Warning! Spoiler alert for Archon Quest Prologue and beyond. Read at your own risk.
Name: Venti (a.k.a. Barbatos, the Anemo Archon)
Vision: Anemo
Birthday: 16 June
Constellation: Carmen Dei
Titles: Windborne Bard, Anemo Archon, Tone-Deaf Bard (by Paimon)
As a playable character, Venti is one of the most helpful support characters in the game. From an exploration standpoint, charging up his E skill leaves a wind updraft. That makes climbing either trivial or easier. Despite its 15-second cooldown, it has an advantage over Albedo's elevators or Xiao's jumping ability. The former needs space for the flower to form, and the latter needs his Burst to be active first. Venti can use his E skill wherever he can stand.
In battle, his Burst is the one that excels. While his E skill can create gaps by leaving smaller foes helplessly floating slowly down, Wind's Grand Ode incapacitates them. It generates a black hole within swirling winds, sucking up enemies while dealing Anemo DMG. Due to the nature of the Anemo element, this is a prime opportunity to initiate the Swirl reaction, dealing additional damage.
With his 4th Ascension Talent, he can recharge energy for himself and his team. Though it's only for the character who uses the element to cause a Swirl reaction, that's still a big help to making Elemental Bursts available again.
No character could match Venti's usefulness in exploration and battles for a long time. Sucrose can be a close second, but she can't help scout or travel through Teyvat. However, with Kazuha's release, he has seen a decline in use.
Venti is still helpful for small enemies, but for bosses and enemies fought alone, Kazuha is the better option. Also, in exploration, you could use the latter's E skill while in midair. Still, Venti is a great unit you won't regret pulling for.
Genshin Impact Venti Builds
Viridescent Venerer
The most recommended build for him is the Viridescent Venerer. It provides an Anemo DMG Bonus and a resistance debuff to the elements involved in the Swirl reaction. That deducts 40% off of the targets' Elemental RES! Since Anemo skills can only Swirl one element, that has to be your DPS's one. It's still a significant increase to your damage output indispensable from your team. Elemental Mastery directly increases the damage of reactions, which is why you need some of it for this set.
Main Stats: ATK%, Anemo DMG Bonus, Crit Rate/DMG
Substats: Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge, Crit DMG/Rate, ATK
Emblem of Severed Fate
This is an excellent alternative to the above, focusing on increasing the damage he could do with his Burst. The Energy Recharge bonuses the set gives him an insane boost in DPS and lets him spam his Q. There is not much else to say about it. It's a straightforward build.
Main Stats: ATK%, Anemo DMG Bonus, Crit Rate/DMG
Substats: Crit DMG/Rate, EM, ATK, Energy Recharge
Noblesse Oblige
Noblesse Oblige is another alternative for Venti, and with his Q, he can buff the ATK of the party. It also provides a 20% DMG boost to his Burst, so that's enough incentive to keep using it.
Main Stats: ATK%, Anemo DMG Bonus, Crit Rate/DMG
Substats: Crit DMG/Rate, ATK, EM, ER
Weapons
His best-in-slot weapon is the Elegy of the End. He can also use the following bows:
- Skyward Harp
- Aqua Simulacra
- The Stringless
- Favonius Warbow
- Mouun's Moon
Venti can also use the Polar Star if you're focused more on dealing damage. Your choice of weapon also influences what stat you should get for your timepiece. If it's something other than Energy Recharge, you might need to make up for it through artifacts (unless it's the Emblem of Severed Fate).
Genshin Impact Venti Lore (Backstory)
Not much is known about this wandering bard. Mondstadt citizens find him in various taverns, performing for drinks. You see, his youthful visage doesn't let him buy alcohol for free. This is just one of the ways he can circumvent that particular problem.
Venti sometimes sings somewhat irreverent songs about the country's Archon, Barbatos. Sometimes it would be one where Barbatos replaces the Cryo Archon's scepter with a hilichurl's club. Other times it would be about Barbatos supposedly forging the Geo Archon's signature for prank contracts. They usually frown upon these songs as a country loyal to its Archon. All Venti has to say is something along the lines of, 'who says they're not true?'.
Of course, no nun or average citizen can or will ever find proof of these deeds from thousands of years ago. Then again, behind Venti's smile, he's just pulling the wool over everybody's eyes. After all, they were all made up by him, usually when he's drunk.
Yet, underneath his frivolous bard persona, therein lies the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Venti is the mortal guise he took on in memory of a dear friend. Barbatos was once a wisp of the wind under the dictatorial rule of the former Anemo Archon, Decarabian. He met and befriended a melancholic bard longing to see the sky as Decarabian put a barrier of winds around his city.
No mortal could go in or out, but this tiny elemental wisp who brings hope somehow obtained an eagle feather for his friend. Soon after, a rebellion against the Archon started. The friendly bard fought for freedom with a few friends (Decarabian's lover and what looks like a Ragnvindr ancestor). Barbatos watched as the rebellion won and the old king was deposed.
Unfortunately, he never got to give his gift to his friend, as the latter had fallen during the conflict. Due to Andrius, the other candidate for the position of Anemo Archon, stepping down, he was the one who took the seat. With his newfound power, he took the form of his friend and ruled Mondstadt.
Although, 'rule' isn't exactly the right word to use. Barbatos did level mountains and swept away the blizzard plaguing the land (with a bit of help from Andrius), but he left his people to their own devices. He didn't want to become another Decarabian, though being absent or asleep for long periods isn't a good example to follow.
Much of his time as an Archon was spent in those same states. At one time, he woke and found his beloved city under the corrupt rule of the aristocrats. Under the guise of Venti, he met and befriended Venessa, who would become the Dandelion and Liontooth Knight. She is also one of the few mortals given the honor to ascend to Celestia, but that's a different story. With Venessa's help, the aristocracy was dismantled, and the Knights of Favonius started as an organization.
Despite his absence, Mondstadt remains loyal to its Archon. Even if Venti was absent, he still watches over his people. At the beginning of the game, Venti was awake and trying to solve the Stormterror problem before the Traveler even got involved. Also, it was only through his help the whole incident was resolved. Sure he did get his Gnosis stolen at the end, but he never regretted his choices and involvement.
Furthermore, even if most of his power was taken away, he could lay to rest the adventurer Stanley's soul. Even if the Mare Jivari, where Stanley fell, was a windless place, he was able to do so and comfort Hans Archibald. Venti was also the one who played the flute and calmed a yaksha's soul, suffering from the karmic debt he incurred.
Venti may be a Gnosis-less Archon and the weakest of the Seven, but that wouldn't stop him from accompanying the Traveler across Teyvat.
