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The Immutable Stone: The Ultimate Zhongli Guide (2025 Edition)
While the meta shifts constantly, Zhongli remains the "CEO of Geo" and the gold standard for comfort in Genshin Impact. He doesn't just shield you; he fundamentally changes the difficulty of the game. Whether you are protecting a glass-cannon like Arlecchino or enabling Neuvillette to attack without interruption, Zhongli is the timeless pick that never fails.
1. The Secret Power: "Universal Shred"
Most players pull Zhongli for the shield, but his hidden power is offensive.
- The Effect: While the Jade Shield is active, enemies within a small radius lose 20% Elemental and Physical Resistance.
- Why It’s Broken: This is one of the only reliable ways to shred Anemo, Geo, Dendro, and Physical resistance. It stacks with artifact sets like Deepwood Memories or Viridescent Venerer, making him a universal damage booster for any DPS.
2. Ascension & Farming Guide
To maximize shield strength, you generally want to push Zhongli to Level 90. Below is the exact breakdown of what you need for every stage of his growth.
Phase-by-Phase Ascension Table
| Ascension Phase | Level Cap | Mora | Prithiva Topaz (Gems) | Basalt Pillar (Boss) | Cor Lapis (Local) | Slime (Enemy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Level 20 | 20,000 | 1x Sliver | — | 3x | 3x Condensate |
| Phase 2 | Level 40 | 40,000 | 3x Fragment | 2x | 10x | 15x Condensate |
| Phase 3 | Level 50 | 60,000 | 6x Fragment | 4x | 20x | 12x Secretions |
| Phase 4 | Level 60 | 80,000 | 3x Chunk | 8x | 30x | 18x Secretions |
| Phase 5 | Level 70 | 100,000 | 6x Chunk | 12x | 45x | 12x Concentrate |
| Phase 6 | Level 80 | 120,000 | 6x Gemstone | 20x | 60x | 24x Concentrate |
| Total (Lv. 90) | 90 | 420,000 | 6x Gemstone (+lower) | 46x | 168x | 36x Concentrate (+lower) |
Quick Farming Locations
- Basalt Pillar: Dropped by the Geo Hypostasis in Guyun Stone Forest, Liyue.
- Cor Lapis: Found on cliffs throughout Liyue. Best farming spot is Mt. Hulao.
- Talent Books: "Gold" series (Taishan Mansion - Wed/Sat/Sun).
3. Weapon Analysis: The Definitive Tier List
Zhongli's weapon choice depends entirely on whether you want him to be a Shieldbot (maximum survival) or a Burst Support (dropping 100k+ meteors).
Shield Support (The "Comfort" Build)
| Rank | Weapon | Why it's the best |
|---|---|---|
| SSS | Black Tassel (3★) | The King of Shields. Provides 46.9% HP—more than any 4-star. Cheap to upgrade. Do not refine. |
| SS | Favonius Lance (4★) | The Team Player. Generates energy for the team. Essential for energy-hungry DPS units. Requires ~40% Crit Rate. |
| S | Dialogues of the Desert Sages (4★) | The HP Runner-up. Event exclusive. 41.3% HP. Excellent if you own it, but unobtainable if you missed the event. |
| A | Rightful Reward (4★) | The Backup. Craftable HP% spear. Use only if you deleted your Black Tassels. |
Burst Support / Hybrid (The "Nuke" Build)
| Rank | Weapon | Why it's the best |
|---|---|---|
| SSS | Staff of Homa (5★) | Best in Slot. Massive Crit DMG + HP boost. Allows for strong shields AND high damage simultaneously. |
| S | "The Catch" (4★) | Best F2P Damage. Boosts Burst DMG and Crit Rate significantly. |
| A | Wavebreaker's Fin (4★) | The Burst Specialist. At high refinements, this outperforms many 5-stars for pure Meteor damage in energy-hungry teams. |
| A | Deathmatch (4★) | The Consistency King. Battle Pass weapon. Huge Crit Rate boost makes balancing your artifact stats incredibly easy. |
4. The Build: Artifacts & Stats
Option A: The "Shieldbot" (Recommended)
Aims for 50,000+ HP. Zero skill required; just hold E and become invincible.
- Artifacts: 4-Piece Tenacity of the Millelith (+20% HP, +ATK for team).
- Main Stats: HP% Sands / HP% Goblet / HP% Circlet.
Option B: The "Support Hybrid"
Aims for a strong shield but also heavy Burst damage.
- Artifacts: 4-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate or Noblesse Oblige.
- Main Stats: HP% Sands / Geo DMG Goblet / Crit Rate or DMG Circlet.
5. How to Play: Mechanics & Tips
- Hold E vs. Tap E: Always Hold E. Tapping only creates a pillar; Holding creates the Shield AND the pillar.
- Pillar Placement: Aim slightly to the side when fighting bosses. If you cast the pillar inside a boss's hitbox, it will break instantly.
- The "Microwave": Place his pillar near other Geo constructs (like Chiori's dolls) to chain resonant Geo damage pulses.
6. Top Team Compositions (Version 5.x)
The "Bond of Life" Savior (Arlecchino)
Team: Arlecchino + Yelan + Bennett + Zhongli
Arlecchino cannot be healed in combat. Zhongli is mandatory to prevent her from being one-shot, while his Universal Shred boosts her Pyro damage.
The Hydro Sovereign (Neuvillette)
Team: Neuvillette + Furina + Kazuha + Zhongli
Prevents Neuvillette from being knocked out of the air during his hover attack. Also generates Crystallize shards to stack his passive damage buff.
The Classic Walnut (Hu Tao)
Team: Hu Tao + Xingqiu + Yelan + Zhongli
The safest team in the game. Keeps Hu Tao alive at low HP, allowing her to maintain maximum damage buffs without risk.
7. Constellations
Zhongli is complete at C0. However, if you plan to invest vertically:
- C1 (Two Pillars): Mostly useless for shielding. Good for Chiori synergy or AFK farming.
- C2 (The Game Changer): Planet Befall (Burst) grants a shield to all party members. This allows you to shield via Burst, guaranteeing 100% uptime. It is also the only way to shield teammates in Co-op Mode.
- C6 (The Healer): When the shield takes damage, it heals the active character.
