Ningguang build guide

Ningguang

Ningguang can serve as either a DPS or sub DPS character depending on her role in the team. If the team already has a dedicated DPS then she would be relegated as sub DPS. Ningguang Elemental Skill (E) place a Jade Screen in the field dealing damage while also buffing the geo damage of whoever who passes it. Plus, it also serves as a good battery source for geo hypercarries namely Noelle and Itto. Her Elemental Burst (Q) is pretty straightforward by launching Star Gems onto enemies dealing huge damage. Ningguang’s biggest weakness is that she’s held back by the game’s auto targeting as often the projectiles from her attacks would either miss or target someone else. On top of that, her role as a main DPS gets outshine with other 5 star characters and also the increasing difficulty of spiral abyss.

DPS Ningguang

Talent

  1. Normal Attack (AA)
  2. Burst (Q)
  3. Skill (E)

Weapon

1. Memory of Dust (5✩)
2. Skyward Atlas (5✩)
3. Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5✩)
4. Dodoco Tales (4✩) [R5]*
5. The Widsith (4✩) ~= Solar Pearl (4✩)
6. Blackcliff Agate (1 stack) (4✩)
7. Eye of Perception (4✩)
8. Frostbearer (4✩)

Artifact

  1. Archaic Petra (2) +18% ATK set (2)
  2. Retracing Bolide (4)
  3. Noblesse Oblige (2) Archaic Petra (2)
  4. Noblesse Oblige (2) +18% ATK set (2)

Main Stat

  • Sands – ATK%
  • Goblet – Geo DMG
  • Circlet – Crit Rate / DMG

Substat

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

Regarding Weapon Choices:

Dodoco Tales: Generally, Dodoco Tales is outperformed by The Widsith/Solar Pearl at [R3], however with the right buffs, The Widsith can match Dodoco Tales at lower refinements. Note that Bennett’s buff / Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayer’s buff + Noblesse Oblige (4) buff may push The Widsith and Solar Pearl above Dodoco Tales, even at low refinements.
TheWidsith/Solar Pearl: If your stats aren’t balanced, then whichever weapon’s substat is better for balancing you out at the 1:2 ratio (assuming [C2]) will outperform the other. For example, if you’re at 50/70 from artifacts, The Widsith is ahead even with no theme on charged attacks thanks to it pushing your crit damage high enough to overpower Solar Pearl’s crit rate. If your crit rate and crit damage are at 50/100 or 60/120 or similar balanced values, The Widsith is very slightly better so long as you get two good themes in a row before EM themes, which on average is expected.

Regarding Artifact Sets:

This set ranking order assumes [C2] so that you have efficient energy generation with burst loops. If you don’t have [C2] and can’t quickly regain your Elemental Burst basically off cooldown, then a full Retracing Bolide (4) set may be better.

Retracing Bolide (4): This set is generally recommended for players without Ningguang [C2+] . N1 > CA rotations are the most ideal for this set, to prevent stamina consumption you need to be close up to enemies so the Normal Attack hits before the CA animation starts.

Regarding Constellations and others:

Walk through your Skill before using Burst for more damage. Normal Attack Animation Cancel is possible if you hold down on a walking direction and do Normal Attack before you start moving.

Ningguang [C2] can reset Skill cooldown when Skill is used while there’s an existing Jade Screen, shattering the existing Jade Screen and triggering the [C2] perk. See example below:
Skill Cast > Wait Skill CD (11s) > Skill Cast > [C2] resets Skill CD > Skill Cast (Shatters Previous Barrier) > Wait [C2] CD (6s) > Skill Cast (Shatters Previous Barrier)

Sub DPS / Nuke Ningguang

Talent

  1. Burst (Q)
  2. Skill (E)
  3. Normal Attack (AA)

Weapon

1. Skyward Atlas (5✩)
2. Memory of Dust (5✩)
3. Solar Pearl R4 (4✩)
4. Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (5✩)
5. Solar Pearl (4✩)
6. The Widsith (4✩)*
7. Blackcliff Agate (4✩)
8. Eye of Perception (4✩)
9. Dodoco Tales (4✩)[R5]

Artifact

  1. Noblesse Oblige (2) Archaic Petra (2)
  2. Archaic Petra (2) +18% ATK set (2)
  3. Noblesse Oblige (2) +18% ATK set (2)

Main Stat

  • Sands – ATK%
  • Goblet – Geo DMG
  • Circlet – Crit Rate / DMG

Substat

  • Crit Rate / DMG
  • ATK%
  • Energy Recharge
  • Flat ATK

Regarding Weapon Choices:

The Widsith: The Widsith is ranked lowly due to the playstyle not aligning with its downtime. (You might get 1-2 Burst rotations without buff active, depending on how quickly you rotate your supports) For this reason, its average DPS is below Solar Pearl.

Regarding Weapons Ranking with Bennett’s Burst considered:

With Bennett’s burst considered, Solar Pearl and Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds will be ranked above Memory of Dust, with Solar Pearl outperforming Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds at [R2+]. This is because in a quickswap composition, it is difficult to develop and maintain stacks on a [R1] Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds.

Regarding Constellations and others:

If Ningguang is [C6], talent priority changes to Burst > Normal Attack > Skill.

Walking through the Jade Screen before casting burst is heavily recommended for the Geo DMG bonus.