In Red Warrior’s recent commentary, we get a deeply personal and meta-aware take on Kamisato Ayaka’s relevance in Genshin Impact’s current version 5.6 landscape. Despite the arrival of powerful modern units like Escoffier, Furina, and Mavuika, Ayaka still holds her own—not necessarily because of personal power creep, but because she seamlessly integrates into top-tier teams.

This isn’t a guide about theorycraft numbers or Spiral Abyss charts. It’s an honest reflection on whether Ayaka still feels good to play, and the answer is a confident yes.

Ayaka’s Damage Isn’t the Star—Her Team Is

Ayaka’s personal numbers haven’t changed much. With a solid build (C2 Ayaka, Shenhe support), she still clocks in a rotation DPS of 1.8 to 2 million, respectable but modest compared to today’s powerhouses.

But with Escoffier’s Cryo resistance shred, and Furina’s off-field pressure and Marechaussee synergy, Ayaka no longer has to carry the team—and that’s a good thing. The new Cryo team meta is less about one hypercarry and more about team synergy, with Ayaka serving as a consistent and responsive core.

“Her damage didn’t change, but the importance of her damage did—and that made the team better.”

Where once a missed burst could tank your whole run, now Furina and Escoffier carry the consistency. Ayaka’s precision-focused burst becomes an additional nuke, not the entire strategy.

Ayaka vs. the Modern Meta: Holding Up Surprisingly Well

Red Warrior compares Ayaka’s relevance to characters like Itto and Yoimiya. While Yoimiya struggles to stay relevant even in high-DPS comps with Mavuika and Citlali, Ayaka slots smoothly into powerful modern setups without feeling like dead weight.

Even in the shadow of juggernauts like C2 Mavuika, who easily dishes out 5 million+ rotation damage, Ayaka doesn’t feel outclassed. Her gameplay is fluid, satisfying, and responsive—especially with the right ER tuning.

She doesn’t feel weak, even when her numbers are technically lower.

The Importance of “Feeling Good” to Play

Ayaka’s modern appeal isn’t just math—it’s feel. The fluid dash infusion, high burst impact (even if RNG-dependent), and elegant animation timing combine to create a character that’s still rewarding and enjoyable to use.

“She’s a 2.0 character that still feels modern… and that says something.”

Compared to newer units that can frontload damage easily with a single charge attack, Ayaka still requires some setup and precision. But that doesn’t make her clunky—it just makes her rewarding.

ER and Burst Management: Still the One Pain Point

Ayaka’s high Energy Recharge (ER) needs are still her most obvious flaw.

At 127% ER, even a well-built Ayaka feels inconsistent. While players can patch this with gear or teammate selection (e.g., running Shenhe, Diona, or Favonius users), she doesn’t enjoy the ER flexibility of newer units like Mavuika or Arlecchino.

ER optimization is still Ayaka’s biggest gap with 4.0–5.0 characters, and one of the few factors holding her back in the evolving meta.

How She Compares to Other DPS

Ayaka vs. Arlecchino (C1): Ayaka likely does not outperform Arlecchino, especially when comparing a C0R1 Ayaka to C1 Arlecchino. The idea that Ayaka outdamages Arlecchino by 15% feels disconnected from gameplay reality.
Ayaka vs. Mavuika: Mavuika’s burst rotation and ease of use outclass Ayaka in numbers, but Ayaka wins on responsiveness and fluidity for many players.
Ayaka vs. herself (pre-Escoffier): The biggest leap is Ayaka’s new team context, not her raw output.

Verdict: Still Great, Even If Not the Best

Despite the rise of newer and flashier characters, Ayaka continues to:

Feel powerful in play.
Integrate well into modern team comps.
Offer strong damage per rotation, even if it doesn’t match newer units.
Be a viable choice for high-end content like Abyss or Imaginary Theater.

For players who love Ayaka’s playstyle and aesthetics, or those sitting on a C0R1 or C2 build—there is absolutely no reason to regret pulling or investing in her.