Mona Vs Xingqiu For Skirk: Who Is The Best Hydro Support?

Choosing the right support character for Skirk in Genshin Impact can significantly impact your team's overall performance. Two popular options that often come up in discussions are Mona (C0) and Xingqiu (C4). Both are Hydro characters with unique strengths and weaknesses, making the decision a bit tricky. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into the capabilities of each character, analyze their synergies with Skirk, and ultimately help you determine which one is the better fit for your team.

Understanding Skirk's Playstyle and Needs

Before we delve into the specifics of Mona and Xingqiu, it's crucial to understand Skirk's playstyle and what she needs from her supports. Skirk, as a main DPS, typically relies on dealing substantial Hydro damage through her Elemental Skill and Burst. Her abilities often involve Hydro application and damage amplification. Therefore, the ideal support characters for Skirk should be able to:

• Apply Hydro consistently to enable reactions like Vaporize or Electro-Charged.
• Boost Skirk's damage output through buffs or debuffs on enemies.
• Provide utility such as crowd control or healing, if necessary.
• Have good energy generation to ensure Skirk's Burst is readily available.

Considering these factors, both Mona and Xingqiu have the potential to be excellent supports for Skirk, but they excel in different areas. Let's break down each character's kit and how they synergize with Skirk.

Mona: The Burst Damage Amplifier

Mona, at C0, is renowned for her incredible ability to amplify damage, primarily through her Elemental Burst, "Stellaris Phantasm." This Burst applies the Illusory Bubble status to enemies, which, upon breaking, inflicts a significant damage bonus on the target. Mona's strengths lie in her:

• High damage amplification: The damage bonus provided by Stellaris Phantasm is substantial, making Mona an excellent choice for one-shot or burst-oriented team compositions. This is especially useful in domains, Spiral Abyss chambers, or against bosses where you need to deal massive damage in a short window.
• Hydro application: Mona's Elemental Skill, "Mirror Reflection of Doom," creates a Phantasm that applies Hydro to nearby enemies and taunts them. This can be helpful for setting up reactions and controlling enemy positioning.
• Mobility and exploration: Mona's Alternate Sprint, "Illusory Torrent," allows her to move quickly across water surfaces, making her a valuable asset for exploration.

However, Mona also has some limitations:

• Burst uptime: The duration of the Illusory Bubble is relatively short, and the damage bonus is applied only upon breaking the bubble. This requires careful timing and coordination to maximize the damage amplification.
• Energy cost: Mona's Elemental Burst has a high energy cost (80), which can be challenging to manage without sufficient Energy Recharge.
• Hydro application consistency: While her Elemental Skill applies Hydro, it's not as consistent as Xingqiu's Rain Swords, especially against fast-moving or multiple enemies.

Mona's Synergy with Skirk

When paired with Skirk, Mona's primary role is to amplify Skirk's damage output. The general strategy is to apply Hydro with Mona's Skill, then use her Burst to apply the Illusory Bubble. After that, you switch to Skirk and unleash her Elemental Skill or Burst to capitalize on the damage bonus. This can result in significant burst damage, especially if Skirk is well-built and has high Crit stats. Mona's Illusory Torrent can also help in repositioning to avoid damage, while her Phantasm provides a bit of crowd control.

However, the downside is that Mona's damage amplification is highly dependent on the timing and execution of the rotation. If the Illusory Bubble breaks prematurely or Skirk's attacks don't align with the damage bonus window, the damage output can suffer. Furthermore, Mona's high energy cost can be a hindrance, requiring you to invest in Energy Recharge or use an energy battery character.

Xingqiu: The Consistent Hydro Enabler and Damage Reducer

Xingqiu, particularly at C4, is a powerhouse support character known for his consistent Hydro application, damage reduction, and additional damage output. His Elemental Skill, "Fatal Rainscreen," and Elemental Burst, "Raincutter," are the core of his kit. At C4, Xingqiu gains the ability to regenerate energy whenever his Rain Swords shatter, which significantly improves his energy efficiency. Xingqiu's strengths include:

• Consistent Hydro application: Xingqiu's Rain Swords apply Hydro with each Normal Attack, making him an excellent enabler for Vaporize reactions. This is crucial for teams that rely on Pyro DPS characters, but it also benefits Skirk by ensuring she can consistently trigger Hydro-related reactions.
• Damage reduction and interruption resistance: The Rain Swords provide damage reduction and increase the character's resistance to interruption, making your team more survivable. This is particularly valuable in challenging content where you need to withstand heavy damage.
• Additional damage: Xingqiu's Rain Swords deal substantial damage on their own, adding to the team's overall DPS. This makes him not only a support but also a valuable sub-DPS character.
• Energy generation (at C4): The C4 constellation significantly improves Xingqiu's energy generation, allowing him to keep his Burst up more consistently.

Despite his many strengths, Xingqiu also has some drawbacks:

• Energy requirements: Even with C4, Xingqiu still requires a decent amount of Energy Recharge to maintain consistent Burst uptime.
• Melee range: Xingqiu's Hydro application is tied to Normal Attacks, which means he needs to be in melee range to apply Hydro effectively. This can be a disadvantage against enemies that stay at a distance.
• Limited utility beyond Hydro application and damage reduction: Xingqiu doesn't offer crowd control or significant damage amplification like Mona.

Xingqiu's Synergy with Skirk

Xingqiu's synergy with Skirk revolves around his consistent Hydro application and damage reduction. The Rain Swords allow Skirk to trigger Hydro-related reactions consistently, increasing her overall damage output. The damage reduction provided by the Rain Swords also enhances the team's survivability, which is especially useful in difficult encounters. Xingqiu's C4 further enhances this synergy by ensuring he can keep his Burst up more reliably.

The rotation with Xingqiu and Skirk is relatively straightforward. You activate Xingqiu's Elemental Skill and Burst, then switch to Skirk and unleash her abilities while Xingqiu's Rain Swords are active. This ensures a steady stream of Hydro application, allowing Skirk to trigger Vaporize or other reactions consistently.

C0 Mona vs. C4 Xingqiu for Skirk: The Verdict

So, which character is better for Skirk: C0 Mona or C4 Xingqiu? The answer, as with many things in Genshin Impact, depends on your specific needs and team composition. Let's break it down further:

When to Choose Mona

• Burst-oriented team: If you're building a team focused on dealing massive damage in a short window, Mona is the better choice. Her Stellaris Phantasm provides a significant damage bonus that can amplify Skirk's Burst damage to insane levels.
• One-shot potential: If you're aiming for one-shot clears in domains or the Spiral Abyss, Mona's damage amplification is invaluable.
• Exploration: Mona's Illusory Torrent can be a lifesaver when exploring vast areas with bodies of water.

When to Choose Xingqiu

• Consistent damage: If you prefer a more consistent damage output over burst damage, Xingqiu is the superior option. His Rain Swords ensure that Skirk can trigger Hydro-related reactions reliably.
• Survivability: Xingqiu's damage reduction and interruption resistance make your team more resilient, especially in challenging encounters.
• Energy generation: At C4, Xingqiu's energy generation is significantly improved, allowing him to keep his Burst up more consistently.
• Teams without healers or shielders: The damage reduction Xingqiu provides can be a substitute for dedicated defensive supports.

Considerations for Skirk-Specific Teams

For Skirk, the choice between Mona and Xingqiu often boils down to your preferred playstyle and the specific challenges you're facing. If you're struggling with survivability or need consistent Hydro application, Xingqiu is the clear winner. If you're confident in your ability to time rotations and want to maximize Skirk's burst damage, Mona can be incredibly powerful.

Here's a quick summary table to help you decide:

Team Compositions and Synergies

To further illustrate the differences between Mona and Xingqiu, let's consider some example team compositions with Skirk:

Team Comp 1: Skirk, Mona, Bennett, Xiangling

• Focus: Maximizing Skirk's burst damage through Vaporize reactions and Mona's damage amplification.
• Rotation: Bennett Skill/Burst -> Xiangling Skill/Burst -> Mona Skill/Burst -> Skirk Skill/Burst.
• Strengths: Extremely high burst potential, capable of one-shotting bosses.
• Weaknesses: Relies heavily on precise rotations and timing, vulnerable if interrupted.

Team Comp 2: Skirk, Xingqiu, Fischl, Beidou

• Focus: Consistent damage through Electro-Charged reactions, enhanced survivability with Xingqiu's damage reduction.
• Rotation: Fischl Skill -> Beidou Skill/Burst -> Xingqiu Skill/Burst -> Skirk Skill/Burst.
• Strengths: Consistent damage output, high survivability, good against multiple enemies.
• Weaknesses: Lower burst potential compared to the Mona team, requires good Energy Recharge.

Team Comp 3: Skirk, Xingqiu, Kazuha, Bennett

• Focus: Versatile team with a balance of damage, survivability, and crowd control. Kazuha provides elemental damage bonus and crowd control, while Bennett heals and buffs the team.
• Rotation: Bennett Skill/Burst -> Kazuha Skill/Burst -> Xingqiu Skill/Burst -> Skirk Skill/Burst.
• Strengths: Well-rounded, adaptable to different situations, good damage and survivability.
• Weaknesses: Requires good character investment to shine, rotations can be complex.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between C0 Mona and C4 Xingqiu for Skirk ultimately depends on your playstyle, team composition, and the content you're tackling. Mona excels in burst-oriented teams and offers incredible damage amplification, while Xingqiu provides consistent Hydro application, damage reduction, and enhances survivability. Both characters are valuable assets in Genshin Impact, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses will help you make the best decision for your team. Guys, consider what you value most: massive burst or consistent damage and survivability. Whichever you choose, have fun experimenting and optimizing your Skirk team!