Shenhe Genshin Build Guide

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Introduction to Shenhe

Hey, Genshin Impact players! Today, we're diving deep into the world of Shenhe, the mysterious Cryo polearm user from Liyue. If you've pulled her or are thinking about building her, you're in for a treat. Shenhe isn't just another character; she's a powerful support unit designed to amplify the damage of your main Cryo DPS characters. Her unique kit revolves around her Skill and Burst, which provide significant buffs, making your favorite Cryo wielders hit even harder. We'll break down everything you need to know to get the most out of her, from her best weapons and artifacts to team compositions that will make your enemies tremble. So, grab your snacks, and let's get Shenhe built!

Shenhe's Kit and Role

Shenhe's primary role in any team is Cryo support. Her Elemental Skill, Spring Spirit Summoning, comes in two modes: Nymph's Aid and Talisman Spirit. Nymph's Aid provides a direct Cryo DMG Bonus to her Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts. Talisman Spirit, on the other hand, offers a Skyfrost Ward effect. When Shenhe's attacks hit opponents, they trigger Cryo DMG based on her current ATK. This effect can be triggered a certain number of times and has a cooldown. The real magic happens with her Elemental Burst, Divine Maiden's Deliverance. This AoE Cryo attack deals damage and applies the Icy Quill effect to all party members. Attacks from characters within the Burst's AoE that deal Cryo DMG will consume one stack of Icy Quill and increase their damage. Furthermore, the Burst also lowers the Cryo RES and Physical RES of enemies hit, adding another layer of utility. Understanding these mechanics is key to maximizing Shenhe's potential. She's not meant to be on-field constantly; instead, she's a quick-swap enabler who comes in, uses her skills, buffs your main DPS, and then steps aside to let her allies shine. Her synergy with other Cryo characters like Ayaka, Ganyu, and Rosaria is unparalleled, making her a must-have for many Cryo-focused teams. The more ATK Shenhe has, the better her buffs become, so stacking ATK is a crucial part of her build. Her Ascension 4 passive, Rooted Sorrow, is particularly important as it grants an additional Cryo DMG Bonus based on 15% of Shenhe's ATK when her Spring Spirit Summoning's Nymph's Aid hits an opponent. This further emphasizes the importance of high ATK stats for her support capabilities.

Best Weapons for Shenhe

When it comes to arming Shenhe, you'll want to prioritize weapons that boost her ATK stat. This is because her support capabilities, specifically the damage bonus from her Elemental Skill and Burst, scale directly with her ATK. Therefore, any weapon that provides a high base ATK and an ATK% secondary stat is a top-tier choice. The Calamity Queller, Shenhe's signature weapon, is undeniably her best-in-slot. It boasts a very high base ATK and an ATK% secondary stat, along with a passive that further increases ATK and Cryo DMG Bonus. If you have it, use it. However, don't fret if you don't! There are several excellent F2P (Free-to-Play) and 4-star options that perform admirably. The Engulfing Lightning (while a high-end polearm often used by Raiden Shogun) is also fantastic due to its massive ATK boost and Energy Recharge. If you're looking for more accessible options, the Deathmatch (Battle Pass weapon) is a solid choice, offering a good base ATK and Crit Rate. The Missive Windspear (event weapon) can also be a decent option if you have it, providing ATK%. For 3-star options, the White Tassel is surprisingly effective in the early to mid-game due to its Crit Rate substat and the bonus damage to Normal Attacks, which can synergize with her A1 passive. The Favonius Lance is another great utility option, especially if your team struggles with energy. Its Energy Recharge substat and the particle generation from its passive can be invaluable for smoother rotations, even though it doesn't directly boost her ATK as much. When choosing, always consider the base ATK and the ATK% secondary stat. Remember, the higher Shenhe's ATK, the bigger the buffs she provides to your main DPS. So, focus on maximizing that ATK whenever possible.

Artifact Sets for Shenhe

Choosing the right artifact set for Shenhe is crucial for maximizing her support potential. Similar to her weapons, artifact sets should primarily focus on increasing her ATK and sometimes providing utility like Energy Recharge. The absolute best-in-slot set for Shenhe is 2-piece Gladiator's Finale or 2-piece Shimenawa's Reminiscence combined with 2-piece Noblesse Oblige. This 2pc/2pc combination allows you to maximize her ATK. Gladiator's Finale and Shimenawa's Reminiscence both provide an 18% ATK boost, while Noblesse Oblige provides a 20% Elemental Burst DMG bonus, which indirectly benefits her support role as well. If you can get a 2-piece ATK set and a 2-piece ATK% set (like 2pc Wanderer's Troupe), that works too. However, 2-piece Noblesse Oblige and 2-piece ATK% (Gladiator's, Shimenawa's, or Wanderer's Troupe) is generally the most recommended setup for pure ATK stacking. For a more utility-focused build, especially if your team needs help with Energy Recharge, the 4-piece Noblesse Oblige set can be a consideration. While it offers a significant ATK buff to the entire team after using her Elemental Burst, it might slightly compromise Shenhe's personal ATK stat compared to the 2pc ATK combinations. If you're struggling with energy for Shenhe herself or for the team, the 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate can also be a viable option, as it boosts her Burst damage based on her Energy Recharge. However, this is usually a secondary choice unless you have excellent ER substats and your team composition desperately needs the energy. Focus on the main stats first: For the Sands, you'll want ATK%. For the Goblet, ATK% is also preferred over a Cryo DMG Bonus goblet because her buffs scale with her ATK, not her personal damage. For the Circlet, Crit Rate or Crit DMG can be good if you want her to do a bit more damage herself, but ATK% is often still the best choice for pure support. If you're struggling with Energy Recharge, aim for at least 180-200% ER through substats or a Favonius Lance. Substats priority should be: ATK% > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate/Crit DMG. Remember, the goal is to make Shenhe's ATK as high as possible to maximize her buffing capabilities for your main Cryo DPS.

Stat Priorities

Alright guys, let's break down the stat priorities for Shenhe. This is super important because it dictates how effective she'll be as a support. Remember, Shenhe's main job is to buff your Cryo DPS, and her buffs scale directly with her ATK. So, maximizing ATK is your number one priority, hands down.

Main Stats

  • Sands of Eon: ATK%. You absolutely want ATK% here. There's really no substitute for maximizing her ATK.
  • Goblet of Eonothem: ATK%. Again, ATK% is king. While a Cryo DMG Bonus goblet might seem tempting if you want her to do some damage, her support capabilities are far more valuable, and those scale with ATK. Stick with ATK%!
  • Circlet of Logos: ATK%. This is where things can get a tiny bit flexible. If you have a really good circlet with Crit Rate or Crit DMG substats and your ATK is already sky-high, you could consider one of those. However, for pure, unadulterated support power, ATK% is still the best choice. The more ATK she has, the bigger the buff for your main DPS.

Substats

When you're looking for substats on your artifacts, here’s the order you should prioritize:

  1. ATK%: This is your golden stat. Every little bit of ATK% you get from substats will directly translate into bigger buffs for your team.
  2. Energy Recharge (ER): Shenhe needs to use her Elemental Burst frequently to provide consistent buffs. Aim for at least 180-200% ER. If you're using the Favonius Lance, you might need slightly less. If you're not using Favonius Lance and your team has low ER needs, you might get away with slightly less, but it's always better to have a bit extra for smoother rotations.
  3. Crit Rate / Crit DMG: These are good if you want Shenhe to contribute a bit more damage herself. They aren't essential for her support role, but if you have good rolls on them after hitting your ATK and ER targets, they're a nice bonus.

Important Note: Don't sacrifice your ATK% main stats for Crit stats or ER unless you absolutely have to. Your primary goal is to make Shenhe's ATK as high as possible. If you hit your ATK target and have sufficient ER, then focus on Crit Rate/DMG.

Best Teams for Shenhe

Shenhe truly shines when paired with other Cryo characters who can benefit from her significant damage buffs. Her kit is designed to amplify Cryo damage, so building teams around this synergy is key. The most obvious and arguably the best partners for Shenhe are main DPS characters who deal consistent Cryo damage. Ayaka is often considered Shenhe's queen. Her Elemental Burst deals massive AoE Cryo damage, and Shenhe's buffs make that Burst absolutely devastating. A typical Ayaka freeze team featuring Shenhe would look something like: Shenhe, Ayaka, Kazuha/Venti (Anemo support/crowd control), and Kokomi/Mona (Hydro applicator/buffer). This setup ensures constant Hydro application for freeze, strong Anemo grouping, and Shenhe's massive Cryo buffs on Ayaka's Burst. Ganyu is another phenomenal choice. Whether you're running a melt Ganyu or a freeze Ganyu, Shenhe's buffs provide a substantial boost. For a freeze Ganyu team, you'd use a similar structure to the Ayaka team: Shenhe, Ganyu, an Anemo unit, and a Hydro unit. For melt Ganyu, Shenhe can still work, but you might need to adjust the team to ensure consistent Pyro application for melt reactions. Think Shenhe, Ganyu, Xiangling/Bennett, and an Anemo unit. Rosaria is another excellent 4-star Cryo character that benefits greatly from Shenhe. If you don't have Ayaka or Ganyu, a team built around Rosaria with Shenhe can still be very potent. Shenhe, Rosaria, an Anemo unit, and a healer/shielder is a solid core. Even Eula, a Physical DPS, can benefit from Shenhe's Physical RES shred from her Burst, although her direct damage buffs are less impactful compared to Cryo DPS. A team might look like Shenhe, Eula, Raiden Shogun/Fischl (Electro for Superconduct), and Diona/Zhongli (Healer/Shielder). However, it's important to note that Shenhe's primary strength lies in boosting Cryo damage. Non-Cryo DPS characters generally won't get as much value from her. When building your team, consider:

  • Your Main Cryo DPS: This is the character Shenhe is here to support.
  • Anemo Support: Units like Kazuha, Venti, or Sucrose are crucial for grouping enemies and providing Elemental RES Shred (if they have the right artifacts).
  • Hydro/Electro Applicator: Depending on your DPS, you'll need a reliable way to apply Hydro for Freeze or Electro for Superconduct.
  • Healer/Shielder: For survivability, especially in challenging content.

Remember, Shenhe's damage buffs are based on her ATK, so ensure your Shenhe is well-built before expecting maximum results from your DPS.

Talent Priority

For Shenhe, the Elemental Burst is your absolute top priority, followed closely by her Elemental Skill. Her Normal Attacks don't scale significantly with levels and are rarely used by players building her as a pure support. Here’s the breakdown:

  1. Elemental Burst (Divine Maiden's Deliverance): This is her most important talent. It not only deals damage but, more importantly, provides the Icy Quill buff which increases the damage of your allies' Cryo attacks. Leveling this up directly increases the damage bonus provided by Icy Quill. Since this is her primary function, maxing it out should be your goal.
  2. Elemental Skill (Spring Spirit Summoning): This talent dictates the number of stacks for her Icy Quill buff and provides a Cryo DMG Bonus. While the damage bonus isn't as impactful as the Icy Quill stacks, the number of stacks directly influences how many times your allies can trigger the Icy Quill effect. Leveling this talent increases the maximum number of triggers and also boosts the direct damage from her Skill. It's a close second to her Burst.
  3. Normal Attack: You can realistically leave Shenhe's Normal Attacks at level 1 or ignore them altogether. As a support, she's not on the field to deal damage with her basic attacks. The damage scaling from her Normal Attacks is relatively low, and the resources are much better spent leveling her Skill and Burst.

Constellations: While not strictly a talent priority, it's worth noting that Shenhe's C1 can help with her Skill usage, and her C2 significantly increases the duration of her Burst, which in turn increases the uptime of her buffs. Her C6 is incredibly powerful, allowing her normal attacks to count as charged attacks for her buffing capabilities, but investing in constellations is optional. For a standard build, focus on talents 1 and 2.

Conclusion

So there you have it, guys! A comprehensive guide to building Shenhe in Genshin Impact. We've covered her crucial support role, the best weapons and artifacts to maximize her ATK, stat priorities, ideal team compositions, and talent leveling. Remember, Shenhe is all about amplifying your Cryo DPS. By focusing on high ATK and sufficient Energy Recharge, you'll turn her into an invaluable asset for any Cryo-focused team. Whether you're pairing her with Ayaka, Ganyu, or even Rosaria, a well-built Shenhe can lead to some truly staggering damage numbers. Don't underestimate the power of her buffs! Keep experimenting with different builds and teams to find what works best for your playstyle. Happy adventuring in Teyvat!