The Imaginarrium Theater in Genshin Impact 7.1: Best Teams and How to Defeat the Bosses

On October 1, the endgame mode “Theater of Imagination” was released in Genshin Impact. This season, players can assemble teams of Hydro, Cryo, and Anemo characters to battle the Infinite Mechanical Array, the Werewolf Chimera Archer, the Lion Chimera, the Mysterious Spring Automaton: the Overseer, as well as the Rift Hounds and Ruin Guardians in the Arcana Trials. In this guide, we’ll look at which characters are best suited for clearing the trials, how to plan your strategy, and who’s best to save for last.

The list of unlockable characters includes Neville, Barbara, Sitlali, Keya, the Wanderer, and Prun. All players will receive these characters, even if they aren’t already on the account.

As special guest characters, the game features Geo swordswoman Thiory, Electro catalyst Yae Miko, Pyro spearman Tomu, and Electro spearwoman Ineffa.

All Hydro, Cryo, and Anemo characters suitable for leveling up based on the trial’s difficulty are available to players:

The Level 90 Infinite Mechanical Array changes form and activates Absolute Defense during combat. In this phase, the boss splits into pieces and summons several types of Ruin Guardians.

Focus your attacks on the enhanced Clock Ruins. Once you defeat them, Absolute Defense will disappear, and the Infinite Mechanical Array will be weakened. Use this opportunity to deal the bulk of your damage.

You don’t need to bring any special characters for this boss—any well-leveled team can handle it.

In Act 6, you’ll face a Level 92 Veteran Werewolf Chimera Archer. Teams capable of triggering the Starry Glow reaction will have the advantage.

When the enemy hides underground or uses Heavenly Rain of Arrows, destroy all Barrier Roots on the surface. This will stop his skill and put him in a weakened state. The Starry Glow reaction moves the core of the Barrier Roots to a more favorable position for attacking.

For the Werewolf Chimera, be sure to include heroes capable of interacting with Star Glow reactions: Vesna, Sandrone, Odette, or the Cryo Traveler. It’s best to include Yae Miko on Sandrone’s team and avoid using her in other situations. You can also bring heroes who have received a buff: Mizuki, Diona, Rizley, and Qi Qi.

The Level 95 Winged Lion Chimera alternates between two empowered states: Voice of Thunder and Lord of the Wind. The Starlight reaction helps interrupt the boss’s actions in both phases.

In the Voice of Thunder state, destroy the Electro Barrier to weaken the enemy. If it’s preparing spreading attacks with its Thunder Sword, trigger the Starlight reaction—it will interrupt the move.

In the Lord of the Wind phase, the boss charges its attack by absorbing Anemo orbs on the arena. Destroy them or use the Starlight Reaction to stop the charge and weaken the Winged Lion Chimera.

For this boss, you’ll also need Starburst teams featuring Vesna, Sandrone, Yae Miko, Odette, Cryo Traveler, and other characters. This will be the most effective strategy, as the boss’s special attacks are easily interrupted by these reactions.

The Level 100 Mysterious Source Automaton: Overseer accumulates Flow Impulse when attacking in Sweep mode. The higher this stat, the more damage the boss deals.

To stop the accumulation of Flow Impulse, continuously deal Cryo damage. Therefore, Cryo characters have an advantage in this battle.

If characters enter the Night Spirit’s Blessing state and maintain it, the Overseer activates a special counterattack mode.

For the automaton, you’ll need a team featuring a Cryo DPS—Ayaka, Gan Yu, Loen, Rizl, Skirk, or Chun Yuen. Save at least one of these characters for the final trial.

In the first trial, your opponent will be the Rift Hound: Stonebiter, Level 100. To win, you must wait for the countdown to end while keeping at least one character conscious. Each defeated enemy reduces the remaining time.

From the start of the trial, the entire party gradually loses HP. Bring a healer for the whole team to keep everyone alive until the battle ends. These include Escoffier, Jin, Mizuki, Xian Yun, Sidjwin, and Qi Qi. It’s best to bring your highest-level healer to ensure your characters off the field don’t die.

In the second trial, you’ll face the Ruin Thresher, the Guardian of the Ruins, the Ruin Dragon: Guardian of the Heavens, and the Ruin Dragon: Guardian of the Earth. All enemies are Level 100.

The victory condition remains the same: at least one character must remain conscious until the end of the countdown. Defeating enemies brings you closer to completing the trial.

Cryo explosions occur periodically in the arena, dealing Cryo damage to the active character. Ranged weapons and shields have an advantage here: keep this in mind when selecting your party. It’s worth bringing at least one archer to paralyze the automatons with a well-aimed shot. Bring Venti, Faruzan, Yagoda, Tartaglia, Ye Lan, Sijwin, Gan Yu, Diona, Eloy, or Sandrone—if she isn’t needed for other trials.