Internal Cooldown

Internal Cooldown, commonly abbreviated as ICD, is a game mechanic that regulates how often an ability can apply an element onto an entity.

Introduction

When dealing elemental damage, we may fully expect that the element would always be applied. However, that isn't always the case.

As seen in the video above, despite clearly doing Cryo DMG, the Melt reaction isn't always triggered.

This is due to a mechanic known as Internal Cooldown, or ICD for short. As seen in the video above, the Internal Cooldown regulates when Cryo is applied as an Element, resulting in not all of our Cryo DMG instances triggering the Melt reaction.

However, the target still takes Cryo DMG, even when Cryo itself isn't applied.

Overview

Internal Cooldown is handled by two properties:

Internal Cooldown is based on the attack's tag and type, as well as the entity that dealt the damage. Attacks from the same entity that share the same tag and type will share ICD.

Internal Cooldown Type

    "Internal Cooldown Type" redirects here. For the definiton of Internal Cooldown Types in data packs, see Internal Cooldown Type definition.

An Internal Cooldown Type contains two properties: the reset interval and the gauge sequence, commonly denoted as: (ResetInterval)s/(GaugeSequence) hits.

For an Element to be applied by the same ability, either:

• The time from the previous Elemental Application to this Elemental Application exceeds the Internal Cooldown's reset interval, or
• The amount of "hits" from this ability that attempted to apply an Element exceeds the Internal Cooldown's gauge sequence.

If any of these conditions are fulfilled, the Internal Cooldown is considered to be inactive, allowing the Element to be applied.

It is also important to note that:

• The first hit after the gauge sequence applies an element, but does not clear the timer given by the reset interval.
• The first hit after the reset interval applies an element and clears both the timer given by the reset interval and the gauge sequence.

In simpler terms, clearing the gauge sequence allows you to apply an element without clearing the reset interval, effectively "sneaking in" an Elemental application, rewarding fast attackers. Slower attackers unable to clear the gauge sequence in time rely instead on the reset interval.

Most abilities in Genshin Impact follow the standard ICD of 2.5s/3 hits, represented in Seven Elements as seven-elements:default. Elemental Attacks that have a cooldown may also choose to have no ICD, represented in Seven Elements as seven-elements:none.