The Definitive Build & Analysis

Rarity	(4-Star)
Element	Cryo
Weapon	Sword
Best Role	Shielder / Tenacity Buffer
Stat Priority	HP% > ER > CRIT Rate (Favonius)
Tier	A (Budget Zhongli)

Layla is a sleep-deprived student from the Rtawahist Darshan who boasts the second strongest shield in the game (after Zhongli). Her kit is designed for 100% shield uptime and consistent off-field Cryo application via her "Night Stars," making her the premier holder of the Tenacity of the Millelith set.

Pros

100% Shield Uptime (12s Duration / 12s CD).
Best user of "Tenacity of the Millelith" (consistent procs).
Strongest 4-star shield (scales purely on HP).
C4 provides a massive damage buff to Normal/Charged Attacks.
Very low energy cost (40) for Burst.

Cons

Zero healing capability (pure shielder).
Cryo application can mess up reactions if not careful.
Shield takes time to ramp up strength (Night Stars).
Low personal damage output.

Quick Guide (TL;DR)

If you don't have time for the math, here is the cheat sheet.

Best Artifact: 4pc Tenacity of the Millelith (BiS Support).
Alt Artifact: 2pc Tenacity / 2pc Vourukasha's Glow (Max Shield).
Best Weapon: Key of Khaj-Nisut (Massive HP stat stick + Team EM).
F2P Weapon: Fleuve Cendre Ferryman (Pipe) or Harbinger of Dawn.
Support Weapon: Favonius Sword (Team Battery - Requires Crit).
Main Stats: SANDS: HP% | GOBLET: HP% | CIRCLET: HP% (or CRIT Rate for Fav).
Talent Priority: Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack (Ignore).
Top Team: Layla + Hu Tao + Yelan + Xingqiu.

Pro Tip: Night Stars = Tenacity Buff. Layla generates "Night Stars" over time while her shield is active. When she has 4, they shoot out. These hits count as Elemental Skill DMG, which triggers the 4pc Tenacity buff (20% ATK) off-field perfectly.

Ascension & Talent Materials

Category	Material Name	Source
Ascension	Nilotpala Lotus	Sumeru Water Bodies (Night Only)
Boss Drop	Perpetual Caliber	Aeonblight Drake (Sumeru)
Talent Books	Teachings of Ingenuity	Steeple of Ignorance (Tue/Fri/Sun)

Talent Breakdown & Mechanics

Elemental Skill: Nights of Formal Focus

Curtain of Slumber: Creates a Cryo shield that absorbs damage based on her Max HP.
Night Stars: While the shield is active, it generates 1 Night Star every 1.5s. When the active character uses an Elemental Skill, it generates 2 Night Stars.
Shooting Stars: Once 4 stars accumulate, they fire at nearby enemies as homing Cryo projectiles. This is what triggers Tenacity of the Millelith.

Elemental Burst: Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker

Cost: 40 Energy | Cooldown: 12s | Duration: 12s
The Turret: Summons a Celestial Dreamsphere that fires Starlight Slugs at enemies.
Synergy: Each slug hit generates 1 Night Star for her shield. This creates a loop: Burst feeds Shield Stars -> Shield fires Stars -> Tenacity Buff stays active.

Passive: Like Nascent Light

Ramping Strength: While the shield is active, every time a Night Star is gained, the Shield Strength increases by 6% (Max 24%). This makes her shield much tankier the longer it stays up.

Talent Priority Order:

Elemental Skill (Level 10) - Pure shield strength.
Elemental Burst (Level 8) - Extra damage.
Normal Attack (Level 1) - Ignore.

Stat Requirements & ER Thresholds

Layla's ER needs are modest due to her 40-cost burst, but you want to burst every rotation to generate stars.

Team Context	Weapon	ER Requirement
Solo Cryo (Support)	Favonius Sword	130% - 150%
Solo Cryo (Support)	HP Weapon (Key/Dockhand)	160% - 180%
Double Cryo (Freeze)	Any	120% - 130%

Substat Priority:

HP% (Aim for 40k+)
Flat HP
Energy Recharge (Until requirement met)
CRIT Rate (Only if using Favonius)

Best Artifacts Comparison

Set Name	Role	Reasoning
4pc Tenacity of the Millelith	BiS	Provides +20% HP (Stronger Shield) and her stars trigger the ATK buff off-field perfectly.
4pc Noblesse Oblige	Alt Support	If someone else has Tenacity, use this. 12s/40-cost burst makes her a good Noblesse holder.
2pc Tenacity / 2pc Vourukasha	Max Shield	Provides +40% HP total. Best if you just want the thickest possible shield and don't care about team buffs.

Weapon Rankings

Weapon	Type	Performance	Notes
Key of Khaj-Nisut	HP%	S+	Nilou's sword. Massive HP stat (= massive shield) and shares EM with the team. Best for Vape/Melt support.
Favonius Sword	ER%	S	Universal support weapon. Generates particles for energy-hungry teammates like Ayaka or Eula.
Fleuve Cendre Ferryman	ER%	A (F2P)	Fishing weapon (The Pipe). High ER helps her burst uptime.
Harbinger of Dawn	CRIT DMG	B (DPS Meme)	3-Star weapon. Only use if you are trying to make Layla deal personal damage (not recommended).

Constellation Value

Layla gets significantly tankier with constellations.

C1: Fortress of Fantasy - (Shield) Increases Shield Absorption by 20%. Also generates shields for Co-op teammates. Essential for comfort.
C3: Secrets of the Night - (Strength) +3 Levels to Skill. Directly buffs shield HP.
C4: Starry Dawn - (Buff) When shooting Night Stars, grants the party a Normal/Charged Attack DMG bonus based on 5% of Layla's Max HP. Huge for Hu Tao/Ganyu.
C6: Radiant Soulfire - (Interval) Reduces interval of Night Star generation by 20%. Means faster Tenacity procs and more C4 buffs.

Verdict: C1 makes her shield competitive. C4 turns her into a buffer.

Top Team Compositions

1. Hu Tao Vape/Melt

Main DPS: Hu Tao
Hydro: Yelan / Xingqiu
Support: Layla (C4 + Key)
Flex: Kazuha / Mona

Why it works: Layla shields Hu Tao (who is usually at low HP). Her off-field Cryo allows Hu Tao to occasionally Melt charged attacks for huge numbers. C4 Layla buffs Hu Tao's CA damage.

2. Morgana Variation (Freeze)

Main DPS: Ganyu / Ayaka
Hydro: Mona / Kokomi
Anemo: Venti / Kazuha
Support: Layla

Why it works: Layla provides Cryo Resonance (Crit Rate) and a shield so Ganyu doesn't get interrupted while aiming. Her stars help keep enemies frozen.

Rotations & Combos

Standard Support Rotation:
Layla Q E > Main DPS

Tip: Always use Q before E if possible. The Q generates stars, which instantly start charging up the shield's star count for faster firing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Layla vs. Diona?
Layla has a stronger shield (100% uptime, higher HP scaling) and better offensive buffs (Tenacity + C4). Diona heals and batteries better. Pick Layla for shielding, Diona for healing/battery.

Is her damage good?
Not really. Her multipliers are HP-based but low. Building her for damage (Blizzard Strayer / Crit) usually results in a paper-thin shield for mediocre returns. Stick to HP support.

Data Source: KQM Standards. Last Updated: December 2025

Genshin Impact: Layla Guide