Hu Tao ⇒ Best Build, Weapons & Guide for Genshin Impact

Hu Tao is one of the most fascinating characters in Genshin Impact, captivating players with her unique blend of playfulness, mystery, and power. As the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she holds an essential role within Liyue, ensuring the smooth transition of souls to the afterlife. Her striking contrast between mischief and deep wisdom, coupled with her powerful Pyro abilities, makes her a standout character in the game. Whether you’re intrigued by her lore, interested in maximizing her combat potential, or simply looking to learn more about her interactions with other characters, this detailed guide has everything you need to know about Hu Tao.

Source : Genshin Impact

Hu Tao – The 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor

Hu Tao became the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor at a remarkably young age, taking on the responsibility at just 13 years old. Her role involves overseeing traditional funeral practices in Liyue, a region inspired by Chinese culture. Despite the somber nature of her job, Hu Tao maintains a lively and unpredictable personality, making her one of the most intriguing figures in the game.

Understanding Her Role in Liyue

As Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao ensures that funeral rites are conducted appropriately, following centuries-old traditions. Unlike other characters who may perceive her job as morbid, she sees it as a necessity—helping spirits pass on peacefully to the next world. Her close association with Zhongli, Liyue’s God of Contracts, further ties her to divine spiritual practices within the city.

Hu Tao’s Quirky Personality and Behavior

Hu Tao is known for her eccentric and mischievous personality. She enjoys pulling pranks on others, often making lighthearted jokes about death and the afterlife. However, beneath her playful nature lies a deep understanding of life and mortality. Friends and acquaintances notice that despite her seemingly carefree attitude, she takes her duties very seriously.

Her Relationships with Other Characters

Zhongli – As an adept consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and former Geo Archon, Zhongli deeply respects Hu Tao’s role, even though he occasionally finds her antics exhausting.
Qiqi – Their relationship is comically hostile, as Hu Tao frequently tries to “release” Qiqi from her undead existence, much to Qiqi’s chagrin.
Xingqiu – Hu Tao enjoys Xingqiu’s literary pursuits and often exchanges poetry with him, appreciating his artistic talents.
Baizhu – As Qiqi’s caretaker, Baizhu frequently intervenes when Hu Tao tries to “send Qiqi off,” leading to several humorous interactions.

Hu Tao’s Voice Actors in Different Languages

Hu Tao is brought to life by talented voice actors across multiple languages:

English: Brianna Knickerbocker
Chinese: Tao Dian
Japanese: Rie Takahashi
Korean: Kim Ha-ru

Notably, Japanese VA Rie Takahashi revealed in an interview that she was directed to “make Hu Tao weird,” emphasizing the character’s quirky and lively personality.

Hu Tao’s Abilities and Gameplay Mechanics

Hu Tao is a Pyro polearm wielder with a unique playstyle that revolves around sacrificing her HP to deal increased damage. This risk-versus-reward mechanic makes her one of the highest DPS characters when used correctly.

Normal Attack – Secret Spear of Wangsheng

Performs up to six consecutive strikes with a polearm.
Charged Attack consumes stamina to deal a lunging thrust.
Plunging Attack deals AoE damage upon impact.

Elemental Skill – Guide to the Afterlife

Hu Tao enters the Paramita Papilio state, triggering several effects:

Her normal attack converts to Pyro damage, which is scaled based on her max HP.
Increased resistance to interruption while in this state.
Enemies affected by her attacks receive the Blood Blossom effect, dealing Pyro DMG over time.

Elemental Burst – Spirit Soother

Hu Tao summons a blazing spirit that deals Pyro AoE damage. If her HP is below 50% when it activates:

Damage output is significantly increased.
She regenerates HP upon hitting enemies.

Hu Tao’s Passive Talents

Flutter By – After Paramita Papilio ends, all party members (except Hu Tao) gain a 12% CRIT Rate boost for 8 seconds.
Sanguine Rouge – Provides a 33% Pyro Damage Bonus when her HP is at or below 50%.
The More the Merrier – Gives an 18% chance to create a “suspicious” dish when perfectly cooking a meal.

How to Build Hu Tao for Maximum Damage

Recommended Weapons

Staff of Homa – Her signature weapon, dramatically increasing CRIT DMG and boosting ATK based on max HP.
Dragon’s Bane – A solid alternative that increases damage against enemies affected by Pyro or Hydro.
Deathmatch – Boosts CRIT Rate significantly, making her attacks highly consistent.

Best Artifact Sets

Crimson Witch of Flames (4-piece) – Increases Pyro DMG Bonus and further boosts damage from Elemental Reactions.
Shimenawa’s Reminiscence (4-piece) – Enhances normal attack power when using Elemental Skill.