Hey Genshin Impact fans! Ever wondered about the term "Sub DPS" and what it means for your team compositions? You're not alone! Understanding the roles in Genshin Impact, like Main DPS, Support, and Sub DPS, is crucial for building effective teams that can tackle the Spiral Abyss and other challenging content. Let's dive into the world of Sub DPS characters and explore how they can significantly boost your gameplay.

What is a Sub DPS?

Okay, let's break down what a Sub DPS character actually is. In Genshin Impact, the term refers to a character who deals significant damage, but unlike the Main DPS, they don't need to be on the field constantly to do so. Think of them as damage dealers who can contribute a substantial amount of hurt even when they're off-field. Their abilities often have lingering effects or can be triggered by other characters, allowing them to dish out consistent damage without hogging all the spotlight – or field time.

The Sub DPS role is all about maximizing damage output while providing flexibility in your team composition. These characters are designed to supplement your Main DPS, filling in damage gaps and providing consistent offense. They typically possess skills or abilities that can be activated and then left to run their course, allowing you to switch back to your Main DPS to continue the onslaught. For example, a Sub DPS might drop an Elemental Burst that deals continuous damage over time, even while the character is no longer actively on the field. This is super useful because it means you're not losing damage uptime while you're swapping characters around to trigger elemental reactions or reposition your team. What makes a good Sub DPS is having abilities that scale well, have a long duration, and are easy to integrate into various team compositions. They need to be versatile enough to fit into different strategies, providing value regardless of the specific enemies you're facing. The best Sub DPS characters also have relatively low Energy costs for their Bursts, meaning they can consistently unleash their abilities without needing excessive Energy Recharge. This ensures that their off-field damage is reliable and always available when you need it most. Ultimately, the Sub DPS role is about enhancing your team's overall damage potential by providing consistent, off-field support that complements the strengths of your Main DPS. When building your team, consider how well a potential Sub DPS character synergizes with your Main DPS in terms of elemental reactions and combat style. A well-chosen Sub DPS can make a world of difference, turning a struggling team into a powerhouse capable of tackling even the toughest challenges in Genshin Impact. By understanding the nuances of the Sub DPS role, you can strategically optimize your team and achieve greater success in your adventures throughout Teyvat.

Key Characteristics of a Sub DPS

So, what makes a character a good Sub DPS? Here's a breakdown:

• Off-Field Damage: This is the most important aspect. They need abilities that deal damage even when they aren't actively on the field. Think Oz from Fischl, Guoba from Xiangling, or the Bake-Kurage from Kokomi.
• Consistent Damage: Their damage shouldn't be a one-time burst; it should be reliable and consistent over time. This means abilities with a decent duration and uptime.
• Elemental Application: A Sub DPS often excels at applying elements to enemies, setting up reactions for your Main DPS to trigger. This consistent elemental application is vital for maximizing your team's damage output through reactions like Vaporize, Melt, Electro-Charged, and more. The ability to reliably apply elements ensures that your Main DPS can consistently trigger these reactions, leading to significant damage boosts. Furthermore, elemental application can also provide additional utility, such as triggering crowd control effects like Frozen or Swirl, which can help manage enemy groups and create opportunities for your team to deal even more damage. The key is to choose a Sub DPS whose elemental application complements your Main DPS and synergizes well with the overall strategy of your team. A well-chosen Sub DPS can transform your team's damage potential by providing the necessary elemental foundation for devastating reactions. When evaluating potential Sub DPS candidates, consider the frequency, range, and reliability of their elemental application. Look for characters whose abilities can consistently apply elements to enemies, even while they are off-field. This will ensure that your Main DPS always has the opportunity to trigger powerful reactions, maximizing your team's damage output and overall effectiveness in combat.
• Energy Generation: Ideally, they can generate energy for themselves or the team, helping to keep Elemental Bursts ready.
• Synergy: A good Sub DPS will synergize well with your Main DPS, amplifying their strengths or covering their weaknesses. Consider how their elemental type interacts with your Main DPS and whether they can trigger beneficial elemental reactions together. Synergy also extends to character abilities and playstyles. A Sub DPS whose skills complement your Main DPS's can create a seamless and effective combat flow. For example, a Sub DPS with crowd control abilities can group enemies together, allowing your Main DPS to deal maximum damage with AoE attacks. Alternatively, a Sub DPS with defensive capabilities can provide additional protection for your Main DPS, allowing them to focus on dealing damage without worrying about getting interrupted or knocked down. The key is to find a Sub DPS who not only deals significant damage but also enhances your Main DPS's overall effectiveness. A well-synergized Sub DPS can elevate your team to a whole new level of power, making even the most challenging content in Genshin Impact feel manageable. When building your team, take the time to carefully consider the synergy between your Main DPS and potential Sub DPS candidates. Look for characters whose abilities and playstyles naturally complement each other, creating a cohesive and powerful combat strategy. With the right Sub DPS by your side, your Main DPS will be unstoppable.

Popular Sub DPS Characters

Alright, let's talk about some of the top-tier Sub DPS characters in Genshin Impact. These characters are widely recognized for their exceptional off-field damage, consistent elemental application, and overall versatility in various team compositions. They have proven their worth time and time again, making them highly sought-after choices for players looking to optimize their teams and conquer challenging content.

• Xingqiu: The rain swords provide consistent Hydro application and damage reduction. He's a staple in many Vaporize teams. His Rain Swords not only deal substantial Hydro damage but also provide invaluable damage reduction, making him a defensive and offensive powerhouse. Xingqiu's consistent Hydro application is especially crucial for enabling Vaporize reactions, allowing your Main DPS to deal massive damage with Pyro-infused attacks. He seamlessly integrates into various team compositions, providing consistent damage and support without requiring extensive field time. His Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, summons a barrage of rain swords that orbit the active character, dealing Hydro damage to nearby enemies and reducing incoming damage. This ability makes him incredibly versatile, allowing him to contribute both offensively and defensively. Xingqiu's consistent Hydro application and damage reduction make him an indispensable asset for any team looking to maximize their damage potential and survivability. Whether you're facing hordes of enemies or tackling challenging bosses, Xingqiu's Rain Swords will provide the consistent Hydro application and damage reduction you need to emerge victorious.
• Fischl: Oz, her summoned raven, deals Electro damage consistently. She's great for enabling Electro-Charged and Superconduct reactions. Oz's unwavering presence on the battlefield ensures a steady stream of Electro damage, making Fischl an invaluable asset for any team that relies on Electro-based reactions. She synergizes exceptionally well with characters who can consistently apply Hydro, Cryo, or Pyro, enabling powerful Electro-Charged, Superconduct, and Overloaded reactions. Fischl's ability to deal consistent Electro damage, even while off-field, makes her an incredibly versatile Sub DPS option. Her Elemental Skill, Nightrider, summons Oz, who continuously fires Electro-infused projectiles at nearby enemies. This ability not only deals significant damage but also applies Electro consistently, setting up a variety of elemental reactions. Fischl's consistent Electro application and off-field damage make her an indispensable asset for any team looking to maximize their damage potential and elemental reaction synergy. Whether you're facing hordes of enemies or tackling challenging bosses, Fischl's Oz will provide the consistent Electro application and damage you need to emerge victorious.
• Xiangling: Guoba and her Pyronado provide off-field Pyro damage and application. A cornerstone of many Melt and Vaporize teams. Guoba's fiery breath not only deals substantial Pyro damage but also provides invaluable Pyro application, making her a offensive powerhouse. Xiangling's consistent Pyro application is especially crucial for enabling Vaporize and Melt reactions, allowing your Main DPS to deal massive damage with Hydro or Cryo-infused attacks. She seamlessly integrates into various team compositions, providing consistent damage and support without requiring extensive field time. Her Elemental Burst, Pyronado, summons a swirling vortex of fire that orbits the active character, dealing Pyro damage to nearby enemies. This ability makes her incredibly versatile, allowing her to contribute both offensively and defensively. Xiangling's consistent Pyro application and damage make her an indispensable asset for any team looking to maximize their damage potential and elemental reaction synergy. Whether you're facing hordes of enemies or tackling challenging bosses, Xiangling's Guoba and Pyronado will provide the consistent Pyro application and damage you need to emerge victorious.
• Albedo: His Transient Blossoms deal Geo damage based on DEF. He's a consistent, low-maintenance Sub DPS. His Transient Blossoms not only deal substantial Geo damage but also provide invaluable interruption, making him a defensive and offensive powerhouse. Albedo's consistent Geo application is especially crucial for enabling Crystallize reactions, allowing your Main DPS to gain shields to help mitigate damage. He seamlessly integrates into various team compositions, providing consistent damage and support without requiring extensive field time. His Elemental Skill, Solar Isotoma, creates a Geo construct that deals AoE Geo damage when enemies within its range are attacked. This ability makes him incredibly versatile, allowing him to contribute both offensively and defensively. Albedo's consistent Geo application and damage make him an indispensable asset for any team looking to maximize their damage potential and survivability. Whether you're facing hordes of enemies or tackling challenging bosses, Albedo's Transient Blossoms will provide the consistent Geo application and damage you need to emerge victorious.

How to Build a Sub DPS

Building a Sub DPS character requires a slightly different approach than building a Main DPS. You need to focus on stats that enhance their off-field damage and elemental application, while also considering their energy needs. Here's a quick guide:

• Weapon: Choose a weapon that boosts their damage output or energy recharge. For example, Favonius Sword for Xingqiu to help with energy or The Catch for Xiangling to boost her Burst damage.
• Artifacts: Prioritize artifacts that increase their relevant damage stat (ATK, Elemental Mastery, DEF for Albedo) and Elemental Burst damage. Emblem of Severed Fate is a popular choice for energy-hungry Sub DPS characters.
• Stats: Focus on Crit Rate/Crit Damage, Elemental Mastery (if they're triggering reactions), and Energy Recharge. A good Energy Recharge stat ensures they can consistently use their Elemental Burst.

Why Use a Sub DPS?

So, why should you bother with a Sub DPS? Here's the deal: A well-built Sub DPS significantly increases your team's overall damage output. They provide consistent damage even when they're off-field, allowing your Main DPS to shine. They also enable more complex and powerful elemental reactions, which can drastically improve your team's performance. Basically, using a Sub DPS is like adding a secret weapon to your team – a reliable source of damage and utility that can make all the difference in challenging content.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the Sub DPS role is essential for mastering team building in Genshin Impact. By incorporating strong Sub DPS characters into your teams, you can create powerful and versatile compositions that can conquer any challenge Teyvat throws your way. So, experiment with different characters, find the ones that synergize well with your playstyle, and watch your damage numbers soar! Now go forth and build those awesome teams, Genshin enthusiasts! Good luck, and have fun exploring all the possibilities that Sub DPS characters bring to the table! You got this! I hope this article helps you with your adventure in Teyvat.