Master the Arena with Genshin Impact's Zhongli

Genshin Impact's iconic character, Zhongli, has quickly become a fan favorite for many players. Known by several titles such as the retired archon, funeral parlor director, or Geo polearm user, he’s carved out a niche in many players’ teams. Whether you are a newbie or an old hand at the game, this guide aims to help you better understand his abilities and how to maximize his potential for both attack and defense.

Understanding Zhongli's Abilities

Zhongli's ability set is surprisingly straightforward. Every Genshin Impact character comes with three levelable talents: normal attack, elemental skill, and elemental burst. However, Zhongli’s normal attack is not frequently used due to its relatively low scaling. The final hit in the combo will only do just over 100% of his attack at level 10, leading to a recommendation to focus on his other abilities instead.

Capitalizing on Elemental Skills

Zhongli's elemental skill is the mainstay of his kit. Indeed, this skill is so impactful that the in-game "talent reference" (which collates data from all players) places it as the number one priority for leveling. Just a single tap of the skill button drops a Stone Steele that deals AOE Geo damage. Holding down the skill button offers more. It not only produces a Stone Steele but also materializes his Jade Shield.

The Jade Shield: A Reliable Protector

Zhongli's Jade shield is a formidable defensive tool. The strength of this shield's absorption scales with his health points (HP). The higher his HP, the more robust the shield. At level 10, it creates a shield equivalent to 23% of his HP plus an additional 2.7k HP. Zhongli's passive talent, "Resonant Waves," provides bonus shield strength when enemies attack, enhancing its defensive capability.

Zhongli’s Elemental Burst: A Swift Response

An impressive feature of Zhongli’s kit is his elemental burst, which can be a game-changer in tight situations. It petrifies enemies in an AOE for a few seconds, allowing players to regroup or reactivate their shield. Despite the damage being scaled off his attack, which is boosted by his HP through the "Dominance of the Earth" passive talent, it remains potent. Therefore, it pays to capitalize on this burst when building his character.

The Value of Zhongli in Genshin Impact 

Playing Zhongli brings significant value to your Genshin Impact team. His Jade Shield and Elemental Burst offer defensive and offensive flexibility to your strategies, making Zhongli a versatile addition to your team rooster. Plus, his shield replaces the need for a specialized healer, thereby freeing up space for another character. In the ever-evolving world of Teyvat, having characters as versatile and dependable as Zhongli can go a long way in securing your team’s success.