Look, I’ve been covering Genshin’s DPS meta for years now, and this comparison keeps coming up in my inbox. Both characters are solid—but they’re solving completely different problems in your roster.
How These Two Actually Work (No Fluff)
Navia’s whole thing? She’s basically a walking artillery unit.
That 352 base ATK isn’t just a number—it’s why Bennett buffs hit her like a truck. Her Gunbrella mechanic turns Crystallize shields (you know, those things everyone ignores) into actual damage amplifiers. Get her A4 passive rolling with non-Geo teammates, and you’re looking at 40% ATK just for playing diverse teams.
The beauty here is front-loaded damage. Elite enemies? Gone in one rotation if you play your cards right.
Itto’s approach is completely different. This guy converts his massive 959 base DEF into ATK during his burst, then goes ham for 11-16 seconds straight. Those Superlative Superstrength stacks (max 5) fuel his Arataki Kesagiri slashes, but here’s the catch—he needs dedicated Mono-Geo support to really shine. Gorou’s buffs literally scale with how many Geo characters you’re running.
It’s sustained vs. burst, flexibility vs. specialization. Classic Genshin design philosophy at work.
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The Numbers Game (Where It Gets Interesting)
Navia’s Damage Scaling
Her Elemental Skill Ceremonial Crystalshot is where the magic happens:
Zero stacks? You get 5 shots at 120% base damage (decent, not amazing)
Three stacks? Now we’re talking—11 shots at 200% base damage
Six stacks? Same 11 shots but with an extra 45% Geo DMG bonus
Two charges with 9-second cooldowns mean you can drop two massive nukes per rotation. That 88.4% CRIT DMG ascension stat? Perfect for this burst-heavy playstyle, especially when Bennett’s flat ATK bonuses come into play.
Itto’s Sustained Excellence
Where Navia goes for the knockout punch, Itto’s all about death by a thousand cuts. His damage spreads across multiple hits during that Elemental Burst window. The A4 passive bumps Arataki Kesagiri damage by 35% of his DEF—and with that 24.2% CRIT Rate ascension, he’s built for consistency over single-hit spectacle.
Constellation Reality Check
Navia’s C2 is genuinely game-changing. Up to 36% CRIT Rate on her Elemental Skill? That solves her biggest consistency issue right there. C6 gets wild with 135% CRIT DMG bonus and stack refunds, but that’s whale territory.
Itto’s C2 is more about quality of life—restoring up to 18 energy in triple-Geo teams drops his ER requirements from 130-140% down to 100-120%. His C6 grants 70% CRIT DMG to Charged Attacks with 50% stack preservation, but again, we’re talking serious investment.
Team Rotations That Actually Work
Navia’s Standard Setup
Zhongli (Hold E) → Shield up, RES shred active
Bennett (Q) → ATK buff zone established
Xiangling (Q → E) → Off-field Pyro for reactions
Navia (Q → E → N3D N2 → E → N3D N2) → Delete enemies
That N3D N2 combo optimizes her Geo-infused attacks between skill uses. You’ll need 150-170% ER at C0 for that 60-cost Burst—though C1 helps by restoring up to 9 energy per skill use.
Itto’s Mono-Geo Dance
Zhongli (Hold E) → Universal protection and shred
Gorou (E → Q) → DEF buffs and Geo DMG bonus
Albedo/Chiori (E) → Off-field damage and energy
Itto (N1 → Q → combo time) → 16 seconds of pure aggression
Pro tip: That N1Q technique ensures Gorou’s DEF buff snapshots properly. C0 combo I recommend? N1 E N2 N3 C4F N4 C4F E F. Takes practice, but it’s satisfying once you nail it.
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Investment Reality (The Part Nobody Talks About)
Primogem Economics
Here’s where it gets tricky. Navia’s teams want premium supports like Furina and Zhongli, but these investments pay dividends across multiple team compositions. Itto’s core squad (Itto, Gorou, Albedo/Chiori, Zhongli) is basically a concentrated 5-star investment in one specific archetype. Plus, Gorou really wants C6 for maximum effectiveness.
Artifact Farming Hell
Navia wants 4-piece Nighttime Whispers (18% ATK plus up to 50% Geo DMG when Crystallize-shielded), but that means dedicated domain farming. Itto gets Husk of Opulent Dreams through Strongbox—way more resin-efficient. 30% DEF plus up to 24% DEF and 24% Geo DMG? Can’t argue with those numbers.
Weapon Situations
Navia: Verdict (signature) > Serpent Spine R5 > Ultimate Overlord’s Mega Magic Sword (that F2P event weapon is actually solid) Itto: Redhorn Stonethresher > Serpent Spine > Whiteblind (craftable and F2P-friendly)
Team Building Philosophy
The Meta Picks
Navia Hypercarry: Navia, Zhongli/Xilonen, Furina, Bennett.
This setup maximizes every damage vector—shield, RES shred, DMG% buffs, flat ATK bonuses. It’s expensive but effective.
Itto Mono-Geo: Itto, Gorou, Albedo/Chiori, Zhongli.
Gorou’s DEF, Geo DMG, and Interruption Resistance buffs are non-negotiable here. I generally prefer Chiori over Albedo—indestructible constructs and higher damage output.
Budget Options
Navia’s F2P variant works: Navia, Bennett, Xiangling, Geo Traveler. You get Pyro Resonance (25% ATK) while meeting Geo requirements. She’s even compatible with Xianyun Plunge teams if you’re into that.
Itto’s flexibility? Limited. Xianyun Plunge teams with Furina and Geo supports work, but require precise execution.
Build Optimization
Navia Setup
Artifacts: 4pc Nighttime Whispers or 4pc Marechaussee Hunter (with Furina)
Main Stats: ATK% Sands, Geo DMG% Goblet, CRIT Rate/DMG Circlet
Substats Priority: CRIT Rate/DMG > ER% (150-170%) > ATK%
Talent Order: Skill > Normal Attack ≥ Burst
Itto Configuration
Artifacts: 4pc Husk of Opulent Dreams (Strongbox friendly!)
Main Stats: DEF% Sands, Geo DMG% Goblet, CRIT Rate/DMG Circlet
Substats Priority: ER% (130-140%) > CRIT Rate/DMG > DEF%
Talent Order: Normal Attack > Burst > Skill
Real-World Performance
Spiral Abyss Reality
Community tier lists consistently rank Navia S-A tier while Itto sits at A-B tier. Her flexibility and front-loaded damage align perfectly with Abyss design—burst windows and elemental variety matter. Itto maintains strong performance when cycles favor Geo damage without annoying shield-breaking requirements.
Skill Floor vs. Ceiling
Navia’s about Crystallize management and skill shot timing. Pretty accessible. Itto demands Normal Attack combo mastery for stack generation—that N1Q technique for buff snapshotting takes genuine practice.
Meta Positioning
Navia’s design screams future-proof. Flexible team building, reaction utilization, compatibility with top-tier supports. Itto’s specialized requirements limit adaptation but provide rock-solid performance within his niche.
Who Should You Actually Pull?
Account Stage Matters
Early Game: Navia wins through team flexibility and Bennett synergy. You can build around her gradually.
Mid Game: Both work with proper support investment. Navia’s less constellation-dependent than Itto (though his C2 energy management is nice).
End Game: Depends on roster gaps. Navia for meta adaptability, Itto for specialized excellence.
Playstyle Preferences
Go Navia if you want: Flexible team building, satisfying burst damage, content adaptability, simpler mechanics.
Choose Itto for: Dedicated hypercarry gameplay, combo optimization mastery, specialized team building, consistent sustained damage loops.
FAQ (The Questions I Actually Get)
Is Navia better for F2P players? Generally, yes. Team flexibility plus strong event weapons like Ultimate Overlord’s Mega Magic Sword. She works with common supports (Bennett/Xiangling) versus Itto’s specialized requirements.
Which needs less resin for artifacts? Itto has the edge with Husk available in Strongbox. Navia’s BiS requires dedicated farming, though Marechaussee Hunter works as backup.
Can they work together? Not really. Both want field time with different optimal supports. Navia prefers diverse elemental teams; Itto excels in Mono-Geo.
Better constellation value for low spenders? Navia’s C2 is exceptional—36% CRIT Rate solves her consistency issues. Itto’s early constellations are QoL improvements with power spikes delayed until C6.
Co-op performance? Both excel here. Navia brings burst damage and shield generation; Itto offers sustained damage and self-sufficiency without complex coordination needs.
Which is more future-proof? Navia’s flexible design and diverse support compatibility suggest better longevity. Her kit aligns with meta trends emphasizing reaction diversity over Itto’s specialized limitations.
The bottom line? Both are solid investments, but they serve different purposes. Navia adapts to whatever the meta throws at you. Itto perfects one specific playstyle. Choose based on what your account actually needs, not just big damage numbers.
