Hey Travelers! Are you looking to elevate your Genshin Impact Freeze teams to the next level? Look no further! We’re diving deep into Escoffier, the brand-new 5-star Cryo Polearm user who’s poised to become a core member of your roster. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your journey, this guide will cover everything you need to know about building, equipping, and teaming up with Escoffier to unleash her full potential.
Who is Escoffier? A Quick Overview
Escoffier is a formidable 5-star Cryo Polearm character designed primarily as an off-field Freeze Sub-DPS. She excels at consistently applying Cryo and dishing out impressive damage, all while offering valuable utility to her team.
- Rarity: ★★★★★
- Element: Cryo
- Weapon: Polearm
- Voice Actors: Emily Cass (EN), Sato Satomi (JP)
Escoffier’s Role in the Meta: Strengths & Weaknesses
Escoffier brings a unique blend of damage, Cryo application, and support to the battlefield. Let’s break down why she’s a must-have for certain team compositions.
As a Sub-DPS (S-Tier)
Escoffier shines as a Cryo applicator with superb off-field damage and 100% uptime on her Elemental Skill. She’s incredibly simple to use, making her an ideal choice for Freeze teams. While her personal damage is comparable to characters like Emilie or Chiori in optimal conditions, Escoffier’s added offensive utility and healing capabilities make her an indispensable asset for Freeze compositions. She can also serve as an off-field Cryo applicator for Melt or other Cryo reactions, thanks to her accessible playstyle and consistent uptime.
As a Support (S-Tier)
Escoffier’s support capabilities are tied to her unique debuffs, which function best with Cryo and Hydro characters in the team, similar to Chevreuse’s mechanics. While her effectiveness slightly reduces if these elemental restrictions aren’t strictly met, her RES Shred still provides significant value. She’s a game-changer for Freeze teams, helping to bring them back into relevance in the current meta. For players with Ayaka or future Freeze carries, Escoffier is a niche yet essential character who enables this archetype.
Strengths:
- Simple Playstyle: Her Elemental Skill is her most consistent damage tool with 100% uptime, making her an excellent Cryo applicator.
- Effective at Low Investment: Her RES shred scales primarily with the number of Hydro and Cryo teammates, making her effective even with minimal gear.
- Burst Healing: Provides good burst healing that scales with her ATK.
- Unique Utility: Her Elemental Skill has an alternate function, allowing her to cook up 4 unique dishes!
Weaknesses:
- Team Composition Dependent: Her RES shred’s effectiveness significantly drops if she’s not placed in Freeze teams. She’s essentially “glued” to these compositions to maximize her potential.
Escoffier’s Base & Max Stats
Understanding her stats helps in optimizing her builds. Here’s a look at her base and max values (excluding weapon, artifacts, and passive effects):
| STAT | Lvl. 20 Base Value | Lvl. 90 Max Value |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 2695 | 13348 |
| ATK | 70 | 347 |
| DEF | 148 | 732 |
| CRIT RATE% | 5.00% | 24.20% |
Note: All characters start with 5% CRIT Rate, 50% CRIT DMG, 100% Energy Recharge, and other base stats before any additional bonuses.
Ascension & Talent Materials
To ascend Escoffier and level up her powerful talents, you’ll need to gather specific materials:
All Ascension Materials Needed:
- Shivada Jade Sliver ×1
- Shivada Jade Fragment ×9
- Shivada Jade Chunk ×9
- Shivada Jade Gemstone ×6
- Mora ×420,000
- Artificed Dynamic Gear ×18
- Mechanical Spur Gear ×30
- Meshing Gear ×36
- Beryl Conch ×168
- Secret Source Airflow Accumulator ×46
All Talent Materials Needed:
- Mora ×4,957,500
- Crown of Insight ×3
- Philosophies of Justice ×114
- Guide to Justice ×63
- Teachings of Justice ×9
- Artificed Dynamic Gear ×93
- Mechanical Spur Gear ×66
- Meshing Gear ×18
- Eroded Horn ×18
Escoffier’s Best Builds: Sub-DPS & Support
Escoffier offers flexibility in her builds, allowing you to focus on either maximizing her damage as a Sub-DPS or enhancing her support capabilities.
Artifact Sets:
- Golden Troupe: Generally the best-in-slot for both roles, enhancing her off-field damage significantly.
- Blizzard Strayer: Ideal if you want to specialize her purely as a Freeze DPS, leveraging the Crit Rate bonus against frozen enemies.
- Noblesse Oblige: A strong option if you want to lean into her support role, providing a team-wide ATK buff after using her Elemental Burst.
Main Stats Priority:
- Sub-DPS: Prioritize CRIT STATS (Crit Rate/Crit Damage) on her Circlet and Goblet.
- Support: Focus on ATK% and ENERGY RECHARGE for comfortable Elemental Burst uptime.
Recommended Weapons (Freeze Sub-DPS Focus):
Here are some of the best Polearms for Escoffier, ranging from her signature weapon to accessible free-to-play options:
Symphonist of Scents (Best-in-Slot – Gacha)
- Base ATK: 565
- Bonus Stat: ATK 27.6%
- Skill Effect: When the wielder is healed or heals others, they gain Unity’s Symbols (max 3). Using Elemental Skill or Burst consumes Symbols, granting “Struggle” for 10s. Each Symbol provides 3% ATK and 7% All Elemental DMG Bonus. Symbols can be gained off-field.
Staff of Homa (Replacement – Gacha)
A powerful Crit Damage polearm that provides HP and ATK bonuses based on HP.
Engulfing Lightning (Replacement – Gacha)
Excellent for Energy Recharge, converting ER into ATK, which benefits Escoffier’s healing and damage.
PROSPECTOR’S DRILL (Replacement)
- Base ATK: 565
- Bonus Stat: ATK 27.6%
- Skill Effect: Similar to Symphonist of Scents, granting ATK and Elemental DMG Bonus upon consuming Unity’s Symbols.
Tamayuratei no Ohanashi (Best Free-to-Play Option)
- Base ATK: 565
- Bonus Stat: Energy Recharge 30.6%
- Skill Effect: Increases ATK by 20% and Movement SPD by 10% for 10s after using an Elemental Skill.
Prototype Starglitter (Free-to-Play Option)
- Base ATK: 510
- Bonus Stat: Energy Recharge 45.9%
- Skill Effect: After using an Elemental Skill, increases Normal and Charged Attack DMG by 8% for 12s (max 2 stacks).
Team Compositions: Where Escoffier Shines
As highlighted in her weaknesses, Escoffier truly excels in Freeze teams. Her ability to provide consistent Cryo application, off-field damage, and RES shred makes her a perfect fit.
A typical Freeze team with Escoffier would ideally include:
- Escoffier (Cryo Sub-DPS/Support)
- Main Hydro DPS/Enabler (e.g., Ayaka, Ganyu, Furina, Neuvillette)
- Another Cryo Character (for Cryo Resonance and her passive)
- An Anemo Support (for Viridescent Venerer RES shred and crowd control)
Her passive that provides RES shred is most effective when you have both Cryo and Hydro characters in the team. While you can substitute one Cryo or Hydro for another element, it will reduce the effectiveness of her RES Shred.
Conclusion
Escoffier is a powerful addition to the Genshin Impact roster, breathing new life into Freeze team archetypes. Her straightforward playstyle, consistent off-field damage, and valuable support capabilities make her a highly recommended character for anyone looking to optimize their Cryo compositions.
