The Path of Supreme Evil: An Analysis of the New Character’s Martial Arts System and Cultural Implications in Genshin Impact
In this vast and illusionary land, a figure from the icy homeland is about to arrive. A swordsman named Siko, hailing from a cold region, wields a single-handed sword and manipulates ice elements. Her martial arts philosophy is deeply thought-provoking.
This five-star character possesses a comprehensive martial arts system, with her martial path unfolding in three main aspects: Kyoku Akuji: Dan, Kyoku Akuji: Sen, and Kyoku Akuji: Metsu. These three techniques form her unique combat style, resembling a meticulously choreographed sword dance.
Kyoku Akuji: Dan serves as her basic attack method, encompassing three forms: normal attacks, charged attacks, and plunging attacks. Normal attacks consist of up to five consecutive sword strikes, showcasing the austerity and beauty of the ice and snow nation; charged attacks involve spinning ice shards that tear through enemy defenses, unstoppable like shattering ice on warm land; plunging attacks descend from the air, delivering devastating blows to ground enemies, reminiscent of collapsing glaciers.
More exquisite is her elemental skill, Kyoku Akuji: Sen. This skill has two activation modes: tap and hold. Tapping switches her to the Shichirin Issen mode, granting 45 points of Hebi no Jutsu; holding enables continuous rapid movement with increased resistance to interruption. This skill evokes imagery of an ancient dragon playing in water, embodying immense power within its agility.
As for her elemental burst, Kyoku Akuji: Metsu, it represents the pinnacle of her martial arts. Upon accumulating sufficient Hebi no Jutsu, she can unleash this finishing move, tearing through space with rapid slashes to deal devastating area damage. Notably, in Shichirin Issen mode, the elemental burst is replaced by Kyoku Akuji: Jin, a special skill that does not consume Hebi no Jutsu and offers enhanced effects.
Regarding fixed skills, her three talents—Riyaku, Banryu Kijaku, and Shobushu—form her unique combat philosophy. Riyaku allows her to create rifts in the虚境 and enhance her strength by absorbing these rifts; Banryu Kijaku grants her the Deathriver Crossing effect from the party, further boosting her combat power; Shobushu provides synergy effects, allowing other party members to gain elemental skill level-ups under specific conditions.
In terms of constellations, her six constellations—En, Shōen, Zekkō, Re, Ketsu, and Shin—are designed to enhance her skills and combat capabilities. For instance, the En constellation summons ice shards to attack enemies after rift absorption; Shōen improves the damage calculation of her elemental burst; and Shin introduces the Kyoku Akuji: Jin effect, significantly enhancing her sustained damage output.
Regarding her signature weapon, the sword Sōyō boasts a base attack of 608 and a critical hit rate of 33.1%. Its effect, “White Mountain’s Bounty,” provides substantial attack boosts after using elemental skills, with further critical damage enhancements under specific conditions. This aligns with her martial philosophy of “overcoming strength with weakness.”
Through this in-depth analysis of Siko, it is evident that her design encompasses more than a mere combination of ice element skills; it represents a complete martial arts system, reflecting the game designers’ profound understanding and respect for martial arts.