Zhongli Build and Guide

Zhongli is a 5-star Geo Polearm character utilized as a universal Sustain through his powerful Shields but one that can also provide utility through universal RES Shred. Thanks to Geo rarely interfering with other Elemental Reactions, he offers remarkable flexibility and fits into a wide variety of team compositions.

Hit kit revolves around his Elemental Skill, which features two variants depending on how you use it, tapping or holding:

• The Tap variant summons a Stone Stele that deals AoE Geo DMG.

• The Hold variant triggers the same effects previously mentioned on top of a few additional benefits, the most important one being his signature Jade Shield.

The Stone Stele pulses every 2 seconds to deal AoE Geo DMG, whilst simultaneously resonating with other nearby Geo constructs, causing them to also pulse and deal Geo DMG. It lasts 30 seconds long but can be destroyed by enemy attacks. Additionally, at C0, only one Stele can exist at a time, and Zhongli’s Energy particle generation is tied to the Stele’s periodic pulses (with a 50% chance to generate one particle if it hits an enemy). This all means relying on his particle generation is not recommended.

The Jade Shield from his Hold Skill is more important though; it is based on Zhongli’s Max HP, has 150% DMG Absorption against all damage types, and decreases the Elemental/Physical RES of nearby opponents by 20%.

His first Ascension Passive further reinforces his defensive utility, granting the active character a 5% Shield Strength bonus whenever the Jade Shield takes damage, stacking up to 5 times. This effect has no internal cooldown, meaning rapid damage instances (such as Burning) can maximize the stacks almost instantly, and the Shield’s fortification persists even on character swap.

As for his Elemental Burst, it is a nuke that deals AoE Geo DMG and inflicts Petrification onto enemies caught, completely immobilizing them for up to 4 seconds. Due to its lengthy cast animation using his Burst is generally a DPS loss and not optimal until C2.

To finish off his kit his Ascension 4 Passive adds a bit of offensive power to his kit (but not enough in this day and age) by introducing Max HP scaling to all of his damaging effects:

• Zhongli’s Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attack DMG is increased by 1.39% of his Max HP.

• The DMG from Stone Steles, Hold Cast DMG, and Resonance DMG is increased by 1.9% of his Max HP.

• Zhongli’s Elemental Burst DMG is increased by a large 33% of his Max HP.