One of Genshin Impact principal mechanics are elemental reactions, you and I know this. But knowing how every one of them work is even more important. Why? Because it allows you to take the most advantage from every possible combination of elements. That’s why I’ll be telling you here in this Top 10 the best elemental reactions in the game and their unique characteristics. 

Notice: for this top, the order you apply elements for some reactions is important, for example, Electro + Hydro, the one that is applied first would be Electro, while Hydro is applied the last.

10. Frozen (Cryo + Hydro)

You can check the minute 03:07 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

Frozen is the most straightforward reaction on this top because what it does is freeze enemies in place. Although it may sound simple, it allows you to have control over enemies and that’s always helpful.

About Frozen

• Besides keeping enemies in place, it’s an elemental reaction that serves as a starter of other ones.

Why is Frozen great?

• You can do a Melt or Superconduct reaction from it, which helps deal big damage to enemies.

9. Crystallize (Geo + Pyro/Hydro/Electro/Cryo).
 

You can check minute 04:04 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

Crystallize is another reaction that was highly underestimated in earlier versions. But after a Geo buff, this reaction got more relevant, making it even better on a Geo resonance (when you have two Geo characters in your team). Crystallize is going to help you a lot if you know how it works.

About Crystallize:

• This reaction generates shards when Geo element comes in contact with Pyro, Hydro, Electro or Cryo.
• When you pick up these shards (For example a Cryo shard), you’d gain Cryo a shield that lasts 15 seconds.
• The amount of damage the shield can take depends on the character level, and is 250% more effective against its own element.

Why is Crystallize great?

• Shields are always welcomed, this way you can focus on dealing damage for a few seconds and not avoiding attacks.
• Against an elemental enemy, with a Geo unit you’ll create a lot of shields of the same element, being 250% more effective and make the fight look like a ride in the park.

8. Overloaded (Electro + Pyro)

You can check minute 02:05 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

Overloaded is an elemental reaction that isn’t as powerful as the ones mentioned before, but still it has its advantage. For example, overloaded deals an AoE (Area of Explosion) Pyro damage. One of the good aspects of this reaction, is that you don’t really have to care about the order you apply the elements, it’s the same no matter which hits the enemies first.

About Overloaded:

• The damage your character deals with this reaction will only depend on his/her level and the amount of Elemental Mastery. One thing to keep in mind is that it doesn’t deal Critical Damage.

Why is Overloaded great?

• This Elemental reaction is good to deal with multiple enemies at the same time because of its AoE damage.
• This reaction knocks back enemies, even the big ones, which can be helpful, for example, when swapping characters quickly.

7. Electro-charged (Electro + Hydro)

You can check minute 02:36 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

This reaction will give you a great crowd control of the small enemies, like hilichurls and treasure hoarders. Why? Because when you apply these two elements, it deals constant electro damage, and it even affects enemies nearby that are only on a “wet” status.

About Electro-charged

• This elemental reaction has a unique characteristic, and it’s that electro-charged enemies will maintain both elements while the reaction lasts. This translates to: Frozen and Overloaded can be triggered from Electro-charged. So go ahead and get creative with reactions.

Why is Electro-charged great?

• The constant electro damage shocks enemies, interrupting their attack animations.
• You can Freeze or Overload enemies from this reaction, being extremely useful if what you need is to deal more damage or keep enemies in place while you heal your party.

6. Swirl (Anemo + Pyro/Hydro/Electro/Cryo).

You can check minute 03:35 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

At first, Swirl was an elemental reaction that was not being taken seriously, but little by little players (including myself) started to see how much potential it has, and even more these days since the 1.6 update, where Swirl reactions got buffed. Making Anemo characters more important than before.

About Swirl

• Basically, what Swirl does is applying and/or combining the elements that an enemy or group of enemies may be affected at the moment. 
• This means it’s possible to apply an element to a group of enemies when only one of them is affected by Pyro, Cryo, Hydro or Electro. 
• Or combine two elements from two enemies, creating an elemental reaction that affects every one of them in the swirl area.

Why is Swirl great?

• Swirl is amazing for setting up reactions on multiple enemies, since how easy it is to spread elements with Anemo.
• The amount of damage you deal will depend on your elemental mastery, the more you have, the more damage your swirl does.

5. Superconduct (Electro + Cryo)

You can check minute 02:51 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

This elemental reaction may be taken as “not the big deal”, because when you activate it, it deals Cryo damage in an AoE. And I get it, just Cryo damage can be boring, but don’t underestimate this reaction. Because physical-damage characters shine bright like diamonds when you combine these two elements.

About Superconduct

• Enemies affected by this reaction will get their physical resistance reduced by 40%. Characters like Keching, Razor and Eula, who can be built to deal huge physical damage, take all the advantage from this reaction.

Why is Superconduct great?

• That 40% less of physical resistance will make things easier.
• Your party will deal more physical damage (except catalysts characters, of course).

4. Melt (Pyro + Cryo)

You can check minute 04:30 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

This is one of our most powerful elemental reactions in the game. It’s pretty much paired with the next reaction, in terms of damage. Considerate that whether you do this reaction or the following on this top, you will delete enemies faster.

About Melt (Pyro + Cryo)

• When doing this elemental reaction, in this exact order, your damage will be multiplied by 1.5.

Why Melt (Pyro + Cryo) is great?

• Great damage and easy to activate with Cryo characters like Chongyun, Ganyu or Eula.
• Because of this, Cryo DPS can be just as good with a Pyro support or Sub-DPS unit. 

3. Vaporize (Pyro + Hydro)

You can check minute 04:44 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

Vaporize Pyro + Hydro is an excellent elemental reaction that deals huge damage. The main idea here is to have an enabler in your team, someone who can constantly apply Pyro, and your main Hydro DPS that will activate the elemental reaction, dealing fantastic damage.

About Vaporize (Pyro + Hydro)

• When doing this elemental reaction, in this order, your damage will be multiplied by 1.5.

Why Vaporize (Pyro + Hydro) is great?

• Pyro is quite easy to apply by lighting the grass on fire, which helps to set up this reaction for big groups of enemies
• Spreading Pyro with an Anemo character is easy and one of the best ways to set your vaporize elemental reaction.

2. Melt (Cryo + Pyro)

You can check minute 04:30 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like.

If you remember the note I left above, and you paid special attention to this spot, you’ll notice that this time, having pretty much the same name as the fourth elemental reaction, we’re talking about melt, BUT when Cryo is applied first, this reaction becomes 2 times stronger. Pretty crazy don’t you think?
 

About Melt (Cryo + Pyro)

• When combining these two elements, the Pyro damage will multiply by 2.

Why Melt (Cryo + Pyro) is great?

• One of the most powerful reactions in the game.
• Damage multiplied by 2 and Cryo characters in the game can apply this element consistently.

1. Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro)

You can check minute 04:44 from this YouTube video to see what it looks like

The reason why Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro) takes the first place, is because Hydro is the easiest element to apply, since enemies can get wet from just luring them to the water. 
It’s just as powerful as Melt (Cryo + Pyro) and the best thing is that you can get the same results. Therefore, if you don't have a proper Cryo applier, or you just don’t like Cryo element that much, then this is your alternative.

About Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro)

• Just as Melt (Cryo + Pyro), your damage will be multiplied by 2.

Why Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro) is great?

• Hydro is the easiest element to apply.
• You can use your environment to get enemies on the “Wet” status.