Malanai Character Analysis: Role and Mechanics
Hydro Surfing Mechanic
Malanai's most appealing feature is her surfing system. Her core combat revolves entirely around the Night Soul Blessing state activated by her Elemental Skill—in short, it's about surfing around on a shark.
In her surfing state, her Normal Attacks transform into Night Soul Impact damage, capable of dealing over 200% scaling per hit. What's more, she gains immunity to certain crowd control effects in this state, making her incredibly agile in Natlan's complex terrains.
Her Elemental Burst, "Shark Missile," also boasts impressive numbers—11.2% of Max HP × 8 hits scaling, combined with a 1.5x Vaporize multiplier, results in a theoretically very high damage ceiling.
It's crucial to remember a few key values: Night Soul Impact scales at 8.6% of Max HP; if you have her signature weapon, "Surfing Time," you'll gain an additional 16% Max HP and 28% Elemental Burst damage bonus. Unlike traditional mages, Malanai deals damage by stacking HP rather than ATK, so prioritize HP main stats on artifacts.
Version 5.8 Environment Analysis
Abyss Adaptability and Terrain Impact
Based on my recent Spiral Abyss tests, Version 5.8 is quite favorable for Malanai. The group enemies in the first half are perfect for her AoE damage, while the single-target bosses in the second half allow her to leverage her Vaporize burst potential.
My Malanai double Hydro Vaporize team clears the current Spiral Abyss Floor 12 in about 90 seconds on average, and can even match Neuvillette in specific environments. Of course, this largely depends on the terrain.
Speaking of terrain adaptability—her efficiency increases by 30% in aquatic environments, performs normally on flat terrain, but drops by about 15% in confined spaces. Interestingly, as the Natlan character system gradually matures, future versions should introduce more characters that provide support for her.
Hydro DPS Comparison: Malanai vs. Mainstream Characters ⚔️
Comparison with Neuvillette's Strength
I think this comparison is quite necessary. Neuvillette's advantages are clear: higher versatility, more stable output environment, simpler operation, and stronger single-target burst.
But Malanai also has her unique characteristics: a distinctive surfing experience (honestly, the control feels great), stronger mobility in specific environments, relatively lower investment cost, and closer synergy with the Natlan system.
If we were to define the current Hydro characters: Neuvillette is the all-rounder main DPS, with the strongest adaptability; Malanai is a Vaporize-specialized main DPS; Furina primarily provides support and buffs; Tartaglia is a burst main DPS, but requires higher operational skill.
In group combat, Malanai's AoE damage advantage is indeed significant. However, when fighting single-target bosses, you need to be precise with your Vaporize timing.
Constellation Value Analysis
C0 Base Strength
Based on my tests, C0 Malanai can already meet the demands of most content. Recommended stats are: 35000+ HP, 50-60% Crit Rate, 180%+ Crit Damage, 100-150 Elemental Mastery.
With this setup, her Vaporize burst damage can reach over 150,000—which is quite good for a C0 character.
C1 and C2 Improvements
C1 provides a practical boost, offering extra Night Soul points and damage bonuses, resulting in an overall damage increase of about 20%, and extending Night Soul's duration.
C2 primarily enhances her burst capability, with an additional Crit Damage increase, boosting burst phase damage by up to 30%. C6, of course, provides an all-around enhancement, but its cost-effectiveness is lower. Personally, if you have the budget, C1 is a good choice.
Weapon Selection Guide 💎
Signature Weapon and Alternatives
"Surfing Time" is truly tailor-made for her: 542 base ATK at Lv. 90, 66.2% HP bonus, and the weapon's passive provides an additional 16% HP and 28% Elemental Burst damage, perfectly matching her stats.
There are also several four-star alternatives: Tome of the Eternal Flow (excellent Crit Damage main stat), Sacrificial Jade (provides both HP and Elemental Mastery at high refinement), and Ballad of the Boundless Blue (ATK bonus).
The signature weapon offers an improvement of about 25-30%. If your budget is limited, I still recommend prioritizing pulling the character first. Especially for players who already have excellent four-star weapons like Tome of the Eternal Flow, the priority of the signature weapon can be appropriately lowered.
Build Cost Planning
Material Requirements
Building Malanai requires a significant amount of materials. Character ascension needs 46 Hydro Prisms, 168 Natlan local specialties; talent leveling requires 114 Teachings of Praxis, 18 weekly boss materials; EXP books need 419 Hero's Wits; total Mora is approximately 2 million (including weapon leveling).
Artifacts and Talents
For artifacts, I recommend the 4-piece Obsidian Codex set. Main stats should be HP% Sands, Hydro DMG Bonus Goblet, Crit Rate/Damage Circlet. Substat priority: Crit Rate ≥ Crit Damage > HP% > Elemental Mastery.
Talent leveling order: Elemental Burst to Lv. 9 first, Elemental Skill to Lv. 8, Normal Attack to Lv. 6 is sufficient.
Team Composition Options
Vaporize Team Setup
For the core team, I recommend: Malanai + Furina + Xiangling + Shiloh (or Bennett). This team fully utilizes Vaporize, providing stable elemental reactions and damage amplification.
Electro-Charged teams are also good: Malanai + Fischl + Beidou + Anemo character, especially suitable for group combat.
If you want extreme survivability, you can try a mono-Hydro team: Malanai + Furina + Neuvillette + Sangonomiya Kokomi. While not the highest damage, their survivability is indeed strong.
Pulling Recommendations 🎯
Recommended Players to Pull
I think several types of players are suitable for pulling Malanai:
Players with already well-established teams—who already have core supports like Furina and Xiangling, possessing a complete Vaporize team system, but lack a Hydro main DPS.
Players seeking a fresh experience—tired of traditional on-field playstyles, who enjoy high-mobility combat, and are interested in the Natlan system.
Also, collectors who aim for character completeness and have ample resources for building.
Situations Not Recommended for Pulling
There are a few situations where I don't recommend pulling:
New players—lacking a basic character team system, with limited resources, who need more versatile characters.
Players with tight budgets—insufficient Primogem reserves, with other important pulling targets.
Players who already have strong Hydro DPS characters—for example, those with high-constellation Neuvillette, whose Hydro output needs are already met.
Primogem Planning and Top-Up Guide 💰
Gacha Budget Calculation
Based on probabilities, obtaining a 5-star character typically requires an average of 75 pulls (12000 Primogems), with a guaranteed pity at 180 pulls (28800 Primogems). A signature weapon averages 65 pulls (10400 Primogems). For a complete setup, the budget would be around 40000 Primogems.
Primogem sources mainly include: 1200 from monthly Spiral Abyss, 1800/month from daily commissions, 2000-3000/month from event rewards.
Top-Up Platform Comparison
Regarding top-ups, I've researched several platforms:
BitTopup This platform has a significant price advantage, supports various payment methods, usually credits within 5 minutes, has comprehensive security and compliance certifications, and customer service is quite responsive.
Official Top-Up Of course, this is the safest option, but there are no price discounts, though crediting is very stable.
Other Third-Party Platforms Prices and services vary, requiring careful discernment.
Proxy Top-Up Services I do not recommend these due to account security risks.
If you need to buy Genshin Impact Primogems , it's advisable to choose platforms with good reputations and comprehensive after-sales service to ensure safety and efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions ✨
Q: Is Malanai's rerun worth pulling for? A: This really depends on the individual. If you have a well-established Vaporize team and lack a Hydro main DPS, then it's quite worth it. But for new players or those with limited budgets, I still recommend prioritizing Neuvillette.
Q: Is C0 enough? A: Absolutely enough. With the setup I mentioned earlier—35000+ HP, 50-60% Crit Rate, 180%+ Crit Damage—she can basically meet all content demands.
Q: Is her signature weapon a must-pull? A: Not a must. Four-star weapons can perfectly serve as alternatives. While the signature weapon offers a 25-30% improvement, if your budget is limited, prioritize the character herself.
Q: Is she suitable for new players? A: Not highly recommended. New players need more versatile and easy-to-play characters to build their foundational teams. Malanai requires specific team compositions and a relatively high investment in building.
By using Genshin Impact top-up services, you can safely and conveniently acquire Primogems, enjoying favorable prices and fast crediting. However, I still advise everyone to plan their Primogem usage wisely and pull responsibly. May every Traveler obtain their desired characters! 🏆
