Genshin Impact 7.2: How Mitya and Valeriy's Kits Work, and How to Build a Stellar-Conduct Team
Genshin Impact's Version 7.2 "Hour of Ruin" update added two new Electro characters, Mitya and Valeriy, built around a new Stellar-Conduct elemental reaction. Here's how their kits actually work, and which existing characters make the best teammates.
Genshin Impact's Version 7.2 update, subtitled "Hour of Ruin," went live on November 4, bringing two new playable characters into the roster: Mitya, a 5-star Electro Catalyst user, and Valeriy, a 4-star Electro Sword user. Both are built around a new twist on an old elemental reaction, Stellar-Conduct, which changes how Electro and Cryo interact when Mitya is on the field. If you're trying to figure out whether either character fits your account, or how to actually build a team around them, this guide breaks down what their kits do and which existing characters pair with them.
For the full list of everything else Version 7.2 adds, including the new Snezhnaya region and the Archon Quest, see our complete rundown of Hour of Ruin's release. This piece focuses specifically on the two new characters and how their kits work together.
1. What's new in Version 7.2 "Hour of Ruin"
HoYoverse's Special Program on October 23 confirmed that Hour of Ruin centers on a crisis called the Holy Soil, a contamination spreading from deposits of Kresnik Kristall in a newly opened part of eastern Snezhnaya. Representatives from across Teyvat's seven nations converge there as the Archon Quest continues. The new area includes the underground city of Novokitezhgrad, Old Kitezhgrad at Wingspan Peak, and Teplo Oasis, along with a new boss and new Prime Ice Constructs that players use alongside two new elemental shotguns to clear the Holy Soil hazard.
Completing the new Archon Quest chapter within its event window grants 560 Primogems and ascension materials for Mitya. The update also adds a Natlan-themed Chronicled Wish, a free 4-star character selector (Amber, Xiangling, Thoma, Collei, Lynette, Kachina, Aino and Alyosha among the options), and a masquerade-themed lobby in Miliastra Wonderland with a free 4-star cosmetic set.
2. Mitya's kit: the Stellar-Conduct specialist
Mitya is a 5-star Electro Catalyst user and a specialist at Snezhnaya's Royal Energy Commission. Rather than a standard Vision, he fights with what HoYoverse describes as a "Stellar Linchpin." His entire kit is built around converting the party's Superconduct reactions into a new, stronger version called Stellar-Conduct.
- Elemental Skill: Has separate Tap and Hold versions. It creates beacon-like constructs on the field that store energy and then periodically trigger Stellar-Conduct damage around them.
- Elemental Burst: Deals AoE Electro damage and generates additional energy for the team, helping offset the Energy Recharge cost of running a dedicated Stellar-Conduct support.
- Passive effect: Whenever a Stellar-Conduct reaction triggers with Mitya in the party, it boosts the active party's Elemental Mastery, which in turn makes every subsequent reaction hit harder.
In practice, Mitya functions less like a traditional on-field Electro damage dealer and more like a reaction-trigger support, similar in spirit to how Cryo and Electro supports have worked in the past, except his whole purpose is to keep Stellar-Conduct going rather than apply Electro directly to enemies.
3. Valeriy's kit: the Armory Palace's shield-bearer
Valeriy is the 4-star counterpart, a sword-wielding Major in Snezhnaya's Special Assignments Battalion and, per HoYoverse's own description, someone "committed to protecting those under his care." Unlike Mitya, he carries a standard Vision, and his kit reads as a support built to keep the active character alive while buffing Electro damage.
- Elemental Skill: Shields the active character and deals AoE Electro damage, giving him a dual offense/defense role similar to other shielder supports in the game.
- Charged Attack (Impact Momentum): Boosts the active character's Electro damage, with a stronger version of the buff when the team is actively triggering Stellar-Conduct reactions.
Because his buff scales up specifically around Stellar-Conduct, Valeriy is clearly designed as Mitya's natural teammate rather than a standalone pick, though the shield alone still has some value in any Electro-leaning team.
4. How Stellar-Conduct actually works
Superconduct has always been a straightforward reaction: hit an enemy affected by Cryo with Electro (or vice versa), and it deals a burst of AoE damage while lowering the target's Physical Resistance. Stellar-Conduct, per HoYoverse's own description of Mitya's kit, is what that same Cryo-Electro interaction becomes once Mitya's beacons are active on the field, dealing periodic damage from his Elemental Skill rather than a single instant burst, and feeding back into his passive Elemental Mastery buff each time it triggers.
That distinction matters for team building. Stellar-Conduct isn't a separate resource you manage; it's an upgrade to a reaction that only shows up when both Cryo and Electro are present in the same team, with Mitya acting as the trigger. For a general refresher on how Superconduct and Genshin's other elemental reactions normally work, our elemental reactions breakdown covers the base mechanics this system builds on.
5. Building a Stellar-Conduct team
Since Stellar-Conduct still requires a Cryo character on the field, the simplest Mitya team is Mitya plus any Cryo unit you already have built, with Valeriy as the third or fourth slot to shield the active character and amplify the Electro side of the reaction. A fourth flexible slot can go to a healer or an additional support, since neither Mitya nor Valeriy is designed to take damage on-field for long stretches.
Because Mitya's passive scales the whole team's Elemental Mastery off of triggering Stellar-Conduct, artifact and weapon choices that push Elemental Mastery higher, rather than raw Electro damage, get more value out of his kit than they would on a typical carry. Our artifact system guide covers which substats to prioritize if you're building a reaction-focused set rather than a crit-focused one.
HoYoverse also introduced a new 5-star Catalyst weapon, Starsealed Edict, alongside the character. It's a natural fit for Mitya given the shared Catalyst and Electro-support theme, though as with any new weapon, it's worth waiting for community testing to confirm exactly how its passive interacts with Stellar-Conduct before committing limited resources to refining it.
Who to pull first
If you're deciding between the two, Mitya is the character who actually enables Stellar-Conduct, while Valeriy is a quality-of-life pickup that makes the team smoother to play rather than a requirement. Players who already own a well-built Cryo unit and want to try the new reaction should prioritize Mitya; Valeriy is a reasonable follow-up once you know you're keeping the team.
6. Where to pull, and what else comes with the patch
Mitya and Valeriy both debut in the Phase 1 Event Wish alongside a rerun for Furina. Phase 2 brings back Zibai and Linnea, and runs alongside the new Natlan-themed Chronicled Wish. If you're not sure how pity carries between banners or whether it's worth saving for a specific rerun, our wish system and pity guide explains how the underlying odds work, and our breakdown of the Version 7.2 event wishes covers the exact banner schedule and phase dates.
Outside of the banners, Hour of Ruin also launched a limited-time co-op event built around the Holy Soil storyline, a filming-themed event in Snezhnaya, and a separate mining challenge set in Natlan. Three redemption codes went out alongside the Special Program broadcast: HourOfRuin, ExpertMitya and PhotoTime, each worth 100 Primogems plus additional materials. Codes like these typically expire within a few weeks, so redeem them from the in-game Settings menu or the official redemption site sooner rather than later.
Official Version 7.2 "Hour of Ruin" trailer. Video: Genshin Impact (HoYoverse) via YouTube.
Quick tips recap
- Mitya is the character who enables Stellar-Conduct; he needs a Cryo teammate on the field to trigger the reaction at all.
- Valeriy shields the active character and boosts Electro damage, with a bigger buff specifically when Stellar-Conduct is active.
- Prioritize Elemental Mastery on artifacts and weapons for this team over raw Electro damage, since Mitya's passive scales off reaction triggers.
- Pull Mitya first if you only have resources for one of the two; Valeriy is a smoother follow-up, not a requirement.
- Redeem HourOfRuin, ExpertMitya and PhotoTime soon, as Genshin's promo codes expire quickly.