Genshin Impact TCG: Best decks for Genius Invokation

Genius Invokation TCG is to Genshin Impact what Gwent was to The Witcher 3: A fun in-setting card game that has completely taken over the experience for some players, becoming their main reason for logging in — and it’s easy to see why. Genius Invokation is simple to learn, but offers massive depth and a huge variety of cards to build decks with. This aspect is reinforced by fresh and consistent additions coming with every Genshin Impact update, keeping the TCG spicy for all players.

Naturally, this means that the game’s meta is consistently shifting around, as new cards bring a whole new array of opportunities. There are always some deck archetypes that withstand meta changes and remain a staple. You may need to swap in and out a couple of cards from time to time, but their overall concept endures — these are the best Genius Invokation decks.

Electro-Charged + Summon deck

This deck archetype has proven itself capable of adapting to whichever way the meta develops and remains a potent option against all the challenges the game throws at you. Its main goal is to trigger Electro-Charged Reactions consistently to weaken the entire enemy team, while your Summons continue to chip away at the enemies’ health even after your turn. This enables your characters to deliver the finishing blows with their Elemental Bursts.

Naturally, Hydro and Electro characters form the backbone of these decks, but you can easily add in something like a Pyro character to round out the composition.

Powerful Electro-Charged + Summon deck compositions include, but are not limited to:

• Fischl / Yae Miko + Mirror Maiden / Fatui Pyro Agent + Rhodeia of Loch
• Keqing + Mona + Raiden Shogun

Find a decklist for Keqing + Mona + Raiden Shogun below:

• Keqing x1
• Mona x1
• Raiden Shogun x1
• Wishes Unnumbered x1
• Emblem of Severed Fate x1
• Thundering Fury x1
• Heart of Depth x1
• White Tassel x1
• Traveler’s Handy Sword x1
• Magic Guide x1
• Strategize x1
• Toss-Up x2
• Leave it to Me! x2
• When the Crane Returned x2
• Starsigns x1
• Calx’s Arts x1
• The Bestest Travel Companion! x2
• Changing Shifts x2
• Paimon x2
• Katheryne x1
• Timmie x2
• Liben x2
• Liu Su x1
• Dawn Winery x1
• Jade Chamber x1

This is a highly aggressive deck without much capacity for healing and you’ll really need to get the rotations right to maximize its damage output. Naturally, interrupting these rotations is best practice when it comes to countering this type of deck.

Freeze deck

The Freeze archetype has been popular since the game was introduced to Genshin Impact and it’s one of the most effective ways to disrupt Electro-Charged decks like the one above. Again, it operates on a simple principle: Freezing enemies destroys their rotations and opens them up to attacks, in turn preventing them from damaging you.

Hydro and Cryo characters will be vital for this, as you can imagine.

Potent Freeze deck compositions include, but are not limited to:

• Eula + Ganyu + Xingqiu
• Ayaka + Ganyu + Mona

Find a decklist for Ayaka + Ganyu + Mona below:

• Kamisato Ayaka x1
• Ganyu x1
• Mona x1
• Kanten Senmyou Blessing x2
• Prophecy of Submersion x2
• Elemental Resonance: Woven Ice x2
• Wine-Stained Tricorne x1
• Broken Rime’s Echo x1
• Blizzard Strayer x1
• Heart of Depth x1
• Sacrificial Sword x1
• Strategize x2
• The Bestest Travel Companion! X2
• Quick Knit x1
• Leave it to Me! x2
• When the Crane Returned x2
• Paimon x1
• Timmie x1
• Liben x2
• Liu Su x2
• Dawn Winery x2
• Liyue Harbor Wharf x2

Freeze decks are not super aggressive — remember that Physical DMG attacks shatter Frozen enemies, freeing them from the ice’s embrace and letting them act on their turn. You don’t want that to happen, because this deck doesn’t come with healing: The Frozen Reactions are what’ll protect your characters, so be patient and keep up the rotations between Mona and the Cryos.

Quicken deck

Quicken is a potent elemental reaction that can pressure your opponent right from the start to disrupt their gameplan and quickly ramp up damage. Like Electro-Charged decks, this type of deck is extremely aggressive and requires robust rotations to keep the reactions going. There are several different variations of this style, some adding a character with a power Burst to the Quicken core to finish off enemies, while others bring in a Pyro character to trigger Burning or an Anemo character for Swirl.

In any case, though, Dendro and Electro characters are the base of this archetype.

Viable Quicken compositions include, but are not limited to:

• Alhaitham + Beidou + Kujou Sara
• Jadeplume Terrorshroom + Tighnari + Yae Miko
• Nahida + Fischl / Yae Miko + Lyney / Sucrose

Find a decklist for the Alhaitham + Beidou + Kujou Sara composition below:

• Alhaitham x1
• Beidou x1
• Kujou Sara x1
• Sin of Pride x2
• Structuration x2
• Elemental Resonance: Woven Thunder x1
• Elemental Resonance: High Voltage x1
• Passing of Judgment x1
• Lucky Dog’s Silver Circlet x1
• Vourukasha’s Glow x2
• Light of Foliar Incision x1
• Changing Shifts x2
• The Bestest Travel Companion x2
• Starsigns x2
• When the Crane Returned x2
• Leave it to Me! x2 
• Katheryne x1
• Master Zhang x1
• Favonius Cathedral x2
• Dawn Winery x1
• Wangshu Inn x1
• Vanarana x1
• Minty Meat Rolls x1
• Fish and Chips x1

Although this deck features some protective measures, it’s largely one that relies on its offensive power to survive. Alhaitham is the key damage dealer, making him the highest priority target for the opponent, so you’ll need to do whatever you can to keep him alive. While this Quicken deck takes a bit more time to ramp up its damage than some of its counterparts, Alhaitham’s Burst is quite cheap and thus quickly available, making up the deficit.

Defense deck

If you’re not on a time limit and like to play things safe, then a Defense archetype deck might be up your alley. Lists like that don’t shine with high damage output, but instead succeed through a battle of attrition, dragging the match out with shields and healing until the opponent runs out of health and options.

There are no particular elemental preferences for a composition like this, though Geo characters often come with shielding abilities that are handy to have.

Robust Defense decks include, but are by far not limited to:

• Arataki Itto + Sangonomiya Kokomi / Noelle + Zhongli
• Barbara + Ningguang + Noelle
• Arataki Itto + Mona + Stonehide Lawachurl

Find a decklist for Arataki Itto + Sangonomiya Kokomi + Zhongli below:

• Arataki Itto x1
• Sangonomiya Kokomi x1
• Zhongli x1
• Dominance of Earth x2
• Tamakushi Casket x2
• Thunder and Eternity x2
• Elemental Resonance: Woven Stone x2
• Elemental Resonance: Enduring Rock x2
• Archaic Petra x1
• Tenacity of the Millelith x2
• Vortex Vanquisher x1
• Paimon x1
• Favonius Cathedral x2
• Vanarana x2
• Tenshukaku x1
• Minty Meat Rolls x2
• Lotus Flower Crisp x2
• Northern Smoked Chicken x2
• Mushroom Pizza x2
• NRE x2

Though slow-paced at the start, this deck can reach a high damage output once you’ve kitted out Zhongli. Thanks to the shields and healing in this list, it’ll be easy enough for you to reach that point and win the long game — again, this deck isn’t really suitable to tackle timed battles.

Genius Invokation is available in all versions of Genshin Impact, so you can play it for free on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android.