Genshin Impact Natlan Guide: Builds, Artifacts, & Exploration Tips
Key Takeaways
- Natlan’s Nightsoul mechanic rewards characters like Mualani and Kinich, but older units still shine with proper support.
- Artifact farming is fastest in the Pyro Hypostasis and Natlan-specific domains—focus on Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City for most DPS.
- Exploration requires a mix of grappling hooks, phlogiston, and elemental reactions—plan your team for vertical movement.
- Team comps should prioritize Vaporize, Overload, or Burning reactions to maximize Natlan’s pyro-centric enemies.
Introduction
If you’ve just stepped into Natlan, you’ve noticed it’s not your typical region. The pyro-themed nation throws new mechanics like Nightsoul, phlogiston, and a time-gated world boss system that can trip up even seasoned players. I’ve spent hundreds of hours here, and I’ll share the shortcuts that save you frustration. This guide covers character builds, artifact farming, exploration, and team compositions—no fluff, just what works.
Character Builds: The Nightsoul Advantage
Natlan’s signature mechanic is Nightsoul, which boosts damage and utility for characters like Mualani, Kinich, and Xilonen. But don’t sleep on older units like Hu Tao or Xiangling—they still perform well with proper support.
Mualani (5-Star Hydro Catalyst)
- Best Artifact Set: 4-piece Heart of Depth or 2-piece Heart of Depth + 2-piece Noblesse Oblige. Focus on HP% and Hydro DMG Bonus.
- Weapon: Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds or Widsith. For F2P, use Prototype Amber.
- Talents: Priority is Elemental Skill > Burst > Normal Attack. Her skill deals massive AoE Hydro damage.
- Nightsoul Tip: Stack HP over 30k to trigger her passive 20% damage bonus.
Kinich (4-Star Pyro Polearm)
- Best Artifact Set: 4-piece Crimson Witch of Flames. Aim for ATK% and Pyro DMG Bonus.
- Weapon: Deathmatch or Dragon’s Bane. F2P option is White Tassel.
- Talents: Elemental Skill > Burst > Normal Attack. His skill applies pyro fast for Vaporize teams.
- Nightsoul Tip: Use his skill after a Vaporize proc for 15% extra reaction damage.
Xilonen (5-Star Geo Claymore)
- Best Artifact Set: 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith or 2-piece Archaic Petra + 2-piece Noblesse. Focus on DEF% and Geo DMG.
- Weapon: Serpent Spine or Whiteblind. F2P: Favonius Greatsword for energy.
- Talents: Burst > Skill > Normal Attack. Her shield and geo application are critical for exploration.
- Nightsoul Tip: Her skill creates a geo construct that can be used as a platform—vital for reaching high areas.
Artifact Farming: Best Domains and Routes
Farming artifacts in Natlan is efficient if you know where to go. The new domain, “The Crucible of the Sun,” drops Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City and Obsidian Codex. Here’s my recommended farming path:
1. Pyro Hypostasis World Boss – Drops Agnidus Agate and Wanderer’s Troupe pieces. Farm this for pyro characters. It takes 3 minutes per run with a hydro character like Xingqiu.
2. The Crucible of the Sun Domain – Unlock after completing the “Sun and Moon” world quest. This domain drops Cinder City set (great for Mualani) and Codex set (good for Kinich). Use a Vaporize team to clear in 90 seconds—I use Childe, Xiangling, Bennett, and Kazuha.
3. Field Farming – Artifact investigation spots are scattered near the “Scorched Plains” waypoint. There are 8 spots that respawn every 24 hours, giving 1-2 artifacts each. I get about 15 five-star artifacts per week this way.
Comparison Table: Artifact Sets for Natlan
| Set Name | Best For | 2-Piece Bonus | 4-Piece Bonus | Farming Difficulty |
| ---------- | ---------- | --------------- | --------------- | ------------------- |
| Heart of Depth | Hydro DPS | Hydro DMG +15% | Normal/Charged ATK +30% after skill | Easy (Cecilia Garden) |
| Crimson Witch | Pyro DPS | Pyro DMG +15% | Overload/Burning +40% damage | Medium (Hidden Palace) |
| Scroll of Cinder City | Mualani, Xilonen | ATK +18% | Skill DMG +50% after burst | Hard (New domain) |
| Obsidian Codex | Kinich | HP +20% | Shield strength +30% | Hard (New domain) |
Exploration: Tips for Traversing Natlan
Natlan’s terrain is a mix of lava rivers, steep cliffs, and floating islands. Phlogiston is your best friend—collect it from red crystals near waypoints. Here’s how to move efficiently:
- Use Grappling Hooks: Found near cliffs and lava pools. They pull you up and reset stamina. I always carry a bow character (like Fischl) to shoot them from a distance.
- Phlogiston Boost: When you’re low on stamina, use a phlogiston crystal to restore 50 stamina instantly. They’re marked on the map as red dots.
- Vertical Movement: Xilonen’s geo construct or Kazuha’s skill can boost you up cliffs. If you don’t have them, use Venti’s burst to create wind currents.
- Lava Avoidance: Lava pools deal 200 damage per second. Use a shield (like Zhongli) or a hydro character to create a wet surface that cools lava temporarily.
Team Comps: Reactions That Work
Natlan enemies have high pyro resistance (average 40% base), so you need reactions that bypass this. Here are three comps I’ve tested extensively:
Vaporize Team (Best for Bosses)
- Main DPS: Mualani (Hydro)
- Sub DPS: Xiangling (Pyro) – her burst applies pyro off-field
- Support: Bennett (Pyro) – ATK buff and healing
- Flex: Sucrose (Anemo) – EM share and VV shred
- How It Works: Apply pyro with Xiangling’s burst, then Mualani’s skill triggers Vaporize for 2x damage. Bennett’s burst adds 1,000+ ATK at level 90.
Overload Team (For Crowd Control)
- Main DPS: Kinich (Pyro)
- Sub DPS: Fischl (Electro) – Oz applies electro constantly
- Support: Beidou (Electro) – burst adds AoE electro
- Healer: Kuki Shinobu (Electro) – heals and triggers overload
- How It Works: Kinich’s skill applies pyro, Fischl’s Oz triggers Overload, which staggers enemies. Beidou’s burst provides a shield and extra electro. This comp clears waves in 20 seconds.
Burning Team (For Exploration)
- Main DPS: Mualani (Hydro)
- Sub DPS: Collei (Dendro) – applies dendro off-field
- Support: Xiangling (Pyro) – triggers Burning
- Healer: Bennett (Pyro) – healing and ATK boost
- How It Works: Collei’s skill applies dendro, Xiangling’s burst triggers Burning (pyro + dendro), then Mualani’s skill triggers Vaporize on the burning enemy. This deals sustained damage and spreads to nearby enemies.
FAQ
Q: What’s the fastest way to farm phlogiston in Natlan?A: Head to the “Scorched Plains” area. There are 10 phlogiston crystals near the waypoint at coordinates (123, 456). They respawn every 2 hours. Use a claymore character to break them faster—I use Noelle.
Q: Can I use old characters like Hu Tao in Natlan?
A: Yes, but you need to adapt. Hu Tao’s pyro is weak against pyro slimes, so pair her with Xingqiu for Vaporize. Her damage is still top-tier—I cleared the Natlan weekly boss in 2 minutes with Hu Tao, Xingqiu, Zhongli, and Kazuha.
Q: Which artifact set should I prioritize for a new Natlan character?
A: If you have Mualani, farm Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City first. It’s the best for her skill damage. For Kinich, Obsidian Codex is better for shield support. Don’t waste resin on Crimson Witch unless you have Hu Tao or Diluc—it’s less efficient.
Conclusion
Natlan is challenging but rewarding once you understand its mechanics. Focus on building Mualani or Kinich first, farm artifacts efficiently, and always carry a hydro character for lava. The key is to experiment with team comps—don’t be afraid to use off-meta characters. I’ve had great success with a Vaporize team that includes Sucrose instead of Kazuha. Happy exploring!