What Do E, Q, and A Actually Mean in Genshin Impact? (And Why You Should Care)
Let’s be real—you’ve seen these letters everywhere.
In YouTube guides. In Discord threads. In the chat while you’re trying to clear Spiral Abyss and someone types:
“E after Q, then A spam, Bennett out, swap to Xiangling.”
And you just nod, pretending you know what they’re talking about.
But here’s the truth:
If you don’t know what E, Q, and A stand for in Genshin… you’re playing the game on hard mode.
And no, it’s not some secret code. It’s just the game’s shorthand for basic mechanics. But if you don’t get it? You’re missing half the fun.
A = Normal Attack
That’s the easy one. Tap the attack button. Your character swings their weapon. Basic. Boring. But don’t sleep on it.
Some characters—like Razor or Amber—rely on Normal Attacks as their main damage source. Others? They use them to trigger reactions.
Xingqiu’s Normal Attacks apply Hydro. Diluc’s charged attacks melt enemies. Kaeya’s charged shots freeze.
Even if you’re maining a burst DPS, you still need to mash A to set up combos. It’s not just filler. It’s fuel.
E = Elemental Skill
This is your “mid-tier” ability. Usually has a short cooldown (5–15 seconds), costs energy, and often defines how a character plays.
Kirara’s E summons her cat. Fischl’s E summons Oz. Keqing’s E dashes through enemies.
This is where most builds revolve around. You’ll hear people say “E before Q” because your skill might apply a status (like Cryo or Electro) that your burst then amplifies.
Some skills are for damage. Some are for shields. Some are for mobility.
But here’s the thing: you can’t skip E. If you’re not using it, you’re leaving 40–60% of your potential damage on the table.
Q = Elemental Burst
The big one. The flashy one. The one that makes you scream “YES!” when it lands.
It’s your ultimate. High energy cost (usually 60–80). Long cooldown (15–25 seconds). Usually changes the battlefield.
Raiden’s Q turns her into a lightning god. Hu Tao’s Q lets her turn into a ghost with infinite HP.
But here’s the mistake most new players make:
They think Q = win button.
It’s not.
It’s a tool.
You don’t just mash Q when it’s ready. You time it. You chain it. You set it up with E and A first.
A good Hu Tao player doesn’t Q when the enemy is alive—she Qs when the enemy is burning, wet, and frozen.
That’s why you need to understand the order: A → E → Q.
It’s not just a sequence. It’s a rhythm.
I remember when I first started playing.
I’d watch top players clear Abyss 12 with 5-star teams and think:
“They’re just better. They have better weapons. Better artifacts.”
Turns out?
They just knew the order.
I’d see someone with a 4-star Xiangling and a 3-star Bennett clear floors that I couldn’t touch with my 5-star Hu Tao.
Why?
Because they knew to use A to apply Pyro, then E to drop the Guoba, then wait for the explosion before swapping to Bennett for the buff.
I was just spamming Q and wondering why my damage was trash.
It’s not about rarity.
It’s about timing.
It’s about understanding that E, Q, and A aren’t buttons—they’re verbs.
You don’t “use Q.”
You “Q after E.”
You don’t “do A.”
You “A to trigger Vaporize.”
Once you start thinking like that?
The game changes.
And if you’re thinking, “Yeah, but I need more Primogems to pull the next character…”
Then you’re already halfway there.
Because you don’t need the best team to win.
You need the smartest one.
I used to buy Genesis Crystals straight from HoYoverse. Paid full price. Waited 2–3 days for delivery. Got hit with currency conversion fees.
Then I found BuffGet.
No drama. No delays. No hidden charges. Just 30% off every time I recharge.
I don’t buy more. I just buy smarter.
I’ve been using it for over a year.
My friend asked why I’m pulling more often now.
I told him:
“I’m not spending more. I’m just getting more for what I spend.”
And that’s the whole point, isn’t it?
Genshin’s not about how many 5-stars you have.
It’s about how well you use what you’ve got.
So next time you see someone type “E after Q,” don’t just copy it.
Understand it.
Master it.
And if you’re thinking about topping up?
Don’t pay full price.