Is Getting Noelle Worth It in Genshin Impact?
Yes, getting Noelle in Genshin Impact is generally considered worth it, especially for new players or those looking for a versatile Geo character who can heal, shield, and deal damage. Her accessibility (guaranteed on the Beginner’s Wish banner) and relatively low investment requirements make her a valuable addition to almost any team, providing survivability and support while contributing respectable DPS.
Why Noelle is a Solid Choice
Noelle often gets underestimated due to being a 4-star character available early in the game. However, dismissing her would be a mistake. Her strengths lie in her all-rounder kit:
- Shielding: Noelle’s Elemental Skill, Breastplate, provides a sturdy shield that scales with her Defense (DEF). This makes her exceptionally tanky and resistant to interruptions.
- Healing: While Breastplate is active, Noelle has a chance to heal the party with each Normal Attack. The healing amount also scales with her DEF, further enhancing her survivability.
- Damage: Noelle’s Elemental Burst, Sweeping Time, drastically increases her attack range and converts a portion of her DEF into Attack (ATK). This allows her to deal significant Geo damage, especially with Constellations.
- Accessibility: Being a guaranteed character on the Beginner’s Wish banner makes Noelle incredibly easy to obtain.
- Constellation Value: Noelle’s Constellations provide huge value, especially C6 which allows her to scale her Attack from DEF significantly while her Elemental Burst is active.
- Low Investment: Noelle can be effective with relatively low-rarity weapons and artifacts, making her budget-friendly to build. Focus primarily on DEF stats for shielding and healing, then Crit Rate/Crit DMG for damage.
Situations Where Noelle Excels
Noelle is a valuable asset in various scenarios:
- Early Game: Her shielding and healing make her an invaluable survival tool in the early stages of the game when resources are limited and team compositions are still developing.
- Spiral Abyss: Noelle can be a surprisingly effective carry in the Spiral Abyss, particularly in floors that require Geo characters or necessitate high survivability.
- Domains: Her shield can mitigate damage from challenging enemies and environmental hazards in Domains.
- Co-op: Noelle provides team-wide healing and shielding, making her a welcome addition to co-op teams, especially for players lacking dedicated healers or shielders.
- Geo Teams: Noelle can be a core member of Geo-focused teams, providing consistent Geo application and benefiting from Geo Resonance.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
Despite her strengths, Noelle also has some limitations:
- Energy Recharge: Noelle struggles with energy recharge without proper team support or artifact investment, particularly before unlocking Constellation 1, which can hinder her burst uptime.
- Single-Target Damage: While Sweeping Time provides significant AoE damage, her single-target damage can be lacking compared to dedicated DPS characters.
- Dependence on DEF: Her reliance on DEF for both shielding and healing can make building her challenging, requiring a specific artifact focus. However, this is mitigated with higher refinement weapons and constellations.
- Competition with Other Characters: As players progress, they may acquire other characters who can perform shielding, healing, or damage dealing more efficiently in specific situations.
When to Prioritize Noelle
You should prioritize building Noelle if:
- You are a new player lacking dedicated shielders or healers.
- You need a reliable Geo character for exploration or combat.
- You enjoy her playstyle and design.
- You have her Constellations, especially C6.
- You need a character that can provide survivability and consistent healing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Noelle
1. What is the best weapon for Noelle?
The best weapon for Noelle depends on your needs and playstyle. Redhorn Stonethresher is her BiS (Best in Slot) weapon, significantly boosting her DEF and damage output. However, more accessible options include Whiteblind (craftable and DEF-boosting), Serpent Spine (Battle Pass weapon with Crit Rate), and even Favonius Greatsword (for energy recharge support).
2. What artifact sets should I use for Noelle?
For a general-purpose build, the Husk of Opulent Dreams set is ideal, providing DEF and Geo DMG Bonus. Alternatively, a 2-piece Husk of Opulent Dreams and 2-piece Archaic Petra can also be used. Retracing Bolide is also a great option focusing on shield strength.
3. How important are Noelle’s Constellations?
Noelle’s Constellations are extremely valuable. C1 makes her healing more consistent while Breastplate is active. C6 is a game-changer, converting a significant portion of her DEF into ATK during Sweeping Time, dramatically increasing her damage potential.
4. What is the best team composition for Noelle?
A good Noelle team typically includes a Geo battery (like Geo Traveler, Albedo, or Ningguang) to help with energy recharge, a sub-DPS character (like Fischl, Beidou, or Xingqiu), and a flex slot that can provide additional damage, utility, or elemental reactions.
5. How do I increase Noelle’s shield strength?
Noelle’s shield strength scales directly with her Defense (DEF) stat. Focus on equipping artifacts with DEF main stats and substats. Certain weapons and team compositions (such as Geo Resonance) can further increase her DEF.
6. Can Noelle be a main DPS?
Yes, Noelle can absolutely be a main DPS, especially at C6. With proper investment and team support, she can deal impressive Geo damage and carry teams through challenging content.
7. Is Noelle better than other Geo characters like Albedo or Zhongli?
Noelle excels in different areas compared to Albedo and Zhongli. Albedo is primarily a sub-DPS with consistent off-field damage. Zhongli is a dedicated shielder and debuffer. Noelle offers a balance of shielding, healing, and damage, making her a more versatile option, especially early on.
8. How do I build Noelle for healing?
To maximize Noelle’s healing, prioritize Defense (DEF) on her artifacts. The Husk of Opulent Dreams set is ideal, and a weapon like Whiteblind can further boost her DEF.
9. What talents should I prioritize leveling for Noelle?
Prioritize leveling Noelle’s Normal Attack and Elemental Burst talents for damage dealing. Leveling her Elemental Skill is also important for shield strength and healing.
10. Is Noelle good for F2P players?
Yes, Noelle is an excellent choice for F2P players. Her accessibility, low investment requirements, and versatile kit make her a valuable asset for players with limited resources.
11. Can Noelle be used in the Spiral Abyss?
Absolutely. Noelle can be a surprisingly effective carry in the Spiral Abyss, particularly in floors that require Geo characters or necessitate high survivability.
12. What stats should I look for on Noelle’s artifacts?
Prioritize DEF as the main stat on Sands, Goblet, and Circlet. For substats, focus on Crit Rate, Crit DMG, DEF%, and Energy Recharge.
13. How does Geo Resonance benefit Noelle?
Geo Resonance (2 Geo characters in the team) increases shield strength by 15% and decreases Geo resistance of nearby enemies by 20% when protected by a shield. This significantly enhances Noelle’s survivability and damage output.
14. What is the best way to generate energy for Noelle’s Burst?
Use a Geo battery character (like Geo Traveler, Albedo, or Ningguang) to generate Geo particles. Equip Noelle with a weapon like Favonius Greatsword or artifacts with Energy Recharge substats.
15. Does Noelle’s healing scale with ATK or DEF?
Noelle’s healing scales with her Defense (DEF) stat. The higher her DEF, the more she will heal the party while Breastplate is active.