Need a Shielder? The Phase 2 Banner Guide

You’ve likely invested a lot of time in building a powerful character to deal damage, but even high damage numbers aren’t useful if that character keeps getting defeated. That’s where a strong shielder comes in – they’re essential for protecting your damage dealers and keeping them fighting. The newest character banner highlights this important role, featuring the powerful Zhongli and a brand new character, Lan Yan. If you’re struggling to keep your team alive and your strategies from falling apart, this guide will help you decide if spending your resources on these characters is the right move to improve your team’s overall strength.

Key Takeaways

Shielders enable offense, not just defense: A strong shield provides interruption resistance, allowing your main damage dealers to complete their attack rotations smoothly for more consistent and higher overall damage.
Pick the right tool for your team: Zhongli offers unmatched comfort with his unbreakable shield and universal resistance shred, while Lan Yan provides more strategic depth with her unique elemental mechanics for reaction-based teams.
Pull with a plan, not on impulse: Before spending your Primogems, assess if a shielder fills a real gap in your roster and keep an eye on future character announcements to ensure you’re making the best long-term investment for your account.

What’s in the Phase 2 Event Banner?

Looking to make your team much stronger? The Phase 2 event is here, and it’s all about defense! This banner gives you a chance to get some of the best shielders in the game. A strong shielder can completely change tough battles, allowing your attackers to focus on dealing damage without being constantly interrupted. Stop panicking and dodging every attack – a reliable shield lets you confidently hold your position and use your strongest moves.

Need help with tough challenges like the Spiral Abyss, or just want an easier time exploring the world? This banner has you covered. It features two amazing five-star characters who excel at protecting your team. One is a popular character returning for a limited time, known for incredible defense, and the other is a brand-new character everyone is eager to try. If your team is easily defeated or you often get interrupted during attacks, using your Primogems on this banner could be a great way to improve your account. These characters offer a significant boost to your team’s survivability, making almost every fight easier.

How the Double-Banner System Works

If you’re new to games with “gacha” elements, the way banners work might seem a bit strange at first, but it’s actually a good system for players. Instead of one banner, there are two running at the same time, each highlighting a different powerful character. The really helpful thing is that your wish count carries over between both banners. For example, if you’ve wished 50 times on one banner without getting a top-tier character, that progress counts towards the other banner, guaranteeing you’ll eventually get something great. This lets you focus on the character you want most, while still making progress towards a guaranteed reward – all without having to spread your resources too thin.

Meet the Featured Shielders

Let’s talk about the best characters you can get! First, there’s Zhongli, who many players consider the best defender in the game. His shield is incredibly strong and weakens enemies, making him a huge benefit to any team. Also available is Lan Yan, a new character with interesting shielding skills. While Zhongli focuses on pure defense, Lan Yan offers different ways to play. Getting either one is great, but having both is a rare chance to build a team that can withstand almost any attack without constant dodging – a perfect opportunity to upgrade your defense!

Why Your Team Needs a Top-Tier Shielder

In Genshin Impact, a strong defense can be just as important as powerful attacks. While it’s tempting to build a team focused solely on damage, even the best attackers need to survive to deal that damage. A great shielder can completely change how you play. They don’t just absorb hits—they create a stable environment where your whole team can perform their best. Consider them the core of your strategy. A solid shield lets you stop reacting to enemy attacks and start taking control, focusing on your own combos and setting up devastating elemental reactions. They open up opportunities, prevent frustrating interruptions, and can even break down enemy defenses. If you’re struggling with a difficult boss or a challenging Spiral Abyss floor, a powerful shielder might be exactly what your team needs. They aren’t just helpful—they’re often essential for tackling the game’s toughest challenges.

Surviving Tougher Fights

As you get further in Genshin Impact, enemies deal a lot more damage. A single mistake during a boss fight or in the Spiral Abyss can instantly defeat your main damage dealer. That’s where a dedicated shield character becomes incredibly valuable. A good shield essentially gives you extra health, protecting you from huge amounts of damage that would normally kill you. This allows you to fight confidently and follow your strategy without getting flustered. Many players find that a strong shielder is the key to overcoming the game’s most challenging content.

Why Interruption Protection Matters

It’s frustrating when a surprise enemy breaks your attack rhythm, right? That’s where a good shield’s ‘interruption protection’ comes in handy – it’s a seriously helpful feature that often gets overlooked. Many characters who focus on dealing damage have attacks that take a while to finish, leaving them open to being interrupted. A shield gives you the ability to withstand hits without being staggered, letting you keep attacking and maximize your damage. That’s why it’s popular to pair characters like Arlecchino with a shielder – not just to stay alive, but to make sure her big attacks always connect. This protection keeps your attacks flowing smoothly and your damage consistent.

Breaking Through Elemental Shields

The best defensive characters aren’t just about blocking damage – they often provide extra benefits that can completely change how you fight. For instance, characters like Zhongli have incredibly strong shields and abilities that quickly break through enemy defenses. Having powerful characters like this can dramatically improve your chances of success. These top-level shielders both protect your team and make it easier to defeat enemies, meaning they help you survive longer and win fights faster. They’re a huge advantage in any situation.

A Closer Look at the Phase 2 Shielders

If you’re looking for a strong shield character, you have two excellent choices in the current event banner: the well-established Zhongli and the new character, Lan Yan. They both offer different strengths, so it’s important to understand what each one can do before you decide where to use your Primogems.

Zhongli is known for providing incredibly strong shields, allowing your main damage dealer to attack freely without worrying about taking damage. Lan Yan, however, brings a unique new gameplay element that could lead to interesting team combinations. Let’s compare what each character offers and how they can work with your team. The best choice isn’t simply about having strong defense—it’s about finding a character who complements your team and maximizes their overall potential.

Zhongli: The Unbreakable Geo Archon

Zhongli is widely considered the best shield character in the game, and for good reason. As a powerful five-star character, his Jade Shield can absorb a huge amount of damage, essentially making the game much easier. Beyond just protecting your team, his shield also weakens enemies, increasing the damage everyone deals. This makes him an excellent addition to almost any team, providing incredible defense and a helpful damage boost. He’s a simple, effective support character who reliably improves the performance of the entire team.

Lan Yan: The New Shield on the Block

Lan Yan is changing up how shields work in the game. She’s quickly become popular because her shields absorb the element of whatever attack is coming, and then use that element to boost your team’s abilities. For example, blocking a fire attack creates a fire shield that can set off powerful reactions like Melt. Players are finding that this makes them tougher to defeat, especially when playing characters like Arlecchino, who thrive with lower health. While her shields aren’t as strong as Zhongli’s, Lan Yan’s adaptability and how she works with elemental powers make her a fun and clever option for players who like to try different team setups.

Finding the Perfect Team Synergy

Adding a strong protector to your team makes everyone more powerful. Characters like Zhongli and Lan Yan can really boost your performance, especially in challenging areas like the Spiral Abyss. A good protector lets your main damage dealer perform their full attacks without being interrupted. This current banner is a great chance to create a more reliable team. Consider your current team – who deals the most damage, and what kind of protection do they need? Finding the answer to that will help you choose the best protector for your team.

Is the Phase 2 Banner Worth Your Primogems?

So, is this banner worth spending your Primogems on? Choosing where to use your wishes is a key part of the game, and this Phase 2 banner is definitely worth considering. You can get two fantastic shield characters, which could really improve your combat strategy. It’s not just about who you get, but also the banner’s features that give you a better chance of success.

This special event is different from regular banners. Instead of getting a random powerful character, you choose which of two excellent options you want. Plus, your wishes carry over between banners, so you’ll never waste them! Whether you’re just starting the game and need a strong support character, or you’re an experienced player building a top team, this is a great opportunity to get what you need. Let’s take a closer look at why this event is so worthwhile.

Better Odds for Featured Characters

This banner is particularly exciting because both five-star characters are top-tier. You’ll find Zhongli, well-known as the best at creating shields, alongside Lan Yan, a strong new addition to the game. With two incredibly powerful characters available, your chances of getting a truly game-changing unit are excellent. You’re not just hoping for any five-star character—you’re aiming for someone who can significantly strengthen your team and make even the hardest challenges much easier. Opportunities like this, where the quality is so high, don’t come around often, so it’s a great time to get a powerful shielder without the worry of getting a less useful character.

Two Banners, Double the Opportunity

The new system with two event banners is a great benefit for players. Instead of choosing from just one banner, you now have two running at the same time, each highlighting a different five-star character. This allows you to spend your Primogems specifically on the character you want most. Want Zhongli’s powerful defense? Focus on his banner. Does Lan Yan’s skillset better complement your team? Choose hers! This gives you more control over your choices and improves your chances of getting the character you need. It’s a fantastic way to get the most out of your Primogems and build your ideal team with greater accuracy.

Making the Pity System Work for You

Here’s the smart part: the two event banners share a single ‘pity’ counter. Every wish you make on either banner counts towards the next five-star character on both banners. Switching between them won’t reset your progress! For instance, if you’ve wished 50 times on Zhongli’s banner without getting a five-star, you can switch to Lan Yan’s, and you’ll still be guaranteed a five-star within the next 40 wishes. This shared system gives you freedom – if you get a character you want early, you can immediately start working towards the other one without having to begin all over. Knowing how this system works is crucial for getting the characters you want efficiently.

Phase 2 Shielders vs. Standard Banner Options

Need a shield-user in your team, but unsure if it’s worth using your Primogems on the limited-time banner? You might be thinking you can get characters like Diona or Noelle eventually through the standard banner, and that’s true. However, characters offered on event banners are generally much more powerful. It’s like the difference between a high-end gaming computer and a basic office laptop – both work, but one is built for top-level performance.

Event banners feature specialized characters built to excel in specific roles, offering powerful protection and unique team combinations not available through the standard character pool. While getting a specific character from the standard banner relies on luck and has low chances, event banners provide a targeted chance to obtain characters who can significantly improve your gameplay and unlock new approaches to challenging battles.

Comparing Shield Strength and Uptime

When fighting powerful enemies, shields aren’t all the same. Some characters, particularly those featured in Phase 2, have much stronger shields than typical ones. Characters like Zhongli can create shields that absorb a huge amount of damage – their strength increases with the character’s health, making them incredibly durable. This allows you to focus more on attacking and less on avoiding damage.

Having strong shields isn’t enough – they also need to be up consistently. A shield doesn’t help if it’s down when enemies attack. Characters who specialize in shielding often have abilities that recharge quickly and last a long time, giving them almost constant shield coverage. This reliability is key for challenging content like the Spiral Abyss, letting you focus on dealing damage instead of constantly protecting your main damage dealer. You can find guides online that explain how to build these characters for optimal shielding.

A Look at Elemental Coverage

Effective shielders aren’t just about reducing damage – they play a key role in a team’s overall plan. This is especially true for shielders in Phase 2, who often have special abilities beyond basic protection. Some shields can even be combined with other elements, allowing you to quickly break enemy defenses or create strong elemental effects.

This new ability to combine elements can drastically improve your team’s performance. Characters like Zhongli, for example, reduce enemy resistance to all damage types, boosting everyone’s attack power. While standard shield characters mainly just offer protection and a little healing, limited-time event characters are built to be central to your strategy, allowing for more complicated and devastating elemental combinations that quickly defeat enemies.

Are They a Good Long-Term Investment?

It’s a big decision when you spend your Primogems, so you want to make sure you’re getting good value. Luckily, characters who excel at providing shields are a really safe bet. Unlike characters focused solely on dealing damage, strong shielders remain useful even when new, more powerful characters are released. A reliable shield is always helpful, making these characters a worthwhile investment.

Characters highlighted on these special banners are usually top-tier for a good reason – they consistently perform well and stay powerful over long periods. Getting one of these characters is a great way to build a strong base for many different team combinations. They’ll improve your account not just right now, but for all future updates and challenges. While other characters can be useful, a strong defensive character is a valuable investment that will keep benefiting you long after their limited-time availability ends.

Which Teams Get the Biggest Upgrade?

Adding a strong defensive character to your team isn’t just about fixing a weakness—it can dramatically improve how well your team plays overall. Some team setups benefit much more than others, becoming incredibly powerful with the right protection. Whether you need to keep your main damage dealer safe, strengthen your elemental combos, or finally beat the Spiral Abyss, a good shielder might be exactly what you’re missing. Let’s explore which teams gain the biggest advantage from the characters available in the new update.

Protecting Your Main DPS

Shield characters are especially helpful for teams with high-damage, but fragile, attackers – often called “glass cannons,” like Ganyu, Lyney, or Arlecchino. A good shield lets these characters consistently deal damage without constantly dodging attacks, leading to smoother gameplay and more reliable performance. One player noted that the current banner is ideal “if you need a shielder” to protect your main damage dealer. This makes a big difference, turning a difficult, interrupted fight into a successful one where your attacker can really shine.

Supercharging Elemental Reaction Teams

Effective shielders aren’t just about reducing damage taken—they can really boost your team’s elemental powers. Some can even add elements to their shields, which creates opportunities for strong elemental reactions. Players often appreciate shields that match the element they’re already using in their attacks. This is especially helpful for teams that rely on reactions like Vaporize, Melt, or Hyperbloom. Plus, shielders can equip special items that benefit the whole team, like increasing everyone’s attack power, making your elemental reactions even more devastating. This transforms a normally defensive character into a key source of offensive support.

Strategies for the Spiral Abyss

Having trouble with the higher levels of the Spiral Abyss? Investing in a powerful shield character is a great way to improve. Enemies there deal massive damage, making survival a key challenge. Characters like Zhongli are highly valued because their strong shields make many difficult encounters much easier. A good shielder can also let you replace a healer with another damage dealer or support character, boosting your team’s overall power. This combination of increased defense and team versatility is often what helps players finally clear those challenging floors and earn all the stars.

Should You Pull for This Banner?

Whenever a new character is released in the game, the biggest question is always: should you spend your valuable Primogems on it? With so many options now available, deciding where to use your wishes can be tough. It’s tempting to get excited about a new character, but thinking things through will benefit your account more in the long run. Before you start wishing, let’s consider a few important questions to help you decide if this banner is worth it.

How to Plan Your Primogem Budget

Let’s face it, Primogems are limited, so it’s smart to keep track of what you have. First, check how many Primogems and Intertwined Fates you currently have. Then, estimate how many more you can earn before the banner expires – consider daily tasks, upcoming rewards, and anything you haven’t finished exploring. Also, check your pity counter on the banner – being close to a guaranteed 5-star character changes things! Managing your Primogems well is key to building a strong account.

Assess Your Current Roster’s Needs

It’s exciting to anticipate new characters, but it’s even more important to consider how useful they’ll actually be for your team. Think about the characters you already have. Many players are saying this new banner is particularly good if you need a character who can protect your team. Do you currently have trouble keeping your main damage dealers safe, especially in challenging content like the Spiral Abyss? Are they constantly getting hit, interrupting their attacks? If you’re finding it hard to survive tougher battles and don’t have a solid protector like Zhongli or Diona, this banner could be exactly what you need to fix a real weakness in your team.

Considering What’s on the Horizon

When deciding whether to spend your in-game currency on a banner, consider what’s coming next. Game developers frequently hint at future characters before a current banner ends, so stay informed through official news. If a character you really want – like a strong Archon or a useful support – is planned for the next update, it’s often a good idea to save your resources. Holding off on pulling now could ensure you get the character you’re most excited about later.

How to Maximize Your Pulling Strategy

So, you’re planning to wish for a new character? Great! Now comes the tricky part: getting them without using up all your Primogems. Careful planning is key to successfully getting the character you want, instead of being disappointed. It’s about being strategic and making each wish count. Let’s go over how to pull wisely and maximize the value of your saved Primogems.

Smart Ways to Use Your Wishes

The double-banner system is a really effective way to increase your chances of getting a five-star character you want. It lets you try for two different characters at once. If you’d be happy with either of the featured characters, this is a great opportunity! Whenever you get a five-star on these banners, there’s a 50% chance it will be one of the two characters featured.

To get the most out of this, it’s important to track how many ‘pulls’ you’ve done. Are you guaranteed to get the character featured on the current banner, or do you have a 50/50 chance? Knowing this helps you decide if it’s worth trying for the character now. If you don’t get the featured character, your next five-star item will be the featured one, so you can save your wishes for that guaranteed outcome.

Tips for Managing Your Resources

It’s tempting to use all your Primogems right away when a new character is released, but it’s smart to pause and think about what your account really needs first. Do you need to strengthen the character you already rely on, or are you trying to create a completely new team? Prioritizing your biggest weaknesses will help you build more effective teams and prevent you from wasting Primogems on characters who don’t quite fit how you like to play.

Before you start wishing on a banner, decide how much you’re willing to spend and don’t go over that amount. Be careful about getting excited over a four-star character – you could end up resetting your progress towards a five-star character and accidentally get one you weren’t hoping for.

When Is the Best Time to Pull?

When a new banner launches, it’s tempting to use your resources right away, but it’s usually smarter to wait a few days. This allows players to fully test out the new characters and share their feedback. You can see how well they perform and fit into different teams before deciding if they’re worth investing in. Plus, waiting gives you extra time to gather more Primogems through daily quests and ongoing events.

Banners usually last around three weeks, giving you plenty of time to decide if you want to use your wishes. Also, keep an eye out for news about upcoming updates. If there’s a character you really want, it might be smart to save your wishes for then. The best time to use your wishes is when you’ve thought it through, know the character will improve your team, and you’re sure it’s a good choice for your account.

You Got a New Shielder! Now What?

Getting a new, powerful character is exciting, but it’s only the beginning. Now you need to equip and build them into a strong defender for your team. Setting up your new protector with the right gear and finding the best team for them can seem daunting, but focusing on a few key areas will get them ready for battle quickly. Let’s cover the most important things: artifacts, weapons, and how to build a great team around them.

The Best Artifacts to Farm

When choosing artifacts for your character, focus on sets that strengthen shields and benefit your whole team. The 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith is a great option for most shield users, as it boosts their health (which makes shields stronger) and increases your team’s attack power when their skill hits an enemy. If your shield user also has a strong ultimate ability, the 4-piece Noblesse Oblige is another excellent choice, increasing ultimate damage and providing another team-wide attack boost. You can find detailed guides online to compare these sets with others and see which one works best for you.

Choosing the Right Weapon

Choosing the right weapon can significantly boost how well your shield character performs. Generally, you’ll want weapons that either make their shield stronger or help them recharge their abilities more quickly. For instance, the Favonius Greatsword is great for creating energy, which keeps your shielder (and the whole team) ready to use their powerful burst attacks. Weapons like the Sapwood Blade, which you can craft, can also give helpful bonuses to your other characters. Ultimately, the best weapon will depend on your shielder’s unique skills and what your team needs. You can find helpful videos online demonstrating different weapon setups.

How to Fit Them Into Your Team

Wondering how to best use your new shielder in your team? Shielders are great for teams that need reliable protection so they can keep dealing damage without being interrupted. They work especially well with powerful characters who are fragile or take a while to attack, like Hu Tao or Ganyu. You can also build teams focused on specific elemental reactions, and a shielder can provide the stability needed for characters like Xingqiu to consistently apply their element. Remember to consider energy recharge, too! If your shielder’s special ability costs a lot of energy, add a teammate of the same element to help keep their shield up consistently. By thinking about these team strategies, you can build a really powerful and resilient squad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing between Zhongli and Lan Yan depends on what you prioritize. Zhongli is all about simple, reliable protection – his shield is the strongest in the game and makes almost any team much more durable. He’s easy to fit into any lineup and greatly simplifies gameplay. Lan Yan is more complex and rewarding. She offers a unique shielding style that focuses on creating powerful elemental reactions and opens up new ways to play offensively. If you like building teams around specific reactions, she’s a great choice.

If you already use a shield character like Diona or Noelle, you might be wondering if these five-star options are worth it. While four-star shielders are good, these new characters are a significant improvement, offering much more reliable protection and helpful abilities. For example, Zhongli provides a nearly unbreakable shield and can even boost your team’s damage. If you’re struggling with tougher content like the Spiral Abyss, or enemies are constantly interrupting your attacks, investing in a stronger shielder could be a game-changer.

Okay, so I’m pretty new and don’t have a ton of Primogems, and I was wondering if this banner was worth it. Honestly, yes! Getting a really good shielder is one of the smartest things you can do early on. Damage dealers get better over time, but a solid defender will always be useful. If I can get someone like Zhongli or Lan Yan now, it’ll make the whole game way easier, letting me beat tough levels and challenges for a long time to come. It’s a really safe investment, and I think it’ll make my account much stronger in the long run.

When banners ‘share pity,’ it means your wish count carries over between them. Any wishes you make on one banner also count towards your next five-star on the other. This lets you switch between banners without losing your progress – you won’t have to start counting wishes from zero again. It’s a convenient feature that gives players more flexibility.

Should you get a defensive character now, or wait for a powerful damage dealer later? It really depends on what your team needs. While a new damage dealer might be tempting, they won’t be effective if they keep getting defeated. A good defensive character helps all your damage dealers, both now and in the future. If you’re having trouble keeping your team alive in challenging battles, getting a strong defensive character now will make any future damage dealer you get even better.

2025-11-19 15:06