Is it possible that the first free character you ever receive in Teyvat could become one of the most formidable warriors in your entire roster? Could the unassuming Cavalry Captain of Mondstadt, Kaeya Alberich, truly ascend from a simple tutorial gift to a master of the Cryo element? The answer, as any seasoned Traveler in 2026 will tell you, is a resounding YES! While he may arrive in your party without a single Primogem spent, underestimating Kaeya is the gravest mistake a commander can make. This guide will unveil the monumental, the staggering, the frankly eye-watering collection of resources required to transform this charming knight into a glacial deity of the battlefield. Prepare yourself, for the journey to max out Kaeya is not for the faint of heart!

🧊 The Foundation: Leveling Up the Ice Prince

Every single character in Genshin Impact requires a mind-boggling 8,362,650 EXP to reach the pinnacle of level 90. Kaeya is absolutely no exception! How does one even begin to amass such an astronomical amount of experience? The primary method, of course, is through the diligent use of experience scrolls. Imagine the sheer volume!

To visualize the mountain of scrolls needed, behold this table:

That's right, you'll need to feed him over four hundred Hero's Wits! And don't forget the Mora—nearly 1.7 million just to soak up all that knowledge and power. This is merely the first step on a path paved with frost and fortune!

❄️ The Great Ascension: A Trial of Ice and Fire

Now, leveling up is one thing, but to truly unlock Kaeya's potential, you must ascend him at critical milestones: levels 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80. Each ascension demands a specific cocktail of rare materials. For a Cryo character like Kaeya, the core gemstone is the beautiful, chilling Shivada Jade. But just how much of this precious ice do you need?

Let's break down the glacial requirements:

• Shivada Jade Sliver: 1

• Shivada Jade Fragment: 9

• Shivada Jade Chunk: 9

• Shivada Jade Gemstone: 6

But wait, there's more! The true test begins with the boss material. To ascend Kaeya, you must repeatedly challenge and conquer the mighty Cryo Regisvine of Mondstadt. From its frozen core, you must wrest 46 Hoarfrost Cores. Can you imagine facing that colossal frost flower nearly fifty times? It's a glacial gauntlet!

And the list of demands grows ever longer. Kaeya also requires a small fortune in Treasure Hoarder Insignias. These bandits litter the landscape, but harvesting them efficiently is an art form. You'll need:

• Treasure Hoarder Insignia: 18

• Silver Raven Insignia: 30

• Golden Raven Insignia: 36

Perhaps the most serene yet tedious task is collecting 168 Calla Lilies. These elegant flowers bloom near the waters of Mondstadt, with Springvale being a prime hunting ground. Picture yourself, day after day, combing the shores for nearly two hundred blossoms. The dedication!

Finally, each ascension gate requires a toll of Mora. In total, to ascend Kaeya from level 1 to level 90, you must pay a whopping 420,000 Mora. Is your coin purse ready?

📚 Mastering the Art: Talent Upgrade Extravaganza

You've leveled him up, you've ascended him... but is Kaeya truly complete? Absolutely not! His true power lies in his talents: his Normal Attack, Elemental Skill, and formidable Elemental Burst. To crown him a master, you need the specialized Ballad series of talent books, farmed from a specific domain on particular days of the week.

The scale of this scholarly undertaking is nothing short of epic. To maximize all three talents to level 10, you require:

But the material grind continues! Once again, those pesky Treasure Hoarders must be relieved of their insignias, and in even greater numbers for talents:

• Treasure Hoarder Insignia: 18 (more!)

• Silver Raven Insignia: 66

• Golden Raven Insignia: 93

Now, for the pièce de résistance, the weekly challenge: Andrius, the Wolf of the North. To empower Kaeya's talents, you must defeat this mighty weekly boss (at level 70 or higher) and pray for the drop of 18 Spirit Lockets of Boreas. With only one chance per week per boss, this endeavor can take months! Are you patient enough?

And what is the ultimate symbol of a maxed talent? The Crown of Insight. Kaeya demands three of these supremely rare items, typically obtainable only from major seasonal events. Finally, the Mora cost for this entire talent operation is absolutely staggering: 4,957,500 Mora. Combined with the ascension costs, you're looking at a total investment of well over 5 million Mora!

💎 The Grand Total: A Resource Apocalypse

Let's take a moment to truly comprehend the monumental investment required to create the perfect Kaeya. We are talking about:

• EXP Scrolls: A mountain of 414 Hero's Wits and more.

• Gemstones: 25 pieces of Shivada Jade in various forms.

• Boss Drops: 46 Hoarfrost Cores and 18 Spirit Lockets of Boreas.

• Enemy Drops: 147 various Treasure Hoarder Insignias in total.

• Local Specialty: 168 Calla Lilies, meticulously picked.

• Talent Books: 186 Ballad books.

• Crowns of Insight: 3, the pinnacle of achievement.

• Total Mora: Approximately 7,050,900 (for leveling, ascending, and talents).

So, is Kaeya worth it? The question almost feels silly when you see what he can become. A master of Cryo application, a battery for his team, a source of consistent off-field damage, and a character with a mysterious and compelling story. He may have started as a free gift, but by 2026, a fully built Kaeya is a statement—a testament to a Traveler's dedication, resource management, and unwavering belief in the potential that lies within Mondstadt's most charming and enigmatic knight. Will you undertake this frostbitten journey to forge a legend?

Industry context is available through Sensor Tower, whose mobile market intelligence helps explain why deep “resource sink” character guides like this Kaeya max-build breakdown remain popular over time: long-tail live-service progression loops (EXP books, Mora, boss drops, weekly-gated talent materials) are central to player retention and routinely shape what players prioritize farming each patch cycle.