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Genshin Impact's Irodori Festival brings with it several event-specific game modes that players can try their hand at, including the third reincarnation of Theater Mechanicus. Theater Mechanicus has historically been one of Genshin Impact's most popular mini-games, so it's great to see it make a return during Inazuma's festivities.

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The beloved tower-defense mode features a slew of new features that make this version significantly distinct from its previous iterations. This version of Theater Mechanicus arguably plays out more like a puzzle game than a tower-defense game, with your initial selection of towers and buffs being extremely critical to your success. Thankfully, this guide will cover everything you need to know about the game mode to make sure no enemies reach the end of the track.

How To Unlock Theater Mechanicus

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Komakata

After completing True Tales of the Violet Garden: Act II as part of the Irodori Festival proceedings, you'll be able to participate in Theater Mechanicus. To start, simply seek out an NPC named Komakata who has set up a stall near the festival venue in Ritou.

If you can't find her on your own, you can always navigate to her location from the event page.

Starting Theater Mechanicus

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Level Selection

When you speak to Komakata, she will present you with a screen where you can select which stage you'd like to attempt. There are four different maps, each with two variants: Show of Force and Enter the Horde. Show of Force is the normal variant, while Enter the Horde ups the ante with tougher conditions and stronger enemies.

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Sticks

After selecting "Start Wave" on your desired level, you'll see a screen displaying various Fortune Sticks and Mystic Sticks that you can equip. These will give your towers and characters various buffs during the level, which will help you stop enemies before they get to the end of the course.

The effects of these Fortune Sticks and Mystic Sticks vary greatly and can be combined in unique ways. Keep in mind, though, that you only have a limited number of points with which to equip these bonuses. A good strategy is often to maximize the capabilities of one or two tower types, and then center your game plan around those towers.

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Armory Page

If you would like to check the map layout or incoming enemies during this phase, you can check out the Armory page. This will show you where enemies are heading, which enemies will appear, and also information on the Wondrous Sticks and the towers you can construct.

When your preparations are complete, go ahead and start the wave.

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Theater Mechanicus Building Phase

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Cosntructing Tower

When you load into the stage, enemies won't start spawning immediately. You actually have as long as you need to bolster your fortifications around the map.

Your goal is to build enough towers to defeat all the opponents that will try to run past them. You can build towers on any tower base, but there are a few restrictions.

First, towers cost Veneficus Points, which you have a limited amount of. You can get more during the level by defeating enemies, but this passive generation is significantly lower than you might be used to in past iterations of Theater Mechanicus.

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Zhongli Overlooking Map

There is also a limit on the total number of towers you can construct during one stage, along with individual limits on specific towers. These individual limits can be increased with certain Mystic Sticks, but be sure to plan accordingly.

You can end the building phase when your defenses are established and you're ready to release the enemies. Fortunately, you can still construct, destroy, and modify your towers if you need to after the initial building phase.

Tips And Tricks For Surviving The Enemy Phase

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Zhongli Dropping Enemy

You might think that the enemy phase of Theater Mechanicus consists of sitting back, relaxing, and watching your towers do all the work. While this might be true on the earlier levels, Enter the Horde especially demands a lot of active engagement.

Your character cannot directly damage enemies, but you can move, stagger, and apply elements to opponents. All of these techniques are important to take advantage of when the situation becomes dire.

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Jean Slimes

Interrupting enemy movements with your characters can often be the difference between failing a level and setting a high score. Smaller enemies can be blown around with Anemo abilities to slow their advances or even knock them off the map. Larger enemies, such as Ruin Guards, typically have weak points that can be targeted by your characters' attacks in order to halt them in their tracks.

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Zhongli Pillar

Here are several characters that excel at interfering with enemy movement:

  • Jean's Charged Attack and Elemental Skill are excellent for knocking enemies backwards or blasting them off the map.
  • Sucrose's Skill and Venti's Skill can briefly displace enemies.
  • Any bow-wielding character can target the weak spots on enemies like Ruin Guards to disable them.
  • Geo Traveler and Zhongli can block enemies from progressing with carefully positioned Geo Constructs.

Some maps also feature Adeptus Bridges that you can close to drop or block enemies. Don't forget about them!

Since your characters can also apply elements to enemies, you can trigger Elemental Reactions without necessarily needing all the towers involved. For example, a Cryo character like Ayaka can apply enough Cryo element on her own that you can consistently Freeze enemies with only Rippling Reflections towers. Combinations like this are the key to success during Theater Mechanicus' harder stages.

Genshin Theater Mechanicus Klee Bombs

Here are a few characters who are able to apply a lot of their respective element for easy Reactions:

  • Ayaka, Ganyu, Aloy, and Diona can apply Cryo quickly and consistently with their abilities.
  • Mona and Kokomi can apply Hydro passively with their Skills.
  • Fischl and Yae Miko both have passive Skills that can apply Electro to multiple enemies.
  • Yanfei, Xiangling, and Klee all offer great sources of Pyro application.
Genshin Theater Mechanicus Ayaka Freeze

Triggering Elemental Reactions in Theater Mechanicus is not only the duty of your characters, but also your towers. Keep these strategies in mind when placing your towers around the battlefield:

  • Overloaded can knock enemies backwards and break enemies' stone shields quickly.
  • Superconduct will still lower enemies' Physical RES, making them weaker to Crack Shot towers.
  • Freeze is almost always useful for slowing down or stopping opponents.
Genshin Theater Mechanicus Event Page

Proper use of these techniques is sure to earn you a high score in Theater Mechanicus, granting you a bounty of Primogems, Talent Level-up Materials, and more. Good luck out there, and don't let any enemies sneak past you unless you want to explain to Ayato why there's a Hilichurl ruining his festival.

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