Hu Tao Guide

Hu Tao is a Pyro Polearm Character that specializes as a DPS.

Overview

Hu Tao is popular because of her high-risk, high-reward playstyle. The lower HP she is, the more damage you do, so a certain level of skill is required to play this character effectively. But those who do are rewarded with one of the best characters in the game.

Elemental Skill: Guide to Afterlife

Casting Hu Tao’s Elemental Skill will cause her to enter the Paramita Papilio state, providing her with ATK derived from her total HP value and infusing her Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks with Pyro damage. Any Charge attacks apply a Blood Blossom to the enemy, which deals damage over time.

There are no downsides to this skill, it should always be used before attempting to do damage as Hu Tao. It is an incredible ability that boosts her damage tenfold and lets her dish out huge amounts of Pyro damage in short bursts. However, levelling up this skill does not increase her attack damage, only the Blood Blossom damage.

Elemental Burst: Spirit Soother

Hu Tao swings her ghost, dealing AoE Pyro damage 360° around her with a higher multiplier while below 50% HP and healing per target hit.

This is her greatest source of AoE damage. But contrary to popular belief, SS is only 10-20% of Hu Tao’s overall single target damage, being worth a bit more damage than 2 Charged Attacks. Always use her E before her Burst, or you're wasting it.

Constellations

C1: Crimson Bouquet

One of the strongest constellations in the game. Lets you spam charge attacks without needing to dash cancel, and speeds up the process of applying Blood Blossoms to enemies.

C2: Ominous Rainfall

Doesn't add much, but is useful when Hu Tao is off field.

C3: Lingering Carmine

+3 to her Skill, incredible increase in Blood Blossom damage.

C4: Garden of Eternal Rest

Good for Co-Op, but not much else.

C5: Floral Incense

+3 to her Burst. Great for one-shotting bosses, and is a general damage increase.

C6: Butterfly’s Embrace

This is a staple Constellation for avid speedrunners, providing an astonishing average DMG increase for a single rotation. However after this, it goes on a 1 minute cooldown, during which time you’re stuck with whatever Crit Rate is on her from sub-stats.

Teams

Hu Tao is an amazing DPS, but she requires a teammate who won't heal much and can proc reactions for her to become the monster she truly is. Xingqiu is her best support because of his great synergy, but there are others.

Hu Tao + Xingqiu + Kazuha

Hu Tao + Xinqiu + Zhongli

Hu Tao + Xiangling + Kazuha

Hu Tao + Xingqiu + Beidou