Skirk Guide: Artifacts, Weapons, and Team Synergy Deep Dive ~ HaploGamingChef

Introduction: Skirk Arrives in Version 5.7

Skirk has finally made her playable debut in the 5.7 update, and fans who have been waiting since her initial reveal now have a chance to see what she truly brings to the table. In this guide, we’ll break down Skirk’s playstyle, her best weapons, artifact setups, and team synergy, all based on early testing from the creator experience server. Whether you're planning to pull for Skirk or want to optimize her build post-wish, this guide provides a clear look at how she stacks up among the top DPS characters.

With limited access to endgame content like the Abyss during early testing, most analysis was done using consistent overworld scenarios. Even under those constraints, Skirk's performance was outstanding, delivering high damage output and smooth animations. Let’s dive into everything you need to know to build and use Skirk effectively.

How Skirk Functions in Combat

Skirk operates as a normal attack-focused DPS with an emphasis on burst potential. Her skill creates a high-damage state with fluid, fast-hitting combos. However, the duration of her skill is relatively short, limiting her traversal options and requiring tight timing for optimal output. Despite this, her normal attack animations are responsive and visually polished, making her feel smooth and fun to play.

Her Elemental Burst showcases standout damage, with both AoE and single-target potential, though her AoE radius is limited compared to top-tier AoE characters. This makes her especially effective in single-target or close-range encounters, where all hits can land efficiently. The animation quality of her burst and skills also adds to her appeal for players who enjoy high-impact visual design.

Talent Scaling and Crowning Considerations

In early testing, Skirk was used with level 9 talents due to restrictions in the creator server. Despite not being crowned, her damage output remained very competitive with other top-tier units. This suggests she scales exceptionally well with talent investment, especially if crowned. Her Elemental Burst and Normal Attacks are the primary focus for upgrading, with her Skill providing utility but having less uptime in rotation.

In future live builds, it's expected that Skirk’s performance will only increase with maxed talents, particularly when paired with supportive characters who enhance her already impressive base output.

Best Artifact Sets for Skirk

Skirk benefits most from sets that boost Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and Attack%, depending on your team and weapon choice. Two top contenders emerged during testing:

Marechaussee Hunter: Offers consistent Crit Rate gains with strong synergy for her normal attack-focused style. In multiple tests, this set edged out its competitors slightly in free-to-play setups.
Finale of the Deep: A great alternative that also performs well, particularly when Skirk is built for burst rotations. Its damage was nearly on par with Marechaussee Hunter, making it viable for those who already have high-quality pieces.

Artifact substats should prioritize:

Crit Rate/Crit Damage balance
Attack%
Energy Recharge (if you’re not running high ER weapons)
Flat ATK and Elemental Mastery are low priority for Skirk.

Top Weapon Choices: 4-Star vs 5-Star

Testing showed Skirk’s damage ceiling rises with signature 5-star weapons, but 4-star options are still very strong:

5★ Weapon: Finale of the Deep – Offers excellent synergy with her kit, especially when paired with optimal teammates like Shenha or Escafier.
4★ Weapon: Absolution – Although technically not craftable in the test, it still performed solidly. It's slightly behind Finale of the Deep in raw output but remains viable for players without access to high-end gear.

If you're building her for burst playstyle, prioritize weapons with high base ATK and Crit stats. If you're leaning into normal attacks, Crit Rate/Crit DMG weapons like Blackcliff or Serpent Spine (if accessible) are great budget choices.

Core Synergies and Support Options

Skirk’s team compositions can flex based on whether you focus on her burst damage or sustained normal attacks. Early tests showed strong synergy with units that provide resistance shred, buffs, and energy recharge. Here are the top options:

Shenha: Provides direct buffs to Cryo damage, boosting Skirk’s output significantly. Her presence made a noticeable difference in both burst and normal attack tests.
Escafier: Works best when paired with Skirk's burst playstyle. Using R1 versions of her signature weapon, the pairing dealt excellent damage in rotations.
Fina: Still the top buffer in most rotations, but Skirk isn’t as reliant on her as initially thought. This opens flexibility for team building.

Viable Substitutes and Flex Slots

For players who don’t have access to Fina or specific 5-star supports, Yelan, Mona, Mulani, and even Dalia performed surprisingly well in tests. Here's a quick look:

Yelan & Mona: Offer solid burst damage and hydro synergy. Both showed strong results with Skirk, especially in fast-clear rotations.
Mulani: A strong pick for those without Fina. Her ability to substitute while maintaining competitive clear times was a standout.
Dalia (C6): Unexpectedly kept up with Yelan and Mona in burst scenarios, offering another viable option for team flexibility.

Keep in mind that some of these tests were done with 4-star weapons or lower investment, so actual results may vary with full builds.

Skirk vs Novallet: Burst and Sustain Damage

In a direct comparison, Skirk outpaced Novallet in both raw DPS and rotation efficiency. With Skirk clearing a high-resistance overworld boss in 17 seconds and Novallet taking 26 seconds, the difference was clear. While Novallet had access to top-tier gear and full team support, Skirk still pulled ahead using only level 9 talents and similar weapon conditions.

This gap suggests that, with proper builds and crowns, Skirk may offer a higher damage ceiling and better uptime. Her reliance on fewer mechanics also makes her easier to slot into many teams, unlike Novallet who depends on frontloaded combos and reaction timing.

Skirk vs Mika and Veressa

When compared with Mika, the results were closer. Mika had a 15–16 second clear time, just slightly ahead of Skirk’s 17 seconds. However, Mika’s advantage comes from massive frontloaded burst damage, which is great in single-wave content but can fall off in multi-phase battles. Skirk’s normal attack loop maintains more consistent output and offers interruption resistance, giving her a reliability edge.

Against Veressa, Skirk again had a slight lead in test clear times. Although Veressa may have been disadvantaged by elemental resistances in the test scenario, it's important to note that all of Veressa's talents were crowned, while Skirk’s were not. This hints that in equal conditions, Skirk may significantly outperform Veressa, especially in sustained content where consistent hits matter.

Weekly Boss Tests: How Skirk Holds Up

Skirk was tested against three recent weekly bosses: Arleino, the Narwhal, and the Dragon. The results were impressive across the board:

Arleino: Skirk showcased strong resistance to interruption, allowing for uninterrupted attack sequences. She cleared the first phase easily within one rotation using a Shenha and Escafier setup.
Narwhal (Whale): After a brief setup, Skirk shredded through the whale’s health bar using her normal attack combo, ending the fight halfway through her rotation.
Dragon: This test was the most impressive. Even without crowned talents and using an R1 weapon, Skirk fully rotated and cleared the dragon with time to spare—something only top-tier characters can typically manage.

These fights highlight her strength in high-HP, single-target scenarios, particularly when supported by the right units. Her uptime and ease of use give her a real edge in these challenging encounters.

AoE Capabilities: Strengths and Weaknesses

Skirk’s AoE potential is serviceable but limited. In spread-out fights, she sometimes struggles to connect hits across multiple enemies, especially when compared to AoE powerhouses like Mika and Novallet. Her burst radius is tight, and her normal attack range doesn’t naturally extend beyond the main target.

That said, in close-cluster domains or boss fights where enemies are grouped, Skirk performs extremely well. She doesn’t offer off-screen or wide-range damage, but her damage output per target is high enough that it balances out in many scenarios.

Conclusion: Is Skirk Worth Building?

Skirk’s debut in Version 5.7 has proven that she’s not only visually striking but also a highly capable Cryo DPS. Her normal attack focus, burst potential, and reliable damage output make her a top-tier pick, especially for players who prefer simple, fast-paced melee combat. While her AoE is limited, her performance in boss fights and single-target content more than compensates.

Skirk isn’t heavily locked into any one team, giving you flexibility with options like Shenha, Escafier, Fina, and even 4-star alternatives like Mona or Mulani. She scales very well with investment, so if you're planning to crown her talents and equip her with her signature weapon, she’s likely to deliver top-end performance.

If you're on the fence about pulling, her current numbers and versatility suggest she’s well worth the Primogems—especially if you're building around Cryo or single-target strength.

FAQs

Q1: Is Skirk worth pulling in the 5.7 update?
Yes. Skirk delivers top-tier Cryo DPS and scales excellently with investment.

Q2: What is the best artifact set for Skirk?
Marechaussee Hunter and Finale of the Deep are the top two options, with slight variations based on team setup.

Q3: What weapons work best with Skirk?
Finale of the Deep (5★) for max damage. Absolution (4★) is a solid fallback.

Q4: Who are the best teammates for Skirk?
Shenha, Escafier, Fina, Yelan, and Mona all perform well. Mulani and Dalia are also strong alternatives.

Q5: How does Skirk perform in AoE situations?
Her AoE is limited but acceptable. She shines brightest in single-target boss fights.

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