The Legend of the Ice Sword: An Analysis of Shiko’s Ultimate Techniques
In this frost-encased world, a young maiden clad in an ice-blue robe is about to embark on her journey. She wields an ice sword that embodies the biting cold, its blade glistening with the clarity of morning dew. This is Shiko, the latest ice element wielder in the world of Genshin Impact. Her swordsmanship combines the harshness of ice and the elegance of the blade. When she unsheathes her sword and unleashes her ultimate techniques, her enemies are trapped in an icy abyss, with no escape in sight.
This icy assassin has a solid foundation; her base crit damage is an impressive 38.4%. This number alone indicates that her strikes are often fatal, making every attack a potential kill. Especially in team fights, her ice sword can shatter enemy defenses effortlessly.
Her divine weapon, known as “Cangyao,” boasts a base attack of 608 and an extraordinary base crit rate of 33.1%. The essence of this sword lies in its exclusive effect, “Blessings from White Mountain.” After Shiko uses her elemental skill, her sword intent awakens, increasing her attack by 24%. If she hasn’t accumulated elemental energy, her attack increases by another 24%, and her crit damage rises by 40%. Such powerful buffs make her a formidable presence on the battlefield.
Her sword techniques are a unique blend of various styles. Her normal attack, named “Extreme Wickedness: Severance,” is a five-hit combo, but the true brilliance lies in her charged and plunging attacks. Her charged attack channels her energy into a precise strike, with icy sword energy targeting the enemy’s weak points. Her plunging attack is her most exceptional technique; she descends swiftly, her sword flashing like silver lightning, slicing through the air and leaving a chilling aura upon landing, intimidating all nearby enemies.
Her elemental skill, “Extreme Wickedness: Flash,” is both intriguing and practical. On tap, she moves like a dragon evading attacks, gaining 45 points of Serpent’s Cunning and switching to the Seven Strikes mode. On hold, she becomes as elusive as a ghost, moving rapidly and unpredictably. This skill combines utility and fun, allowing her to dominate the battlefield while making it hard for enemies to land attacks.
Her elemental burst, “Extreme Wickedness: Annihilation,” is her most extraordinary ability. Unlike other warriors who rely on elemental energy, Shiko uses Serpent’s Cunning to unleash her ultimate technique. When her Serpent’s Cunning reaches 50 points, she unsheathes her sword, slicing through space and delivering consecutive, unstoppable strikes. If her Serpent’s Cunning exceeds 50 points, the excess further increases damage by up to 12 points. This demonstrates that her swordsmanship becomes more fearsome with accumulation, like snow in winter that, once unleashed, becomes an unstoppable avalanche.
When in Seven Strikes mode, her elemental burst is replaced by “Extreme Wickedness: Exhaustion.” This technique does not consume Serpent’s Cunning and grants her the “Carving Exhaustion” effect. This effect lasts until the end of Seven Strikes mode, continuously enhancing her normal attack damage and further increasing damage based on the number of Void Rifts absorbed, with the effect triggering up to 10 times before dispelling. This further emphasizes her unmatched prowess in battle.