Shenhe build guide

Shenhe
Shenhe character card

Cryo Support Shenhe

Shenhe

Noblesse Oblige (4)
Noblesse Oblige FlowerNoblesse Oblige FeatherNoblesse Oblige SandNoblesse Oblige GobletNoblesse Oblige Circlet

Sands - ATK / Energy Recharge
Goblet - ATK
Circlet - ATK
  1. Skill (E)
  2. Burst (Q)
  1. Energy Recharge
  2. ATK%
  3. Crit Rate / DMG
  1. Calamity Queller (5✩)
  2. Engulfing Lightning (5✩)
  3. Any 5-star weapon (5✩)
  4. Favonius Lance (4✩)
  5. Wavebreaker's Fin (4✩)
  6. The Catch R5 (4✩)

Freeze
ShenheAyakaKokomiKazuha
Mono Cryo
ShenheAyakaGanyuVenti

Shenhe functions as a support character that specializes in giving damage buffs to cryo characters. Her Elemental skill (E) gives cryo attack buff through Icy Quills which scales base on her currrent attack. The number of Icy Quills stacks and duration is based on whether you tap or hold her E. Meanwhile her Elemental Burst (Q) shred cryo and physical resistance and deals periodical cryo damage within its AOE.

Her 1st ascension passive gives a 15% cryo damage bonus for the active character that stands within her burst AOE. Her 2nd ascension passive gives additional buffs depending on whether you tap or hold E;

  • Press: Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst DMG increased by 15% for 10s.
  • Hold: Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attack DMG increased by 15% for 15s.

Focus on building ATK% for her so she can provide the highest damage buff for her team while also dealing decent damage herself. Do remember that this additional flat damage bonus only works on Cryo attacks. Her main concern is energy recharge to maintain an 80 cost burst. Accordingly, ER should be second in priority substat wise however, this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re running Shenhe with 2 other cryo characters.

Talent

  1. Skill (E)
  2. Burst (Q)

Weapon

  1. Calamity Queller (5✩)*
  2. Engulfing Lightning (5✩)*
  3. Vortex Vanquisher (5✩)*
  4. Skyward Spine (5✩)
  5. Favonius Lance (4✩)*
  6. Primordial Jade Winged Spear (5✩)
  7. Lithic Spear (2 stacks) (4✩)
  8. Staff of Homa (5✩)
  9. Wavebreaker’s Fin (4✩)
  10. Prototype Starglitter (4✩)

Artifact

  1. Noblesse Oblige (4)
  2. Shimenawa’s Reminiscence (2) Gladiator’s Finale (2)
  3. +18% ATK set (2) Emblem of Severed Fate (2)
  4. Blizzard Strayer (4)*

Main Stat

  • Sands – ATK% / Energy Recharge*
  • Goblet – ATK%
  • Circlet – ATK%

Substat

  1. ATK%
  2. Energy Recharge
  3. Crit Rate / DMG
  4. Flat ATK

More about Shenhe:

Another thing to note is that the additional flat damage bonus Shenhe provides uses Shenhe’s current ATK, so it doesn’t snapshot. Also Cryo infusion from Anemo characters does act as a Cryo attack, so it benefits from Shenhe’s Elemental Skill.

Regarding Substats:

Crit Rate is an option if you’re running Favonius Lance and wants to proc its passive (Cryo Resonance provides 15% Crit Rate on Cryo-imbued enemies, so the need for Crit Rate on Shenhe is lowered).
If you’re equipping an ATK% weapon, try to aim for an Energy Recharge sands and vice versa.

Regarding Weapon Choices:

Calamity Queller her BiS weapon with the highest base attack in game on top of a secondary ATK stat. Its passive also further boost her ATK after using E and doubles whenever she leaves the field.
Engulfing Lightning addresses her ER requirement while also providing extra ATK based on her total ER.
Favonius Lance provide one of the highest base attack for a 4 star weapon and also gives energy from its secondary stat and passive.
Vortex Vanquisher: This weapon’s passive can’t be stacked off-field, but it’s still an ATK stat stick which provides Shenhe with a lot of ATK.

Regarding Artifact Sets:

Blizzard Strayer (4) should only be considered if you’re running Shenhe as a main DPS. Even so, her low AA multiplier means that her damage will get outperform by 4 star characters.
+18% ATK set (2) Emblem of Severed Fate loses slightly in ATK buffs but makes up for the +20% ER.