Genshin Impact's version 3.7 update has received mixed reviews from players, but for Genius Invokation TCG enthusiasts, it's a major update. The focus of this update is to expand the TCG, and with the upcoming release of Fontaine, it brings new events, a new character named Kirara, and a significant amount of new cards. This is the largest card update since the launch of the TCG mini-game, giving players the opportunity to explore new strategies and showcase their creativity and skill in the Genius Invokation TCG.
Among the 10 new playable character cards is Hu Tao, whose card reflects her gameplay in Genshin Impact. Using her Elemental Skill, Hu Tao can unleash powerful Pyro damage with her basic attack, making her a valuable character with low Pyro Die requirements. Furthermore, her Elemental Burst allows her to heal herself, increasing her survivability. Pairing her with compatible character cards enhances her DPS and survivability, making her a formidable opponent in battles.
Hu Tao Card & Skills
Normal Attack: Secret Spear of Wangsheng
Obtaining Hu Tao's Card and Talent CardSimilar to the rest of the character cards, acquiring Hu Tao's card can be done by utilizing a Match Invitation Letter at the Cat's Tail and emerging victorious in a Friendly Fracas duel against Hu Tao herself. Moreover, players have the opportunity to obtain her talent card by fulfilling additional missions within this duel. Comparable to other cards introduced in this version update, Hu Tao's card can be obtained without any Duelist level requirement, granting players the flexibility to delve into the TCG at any given moment with a myriad of formidable options to choose from.
Primary Dice | 1 Pyro |
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Secondary Dice | 2 Unaligned |
Effect | Deals 2 Physical DMG. |
Elemental Skill: Guide to Afterlife
Primary Dice | 2 Pyro |
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Effect | This character gains Paramita Papilio. |
Special Effect | Paramita Papilio The character to which this is attached has their Physical DMG dealt converted to Pyro DMG, and they will deal +1 Pyro DMG. When the character to which this is attached uses a Charged Attack: Apply Blood Blossom to target character. Duration (Rounds): 2 Blood Blossom End Phase: Deal 1 Pyro DMG to the character to which this is attached. Usage(s):1 |
Elemental Burst: Spirit Soother
Primary Dice | 3 Pyro |
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Energy Cost | 3 Energy |
Effect | Deals 4 Pyro DMG, heals herself for 2 HP. If this character's HP is no more than 6, +1 DMG dealt and healing. |
Hu Tao's Talent Card: Sanguine Rouge
Equipping Hu Tao's talent card on Hu Tao is highly recommended, as it allows her Basic ATK to deal additional Pyro damage when her HP is below 6. While this may not seem significant in the early rounds before she takes damage, it becomes invaluable in taking away a substantial portion of enemy HP without any elemental reactions or equipment cards. By combining it with other cards, she has the potential to one-shot her opponents. Since this card's effect is easily activated and closely tied to her Elemental Skill rather than her Elemental Burst, players are advised to keep copies of this card in their support deck.
Best Hu Tao Decks
Hu Tao, being a primary DPS character, greatly benefits from the use of off-field support characters. These characters not only provide additional elemental application but also offer defensive capabilities. In most cases, once the field is set up with the off-field abilities of other characters, Hu Tao can be swapped in to deal devastating damage. This allows for a quick match as opponents may be quickly defeated if players have a good start with their cards and combo rotations. It is important to note that Hu Tao in Genshin Impact typically benefits from the Vaporize reaction. However, in the Genius Invokation TCG, she is more versatile and can make significant use of various elements for damage. As a result, the choice of support characters can be based on player preferences as they are interchangeable.
Hu Tao + Xingqiu + Mona
Hu Tao and Xingqiu synergize perfectly in gameplay, with Xingqiu's coordinated attacks allowing Hu Tao to constantly trigger Vaporize reactions. This deck operates on the same principle, utilizing Xingqiu and Mona to inflict Hydro damage on enemies for Hu Tao to take advantage of. Moreover, Hu Tao can benefit from the defensive abilities of both Xingqiu and Mona, including their shields, as well as the healing provided by the Elemental Resonance: Soothing Water in desperate situations. This is particularly useful since the team does not have a dedicated healer.
To start off with this team composition, it is recommended to use Mona's Elemental Skill to summon her illusion and activate Xingqiu's Elemental Burst as soon as possible. After that, players can swiftly switch to Hu Tao. This sequence ensures consistent Vaporize reactions with each attack and finishes off opponents with a final Vaporize hit, thanks to Mona's illusion and Hu Tao's Blood Blossom effect. If desired, players can also swap out Mona for Zhongli or Venti.
Hu Tao + Yae Miko + Raiden Shogun
Overloading teams in the Genius Invokation TCG can be incredibly frustrating for opponents. Not only do these teams inflict significant damage, but they also force opponents to switch their active characters. This makes them a perfect choice for pairing with Hu Tao. To maximize the effectiveness of this deck, Hu Tao can be teamed up with Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun. Both characters have Elemental Skills that can summon, which aids Hu Tao in applying Electro damage. Additionally, since Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun are both Inazuma Electro characters, they can take advantage of Thunder and Eternity cards for dice management. Electro Resonance cards can also be used to help the active character gain more energy.
To begin the battle with this team, it is ideal to start with Raiden Shogun. Use her Elemental Skill and activate her Burst as soon as possible. Afterward, players have the choice to switch to either Yae Miko or Hu Tao, depending on their preference. Utilizing Yae Miko's Elemental Burst after having at least one totem can be advantageous for dealing high damage rapidly. However, Hu Tao's ability to enable Overload can also be helpful in disrupting the enemy's rotation.
Hu Tao + Ganyu + Sangonomiya Kokomi
For players seeking a more versatile team composition that doesn't rely solely on one Elemental Reaction, the combination of Hu Tao, Ganyu, and Kokomi proves beneficial. With access to both Melt and Vaporize, powerful DPS options, this team also enables the use of Freeze, allowing for a more defensive and strategic gameplay experience. Even if Hu Tao is incapacitated, Ganyu, with her enhanced normal attack that can inflict piercing damage, can ensure victory in battles, thanks to the healing and defensive potential of this lineup.
Similar to the previous deck examples, it is advisable for players to initiate the rotation by utilizing Summons. Therefore, a simple strategy involves using Ganyu's Elemental Skill, followed by Kokomi's Elemental Skill before switching to Hu Tao. Given that both Ganyu's and Kokomi's Elemental Skills can be used twice, players can continue playing as Hu Tao for a longer duration before needing to switch, unless they require urgent healing assistance.
Recommended Action Cards
Hu Tao, primarily a DPS character, can optimize her dice management with a variety of action cards. These cards allow her to use fewer dice and attack more frequently in a single turn, like the Ellin card. Utilizing resonance cards can also prove beneficial to Hu Tao, granting her an additional combat action. To maximize her damage output, players should incorporate the Skyward Spine card into their strategy.
In addition, incorporating cards that facilitate character swapping without consuming a turn or extra dice can be advantageous, even though Hu Tao does not require frequent swapping. To this end, "Leave It To Me!" and "Changing Shifts" are better options than "Katheryne" and "Dawn Winery". Cards like "Timmie", "Varanara", and "The Bestest Travel Companion" can aid in managing dice effectively. It is worth noting that including defensive cards with properties like shielding or healing is crucial for most team compositions, particularly if a dedicated healer is absent. However, since Hu Tao benefits from low HP, prioritizing shielding cards over healing cards may be necessary if space is limited.
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.