The Path of Evil: Unveiling the Martial Arts System and Cultural Depth of Genshin Impact’s New Character, Shikov
In the vast and fantastical world of Teyvat, a figure hailing from a land of ice and snow is about to make her debut. Her name is Shikov, a wielder of ice elemental powers and a master of the one-handed sword. Her meticulously crafted martial arts system is worthy of in-depth exploration.
As a five-star character, Shikov possesses a comprehensive martial arts system. Her martial journey can be examined through three primary techniques: Evil Technique: Sever, Evil Technique: Flash, and Evil Technique: Annihilate. These three skills form the essence of her unique combat style, resembling a meticulously choreographed dance of the blade.
Evil Technique: Sever serves as her fundamental attack method, encompassing normal attacks, charged attacks, and plunging attacks. Her normal attacks deliver up to five consecutive sword strikes, showcasing the austere beauty of her icy homeland. Her charged attacks unleash a spinning icy lance that tears through enemy defenses, reminiscent of ice shattering on warm ground. Plunging attacks involve descending from the air to deal devastating blows to ground enemies, akin to the unstoppable collapse of a glacier.
Even more remarkable is her elemental skill, Evil Technique: Flash. This skill has two forms: a tap and a hold. Tapping it activates the Seven Phases Flash mode, granting her 45 points of Serpent’s Cunning. Holding it enables rapid movement with increased resistance to interruption. This technique evokes the grace of an ancient dragon playing in the water, embodying immense power within its agility.
Her elemental burst, Evil Technique: Annihilate, represents the pinnacle of her martial prowess. When she accumulates enough Serpent’s Cunning, she can unleash this ultimate technique, tearing through space to deliver rapid slashes with devastating area damage. Notably, in Seven Phases Flash mode, the elemental burst is replaced by Evil Technique: Zen, a special skill that doesn’t consume Serpent’s Cunning and offers even greater power.
Her fixed talents—Transcendent Reason, All Streams Flow to the Ocean, and All Martial Techniques—are integral to her combat philosophy. Transcendent Reason allows her to create rifts in the void and harness their power. All Streams Flow to the Ocean grants her the Deathriver Crossing effect, enhancing her combat capabilities. All Martial Techniques provide synergy with her team, boosting the elemental skill levels of other characters under specific conditions.
Her constellation, consisting of six phases—Deep Abyss, Falling Abyss, Sinful Guilt, Stream Termination, Wishful Bond, and Origin—further enhances her abilities. These constellations not only strengthen her skills but also grant her formidable combat power. For instance, the Deep Abyss constellation summons ice blades to attack enemies after harnessing void rifts, while the Origin constellation introduces the Evil Technique: Sever effect, significantly boosting her sustained damage output.
Shikov wields the legendary sword, Azure Radiance, with a base attack of 608 and a critical hit rate of 33.1%. The weapon’s passive effect, “Bountiful Blessings of the Mountains,” provides a substantial attack boost after using an elemental skill, with further enhancements under specific conditions. This aligns with her martial philosophy of “overcoming strength with weakness.”
Through an in-depth analysis of Shikov, it becomes evident that her design encompasses more than just a compilation of ice-based skills. She represents a complete and intricate martial arts system, reflecting the depth of her character and the richness of her cultural background.