnaw hits them. This passive reinforces his role as a Cryo battery and particle generator, especially in Freeze-focused compositions.

Utility Passive – Hidden Strength

Kaeya decreases all party members’ Sprinting Stamina consumption by 20%. This does not stack with other similar passives. A very valuable quality-of-life bonus that makes early and mid-game exploration significantly more comfortable.

Talent Priority for Kaeya

• Elemental Burst first – Glacial Waltz is the heart of his kit. More talent levels mean more damage per icicle hit and better off-field Cryo contribution.
• Elemental Skill second – Frostgnaw deals decent personal damage and generates important Cryo particles. Worth leveling to improve both damage and utility.
• Normal Attack last – Kaeya rarely stays on-field as a main DPS in optimized builds. Normal Attack investment is only worth it in dedicated on-field DPS builds with Chongyun’s Cryo infusion.

Best Weapons for Kaeya

5-Star Weapons

• Primordial Jade Cutter – His best overall 5-star weapon for DPS builds. Provides high CRIT Rate and an ATK bonus based on max HP. The combination of CRIT Rate and strong passive makes every other stat easier to build around. Best-in-slot for Reverse Melt builds.
• Mistsplitter Reforged – Another top pick that provides CRIT DMG, very high base ATK, and Elemental DMG bonus stacks. Works excellently in both Freeze and Melt builds. The stacks build up naturally through Kaeya’s normal combat rotation.
• Freedom-Sworn – A support-focused option that provides Elemental Mastery and a team-wide ATK and Normal Attack DMG buff when Swirl reactions occur. Better in teams with an Anemo character who can Swirl.

4-Star Weapons

• Favonius Sword – His best Energy Recharge weapon and one of his best overall options. CRIT hits generate Elemental Particles for the whole team, helping Kaeya maintain Burst uptime and supporting other characters’ Energy needs. Ideal for pure support builds.
• Amenoma Kageuchi (Craftable) – A craftable sword that generates Succession Seeds on Elemental Skill use, which then restore Energy when Kaeya uses his Burst. Drastically reduces Energy Recharge requirements and frees up substat slots for ATK and CRIT. One of the best free-to-play options available.
• Lion’s Roar – Provides ATK and a passive that increases damage against enemies affected by Pyro or Electro. Excellent for Reverse Melt teams where enemies always have a Pyro aura. A strong 4-star pick for that specific team type.
• Sacrificial Sword – Provides Energy Recharge and can reset Kaeya’s Elemental Skill cooldown on a CRIT hit. This means he can use Frostgnaw twice in a short window, generating more particles and dealing more Cryo hits. Good for teams that need consistent particle generation.
• Harbinger of Dawn (3-star) – Surprisingly competitive at R5. Provides CRIT DMG and a high CRIT Rate bonus when Kaeya’s HP is above 90%. Works well when Kaeya is shielded or healed consistently. One of the best free damage options early game.

Best Artifacts for Kaeya

Freeze Build – 4-Piece Blizzard Strayer

This is his best artifact set for Freeze teams. The 2-piece gives 15% Cryo DMG bonus. The 4-piece gives up to 40% additional CRIT Rate against enemies affected by Cryo — and 20% more if they are Frozen. This means Kaeya can reach extremely high CRIT Rate in Freeze teams without needing CRIT Rate on every artifact piece, freeing substats for CRIT DMG and ATK. Run ATK%/Cryo DMG/CRIT DMG as main stats and lean into CRIT DMG since the 4-piece handles CRIT Rate for you.

Reverse Melt / General Build – 4-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate

The most versatile artifact set for Kaeya outside of Freeze teams. It boosts Energy Recharge by 20% and converts a percentage of ER into Elemental Burst DMG. Since Kaeya needs good Burst uptime and benefits from high ER anyway (it’s his ascension stat), this set does double duty — solving energy needs while also converting that ER into meaningful damage output.

Alternative – 4-Piece Noblesse Oblige

If your team doesn’t have another Noblesse Oblige holder, Kaeya can run it to give all party members a 20% ATK boost after he uses his Elemental Burst. Works best in quick-swap compositions where Kaeya enters the field, uses Burst, and immediately gives the team the ATK buff before swapping back to the main DPS.

Recommended Artifact Main Stats

For Freeze builds:

• Sands: ATK% or Energy Recharge
• Goblet: Cryo DMG Bonus
• Circlet: CRIT DMG (since Blizzard Strayer covers CRIT Rate)

For Reverse Melt or general builds:

• Sands: Energy Recharge or ATK%
• Goblet: Cryo DMG Bonus
• Circlet: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG

Recommended Substats

Energy Recharge (until ~140% with batteries, ~160% without) > CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG > ATK%. His ascension stat already gives him some bonus ER, but Burst uptime is critical enough that you want to build more on top.

Best Team Compositions for Kaeya

Kaeya Freeze Team

• Kamisato Ayaka (Cryo Main DPS) + Kaeya (Cryo Sub-DPS / Battery) + Venti or Kazuha (Anemo Grouper) + Sangonomiya Kokomi (Hydro / Healer)

Kaeya and Ayaka together trigger Cryo Resonance, giving the team bonus CRIT Rate. Kaeya’s short Skill cooldown generates particles to fuel Ayaka’s expensive Burst. His Glacial Waltz icicles keep Cryo applied while Ayaka deals her main damage. Kokomi provides healing and constant Hydro for Freeze. Venti or Kazuha groups enemies and applies VV shred. A solid and accessible Freeze team that works without other 5-star supports.

Kaeya Reverse Melt Team (Hu Tao)

• Hu Tao (Pyro Main DPS) + Kaeya (Cryo Sub-DPS) + Xingqiu (Hydro) + Zhongli (Shielder)

Kaeya’s icicles from Glacial Waltz follow Hu Tao on-field and apply Cryo to enemies, which Hu Tao then Melts with her Pyro attacks for amplified damage. Xingqiu provides Vaporize fuel and damage reduction for Hu Tao. Zhongli’s shield keeps Hu Tao alive while she fights at low HP. Kaeya pairs naturally with Hu Tao as an accessible Cryo applier without competing for resources.

Kaeya Reverse Melt Team (Budget)

• Kaeya (Cryo Sub-DPS) + Chongyun (Cryo / Infusion) + Xiangling (Pyro Sub-DPS) + Bennett (Pyro Healer / Buffer)

Bennett and Xiangling provide Pyro from off-field. Kaeya and Chongyun apply Cryo for Cryo Resonance and consistent Melt triggers. Bennett’s Burst heals and boosts everyone’s ATK significantly. Chongyun’s Elemental Skill infuses Normal Attacks with Cryo, giving Kaeya Cryo Normal Attacks when on-field. A strong all-4-star team that performs well even in Spiral Abyss.

Kaeya Superconduct Team (Physical DPS Support)

• Eula or Razor (Physical Main DPS) + Kaeya (Cryo Sub-DPS / Superconduct) + Fischl or Raiden Shogun (Electro) + Diona or Bennett (Support / Healer)

Kaeya applies off-field Cryo with Glacial Waltz while Fischl or Raiden provide Electro. The Cryo and Electro reaction triggers Superconduct, reducing enemy Physical Resistance by 40% for 12 seconds. Eula or Razor then deal massive Physical damage to debuffed enemies. Kaeya provides Cryo Resonance with Eula or Diona for an extra CRIT Rate boost.

Kaeya Freeze Budget Team

• Kaeya + Chongyun + Xingqiu + Diona

A fully free-to-play Freeze team with no 5-star characters needed. Chongyun and Kaeya trigger Cryo Resonance. Xingqiu applies consistent Hydro from off-field. Diona provides shielding, healing, and Cryo particles. Kaeya’s icicles follow Chongyun or any on-field character to maintain Freeze. A comfortable team for clearing early Spiral Abyss content.

For more team-building ideas, check out our guides on Chongyun, Diona, and Xingqiu — three of Kaeya’s most frequent and effective teammates.

Kaeya Constellations Guide

Kaeya is given for free and available on the Standard Banner, but he has never appeared on any rate-up event banner. This makes his constellations among the hardest to collect in the game. They come slowly over time from Standard Banner pulls and Paimon’s Bargains. Here is what each one does:

• C1 – Excellent Blood: The CRIT Rate of Kaeya’s Normal Attacks and Charged Attacks is increased by 15% against enemies affected by Cryo or Frozen. Makes him noticeably better in on-field DPS builds within Freeze teams.
• C2 – Never-Ending Performance: Every time Glacial Waltz kills an enemy, its duration is extended by 2.5 seconds. This extension can happen up to a maximum of 15 seconds of additional duration. Against groups of weak enemies, this effectively makes the Burst last much longer, giving Kaeya far more off-field Cryo output and making it especially powerful in content with many weaker enemies.
• C3 – Dance of Frost: Increases Frostgnaw (Elemental Skill) level by 3 (max level 15). A direct damage and particle generation boost to his main particle-generating ability.
• C4 – Frozen Kiss: Triggers automatically when Kaeya’s HP drops below 20%. Creates a shield that absorbs damage equal to 30% of Kaeya’s Max HP for 20 seconds. Can only trigger once every 60 seconds. A passive survival tool that requires no action from the player.
• C5 – Frostbiting Embrace: Increases Glacial Waltz (Elemental Burst) level by 3 (max level 15). Combined with C6, this is a meaningful damage upgrade.
• C6 – Glacial Whirlwind: Glacial Waltz now summons one additional icicle (for a total of four) and Kaeya regenerates 15 Energy when casting it. The extra icicle increases his off-field Cryo application and personal damage significantly. The 15 Energy refund also reduces his ER requirements, freeing up substats for offensive stats. This is his strongest constellation overall.

Summary: C2 is the most interesting utility upgrade for wave content. C6 is the biggest raw power spike. C0 Kaeya is fully usable in all the team compositions above without needing any constellations.

Kaeya Ascension Materials

To fully ascend Kaeya from Level 1 to Level 90, you need:

• Shivada Jade (Sliver, Fragment, Chunk, Gemstone) – Dropped by Cryo bosses including the Cryo Regisvine (Falcon Coast, Mondstadt), Cryo Hypostasis, Coral Defenders, and others.
• Hoarfrost Core – Dropped specifically by the Cryo Regisvine boss in Mondstadt. You need 46 total. Spend 40 Original Resin per clear to claim rewards. The Cryo Regisvine has high Cryo resistance, so bring Pyro or Hydro characters for efficient clears.
• Calla Lily – A local specialty flower found near bodies of water in Mondstadt, especially Starfell Lake, Dadaupa Gorge, and the pond north of Springvale. You need 168 total. They regrow every 2–3 days. You can also purchase a small stock from Flora, the flower shop owner in Mondstadt city, for 1,000 Mora each (5 available every 3 days). Alternatively, grow them in the Serenitea Pot.
• Treasure Hoarder Insignias (Treasure Hoarder Insignia, Silver Raven Insignia, Golden Raven Insignia) – Dropped by Treasure Hoarder enemies found across Mondstadt and Liyue. Can also be obtained through alchemy or purchased from Paimon’s Bargains.

Kaeya Talent Materials

To fully upgrade all three of Kaeya’s talents, you need:

• Teachings, Guide, and Philosophies of Ballad – Obtained from the Forsaken Rift domain in Mondstadt on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Treasure Hoarder Insignias (all three tiers) – The same drops as his ascension material. Farm Treasure Hoarders while exploring Mondstadt and Liyue.
• Spirit Locket of Boreas – A weekly boss drop from defeating Andrius (Wolf of the North) in Wolvendom, Mondstadt. This trounce domain becomes available after completing an early Archon Quest. You need 18 total across all talents.
• Crown of Insight – Required to max any talent to level 10. Obtained from limited-time events and special offerings like the Frostbearing Tree.

Since Kaeya’s ascension stat is Energy Recharge, ascending him fully to Level 90 gives him a meaningful ER bonus on top of his base stats. This makes full ascension especially worthwhile for improving his Burst uptime.

How to Get Kaeya

Kaeya is one of the three characters given for free to all players during the game’s Prologue chapter in Mondstadt. Every player who starts Genshin Impact receives him automatically. Beyond that, he is available on the Standard Banner (Wanderlust Invocation) at any time.

As noted above, Kaeya has never appeared on any limited event banner with a rate-up. This means his constellations can only be obtained through Standard Banner pulls, Masterless Starglitter in Paimon’s Bargains (where he rotates in occasionally), or very rarely from Intertwined Fate Standard pulls. Patience is required if you want his constellations.

Kaeya vs Rosaria – Which Cryo Sub-DPS Should You Use?

This is the most common comparison for Kaeya players. Both fill a similar off-field Cryo Sub-DPS role, but they have meaningful differences:

• Kaeya has better Cryo particle generation, lower energy cost, and his icicles follow the active character more reliably. He is also completely free and has a useful stamina exploration passive.
• Rosaria has better personal damage, a CRIT Rate buff for the whole team from her 4th Ascension Passive, and fits better in Melt teams where she can snapshot buffs onto her Burst. She also has a longer Burst duration at C2.
• In Freeze teams focused on pure Cryo application and particle generation, Kaeya can be the better pick. In teams where team CRIT Rate buffing matters, Rosaria is stronger.
• They can also be run together for double Cryo off-field coverage, which maximizes Cryo uptime and triggers Cryo Resonance at the same time.

For our full breakdown on the other Cryo option, see our Rosaria build guide.

Kaeya Quick Tips

• Prioritize Energy Recharge in your build. His Burst is everything. Without consistent uptime, his off-field Cryo contribution drops sharply. Aim for 140–160% ER depending on your team’s particle generation.
• Use his Elemental Skill as often as possible during rotations. The 6-second cooldown is extremely short, letting you use it two or three times per rotation to generate particles and fill your Burst meter faster.
• In Freeze teams with Blizzard Strayer, you can stack CRIT DMG on your Circlet instead of CRIT Rate. The 4-piece set and Cryo Resonance combined give you so much CRIT Rate that you can afford to skip it on the artifact Circlet entirely.
• Kaeya’s icicles from Glacial Waltz track whatever character is currently on-field. This means your main DPS benefits from the Cryo application just by fighting normally. You don’t need to manage positioning.
• Pair Kaeya with Amenoma Kageuchi if you don’t have a 5-star sword. This craftable blade’s Energy restoration mechanic practically solves his ER needs on its own when used correctly.
• His Skill heals him for 15% of his ATK on hit. In teams without a dedicated healer, this can keep Kaeya sustainable enough to function as a self-sufficient Cryo unit.

Platforms to Play Genshin Impact

• Official Website (PC)
• Google Play (Android)
• App Store (iOS)
• PlayStation Store
• Epic Games Store
• Xbox

Frequently Asked Questions About Kaeya

For more free character build guides from Mondstadt, visit our pages on Amber, Noelle, and Barbara — the other starter characters who join Kaeya early in your Genshin Impact journey.