Genshin Impact: Build Guide for Citlali

Citlali is a strong support character in Genshin Impact. Unlike other Cryo units in the game, Citlali has the unique ability to directly reduce enemy resistance to Hydro and Pyro elements, even though those are not her primary elements. This makes her an excellent choice for team compositions that focus on elemental reactions like Freeze and Melt.

As with any character in Genshin Impact, giving Citlali the best possible build is key to helping her stand out as a powerful support rather than settling for average performance. While her skill set centers around Cryo applications and debuffs, she also provides crucial buffs that greatly enhance team performance.

Let’s go over the best weapon choices, team setups, and artifact recommendations for Citlali. If you have any questions, leave a comment.

Mavuika

Citlali’s Abilities

Citlali is a five-star catalyst user who deals Cryo DMG. Her abilities focus on creating shields and enabling powerful elemental reactions, making her highly versatile and effective in many combat scenarios.

• Elemental Skill: When activated, Citlali generates a shield that scales with her Elemental Mastery and is particularly strong against Cryo damage. She also summons Itzpapa, one of her pillows, who deals AoE Cryo DMG. This ability also puts Citlali into the “Night Spirit’s Blessing” state, temporarily empowering her. If she has at least 50 Night Spirit Energy, Itzpapa follows the active character and continues dealing AoE Cryo DMG.

• Elemental Burst: Her Burst summons multiple creatures that attack a specific area with Cryo DMG and restore Citlali’s Night Spirit Energy. Additionally, three Spiritvessel Skulls appear near enemies and explode after a short delay, dealing extra Cryo DMG and restoring more energy to Citlali.

The damage from her Elemental Skill and Burst scales with Elemental Mastery. While Itzpapa is active and reactions like Freeze or Melt are triggered, enemy resistance to Pyro and Hydro is reduced, making Citlali a powerful enabler for those reactions.

Weapons for Citlali

Citlali’s top weapon choice is her signature banner weapon, Starcaller’s Observatory. It provides a high Elemental Mastery stat and boosts the active character’s damage after generating a shield. Its synergy with her abilities makes it an ideal option, although it is not a free weapon.

Good alternatives include catalysts that boost Elemental Mastery, such as A Thousand Floating Dreams (Nahida’s signature weapon) and Wandering Star. Another great option is Sacrificial Fragments, a strong 4-star weapon that has a chance to reset her Elemental Skill cooldown. This lets her use the skill again, improving shield uptime, Cryo application, and energy generation for her Burst.

Free-to-play options include Fruit of Fulfillment, Favonius Codex, and Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers. These are decent choices that complement Citlali’s kit. Thrilling Tales, in particular, offers a strong ATK% buff that can support the rest of the team.

Best Artifacts

The best artifact sets for Citlali enhance her support role and increase her contribution to elemental reactions. A top-tier option is Ashen City Hero’s Scroll, which provides energy and boosts elemental damage for the whole team. This is especially effective if you have another Natlan character on the team to activate Night Spirit’s Explosion.

Gilded Dreams is another powerful option that works regardless of your team’s regional composition. Citlali’s second passive talent reduces enemy Pyro and Hydro resistance when she participates in a reaction with either element. However, she does not benefit from Cryo resonance. In other words, avoid pairing her with another Cryo character.

To get the most out of Citlali, focus on artifacts with Elemental Mastery and Energy Recharge. Stats like ATK and DEF are less relevant, as most of her value comes from her abilities and support utility. Recommended main stats include:

• Sands: Elemental Mastery

• Goblet: Elemental Mastery

• Circlet: Elemental Mastery

Team Compositions

Citlali is a flexible unit who performs well in Melt and Freeze-focused teams. Her resistance reduction and shield generation make her a valuable partner for Hydro and Pyro characters. Here are a few team suggestions:

• Melt Team: Citlali, Bennett, Xiangling, and a Pyro DPS. Citlali reduces Pyro resistance, while Bennett and Xiangling provide additional damage and support.

• Freeze Team: Citlali, Neuvillette, Furina, and Xilonen. This team uses Hydro and Cryo application to keep enemies frozen. Xilonen acts as the healer, and Citlali strengthens the team with her shields and debuffs.