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The Uncrowned Queen: Who is the Most Useful 5-Star Character in Genshin Impact?

The glittering world of Teyvat boasts a dazzling array of characters, each with their unique skills, talents, and backstories. But when it comes to sheer, undeniable utility, one 5-star character consistently rises above the rest: Zhongli. While power creep is a constant force in Genshin Impact, and new characters frequently offer improved DPS or specific niche strengths, Zhongli’s ability to completely reshape gameplay for any team remains unmatched. His unbreakable shield, potent crowd control, and consistent Geo application make him an invaluable asset in virtually every domain, Spiral Abyss floor, and overworld challenge. He doesn’t just make your team stronger; he makes the game easier.

Why Zhongli Reigns Supreme

Zhongli’s strength isn’t tied to specific team compositions or enemy types. His impact is far more fundamental:

Unrivaled Shield Strength: Zhongli’s Jade Shield provides unparalleled damage absorption. At higher talent levels and with sufficient HP investment, it can effectively negate most incoming attacks, allowing players to focus on offense without constantly dodging. This is especially crucial in high-pressure environments like the Spiral Abyss.
Universal Resistance Shred: Upon activation, the Jade Shield shreds the Elemental and Physical Resistance of nearby enemies by 20%. This is a massive damage boost for the entire team, regardless of their element or role.
Petrification Crowd Control: His Planet Befall burst petrifies enemies, completely immobilizing them for a short duration. This provides crucial breathing room for setting up combos, dealing damage, or simply repositioning.
Geo Resonance Synergies: While not strictly necessary, Zhongli greatly benefits from Geo Resonance, providing additional damage and resistance to interruption.
Ease of Use: Zhongli is incredibly straightforward to build and play. He requires minimal field time and can be slotted into almost any team composition.

While characters like Nahida and Yelan offer unparalleled damage amplification, and others like Kazuha excel in specific elemental teams, Zhongli’s consistent defense, universal resistance shred, and powerful crowd control provide an unmatched level of versatility and security. In a game where survival is often as important as raw damage, Zhongli’s defensive capabilities are a game-changer.

The Runners-Up: Powerful Contenders for the Throne

While Zhongli holds the crown for overall utility, several other 5-star characters deserve recognition for their exceptional contributions:

Nahida: The Dendro Archon is a damage-amplifying powerhouse. Her Elemental Skill provides near-permanent Dendro application and connects enemies, allowing for devastating Spread, Aggravate, and Bloom reactions. She is almost mandatory for Dendro-focused teams.
Yelan: A powerful off-field Hydro applicator and damage booster. Yelan’s Elemental Burst provides consistent Hydro application and buffs the active character’s damage over time. She is incredibly versatile and fits well in many Vaporize and Bloom teams.
Kazuha: An Anemo support extraordinaire. Kazuha’s Elemental Skill and Burst group enemies together, shred their elemental resistance, and boost the team’s elemental damage. He is invaluable for maximizing damage in elemental reaction-based teams.
Bennett: Arguably the most powerful 4-star character, Bennett provides a massive ATK buff and healing within his Inspiration Field. While not a 5-star, his impact on team performance is comparable to many.

These characters excel in specific areas, but none offer the same level of defensive utility and universal applicability as Zhongli.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Genshin Impact’s Most Useful 5-Star Characters

1. Is Zhongli still worth pulling for in the current meta?

Absolutely! While new characters are constantly released, Zhongli’s unrivaled shield and resistance shred remain highly valuable. Power creep may increase damage ceilings, but it doesn’t diminish the importance of survivability, especially in the Spiral Abyss.

2. What are the best artifacts for Zhongli?

For a shield-focused build, 2-piece Tenacity of the Millelith and 2-piece HP% sets (such as Vourukasha’s Glow) are ideal. For a damage-oriented build, 2-piece Archaic Petra and 2-piece Noblesse Oblige can boost his Geo damage and Burst damage.

3. What weapon should I use on Zhongli?

For a shield bot build, the Black Tassel is a surprisingly good option due to its massive HP% substat. For damage builds, Staff of Homa, Vortex Vanquisher, or even Favonius Lance (for energy regeneration) are excellent choices.

4. Does Zhongli need constellations to be effective?

No, Zhongli is perfectly effective at C0. His constellations primarily provide quality-of-life improvements and slight damage increases, but they are not essential for his core utility. C2 can be useful in co-op, since it allows all teammates to gain a Jade Shield.

5. How much HP should I aim for on Zhongli?

For a strong shield, aim for at least 30,000 HP. Higher HP is always better, especially at higher talent levels.

6. What are some of the best teams for Zhongli?

Zhongli is incredibly versatile and can be used in almost any team. He synergizes particularly well with Geo teams (Itto, Albedo, Ningguang), Physical teams (Eula, Razor), and teams that rely on consistent damage output (Hu Tao, Xiao).

7. How does Zhongli’s resistance shred work?

Zhongli’s Jade Shield shreds both Elemental and Physical Resistance by 20% to nearby enemies. This effect is applied upon creation of the shield and lasts for its duration.

8. Can Zhongli’s shield be broken?

Yes, Zhongli’s shield has a health pool and can be broken if it absorbs enough damage. However, with sufficient HP investment and talent levels, it can withstand most attacks.

9. Is Zhongli good for exploration?

Yes! Zhongli’s Jade Shield provides excellent protection against environmental hazards and enemy attacks. His Elemental Skill can also be used to create Geo constructs for climbing and traversal.

10. Should I prioritize HP, Crit Rate, or Crit Damage on Zhongli?

For a shield-focused build, prioritize HP. For a damage-oriented build, prioritize Crit Rate and Crit Damage after ensuring sufficient HP for a decent shield.

11. How does Zhongli compare to other shield characters like Layla or Diona?

While Layla and Diona provide shields, Zhongli’s shield is significantly stronger and also shreds resistance. Their shields are more reliant on Elemental Skill uptime and often require more careful energy management.

12. Is Zhongli worth pulling if I already have another Geo character like Itto or Albedo?

Yes, even if you have other Geo characters, Zhongli’s unbreakable shield and resistance shred still make him a valuable addition to any team. He can significantly improve the survivability and damage output of your entire party.

13. What is the best talent priority for Zhongli?

For a shield-focused build, prioritize his Elemental Skill (Jade Shield). For a damage-oriented build, prioritize his Elemental Burst (Planet Befall) followed by his Elemental Skill.

14. Can Zhongli be used as a main DPS?

While not his primary role, Zhongli can be built as a main DPS with the right artifacts and weapon. However, he is generally more effective as a support or sub-DPS character.

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

There are many excellent resources available online, including community forums, guides, and videos. Understanding the game mechanics and character synergies is crucial for optimizing your team’s performance. Also, the Games Learning Society has a lot of great resources at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Who is the most useful 5-star character in Genshin?