Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun in Genshin Impact may both be Electro, but their playstyle highly differs, so players should know which one fits them best.
In Genshin Impact 2.5, Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun are featured back-to-back. The first half will have the Yae Miko banner, while the second half will bring the Electro Archon and Sangonomiya Kokomi.
While it’s obvious that Genshin Impact players should pull for Kokomi if they need a healer or Hydro Sub-DPS, deciding between Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun may be a tougher task. Both Miko and Raiden are Electro characters, but they have a large gap of differences between their provided utilities. Therefore, this article will list out the key differences of the Electro units, and help players decide if they should pull for Yae Miko or wait for Raiden Shogun.
RELATED: Genshin Impact – How To Use Leisure Device: Rhythmic Sprinter
Yae Miko Or Raiden Shogun In Genshin Impact
Those who are not sure whether to choose Yae Miko or Raiden Shogun in Genshin Impact should assess a few important factors. The comparison of the two units here will be based on:
- Weapons
- Artifacts
- Playstyle
- Character Roles
- Team Compositions
Weapons
Raiden Shogun is more F2P friendly with her weapon. Players could fish to obtain The Catch for free and even have it on R5. Meanwhile, Yae Miko’s F2P Catalyst includes the forgeable Mappa Mare, Hakushin Ring, and the event-reward Oathsworn Eye. The Narukami Shrine Guuji may have more options, but those weapons don’t perform as well as The Catch on Raiden Shogun.
As for their best in slot weapons, Raiden Shogun wields Engulfing Lightning and Yae Miko carries Kagura’s Verity. Together, the characters have their weapons locked behind the weapon banner and players must wait until it’s featured to get it.
RELATED: Every Stat In Genshin Impact, Explained
In terms of weapon value, Engulfing Lightning is an amazing weapon for many Polearm users, especially those who excel in supportive roles. Meanwhile, Kagura’s Verity is highly niche, and (by far), only Yae Miko can fully benefit from it.
Artifacts
Although Raiden Shogun has her own set of Artifacts, Emblem of Severed Fate, she still manages to perform greatly with other sets, like 2-Noblesse Oblige and 2-Thundering Fury. On the other hand, Yae Miko doesn’t have her own set of Artifacts. Instead, she needs a mix of 2 pieces between Thundering Fury, Gladiator's Finale, Shimenawa's Reminiscence, and Wanderer's Troupe.
Playstyle
Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko are both Electro units, but their playstyle differs greatly. Yae Miko can easily be an off-field DPS, where her Fox Turrets will deal most of the damage. Then, every time her Elemental Burst is ready, she could join the field, cast it, and leave.
As for Raiden Shogun, her off-field damage is almost non-existent. Instead, the Electro Archon offers a supportive buff with her Elemental Skill and when she whips out her Musou Isshin (Elemental Burst), Raiden can inflict massive damage while regenerating the team’s Energy. Note that she needs seven seconds of field time for this job.
Character Roles
Both Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun can be considered a Sub-DPS in Genshin Impact. But their roles are different. Raiden Shogun's supportive capabilities allow her to be useful for many other characters, even Yae Miko herself.
RELATED: Genshin Impact: Strongest Characters Based On Lore
On the contrary, Yae Miko exclusively focuses on dealing damage without offering any buff or support to her team. So if players want Miko as a support, they need to give her supportive equipment.
Team Composition
Raiden Shogun can fit in most team compositions in Genshin Impact. She is notably great with Physical units like Eula or Rosaria. The most mainstream composition, the “National team”, consists of Raiden Shogun, Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Bennett.
Meanwhile, Yae Miko is currently clouded by other units of the thunder Element. There’s no team that can shine brighter with Miko that hasn’t already shone with another Electro character. For example, Yae Miko can still support Eula by helping her trigger Superconduct, but she can’t cover both of their need for a battery. The Kitsune also doesn’t have the power to boost Eula’s Burst damage.
Verdict: Raiden Shogun or Yae Miko
In summary, players should pull for Yae Miko if they:
- Can afford to pull for Kagura’s Verity, or own The Widsith.
- Can build her with the mentioned Artifact sets.
- In need of a damage-exclusive Sub-DPS.
- Can pair her with characters that can boost her abilities.
On the other hand, Travelers should wait for Raiden Shogun if they:
- Can afford to pull for Engulfing Lightning or will get/have R5 The Catch.
- Own or will farm 4-Emblem of Severed Fate.
- In need of Electro Sub-DPS, a Battery, and Burst-damage buff.
- Don’t want to bother with team compositions.
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.
