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Is Lady Ningguang Good? A Comprehensive Guide to Liyue’s Geo DPS Dynamo

Yes, Lady Ningguang is good, arguably excellent, especially when considering her status as a four-star character in Genshin Impact. She’s a potent Geo DPS (Damage Per Second) unit capable of dishing out substantial damage, even rivaling some five-star characters, especially with Constellations unlocked. While she has certain drawbacks like animation cancel requirements and relative squishiness, her damage output and unique utility make her a worthwhile addition to any team. Let’s delve deeper into what makes Ningguang a valuable asset and address some common questions surrounding her viability.

Ningguang’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Before we dive into team compositions and specific builds, let’s break down Ningguang’s pros and cons:

Strengths:

High Geo Damage Output: Ningguang’s attacks deal substantial Geo damage, making her effective against enemies weak to Geo or those without elemental shields. Her Jade Screen also provides a constant source of Geo application.
Scalable Damage: Her damage scales exceptionally well with investment. Increasing her attack, critical rate, and critical damage significantly boosts her overall DPS.
AoE Potential: Ningguang’s charged attacks and Elemental Burst deal Area of Effect (AoE) damage, allowing her to effectively clear groups of enemies.
Easy to Obtain: As a four-star character, Ningguang is significantly easier to obtain than five-star units.
Strong Constellations: Her Constellations drastically improve her damage output and utility, with C6 Ningguang being a force to be reckoned with.
Jade Screen Utility: The Jade Screen can block enemy projectiles, providing a layer of protection for the team.

Weaknesses:

Animation Cancels: To maximize her damage output, Ningguang requires animation canceling, which can be difficult for some players to master.
Squishy: She has relatively low HP and DEF, making her vulnerable to enemy attacks. A shield character is often recommended for her teams.
Energy Issues: Ningguang’s Elemental Burst requires a decent amount of energy, and she may struggle to consistently generate enough without proper energy recharge stats or a battery character.
Geo Element Limitations: The Geo element doesn’t react with many elements. While it has Crystallize, it’s not game changing like Vaporize or Melt. This limits the variety of teams she can fit into.

Ningguang’s Talents and Gameplay

Understanding Ningguang’s talents is crucial to maximizing her potential:

Normal Attack: Sparkling Scatter: Ningguang fires gems that deal Geo DMG. A charged attack consumes stamina and fires a large gem dealing higher damage.
Elemental Skill: Jade Screen: Creates a Jade Screen that blocks projectiles and deals Geo DMG. The screen’s endurance scales with Ningguang’s max HP. This is crucial for surviving in difficult content.
Elemental Burst: Starshatter: Ningguang fires a barrage of gems that deal massive Geo DMG. Casting Starshatter creates more gems if a Jade Screen is nearby.

Gameplay Tips:

Animation Canceling: Practice canceling Ningguang’s normal attack animation by dashing or jumping after firing a gem to increase attack speed.
Jade Screen Placement: Strategically place the Jade Screen to block enemy projectiles and enhance your Burst.
Energy Management: Prioritize Energy Recharge to ensure consistent Burst uptime.

Team Compositions for Ningguang

Ningguang can be built with different team compositions based on personal preferences. Here are some common team archetypes where Ningguang shines:

Geo Resonance Team: Featuring characters like Zhongli, Albedo, or Noelle to provide Geo Resonance, boosting damage and shield strength. Zhongli is considered by many to be her best teammate since he provides a shield and universal RES shred.
Quick Swap Team: Focusing on quickly swapping between characters to unleash their skills and bursts, allowing Ningguang to deal burst damage. Bennett is a common pairing for the ATK buff.
Mono Geo Team: This team comp revolves around a single element and may involve other characters like Gorou, Yunjin, or Geo Traveler.

Builds and Artifacts for Ningguang

The best artifact sets for Ningguang are the following:

2-Piece Archaic Petra + 2-Piece Noblesse Oblige: Provides a good balance of Geo DMG Bonus and Elemental Burst DMG.
4-Piece Archaic Petra: Can be used in a support role to buff the elemental damage of your team, but requires careful execution.
2-Piece ATK% + 2-Piece ATK%: Easy to farm and can be effective if you don’t have good substats on Archaic Petra or Noblesse Oblige pieces.
4-Piece Golden Troupe: The recent introduction of the Golden Troupe set has increased the popularity of Ningguang as an off-field DPS.

Main Stats:

Sands: ATK% or Energy Recharge (if needed)
Goblet: Geo DMG Bonus
Circlet: Crit Rate or Crit DMG (depending on your ratio)

Substats:

Crit Rate
Crit DMG
ATK%
Energy Recharge

As for the best weapons, they are as follows:

Five-Star Options:
- Kagutsuuchi Isshin: One of Ningguang’s best-in-slot weapons.
- Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds: Provides a consistent Crit Rate boost and Movement Speed.
- Memory of Dust: Boosts ATK when shielded, synergizing well with shield characters.
Four-Star Options:
- The Widsith: Offers a random but powerful buff upon entering the field.
- Solar Pearl: Boosts Elemental Skill and Burst damage.
- Prototype Amber: Provides healing and energy regeneration, useful for sustain.

Ningguang: A Diamond in the Rough?

Ultimately, Ningguang is a valuable character who, with proper investment and team composition, can excel in various content. Her ability to deal consistent Geo damage, coupled with her unique Jade Screen mechanic, makes her a worthwhile addition to any Genshin Impact player’s roster. Don’t underestimate the power of this Liyue powerhouse! Remember that the Games Learning Society supports research in gaming to help developers create such characters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ningguang

1. Is Ningguang worth building in 2024?

Absolutely! Ningguang remains a strong Geo DPS option in 2024. While the meta shifts and new characters emerge, her consistent damage output and unique Jade Screen make her a viable choice for both early and late-game content.

2. What is Ningguang’s best constellation?

C6 is considered Ningguang’s best Constellation. It grants her additional Star Jades when using her Elemental Burst, significantly increasing her damage output. This is often what makes her compete with five-star DPS options.

3. What is the ideal Crit Ratio for Ningguang?

Aim for a Crit Rate of at least 60% and a Crit DMG of around 120% or higher. Balancing these stats will maximize her overall damage output.

4. Does Ningguang need a shield character?

While not mandatory, a shield character like Zhongli or Noelle is highly recommended. Ningguang is relatively squishy, and a shield can protect her from interruptions and increase her survivability.

5. What is the best team comp for Ningguang?

A popular team comp includes Ningguang, Zhongli, Bennett, and a flex slot (e.g., another Geo character or an off-field DPS).

6. Is Ningguang better as a main DPS or a Sub-DPS?

Ningguang can excel in both roles, but she’s generally better suited as a main DPS due to her consistent damage output and reliance on being on the field. However, she can be an effective Sub-DPS with the Golden Troupe artifact set if built with sufficient ER.

7. How do I effectively use Ningguang’s Jade Screen?

Strategically place the Jade Screen to block enemy projectiles, provide Geo DMG, and enhance your Elemental Burst. Remember that its endurance scales with Ningguang’s Max HP.

8. What are Ningguang’s Ascension Materials?

Ningguang requires Basalt Pillar (dropped by Geo Hypostasis), Glaze Lily (found in Liyue), Recruit’s Insignia (dropped by Treasure Hoarders), and Varunada Lazurite (dropped by Oceanid).

9. How important is Energy Recharge for Ningguang?

Energy Recharge is crucial for Ningguang, as it ensures consistent Elemental Burst uptime. Aim for at least 130-150% Energy Recharge, depending on your team composition and playstyle.

10. Can Ningguang work in the Spiral Abyss?

Yes, Ningguang can be very effective in the Spiral Abyss, especially against enemies weak to Geo. She can deal substantial damage and clear floors quickly with the right team and build.

11. Is Ningguang better than Yanfei?

It depends on your needs. Yanfei is a Pyro DPS and can trigger powerful reactions like Vaporize and Melt. Ningguang is a Geo DPS with consistent damage output and utility from her Jade Screen.

12. Does Ningguang’s Geo DMG scale with HP?

No, Ningguang’s Geo DMG scales with ATK, Crit Rate, Crit DMG, and Geo DMG Bonus. Her Jade Screen endurance, however, scales with HP.

13. How does Ningguang compare to Noelle?

If both are C6, Noelle can be stronger due to her consistent Geo application and healing capabilities. However, Ningguang is more suited to quick-swap comps and burst damage.

14. Why does Ningguang have such a unique role in Liyue’s story?

Ningguang’s wealth and influence give her a powerful position in Liyue’s government. She is the leader of the Liyue Qixing. She isn’t just another face in the crowd!

15. Where can I learn more about Genshin Impact strategies and character builds?

Check out resources like the GamesLearningSociety.org for academic perspectives on game mechanics and strategy, or visit popular Genshin Impact communities and guide websites for in-depth character guides and team building advice.

Is Lady Ningguang good?