As a long-time Genshin Impact player, I gotta admit – every new update brings that familiar mix of excitement and artifact grind fatigue. When 5.6 dropped and introduced Ifa, this four-star Anemo Catalyst user from Natlan, I was initially skeptical. Another support? But man, was I wrong. After weeks of testing him in everything from Imaginarium Theater to open-world boss fights, I'm convinced he's the secret sauce for Electro-Charged comps. That flight mechanic alone? Chef's kiss for exploration. Though let's be real – he's not perfect for Spiral Abyss. Boss fights? Nah, not his jam.
Ifa's Kit Breakdown: Flight, Heals, and Electro Mayhem
His Skill lets him hover with Cucucu (that adorable Saurian companion), firing Tonicshots that heal your whole party while applying Anemo. Game-changer for chaotic fights. But here's the kicker: during flight, he gains Rescue Essentials per Nightsoul Point, boosting Swirl/Electro-Charged damage up to 150% base. His Burst? Massive AoE pull that slaps enemies with Sedation Mark – triggering delayed elemental explosions. Pro tip: Hold Skill mid-air to dive-bomb with a plunge attack. Sick for crowd control.
| Combat Mode | Viability Rating |
|---|---|
| Open World Exploration | A+ Tier |
| Boss Fights | B Tier |
| Electro-Charged Teams | S Tier |
Constellations: Worth the Pull?
As a four-star, snagging constellations isn't wallet-breaking. But holy moly, his C2 and C4 are borderline mandatory. C2 reduces Nightsoul requirements to 88 while maxing Rescue Essentials at 200 – that damage boost ain't no joke. C4? Straight up gifts 100 EM after Burst. Meanwhile, C6 lets him occasionally launch bonus attacks mid-flight. If you're maining him, roll when he's featured. Period.
Weapons: EM or Bust
Elemental Mastery is Ifa's lifeblood – scales his heals AND damage. Sunny Morning Sleep-In is BIS (best-in-slot), but good luck getting it since Mizuki's on standard banner now. F2P alternatives? Here's the lowdown:
| Weapon | Why It Works | EM Value |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny Morning Sleep-In | Massive EM + reaction buffs | 250+ |
| A Thousand Floating Dreams | Party-wide EM share | 220 |
| Sacrificial Fragments | High EM stat (but useless passive) | 221 |
| Mappa Mare (craftable) | EM + reaction buff | 110 |
| Magic Guide (3★) | Shockingly viable for newbies | 187 |
Artifacts: Viridescent Venerer Dominates
Grinding artifacts? Yeah, it's pain. But for Ifa, 4pc Viridescent Venerer is non-negotiable – shreds resistance while boosting Swirls. Backup options include Gilded Dreams for raw EM. Stat priority? Easy peasy:
-
Sands/Goblet/Circlet: ALL Elemental Mastery main stats
-
Flower/Feather: Fixed HP/ATK (just stack EM subs)
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Sub-stats: EM > Energy Recharge > ATK%
Team Synergy: Electro-Charged Dream Squads
Ifa's not a solo carry. He needs off-field Hydro/Electro units to enable his chaos. Ororon is mandatory – dude generates Nightsoul Points like candy. My go-to comp? Ifa + Ororon + 
Yelan + 
Yae Miko. Yelan's rapid Hydro application + Yae's turrets? Pure synergy. Budget version swaps in Xingqiu and Fischl.
Raiden Shogun 
works too but slows rotations. Still, that energy recharge? Chef's kiss during Burst cycles.
Final Thoughts
Ifa's niche but damn rewarding. That flight mechanic alone makes him my permanent exploration buddy – screw climbing mountains. But building him? It's all about EM stacking and team synergy. Will he meta-shift? Doubt it. Electro-Charged comps still feel underrated compared to Hyperbloom. But in overworld mob fights? Dude shreds. Might he get better with Fontaine/Natlan units? Who knows. For now, he's my guilty pleasure support.