Raiden Shogun, once heralded as one of Genshin Impact’s most dominant DPS and utility characters, is now facing growing skepticism from veteran players. In a recent video by Red Warrior, the long-time player offers a brutally honest assessment of Raiden Shogun’s current state in the meta — and the results aren’t flattering.

Raiden Shogun: Falling From Her Former Glory

When Raiden Shogun debuted in Version 2.1, she immediately became one of the most sought-after characters in Genshin Impact. Her elegant animations, Electro application, teamwide Energy Recharge support, and powerful Elemental Burst made her a centerpiece of many Spiral Abyss teams. However, the game has changed drastically since then, and Raiden hasn’t kept up.

The harsh reality shared by Red Warrior is simple: even with C3 (Constellation 3) and her signature weapon Engulfing Lightning, Raiden struggles to deliver standout damage in today’s hyper-competitive meta. In testing, her Elemental Burst topped out at around 480,000 damage—a solid number, but one that falls well short compared to the newest Fontaine-era characters like Mavika, Skirk, or Risley.

“If this is how she performs at C3R1, how bad must C0 Raiden feel for most players?” the creator questions.

Comparing Raiden to the Modern Roster

The most pointed comparison comes against Fontaine’s Risley and Chaza, two characters widely regarded as “fumbles” by some community members. Despite that, Red Warrior notes that his C3R1 Risley outperforms his equally invested Raiden—and without the Energy Recharge complexities that Raiden demands.

In fact, Raiden’s infamous build requirements—a precarious balancing act between Energy Recharge, Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and ATK—are part of what makes her difficult to use efficiently. Even Red Warrior’s Raiden, built in the top 24% of Akasha database rankings, failed to deliver results that felt worth the investment. “If I have to be in the top 5% of builders for her to feel decent, she’s not a good investment for most players,” he states bluntly.

Community “Coping” and the Problem with Nostalgia

Throughout the video, Red Warrior calls out a common community defense: blaming poor builds for underwhelming performance. “Stop coping,” he says, challenging the idea that Raiden’s shortcomings are simply due to improper optimization.

The reality, he argues, is that Genshin Impact’s standards have changed. The damage ceiling has risen significantly with every new region, and Raiden is a 2.0 character in a 6.0 world. Her damage, utility, and flexibility no longer compare favorably to the likes of Yelan, Furina, or the aforementioned Fontaine powerhouses.

And the Electro element’s current lack of relevance isn’t helping. Unlike Pyro, Cryo, or Hydro, Electro reactions like Overload or Superconduct have limited applications, and aggravate teams are being phased out in favor of more reaction-efficient builds.

Should You Still Pull for Raiden Shogun?

It depends. If you love her character, animations, or voice acting—absolutely. Raiden still has great animations and remains enjoyable for casual play, story quests, and non-meta challenges. Red Warrior even notes that he enjoys using her in Imaginarium Theater for fun.

But if you’re a free-to-play or low-spending player looking for value and longevity, there are stronger, more flexible options in the current game. Characters like Furina, Navia, Skirk, and even Fishl offer better team synergy and comparable (or better) damage output—often with lower investment.

Red Warrior’s final advice is for newer players: Don’t let nostalgia or reputation fool you into summoning for Raiden under the assumption she’s a must-have meta unit. She’s not. If anything, he says, players should be honest with themselves and the state of the game. “If you really love something, you have to be honest with it.”

For more guides, character breakdowns, and tier list updates, visit ExploreGenshin.gg.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raiden Shogun in 2025

Is Raiden Shogun still worth pulling in Genshin Impact?

Only if you love her character or enjoy her playstyle. As a meta pick, she has fallen behind newer characters and isn’t as impactful in modern team compositions.

Why has Raiden fallen behind in the meta?

Power creep, outdated reaction relevance (Electro), and her heavy reliance on Energy Recharge make her less flexible and impactful compared to newer units.

Is Raiden good with Furina or Yelan?

Yes, she can benefit from their buffs, but many other characters utilize those supports better, making Raiden a suboptimal choice in such team setups.

What is the best Raiden build?

The standard build is Engulfing Lightning, Emblem of Severed Fate x4, with high Energy Recharge, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage. However, she still requires extreme investment to shine.

Is Raiden Shogun C0 viable?

She is usable at C0, but her power is modest by current standards. Don’t expect top-tier damage unless you invest heavily into her gear and supports.