Guide
How the kit works
Start with Breastplate to deal Geo DMG around Noelle and create a shield. While it is active, her Normal and Charged Attack hits have a chance to heal all characters. Both the healing and the shield's absorption scale with DEF. The shield has 150% absorption efficiency against Elemental and Physical DMG.
Use Sweeping Time, then attack with Favonius Bladework - Maid (NA). The Burst first deals Geo DMG in a large area, then increases Noelle's attack range and ATK based on her DEF. It also converts her attack damage to Geo DMG, an infusion that cannot be overridden.
Normal Attacks have up to four strikes. Charged Attacks spin continuously at the cost of Stamina and end with a stronger slash. Every four Normal or Charged Attack hits reduce the shield skill's cooldown by one second; hits can count once every 0.1 seconds.
Noelle also has an automatic safety shield when she is off-field and the active character falls below 30% HP. It lasts 20 seconds, absorbs 400% of her DEF and can trigger once every 60 seconds. Do not rely on it as a replacement for casting her shield.
Build and why
The first set to consider is four pieces of Husk of Opulent Dreams. Its two-piece bonus gives 30% DEF. Its four-piece effect can add up to four stacks, each granting 6% DEF and 6% Geo DMG Bonus. Noelle can gain stacks by hitting with Geo attacks on-field or by spending time off-field.
Four pieces of Marechaussee Hunter are another option if Noelle's HP changes during the fight. Its two-piece bonus increases Normal and Charged Attack DMG by 15%, while HP increases or decreases grant CRIT Rate. Four pieces of Retracing Bolide instead give 35% Shield Strength and 40% Normal and Charged Attack DMG while protected by a shield. For a mixed set, consider two pieces each of Defender's Will and Archaic Petra for DEF and Geo DMG Bonus.
Use DEF Percentage or Energy Recharge on the sands, Geo DMG Bonus or DEF Percentage on the goblet, and CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG or DEF Percentage on the circlet. For substats, look for Energy Recharge first, followed by DEF Percentage, CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG and ATK Percentage. DEF helps her shield, healing and Burst ATK; Energy Recharge helps you use the Burst.
Redhorn Stonethresher is the first weapon choice: it increases DEF by 28% and adds Normal and Charged Attack DMG based on DEF. Serpent Spine comes next; its damage bonus builds while Noelle is on-field, though taking damage removes a stack. Whiteblind is another option, stacking ATK and DEF when Normal or Charged Attacks hit. Consider Favonius Greatsword if you need help with Energy: its CRIT Hits have a chance to generate particles.
Leveling priority
For an on-field damage build, a sensible order is Favonius Bladework - Maid (NA) first, Sweeping Time second and Breastplate third. Noelle spends much of her field time attacking, while her Burst increases the ATK behind those attacks. Bring the shield skill up too if you want more attention on her protection and healing.
For maximum ascension, gather 420,000 Mora, 168 Valberry, 1 Prithiva Topaz Sliver, 9 Prithiva Topaz Fragment, 9 Prithiva Topaz Chunk, 6 Prithiva Topaz Gemstone, 18 Damaged Mask, 30 Stained Mask, 36 Ominous Mask and 46 Basalt Pillar.
To level all three skills to maximum, you need 4,957,500 Mora, 9 Teachings of Resistance, 63 Guide to Resistance, 114 Philosophies of Resistance, 3 Crown of Insight, 18 Damaged Mask, 66 Stained Mask, 93 Ominous Mask and 18 Dvalin's Claw.
Constellations worth it
Must Be Spotless is Noelle's biggest constellation upgrade. It adds another 50% of her DEF to the ATK increase from Sweeping Time. Each opponent defeated during the Burst also extends it by one second, up to ten seconds.
I Got Your Back is a useful earlier upgrade: when Sweeping Time and Breastplate are both active, the shield's healing chance becomes 100%. Invulnerable Maid is also worth considering for its three extra levels to the shield skill.
Combat Maid helps Charged Attacks, while To Be Cleaned adds Geo DMG when the shield expires or breaks. Favonius Sweeper Master adds three levels to the Burst. These are less urgent if your focus is the changes at C1 and C6, but you cannot skip earlier constellations on the way to C6.
Teams
Watch Noelle's Energy needs when choosing the rest of the team and her weapon. Her wide Geo attacks and team-wide healing are most useful when you can bring her on-field and keep attacking.
Common mistakes
Do not assume that having a shield automatically heals the team. Noelle must land Normal or Charged Attack hits while Breastplate is active, and the healing is chance-based unless the condition from I Got Your Back is met.
Do not ignore Energy Recharge in pursuit of damage stats. Without Sweeping Time, you miss its wider attack area, Geo conversion and DEF-based ATK increase. Also avoid expecting Retracing Bolide's attack bonus when Noelle is not protected by a shield.
Do not treat the automatic low-HP shield as constantly available. Its trigger requires Noelle to be off-field and has a 60-second cooldown. Keep using her regular shield and attacks rather than waiting for the emergency effect.
