With his first rerun finally here, Kenich remains Genshin Impact’s most recent Dendro character and one of the most stylistically unique 5-stars to date. In Jello Impact’s comprehensive update, we get a deep dive into his current performance, best builds, and optimized team comps that make him a top-tier but underappreciated DPS.

Whether you’re pulling for him on rerun or refining your existing build, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to get the most out of Natlan’s flaming dancer.

Updated Kenich Build & Talent Priorities

  • Skill → Burst → Normal Attacks
    • Level 10 Skill is the centerpiece of Kenich’s damage—worthy of a crown.
    • Burst is good, but not essential to crown. Levels 8–9 are ideal.
    • Normal attacks can be ignored even though his charged-up skill looks like a normal attack—it’s not affected by normal talent scaling.

Artifact Sets:

  • Obsidian Ceaseless Extinction (Best-in-Slot): Most consistent and highest DPS.
  • Unfinished Reverie: Viable if you already have a great set and use a crit rate weapon.
  • Deepwood Memories: Better used on a teammate like Escoffier, but viable in budget teams.

Main Stats:

  • Sands: ATK%
  • Goblet: Dendro DMG
  • Circlet: Crit DMG (Obsidian gives enough crit rate)
  • Substats: Prioritize Crit DMG > Crit Rate > ATK% – avoid EM, which doesn’t help his unique burning-based mechanic.

Best Weapons for Kenich

  • Fang of the Mountain King (Signature): Peak performance + style.
  • Thousand Floating Dreams: Surprisingly close in output if not used on Mika.
  • Beacon of the Reed Sea: A solid generalist 5-star.
  • Earthshaker (Free-to-play): His best 4-star option. Easy to acquire and still reliable.

“The drip value of his weapon alone is enough for me,” says Jello, and we agree—it completes his identity.

Gameplay Tips and Combos

  • Wait before reacting after casting skill – don’t dash too soon or you’ll miss the Dorito.
  • He retains Bennett’s buff 2 seconds after leaving the circle, so don’t stress about always staying in it.
  • Skill cooldown management is key—learn his grapple mechanics to hit aerial enemies and optimize AoE.
  • Some bugs remain: missed grapples or “phantom cooldowns” may still occur, particularly at high ping.

Strengths & Weaknesses

✅ Pros:

  • Stylish, skill-based combat
  • Excellent single-target damage
  • Great vertical investment payoff
  • Low elemental dependency – works even outside of Bloom/Burning comps
  • Solid overworld exploration utility

❌ Cons:

  • Weak AoE
  • Occasional grapple bugs
  • Skill-based rotation can be punishing for casuals
  • High optimization requirement for top-tier performance

Top Teams for Kenich (2025 Edition)

🔥 Kenich + Moa + Escoffier + Yansan

Kenich’s Best Team (Currently)

  • Use Escoffier to hold Deepwood Memories and provide Cryo application + healing.
  • Moa acts as sub-DPS and Pyro applier.
  • Yansan enables Scroll mechanic for Kenich’s massive multipliers.
  • Synergistic, flexible, and surprisingly powerful.

🌱 Kenich + Emily + Moa + Yansan

Runner-Up Best Team

  • Emily provides constant Dendro uptime so Kenich doesn’t need to burst every rotation.
  • Swap Moa out for Toma, Pyro Traveler, or even Bennett depending on needs.

🆓 F2P Team: Kenich + Pyro Traveler + Bennett + Auroran

  • All components are free from previous events.
  • Pyro Traveler’s C1 buff gives 15% DMG bonus to Night Soul characters like Kenich.
  • Not as powerful, but completely viable for Spiral Abyss clears.

Bonus: Moa and Seatlali can also be used for added flexibility or niche reactions.

Kenich’s Meta Placement and Value

  • Ceiling: Top 5 DPS in Genshin
  • Power Ranking: Behind Mavika, Veressa, and likely Skirk
  • F2P Viability: Excellent. Can function well even without top-tier supports.
  • Investment Scaling: Outstanding. He benefits massively from weapon and constellation upgrades.
  • Aesthetic & Exploration: One of the most visually stunning and enjoyable characters to play in the overworld.

“Kenich is the perfect example of a DPS you pull because you love him—not because you need him,” Jello concludes.

Final Verdict

Kenich is a highly rewarding, fun-to-play character with immense skill expression and top-tier potential. He’s not the highest-damaging unit in Genshin, but with his flexible build paths, weapon choices, and consistently solid teams, he’s one of the best value DPS units in the current roster—especially if you enjoy his playstyle.

If you already have Fina, Skirk, or Veressa, you don’t need Kenich. But if his kit and aesthetics speak to you, you won’t regret investing in him.

For more Kenich builds, artifact calculators, and team optimizers, visit ExploreGenshin.gg

Frequently Asked Questions about Kenich (5.6 Rerun)

What are Kenich’s best artifacts?

Obsidian Ceaseless Extinction is his best set overall. Unfinished Reverie is viable if using crit rate weapons. Avoid EM-based sets.

What is Kenich’s best free-to-play weapon?

The Earthshaker is his strongest F2P weapon and works well even into mid-to-late game.

Is Kenich good without his signature weapon?

Yes. Beacon of the Reed Sea and Thousand Floating Dreams are both excellent alternatives, especially if you’re not pulling for his 5★.

What are the best teams for Kenich?

His best teams include combinations of Moa, Escoffier, Emily, Yansan, and Pyro Traveler. Free-to-play options also exist using Bennett and Auroran.

Should I pull for Kenich?

If you enjoy his playstyle and aesthetic—absolutely. If you’re purely chasing meta power, there are slightly stronger options like Mavika and Veressa.

Is Kenich difficult to play?

He requires some mechanical skill to fully optimize, but his floor is still accessible for casual players. He’s fun and forgiving once you learn his rhythm.