Stygian Onslaught Guide Genshin Impact Guide, Boss Strategies & Recommended Teams!

The new endgame mode, Stygian Onslaught, has arrived in Genshin Impact, bringing challenging boss battles and exciting rewards. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to conquer Difficulties 4 and 5, with some tips for the secret Dire Difficulty 6 for the most invested players. Whether you’re aiming for speedruns or just trying to clear the mode efficiently, these strategies will help you optimize your play. Also check out Genshin Impact Skirk Guide and More!
Understanding Stygian Onslaught Basics
- Starting Energy: Unlike Spiral Abyss, every player starts each fight with zero energy, so your first rotation should focus on quickly generating energy to unleash powerful bursts.
- Favonius and Sacrificial Weapons: These weapons are invaluable here because they help rapidly generate energy for the team.
- Team Restrictions: For Difficulties 4, 5, and 6, you must use three different teams, and you cannot share weapons or artifact sets between these teams. The game will detect duplicates and reset your progress, so plan your roster accordingly.
- Co-Op Mode: Matchmaking is only available for Difficulties 1-3, but you can invite friends for Difficulties 4-6. Note that some higher-tier rewards are only available in solo mode.
Boss Strategies and Recommended Teams
1. Hydro Tulpa
- Mechanic: The boss summons “Half Tulpas” every 30 seconds. If these are absorbed by the Hydro Tulpa, it enrages and heals, making the fight much harder.
- How to Handle: Use Cryo or Dendro units to quickly eliminate these small summons. Cryo is especially effective since one application can clear them.
- Best Team Options: Mavuika paired with Cryo units like Citlali or Nahida works well.
- Breaking the Shield: After 45 seconds, the Hydro Tulpa shields itself. You need to deal quick raw damage to break the shield, or your current character will be defeated.
- DPS Choice: Pyro DPS units are ideal due to the boss’s constant Hydro aura (triggering Vaporize reactions). Mavuika, Arlecchino, and Hu Tao are strong choices.
- Support Notes: Avoid using multiple Pyro units here as some are better reserved for other bosses. Use supports like Benny or Xiangling sparingly on this boss.
2. Lava Dragon Statue
- Mechanic: This boss has high resistance until you build up its circle bar twice. Once filled, it takes massive damage.
- DPS Requirement: You must use Pyro DPS to quickly build this circle bar.
- Recommended Team: Benny and Xiangling with Varesa or Kinich Burning are top picks. Favonius weapons on Xiangling and Chevreuse can help with energy regeneration and burst uptime.
- Rotation Tips: Use Benny’s burst immediately on the first rotation, then spam his skill to quickly charge the boss’s circle bar.
- Alternative Units: Electro DPS like Yae Miko, Raiden Shogun, or Fischl can work for added damage and energy support.
- Co-Op Tip: Coordinate Pyro damage focus to ensure quick circle bar buildup.
3. Secret Source Automaton: Overseer Device
- Mechanic: This boss gains massive resistance and does sweeping laser attacks when enhanced. You need to apply lots of Cryo to prevent it from fully powering up.
- Ideal DPS: Skirk shines here, especially with her burst available early. She pairs well with Furina, Escoffier, Shenhe, or Yelan.
- Support Options: Kaeya, Rosaria, Wriothesley, Ayaka, or Ganyu can be alternatives, especially on lower difficulties.
- Avoid: Citlali is not recommended here because this boss counters Nightsoul mechanics.
- Tips: Equip Favonius Sword on Furina for better energy generation, and use Tenacity artifacts for team ATK boosts.
Co-Op Mode Insights
- You can only matchmake for difficulties 1-3.
- For Difficulties 4-6, invite friends to join your world.
- Co-op rewards are limited to Difficulty 4; higher difficulties don’t grant one-time rewards.
- Supports like Iansan or Benny can help teammates deal more damage.
- For chaotic random matchmaking, try to coordinate roles to optimize team damage.
Rewards and How to Use Them
- Artifact Farming: Spend Resin after beating Stage 3 or higher to claim selected artifact sets. You can spend 20, 40, or 60 resin for increased artifact drops.
- Boosted Drop Rate: Stygian Onslaught offers about 15% more artifact drops than regular domains.
- Limited Time: The boosted drop rate lasts for 10 days post-release, so prioritize farming here.
- Dust of Enlightenment: Use this new currency to reroll artifact substats at level 20. The more Dust you spend, the more guaranteed upgraded rolls on chosen substats. Flower and Feather cost 1 Dust per reroll; Sands, Goblet, and Circlet cost 2 Dust. Focus on natural 4-stat line artifacts (5 total upgrades) for best results. Reroll substats like Critical Rate, Critical Damage, and Energy Recharge for DPS units.
- Dust Availability: You can earn 5 Dust per patch cycle, meaning full optimization takes months of consistent farming.
- Decision Making: You can keep or discard rerolls, but luck still plays a big role.
Stygian Onslaught is a fresh, challenging endgame mode that demands solid team composition and strategy. Difficulties 4 and 5 provide good rewards and challenge balance, while Difficulty 6 is designed for players with heavily invested characters and top-tier gear.
If you’re struggling, try co-op for easier clears or join community groups for help. Focus on quick energy generation, elemental synergies, and boss-specific strategies to make your runs more efficient.
Remember to farm artifacts here during the boosted drop period and spend your Dust of Enlightenment wisely to maximize your characters’ potential. If you have any tips or want to share your own strategies, feel free to comment below. Good luck, and may your runs be swift and rewarding!
Genshin Impact