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Is Layla the Second Best Shield in Genshin Impact? A Deep Dive

The question of which character holds the coveted title of the second-best shielder in Genshin Impact is a hotly debated topic among players. While Zhongli is the undisputed king of shields, the contenders for the spot below him are varied and each bring something unique to the table. The short answer to the question of whether Layla is the second-best shielder? No, not definitively. While she’s a strong contender with a powerful, consistent shield, it’s not quite as cut-and-dry as simply awarding her second place. This is a more nuanced discussion that dives into team comps, playstyles, and individual character strengths. Let’s explore why.

Layla’s Shielding Prowess: Strengths and Weaknesses

Why Layla is a Strong Shielder

Layla’s primary strength lies in her consistent shield uptime and powerful damage absorption based on her Max HP. Her Elemental Skill, “Nights of Formal Focus,” creates a Cryo shield around all party members. Crucially, this shield has very high uptime and can consistently protect your team. Further enhancing her value, her Elemental Skill also generates Night Stars when characters within the shield use their Elemental Skill, triggering her coordinated attacks for some additional off-field damage.

Several aspects make Layla a top contender:

HP Scaling: The shield’s strength scales directly with Layla’s Max HP. This makes her relatively easy to build, as you can focus on HP stats from artifacts and weapon.
High Uptime: Unlike some shielders, Layla’s shield boasts near-perfect uptime, ensuring consistent protection.
Cryo Application: Her Cryo application can contribute to elemental reactions, particularly in freeze teams.
Easy to Build: With HP as her priority, building Layla is less demanding than some other characters.
Good even at C0: Layla is very functional even at C0, making her highly accessible to players. Her constellations are helpful but not essential.

Where Layla Falls Short of the Top Spot

Despite her strong shielding capabilities, Layla doesn’t quite reach the absolute pinnacle for a few reasons:

Lack of Interruption Resistance: While Layla’s shield is strong, it doesn’t provide inherent interruption resistance that other shielders like Zhongli offer. This means your character can still be staggered or knocked back when taking hits, even under the protection of the shield.
Limited Utility: Compared to some other contenders, Layla’s utility outside of shielding is limited. She doesn’t provide healing or significant elemental buffs. She does do decent off-field damage, but that’s not her primary role.
Specific Team Comps: Layla excels in certain team compositions, like double Hydro teams with Hu Tao, but might not be as versatile as other shielders in other contexts.

Contenders for the Second-Best Shielder Title

While Layla is a strong contender, there are other shield characters who vie for the second-place spot:

Baizhu: His healing and shield are more nuanced, with healing being a significant part of his kit. Baizhu’s shield isn’t as consistently strong as Layla’s, but his support is more well rounded and is considered the second best general support character behind Zhongli.
Diona: Diona offers healing, shielding, Cryo application and the potential for EM buffs (with constellations), making her a strong competitor in teams that can utilize these benefits. She sacrifices some shield strength for overall support and consistency.
Kirara: Kirara’s unique shield scaling with her HP and Dendro application make her very useful for specific teams involving Dendro reactions. Her shield has a shorter duration than Layla’s, which can sometimes be a drawback.
Noelle: Noelle’s shield is Geo, which is more resistant to certain elements and has some offensive capabilities. She needs to be on the field to function as a support and shield character.
Thoma: Thoma’s shield has some utility for Pyro application but it’s quite inconsistent and difficult to maintain for a lot of players, making him a niche choice.

These characters all have their unique advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to declare a single definitive second-best shielder.

Conclusion: Layla’s Place in the Shielding Hierarchy

Layla is undoubtedly a top-tier shielder in Genshin Impact, boasting impressive shield strength and high uptime. However, she isn’t the clear second-best. Baizhu would likely be seen as the second best overall, considering his strong healing and shielding utility. It is more accurate to say that Layla is a strong contender for the second-best shield, especially for players seeking consistent Cryo application and excellent HP scaling.

The choice of the “best” shielder after Zhongli ultimately depends on your team composition, preferred playstyle, and the specific challenges you are facing in the game. Layla should be considered amongst the top choices for those seeking a powerful shield without any major drawbacks. Her accessibility and ease of build only make her an even more enticing character to invest in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Layla’s shield stronger than Zhongli’s?

No, generally speaking, Zhongli’s shield is stronger than Layla’s due to its base damage absorption and all-elemental resistance shred. However, Layla’s shield is more effective against enemy Cryo damage.

2. Does Layla need constellations to be effective?

No, Layla is effective even at C0. Her constellations provide improvements but are not essential to her primary function as a shielder.

3. How do I maximize Layla’s shield strength?

Focus on maximizing Layla’s Max HP through artifacts, weapons, and level. HP% main stats and substats on her artifacts are paramount.

4. Is Layla a good support for Hu Tao?

Yes, Layla is a good support for Hu Tao, especially in double Hydro teams, providing a reliable shield and Cryo application.

5. What is the best weapon for Layla?

Favonius Sword is generally considered the best 4-star support weapon for Layla. Sacrificial Sword is also a great option, but Favonius offers more consistent energy generation.

6. Does Layla need a lot of Crit Rate?

Layla only needs around 30% Crit Rate if you plan to use Favonius Sword to trigger the passive effect reliably. Otherwise, it’s not a crucial stat for her.

7. Should I level Layla to 90?

Yes, it is recommended to level Layla to 90 for maximum utility because she gets a significant 24% HP boost at her final ascension.

8. How much HP should Layla have?

Ideally, Layla should have around 30,000 or more HP to ensure a strong and resilient shield.

9. Is Layla better than Diona?

It depends on the team. Layla has better shield strength, while Diona provides healing and EM buff with constellations. For a strong pure shield, Layla is better.

10. Can Layla be used as a main DPS?

No, Layla is not suitable as a main DPS. Her primary function is to shield and apply Cryo to enemies.

11. What artifacts are best for Layla?

The best artifact sets for Layla are Tenacity of the Millelith (4-piece) or a combination of Tenacity of the Millelith and Vourukasha’s Glow or Emblem of Severed Fate for some additional damage.

12. Is Layla good for Freeze teams?

Yes, Layla is excellent in Freeze teams, providing Cryo application and a reliable shield.

13. Does Layla’s shield protect against all types of damage?

Yes, Layla’s shield absorbs damage from all elements, but it is more effective against Cryo damage.

14. How does Layla’s shield generation work?

Layla’s shield is generated by her Elemental Skill, “Nights of Formal Focus.” It’s duration refreshes when her skill is activated again.

15. Who are the strongest characters in Genshin Impact lore-wise?

Some of the strongest characters in Genshin Impact lore-wise include Zhongli, Ei (Raiden Shogun), Venti, Rhinedottir and Dainsleif.

Is Layla the second best shield in Genshin?