Razor: The Wolf Boy of Mondstadt – A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

In the untamed wilds of Mondstadt, a boy raised by wolves commands the raw power of Electro. This is Razor, the Lightning Fang, a character who has captured the hearts of many Genshin Impact players with his unique backstory and electrifying combat style. From his humble beginnings as a simple wolf-raised boy with a mysterious connection to Andrius to his role as a powerful damage dealer on the battlefield, Razor offers an accessible and engaging experience for players of all levels. This guide will delve into Razor’s strengths and weaknesses, explore optimal builds and team compositions, and ultimately determine his place in the current Genshin Impact meta, providing you with everything you need to unleash his full potential.

Razor’s Talents and Abilities: Unleashing the Electro Wolf

To understand Razor’s effectiveness, it’s crucial to examine his talents and how they synergize to create a formidable Electro DPS. Let’s break down each ability:

Steel Fang: Razor’s Basic Attacks

Razor’s normal attack sequence, Steel Fang, consists of four consecutive strikes. While not as flashy as some other characters’ attacks, Steel Fang is the foundation of Razor’s damage output, especially during his Elemental Burst. Leveling this talent is essential as it directly increases his consistent damage.

Claw and Thunder: Electrical Prowess

Razor’s Elemental Skill, Claw and Thunder, offers two distinct functionalities. A short press unleashes a swift Electro attack, generating Electro Sigils that circle Razor. These sigils increase his Energy Recharge, allowing him to charge his Elemental Burst more quickly. Holding Claw and Thunder unleashes a powerful area-of-effect Electro attack, consuming all Electro Sigils to deal massive damage. Mastering the use of both press and hold versions is key to optimizing Razor’s energy management and damage. The short press provides crucial energy regeneration, while the held version offers a burst of damage in critical situations.

Lightning Fang: Razor’s Electrifying Ultimate

Lightning Fang is Razor’s Elemental Burst, transforming him into a ferocious Electro warrior. During the Burst’s duration, Razor gains increased attack speed and deals additional Electro damage with each normal attack. He also gains increased Electro resistance. The caveat is that Razor cannot perform charged attacks during his Burst. Lightning Fang is the cornerstone of Razor’s damage potential, converting him into a relentless force of nature. Prioritizing the leveling of this talent will significantly boost Razor’s overall DPS.

Passive Talents: Enhancing the Wolf Within

Razor’s passive talents further enhance his capabilities. Wolf Within provides an Energy Recharge bonus based on the number of Electro Sigils consumed when using the hold version of Claw and Thunder, further aiding in energy management. Hunger reduces sprinting stamina consumption, allowing Razor to traverse the battlefield more efficiently. Finally, Awakening decreases the cooldown of Claw and Thunder after using Lightning Fang, enabling a more fluid combat rotation. This seamless transition between skills maximizes Razor’s damage uptime and overall effectiveness.

Prioritizing Razor’s Talents: Sharpening the Claws

The optimal talent leveling priority for Razor is generally Lightning Fang, followed by Steel Fang, and then Claw and Thunder. Lightning Fang is the primary source of his damage, so maximizing its effectiveness is paramount. Steel Fang provides the foundation for consistent damage during the Burst, while Claw and Thunder contributes to energy generation and burst damage. This order ensures Razor’s core strengths are fully developed, enabling him to excel in combat.

Razor’s Best Builds: Forging the Lightning Fang

Choosing the right weapons and artifacts is crucial for maximizing Razor’s potential. Here are some recommended builds:

Main DPS Build: Balancing Physical and Electro Power

This build focuses on maximizing Razor’s overall damage output, balancing physical and electro damage.

Weapons

High-Tier Options: Weapons like Wolf’s Gravestone, Redhorn Stonethresher, and Skyward Pride provide significant attack bonuses and critical stats, amplifying Razor’s damage. Wolf’s Gravestone provides the most consistent attack bonus to Razor.

Mid-Tier Options: The Serpent Spine and Blackcliff Slasher offer consistent damage output and critical hit potential, while Prototype Archaic provides a reliable, craftable option.

Free-to-Play Options: Prototype Archaic and Katsuragikiri Nagamasa, easily obtainable through crafting, provide decent damage and energy recharge capabilities.

Artifact Sets

Pale Flame Set: This set is widely regarded as Razor’s best-in-slot option, granting increased physical damage and attack power.

Hybrid Set: A combination of two-piece Pale Flame and two-piece Bloodstained Chivalry provides a balanced approach, further enhancing physical damage.

Gladiator’s Finale Set: While viable, it’s generally less optimal than Pale Flame or the hybrid approach, offering a general attack boost.

Thundering Fury Set: A niche build for Electro-focused reaction based teams.

Artifact Stats

Sands: Prioritize Attack percentage to maximize overall damage.

Goblet: Choose Physical Damage Bonus or Electro Damage Bonus, depending on your team composition and preferred damage style.

Circlet: Opt for Critical Rate or Critical Damage, based on your existing stat distribution.

Substats

Focus on Critical Rate, Critical Damage, Attack percentage, and Energy Recharge to optimize Razor’s overall effectiveness.

Energy Recharge/Sub-DPS Build: Sustaining the Storm

This build is tailored for players who struggle with energy management, focusing on maximizing Razor’s burst uptime.

Prioritize weapons and artifacts with Energy Recharge substats.

Consider the Emblem of Severed Fate artifact set for increased Energy Recharge and Burst damage.

Team Compositions: Unleashing the Pack

Razor thrives in team compositions that complement his strengths and cover his weaknesses. Here are some examples:

Superconduct Team: Freezing the Competition

This team focuses on triggering Superconduct, reducing enemy physical resistance and enhancing Razor’s physical damage output.

Razor, a Cryo applicator (such as Rosaria or Kaeya), an Electro battery/sub-DPS (such as Fischl or Raiden Shogun), and a flexible support slot (such as Bennett or Zhongli).

Each character synergizes by constantly allowing Razor to trigger the Superconduct reaction.

Alternatives include Diona for healing and shielding, or other Cryo characters for consistent application.

Aggravate/Hyperbloom Team: Dendro-Charged Fury

This team leverages the power of Dendro reactions to amplify Razor’s electro damage through Aggravate and Hyperbloom.

Razor, Dendro Traveler/Nahida, Hydro (Xingqiu/Yelan), Flex (Fischl/Kuki Shinobu)

Each character synergizes to constantly allow Razor to trigger the Aggravate reaction and utilize Hyperbloom

Alternatives include Collei for Dendro application and different Hydro characters for different playstyles.

Taser Team: Electrifying the Battlefield

This team focuses on triggering Electro-Charged, dealing consistent damage over time.

Razor, a Hydro applicator (such as Xingqiu or Yelan or Kokomi), another Electro character (such as Fischl or Beidou), and an Anemo character (such as Sucrose or Kazuha).

Each character synergizes by triggering constant Electr-Charged reactions.

Alternatives include different Hydro and Electro characters based on player preference and available resources.

General Team Building Tips: Harmony and Synergy

When building a team for Razor, consider these general tips:

Ensure adequate energy recharge for Razor and his supports.

Prioritize characters who can consistently apply Cryo or Hydro or Dendro for reactions.

Include a support character for healing or shielding to increase Razor’s survivability.

Razor’s Strengths and Weaknesses: Understanding the Wolf’s Nature

To effectively utilize Razor, it’s crucial to understand his strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths

Easy to play and build, making him accessible to new players.

High sustained physical damage output, particularly during his Burst.

Relatively F2P-friendly, with readily available weapons and artifacts.

Good energy generation, allowing for consistent burst uptime.

Access to Superconduct, reducing enemy physical resistance.

Weaknesses

Vulnerable during Burst due to lack of interruption resistance.

Limited range of attacks, requiring close-range engagement.

Can struggle against enemies with high physical resistance.

Outperformed by newer, stronger DPS characters in certain situations.

Struggles in the Spiral Abyss without proper team composition.

Razor’s Viability: A Place in the Meta

In the constantly evolving landscape of Genshin Impact, Razor’s place in the meta is a topic of discussion. While newer, more powerful DPS characters have emerged, Razor remains a viable option, particularly for newer players or those who enjoy his playstyle. Razor’s ease of use, accessible builds, and respectable damage output make him a valuable asset. He carves a niche in specific situations and certain content where he excels.

Tips and Tricks: Mastering the Wolf’s Howl

Here are some tips and tricks to elevate your Razor gameplay:

Animation Canceling: Cancel Razor’s attack animations to increase his DPS.

Energy Management: Maximize energy recharge to maintain consistent burst uptime.

Positioning: Maintain optimal positioning to avoid damage and hit multiple enemies.

Claw and Thunder: Understanding Dual Functionality: Learn how and when to use the hold and tap versions of Razor’s elemental skill to best fit your situation.

Razor’s Constellations: Unlocking the Beast Within

Razor’s constellations offer incremental power increases, with some being more impactful than others:

Wolf’s Instinct: Razor’s first constellation grants increased damage after picking up an Elemental Orb/Particle.

Suppression: Razor’s second constellation increases Critical Rate against enemies below a certain health threshold.

Soul Companion: Razor’s third constellation increases his Elemental Burst Talent Level.

Bite: Razor’s fourth constellation decreases DEF of enemies hit by Claw and Thunder. This constellation provides significant damage boost for Razor.

Sharpened Claws: Razor’s fifth constellation increases his Elemental Skill Talent Level.

Lupus Fulguris: Razor’s final constellation grants Electro DMG Bonus based on Electro Sigils during his Burst, significantly increasing his damage potential.

Razor’s fourth and sixth constellations are the most impactful, significantly boosting his damage output.

Conclusion: The Enduring Lightning Fang

Razor, the Wolf Boy of Mondstadt, remains a compelling character in Genshin Impact. While he may not be at the absolute pinnacle of DPS, his ease of use, accessibility, and engaging playstyle make him a valuable option for players of all levels. Whether you’re a new player looking for a reliable damage dealer or a veteran seeking a nostalgic experience, Razor offers a unique and rewarding gameplay experience. So, unleash the Lightning Fang and carve your own path through the world of Teyvat! What are your favorite Razor builds and team compositions? Share them in the comments below!