Table of Contents

Unearthing the Perfect Partner: Who is the Best DPS Character with Zhongli in Genshin Impact?

Determining the “best” DPS character to pair with Zhongli isn’t as simple as pointing to the highest damage numbers. It depends on your team composition, your preferred playstyle, and the enemies you’re facing. However, generally, the strongest contenders are Hu Tao and Ganyu, each offering distinct advantages alongside Zhongli’s unparalleled support. Hu Tao benefits immensely from Zhongli’s resistance shred and sturdy shield, enabling her to safely and consistently maintain her low-HP damage boost. Ganyu, on the other hand, thrives with Zhongli’s protection while delivering devastating charged attacks from a safe distance, especially in Freeze compositions. Ultimately, the “best” choice depends on your individual needs and the specific team synergy you’re aiming for.

Understanding Zhongli’s Synergies

Before diving deeper into specific DPS pairings, it’s crucial to understand what makes Zhongli such a valuable asset. His primary strengths lie in:

Unbreakable Shield: Zhongli provides the strongest shield in the game, mitigating damage and preventing interruption, allowing DPS characters to unleash their full potential without worrying about survivability. A well built Zhongli should have at least 30k HP, with some shieldbot builds approaching 50k HP.
Resistance Shred: His Elemental Skill, Dominus Lapidis, shreds both Physical and Elemental Resistance of nearby enemies, significantly boosting the damage output of the entire team.
Petrify: Zhongli’s Elemental Burst, Planet Befall, petrifies enemies, providing valuable crowd control and creating openings for DPS characters to deal massive damage.
Geo Resonance: Pairing Zhongli with another Geo character unlocks the Geo Resonance, further increasing shield strength and damage output.

Top DPS Candidates for Team Compositions with Zhongli

While Hu Tao and Ganyu are frontrunners, several other DPS characters synergize effectively with Zhongli. The ultimate choice will vary based on preference.

Hu Tao: A Match Made in the Underworld

Hu Tao excels when paired with Zhongli due to her playstyle, which involves maintaining low HP for maximum damage. Zhongli’s shield ensures her safety, while his resistance shred amplifies her Pyro damage. Xingqiu is an invaluable addition to trigger Vaporize reactions, solidifying this team’s position as a top-tier damage dealer.

Ganyu: Icy Precision with Geo Protection

Ganyu’s charged attacks are devastating, but she is vulnerable while aiming. Zhongli’s shield provides the necessary protection, allowing her to unleash her full potential from a safe distance. Teaming her with Mona and Venti, in a variant of the classic Morgana team, alongside Zhongli creates a Permafrost team that is almost unbeatable.

Xiao: Plunging Power Unleashed

Xiao requires uninterrupted plunge attacks to maximize his damage output. Zhongli’s shield prevents knockback and interruption, allowing Xiao to maintain his aerial assault. The Resistance shred further amplifies his Anemo damage.

Arataki Itto: Geo Supremacy Reinforced

As a Geo DPS, Arataki Itto benefits immensely from Zhongli’s Geo Resonance and shield strength. Itto’s team compositions typically revolve around Geo characters, and Zhongli fits seamlessly into this strategy, enhancing both offense and defense.

Raiden Shogun: Electrical Synergy and Burst Support

Although not as directly synergistic as some other options, Raiden Shogun can still benefit from Zhongli’s shield, especially in teams focused on Electro-charged or Overload reactions. Raiden Shogun benefits from having a consistent shield uptime to allow her to complete her burst attack sequence, undisturbed.

Building Your Zhongli for Optimal Support

To maximize Zhongli’s support capabilities, prioritize the following:

HP: Build Zhongli with as much HP as possible to maximize shield strength. Aim for at least 30,000 HP, and consider the Tenacity of the Millelith artifact set for an additional ATK buff for the team.
Energy Recharge: Ensure Zhongli can consistently cast his Elemental Burst for petrification and damage. Consider using an Energy Recharge weapon or artifact substats.
Talent Levels: Level up Zhongli’s Elemental Skill to increase shield strength.

The Importance of Team Composition and Synergy

Ultimately, the “best” DPS character to pair with Zhongli depends on your overall team composition and strategy. Consider the following factors:

Elemental Reactions: Choose DPS characters that can trigger powerful Elemental Reactions with other team members.
Energy Management: Ensure your team has sufficient Energy Recharge to consistently use Elemental Bursts.
Enemy Type: Adapt your team composition to counter specific enemy types and weaknesses.

Final Verdict

While Hu Tao and Ganyu stand out as excellent DPS pairings with Zhongli, several other characters can synergize effectively depending on your team composition and playstyle. Understanding Zhongli’s strengths and optimizing your team around his capabilities is key to unlocking his full potential. With the right DPS by his side, Zhongli becomes an indispensable asset, providing unparalleled protection and boosting your team’s overall damage output. You can learn more about team building and strategy at sites like the Games Learning Society [https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/].

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Zhongli a DPS character?

While Zhongli can be built as a DPS, he primarily excels as a support character due to his unparalleled shield and resistance shred. However, he does deal damage from his constructs (up to 5), when built properly.

2. How much HP is enough for Zhongli?

Aim for at least 30,000 HP for a strong shield. Building him to 50,000 HP transforms him into a dedicated “shieldbot” with exceptional protection.

3. What artifact set is best for support Zhongli?

Tenacity of the Millelith is generally considered the best artifact set for support Zhongli, providing HP and ATK bonuses.

4. Can Zhongli’s shield be broken?

Yes, but it’s highly durable. The shield’s strength depends on Zhongli’s HP and the talent level of his Elemental Skill. However, if the on-field character is very low level, the shield will fail more quickly.

5. Is Zhongli C1 worth it?

Zhongli’s Constellations are not game-changing. C1 is decent, but there are more important constellations for other characters.

6. What characters benefit most from Zhongli’s resistance shred?

Any DPS character benefits from resistance shred, but those who deal significant Elemental or Physical damage gain the most.

7. Can Zhongli fit in any team?

Yes, Zhongli’s flexibility allows him to fit into various team compositions, providing valuable protection and utility.

8. What is the best weapon for support Zhongli?

Weapons that provide HP or Energy Recharge are ideal for support Zhongli. The Black Tassel (for HP) and Favonius Lance (for Energy Recharge) are good options.

9. Who is a good F2P replacement for Zhongli?

Noelle can provide shielding, but her shield is not as strong as Zhongli’s.

10. Is Xiangling good with Zhongli?

Yes, Xiangling benefits from Zhongli’s shield and resistance shred.

11. How do I make Zhongli’s shield stronger?

Increase Zhongli’s HP and level up his Elemental Skill.

12. What is the weakest shield in Genshin Impact?

Electro-infused shields are generally considered the weakest because they are vulnerable to multiple elements.

13. Does Zhongli’s shield stack with other shields?

No, shields do not stack. The stronger shield will take priority.

14. Is Zhongli the best shield in Genshin Impact?

Yes, Zhongli’s shield is objectively the strongest in the game, offering unparalleled damage absorption and resistance to interruption.

15. What teams is Zhongli best in?

Zhongli excels in teams that require consistent shielding and resistance shred, such as Hu Tao Vaporize, Ganyu Freeze, and Itto Geo teams.

Who is the best DPS character with Zhongli?