It’s not a meme anymore—Barbara, Genshin Impact’s beloved idol and healer, can now be built as a legitimate plunge DPS, thanks to the release of the new Vivid Notions catalyst and the Long Night’s Oath artifact set. In a comprehensive breakdown by Risuke on YouTube, we learn how to unlock Barbara’s plunge potential, from skill cancels to tight rotations and min-maxing mechanics.

Here’s how to build plunge Barbara, why it works, and what you need to make the most of her surprisingly powerful kit.

🎶 Why Vivid Notions Works on Barbara

The new Vivid Notions catalyst was designed for Varesa, but Barbara happens to be one of the only other characters who can activate its plunge-related passive:

  • 40% Crit Damage Bonus when plunging after casting a skill
  • This works with Barbara because she can cancel her Elemental Skill by pressing skill + jump simultaneously
  • Doing this still counts as using the skill, allowing her to trigger the weapon’s passive

Visual Cues for Activation:

  • Blue feather: Appears after skill cancel (crit buff active)
  • Red feather: Appears during a plunge
  • Both are consumed on hit

🔥 Every plunge hits with bonus Crit DMG—on top of the normal 28% Crit DMG from the plunge mechanic itself.

🛠️ Barbara Plunge DPS Build

⭐ Best Weapon:

  • Vivid Notions – Best-in-slot for plunge damage
  • Other catalysts don’t come close in terms of synergy

⭐ Best Artifact Set:

  • 4-piece Long Night’s Oath
    • Boosts plunge damage and adds synergy with charged attacks for stacking
    • Outperforms 4-piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence by ~5%

⭐ Main Stats:

  • Sands: Elemental Mastery
  • Goblet: Hydro DMG Bonus
  • Circlet: Crit Rate

⭐ Substat Priority:

  • Crit Rate > Crit DMG > EM > ATK%

📌 If you’re not using Vivid Notions, aim for a 1:2 Crit Ratio, but with this weapon, Crit Rate is king to maximize plunge output.

🔺 Talent Priority

  1. Normal Attack – Max this first
  2. Burst – Optional, but recommended if you want a backup heal
  3. Skill – Only needed to trigger passives; level is optional

🔁 Team Building: Who Does Plunge Barbara Need?

This team needs very specific components to function at peak damage:

🧊 Shenhe (Mandatory)

  • Required to enable plunging
  • Her flat damage buff massively increases Barbara’s output

🔥 Pyro Applier: Choose One

  • Xiangling (better AoE & consistent vapes, but high ER requirements)
  • Jean (easier to use, but locks you into Sunfire with Bennett)

🔥 Xiangling requires 280%+ ER unless supported by Favonius Lance users.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Flex Slot

  • Bennett: Easy to use, massive ATK buff, but lacks flexibility
  • Iansan: Can provide Hydro VV or Hydro Scroll—more adaptable, but harder to build
    • C6 Iansan surpasses Bennett in teamwide damage if you can afford to pull her

💡 Gameplay Tips: Mastering the Plunge Loop

Barbara’s plunge combo is mechanically demanding, especially on mobile. Here’s what to keep in mind:

✅ Basic Combo:

  • Skill + Jump (at the same time)
  • Delay a moment, then Plunge (for a high plunge)
  • Dash cancel after landing
  • Repeat

❌ Common Mistakes:

  • Mashing jump = low plunge = 20% less damage
  • Not timing correctly = you lose the Crit DMG buff
  • Recasting skill by mistake = can’t plunge again in the rotation

🎮 You can swap dash cancels for normal attack cancels if using Xiangling, to maintain Pyro aura for vapes.

⚠️ Two Big Caveats

🐘 Elephant #1: It’s Hard

  • Precise execution is required
  • Input timings are unforgiving
  • Mobile players will struggle most

🐘 Elephant #2: Team Lock-In

  • Shenhe is non-negotiable
  • Pyro options are limited to Jean or Xiangling
  • Not much room for flex picks or reactions outside vape

🎯 Should You Try Plunge Barbara?

If you have:

  • Vivid Notions
  • Shenhe
  • Either Jean, Xiangling, or C6 Iansan

Then yes—this team is surprisingly strong, and a great way to experience Barbara in a totally different playstyle.

If you’re missing Shenhe or struggling with tight inputs, you might be better off sticking with standard healer Barbara builds.

Final Thoughts

Plunge Barbara with Vivid Notions and Long Night’s Oath turns an underrated support into a mechanically rich, high-reward DPS. While she isn’t easy to play, and team building is strict, the payoff is absolutely there.

If you’ve been looking for a new, high-skill cap team to master, this might be your next favorite comp.

For more quirky, optimized builds, be sure to check out Risuke on YouTube and stay updated with the latest team guides at ExploreGenshin.gg! 🌊

Frequently Asked Questions About Plunge Barbara

Is Plunge Barbara viable in Genshin Impact?

Yes. With Vivid Notions and the right team, Barbara can function as a strong plunge-based Hydro DPS.

What’s the best build for Plunge Barbara?

4-piece Long Night’s Oath, Vivid Notions catalyst, with EM/Hydro/Crit Rate as main stats. Focus on plunge damage and Crit Rate.

What team does Plunge Barbara need?

Shenhe is mandatory to enable plunges. Then either Xiangling or Jean for Pyro application, and a buffer like Bennett or Iansan.

How do I trigger Barbara’s skill cancel for Vivid Notions?

Press Elemental Skill and Jump at the same time. A blue feather will appear if you’ve done it correctly.

Is this build hard to play?

Yes. It requires tight timing, input precision, and complex rotations. Not recommended for casual or mobile play.

Is Iansan or Bennett better for Plunge Barbara?

C6 Iansan can outperform Bennett in team damage, but is harder to pull. Bennett is more consistent and easier to use.