Red Warrior compares three top-tier DPS builds in a real-combat showdown

In one of his most comprehensive comparisons to date, Red Warrior dives into the numbers behind Raiden Shogun, Varesa, and Clorinde, putting their DPS to the test in a controlled environment. With C3 R1 Raiden facing off against C0 R0 Varesa and C0 R0 Clorinde, this experiment aimed to settle the ongoing debate: is the Electro Archon still worth her title?

Spoiler alert: Varesa came out swinging with 2.4 million damage.

Varesa Dominates: C0 R0 Performance That Rivals C3 Units

Red Warrior’s test saw Varesa deal 2.4 million damage in a single rotation—without constellations or her signature weapon. She was using Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds, a second-best option, and still managed to outperform both Raiden and Clorinde by a sizable margin.

  • Build: Top 4.6%, Lost Prayer, Whimsy set
  • Rotation Length: ~22.28 seconds
  • Estimated Potential w/ Signature Weapon: +30–40% more damage

Varesa’s success is bolstered heavily by C2 Mavuika, whose buffs, defense shred, and team utility significantly enhanced her damage ceiling. Despite Red Warrior’s personal dislike for playing Varesa, he acknowledged her as a top 2 DPS unit in Genshin, calling her “ridiculously strong” and “a shock to see in action.”

Clorinde Impresses Despite a Suboptimal Build

Clorinde’s performance wasn’t quite as explosive, but it was still enough to raise eyebrows—especially given her top 40% build quality and lack of signature weapon. Even with Haran as her placeholder weapon, she matched Raiden’s damage and clearly has more to give.

  • Build: Top 40%, Haran, Whimsy set
  • Notable Stats: ~72% crit rate, lacking damage stats
  • Potential: Very high with investment

Clorinde’s higher base crit rate and raw offensive stat focus mean that even with some weaknesses in artifact substats, she scales impressively with better gear. Red Warrior noted that with a more optimal build and weapon, Clorinde could easily surpass C3 Raiden in most combat scenarios.

Raiden Shogun: Still Good, But Clearly Power-Creeped

Raiden’s C3 R1 build came in with top 4% quality, and her rotation felt clean and explosive. However, her 93,000 DPS output (with generous rotation timing) just didn’t match the modern competition, especially when both Varesa and Clorinde were outperforming her with zero constellations and non-signature weapons.

Key issues:

  • Cooldown Conflicts: Kujou Sara and Chevreuse have longer cooldowns than Raiden’s burst
  • Lack of Crit Scaling: No crit rate or crit damage in Raiden’s kit
  • Team Synergy Limitations: Her best supports don’t perfectly align with her rotation

“She’s punching down… like on someone an inch shorter than her,” Red Warrior quipped, frustrated by Raiden’s inability to outpace newer units despite being more invested.

Raiden fans might argue that her flexibility and team utility still make her a valuable unit—and they wouldn’t be wrong—but in a pure damage race, she’s been clearly outclassed.

Mavuika’s Role: The Great Equalizer

Across all teams, C2 Mavuika played a massive role in boosting numbers. While her contribution was especially significant on Varesa and Clorinde’s teams (adding up to 800k+ damage), she was less impactful for Raiden due to rotation timing and synergy issues.

“Mavuika’s C2 support really made Varesa shine. The team just flows with her,” Red Warrior said.

Still, it’s worth noting that Raiden’s underperformance wasn’t entirely due to Mavuika—her outdated kit mechanics and synergy conflicts are the primary culprits.

Final Verdict: Varesa Is the New Benchmark

If there was ever doubt about the state of Genshin Impact’s evolving meta, this test removed it. Varesa’s dominance—at C0 and without her best-in-slot gear—cements her as one of the most powerful DPS characters currently available. Clorinde follows closely behind, proving that even at low investment, she can trade blows with hyper-invested legacy characters.

Raiden Shogun, while still viable, is now in a position where her value depends more on nostalgia, aesthetics, or specific team comps rather than raw power.

“I feel a bit vindicated calling her underwhelming,” Red Warrior concluded, after seeing Raiden lose the damage race.

Who Should You Build?

  • Varesa: Top-tier burst DPS. If you want raw power and future scaling, she’s a phenomenal pick.
  • Clorinde: Excellent balance of offense and flexibility. She will reward investment handsomely.
  • Raiden Shogun: Still great in the right hands, but don’t expect her to carry you as easily without C6 or optimal team support.

For more Genshin meta breakdowns, be sure to subscribe to Red Warrior’s channel and follow along for upcoming tests. And for all things Genshin builds, guides, and team comps, visit ExploreGenshin.gg.

Frequently Asked Questions about Raiden vs Varesa vs Clorinde

Is Varesa currently the best DPS in Genshin Impact?

While subjective, Varesa at C0 is easily among the top-performing DPS units in the game based on testing. With strong rotations and excellent synergy (especially with C2 Mavuika), her damage ceiling is incredibly high.

Can Clorinde outperform Raiden Shogun with better gear?

Yes. Even with a top 40% build, Clorinde matched a fully invested C3 Raiden. With better artifacts and her signature weapon, Clorinde can absolutely surpass Raiden in overall DPS.

Is Raiden Shogun still worth building in 2025?

Raiden remains a flexible Electro unit with good battery support and team options. However, in terms of raw personal damage, newer characters like Varesa and Clorinde have overtaken her.

How important is Mavuika to these team comps?

Extremely. C2 Mavuika contributed up to 800,000 damage in Varesa’s rotation and significantly enhanced both Varesa’s and Clorinde’s team performance. She’s a core enabler.

What is Varesa’s optimal rotation length?

Around 22.28 seconds. This allows her to unleash her full kit for maximum DPS, though slight execution delays can push it to 23 seconds.

Can C0 Varesa outperform C3 Raiden Shogun?

Yes. In Red Warrior’s tests, C0 R0 Varesa consistently out-damaged C3 R1 Raiden by a noticeable margin—highlighting the power gap between newer and older units.