Hey there, Genshin enthusiasts! Today, we're diving deep into the Skyward Spine, a powerful polearm that can significantly boost the capabilities of your characters. But who benefits the most from wielding this weapon? Let’s break it down and figure out the best character to equip with the Skyward Spine to maximize its potential. This guide will cover everything you need to know, from understanding the weapon's stats and abilities to identifying the perfect characters who can take full advantage of its strengths. We’ll also explore different team compositions and strategies to help you optimize your gameplay.

Understanding the Skyward Spine

Before we jump into character recommendations, let's first understand what makes the Skyward Spine so special. This 5-star polearm is known for its Energy Recharge substat and its passive ability, which increases CRIT Rate and provides an ATK SPD and Normal ATK DMG boost. Here’s a detailed look at its key features:

• Base ATK: The Skyward Spine boasts a high base ATK, which is crucial for dealing substantial damage. At level 90, it offers a base ATK of 674, making it a solid choice for any polearm user.
• Energy Recharge: The substat provides a significant boost to Energy Recharge, allowing characters to use their Elemental Bursts more frequently. This is particularly useful for characters who rely on their Burst for damage or support.
• Passive Ability - Sky-Piercing Fang: This passive increases CRIT Rate by 8% and also grants a 12% increase to Normal ATK SPD. Additionally, Normal and Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to trigger a vacuum blade that deals 40% of ATK as DMG in a small AoE. This effect can occur no more than once every 2 seconds.

Key Benefits of the Skyward Spine

1. Energy Recharge: The high Energy Recharge substat is invaluable for characters who need to frequently use their Elemental Bursts. This allows for more consistent damage output and support capabilities.
2. CRIT Rate Boost: The passive ability provides a significant increase to CRIT Rate, enhancing the character's overall damage potential. A higher CRIT Rate means more frequent critical hits, leading to higher damage numbers.
3. ATK SPD Increase: The increase in Normal ATK SPD allows characters to perform more attacks in a shorter amount of time, which can significantly boost their DPS, especially for characters who rely on Normal Attacks.
4. AoE Damage: The vacuum blade effect adds an extra layer of AoE damage to the character's attacks, making it easier to deal with groups of enemies. This can be particularly useful in domains and the Spiral Abyss.

Who Should Use the Skyward Spine?

Now that we know what the Skyward Spine offers, let's talk about which characters can make the most of it. The ideal character for this weapon is one who benefits from Energy Recharge, CRIT Rate, and ATK SPD. Here are some top contenders:

Top Character Recommendations

When choosing the best character for the Skyward Spine, it's essential to consider how well the weapon's stats and passive abilities align with the character's kit and role in the team. Here are some of the top recommendations:

1. Raiden Shogun

Raiden Shogun is arguably one of the best characters to equip with the Skyward Spine. Here’s why: Raiden Shogun truly shines with the Skyward Spine. Her kit revolves around Energy Recharge, and the weapon's substat perfectly complements her needs. The Energy Recharge allows her to charge her Elemental Burst quickly, ensuring she can frequently enter the Musou Isshin state and deal massive damage. The CRIT Rate boost from the passive also enhances her overall damage output, making her a formidable DPS character. Additionally, the ATK SPD increase can help her generate more Resolve stacks faster, further boosting her Burst damage. Raiden Shogun’s ability to amplify her team's Energy Recharge also makes the Skyward Spine a valuable asset, ensuring that everyone's Bursts are ready when needed. With the Skyward Spine, Raiden Shogun can consistently deliver high damage while keeping the team's energy flowing, making her an ideal candidate for this weapon. The weapon’s ability to enhance her Energy Recharge and CRIT Rate synergizes perfectly with her need to frequently use her Elemental Burst. The ATK SPD increase can also help her generate more Resolve stacks faster, boosting her Burst damage even further. Skyward Spine turns Raiden Shogun into a battery and a powerful damage dealer, ensuring she can consistently deliver high damage while keeping the team's energy flowing. Furthermore, the additional CRIT Rate and ATK SPD provided by the Skyward Spine can significantly amplify Raiden Shogun's damage potential, making her an even more formidable presence on the battlefield.

2. Shenhe

Shenhe is another excellent candidate for the Skyward Spine, particularly in teams focused on Cryo damage. Shenhe's primary role is to enhance the Cryo damage of her teammates, and her abilities scale with her ATK. The Skyward Spine's high base ATK helps to increase the effectiveness of her buffs. The Energy Recharge substat is also crucial for Shenhe, as it allows her to consistently use her Elemental Burst, which provides further Cryo damage bonuses and reduces enemy Cryo resistance. The CRIT Rate boost from the passive can also help to increase her personal damage output, although her main focus is on supporting the team. Shenhe can utilize the Skyward Spine to consistently buff her team's Cryo damage and keep enemies debuffed, making her an invaluable support character. With Skyward Spine, Shenhe’s ability to provide consistent Cryo buffs and debuffs is significantly enhanced, ensuring that your primary Cryo DPS can dish out maximum damage. Furthermore, the Energy Recharge provided by the Skyward Spine ensures that Shenhe’s Elemental Burst is always ready when needed, allowing her to maintain a high uptime on her buffs and debuffs.

3. Xiangling

Xiangling can also benefit greatly from the Skyward Spine, especially in teams where she serves as the primary or secondary DPS. Xiangling's Elemental Burst, Pyronado, is a significant source of her damage, and the Energy Recharge from the Skyward Spine helps to ensure that she can use it frequently. The CRIT Rate boost from the passive also enhances her overall damage output. While Xiangling typically uses weapons with Elemental Mastery or ATK substats, the Skyward Spine can be a viable option if you need more Energy Recharge to keep her Burst up. With the Skyward Spine, Xiangling can consistently unleash her Pyronado, dealing significant Pyro damage to enemies. The Energy Recharge provided by the Skyward Spine allows her to maintain a high uptime on her Burst, ensuring that she can consistently apply Pyro and deal damage. Furthermore, the additional CRIT Rate can significantly increase the damage potential of her Pyronado, making her an even more formidable DPS character.

4. Rosaria

Rosaria can also make good use of the Skyward Spine, particularly in teams where she serves as a Cryo support or sub-DPS. Rosaria's Elemental Burst provides a Cryo application and increases the CRIT Rate of her teammates, making her a valuable asset in Cryo-focused teams. The Energy Recharge from the Skyward Spine helps her to consistently use her Burst, ensuring that her teammates can benefit from the CRIT Rate boost. The CRIT Rate boost from the passive can also help to increase her personal damage output. With the Skyward Spine, Rosaria can consistently provide Cryo application and CRIT Rate buffs to her team, making her an invaluable support character. The Energy Recharge provided by the Skyward Spine allows her to maintain a high uptime on her Burst, ensuring that her teammates can consistently benefit from her buffs. Additionally, the CRIT Rate boost from the Skyward Spine's passive can further enhance her personal damage output, making her a more versatile character.

Team Compositions and Strategies

To maximize the potential of the Skyward Spine, it's essential to build team compositions that complement the weapon's strengths and the character wielding it. Here are some team composition ideas for the characters mentioned above:

Raiden Shogun Team

A popular team composition for Raiden Shogun includes: Raiden Shogun, Kujou Sara, Bennett, and Kazuha. This team focuses on maximizing Raiden Shogun's damage output through buffs and elemental reactions. Kujou Sara provides an ATK buff and Electro damage bonus, Bennett provides healing and an ATK buff, and Kazuha provides elemental damage bonus and reduces enemy resistance. With this team, Raiden Shogun can consistently deal massive damage with her Elemental Burst, while the other characters provide support and utility.

Shenhe Team

A strong team composition for Shenhe includes: Shenhe, Ayaka, Kokomi, and Kazuha. This team focuses on maximizing Ayaka's Cryo damage through Shenhe's buffs and Kazuha's elemental damage bonus and resistance reduction. Kokomi provides healing and consistent Hydro application for Freeze reactions. With this team, Ayaka can consistently deal high Cryo damage, while Shenhe and Kazuha provide the necessary support and buffs.

Xiangling Team

An effective team composition for Xiangling includes: Xiangling, Bennett, Xingqiu, and Chongyun. This team focuses on maximizing Xiangling's Pyro damage through Vaporize reactions and Bennett's ATK buff. Xingqiu provides consistent Hydro application for Vaporize, and Chongyun provides Cryo application for Melt reactions. With this team, Xiangling can consistently deal high Pyro damage, while the other characters provide support and elemental reactions.

Rosaria Team

A versatile team composition for Rosaria includes: Rosaria, Eula, Raiden Shogun, and Bennett. This team focuses on maximizing Eula's Physical damage through Superconduct reactions and Rosaria's CRIT Rate buff. Raiden Shogun provides Electro application for Superconduct and Energy Recharge, and Bennett provides healing and an ATK buff. With this team, Eula can consistently deal high Physical damage, while Rosaria and Raiden Shogun provide the necessary support and elemental reactions.

Conclusion

The Skyward Spine is a versatile polearm that can significantly enhance the capabilities of various characters in Genshin Impact. While it may not be the absolute best weapon for every character, it offers a unique combination of Energy Recharge, CRIT Rate, and ATK SPD that can be incredibly valuable in the right hands. Whether you're using Raiden Shogun as your main DPS, Shenhe as a Cryo support, Xiangling as a sub-DPS, or Rosaria as a Cryo support, the Skyward Spine can help you maximize their potential and create powerful team compositions. So, consider your team's needs and playstyle, and see if the Skyward Spine is the right choice for your characters. Happy gaming, and may your pulls be ever in your favor!