The world of Teyvat in miHoYo's Genshin Impact is different than other adventure games. Built on seven elements, the relationships between these forces make up the entirety of combat and life in this world. Of these, none are more vital than Hydro, the water element.
Making up the entirety of bodies of water in the land, Hydro is technically one of the most common in the world (along with arguably Geo and Anemo.) Used by some of the most personable, developed characters in the game, Hydro definitely leaves a strong impression on fans of the game. Still, many missed a lot of secrets about this wet element.
10 A Wet Status Effect
Wet is the natural-born middle-ground of status effects. Fans of Genshin Impact either love it or hate it with a passion. The main reason for this hatred is the frozen reaction, which can prove pesky to players in some situations (though helpful in others).
However, wet status has a frustrating secondary effect. Increasing skill cooldown duration, wet status can make player abilities and skills more sparse. This can prove not only annoying, but also dangerous for characters that rely mostly on their skill.
9 A Lot Of Elemental Reactions
In Genshin Impact, Hydro is one of the best for initiating elemental reactions. As the water is the natural chemical neutral, perhaps this is the reason. Hydro offers an incredible proclivity for fluid elemental reactions, which players can use to their advantage.
Having reactions with Pyro, Cryo, Electro, Geo, and Anemo, Hydro is a well-rounded element. Applying Hydro is also one of the easiest tasks. Given the element's long affliction time, it can easily be used both as the fuel and the spark for elemental reactions.
8 It Makes For Speedy Characters
Speed is of utmost importance in the vast open world of Teyvat. For Genshin Impact players, there are few faster than the average Hydro character. Some are extra speedy in watery environments, and most are swift in battle as well. Hydro characters make great choices for fast-paced players.
Obviously, characters like Mona are the fastest in water (an interesting quirk of her dash.) Yet, that isn't all. Even characters like Xingqiu and Tartaglia are fast, especially in terms of their attacks, which can provide an edge in combat.
7 One Of Teyvat's Least Common Elements
Although the element can be found readily in the environment, that doesn't mean that Hydro has a huge presence in other parts of the game. Though it's not the least common, the element has one of the most limited rosters of enemies. Aside from slimes there are only limited occurrences of Hydro opponents; the Hydro Mage and Samachurls are the most overwhelming.
Roster-wise, Hydro is one of the least common character elements (outside of Dendro, of course). In-game, players only have the choice of four Hydro characters total. As of May 2021, there are no known upcoming releases for Hydro characters.
6 An Narrow But Useful Resonance
In a world of wide use resonances, Hydro alone offers a fairly limited resonance. That doesn't mean that it's bad, but the range of use is limited. Granted, the fact that it does reduce the effect time of Pyro by 40% is generally useful for all characters.
However, its other effect, which increases incoming healing, is a little bit limited. Effectively, only a healer truly benefits from this ability. Nonetheless, Genshin Impact's roster of healers is incredibly useful, so this may make planning out a team's stats even easier.
5 The Oceanid
Hydro opponents are strikingly difficult. Hyrdo Fatui Skirmishers are the only ones to have healing capabilities, and Hydro slimes cannot be drowned. However, there is one boss that leaves all of these opponents in the dust.
The Oceanid, located near Qingce Village, is a notably difficult boss should the player not have an Electro or Cryo character. Unique in its boss battle, the Oceanid creates Hydro illusions to fight on its behalf. These illusions are incredibly tricky to fight, each having its own ability quirk. A good Electro or Cryo character is an absolute must.
4 House Of Ranged Enablers
Despite the element's small roster, Genshin Impact fans will find that there are a lot of options for ranged attacks in Hydro. Most notably, Mona and Barbara use catalysts are their main weapon. Along with Tartaglia, who uses a bow, players will find that this element class is defined by ranged combat.
This makes for a class of elements that is perfect for the average enabler. Catalysts make a normal attack automatically elemental, easily applying Hydro status effects to their opponents. Bows have the same effect, though they will need to be charged beforehand.
3 The Homeland Of Hydro
Like all elements, Hydro has a country representative of its traits. This is, of course, the nation of Fontaine. Based loosely on real-world France, Fontaine is the country of justice and invention, and the second most advanced besides Snezhnaya.
Little is known about the climate of Fontaine, but players can expect a nation riddled with rivers, ponds, and other water sources. The country was the original home of the Oceanid and their sibling species. With what players know about Hydro, this should not be a surprise.
2 Who Receives Visions
Unlike elements like Geo and Cryo, the reason that Hydro vision-holders are chosen isn't entirely clear. Fontaine is one of the mystery nations of Teyvat, so their Archon is also a mystery. Nonetheless, with a little analysis, there are some similarities between vision-holders.
Hydro vision-holders all seem to be people that think differently than the majority. For example, Tartaglia (Childe) doesn't appear to care about collecting the Gnosis like the rest of the Fatui Harbingers; he cares only for battle. Mona's case is obvious, as astrologists think differently than the normal populace. Even Xingqiu doesn't care much for his responsibilities in the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
1 The Hydro Archon
Genshin Impact is known for its conflicted, complex characters. No characters exemplify this better than the Archons, as players see in the Archon War. Sadly, what fans know about the Hydro Archon is limited, as Fontaine is a long way off.
Yet, there is a lot that has been revealed about the Fontaine Archon. The God of Justice, this Archon lives in skepticism of the divine. Though not necessarily against them, she clearly is doubtful in the actions of her colleagues, believing herself to be the true judge of ethics among them.