Best Build for Zhongli in Genshin Impact

Among all the characters in Genshin Impact official site there is one that, regardless of whether you are a casual player or a meta player, is unanimous among fans as a “must have”: the geo archon, Zhongli.

Holder of the best shield among all shielders that impresses with his elemental explosion that throws a meteor at the enemy, Zhongli imposes order on the battlefield and can be either a powerful DPS or a support who will take you to the end of the Spiral Abyss without losing HP . The spear user, in addition to being powerful in the game, is still one of the most interesting characters, with a deep story full of tragedies.

Zhongli is still the lynchpin of many Geo teams due to his elemental ability and how it resonates with others such as Ningguang's Jade Screen, Albedo's Solar Radiance, and even Itto's little bull friend Ushi.

Overall, this can create some incredibly powerful Geo character combinations. So, if you're looking for a good build for Zhongli in Genshin Impact, we'll tell you everything about it here and, if you have any questions, just leave them in the comments.

A mysterious consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, who has a handsome appearance, a well-mannered demeanor, and wisdom beyond anyone's reach.

Even though we don't know where he comes from, he knows the local rules so well. As the consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Home, he can perform all types of Rituals.

Official website description

Zhongli is one of the most respected citizens of the port of Liyue and a consultant who works at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor alongside Hu Tao, but also offers consultories to adventurers in search of secrets and mysteries in the ancient temple ruins spread across the nation. A fact unknown to many is that he is also Archon Geo himself, known by the names Rex Lapis or Morax.

When we meet him for the first time, we are involved in the mystery of the archon's murder and the preparations for his funeral, which must be done with all the honor and pomp necessary for the burial of a god! However, as the plot progresses, we discover that everything was nothing more than a setup by Morax himself so that his nation could learn to “stand on its own two feet” and finally end the contract established by the people of Liyue with the archon.

In the past, Zhongli saw each of his friends, the 5 Yaksha Generals, succumb to the madness that affects all long-lived beings and, one by one, fight each other to the death, with the exception of Xiao. His great friend, the dust goddess Guizhong, also perished in the Archon war, leaving the archon to deal with great trauma and sadness.

Zhongli is educated, wise, calm and very powerful, capable of building or destroying mountains of stone at will. Among his achievements is the creation of Mora itself, the currency in the world of Teyvat. Interestingly, despite this, he is always penniless.

Zhongli has the best shield in Genshin Impact. When created, it places a Geo pillar on the field that deals Geo Damage in an area. Additionally, while it’s on the field, it will resonate with nearby Geo Constructs (such as those created by Ningguang or the Geo Traveler), dealing Geo damage to nearby enemies. The Stone Pillar is considered a Geo Construction, can stop attacks and can be climbed.

Additionally, he creates a Jade Shield that absorbs 150% of all Elemental Damage and Physical Damage based on Zhongli's maximum HP. Characters under the protection of the Jade Shield reduce the Elemental RES and Physical RES of all enemies by 20% in a small AoE.

His Elemental Burst, Planet Befall, launches a gigantic meteor onto the field that explodes and causes massive Geo Damage (401% of HP) to enemies caught in its area, and also applies the Petrifying effect, preventing them from moving for 4 seconds.

In terms of what role will your Zhongli have in the group? So, let's tell you that to get the most out of his power and use our recommended build for Zhongli as a sub-DPS or support you must have:

Weapons

Vortex Vanquisher: As expected, the best weapon option for a 5-star character is their signature weapon that comes in the weapons banner. Increases Shield Strength by 20%. Scoring hits on opponents increases ATK by 4% for 8s. This weapon is perfect for those who want to use the archon as a support and abuse its shield. For Zhongli the Vortex Vanquisher is the next best option.

Staff of Homa: Unfortunately, Zhongli's signature weapon, Vortex Vanquisher, isn't very good for him. However, Hu Tao's polearm is practically perfect for him as a sub-DP or DPS. Staff of Homa increases HP by 20% and grants an attack boost based on 0.8% of the wielder's maximum HP. If your health drops below 50%, this increase is raised by 1%. As you can imagine, the HP boost increases Zhongli's damage and shield strength, and the HP-based attack boost stacks well with what he already gets from his Dominance of Earth passive.

However, having the Staff of Homa or the Vortex Vanquisher, some of the most powerful limited 5-star weapons, is not for everyone, so if you are looking for F2P weapon options for your Zhongli, we recommend:

The Catch: This 4-Star weapon can be obtained through fishing in Inazuma. It increases the Elemental Burst’s Damage by 16% and its CRIT Rate by 6%.

Deathmatch: This 4-star weapon can be obtained in the battle pass (it's not exactly F2P, but you have no chance of losing it). Its effect increases ATK by 16% and DEF by 16%, if there are at least 2 opponents nearby. If there are less than 2 opponents nearby, ATK is increased by 24%.

Artifacts

For this build we recommend two pieces of Archaic Petra and two of Noblesse Oblige. The two pieces of Archaic Petra increase Geo damage by 15%, which strengthens Zhongli's Skill and Elemental Burst. Speaking of Blast, two pieces of Noblesse Oblige increase Blast damage by 20%. This allows Zhongli to be more of a well-rounded damage dealer.

Alternatively, four pieces of the Emblem of Severed Fate will also do a lot of good for your archon. Increases Elemental Burst Damage by 25% of Energy Recharge. At its maximum, it’s possible to obtain a 75% increase in Damage this way.

In terms of substats, you'll want to prioritize HP due to the increased shield strength and damage, and also the bonus Geo damage if you have an artifact with good statuses.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy to get a Zhongli for your account. He is a 5-star limited character and can only be obtained when his banner becomes available in game, which has not happened since version 4.0, in September 2023 and, unfortunately, there is no prediction of when he will return to the game.