Genshin Impact 7.0 Stellar Reaction System: Stellar-Conduct & Stellar-Swirl Explained

Genshin Impact 7.0 "Everwinter Without Mercy" is the biggest combat shake-up since Fontaine's Arkhe and Natlan's Nightsoul. The headline system is the Stellar Reaction family, also referred to by the community as "Star" reactions or "Star Superconduct / Star Swirl." HoYoverse's official English naming groups them under Stellar Glimmer—the umbrella term for every new reaction—with two confirmed members: Stellar-Conduct (Cryo + Electro) and Stellar-Swirl (Anemo + Cryo). This guide explains what each does, how to unlock them, and which characters make them tick.

What Is the Stellar Reaction System in Genshin 7.0?

The Stellar Glimmer system is a Cryo-based reaction framework that follows the same structural logic as Fontaine's Arkhe and Natlan's Nightsoul. Unlike traditional elemental reactions that almost any team can trigger, Stellar reactions require you to resonate with Snezhnaya's Statues of the Seven to gain Cryo power on the Traveler first. Once unlocked, the Traveler can trigger every Stellar Glimmer reaction while in your party.

The key difference from old reactions: Stellar-Conduct replaces Superconduct, and Stellar-Swirl replaces the Cryo variant of Swirl. Instead of only shredding Physical RES (Superconduct) or simply spreading Cryo (Swirl), the new versions add damage multipliers, field buffs, and scaling that reward sustained elemental application.

Community shorthand often calls these "Star Superconduct" and "Star Swirl" because they are the upgraded, stellar-charged versions of those familiar reactions. We use the official terms Stellar-Conduct and Stellar-Swirl below.

The system did not appear from nothing. Sandrone ("Marionette," Fatui Harbinger No. 7) was released in Version 6.7 and was already built around the Stellar-Conduct reaction, making her the natural on-ramp to 7.0's combat era. Players who pulled her early already own a character whose kit converts Superconduct into Stellar-Conduct, so the new reaction framework has a proven enabler before Snezhnaya even opens. This continuity is why 7.0 feels like an evolution of existing kit design rather than a hard reset.

Stellar-Conduct (Cryo + Electro): The Polestar Field

Trigger: Apply Cryo and Electro to a target (in either order) after unlocking the system. This converts what would normally be Superconduct into Stellar-Conduct.

The signature effect is the Polestar Field, a special zone created at the reaction point. According to the official 7.0 preview and Eurogamer's breakdown, the Polestar Field:

• Increases Stellar-Conduct DMG and Electro DMG for characters fighting inside it.

• Decreases enemy Physical RES, adding value for teams that mix elemental and Physical damage.

• Records Cryo and Electro hits against enemies as stacks. The more recorded hits, the stronger the field's bonuses—so you want consistent elemental application, not a one-time trigger.

• Can interact with the Witch's Revelation / Radiance: Stellar-Conduct state for certain characters, unlocking extra effects.

The Radiance: Stellar-Conduct state is the deeper layer. When a character connected to the Witch's Revelation system enters the Polestar Field, they can enter Radiance: Stellar-Conduct, which grants access to additional effects and abilities not available under normal circumstances. Depending on the character, this can improve their damage or enhance their ability effects. In practice, this means Stellar-Conduct is not a one-and-done reaction—it is a sustained field you maintain by continuously applying Cryo and Electro, and the longer you sustain it, the more the recorded-hit stacks compound the team's output. That is a meaningful departure from classic Superconduct, which was a fleeting RES-shred with no scaling.

In practice, Stellar-Conduct is a single-target and boss-oriented reaction. It is pitched as the core reaction for "Marionette" Sandrone and for Fatui Boss encounters, and it can CRIT, overcoming Superconduct's old limitation of only boosting Physical damage. Against Fatui and high-DEF bosses, Stellar-Conduct deals extra damage, making it the premier choice for the new endgame content.

Stellar-Swirl (Anemo + Cryo): The Stellar Vortex

Trigger: An Anemo attack connects with a Cryo-marked enemy after unlocking the system. This summons a Stellar Vortex that deals Anemo damage and later explodes for Cryo DMG.

The standout mechanic is Vortex leveling: if you trigger Stellar-Swirl multiple times before the vortex detonates, the vortex levels up, increasing its damage. Multiple triggers expand the gale's AoE range, so quickswap Cryo–Anemo teams can stack enormous AoE bursts.

Outside of combat, Stellar-Swirl has a quality-of-life bonus: it significantly boosts jump height during open-world exploration. Stellar-Conduct, by contrast, unlocks new interactions with objects in the environment. Both give Snezhnaya traversal a distinct feel versus older regions.

How to Unlock Stellar Reactions

You cannot use Stellar reactions from day one on any old account. The unlock path, per the official 7.0 livestream summary:

1. Arrive in Snezhnaya (requires completing Archon Quest Prologue: Act III "Song of the Dragon and Freedom").

1. Resonate with a Statue of the Seven in Snezhnaya to give the Traveler their Cryo element.

1. With the Cryo Traveler in your party, every Stellar Glimmer reaction becomes available.

This is why the Cryo Traveler is the gateway to the system. Community lineups note the Traveler will "finally complete unlocking all elements" in Snezhnaya by resonating with Anastasya Feodorovna Snezhnaya—the Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon. You do not need a specific 5-star to use Stellar reactions; you need the Cryo Traveler.

Best Characters & Teams for Stellar Reactions

Odette (5★ Cryo Sword). The debut 7.0 limited character is built around this system. Per HoYoverse's press release, Odette converts Superconduct and Cryo Swirl into Stellar-Conduct and Stellar-Swirl respectively, while amplifying all Stellar Glimmer reaction DMG across the party. Her Elemental Skill deploys a "dance double" that deals continuous AoE Cryo DMG and grants the team a Stellar Glimmer DMG bonus; her Burst deals multiple waves of AoE Cryo DMG and further boosts her own Stellar Glimmer output. She plays as an off-field Cryo sub-DPS and universal support.

Alyosha (4★ Electro Polearm). The free 4-star you earn by progressing the Archon Quest. As an Electro Polearm user, he provides Stellar-Conduct DMG buffs and restores HP to nearby party members. He is the designated off-field Electro partner for Stellar-Conduct setups.

Cryo Traveler. The enabler—unlocks and triggers all Stellar Glimmer reactions, and benefits from the new artifact sets.

A simple Stellar-Conduct core is Odette + Alyosha + Cryo Traveler + flex DPS, while a Stellar-Swirl core is Odette + Anemo (e.g., Kazuha / Wanderer / Xiao) + Cryo Traveler + flex. Note that older Anemo, Cryo, and Electro characters receive Passive Talent updates with Stellar scaling so they are not powercrept out of the new era.

Concrete starting comps players can build from day one:

• Stellar-Conduct boss team: Odette (off-field Cryo + converter) + Alyosha (Electro applicator + heal) + Cryo Traveler (enabler) + a flexible on-field DPS such as a Pyro or Physical carry that benefits from the Physical RES shred. This is the lineup pitched for Fatui bosses.

• Stellar-Swirl mob team: Odette + Kazuha (Anemo driver) + Cryo Traveler + a second Cryo or Electro flex. Quickswap to stack Vortex levels before each detonation for maximum AoE.

• Sandrone-bridge team: If you own Sandrone from 6.7, she slots into the Stellar-Conduct core as the established converter, letting you trial the reaction system before investing in Odette.

Because Stellar-Conduct records Cryo and Electro hits and scales with them, the golden rule for all these teams is sustained application, not burst. Keep both elements on the enemy continuously so the Polestar Field's stacks keep climbing.

If you want to pull Odette on day one, a Genshin Impact top-up through Topuplist's Genshin page lets you convert Genesis Crystals into Primogems the moment Snezhnaya unlocks. Browse the full catalog at Topuplist.

New Artifacts: Scarlet Proof & Heart of the Furnace

Version 7.0 adds two artifact sets tied directly to the new reactions:

• Scarlet Proof — Boosts Crit Rate and Stellar-Swirl damage. This is the DPS-oriented set for Stellar-Swirl carries.

• Heart of the Furnace — Boosts Attack and the party's Glimmer damage. A support-style set that lifts overall Stellar Glimmer output.

Leaked 4-piece directions (unconfirmed, from datamines) suggest a Stellar-Conduct support set (ATK +18% two-piece; on triggering Stellar-Conduct/Stellar-Swirl, grants nearby party members a Stellar-Conduct/Stellar-Swirl DMG bonus) and a Stellar-Swirl DPS set (ATK +18% two-piece; after triggering Stellar-Swirl, gains Crit Rate and increased Stellar-Swirl DMG). Treat the exact numbers as leak-stage until HoYoverse finalizes them.

For context, the two confirmed 7.0 artifact sets from the official reveal are:

• Scarlet Proof — Boosts Crit Rate and Stellar-Swirl damage. This is the carry set for any Stellar-Swirl DPS.

• Heart of the Furnace — Boosts Attack and the party's Glimmer damage. A support-style set that lifts the entire team's Stellar Glimmer output, useful in both Stellar-Conduct and Stellar-Swirl teams.

The leaked directions above describe how those two sets are expected to function at 4-piece, but only the 2-piece effects (Crit Rate + Stellar-Swirl DMG for Scarlet Proof; ATK + party Glimmer DMG for Heart of the Furnace) are locked from the official side. Build around the confirmed 2-piece bonuses first.

Why Stellar Reactions Matter for Endgame

The 7.0 shake-up is explicitly designed around Fatui bosses and high-DEF enemies. Stellar-Conduct's bonus damage against Fatui and its ability to CRIT make it the go-to reaction for the new boss roster, which includes the Immortal Construct and the Chimeric Winged Lion. If your account leans on Physical or generic Elemental teams, Snezhnaya is the version where investing in Cryo–Electro and Cryo–Anemo compositions pays off hardest.

Beyond raw damage, Stellar reactions reshape how you explore Snezhnaya. Stellar-Swirl's open-world jump-height boost helps you reach elevated platforms and shortcut traversal, while Stellar-Conduct unlocks new interactions with objects in the environment. These are not just combat tools—they are part of the region's puzzle and movement language, similar to how Natlan's Nightsoul changed climbing and Fontaine's Arkhe changed underwater traversal. Players who ignore the system will feel the friction in both fights and overworld navigation.

It is also worth noting the broader design intent: Stellar Glimmer follows "the same structural logic as Fontaine's Arkhe and Natlan's Nightsoul," per the "Sudden Snow" trailer analysis. That means it is a region-defining mechanic, not a one-patch gimmick. Just as everyone eventually built Arkhe or Nightsoul teams, Snezhnaya-era content will assume you can field Stellar reactions—so learning the Polestar Field and Stellar Vortex now is foundational, not optional.

For players planning a big Snezhnaya pull, stocking Primogems ahead of the 7.0 Phase 1 banner is the safe move. A Genesis Crystals top-up at Topuplist's Genshin store keeps your bank ready for Odette and the upcoming Stellar-era units. See Topuplist for UID-only checkout and 24/7 support.

One practical note for wish planning: because the Cryo Traveler is free and unlocks all Stellar reactions, you do not need to spend to access the system—only to chase premium amplifierson like Odette or future Stellar units. That lowers the barrier to entry compared to a normal region launch, where you often need the limited 5-star to make the new mechanic feel good. Budget your Genesis Crystals for the characters that multiply the reaction's value (Odette now; the Tsaritsa later, per leaks), and let the free Traveler carry the enablement role.

Top Up to Prepare for Snezhnaya

Stellar reactions reward investment: the more you build Cryo–Electro and Cryo–Anemo teams, the stronger the Polestar Field and Stellar Vortex scale. Whether you are chasing Odette, building the free Alyosha, or simply enabling the Cryo Traveler, having Primogems and Welkin-grade resources banked makes the 7.0 transition smooth. Top up safely through Topuplist's official Genshin page, and explore the rest of the catalog at Topuplist.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between Stellar-Conduct and Stellar-Swirl?
A: Stellar-Conduct is Cryo + Electro and creates the Polestar Field (boosts Stellar-Conduct/Electro DMG, lowers Physical RES, records hits). Stellar-Swirl is Anemo + Cryo and summons a leveling Stellar Vortex that explodes for Cryo DMG.

Q: How do I unlock Stellar reactions in Genshin 7.0?
A: Arrive in Snezhnaya, resonate with a Statue of the Seven to give the Traveler Cryo power, then bring the Cryo Traveler into your party. All Stellar Glimmer reactions become available.

Q: Do I need Odette to use Stellar reactions?
A: No. The Cryo Traveler is the enabler. Odette is a premium amplifier who converts old reactions into Stellar ones and boosts party Stellar Glimmer DMG, but the system works without her.

Q: Can Stellar-Conduct crit?
A: Yes. Unlike traditional Superconduct (which only boosted Physical DMG), Stellar-Conduct reaction damage can CRIT and deals extra damage against Fatui and high-DEF bosses.

Q: What artifacts should I farm for Stellar reactions?
A: The new 7.0 sets Scarlet Proof (Crit Rate + Stellar-Swirl DMG) and Heart of the Furnace (ATK + party Glimmer DMG) are built for this system. Exact 4-piece values are still leak-stage.

Q: When does Genshin 7.0 release?
A: August 12, 2026 (one day earlier on NA servers, August 11). For the canonical mechanic breakdown, HoYoverse's official Genshin Impact portal and GameRant's 7.0 livestream summary are the references the community cites.