Zhongli Build Guide
An in-depth analysis of Zhongli and his best builds. Includes artifacts, weapons and team recommendations.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s mysterious consultant. Handsome, elegant, and surpassingly learned.
Name: Zhongli
Rarity: ★★★★★
Vision: Geo
Weapon: Polearm
Birthday: 31st December
Region: Liyue
Affiliation: Liyue Harbor
Normal Attack: Performs up to 6 consecutive spear strikes.
Statistics:
Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to lunge forward, causing stone spears to fall along his path.
Statistics:
Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.
Statistics:
Tap
Commands the power of earth to create a Stone Stele.
Hold
Causes nearby Geo energy to explode, causing the following effects:
- If their maximum number hasn’t been reached, creates a Stone Stele.
- Creates a shield of jade. The shield’s DMG Absorption scales based on Zhongli’s Max HP.
- Deals AoE Geo DMG.
- If there are nearby targets with the Geo element, it will drain a large amount of Geo element from a maximum of 2 such targets. This effect does not cause DMG.
Stone Stele
When created, deals AoE Geo DMG. Additionally, it will intermittently resonate with other nearby Geo constructs, dealing Geo DMG to nearby opponents. The Stone Stele is considered a Geo construct that can both be climbed and used to block attacks. Only one Stele created by Zhongli himself may initially exist at any one time.
Jade Shield
Possesses 150% DMG Absorption against all Elemental and Physical DMG. Characters protected by the Jade Shield will decrease the Elemental RES and Physical RES of opponents in a small AoE by 20%. This effect cannot be stacked.
Statistics:
Brings a falling meteor down to earth, dealing massive Geo DMG to opponents caught in its AoE and applying the Petrification status to them.
Petrification
Opponents affected by the Petrification status cannot move.
Statistics:
Suggested Talent Levels
This is by no means an exact guide on what is best – this is just my personal suggestion.
When the Jade Shield takes DMG, it will Fortify:
- Fortified characters have 5% increased Shield Strength.
Can stack up to 5 times, and lasts until the Jade Shield disappears.
Zhongli deals bonus DMG based on his Max HP:
- Normal Attack, Charged Attack, and Plunging Attack DMG is increased by 1.39% of Max HP.
- Dominus Lapidis’ Stone Stele, resonance, and hold DMG is increased by 1.9% of Max HP.
- Planet Befall’s DMG is increased by 33% of Max HP.
Refunds 15% of the ore used when crafting Polearm-type weapons.
Lapis Dei
C2 < C3
C1 allows for Zhongli’s Elemental Skill to have 2 Stone Steles exist at once. This is not particularly useful and is definitely not worth pulling for.
C2 will make you everyone’s best friend in co-op. It creates a shield around all other nearby players when Zhongli uses his Elemental Skill.
This increases the level to which Zhongli’s Elemental Skill can be increased.
C4 increases Zhongli’s Elemental Burst AoE and slightly increases the time his opponents are left petrified. This is useful but isn’t significant enough to pull for.
This increases the level to which Zhongli’s Elemental Burst can be increased.
C6 turns Zhongli into a healer. Generally, you don’t need a healer with Zhongli as his shield is so powerful, therefore this constellation really only benefits you against Rifthound opponents. If you love Zhongli then you can definitely aim for this! Otherwise, it is not worth C6ing this 5-star character.
The below statistics assume that the weapons are all at Level 90 Refinement 1 with all passives activated. Zhongli is at Level 90 10/10/10. The artifacts are each at Level 20 with no sub-stats. For Tenacity of the Millelith the Sands is HP%, the Goblet is HP%, and the Circlet is HP%. For Noblesse Oblige and Archaic Petra, the Sands is HP%, the Goblet is HP%, and the Circlet is HP%. Damage Values are all CRIT hits.
4-Piece Tenacity of the Millelith
4-Piece Noblesse Oblige
4-Piece Archaic Petra
2-Piece: HP increased by 20%.
4-Piece: When an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, the ATK of all nearby party members is increased by 20% and their Shield Strength is increased by 30% for 3s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5s. This effect can still be triggered even when the character who is using this artifact set is not on the field.
Tenacity of the Millelith is Zhongli’s best artifact set. The 2-piece set increases his HP which in turn makes his shield more powerful. As Zhongli’s shield comes from his Elemental Skill, the 4-piece set increases the ATK and Shield Strength of his teammates whenever he uses this. With this set equipped Zhongli becomes an even stronger Shielder and a great buff character.
2-Piece: Elemental Burst DMG +20%.
4-Piece: Using an Elemental Burst increases all party members’ ATK by 20% for 12s. This effect cannot stack.
Noblesse Oblige does not directly benefit Zhongli but instead helps to improve his teammates. It is nowhere near as effective as Tenacity of the Millelith but is a potential substitute.
2-Piece: Geo DMG Bonus +15%.
4-Piece: Upon obtaining an Elemental Shard created through a Crystallize Reaction, all party members gain 35% DMG Bonus for that particular element for 10s. Only one form of Elemental DMG Bonus can be gained in this manner at any one time.
Archaic Petra is a very niche set that Zhongli can take advantage of. It does require Zhongli to be the player that obtains the Elemental Shard which makes team rotation a bit more difficult.
Staff of Homa is Zhongli’s best 5-star weapon option. It not only increases his HP but also provides an ATK Bonus. This is perfect for an all-rounder Zhongli who is capable at both defence and offence.
Vortex Vanquisher, Zhongli’s signature weapon, does not actually fit him very well. Its passive of increasing Shield Strength can be useful, but its secondary-stat of ATK focuses on building Zhongli as a DPS character – which is not his primary purpose. If you want this weapon for its aesthetic appeal then by all means pull for it. However, it is not worth getting it if you want a powerful shielder build.
Favonius Lance helps Zhongli regenerate Energy and act as a battery. This increases his utility as a whole. It is important to note that Favonius Lance’s passive does not work when Zhongli is off-field.
Black Tassel may be a 3-star weapon but it is the polearm with the highest HP% available. As Zhongli’s shield scales off HP this is the absolute best weapon for a shielder build.
Main DPS: Hu Tao (C0+) → DMG amplified via Vaporization reaction.
Sub DPS: Yelan (C0+) → Provides continuous off-field Hydro application. Elemental Burst increases Hu Tao’s DMG.
Sub DPS: Xingqiu (C0+) → Elemental Burst attaches Hydro to opponents.
Shielder: Zhongli (C0+) → Provides a safe environment for the team through a shield.
Main DPS: Arataki Itto (C0+) → Deals DMG using Charged Attacks.
Sub DPS: Albedo (C0+) → Deals off-field Geo DMG.
Sub DPS: Gorou (C0+) → Provides Geo DMG and DEF Bonus.
Shielder: Zhongli (C0+) → Provides a safe environment for the team through a shield.
Main DPS: Lyney (C0+) → Causes each Pyro teammate to add to his own ATK bonus.
Sub DPS: Xiangling (C0+) → Elemental Burst attaches Pyro to opponents and deals a large amount of DMG.
Healer: Bennett (C0+) → Elemental Burst provides ATK buff and heals teammates.
Shielder: Zhongli (C0+) → Provides a safe environment for the team through a shield.
Main DPS: Tighnari (C0+) → Dendro DMG increased through Catalyze reaction.
Sub DPS: Yae Miko (C0+) → Provides continuous off-field Electro DMG.
Sub DPS: Nahida (C0+) → Connects opponents with her Elemental Skill and buffs teammates with her Elemental Burst.
Shielder: Zhongli (C0+) → Provides a safe environment for the team through a shield.
Main DPS: Zhongli (C0+) → Provides a safe environment for the team through a shield.
Sub DPS: Xingqiu (C0+) → Elemental Burst attaches Hydro to opponents.
Sub DPS: Fischl (C0+) → Elemental Skill provides continuous off-field Electro DMG and attachment.
Support: Beidou (C0+) → Elemental Burst provides off-field Electro DMG.
So, what are the pros and cons of Zhongli?
Pros:
- Extremely powerful shield
- Elemental Burst has large AoE
- Fits into any team composition
- F2P weapon options
Cons:
- Low Elemental Particle generation
- Long Elemental Burst animation
The final decision as to whether you get him is up to you! Good Luck Travellers~
