Clorinde: how Hoyo should be writing characters. Genshin character review!

Gacha games struggle to balance the requirements of the marketing side of things with the needs of the narrative.

Marketing is at its best when the character is iconic and unchanging. It wants to say “this is the defining characteristic of this person”. This is who they are, and what makes them compelling, why you should give them your love — and spend your money to have them in your roster.

Narrative, on the other hand, is at its best when the character is dynamic. They don’t necessarily need major flaws — though of course flaws are a shortcut to this goal. What they do need is some kind of movement. Characters are at their most compelling when their core identity is challenged, since it’s in those moments that their essence is revealed.

As covered in my recent Mavuika review, in my opinion Hoyo sometimes get this balance badly wrong.

Clorinde, on the other hand, is one of the best examples of what I’d have liked to see from Mavuika: a strong, competent, mostly unchanging character, who still feels human, and whose relationship dynamics add depth and soul to an already compelling narrative.

00:00 Intro
00:56 Character • First impressions
01:28 Character • Personality
02:04 Character • Friendship with Navia
03:43 Character • Why it works
05:03 Wishing
06:08 Kit overview • Normal attacks
06:25 Kit overview • Elemental skill
06:38 Kit overview • Bond of Life • What does it do?
07:13 Kit overview • Bond of Life • How does it work?
07:55 Kit overview • Bond of Life • What about healing?
08:41 Kit overview • Burst
09:19 Kit overview • Passives
09:50 Build overview • Priorities
10:10 Build overview • Weapon • 5 stars
10:48 Build overview • Weapon • 4 stars
11:18 Build overview • Weapon • Dendro specific
11:34 Build overview • Artifact stats
12:14 Build overview • Artifact sets
12:52 Build overview • Talents
13:11 Team archetypes • Quickbloom
14:24 Team archetypes • Catalyse
15:03 Team archetypes • Overloaded
15:43 Team archetypes • Taser
16:15 Team archetypes • Hyperbloom
16:45 Is she actually good?
17:36 Conclusion

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[kips]

In my opinion, Navia and Clorinde friendship felt weak to me. It's mostly due to how they chose to write it. The game wants me to believe that they're close and care about each other, but if that's the case, where was Clorinde when Poisson got flooded? Why didn't we get a scene of Clorinde comforting Navia about melus and silver's death? Where was she when Poisson got rebuilt? These were all important moments to Navia, but Clorinde was nowhere to be seen. It just feels like the writer's are just telling us, but not showing

[kasuha]

Clorinde's story quest was fun but it was not about Clorinde. Most of the time she was in the background or at best roleplaying a character, not being herself. I much prefer if the story quest tells us more about the character, this could have worked beautifully as an event.

[Akira_]

I really, really have to respectfully disagree with the idea that Navia and Clorinde's friendship being this giant thing for both of their characters, it always just felt like an afterthought to me when it came to the both of them, I thought about it alot since they're both characters I love, i started playing this game for Navia.

Navia has always had a way more complex and interesting relationship with Neuv, the Traveler, then Silver and Melus then anyone else. Navia and Neuv had more lines together then Navia and Clorinde had the entire AQ. Navia slowly forgiving Neuv as we solve the mystery of her father was much more important for both Navia and Neuv. Navia was so frustrated with Neuv she literally broke down into tears about it, and it showed up more about Neuv seeing as he doesnt truly understand her frustrations he just seems sorry she's sad. Him passing the sentence after we finally figure out the truth about Callas and then coming to visit his grave and apologize, and the two of them sharing a quiet moment at Callas grave was way more touching to me then anything Clorinde and Navia shared. We have this, but with Navia and Clorinde, first off I never felt there was any 'mystery' about their past. Navia straight up tells us after Clorinde comes to save us, that Clorinde killed her father in a legal duel, and she very understandably hasnt wanted to talk to her since then, since Clorinde hasnt come to talk to her. That's it, she tells us. It didnt feel like a 'mystery'. Yes, I will say Clorinde coming to save her and 'watching after her' is a great moment, but I mean we see it in action one time and that's it, that's the ONE time we see them interact before they make up and even after she saves them, Navia says she doesnt HATE Clorinde, she just doesnt feel comfortable around the person that killed her father when Navia KNOWS he was innocent. And after that act, we just hear Navia say 'oh we had dinner and made up', and this was after Clorinde didnt help in the actual trial except saying 'yes Callas intended to die' which... we already knew she just confirmed it. They just made up off screen after talking like two times on screen that was it.

In Navia's SQ, Clorinde just straight up isnt there at all. The Traveler appears as a closer friend to Navia constantly and its one of my fav relationships in the game. We're the first ones to help her look for evidence to clear Callas name, we help her through the trauma of it during and after the trial. In her SQ WE are the ones who help her process her survivors guilt and process the deaths of Silver and Melus. She's so worried that she isnt as good a leader as her parents to the Spina, but we're there to help her see how all the other people love her and trust her, the moment she sees the portrait of her and her parents, where she asks 'do you really see me as more then a partner?', its all so beautiful (Totally bias bc shes my fav but this is a top 3 SQ) but in all of this...? Clorinde isnt there, its other characters.

Now, I do love their friendship displayed in Clorinde's SQ, but to me that quest was way more about fleshing out Clorinde and it did a great job. We learn about her hard upbringing and how she was friends with Navia and Callas when they were younger. Ironically enough, we see more about Clorinde and Furina's relationship, and how Clorinde is one of the few people to still go and hangout with Furina after the AQ. I loved seeing the other side of Clorinde, the more playful side, the deeper side, her determination, her grit, her desire to help and save people no matter what even if she doesnt get recognized for it.... Honestly, the more parts i liked had nothing to do with Navia.

I dont type all this to bash on this relationship. I DO enjoy it a lot, it's a great supplementary aspect to the characters of both Navia and Clorinde. However, I just can't agree with the people who try to make it out like their friendship is the biggest part of both characters and so so pivotal for them both. It's a PART of it yes, but honestly, they both have so much more to their character then just each other. It's when I hear people say how 90% of their characters is just their relationship, is when I really really have to disagree. They're my two favorite characters in the game for real, I'm just glad they seem pretty universally loved, but I just wanted to share my opinions about them both. I hope if you decide to reply you can do it respectfully lol I really don't want to sling insults under a youtube video about video game characters

[ArchonKujo]

I like Clorinde, Maybe she's a little bland at times, but in terms of design, I personally like it and I do like her gameplay, her relation with Navia was a little complex even though it was never her fault to begin with, to the point that they were friends before after that she had to kill Navia's father with a duel in trial that he lost to, and he did it wit honor, It all lead to that complex relationship until times move on, I absolutely adore these two even though it got a little personal with things there and there.

[Puppetmaster]

This.... this is what I feel is lacking about Natlan. It's not about which region's stakes are higher, it's not about motorbike archon or rollerskating dj or phallus riding cowgirl, .... heck I'm even willing to forgive the whole "bikini girl on a shark hits harder than zhong li's meteor" bit.

It's about.... the writing. It's about good delivery, the thematic consistency and execution. The entirety of Fontaine was near perfect for me.... and yes, even the boring part that is the Fortress of Meropide... because it REALLY felt like being in prison. Thematic.... consistency. That was what Natlan sorely lacked.

[vigor]

Imo her and Wriothesley are the coolest Fontaine characters!

[EepsayYukay]

Clorinde's Story Quest was probably one of my favorites in the game by a country mile, not just due to the novelty of hearing Clorinde RP as different NPCs in a tabletop game, but because the setting of a tabletop game inspired by actual Fontaine lore actually becomes a very compelling way to learn about the Marechausee Hunters' backstory. Instead of, say, an NPC vomiting paragraphs of exposition, I'm more inclined to listen to a Game Master tell me about the world, especially because this information helps us understand and play our role in the tabletop game better with the other players (who also have their own unique opinions/reactions to the events happening in the tabletop game)

[raptori]

It's so interesting how compelling Clorinde and Navia's story is when you boil it down to the basics like that... it was pretty good in-game, but just goes to show that it could have been so much better!

[Zeek-vz]

I mean no harm when I say this, but I find it funny how the video turned into a chlorinde guide at some point. Love your vids though

[alexferrier]

I personally found Clorinde to be a very bland, one dimensional and even boring sometimes character. I get that not all characters should be clowns or easygoing, but not overly serious and stoic like she was neither, even Neuvillete showed more emotions and dude is a dragon.
It also seemed like she was only on scenes to look cool or do something badass, but then didnt add nothing to the table, no interesting interactions with nobody, like when Wriothesley invited her a cup of tea after saving the day, she didnt even respond and was unfazed, or how her supposed long time friendship with Navia felt so shallow and unexplored. Then when she interacts with MC she sounds and acts like she doesnt even want to be there or is there merely to do her job, no joy, no fun, nothing. Even overly stoic characters like Arlecchino showed diferent emotions like amusement, interest, hate and compassion.
Buf Clorinde looked dead inside most of the time.

But hey, that is how I perceived her character, it is interesting to see the other side of the spectrum of someone who did like her.

[rb]

My only gripe is that I wish we saw Navia have a bit more friction with Clorinde during the AQ.

[DubUAyeEsDee]

It's crazy that i thought she didnt do much in the AQ, but turned it around in the story quests and events that followed. she has INTERESTS and knowledge in the world that really did it.

[AdarisTempest]

My favorite Clorinde team right now is an unconventional Taser setup consisting of Clorinde, Furina, Kazuha, and Mona.

It turns out Prototype Amber/Noblesse Mona synergizes extremely well with both Furina and Clorinde. She provides Furina with Hydro Resonance and all team healing, maxing fanfare almost instantly, and she provides Clorinde an Omen buff (and Noblesse atk bonus) that lasts through almost all of Clorinde's narrow damage window. The maxed fanfare also means you get the full Fanfare %dmg bonus through that damage window instead of building it up the first few precious seconds.

Kazuha and Furina offer considerable personal damage and all three off field characters provide a huge compounding % damage bonus. This team works best with C2+ Clorinde, but it's pretty competitive regardless, and has led me to months of effortless 36 star Abysses.

[Malinzo]

15:41 Not to advertise my own videos, but I have a comparison between C0 and C6 Chevry with Clorinde on my account. Clorindes burst DMG increased from around 28k to 39k (each tick) and her NA during her E from 12-18k to 18-25k. It basically doubled the damage increase from CO. But obviosly the other teammates damage also increased

[johnboy]

My queen Clorinde getting the recognition she deserves

[TheAAJYu]

Fontaine really was the first time I got really invested in the characters’ interpersonal relationships, with Navia and Clorinde gradually rekindling their friendship being one of my favorite developments. If I had to name one nitpick, though, it’s that it felt like they made up very quickly. Granted, the passage of time is rarely outright stated, but they went from being estranged for years to taking trips to Liyue and playing tabletop RPGs in the span of a few months. Although, working together to stop an apocalypse from happening does tend to bring up trust in each other very quickly.

[swarnavghosh]

Imagine you finally feel like an archon has been well done and next day you wake upto see "how not to write a character" video on her. Further on, then you receive another video with "how to write a character" on your one of the lesser fav ones coz you she came off as bland to you. That's exactly what's happening to me. And it kinda sucks being the overall media enthusiast I am who solely watches or plays or reads stuff for their writing. Ehh.

[elysianemily]

Good video! watching your arlecchino character review right after this because I still cannot decide who to pull for on the next banner

[Xlonin]

i missed her in the first banner, but got her in 10 pity in rerun. so happy. i really loved her design

[isma]

Clorinde-in my opinion, is not how hoyo should write characters. Her story quest feels lackluster. It focused more about the marechausse hunters and not herself. Although to be fair, the story quests in genshin wasnt very good except for a few exceptions.