Calm, polite, and reserved: that's Genshin Impact's Zhongli. But just who is he, and what is the best Zhongli build? Alongside a Zhongli weapon tier list, you can follow on with the pointers below to build your new archon into a formidable Geo DPS/shield-supplying hybrid.
Initially presented as a consultant working at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue, we bump into him several times and learn about his involvement with the Seven of Tevyat. This courteous character that apparently doesn’t know how money works is also a bulky DPS on the battlefield, making him a great option for our arsenal.
While you're here, be sure to check out our guide to all Genshin Impact Electroculus locations and Genshin Impact Sakura Bloom locations. We also have a regularly updated Genshin Impact codes guide if you're looking for some handy freebies.
click to enlargeHow do I get Zhongli in Genshin Impact?
Zhongli is obtainable by spending wishes in the Event Banner “Gentry of Hermitage”, which will get a rerun from August 24 to early September.
Zhongli is usually available in the permanent Wanderlust Invocation banner.
What are the best Zhongli builds?
Zhongli’s abilities and gameplay place him as a DPS, however, he has the potential to become a great Support character. This works best with fellow Geo units, though, so unless you're equipped for that, we recommend keeping him as damage.
| Role | Best Weapon | Alternative Weapon | Best Artifacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geo DPS Build | Staff of Homa | Calamity Queller | Noblesse Oblige (4 Pieces) |
| Tank DPS Build | Staff of Homa | Black Tassel | Tenacity of the Millelith (4 Pieces) |
Geo DPS build
The Staff of Homa's Crit DMG effect makes it an excellent weapon when facing numerous opponents, under the right circumstances. However, Black Tassel is a weapon way easier to obtain and its effect makes it a great and affordable option for a build like this.
On the artifact's side, Nobliesse Oblige is by far the best option here with the Elemental Burst damage it adds.
Tank DPS build
With 20% of extra HP and a boost on Attack, the Staff of Homa is the best option for a tank build. Another option is the Calamity Queller, or Black Tassel for those who want free-to-play friendly options.
Same with the Staff of Homa, HP boosting is a priority here, so the Tenacity of the Millelith artifact set is adequate for this purpose, the cherry on top being a buff to our Attack and Shields.
What are the best team comps for Zhongli?
| Team type | Characters | Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Geo only | Zhongli, Itto, Albedo, Gorou | Geo |
| Physical | Zhongli, Bennett, Raiden, Albedo | Geo, Pyro, Electro, Geo |
| Resonance | Zhongli, Traveler, Bennett, Eula | Geo, Geo, Pyro, Cryo |
As DPS, and after numerous rebalances on his abilities, Zhongli stands out in terms of HP amount which makes him a great tank character.
Albedo is easily the best companion for the Geo Archon, with abilities that not only boost Zhongli's Elemental Burst, but also presenting a deadly combination of Geo skills that can inflict serious damage. Bennet brings healing and support tools, and Raiden Shogun or Itto are great Sub-DPS options for this team.
click to enlargeWhat are the best weapons for Zhongli? - Zhongli weapon tier list
| Tier | Weapon | Rarity | Stats | Skills | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Staff of Homa | 5-Star | CRIT DMG + 14.4% | HP increased by 20%. Additionally, provides an Attack Bonus based on 0.8% of the wielder’s Max HP. When the wielder's HP is less than 50%, this Attack Bonus is increased by an additional 1% of Max HP. | Wishes |
| A | Calamity Queller | 5-Star | ATK% + 3.6% | Gain a 12% Elemental DMG Bonus. Obtain Consummation for 20s after using an Elemental Skill, causing ATK to increase by 3.2% 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. | Wishes |
| B | Black Tassel | 3-Star | HP + 10.2% | Increases DMG against slimes by 40%. | Wishes |
The Staff of Homa and its boost on HP is the best option for Zhongli, but you can also use the Calamity Queller. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a craftable option, you can obtain the Black Tassel if you still don’t have any of the former.
- Check out: Genshin Impact Dendroculus locations
That's your very quick look at a Zhongli weapon tier list for now. We'll add a couple more standout picks in the near future, but these choice arms should be the more noteworthy ones you'll want to seek out.
click to enlargeWhat are the best Artifacts for Zhongli?
| Artifacts | Two-Piece Effect | Four-Piece Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Archaic Petra | 15% Geo Damage bonus | Upon obtaining an Elemental Shard created through a Crystalize Reaction, all party members gain 35% Damage to that particular element for 10 seconds. Only one form of Elemental Damage bonus can be gained in this manner at any one time |
| Tenacity of the Millelith | HP increased by 20% | When an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, the Attack of all nearby party members is increased by 20% and their Shield Strength is increased by 30% for 3 seconds. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5 seconds. This effect can still be triggered even when the character who is using this artifact set is not on the field. |
| Noblesse Oblige | Elemental Burst damage +20%. | Using an Elemental Burst increases the entire party’s Attack by 20% for 12 seconds. This effect cannot stack. |
Depending on which build you choose to make, you may need the Archaic Petra in case you want to use Zhongli as a Geo DPS, or Tenacity of the Millelith and Noblesse Oblige for Tank DPS purposes. How many of these you choose to equip on him will depend on your gameplay, so it is suggested that you test different builds, see how they work as mixed or full sets and you can decide then.
What are Zhongli's skills and talents?
| Attack | Effect |
|---|---|
| Normal Attack | Performs up to 6 consecutive spear strikes. |
| Charged Attack | Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to leap forward, causing stone spears to fall along his path. |
| Plunging Attack | Descends from mid-air to strike the ground, damaging enemies and dealing AoE damage upon landing. |
| Elemental Skill - Dominus Lapidis | Press It Summons a Stone Stele that stands up 30 seconds, dealing AoE Geo damage at the spawn point. Hold Causes nearby Geo energy to explode, triggering the following effects: -If their maximum number hasn't been reached, creates a Stone Stele. -Creates a Jade Shield. The shield's damage Absorption scales based on Zhongli's Max HP. Possesses 150% damage Absorption against all Elemental and Physical damage. -Deals AoE Geo damage. -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 damage. Stone Stele When created, deals AoE Geo damage. Additionally, every 2 seconds, it will resonate with other nearby Geo Constructs, dealing Geo damage to surrounding opponents. Stele creation and Resonance generate 0.5 elemental particles. 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% damage Absorption against all Elemental and Physical damage. Characters protected by the Jade Shield will decrease the Elemental Resistance and Physical Resistance of opponents in a small AoE by 20%. This effect cannot be stacked. |
| Elemental Burst - Planet Befall | Brings a falling meteor down to earth, dealing massive Geo damage to opponents caught in its AoE and applying the Petrification status to them. Petrification Opponents affected by the Petrification status cannot move. |
| Talent#1 - Resonant Waves | When the Jade Shield takes damage, it will Fortify. Fortified characters have 5% increased Shield Strength. Can stack up to 5 times, and lasts until the Jade Shield disappears. |
| Talent#2 - Dominance of Earth | Zhongli deals bonus damage based on his Max HP. Normal Attack, Charged Attack, and Plunging Attack damage are increased by 1.39% of Max HP. Dominus Lapidis Stone Stele, resonance, and hold damage is increased by 1.9% of Max HP. Planet Befall deals additional damage equal to 33% of Zhongli's Max HP. |
| Talent#3 - Arcanum of Crystal | Refunds 15% of the ores used when crafting Polearm-type weapons. |
Zhongli shines as a DPS, with emphasis on his tank ability. This is further improved with his Skills, which can either shield your teammates by using Dominus Lapidis or inflict massive damage into the battlefield with Planet Befall.
click to enlargeWhat are Zhongli's constellations?
| Constellation | Effect |
|---|---|
| Rock, the Backbone of Earth | Increases the maximum number of Stone Steles created by Dominus Lapidis that may exist simultaneously to 2. |
| Stone, the Cradle of Jade | Planet Befall grants nearby characters on the field a Jade Shield when it descends. |
| Jade, Shimmering through Darkness | Increases the Level of Dominus Lapidis by 3, up to a maximum level of 15. |
| Topaz, Unbreakable and Fearless | Increases Planet Befall's AoE by 20% and increases the duration of Planet Befall's Petrification effect by 2 seconds. |
| Lazuli, Herald of the Order | Increase the Level of Planet Befall by 3, up to a maximum level of 15. |
| Chrysos, Bounty of Dominator | When the Jade Shield takes damage, 40% of that incoming damage is converted to HP for the current character. A single instance of regeneration cannot exceed 8% of that character's Max HP. |
If you get to pull Zhongli multiple times, you will eventually reach a level of the constellation that will turn him into an excellent DPS unit, with improvements on all his Skills and their respective cooldowns, making Zhongli a great Tank DPS for your party.
What are Zhongli's Ascension materials?
| Ascension Rank | Required Level | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 20000 Mora, Prithiva Topaz Sliver x1, Cor Lapis x3, Slime Condensate x3 |
| 2 | 50 | 40000 Mora, Prithiva Topaz Fragment x3, Basalt Pillar x2, Cor Lapis x10, Slime Condensate x15 |
| 3 | 60 | 60000 Mora, Prithiva Topaz Fragment x6, Basalt Pillar x4, Cor Lapis x20, Slime Secretions x12 |
| 4 | 70 | 80000 Mora, Prithiva Topaz Chunk x3, Basalt Pillar x8, Cor Lapis x30, Slime Secretions x18 |
| 5 | 80 | 100000 Mora, Prithiva Topaz Chunk x6, Basalt Pillar x12, Cor Lapis x45, Slime Concentrate x12 |
| 6 | 90 | 120000 Mora, Prithiva Topaz Gemstone x6, Basalt Pillar x20, Cor Lapis x60, Slime Concentrate x24 |
Ascending Zhongli boosts his Defense and HP stats more than anything else, a welcomed improvement that makes him a great Tanky DPS. Farming the Geo Hypostasis can take a bit, but for improving a unit as helpful as Zhongli is for your team it's worth the effort.
What are Zhongli's Talent level-up materials?
| Daily Drops | Enemy Drops | Weekly Drops |
|---|---|---|
| Teachings/Guide/Philosophies of Gold | Slime Condensate/ Secretions/ Concentrate | Tusk of Monoceros Caeli |
An important part of building Zhongli is remembering to level up his talents and abilities.
And that's everything you need to know about Genshin Impact Zhongli! You now have all the info you need to make the most of the Geo Archon in combat. Good luck!
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