Guide
How the kit works
Start with Nights of Formal Focus. It deals AoE Cryo damage and creates the Curtain of Slumber. The shield scales with Layla's Max HP, absorbs Cryo damage with 250% effectiveness and briefly applies Cryo to Layla when deployed.
The shield gains one Night Star every 1.5 seconds. When a protected character uses an Elemental Skill, it gains two more, at most once every 0.3 seconds. At four stars, with an opponent nearby, it fires them in sequence as homing Shooting Stars that deal Cryo damage. No new Night Stars form until that wave finishes.
Use Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker while the shield is active. Its Starlight Slugs deal Cryo damage and add Night Stars when they hit, up to one per shield every 0.5 seconds. If the shield ends or breaks, stored Night Stars vanish, though a wave already firing finishes.
Like Nascent Light increases the protected character's Shield Strength by 6% for each Night Star gained, up to four stacks. Sweet Slumber Undisturbed adds damage to Shooting Stars based on 1.5% of Layla's Max HP.
Build and why
Use four pieces of Tenacity of the Millelith for a shield-focused support build. Its two-piece bonus gives 20% HP. When Layla's Skill hits, the four-piece bonus gives nearby party members 20% ATK and 30% Shield Strength for 3 seconds; it can trigger while Layla is off-field.
For more Cryo damage, Blizzard Strayer gives Cryo DMG Bonus and raises CRIT Rate against opponents affected by Cryo, with a further increase against Frozen opponents. Emblem of Severed Fate gives Energy Recharge and increases Burst damage based on that stat. These sets trade some shield and team support for damage.
Another defensive option is two pieces each of Tenacity of the Millelith and Vourukasha's Glow, giving 20% HP from each set. Four pieces of Noblesse Oblige are an option for a 20% party ATK increase for 12 seconds after Layla uses her Burst; that effect cannot stack.
Choose HP Percentage on the sands and goblet, and usually on the circlet. Energy Recharge is an alternative on the sands if she needs help using her Burst. CRIT Rate on the circlet is useful with Favonius Sword, though it costs you HP. For substats, look for HP Percentage, Energy Recharge, CRIT Rate, HP and CRIT DMG, roughly in that order.
Key of Khaj-Nisut is the first weapon choice: it increases HP by 20%, and Skill hits can build stacks that eventually grant nearby party members Elemental Mastery. The Dockhand's Assistant is an alternative if Layla gets healed: its Symbols can turn into Elemental Mastery and Energy. Favonius Sword can generate Energy-restoring particles on CRIT hits, so give Layla enough CRIT Rate to make use of it.
Leveling priority
For this shield build, a sensible talent order is Nights of Formal Focus first, then Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker. Level Sword of the Radiant Path (NA) last: Layla can contribute through her shield and Burst without spending much time attacking on-field.
For maximum ascension, gather 420,000 Mora, 168 Nilotpala Lotus, 46 Perpetual Caliber, one Shivada Jade Sliver, nine Shivada Jade Fragment, nine Shivada Jade Chunk and six Shivada Jade Gemstone. You also need 18 Divining Scroll, 30 Sealed Scroll and 36 Forbidden Curse Scroll.
To max all three talents, the separate total is 4,957,500 Mora, three Crown of Insight, nine Teachings of Ingenuity, 63 Guide to Ingenuity, 114 Philosophies of Ingenuity, 18 Divining Scroll, 66 Sealed Scroll, 93 Forbidden Curse Scroll and 18 Mirror of Mushin.
Constellations worth it
For a shield-focused build, consider Fortress of Fantasy first. It increases the Curtain of Slumber's absorption by 20%. In co-op, using the Skill also creates a separate shield for nearby party members not protected by a Curtain of Slumber; it has 35% of the main shield's absorption and lasts 12 seconds.
Secrets of the Night adds three Skill levels, making it another option for the shield. Light's Remit helps Layla's Energy: each Shooting Star can restore one Energy to her when it hits.
Starry Illumination is worth considering for teammates who use Normal or Charged Attacks. When Shooting Stars start firing, it grants a damage increase based on 5% of Layla's Max HP. The effect lasts up to 3 seconds and is removed shortly after a qualifying hit.
Stream of Consciousness adds Burst levels, while Radiant Soulfire increases Shooting Star and Starlight Slug damage by 40% and shortens the Skill's Night Star creation interval by 20%. Treat these later constellations as optional for a shield-first build, rather than targets you need to reach.
Teams
Pair Layla with a damage dealer who appreciates protection and can use an Elemental Skill while shielded. That Skill creates extra Night Stars, while Layla provides Cryo damage without needing to stay on-field.
A Cryo and Hydro setup is a good place to use her: try Kamisato Ayaka and Xingqiu alongside Layla, with Kaedehara Kazuha as an Anemo option for Swirl. Ganyu and Yelan are other Cryo and Hydro characters to consider.
For a Pyro and Cryo team, consider Diluc and Bennett with Layla for a Melt setup. Leave the last slot flexible. Bennett is also a listed teammate for Layla, but her own kit does not replace healing if the team needs it.
Common mistakes
Do not ignore the shield's condition. Stored Night Stars disappear if it breaks or expires, so avoid taking more hits than it can absorb. A wave already firing is the exception and will finish.
Do not expect Tenacity of the Millelith to stay active just because the shield exists: Layla's Skill has to hit an opponent, and the team bonus lasts 3 seconds. Likewise, Favonius Sword needs CRIT hits for its particle chance.
Avoid building only damage stats if your main goal is protection. HP Percentage strengthens the shield and also supports Shooting Star damage. Keep enough Energy Recharge to use the Burst when you need its Cryo damage and Night Stars.
