Zhongli Guide and Best Builds
Zhongli is the Geo Archon of Liyue and a 5-star Polearm Character in Genshin Impact who brings some of the strongest shields and even the unique ability to petrify enemies. Read our Zhongli guide to learn more about Zhongli's kit, Zhongli's best Builds and also his Ascension and Talent Materials.
Zhongli Guide & Best Builds
Welcome to our Zhongli build guide for Genshin Impact. Zhongli is a 5-Star Geo Support Character who can be played as either a pure shielder or a Burst Support. In our guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to get the most out of your Zhongli, from building the best Artifacts and Weapons to important stat priorities and rotations.
Different Zhongli Build Options
Zhongli has two main build paths. His Pure Shielder build focuses on maximizing his shield strength and comfort, while his Burst Support build invests more into damage through his Elemental Burst.
Best Weapons for Zhongli
Listed below are Zhongli's best weapons for his Pure Shielder build. This build focuses on increasing his shield strength or providing additional team utility.
Favonius Lance
Windfall
Base ATK: 565
Energy Recharge: 30.6%
CRIT Hits have a 60% / 70% / 80% / 90% / 100% chance to generate a small amount of Elemental Particles, which will regenerate 6 Energy for the character. Can only occur once every 12s / 10.5s / 9s / 7.5s / 6s.
Black Tassel
Bane of the Soft
Base ATK: 354
HP: 46.9%
Increases DMG against slimes by 40% / 50% / 60% / 70% / 80%.
Dialogues of the Desert Sages
Principle of Equilibrium
Base ATK: 510
HP: 41.3%
When the wielder performs healing, restore 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 Energy. This effect can be triggered once every 10s and can occur even when the character is not on the field.
Rightful Reward
Tip of the Spear
Base ATK: 565
HP: 27.6%
When the wielder is healed, restore 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 Energy. This effect can be triggered once every 10s, and can occur even when the character is not on the field.
Listed below are Zhongli's best weapons for his Burst Support build. This build focuses on increasing the damage of his Elemental Burst while maintaining some shielding utility.
Staff of Homa
Reckless Cinnabar
Base ATK: 608
CRIT DMG: 66.2%
HP increased by 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40%. Additionally, provides an ATK Bonus based on 0.8% / 1% / 1.2% / 1.4% / 1.6% of the wielder's Max HP. When the wielder's HP is less than 50%, this ATK Bonus is increased by an additional 1% / 1.2% / 1.4% / 1.6% / 1.8% of Max HP.
Lumidouce Elegy
Bright Dawn Overture
Base ATK: 608
CRIT Rate: 33.1%
ATK increased by 15% / 19% / 23% / 27% / 31%. After the equipping character triggers Burning on an opponent or deals Dendro DMG to Burning opponents, the DMG dealt is increased by 18% / 23% / 28% / 33% / 38%. This effect lasts for 8s, max 2 stacks. When 2 stacks are reached or when the duration is refreshed at 2 stacks, restore 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 Energy. Energy can be restored this way once every 12s. The 2 aforementioned effects can be triggered even when the character is off-field.
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear
Eagle Spear of Justice
Base ATK: 674
CRIT Rate: 22.1%
On hit, increases ATK by 3.2% / 3.9% / 4.6% / 5.3% / 6% for 6s. Max 7 stacks. This effect can only occur once every 0.3s. While in possession of the maximum possible stacks, DMG dealt is increased by 12% / 15% / 18% / 21% / 24%.
Skyward Spine
Black Wing
Base ATK: 674
Energy Recharge: 36.8%
Increases CRIT Rate by 8% / 10% / 12% / 14% / 16% and increases Normal ATK SPD by 12%. Additionally, Normal and Charged Attacks hits on opponents have a 50% chance to trigger a vacuum blade that deals 40% / 55% / 70% / 85% / 100% of ATK as DMG in a small AoE. This effect can occur no more than once every 2s.
Calamity Queller
Extinguishing Precept
Base ATK: 741
ATK: 16.5%
Gain 12% / 15% / 18% / 21% / 24% All Elemental DMG Bonus. Obtain Consummation for 20s after using an Elemental Skill, causing ATK to increase by 3.2% / 4% / 4.8% / 5.6% / 6.4% per second. This ATK increase has a maximum of 6 stacks. When the character equipped with this weapon is not on the field, Consummation's ATK increase is doubled.
"The Catch"
Shanty
Base ATK: 510
Energy Recharge: 45.9%
Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 16% / 20% / 24% / 28% / 32% and Elemental Burst CRIT Rate by 6% / 7.5% / 9% / 10.5% / 12%.
Deathmatch
Gladiator
Base ATK: 454
CRIT Rate: 36.8%
If there are at least 2 opponents nearby, ATK is increased by 16% / 20% / 24% / 28% / 32% and DEF is increased by 16% / 20% / 24% / 28% / 32%. If there are fewer than 2 opponents nearby, ATK is increased by 24% / 30% / 36% / 42% / 48%.
Wavebreaker's Fin
Watatsumi Wavewalker
Base ATK: 620
ATK: 13.8%
For every point of the entire party's combined maximum Energy capacity, the Elemental Burst DMG of the character equipping this weapon is increased by 0.12% / 0.15% / 0.18% / 0.21% / 0.24%. A maximum of 40% / 50% / 60% / 70% / 80% increased Elemental Burst DMG can be achieved this way.
Best Artifacts for Zhongli
Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City
Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City
2-Piece Set: When a nearby party member triggers a Nightsoul Burst, the equipping character regenerates 6 Elemental Energy.
4-Piece Set: After the equipping character triggers a reaction related to their Elemental Type, all nearby party members gain a 12% Elemental DMG Bonus for the Elemental Types involved in the elemental reaction for 15s. If the equipping character is in the Nightsoul's Blessing state when triggering this effect, all nearby party members gain an additional 28% Elemental DMG Bonus for the Elemental Types involved in the elemental reaction for 20s. The equipping character can trigger this effect while off-field, and the DMG bonus from Artifact Sets with the same name do not stack.
Archaic Petra
Archaic Petra
2-Piece Set: Gain a 15% Geo DMG Bonus.
4-Piece Set: Upon obtaining an Elemental Shard created through Crystallize or triggering a Lunar-Crystallize reaction, all party members gain a 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.
Tenacity of the Millelith
Tenacity of the Millelith
2-Piece Set: HP +20%
4-Piece Set: 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
2PC
Vourukasha's Glow
2PC
Tenacity of the Millelith
2-Piece Set: HP +20%
4-Piece Set: 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.
Vourukasha's Glow
2-Piece Set: HP +20%
4-Piece Set: Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst DMG will be increased by 10%. After the equipping character takes DMG, the aforementioned DMG Bonus is increased by 80% for 5s. This effect increase can have 5 stacks. The duration of each stack is counted independently. These effects can be triggered even when the equipping character is not on the field.
Emblem of Severed Fate
Emblem of Severed Fate
2-Piece Set: Energy Recharge +20%
4-Piece Set: Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 25% of Energy Recharge. A maximum of 75% bonus DMG can be obtained in this way.
Noblesse Oblige
Noblesse Oblige
2-Piece Set: Elemental Burst DMG +20%
4-Piece Set: Using an Elemental Burst increases all party members' ATK by 20% for 12s. This effect cannot stack.
Zhongli's Stat Priority
Pure Shielder Zhongli should focus almost entirely on HP to maximize the strength of his Jade Shield. Energy Recharge can still be useful if you want to use his Burst more often, but it is not required for the shield-focused build.
Burst Support Zhongli should focus on offensive stats such as CRIT, Geo DMG, and ATK%. HP% can still be used on the Sands if you want to preserve more shield strength while still improving his Burst damage.
Recommended Stats for Zhongli
Build recommendations assume a pure shield-focused Zhongli build using Favonius Lance or Black Tassel. These stats focus mainly on comfort and shield strength.
Build recommendations assume a Burst Support Zhongli build using offensive weapons such as Staff of Homa or "The Catch". These stats focus on improving his Burst damage while keeping his shield functional.
Zhongli's Talent Priority
For Pure Shielder Zhongli, his Elemental Skill is the most important talent to level because it directly increases the strength of his Jade Shield. His Elemental Burst can be leveled afterward if you want additional damage or crowd control.
For Burst Support Zhongli, his Elemental Burst should be prioritized first to increase his meteor damage. His Elemental Skill should still be leveled afterward to maintain useful shield strength.
How to Play Zhongli
Zhongli's main role is to provide one of the strongest shields in the game. In most teams, his rotation is extremely simple: hold his Elemental Skill, Dominus Lapidis, to create a Jade Shield before swapping to your main DPS.
His shield also reduces nearby enemy resistance, making Zhongli useful not only for defensive comfort but also for increasing overall team damage. Proper placement of his Stone Stele can matter, as it can break against large enemies or be poorly positioned, causing you to lose some utility outside of the shield itself.
Zhongli's Elemental Burst, Planet Befall, summons a meteor in front of the active character, dealing AoE Geo damage and Petrifying enemies. This can be useful for crowd control and setting up damage windows, but in Pure Shielder builds it is often optional unless you need the Petrification effect.
Zhongli's Best Constellations
Zhongli's most valuable constellations are C1 Rock, the Backbone of Earth, C2 Stone, the Cradle of Jade, and C4 Topaz, Unbreakable and Fearless. C1 allows Zhongli to create an additional Stone Stele from his Elemental Skill, which can be especially useful in Lunar-Crystallize teams by providing more Geo application and helping trigger additional Lunar-Crystallize hits.
C2 allows his Elemental Burst to grant shields, opening up smoother team rotations and co-op utility. C4 increases the AoE and Petrification duration of his Burst, making it a useful quality-of-life upgrade. His C6 Chrysos, Bounty of Dominator can turn him into a limited healer, but it is generally not something most players should specifically aim for.
Zhongli's Best Team Compositions
To learn all about Zhongli's synergies and best team compositions, check our dedicated Zhongli team page below:
Changelog
- 29 Apr. 2026: Zhongli guide updated for 6.5.
- 27 Sep. 2025: Updated for 6.0.
- 12 Feb. 2025: Reviewed for 5.4.
- 19 Jan. 2025: Updated for 5.3.
- 03 Jun. 2024: Reviewed for 4.7.
- 13 Mar. 2024: Updated Shieldbot build with new spear for 4.5.
- 31 Jan. 2024: Guide reviewed for Patch 4.4.
- 29 Nov. 2023: Guide added.
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Asher is a Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves creator and theorycrafter with over three years of experience in Teyvat and one year in Solaris-3. He has been producing guides and analysis content consistently for the past six months, building a growing YouTube community of more than 8,000 subscribers. He focuses on creating simple, clear, and beginner-friendly guides designed to help new players understand characters, builds, and meta strategies with ease.