Getting to Know Alhaitham and Keqing
A Quick Look at These Sword-Wielding Stars
Elheisen, a five-star grass-elemental one-handed sword character from Xumi, was released in the first phase of Patch 3.4 on January 18, 2023. Keqing, a five-star lightning-elemental one-handed sword character from Liyue, has been around since the game launched on September 28, 2020. She is always available in the permanent wish list and appears in events like the Lantern Festival.
Alhaitham sets up Dendro reactions through his Chisel-Light Mirrors, which scale with +0.1% DMG per EM point up to 100%. Keqing? She thrives on infused attacks and a low 40 Energy Burst cost. For ascension, Alhaitham needs 168 Sand Grease Pupa, 46 Pseudo-Stamens, and Nagadus Emerald (1 Sliver, 9 Fragments, 9 Chunks, 6 Gemstones). Keqing grabs 168 Cor Lapis, 46 Lightning Prisms, and Vajrada Amethyst in similar amounts. (Editor’s note: Farming those Pseudo-Stamens can be a real grind—stock up on Sumeru exploration if you’re going for him.)
How They Fit into Aggravate Teams
Aggravate teams live and die by Elemental Mastery (EM), with the bonus calculated as (EM * 16.5) / (EM + 1400)—that’s about 10.2% at 200 EM and 11.5% at 300 EM. Alhaitham creates Mirrors with his Skill (1-2) or Burst (3 after 2s), leading to Projection Attacks that hit for 67.2% ATK + 134.4% EM at talent level 1 with 3 Mirrors. Keqing doubles up on her Skill for a 5s infusion.
If you’re looking for quick and reliable Genshin Impact top up, BitTopup offers competitive pricing with instant delivery, ensuring secure transactions across global servers and excellent after-sales support rated 4.9/5 by users for seamless experiences. It’s a lifesaver when you’re low on primos mid-banner.
Breaking Down the Aggravate Reaction
What It Is and How It Works
Aggravate amps up Electro damage on a Quicken aura that sticks around for 7-13 seconds, marked by that telltale green flicker. You want 180-280 EM for the best returns—over 8% ROI per 25 EM points. At 250 EM, Keqing gets a +40% reaction DMG boost from Thundering Fury 4pc; Alhaitham tacks on +0.1% per EM to his Projections.
To apply Quicken, have Nahida mark enemies with her Skill for Dendro, then drop Fischl’s Oz for Electro triggers. Keep an eye on the aura every 9s to prevent overrides—it’s all about timing.
Why It Boosts Your Team’s Output
This reaction hands out +50 EM from Dendro Resonance and +200 EM from Nahida’s Burst at C2, pushing totals to 300-400 EM for a max 16.5% bonus. Research shows Alhaitham’s Spread in Nahida/Fischl teams matches Keqing’s Aggravate at C0, while Hyperbloom variants pull ahead for non-whales.
Prioritize EM Sands. Alhaitham’s base ATK is 314 vs. Keqing’s 323—use tools like Genshin Optimizer to nail that 1:2 CRIT ratio. Ascend to Level 90 for a +20% reaction DPS bump; you’ll need 114 Philosophies of Ingenuity for Alhaitham’s talents or Nectar for Keqing’s.
Head-to-Head Stats: Alhaitham vs. Keqing
Their Base Numbers and How They Scale
At Level 90, Alhaitham boasts 13,348 HP, 314 ATK, 782 DEF, and a 28.8% Dendro DMG ascension bonus. Keqing counters with 13,103 HP, 323 ATK, 799 DEF, and 88.4% CRIT DMG. Energy Recharge? Alhaitham needs 130-140% with Yaoyao or 105-115% with Nahida+Fischl; Keqing sits at 100-120%.
Keqing’s slight ATK edge (323 over 314) helps, but Alhaitham’s Dendro DMG ascension powers up Spread, while her CRIT DMG shines in bursts. Farm those ascensions hard—it’s worth it.
Why EM Is King Here
Hitting 200-300 EM nets you about 75% of the max bonus in the first 180 points. Alhaitham’s A4 gives +0.1% DMG per EM, and Keqing scores +20% Aggravate from Thundering Fury. Quicken teams add +50 EM from resonance, but ROI dips after 280 EM.
Gilded Dreams is a go-to: +80 EM (2pc) and +50 EM per different element (4pc, up to 3). With Nahida’s +200 at C2, you’re looking at 300-400 EM total. Easy math, big gains.
Building Them Right for Aggravate
Alhaitham’s Artifact Setup
Go 4pc Gilded Dreams for +80 EM (2pc) and +14% ATK per same-element or +50 EM per different (4pc, max 3 stacks/8s). Mains: EM Sands, Dendro Goblet, CRIT Circlet. Subs: EM > ER (130%) > CRIT > ATK%.
Nahida rocks Deepwood Memories for -30% Dendro RES. F2P? Mix 2pc Gilded + 2pc Wanderer’s for +80 EM each, pushing over 200 EM. Solid start.
Keqing’s Artifact Choices
4pc Thundering Fury: +15% Electro DMG (2pc), +40% reaction DMG, +20% Aggravate, and -1s Skill CD on reactions/0.8s. Mains: EM/ATK% Sands, Electro Goblet, CRIT DMG Circlet. Subs: CRIT (1:2), EM (~250), ATK%, ER 100-120%.
Gilded Dreams works as an alt for EM focus. With Primordial Jade Cutter’s 44.1% CRIT Rate, you’re golden.
Weapons That Make 'Em Shine
For Alhaitham, Light of Foliar Incision (542 ATK, 88.2% CRIT DMG) gives +4% CRIT Rate and +120% EM DMG after 28 hits/12s. Alts: Primordial Jade Cutter (+44.1% CRIT Rate, +20% HP as ATK) or Iron Sting (165 EM, +6% DMG stacks).
Keqing loves Mistsplitter Reforged (674 ATK, 44.1% CRIT DMG) for +12% Elemental DMG up to 28% Electro stacks, or Lion’s Roar (+20-36% DMG vs. affected foes). Refine Iron Sting to R5 for +165 EM—it bumps Aggravate by 10-11%. To fuel your artifact farming and character pulls, consider recharge Genesis Crystals on BitTopup, which delivers instantly at affordable prices, supports all regions with secure, compliant services, and boasts top-rated customer support for a hassle-free user experience averaging 4.8/5. (I’ve used it myself—super reliable during artifact hell.)
How They Play: Rotations and Styles
Alhaitham builds Mirrors with his Skill (1-2) or Burst (3 post-2s), plus A1 (1/12s CD) for 3-hit Projections (2-hit ICD). Try this combo: Burst > N3D > Skill > N3CD for max uptime. Advanced? Hold Skill + Plunge. Keep 2-3 Mirrors for AoE Spread at +0.1%/EM—low ping helps with swaps.
Keqing doubles her Skill for 5s infusion (7.5s CD), Burst hitting 88% initial + 24% x8 + 189% final. Stick to N1C combos (25 stamina cost); teleport for dodges. Dash-cancel those animations; N1C beats N4C for DPS.
Team rotations? Alhaitham runs 21-26s: Nahida Skill > Burst (+200 EM C2); Yae Miko Skill x3; Alhaitham Burst (3 Mirrors) > N3 > Dash > N3 > Charged > N3 > Hold Skill > Normals until 1 Mirror; refresh supports. Keqing’s 15-20s: Nahida Burst > Skill; Fischl Burst (Oz); Kazuha Burst (Swirl) > Skill; Keqing Skill (Stiletto) > Burst > Skill (infusion) > N1C repeats. Always Dendro first for Quicken, then Electro—repeat every 9s, tweak ER with Favonius for 10% cuts.
Who Pairs Best? Synergies and Teams
Alhaitham thrives with Nahida (+200 EM, -30% Dendro RES), Fischl (off-field Electro, A4 double procs), and Zhongli (shields, RES shred). Core team: Alhaitham, Nahida, Yae Miko/Fischl, Zhongli/Kuki. Sub Collei for Nahida or Beidou for Yae. Unlock Sumeru for Nahida; +50 EM resonance gets you to 300-400 EM.
Keqing pairs with Fischl (battery, no ICD overlap), Kazuha (-40% Electro RES VV, grouping), and Nahida (+200 EM C2). Team: Keqing, Fischl, Nahida, Kazuha; swap Collei for Nahida or Sucrose for Kazuha. Double Electro amps procs; Baizhu adds Dendro heals/shields.
F2P? Alhaitham: Dendro Traveler (Deepwood shred), Lisa (Electro), Barbara (Quickbloom Hydro)—Iron Sting and 4pc Instructor (+120 party EM post-reaction). Keqing: Collei (Dendro), Beidou (multi-target Electro), Sucrose (Anemo)—Iron Sting, 4pc Martial Artist (+25% Normal post-Skill). Farm EM; hit 160% ER for solo Dendro.
Constellations and Ascension Perks
Alhaitham’s C2 grants +50 EM per Mirror (max 200 EM for 8s); C6 adds 3 Mirrors from Burst +10% CRIT Rate/70% CRIT DMG (6s). C2 nets ~8% DPS in Aggravate—prioritize it over Nahida’s C2 for personal gains. Ascend for A4 EM boosts.
Keqing’s C4: +25% ATK for 10s after Electro reaction (~8% DPS in Aggravate); C6: +6% Electro DMG per attack (stacks to ~30% vs C0). C0 works fine; chase C4 for buffs. Level Normal Attacks first—Charged scales at 76.8% + 86%.
The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict
Alhaitham excels in high AoE Dendro Spread Projections (★★★★★ rating) and flexes into Hyperbloom/Burgeon. His Nahida/Fischl teams match Keqing at C0; add Furina for Quickbloom buffs. Mirror uptime is key.
Keqing offers 100% Electro uptime for Aggravate (★★★★★ rating) and F2P ease. Downsides? Weak cons, 25 stamina on Charged, and Cyno outscales her. N1C with Zhongli shields helps.
For newbies, Keqing wins on accessibility and single-target; Alhaitham takes multi-target and Dendro utility. Both A-tier at C0. Keqing’s F2P-friendly; Alhaitham rewards Sumeru investment. Abyss test: Keqing for speed, Alhaitham for crowds. EM 200-300 is non-negotiable.
Dodging Pitfalls and Pro Tips
Common slip-up: Overapplying Dendro on Keqing eats the Electro aura; Alhaitham’s Burst Mirrors produce fewer. Always sequence Dendro first, then Electro. For Alhaitham, skip early Charged post-Burst to save Mirrors.
Optimize like this: Alhaitham—master N3D cancels, target 130% ER with Favonius. Keqing—use Burst i-frames, N1C for max DPS. Stack EM buffs (Dendro Resonance +50, Gilded +150 max); Genshin Optimizer for ER tweaks. Advanced moves? Alhaitham Hold Skill + Plunge; Keqing dash-cancel. (As someone who’s sunk hours into rotations, trust me—practice pays off big time.)
Wrapping It Up: Who to Pick?
In the end, Alhaitham rules Dendro Spread (A-tier), while Keqing delivers accessible Electro (A-tier). She’s perfect for fresh accounts without limited pulls; he’s meta for Sumeru squads. Tests show Hyperbloom edges out for non-whales.
Next? If you’re Electro-light, build Keqing. For Dendro meta, go Alhaitham. Steps: 1. Unlock Sumeru for resources. 2. Farm EM artifacts. 3. Test rotations in domains. 4. Use damage tools for tweaks. C0 is viable—focus that 200-300 EM and you’re set. What do you think—team Alhaitham or Keqing? (Editor’s view: Alhaitham’s AoE feels more future-proof, but Keqing’s reliability is underrated.)
