Skirk, the enigmatic swordmaster who mentored Tartaglia (Childe), finally made her debut as a playable character in Genshin Impact. As a Cryo Sword DPS, her unique kit revolves around high burst damage and Cryo infusion, making her a valuable addition to Freeze-based teams. Here's how to optimize Skirk's performance with the right artifacts, weapons, talent upgrades, and team compositions.
Best Artifact Sets for Skirk
The top-performing artifact set for Skirk is the Finale of the Deep Galleries. This set directly boosts both her Cryo damage and the damage dealt by her Elemental Burst and Normal Attacks, which form the core of her kit. With a 15% increase to Cryo DMG and an impressive 60% boost to her primary damage sources, this set is a perfect match for her playstyle.
Alternative sets can still work depending on your team setup. For example, Echoes of an Offering enhances her Normal Attack output significantly but offers no support for her Burst damage. Blizzard Strayer is ideal for Freeze-focused teams thanks to its Cryo DMG and Crit Rate bonuses.
Other viable sets include Vermillion Hereafter and Marechaussee Hunter, which shine when paired with Furina, as they capitalize on HP fluctuations caused by her Elemental Skill. These options increase either Skirk's ATK% or Crit Rate, but they fall short of the synergy and raw power offered by Finale of the Deep Galleries.
When it comes to main stats, you should equip Skirk with ATK% on the Sands, Cryo DMG Bonus on the Goblet, and Crit DMG on the Circlet. Due to her Cryo typing and Freeze team synergy, managing Crit Rate is less of a challenge, making Crit DMG the more efficient stat to maximize.
Best Weapons for Skirk
Skirk's signature weapon, Azurelight, is her most effective sword. After activating her Elemental Skill, Azurelight boosts her ATK% and Crit DMG, helping her capitalize on her DPS potential. The weapon also provides a solid base attack and a Crit Rate sub-stat, both of which complement her needs perfectly.
If you don't have Azurelight, other high-tier options are available. Haran Geppaku Futsu, best known as Ayato's weapon, is a strong substitute. It offers Crit Rate and increases Elemental and Normal Attack damage when using an Elemental Skill, making it a great fit for Skirk's kit.
Other 5-star swords like Mistsplitter Reforged, Absolution, and Primordial Jade Cutter are serviceable alternatives. Mistsplitter, in particular, provides Crit DMG and a bonus to Elemental damage, which makes it stand out among the non-signature options. Absolution offers high Crit DMG and base ATK, though Skirk doesn't benefit much from its passive effects. Jade Cutter increases Crit Rate but has a relatively low base attack, which slightly hinders her damage potential.
For a 4-star option, The Black Sword performs surprisingly well. It grants Crit Rate and buffs her Normal Attacks, allowing her to function smoothly even without a 5-star weapon. Calamity of Eshu is another choice, but only if she's protected by a shield during battle, due to its conditional passive bonuses.
If you're looking to pull for Skirk's signature weapon or unlock constellations to boost her power even further, it might be the right time to top up Genshin Impact primogems from Z2U to enhance your chances during her banner.
Talent Upgrade Priority
Despite having a Normal Attack talent, Skirk's standard attack damage is negligible compared to her Cryo-infused hits. These infused strikes are linked to her Elemental Skill, making her Normal Attack talent the least important. Instead, focus first on upgrading her Elemental Skill, followed by her Elemental Burst. This upgrade path maximizes her damage output and makes the most of her playstyle.
Best Team Compositions
Skirk's damage output is heavily influenced by her team synergy. She excels in Freeze teams, which rely on both Cryo and Hydro units. However, Skirk's kit is designed with synergy in mind, especially with premium 5-star characters.
The best team setup for her includes Skirk, Shenhe, Escoffier, and Furina. This team brings a perfect mix of Cryo support, Hydro application, and utility. Shenhe provides Cryo RES shred and Cryo DMG buffs, while Furina enhances damage through HP manipulation, and Escoffier adds further Elemental support.
For free-to-play or low-spending players, a viable budget team could include Skirk, Xingqiu, Chongyun, and Dahlia. While not as potent as her optimal lineup, this setup still enables effective Freeze reactions and reasonable damage.
Other compatible teammates include Yelan and Citlali. Yelan can replace Furina if needed, offering buffs through her Burst, while Citlali serves as a decent support if Escoffier is unavailable, though she contributes less to overall damage.
For new players who missed past limited characters or want to jump straight into endgame teams with Skirk, it's also possible to buy Genshin Impact account setups that already feature her and her best teammates.
Conclusion
Skirk is a powerful Cryo DPS when equipped with the right tools and team. With the Finale of the Deep Galleries set, Azurelight weapon, and the proper Hydro-Cryo synergy, she has the potential to be one of the top damage dealers in Genshin Impact. Just make sure to prioritize her Elemental Skill and surround her with the right allies to unlock her full power.