Some call him the Traveler. You have probably called him some awesome name that you created for him. But if we’re going by canon, the male traveler’s name is Aether. He is the protagonist in the epic open-world RPG adventure Genshin Impact depending on which sibling you picked at the beginning of the game. Aether is a twin who finds himself facing off against a powerful being that takes his sister, Lumine, away.
After the battle against the Unknown God, Aether awakens in the world of Teyvat and is desperately searching for his sister, Lumine. Well, as the player, I’m supposed to, but my ADHD kicks in, and I start to wander into side missions.
In this Aether Genshin Impact Guide I will give you the what’s what on Aether (or whatever you named him). Hours of playing, travelling, and fighting have given me the XP needed to show you the ropes.
I will go in-depth about his abilities, talents and weapons and give you all the tips you will need to make him stronger. Also, I will go into detail about what teammates work best with him and what artifacts you want to find that will work best for your team
Let’s get into it!
Aether: Character Details
Always ready with a witty comment and loads of questions, Aether runs around the world of Genshin Impact with a lot on his mind. With his trusty sidekick Paimon, he will gather useful information as he tries to solve the mystery of his missing sister. Here are some of the details we know about him:
- Title: Aether The World Traveler
- Nationality: Unknown
- Rarity: 5-star
- Weapon Type: Sword
- Constellation: Viator
- Element: Changeable
- Birthday: Whatever you wish it to be. You’re the main character.
Shortly after Aether gets started, he starts a quest called The Outlander Who Caught the Wind. After following Paimon to Starfall Lake, Aether will touch the Statue of The Seven. That will give him Ameno powers and the beginning of the wonderful world of fire tornados. (I’ll show you later.)
Ascension Details
Now that you have some superpowers to control the wind, don’t get cocky! You have not reached your strongest levels yet. As you travel and battle armies of Hilichurls and more, you will continue to gather items to make yourself stronger. Below is a list of base levels you will obtain as you level up.
| Level | Base HP | Base ATK | Base DEF | Energy Ascension % |
| 1 | 912 | 18 | 57 | 0 % |
| 20 | 2,342 | 46 | 147 | 0 % |
| 40 | 4,529 | 88 | 284 | 0 % |
| 50 | 5,766 | 113 | 362 | 6.0 % |
| 60 | 7,164 | 140 | 450 | 12.0 % |
| 70 | 8,401 | 164 | 527 | 12.0 % |
| 80 | 9,638 | 188 | 605 | 18.0 % |
| 90 | 10,875 | 212 | 683 | 24.0 % |
Total materials needed to reach level 90
- Mora: 2,092,530
- Brilliant Diamond Silver: 1
- Brilliant Diamond Fragment: 9
- Brilliant Diamond Chunk: 9
- Brilliant Diamond Gemstone: 6
- Windwheel Aster: 168
- Damaged Mask: 18
- Stained Mask: 30
- Ominous Mask: 36
Like most, you are probably wondering if you should use Aether as your main character for the Genshin Impact. Of course, you should! You gave him a name. It’s the least you could do.
If you plan to use Aether as your main fighter or as your support, you will want to level him up as much as possible. It depends on who I am fighting if he is support or not. Sometimes he’s out there for the majority of the fight and sometimes, he just comes in, pushes some air around, and goes away.
Taking advantage of his Anemo powers in the early game to enhance fire in the area is always beneficial. It’s the kid in me that used to play with lighters. Fire tornados, they are coming. Hold on.
Elemental Talents
As the story progresses, you will acquire the ability to possess different skills, which so far include Anemo, Geo, and Electro. Anemo can manipulate wind, Geo is the ability to control the earth, and Electo is the ability to control lightning. You can change Aether’s elemental powers by going to a Statue of The Seven in Mondstadt for Anemo, Liyue for Geo and Inazuma for Electro. Whilst for now nothing is confirmed, we can most likely expect more elements to be unlocked alongside the remaining regions as the game progresses.
When you change your elemental skills, you will have different talents. For more information on the Elemental Mastery Guide. The versatility of Aether continues to amaze you, and we aren’t even halfway done with this article.
Anemo Talents:
Normal Attack: Foreign Iron Wind
You smash your attack button five times in a row to create a rapid strike.
If you hold your attack button, you will perform a charged attack. You will use some Stamina to do 2 rapid stikes. Great for getting in there and starting a fight.
If you press your attack button whilst falling, you can unleash a plunging attack. Plunging is when you attack from mid-air and strike down at the ground. When you hit the ground, the impact will create AoE Damage.
Elemental Skill: Palm Vortex
Using your Anemo powers, you gather a vacuum of wind in your hand, creating Anemo DMG to any opponent close enough to you. When the power is almost exhausted, the whirlwind will explode, causing more damage.
If your wind comes into contact with any Pyro, Cryo, Electro, or Hydro, it will add additional swirl damage to the opponent. Also, it’s pretty to watch.
Elemental Burst: Gust Surge
With a twist of your body and a swing of your sword weapon, you can send a tornado in the direction you are facing. It will pull enemies and objects with it dealing Anemo DMG along the way. No one is safe. Houses, teens, and little dogs too.
If the twister comes into contact with Cryo, Electro, Hydro, or Pyro, it will add additional swirl damage to the opponent. This is how I make my fire tornado!
1st Ascension Passive: Slitting Wind
The Normal Attacks’ last hit in the five-piece combo unleashes a wind slash that deals 60% of Anemo DMG to all enemies that are too foolish to get out of the way.
4th Ascension Passive: Second Wind
If you kill an enemy with Palm Vortex, you will regenerate 2% HP for five seconds. You can only do this once every five seconds.
Geo Talents:
Normal Attack: Foreign Rockblade
Same as Anemo, you will create five rapid stikes in a row.
Holding the attack button will use some Stamina to do 2 rapid strikes. An excellent move to close the gap and get some hits in.
By pressing your attack button whilst falling, you will perform a mid-air attack and smash against the ground. When you hit the ground, the impact will create AoE Damage.
Elemental Skill: Starfell Sword
You pull a meteorite out of the earth and deal AoE Geo Damage. The new object you created is a Geo Construct that you can climb onto or hide behind if you just need a second. Enemies are angry out there, I understand.
These are also really useful for overworld exploration and are sometimes necessary to complete some puzzles in Liyue.
Elemental Burst: Wake of Earth
You will send a shockwave that will push enemies back and deal AoE Geo DMG. Jagged rocks will protrude from the earth and can be used to block any attacks coming your way.
1st Ascension Passive: Shattered Darkrock
This will reduce the cooldown of Starfell Sword to 2 seconds.
4th Ascension Passive: Frenzied Rockslide
Deal 60% Attack AoE Geo Damage after the last hit of Normal Attack Combo.
Electro Talents:
Normal Attack: Foreign Thundershock
Same as Anemo, you will create five rapid stikes in a row.
Holding your attack button will use some Stamina to do 2 rapid strikes. Catch your breath and do it again.
Pressing your mouse button Striking down at the ground while you are in mid-air. When you hit the ground, the impact will create AoE Damage.
Elemental Skill: Lightning Blade
You will deal Electro Damage after three fast thunder shadows to the enemy. And look at that! An Abundance Amulet will appear.
Abundance Amulets
When you are close to an Abundance Amulet, you will absorb it, and it will restore your Elemental Energy. It will also increase your Energy Recharge during that time.
Elemental Burst: Bellowing Thunder
The power of Thor is nothing compared to you! Lightning will come down to you and knock the enemies back and give them some Electro Damage to chew on.
Lightning Shroud
While this is active, every normal and charged attack will hit with Falling Thunder dealing Electro Damage. This is when you go to work! Putting in the combo will add extra damage and finish off many opponents.
When the enemy is hit, energy regeneration will take place. One hit will generate every 0.5 seconds.
1st Ascension Passive: Thunderflash
Whoever on the team collects the Abundance Amulet made from the actions of Lightning Blade, Lightning Blade’s cooldown will decrease by 1.5 seconds.
4th Ascension Passive: Resounding Roar
Lightning Blade’s Abundance Amulet will increase energy recharge by 10%.
You will find that Aether attacks are swift and very versatile. There are times when you will have to change your team in order to combat the overwhelming elemental groups you find in your path.
The best way to handle them is to get stronger, so let’s look to the stars!
Constellations
In the character menu, you have probably noticed how dashing your characters look. You probably wonder, if I wear that outfit in public, how many people will follow my gaming channel? Worry about that later. Because if you look on the side, you will see Constellations.
Constellation is where you can continue to enhance your character by unlocking each of the six levels. This will also upgrade the abilities that you already have.
Aether unlocks his Constellation abilities a little different from the other characters. Everyone else can use Stella Fortuna to unlock their levels, but Aether is unlocked through quests, Souvenir shops, and Adventure Rank Rewards.
Anemo Constellations
Level 1: Raging Vortex
- This will upgrade Palm Vortex and increase the range of attack to a five-meter radius.
Level 2: Uprising Whirlwind
- Energy recharge will be increased by 16%
Level 3: Sweeping Gust
Gust Surge gets a surge of power by leveling up to 3. You can level this up to a max of 15
Level 4: Cherishing Breezes
- While you are casting Palm Vortex, some enemies like to get in a cheap shot. This will decrease the damage taken by 10%
Level 5: Vortex Stellaris
- The power of the hand! Palm Vortex will increase by 3 when you upgrade this level. It will max out at 15.
Level 6: Intertwined Winds
- When you level this one up, Gust Surge gets another attribute. Any enemy that takes damage from the powerful twister will have their Anemo resistance drop by 20%.
- If Elemental Absorption happens, the enemy resistance will decrease by 20% toward the absorbing element. I keep telling you. Aether is no joke!
Geo Constellations
Level 1: Invincible Stonewall
- Party members within the radius of Wake of Earth have their CRIT Rate increased by 10% and have increased resistance against interruption.
Level 2: Rockcore Meltdown
- When the meteorite created by Starfell Sword is destroyed, it will also explode, dealing additional AoE Geo DMG equal to the amount of damage dealt by Starfell Sword.
Level 3: Will of the Rock
- Increases the Level of Wake of Earth by 3.
- The maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 4: Reaction Force
- The shockwave triggered by Wake of Earth regenerates 5 Energy for every opponent hit.
- A maximum of 25 Energy can be regenerated in this manner at any one time.
Level 5: Meteorite Impact
- Increases the Level of Starfell Sword by 3.
- Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 6: Everlasting Boulder
- The barrier created by Wake of Earth lasts 5s longer.
- The meteorite created by Starfell Sword lasts 10s longer.
Electro Constellations
Level 1: Spring Thunder of Fertility
- The number of Abundance Amulets that can be generated using Lightning Blade is increased to 3.
Level 2: Violet Vegemence
- When Falling Thunder created by Bellowing Thunder hits an opponent, it will decrease their Electro RES by 15% for 8s.
Level 3: Distant Crackling
- Increases the Level of Bellowing Thunder by 3.
- The maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 4: Fickle Cloudstrike
- When a character obtains Abundance Amulets generated by Lightning Blade, if this character’s Energy is less than 35%, the Energy restored by the Abundance Amulets is increased by 100%.
Level 5: Clamor in the Wilds
- Increases the Level of Lightning Blade by 3.
- The maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 6: World-Shaker
- Every 2 Falling Thunder attacks triggered by Bellowing Thunder will significantly increase the DMG dealt by the next Falling Thunder, dealing 200% of its original DMG, and will restore an additional 1 Energy to the current character.
- We are not done leveling up your main trespasser. I mean, let’s be honest, your going to walk him all over the grass, interrupt Hilichurls bonfires, and you’re not even going to knock when you enter rooms.
- You’re going to need to get stronger. That’s a fact. Well, more like an Artifact! (I’m a dad, I can make those jokes.)
Artifacts
Shiny, pretty objects that you will equip to Aether in order to increase his stats. You can use five types: Flower of Life, Sands of Eon, Goblet of Eonothem, and Circlet of Logos. Each artifact can be upgraded to get even stronger.
The artifacts themselves boost stats, but it also has additional bonuses that unlock after you equip two and four types. Depending on your playstyle, you will equip what you like best, but I will tell you some of the ones I like for Aether.
You will also find them in chests, getting rewards from quests, and in the Spiral Abyss. Even defeating enemies will sometimes drop some artifacts.
Before you explore the world looking for artifacts, you can check them out right here on this site. Genshin Impact Artifacts Guide. A deep dive into the objects of your affection. Take your time. I’ll be here when you get done.
Some of the combinations I use are below.
Viridescent Venerer: 4-Piece Set
This artifact will increase Swirl damage by 60%. It will also decrease the elemental resistance bonus to whatever element that is merged in the Swirl attack by 40% for 10 seconds. This set is the best build on Anemo Traveler so don’t try using it if you want to use Geo or Electro Traveler.
Archaic Petra: 4-Piece Set
Upon obtaining an Elemental Shard Created through a Crystallize Reaction, all party members gain a 35% DMG Bonus for that particular element for 10s. Only one form of Elemental DMG Bonus can be gained in this manner at any one time. This set is the best build for your Geo Traveler, but won’t be great on either Anemo or Electro Traveler.
Emblem of Severed Fate: 4-Piece set
Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 25% of Energy Recharge. A maximum of 75% bonus DMG can be obtained in this way. This set is the best build for Electro Traveler, but there are better options for Anemo and Geo Traveler so I’d recommend you use the other sets above depending on what element you choose to play with.
Gladiator’s Finale: 4-Piece set
For my DPS build, I go with the full set. It will increase your normal attacks by 35% damage. Before I found four Gladiator’s Finale, I used two Berserkers temporarily. You will still get 18% Attack and 12% Crit Rate.
Noblesse Oblige: 4-Piece set
I didn’t use this set for very long, but it did do what it needed to do. Got me out of some tough situations, I’ll tell you that. It will increase your whole party attack by 20% for 12 seconds if you use an Elemental Burst. I call it the sharing artifact.
Weapons
Stronger, you say? Put a weapon in your hand, and let’s see what happens. There are many different weapons you can try for Aether, but I’m going to lead you the right way.
Weapons can enhance elemental abilities, and some just hit hard for the fun of it. I will show you a 5-star weapon that will be perfect for you and Aether, but a 4-star is just as good. You can still progress through the game with a 4-star, so don’t think you can’t.
Take off your backpack and get ready to put a weapon back there.
Skyward Sword: Five-star
When you use Elemental Burst, Aethers movement speed goes up by 10%. Crit Rate goes up by 4%, Attack speed goes up by 10%, Get Skypiercing Might that last for 12 seconds, and Normal/Charged attacks deal extra damage up to 20%.
- Base ATK: 46 (Lv. 1)
- Base ATK: 608 (Lv. 90)
Total Ascension Cost
- 225,000 Mora
- 5 Boreal Wolf’s Milk Tooth
- 14 Boreal Wolf’s Cracked Tooth
- 14 Boreal Wolf’s Broken Fang
- 6 Boreal Wolf’s Nostalgia
- 23 Dead Ley Line Branch
- 27 Dead Ley Line Leaves
- 41 Ley Line Sprout
- 15 Slime Condensate
- 23 Slime Secretions
- 27 Slime Concentrate
Favonius Sword: Four-star
Windfall
Every time you get a Crit hit on the enemy, you have a 60% chance to create an Elemental Particles. These particles will regenerate 6 Energies for Aether. You can only get this once every 12 seconds so use it wisely.
- Base ATK: 41 (Lv. 1)
- Base ATK: 454 (Lv. 90)
Total Ascension Cost
- 150,000 Mora
- 3 Tile of Decarabian’s Tower
- 9 Debris of Decarabian’s City
- 9 Fragment of Decarabian’s Epic
- 4 Scattered Piece of Decarabian’s Dream
- 15 Heavy Horn
- 18 Black Bronze Horn
- 27 Black Crystal Horn
- 10 Firm Arrowhead
- 15 Sharp Arrowhead
- 18 Weathered Arrowhead
Festering Desire: Four-star
I used this one for a short time, but it will increase your Elemental damage by 16% and your Elemental Crit Rate by 6%. Unfortunately this sword was only available for a limited time during an past event, so unless you already own this sword you won’t be able to get your hands on one until Hoyoverse decided to bring it back.
- Base ATK: 42 (Lv. 1)
- Base ATK: 510 (Lv. 90)
Total Ascension Cost
- 150,000 Mora
- 3 Fetters of the Dandelion Gladiator
- 9 Chains of the Dandelion Gladiator
- 9 Shackles of the Dandelion Gladiator
- 4 Dream of the Dandelion Gladiator
- 15 Heavy Horn
- 18 Black Bronze Horn
- 27 Black Crystal Horn
- 10 Recruit’s Insignia
- 15 Sergeant’s Insignia
- 18 Lieutenant’s Insignia
Team Composition
Aether doesn’t travel alone. You will be able to build a squad to come out and lay the smackdown whenever you need it. When you put your team together, you should consider the elements that everyone is using. You want to be able to combine Elemental skills so that enemies will receive the most damage.
Aether’s ability to use other elements will change the dynamics of your team and sometimes have two squads to use for different situations. Below is the crew I think works best with him. They have team names and everything!
Team AeZor XiaBer
Aether
Razor
Xiangling
Amber
Team Aezor Xiaber is a team of Elemental combos. Amber will drop her decoy bear and distract them while using her Elemental Burst, which applies Pyro to the enemies; Aether will jump in and increase the fire with his wind.
Xiangling will enter and apply more fire with her Elemental attacks and Gouba, her bear.
Aether will jump back in to enhance the fire even more and then you bring in Razor to apply Electro. Have Aether come in and clean things up. It’s not even fair. This team may be OP if you ask me.
Team AeKle ChiChl
Aether
Klee
Childe
Fischl
The second team that I play with is Team AeKle ChiChl. This crew is designed to hit hard and fast. I bring out Klee to drop some bombs in the field. Then I use Aether to send the bombs and fire along with the enemy with Elemental Skill and Burst.
I have Childe handle the enemies at a distance once Aether pushes them away. Then you come in with Fischi to hit the enemies with electro to cause an Overload effect. Then wash, rinse, and repeat.
Remember. Your team combo is very important. It could be the difference between a long-drawn-out battle or a quick skirmish on your way to finding your sister.
Below are some common questions that may be running through your head or something you haven’t even thought of.
FAQs
Question: Who is stronger Aether or Lumine?
Answer: After I have gone on and on about Aether do you even have to ask? Both are. They have the same strength and skills. Aether is a little taller than his sister and they swing their sword differently.
Question: Is Aether a 5-star character?
Answer: Of course, he is. He is you. Once you took over his controls and named him, he became a 5-star character.
Question: Do I have to play with Aether?
Answer: Yes, you… you… you don’t. You can play with whoever you want to play with. Above is just my opinion and winners listen. Sorry… you really don’t.
Final Thoughts
I know most players threw Aether aside because of the fancy banner characters, but I won’t. I’ve always been a fan of the main character, and with a little work and the right team, he is great to play with. When he obtains other elemental powers for a short time, it’s like having a new Genshin character.
So if you do make a wish and get a shiny new character, don’t pull yourself out of the game. Find your sister. Kick some Hilli-butt.
- Aether Genshin Impact Guide - May 14, 2022
- Razor Genshin Impact Guide - May 13, 2022
- The Tree Who Stands Alone Guide: Genshin Impact - May 10, 2022