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Genshin Impact Zhongli build guide: Best weapons, artifacts & team compositions

Aakrit Sharma
Zhongli with Staff of Homa, Vortex Vanquisher, and artifacts

Zhongli, the Geo Archon, is one of the strongest characters in Genshin Impact. If you’re yet to witness his potential, check out this guide on how to build Zhongli with the best set of artifacts, a weapon, and teams.

It is hard for Genshin Impact characters to stay relevant for a long time because almost every update expands the roster. However, some characters like Zhongli are an exception to this as even after two years of release, the Geo Archon is one of the most picked characters in the game.

What makes Zhongli special are his irreplaceable shields. They can absorb unreal amounts of damage with which your damage dealers can deal damage freely. On top of that, Zhongli has decent damage-dealing abilities making him the perfect sub-DPS.

In this guide, we’ll explain Zhongli’s playstyle and the best artifacts, teams, and, weapons for him.

Genshin Impact cut-scene featuring Zhongli

Zhongli’s abilities in Genshin Impact explained

Elemental Skill

Zhongli’s Elemental Skill in Genshin Impact can be used in two ways:

  • Press the Elemental Skill button once to create a Geo construct that blocks attacks and you can climb.
  • Press and hold the Elemental Skill button to create the Geo construct and form a shield that absorbs damage based on Zhongli’s max HP.

The Geo construct is called Stone Shele. It deals AoE Geo DMG upon creation while the Jade Shield decreases the opponent’s Elemental and Physical RES and grants 150% DMG absorption against all Elemental and Pyshical DMG.

Elemental Burst

Zhongli literally summons a meteor through his Elemental Burst in Genshin Impact. Upon hitting the ground, this meteor deals massive Geo DMG to opponents in its radius and Petrifies them.

The Petrification status in the game stops enemies from moving for a short duration.

How to play Zhongli in Genshin Impact

You can use Zhongli either as a primary shielder or as a burst-DPS character in Genshin Impact. As a shielder, you simply have to hold the Elemental Skill button to summon the shield and swap him with your main damage dealer.

As a burst-DPS, you’ll have to level up Zhongli’s Elemental Burst and use it before the Elemental Skill. After dealing a ton of Geo DMG and petrifying the enemies, create a shield and swap him with your main DPS.

Zhongli can also be a Physical damage dealer like Eula in Genshin Impact. As a Polearm user, he has some of the fastest attacks in the game and his damage output at high investment is undoubtedly impressive.

Having said that, this role is not recommended for the Geo Archon as there are many damage dealers that are better equipped for it.

Zhongli standing in Genshin Impact

Best artifacts for Zhongli in Genshin Impact

Four-piece Tenacity of the Millelith

If you want to use Zhongli as a shielder, the four-piece Tenacity of the Millelith artifact set in Genshin Impact is ideal. The two-piece increases HP by 20% while the four-piece set increases the ATK and shield strength of all nearby party members after using the Elemental Skill.

Both these buffs are desirable for Zhongli because his shield strength is based on his max HP. Moreover, the four-piece bonus benefits the entire team which is exactly what you’d expect from a supporting character.

Four-piece Noblesse Oblige

Noblesse Oblige is a universally brilliant artifact set for Genshin Impact support characters, and Zhongli is no exception. The two-piece increases Elemental Burst DMG and the four-piece buffs the ATK of all party members for 12 seconds after using the Elemental Burst.

The four-piece Noblesse Oblige is perfect for a Burst-DPS Zhongli build in Genshin Impact. You’ll get massive Geo DMG from the Burst and after petrifying the opponents, you can swap to another damage dealer and make the most of the ATK buff from the four-piece set.

Two-piece Archaic Petra with two-piece Noblesse Oblige/Tenacity of the Millelith

The two-piece Archaic Petra set grants a 15% Geo DMG Bonus which is great if you want Zhongli to deal more damage in Genshin Impact. The four-piece set isn’t really useful so we recommend pairing it with a two-piece Noblesse Oblige or Tenacity of the Millelith.

Use Tenacity of the Milelith if Zhongli is the primary shielder of the team. If the Geo Archon is being used as a Burst-DPS, the two-piece Noblesse Oblige is a better option.

Which artifact stats are best for Zhongli?

If you want Zhongli to create unbreakable shields in Genshin Impact, simply go for HP% on your Sands, Circlet, and Goblet.

However, to maximize Zhongli’s damage as a sub-DPS/Burst-DPS, you should choose Geo DMG Bonus for the Goblet and Crit Rate/Crit DMG for Circlet. HP% is still a brilliant stat for your Sands artifact.

Zhongli with Azhdaha in Genshin Impact

Best weapons for Zhongli in Genshin Impact

Staff of Homa

Although the Staff of Homa is a five-star Polearm tailor-made for Hu Tao, it is also the best weapon for Zhongli. This is because you get over 66% Crit DMG at Lv. 90 and the passive ability increases HP by 20%.

With a Staff of Homa, your Zhongli’s Elemental Burst can be an overpowered skill that deals massive damage. At the same time, the HP buff from the passive will improve the shield strength.

Vortex Vanquisher

Vortex Vanquisher is the tailor-made five-star weapon for Zhongli in Genshin Impact. It grants a ton of ATK and the passive ability improves shield strength.

Best four-star Polearms for Zhongli in Genshin Impact

As it turns out, many four-star Polearms like the Deathmatch, Lithic Spear, Blackcliff Pole, and Favonius Lance work well with Zhongli. None of these Polearms will improve shield strength but they all buff your ATK/damage in unique ways.

Based on availability and your team’s need, feel free to use any of these Polearms with Zhongli and make him a solid Burst-DPS.

Black Tassel

If you want a weapon to buff Zhongli’s shield strength in Genshin Impact, you can choose the three-star Black Tassle. The weapon grants HP% but do note that the passive ability is almost useless.

Official Genshin Impact artwork for Zhongli

Best team compositions for Zhongli in Genshin Impact

If it wasn’t obvious by now, Zhongli is one of the most flexible characters in Genshin Impact you can use a shielder/Burst-DPS/sub-DPS in literally any team. Thanks to his Geo element, you won’t be messing with elemental reactions and the damage dealers will be able to fulfill their role more freely.

Zhongli works best with on-field damage dealers like Xiao, Hu Tao, Ganyu, Itto, Eula, Diluc, and Nahida. The goal is to use Zhongli’s shield and switch to these main DPS units. If you’ve built Zhongli properly, his shield will allow these damage dealers to dominate the opponents without interruption and taking any damage.

Zhongli also reduces the need for a dedicated healer in a team. With his shields, you’ll be taking very less damage than usual and someone like Xingiqu is enough to take care of the healing.

Here are some team compositions that you can try out with Zhongli:

  • Hu Tao, Xingiqu, Albedo/Kazua, Zhongli
  • Ganyu, Kokomi/Mona, Rosaria/Venti, Zhongli
  • Keqing, Fischl, Dendro Traveler, Zhongli
  • Xiao, Jean, Albedo, Zhongli
  • Eula, Raiden Shogun, Fischl, Zhongli

We hope this guide helps you build Zhongli in Genshin Impact. We have similar build guides for Kokomi, Ayato, and Dendro Traveler as well.

For more Genshin Impact content, you can check out our farming guides for Sakura Bloom, Sango Pearl, Geoculus, Lotus Head, Sacrificial Knife, Philanemo Mushrooms, Valberry, and Dandelion Seeds.

Image Credits: HoYoverse

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