By Alright, so Yelan — that sleek Hydro bow gal — is kinda the secret weapon everyone lowkey wishes they’d picked up sooner for Spiral Abyss. I mean, I learned the hard way by grinding with my old squad, dragging through floors like a sloth on a Sunday. Then I swapped in Yelan… and boom, everything got faster than my morning coffee disappearing (and I drink like, five cups).
Anyway, here’s the kicker: Yelan isn’t just another pretty face with a bow. She’s got moves, and not just flashy ones. We’re talking quick, splashy Hydro damage that cleans house in seconds. I’m talking faster runs, higher stars, less crying in the corner.
Who’s Yelan, Really? (Spoiler: She’s Better Than You Think)
If you just rolled your eyes at “another Hydro user,” give me a sec. This isn’t your usual wet blanket. Yelan is like the perfect blend of slick assassin and team cheerleader.
Her Elemental Skill? She sprints around, marks baddies, and douses them in Hydro damage like it’s raining on their parade.
Her Elemental Burst? Oh, it’s a thing — summons these dice (yes, dice — why? No clue, but it looks wicked cool) that slam enemies with Hydro attacks based on her HP. That HP scaling? Super weird for a bow user but super good. It means you can build her tanky and still wreck faces.
I still remember the first time I watched my buddy wipe out an Abyss wave with Yelan’s burst. I was like, “Wait… where did all that damage come from?” Spoiler: it was the dice. Those dice don’t mess around.
Artifacts: Your Yelan’s Outfit for Crushing Abyss Runs
Alright, artifacts are like the outfit for your character. You want her looking (and performing) her best.
Yelan LOVES energy recharge and HP. So if you slap on the Emblem of Severed Fate set? Oh boy, that’s your jackpot.
- 2-piece = Energy Recharge +20%
- 4-piece = Your burst damage scales with your Energy Recharge. Meaning the more juice you have, the nastier the dice slap.
I’ll be honest — my first set was a mess. Had some weird mix of stats, and my burst was on cooldown longer than my lunch break. Rookie mistake.
Other sets? Sure, Noblesse Oblige helps with burst damage and buffs the whole team. Good for squads where Yelan isn’t the star but the hype woman.
Just make sure you’re chasing Crit Rate and HP subs. I personally chase those numbers like I chase the ice cream truck on a hot day.
Weapons That Make Yelan Go “Boom”
Weapons are like the secret sauce. Without the right bow, Yelan is kinda like me trying to dance—awkward and slow.
- Aqua Simulacra: The holy grail. I don’t have it, but every streamer I watch gushes over how it turns Yelan into a crit machine. It boosts HP and crit damage, which is everything she wants.
- Favonius Warbow: My go-to when I’m feeling cheap but still want that sweet burst uptime. More energy = more dice = more Hydro smackdown.
- Sacrificial Bow: Also solid, especially if you wanna spam her skill like a maniac.
Honestly, I tried a couple others (looking at you, Rust) and they felt meh. Stick to these and you’ll be laughing at those Abyss timers.
How to Actually Use Yelan in the Abyss (Because Style Means Nothing If You’re Dead)
This is where I screw up the most. The timing, swapping, and positioning are trickier than finding a parking spot at Pete’s Hardware on a Saturday.
Quick rundown:
- Hit the Elemental Skill — she zips around, marks enemies, and wets them good.
- Drop that Elemental Burst — summon the dice, then switch out.
- Let your main DPS (Hu Tao? Yoimiya? You do you) finish the party.
- Rinse, repeat.
You wanna keep the burst off cooldown. Energy Recharge helps here. Otherwise, you’re stuck watching those dice gather dust, which is like watching paint dry but wetter.
I gotta admit, the first few Abyss runs with Yelan had me second-guessing my life choices. But once you nail the rotation, it’s smoother than grandma’s mashed potatoes.
Dream Teams to Pair With Yelan
Team comps are where the magic happens. And oh boy, Yelan plays nice with others.
My favorite squad (and I’ve tried a ton):
- Hu Tao + Yelan + Xingqiu + Zhongli
The classic “let’s vaporize everything” team. Zhongli’s shield keeps Yelan alive while Hu Tao melts faces. Plus, Xingqiu’s Hydro orbs stack nicely with Yelan’s burst. - Raiden Shogun + Yelan + Kazuha + Bennett
This team is a power-packed combo of Electro-Charged mayhem and buffs. Raiden Shogun and Yelan’s Energy Recharge synergy is wicked. Kazuha’s crowd control and Bennett’s heals/buffs? Chef’s kiss. - Yoimiya + Yelan + Fischl + Kokomi
My friend swears by this. Lots of Pyro and Hydro interplay, plus healing from Kokomi to keep Yelan sprinting.
Quick Tips That Took Me Ages to Figure Out
- Group enemies with Anemo. Venti or Kazuha is your best friend here. I swear, when you swirl Hydro, the damage numbers jump like crazy.
- Preload Yelan’s burst before you switch in your Pyro main. Otherwise, you’re wasting precious time.
- Build her HP high. Like, seriously. I aimed for 30K and wow. It made a difference.
- Energy Recharge? Shoot for 180%-220%. Anything less, and you’ll be waiting on your burst longer than your pizza delivery.
Common Goofs I Made With Yelan (So You Don’t Have To)
- Trying to main DPS her. Nope. Her normal attacks are cute but not the damage king.
- Forgetting to stack Energy Recharge. I learned this the hard way when my burst was on a long nap mid-fight.
- Ignoring elemental reactions. Yelan is a Hydro queen — if you don’t vaporize or electro-charge, you’re wasting her.
Yelan vs Xingqiu: The Ultimate Hydro Showdown
People ask me all the time: “Which is better, Yelan or Xingqiu?” Honestly? Use them together.
Xingqiu is like the reliable friend who sticks around and keeps your health up. Yelan is the flashy one who shows up, throws dice, and leaves. Together? They’re unstoppable.
Random Fun Fact Break
Victorians believed talking to ferns helped keep the mind sane during long winters. I’m pretty sure my begonias would appreciate some chatter too — helps them grow… or so I tell myself while watering.
What You’ll Need to Level Yelan (Spoiler: It’s a Grind)
- Starconch — Found along Liyue’s shores. Collect like it’s your day job.
- Runic Fang — Ruin Serpent drops these. That fight? Helluva workout.
- Hydro gems and Fatui insignias for talents.
I’m still farming some of these because why not? Farming is the true endgame.
Looking Ahead: Yelan’s Future in Abyss
With all the new characters dropping, you might think Yelan will get lost in the shuffle. Nah.
Her HP-based burst means she scales differently and won’t lose her edge. Plus, as new Hydro or Pyro units drop, she just becomes more useful.
To Wrap It Up… Sorta
So, here’s the deal. If you want a Hydro bow user who’s fast, slick, and can totally obliterate Abyss floors, Yelan is your girl.
Fast runs? Check. Big damage? Check. Style? Double check.
If you haven’t tried her, what are you waiting for? Go build her, and you might just get those sweet 36 stars you’ve been chasing.
Oh, and one last thing: the cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave survived my terrible plant parenting skills, just like Yelan survives the Abyss chaos with style. Take that as a sign.