Zhongli Guide and Best Builds

Zhongli Guide and Best Builds for Genshin Impact

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 for a period making him incredibly flexible in a wide range of teams.

Last updated on Jun 05, 2024 at 11:00 by Shikhu
S Rating
Geo Element
Polearm Weapon
Rarity
Keith Silverstein EN Voice Actor
Tomoaki Maeno JP Voice Actor
1.

Strengths and Weaknesses

V Strengths
  • +The strongest shield in the game
  • +Shield gives a 20% resistance shred increasing DPS
  • +Incredibly flexible, can be used in a large range of team comps
  • +Elemental Burst petrifies enemies
X Weaknesses
  • -Shields have no impact on corrosion attacks
  • -Burst can result in a DPS loss due to its long animation
  • -Low energy generation
2.

Shielder Zhongli

The aim of this build is entirely just to focus on increasing shield strength to its highest potential regardless of the actual damage output. This offers lower damage but can have an incredibly low investment allowing you to have an effective Zhongli for little resin.

BiS Weapon Black Tassel
Alternative Weapons
  1. Dialogues of the Desert Sages
  2. Rightful Reward
  3. Favonius Lance
Best Artifacts
  1. Tenacity of the Millelith
  2. 2-piece HP % + 2-piece HP %
Main Stats
  • Sand Stats: HP %
  • Goblet Stats: HP %
  • Circlet Stats: HP %
Substat Priority
    1. HP %
    2. HP
    3. Energy Recharge
Talent Priority
  1. Elemental Skill
  2. Elemental Burst
  3. Normal Attack

Black Tassel is currently the strongest weapon simply due to its high HP scaling even though it is a 3-star. Dialogues of the Desert Sages still has less HP and Zhongli can only utilise the Energy saving passive if they have Chrysos, Bounty of Dominator (C6) while Rightful Reward provides less HP but instead offers additional Energy Recharge.

Due to the focus on an easy-to-build character the only substat you need to worry about is HP %. If you did want to increase your damage and you feel your shield strength is excessive you could transition to a Geo Goblet / CRIT Circlet.

If you are using him just for shields you only really need to worry about leveling the Elemental Skill, Dominus Lapidis with the burst being a much lower priority if you have other characters still to invest in.

3.

Burst Support Zhongli

Focusing on damage instead of simply pure shields does require more investment but provides a lot more damage. This build is even more useful with Zhongli's C2, Stone, the Cradle of Jade with shields being applied from Planet Befall. The effects of Stone, the Cradle of Jade also apply to your entire party making Zhongli effective on co-op.

BiS Weapon Staff of Homa
Alternative Weapons
  1. Primordial Jade Winged-Spear
  2. Skyward Spine
  3. Calamity Queller
  4. "The Catch"
  5. Deathmatch
  6. Wavebreaker's Fin
Best Artifacts
  1. Emblem of Severed Fate
  2. Noblesse Oblige
Main Stats
  • Sand Stats: ATK % / HP %
  • Goblet Stats: Geo DMG
  • Circlet Stats: CRIT Rate / DMG
Substat Priority
    1. CRIT Rate / DMG
    2. ATK %
    3. HP %
    4. Energy Recharge
Talent Priority
  1. Elemental Skill
  2. Elemental Burst
  3. Normal Attack

Staff of Homa is by far the best weapon for this build, but players will often use it on different characters. As a result, the alternate weapons become better options, especially if another Polearm character is in your party.

For sands it partially depends on your own experiences on how effective the shield is for you and if you need the HP %. Both stats are useful but ATK % will be the more optimal choice for damage.

4.

Combos and How to Play Zhongli

Zhongli's main focus is on his shield, simply hold your elemental skill, Dominus Lapidis, to create a shield. Zhongli's placement of the Stone Steles can be very important however, if placed at a bad angle or against larger enemies it may automatically break losing you any benefits outside of the shield.

Planet Befall summons a meteor in front of your character meaning that positioning of your character and grouping of enemies is important to ensure enemies are petrified. When petrified you have the ability to easily set up additional reactions and support your team without interruption.

5.

Zhongli's Best Team Comps

Zhongli is an incredibly versatile support character and is often used with a wide range of teams. As a general rule, Zhongli is best when with Geo characters or characters who really need the stagger resistance such as Bow characters. However, you can fit him into any team that does not require a healer or shielder of a specific element for reactions.

5.1.

Zhongli Mono Geo

Main DPS Sub DPS Support Support
Arataki Itto Albedo Zhongli Gorou

Mono Geo teams are common for Geo characters allowing you to take advantage of Geo Resonance and resistance shred. Zhongli's pillars created with Dominus Lapidis, react with other constructs such as those created by Geo Traveler allowing the pulse to transfer to other constructs increasing damage.

5.2.

Ganyu Melt Team

Main DPS Sub DPS Support Support
Ganyu Xiangling Bennett Zhongli

Many of Ganyu's best compositions aim to create a Melt reaction to achieve high damage, to successfully do this Ganyu needs to be able to charge attack without interruption which is where Zhongli comes into play. Great shields and interruption resistance from Zhongli with Geo meaning it will not interfere with Melt.

5.3.

Lyney Pyro Team

Main DPS Sub DPS Support Support
Lyney Xiangling Bennett Zhongli

Much like the previous comp, Lyney's damage primarily comes from charged attacks. Zhongli provides interruption resistance meaning Lyney can easily deal high damage. Kazuha is a great alternate to Xiangling.

5.4.

Neuvillette Hypercarry

Main DPS Support Support Support
Neuvillette Tartaglia Kaedehara Kazuha Zhongli

Neuvillette is an incredibly powerful character who heavily benefits from Zhongli's resistance interruption, resistance shred as well as an increased damage bonus from Neuvillette's 1st Ascension passive, Heir to the Ancient Sea's Authority. Childe in this situation is here for Hydro as well as his ability to increase talent levels by 1.

6.

Zhongli's Ascensions, Talents, and Constellations

Zhongli Ascensions Zhongli Talents Zhongli Constellations
6.1.

Zhongli Ascension Passives and Materials

Unlock Ascension Passive Explanation
With Character Arcanum of Crystal Refunds 15% of the ore used when crafting Polearm-type weapons.
1st Ascension Resonant Waves

When the Jade Shield (from Dominus Lapidis) 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.
4th Ascension Dominance of Earth
  • Fortified characters have 5% increased Shield Strength.
  • Can stack up to 5 times, and lasts until the Jade Shield disappears.

Zhongli requires a range of materials to ascend to the 6th ascension. Starting from the second ascension, he gain additional Geo Damage as his bonus stat giving a total of 28.5% increased Geo Damage at the final ascension. The total cost to upgrade all ascensions is:

Source Quantity
Mora 420,000 Mora
Boss Material 46x Basalt Pillar
Ascension Material
Local Specialty 168x Cor Lapis
Enhancement Material
  • 18x Slime Condensate
  • 30x Slime Secretions
  • 36x Slime Concentrate
6.2.

Zhongli's Talents

Listed below is each talent and a simplified explanation of how they work.

Type Talent Name Brief Explanation
Normal Normal Attack: Rain of Stone Standard normal attack dealing 6 hits.
Elemental Skill Dominus Lapidis
  • Press creates Stone Stele dealing Geo damage and resonating with other constructs.
  • Hold creates a Stone Stele but also a shield based on your max HP and drains Geo from up to 2 applicable enemies nearby.
Elemental Burst Planet Befall AoE meteor in front of Zhongli dealing Geo damage and Petrifies opponents.

To upgrade a single talent to level 10, it costs:

Source Quantity
Mora 1,625,500 Mora
Special Material 1x Crown of Insight
Boss Material 6x Tusk of Monoceros Caeli
Domain Material
  • 3x Teachings of Gold
  • 21x Guide to Gold
  • 38x Philosophies of Gold
Enhancement Material
  • 6x Slime Condensate
  • 22x Slime Secretions
  • 31x Slime Concentrate
6.3.

Zhongli's Constellations

Zhongli's best constellations are Stone, the Cradle of Jade and Topaz, Unbreakable and Fearless. With C2 providing alternate build options and C4 being handy quality of life improvements. Chrysos, Bounty of Dominator is interesting in a sense due to turning Zhongli into a potential healer, but is not something to aim for.

# Name Explanation
C1 Rock, the Backbone of Earth Increases the maximum number of Stone Steles created by Dominus Lapidis that may exist simultaneously to 2.
C2 Stone, the Cradle of Jade Planet Befall grants nearby characters on the field a Jade Shield when it descends.
C3 Jade, Shimmering through Darkness
  • Increases the Level of Dominus Lapidis by 3.
  • Maximum upgrade level is 15.
C4 Topaz, Unbreakable and Fearless Increases Planet Befall's AoE by 20% and increases the duration of Planet Befall's Petrification effect by 2s.
C5 Lazuli, Herald of the Order
  • Increases the Level of Planet Befall by 3.
  • Maximum upgrade level is 15.
C6 Chrysos, Bounty of Dominator
  • When the Jade Shield takes DMG, 40% of that incoming DMG is converted to HP for the current character.
  • A single instance of regeneration cannot exceed 8% of that character's Max HP.
6.4.

Changelog

  • 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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