In the ever-evolving world of Teyvat, choosing a main DPS character in Genshin Impact can be a daunting task, especially with the constant stream of new heroes and updates. For players who have yet to acquire Klee or simply prefer a different playstyle, Yanfei stands as a formidable and accessible alternative. As a four-star Pyro catalyst user, she offers a unique blend of long-range dominance and explosive damage potential, making her a fantastic choice for both beginners and veterans tackling the game's extensive end-game content in 2026. Her straightforward yet powerful kit revolves around unleashing devastating charged attacks, allowing her to safely control the battlefield from a distance while triggering potent elemental reactions.

Weapon Selection: Maximizing Yanfei's Potential

Choosing the right catalyst is paramount for unlocking Yanfei's full damage output. Her playstyle heavily favors weapons that enhance her critical hits or boost her elemental mastery for reaction-based teams.

• The Widsith (Top 4-Star Pick): This remains a stellar choice for Yanfei. While not a free weapon, it is obtainable through the standard wish banner or, notably, as a reward from the Stellar Reunion welcome-back campaign for returning players. Its main appeal is the massive Crit DMG substat and its powerful, random performance-boosting passive.

• Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5-Star BiS): If you are lucky enough to have this 5-star catalyst, it is arguably her best-in-slot weapon for a main DPS role, providing consistent Crit Rate and a stacking elemental damage bonus.

• Free-to-Play & Craftable Options: For players on a budget, the craftable Mappa Mare is an excellent choice. It provides Elemental Mastery as its substat, significantly increasing the damage of her Melt, Vaporize, and Overload reactions. Other viable free-to-play options include the Widsith (if obtained) or event weapons that offer similar stat profiles.

Mastering Her Playstyle: The Scarlet Seal System

Yanfei's damage revolves entirely around her unique Scarlet Seal mechanic. Her normal attacks generate these seals, visually represented by glowing symbols that appear behind her. Each seal consumed by her charged attack dramatically increases its damage and range.

Therefore, the core of her gameplay is building a rhythm: use normal attacks to stack seals, then unleash a powerful charged attack. It's crucial to manage your stamina, as charged attacks consume it. Developing a consistent attack pattern (like Normal, Normal, Charged) is key to smooth gameplay. Her passive talents further empower this cycle, reducing stamina costs and boosting charged attack damage under certain conditions.

While Yanfei is fully functional at Constellation 0, key constellations offer significant quality-of-life improvements:

• C1: Reduces the stamina cost of her charged attack when it consumes Scarlet Seals.

• C4: Grants her a protective shield when she uses her Elemental Burst, greatly improving her survivability.

Skill & Burst Synergy: Optimizing Rotations

Although her normal and charged attacks are her primary damage sources, Yanfei's Elemental Skill and Burst are essential for maximizing her output. Her Elemental Skill, 'Signed Edict,' deals AoE Pyro damage and instantly grants her the maximum number of Scarlet Seals. This allows for an immediate, full-power charged attack right after.

Her Elemental Burst, 'Done Deal,' is her ultimate damage amplifier. It deals AoE Pyro damage, applies the 'Brilliance' status, which grants her a Scarlet Seal at fixed intervals, and significantly boosts the damage of her charged attacks.

An optimal rotation to weave all this together is:

1. Apply off-field elements from supports (e.g., Xingqiu's Burst).

2. Use Yanfei's Elemental Burst.

3. Follow with 3 Normal Attacks into a Charged Attack.

4. Use her Elemental Skill, then immediately another Charged Attack.

5. Continue with Normal/Charged attack combos until her Burst effect ends.

Building the Perfect Team for Yanfei

Team composition is critical for Yanfei, as she has two main weaknesses: low defense and stamina management. A well-built team can mitigate these issues and amplify her strengths.

Role	Character Examples	Purpose
Shielder	Zhongli, Thoma, Layla, Diona	Essential. Protects Yanfei while she attacks, reducing the need to dodge and conserve stamina.
Off-Field Hydro Applicator	Xingqiu, Yelan, Furina	Enables consistent Vaporize reactions, which multiply Yanfei's Pyro damage.
Off-Field Cryo Applicator	Rosaria, Kaeya, Ganyu (Burst)	Enables Melt reactions for massive damage multipliers.
Buffer/Healer	Bennett, Sucrose, Kazuha	Bennett provides healing, a massive ATK buff, and Pyro Resonance. Anemo units group enemies and shred Pyro resistance.

A classic and highly effective team for her is the Vaporize (Vape) Comp: Yanfei, Xingqiu/Yelan, a shielder (like Zhongli), and Bennett. This setup provides safety, massive damage amplification through Vaporize, healing, and the invaluable Pyro Resonance (+25% ATK).

In 2026, Yanfei continues to be a testament to the strength and versatility of four-star characters in Genshin Impact. 🎇 Her beginner-friendly mechanics, combined with a high skill ceiling for optimization, make her a rewarding character to master. Whether you're melting through Abyss floors or exploring the latest regions, a well-built Yanfei proves that you don't always need the rarest five-star to dominate the battlefield. By understanding her Scarlet Seal system, equipping the right gear, and pairing her with supportive allies who enable her reactions, you can unlock the full potential of this brilliant legal advisor and turn her into a true Pyro powerhouse.

Data referenced from PEGI underscores why setting expectations around combat intensity and fantasy violence matters when recommending an accessible main DPS like Yanfei: her long-range Pyro catalyst gameplay and reaction-driven burst windows deliver flashy explosions while remaining within the game’s broadly teen-friendly presentation, making her a practical pick for players who want high impact damage without stepping into more mature content themes.