Genshin Impact’s four-star Cryo claymore wielder Chongyun remains a solid choice for permafrost and shatter teams well into 2026. This young exorcist from Liyue is blessed with an overwhelming amount of yang energy, which makes spirits flee before he even catches a glimpse—a running joke that also reflects how smoothly his ascension journey can be if travellers stockpile the right materials early. As always, pushing Chongyun to his final ascension requires an extensive farming checklist, from slaying elite bosses to gathering Mondstadt region specialties.

A total of 8,362,650 EXP is needed to bring any Genshin Impact character from level 1 to level 90, and Chongyun is no exception. This monumental amount can be fed through Hero’s Wits, Wanderer’s Advice, or simply grinding overworld enemies and ley lines. Between each ascension threshold, the EXP allocation varies, so plan your resin spending wisely. The key milestones arrive at levels 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80, each gated by increasingly rare materials.

Ascension Gem: Shivada Jade

Cryo characters universally hunger for Shivada Jade, and Chongyun is no different. The elemental shards and chunks drop from a long list of World and Weekly bosses. The Cryo Regisvine in Mondstadt’s Falcon Coast and the Cryo Hypostasis in Dragonspine are the most reliable repeatable sources. Other options include the Coral Defenders in Enkanomiya, Maguu Kenki, the Perpetual Mechanical Array in Inazuma, the Primo Geovishap (only when aligned with Cryo), the Aeonblight Drake, the Iniquitous Baptist, and the Icewind Suite’s Coppelius. Weekly challenges like Andrius, Childe, Azhdaha, and La Signora also have a chance to drop the required gems—just be aware that Azhdaha and the Primo Geovishap must be fought while they channel the Cryo element. Souvenir shops and the Parametric Transformer can supplement your stash too.

Common Enemy Drop: Hilichurl Masks

Damaged, Stained, and Ominous Masks are the bread and butter of Chongyun’s ascension cost. These materials rain from practically every corner of Teyvat because hilichurls, mitachurls, samachurls, and lawachurls all share the same loot table. Unlike some rare enemy drops, farming Masks rarely feels like a chore—even a casual stroll through Mondstadt or Liyue will bag a few dozen. Higher-rarity masks require defeating tougher variants, so make it a habit to engage the larger chieftains whenever you cross paths.

Boss Material: Hoarfrost Core

The Cryo Regisvine, a literal frozen plant world boss sitting in the northern reaches of Mondstadt, holds the Hoarfrost Core. Every ascension past level 40 demands multiple cores, meaning you’ll visit this oversized flower plenty of times. One crucial reminder: the Regisvine has massive native Cryo resistance. Charging in with Chongyun alone will only drag out the fight. Bring a Pyro-heavy lineup—Xiangling and Bennett pair especially well—to melt through its shield and health bar, and you’ll be collecting cores in under a minute per run.

Local Specialty: Cor Lapis

Chongyun shares his love for the Geo crystal Cor Lapis with fellow Liyue characters Keqing and Zhongli. Though a trip through the map can feel like a treasure hunt, Cor Lapis clusters tightly around a few famous landmarks. Mt. Hulao, Cuijue Slope, and the surface areas of the Chasm are prime gathering zones. Luhua Pool also hides several nodes under the shade of cliffs. For those who’d rather spend Mora than time, Liyue Harbor carries a lifeline: Changshung runs a tiny shop just left of the souvenir counter and sells five Cor Lapis pieces every three days, priced at 7,500 Mora each. Combining wild farming with this periodic purchase can cut down the calendar grind significantly.

Talent Books: Diligence Series

To unlock Chongyun’s full potential, his elemental skill and burst demand the Diligence scrolls from Liyue. The Taishan Mansion domain, nestled on the floating cliffs near Jueyun Karst, opens its doors on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Depending on the domain level, you’ll collect Teachings of Diligence, Guide to Diligence, and eventually Philosophies of Diligence. Crowning his talents requires a heavy investment in the highest-tier books, so bookmark those days on your calendar.

Weekly Boss Material: Dvalin’s Sigh

The Stormterror domain, “Confront Stormterror,” continues to challenge travelers in 2026 with the same dragon they tamed in the prologue. Among Dvalin’s tri-element drops, the Dvalin’s Sigh is the one Chongyun needs for talent level-ups from level 7 onward. Several other characters—including Traveler and Amber—also compete for this sigh, so inventory management can get messy. Each weekly boss is limited to one claim per week, which means patience is mandatory. Use Dream Solvent to transmute unwanted Dvalin parts if luck isn’t on your side.

In summary, fully ascending Chongyun in 2026 is a study in balancing regular enemy routes, boss teleports, and a bit of geology. The Hilichurl masks and Cor Lapis can be stockpiled gradually; the Shivada Jade and Hoarfrost Cores demand planned boss runs; and the Diligence books plus Dvalin’s Sigh require strict schedule adherence. With this roadmap, even a wanderer as perpetually dodged-by-spirits as Chongyun will soon hit level 90 with maxed-out talents, ready to freeze every domain in his path.