Guide
How the kit works
Start by holding Dominus Lapidis. It creates Jade Shield, deals AoE Geo DMG and creates a Stone Stele if Zhongli has not reached his Stele limit. A quick press creates the Stele but does not give you the shield. The hold also drains Geo from up to two nearby targets with that element, without dealing damage through the drain.
The Stele deals Geo DMG when created and intermittently resonates with other nearby Geo constructs, damaging nearby opponents. You can climb it or use it to block attacks. At the start, Zhongli can have one Stele of his own on the field.
Jade Shield has 150% absorption against all Elemental and Physical DMG. When it takes damage, the protected character gains 5% Shield Strength, stacking up to five times until the shield disappears. Keep an eye on the shield and hold the skill again when you need to restore protection.
Use Planet Befall when you want its AoE Geo DMG and Petrification. Petrified opponents cannot move. Rain of Stone (NA) has up to six Normal Attack strikes, a Stamina-consuming Charged Attack and a Plunging Attack, though a shield-focused Zhongli can leave most attacking to his teammates.
Build and why
Use four pieces of Tenacity of the Millelith for a shield-focused build. Its two-piece bonus gives 20% HP. When the Stele's skill damage hits an opponent, the four-piece bonus gives nearby party members 20% ATK and 30% Shield Strength for 3 seconds. It can trigger while Zhongli is off-field, so placement matters.
Archaic Petra is an option when the team wants an elemental damage bonus. Its four-piece effect gives the party 35% DMG Bonus for the relevant element after Zhongli obtains a Crystallize shard or triggers Lunar-Crystallize. Instructor instead gives the party 120 Elemental Mastery for 8 seconds when its wearer triggers an Elemental Reaction.
For a straightforward HP setup, you can combine two pieces each of Tenacity of the Millelith and Vourukasha's Glow. Each two-piece bonus gives 20% HP. Four pieces of Noblesse Oblige are another option if you use the Burst: they give the party 20% ATK for 12 seconds after it is used.
Choose HP Percentage on the sands and goblet, and HP Percentage or CRIT Rate on the circlet. For substats, look for HP Percentage first, followed by CRIT Rate, Energy Recharge, HP and CRIT DMG. Max HP strengthens the shield and adds damage to Zhongli's attacks, Stele and meteor.
Black Tassel is a 3-star option. Its listed passive increases damage against slimes by 40%, so that effect is not a general shield bonus. Favonius Lance is useful if you want particles: CRIT Hits have a 60% chance to generate them, with a 12-second limit. CRIT Rate helps you use that effect.
Frostbreath is an option when Zhongli can trigger a Cryo- or Hydro-related reaction: its passive gives him 20% ATK for 15 seconds and restores 6 Energy to other party members, once every 16 seconds. Staff of Homa is another option; its passive adds 20% HP and an ATK bonus based on Max HP.
Leveling priority
For a shield-focused Zhongli, a sensible leveling order is Dominus Lapidis first, then Planet Befall, then Rain of Stone (NA). The skill is the source of his shield and Stele. The Burst is next if you use the meteor, while the Normal Attack matters less when teammates do the attacking.
For ascension to the maximum level, gather 420,000 Mora, 168 Cor Lapis, 46 Basalt Pillar, one Prithiva Topaz Sliver, nine Prithiva Topaz Fragment, nine Prithiva Topaz Chunk and six Prithiva Topaz Gemstone.
Ascension also takes 18 Slime Condensate, 30 Slime Secretions and 36 Slime Concentrate. These are separate from the materials needed for talents.
To maximize all talents, you need 4,957,500 Mora, nine Teachings of Gold, 63 Guide to Gold, 114 Philosophies of Gold, three Crown of Insight, 18 Slime Condensate, 66 Slime Secretions, 93 Slime Concentrate and 18 Tusk of Monoceros Caeli.
Constellations worth it
Stone, the Cradle of Jade is the standout constellation in the guide evidence. When the meteor descends, it gives a Jade Shield to nearby characters on the field. That gives you another way to provide protection through Zhongli's Burst.
Jade, Shimmering through Darkness is worth considering for a shield build because it adds three levels to the skill that creates the shield and Stele. Rock, the Backbone of Earth raises the maximum number of Zhongli's Steles to two if you want more constructs.
Topaz, Unbreakable and Fearless increases the meteor's AoE by 20% and extends Petrification by 2 seconds. Lazuli, Herald of the Order adds three levels to the Burst. Both are optional if your main concern is the shield.
Chrysos, Bounty of Dominator adds healing when Jade Shield takes damage: 40% of incoming damage is converted to HP for the current character, capped at 8% of that character's Max HP per instance. You can skip it if you do not need that healing; Zhongli already shields at C0.
Teams
Zhongli fits beside an active attacker who wants protection. Jade Shield lowers both Elemental RES and Physical RES nearby, so the team does not have to focus on Geo damage to use that benefit. A healer remains an option if the team needs HP restored.
Try Hu Tao as the active character with Yelan for an off-field Hydro teammate. Zhongli can hold his skill, then hand the field over to them. Xiao is another named teammate who can use the shield while attacking; pick the remaining slots for the support the team needs.
Neuvillette and Mualani are other Hydro teammates named in the guides. Bennett and Xiangling are Pyro options, while Kaedehara Kazuha brings an Anemo slot. Choose an artifact set around what those teammates need: Tenacity of the Millelith for its ATK and Shield Strength bonus, or Archaic Petra when you can use its elemental bonus.
Common mistakes
Do not tap Dominus Lapidis expecting Jade Shield. Hold it, and check that the active character is protected before switching into an attack. The resistance reduction only applies to opponents near a character protected by that shield.
Do not assume a Stele will help Tenacity of the Millelith from any position. Its skill damage needs to hit an opponent to trigger the four-piece bonus. Place it where it can reach the fight, and remember that the party bonus lasts 3 seconds per trigger.
Do not build only for meteor damage if you want the strongest protection from your chosen gear. HP Percentage supports the shield, while CRIT Rate has a specific use with Favonius Lance. Also remember that Zhongli has no healing in his default kit, so shield damage is not a substitute for restoring lost HP.
