Chongyun - a cryo exorcist in genshin impact
Af Simon - 12 Aug 2025
In the world of Genshin Impact, a vast open-world RPG filled with diverse characters and engaging gameplay, few characters capture the balance of power and charm like Chongyun. As a 4-star Cryo character wielding a claymore, he brings both icy strength and heartfelt determination to the field. Learn more about the Chongyun Genshin Impact Character and why he remains a fan favorite among players for both his lore and combat prowess.
Background and Lore
Chongyun hails from Liyue, one of the regions in Teyvat, and comes from a long line of exorcists. From a young age, he demonstrated an unusual natural ability to dispel evil spirits. Unlike others in his profession who rely on talismans and rituals, Chongyun possesses a condition known as "positive energy overabundance," which causes malevolent forces to avoid him entirely. As a result, he has never actually encountered a ghost, despite his unwavering commitment to his duties.
Raised in a disciplined mindset, Chongyun believes his powers are insufficient without genuine exorcist training. This sense of responsibility shapes his personality - reserved, virtuous, and sometimes awkward when interacting with others. He avoids anything that might trigger emotional excitement, such as spicy food or overly enthusiastic company, fearing it may compromise his ability to remain composed.
Elemental Abilities and Combat Style
In gameplay, Chongyun is known for his Cryo abilities and area-of-effect damage. His claymore strikes offer heavy physical hits, while his elemental skills allow for crowd control and freezing enemies in place when paired with Hydro teammates. Let's look deeper into his specific abilities.
Elemental Skill - Spirit Blade: Chonghua's Layered Frost
Chongyun strikes the ground with his claymore, creating a frost-filled field that explodes after a short delay. This field converts all melee attacks of characters within it into Cryo damage, allowing for powerful elemental reactions when combined with Pyro, Hydro, or Electro abilities.
Elemental Burst - Spirit Blade: Cloud-Parting Star
Chongyun summons three giant icy swords that crash down near opponents, dealing massive Cryo damage in a wide area. This move is effective for quickly clearing waves of enemies and works well in team compositions that rely on elemental bursts and chain reactions.
Passive Talents
- Steady Breathing: Increases the Normal Attack speed of sword, claymore, or polearm-wielding characters standing within the area created by his Elemental Skill.
- Rimechaser Blade: After the field from his Elemental Skill disappears, a spirit blade will explode to deal additional Cryo damage and reduce enemy Cryo resistance.
- Gallant Journey: Expeditions in Liyue completed with Chongyun take 25% less time.
Team Composition and Synergy
Chongyun shines best in teams that capitalize on elemental reactions. Pairing him with Hydro characters like Xingqiu or Barbara can create consistent freeze effects, locking enemies in place. Combining him with Pyro allies such as Xiangling or Bennett can lead to Melt reactions, significantly amplifying damage output. His Cryo field is also great for characters like Diluc or Kaeya, who benefit from infused melee attacks.
Building Chongyun
Recommended Weapons
- Wolf's Gravestone: Gains a massive attack buff, ideal for maximizing Chongyun's DPS potential.
- Prototype Archaic: A craftable 4-star claymore that offers strong area-of-effect damage and is accessible to most players.
Artifact Sets
- Blizzard Strayer (4-piece): Boosts Cryo damage and critical rate against frozen targets, supporting a freeze-centric strategy.
- 2-piece Noblesse Oblige + 2-piece Blizzard Strayer: Increases elemental burst damage and Cryo DMG for a hybrid playstyle.
Conclusion
Chongyun may not be a 5-star character, but his abilities, personality, and versatility make him a worthy addition to any adventurer’s team. Whether you're building a Cryo reaction squad or need a solid sub-DPS for elemental synergy, Chongyun delivers consistent performance and a refreshing perspective on what it means to be an exorcist in Teyvat.