Since the introduction of the Dendro element, many characters in Genshin Impact have found a new lease on life, and perhaps none more so than Thoma. Once seen primarily as a niche shielder, he has risen through the ranks to become one of the most effective and accessible triggers for the powerful Burgeon reaction. For players looking to harness the explosive power of Dendro Cores, a Genshin Impact Thoma burgeon build full EM is the definitive way to go, transforming him into a formidable off-field damage dealer. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to build him effectively in 2025.

Why Thoma is Perfect for Burgeon

So, what makes Thoma so special for Burgeon? It all comes down to a mechanic that was once considered his biggest weakness: his Internal Cooldown, or ICD. Thoma's Elemental Burst, Crimson Ooyoroi, unleashes waves of Pyro called Fiery Collapses once per second when the active character performs a Normal Attack. This slow, steady Pyro application is perfect for Burgeon because it reliably detonates Dendro Cores without applying too much Pyro on the enemy and causing the unwanted Burning status. Burning would consume the Dendro aura, preventing you from creating more cores.

Furthermore, Thoma's kit provides inherent defensive utility. Both his Skill and Burst create a Blazing Barrier shield. Even when built with full Elemental Mastery and minimal HP, this shield is surprisingly helpful in mitigating the self-damage that Burgeon explosions inflict on your active character. This makes rotations smoother and much more comfortable to play. It's a fantastic two-in-one package of offense and defense!

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Core Build Philosophy: Full EM and Level 90

When building Thoma for Burgeon, you need to understand that it's a Transformative Reaction. This means its damage is calculated based on only two things: the triggering character's Level and their Elemental Mastery. Stats like ATK, CRIT Rate, and CRIT Damage have zero effect on Burgeon damage. This simplifies his build immensely.

Because of this scaling, the single most important investment you can make is leveling Thoma to 90. The damage increase from level 80 to 90 for Transformative Reactions is a massive ~34%, a boost you simply can't get anywhere else. Prioritize this above all else. His talent levels are secondary; leveling his Skill and Burst will strengthen his shield, which is a nice quality-of-life improvement, but it won't increase your Burgeon damage.

Best Artifacts for a Full EM Thoma

With our goal set on maximizing Elemental Mastery, the artifact choices become very clear. Your primary focus for main stats should be EM on the Sands, Goblet, and Circlet. However, Thoma has high energy needs, so an Energy Recharge (ER) Sands is a perfectly viable option if you can't get his Burst back every rotation.

Here are the top artifact sets for Burgeon Thoma:

  • 4-piece Flower of Paradise Lost: This is Thoma's Best-in-Slot set, providing both EM and a significant damage bonus specifically for Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Burgeon reactions.

  • 4-piece Gilded Dreams: An extremely competitive alternative that is often more Resin-efficient to farm, as its domain partner, Deepwood Memories, is essential for Dendro teams. This set provides a massive amount of EM.

  • 2-piece EM + 2-piece EM Mix: A combination of any two sets that provide +80 EM (like Wanderer's Troupe, Gilded Dreams, or Flower of Paradise Lost) is a fantastic and accessible starting point while you farm for a full 4-piece set.

Crucially, someone on your team must be holding a 4-piece Deepwood Memories set. This is usually your Dendro character. This set shreds enemy Dendro RES, which directly increases the damage of your Burgeon explosions. Without it, you're leaving a lot of damage on the table.

Weapon Choices for Burgeon Thoma

Thoma's weapon choice is a balance between providing EM and solving his Energy Recharge requirements. Luckily, he has some excellent and F2P-friendly options.

  • Kitain Cross Spear: Widely considered his best weapon for Burgeon. This craftable Inazuman polearm provides a solid EM secondary stat and its passive refunds a significant amount of energy, drastically lowering Thoma's ER needs. Just remember to use his Burst before his Skill to maximize the energy refund.

  • Dragon's Bane: If you can solve Thoma's energy needs through artifacts and teammates, this weapon is a powerhouse, offering a huge amount of Elemental Mastery.

  • Rightful Reward: A craftable Fontaine polearm that gives HP% and flat energy when the wielder is healed. A great option that boosts his shield's durability while helping with energy, especially in teams with a healer like Kokomi or Baizhu.

  • Favonius Lance: A fantastic utility choice. While it provides no EM, the energy particles it generates for the entire team can make rotations incredibly smooth. This allows your other characters to build more offensive stats.

Building the Perfect Thoma Burgeon Team

The ideal Burgeon team follows a simple template: Thoma (Pyro Trigger) + Hydro Applier + Dendro Applier + Flex. The goal is to apply Hydro and Dendro to enemies to generate a constant stream of Dendro Cores for Thoma to detonate.

  • Hydro Slot: Consistent off-field Hydro application is key. Xingqiu and Yelan are the undisputed kings here. On-field drivers like Kamisato Ayato and Tartaglia (Childe) also work wonderfully, applying Hydro while their Normal Attacks trigger Thoma's Burst.

  • Dendro Slot: Nahida is the best choice due to her unparalleled Dendro application from both on and off-field. Baizhu is another top-tier option, offering healing, interruption resistance, and decent Dendro application, which consolidates team roles. The Dendro Traveler remains a very strong free-to-play option.

  • Flex Slot: This spot is versatile. You can add a second Hydro unit (like Kokomi or Furina) for more core generation and healing/buffing, or a second Dendro unit (like Yaoyao or Kirara) for better uptime and Dendro Resonance. An Anemo character can work for grouping, but be careful not to accidentally swirl Thoma's Pyro.

A great example team would be Thoma, Nahida, Xingqiu, and Baizhu. This team provides incredible core generation, healing, interruption resistance, and of course, explosive Burgeon damage. 😉

Ultimately, building Thoma for Burgeon is one of the most rewarding and effective ways to use him in 2025. By focusing on leveling him to 90, stacking Elemental Mastery, and surrounding him with the right teammates, you'll unlock a fun and powerful playstyle that can clear some of the toughest content in the game. Happy building!