Let's be real for a second. Dehya is easily one of the most controversial characters HoYoverse ever released. When her banner dropped back in Version 3.5, the community basically went into a collective meltdown. People saw her kit—a weird mix of damage mitigation, slow off-field Pyro application, and a Burst that technically counts as "auto-attacks" but doesn't trigger Xingqiu—and they panicked. They weren't entirely wrong, either. If you try to build her like a standard Main DPS like Hu Tao or Diluc, you’re going to have a bad time. She just doesn't work that way. But after years of testing and the introduction of Furina and the Fontaine meta, the Genshin Impact Dehya build landscape has actually shifted quite a bit. She’s no longer just "bench fodder."
The Flame-Mane is a hybrid. That’s the problem. She wants to be a tank, a sub-DPS, and a brawler all at once. To get her to actually perform in the Spiral Abyss, you have to stop fighting her kit and start leaning into the specific niches where she actually outshines other units.
The Big HP vs. Attack Dilemma
So, here’s the thing about Dehya’s scaling. It’s split. Before you hit C1 (Constellation 1), her HP scaling is... honestly, it's kinda depressing. If you're at C0, focusing purely on HP will make her a decent meat shield, but her punches will feel like she's hitting enemies with wet noodles. Most players make the mistake of over-investing in HP early on because her passive, Redmane’s Blood, suggests she needs it to survive the damage she takes for the team.
At C0, you actually want to lean harder into Attack percentage than you might think. Her base damage scales better with ATK until that first constellation kicks in and grants her a massive HP-to-damage conversion. It’s a frustrating design choice, sure. But if you want a Genshin Impact Dehya build that actually clears content, you need to balance these stats based on your investment level.
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If you have her signature weapon, Beacon of the Reed Sea, you’re in a much better spot. That claymore is a stat stick of legendary proportions. It provides Crit Rate, ATK buffs when taking damage, and HP buffs. It’s almost mandatory for a high-end DPS Dehya. Without it? You’re looking at Wolf’s Gravestone for pure power or Luxurious Sea-Lord (the fish) for a bit of Burst flavor.
Energy Recharge: The Silent Killer
You cannot ignore Energy Recharge (ER). You just can't. Dehya’s Burst costs 70 energy, and her skill generates a pathetic amount of particles. If you’re running her as a solo Pyro unit, you might need upwards of 200% ER. That sounds insane, right? It is. This is why many people opt for the Emblem of Severed Fate artifact set. It’s basically the "fix-it" kit for any character with energy problems. It converts that necessary ER into Burst damage, making the stat feel less like a tax and more like a bonus.
Artifact Sets That Actually Make Sense
Choosing an artifact set for Dehya depends entirely on what you want her to do. There isn't one "best" set because she fills three different roles depending on the team.
Vourukasha’s Glow: The Specialist Choice
This set was literally designed for her. It gives HP and boosts Skill/Burst damage when the wearer takes damage. Since Dehya takes "mitigated" damage over time through her passive, she can maintain the stacks for this set easily. However—and this is a big however—it’s only worth it if you can get enough ER through substats. If you can’t get your Burst back on cooldown, the extra damage from Vourukasha’s Glow is wasted.
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Emblem of Severed Fate: The Generalist
Most people should probably just stay in the Emblem dungeon. It’s more efficient. You get the 20% ER from the two-piece bonus, and the four-piece bonus helps bridge the gap in her damage. It makes her feel much smoother to play in rotations. You won't be standing there with a full meter and no way to use it.
Tenacity of the Millelith: The Support Route
If you're using Dehya purely for her interruption resistance—say, in a Ganyu Melt team—don't bother with damage stats. Give her Tenacity of the Millelith. Her skill hits periodically, which keeps the 20% ATK buff active for your main carry. It’s a low-investment way to make her useful without needing Five-Star claymores or perfect Crit rolls.
Where Dehya Actually Shines: Team Comps
Stop trying to make Dehya a Vape carry. Just stop. Because her punches in her Burst happen so fast and have a weird targeting system, she’s terrible at consistently vaporizing her hits compared to someone like Xiangling. Instead, look at these specific archetypes.
The "Afk" Burn-Vape Team
This is a newer interaction that emerged with Fontaine. Using Dehya alongside Nahida, Furina, and a flexible fourth (usually Baizhu or Sigewinne), you create a "Burning" aura. Furina then vaporizes her hits off that Burning aura. Dehya’s role here is to provide the Pyro application needed to keep Burning going while also protecting the team from Furina’s life-drain mechanics. It’s cozy. It’s effective.
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Mono-Pyro: The Brute Force Method
This is probably the most common Genshin Impact Dehya build for Abyss clears. You run Dehya, Bennett, Xiangling, and Kazuha. Bennett provides the massive ATK buff she needs, Kazuha shreds resistances, and Xiangling does what she always does—carry the team. Dehya acts as the "driver" during her Burst window. Because of the sheer amount of Pyro particles being generated, her ER requirements drop significantly, allowing you to build more Crit.
The Neuvillette Bodyguard
Neuvillette is a beast, but at C0, he can get knocked out of his charged attack easily. Dehya provides nearly ten seconds of complete interruption immunity. You just drop her skill, swap to Neuvillette, and laser everything down. You don't even need to use her Burst in this team. She’s just there to make sure the Chief Justice doesn't get bullied.
The Fontaine Glow-up (And Furina’s Impact)
When Furina was released, Dehya’s stock went up. Furina wants the team’s HP to fluctuate. Dehya’s Redmane’s Blood mechanic causes her to take damage over time, which counts toward Furina’s Fanfare stacks. This synergy is one of the few ways to make Dehya’s defensive utility feel like an offensive gain.
If you're running Dehya with Furina, you almost certainly want a healer like Jean or Xianyun in the third slot. This creates a loop where Dehya takes damage, the healer brings her back up, and Furina’s buffs skyrocket. In this specific team, Dehya can actually hit some pretty impressive numbers during her Burst, especially if you’re using the Marechaussee Hunter artifact set. Yes, you can use that set on her if she’s being played with Furina, and it makes reaching a good Crit ratio significantly easier.
Technical Breakdown: Skill Priorities
Don't level her Normal Attack. Just don't. It’s a waste of resources. Even when she’s "punching" during her Burst, the game uses the Burst's scaling, not her Normal Attack talent.
- Leonine Bite (Elemental Burst): This is where her damage lives. If you want her to be a sub-DPS, crown this first.
- Molten Glow (Elemental Skill): This controls her damage mitigation and coordinated attacks. Level this for better survivability.
- Sandstorm Assault (Normal Attack): Leave it at level 1. Seriously.
Is She Worth the Investment?
The honest answer? Only if you like her. Dehya requires way more investment (Artifact quality, weapon choice, team synergy) to reach the same power level as a C0 Arlecchino or Gaming. She is a "luxury" unit. However, her ability to provide interruption resistance without a shield is unique. Unlike a shield, her field can't be "broken" by a single heavy hit. It stays there for its duration, period. That has value in high-pressure fights like the Triple Kenki or Consecrated Beasts.
If you have a C0 Dehya and no signature weapon, focus on her as a support for Neuvillette or Ganyu. If you've been "unlucky" enough to get her to C1 or C2 through standard banner losses, that’s when you can start looking at her as a legitimate damage dealer.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Build
- Check your ER first: If it's below 160% and you aren't in a Mono-Pyro team, go find an ER sands or a Favonius Greatsword. A Dehya that can't Burst is just a bad Albedo.
- Audit your team: Are you trying to Vape her hits? Switch to a Mono-Pyro or a Burn-Vape setup. You’ll see an immediate jump in performance.
- Don't over-farm Vourukasha's Glow: Unless you are also farming for Nilou, the domain is inefficient. Stick to Emblem of Severed Fate for the best "bang for your buck."
- Utilize the "Jump" cancel: If you accidentally trigger her Burst at the wrong time, you can jump to cancel it immediately. It’s better than wasting four seconds punching the air while an enemy is invulnerable.
- Prioritize C1: if you’re ever choosing a free 5-star from a selector (like the ones occasionally offered during anniversaries), Dehya’s C1 is arguably the biggest power spike of any standard character's first constellation. It fundamentally changes how her stats work.