No, Zhongli's shield is significantly stronger than Yanfei's shield. While there might be an initial perception of Yanfei's C4 shield being robust, correct calculations demonstrate that Zhongli's shield ultimately provides approximately twice the strength of Yanfei's.
Zhongli is widely recognized as the premier shielder in Genshin Impact due to his unparalleled shield durability, universal resistance shred, and low skill cooldown. Yanfei's C4 constellation provides a shield scaled off her Max HP after using her Elemental Burst, making her a viable shielder, particularly in certain team compositions, but it does not surpass Zhongli's.
Core Differences in Shield Strength
The primary distinction lies in their base scaling and utility:
- Zhongli's Shield: His Dominus Lapidis (Elemental Skill held) creates a Jade Shield that scales purely off his Max HP. It boasts one of the highest base HP values for a shield in the game and provides 150% Absorption against all Elemental and Physical DMG.
- Yanfei's Shield (C4): Her C4 constellation grants a shield upon using her Elemental Burst, "Done Deal," which also scales off her Max HP. While it offers respectable protection, its base strength is inherently lower than Zhongli's.
Factors Influencing Shield Durability
Both characters' shield strength can be further enhanced by various in-game mechanics and artifacts:
- Max HP: The fundamental stat for both shields. Building characters with high HP percentages will directly increase their shield''s durability.
- Shield Strength Bonus: This is a dedicated stat that increases the effective HP of any active shield. It can be obtained from:
- Artifact Sets:
- Tenacity of the Millelith (2-Piece): Provides a 20% HP bonus, indirectly boosting shield strength for HP-scaling shielders like Zhongli and Yanfei. The 4-Piece set also boosts ATK for the team when an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, which synergizes well with Zhongli.
- Retracing Bolide (2-Piece): Grants a 35% Shield Strength bonus, directly increasing the durability of any shield on the character. The 4-Piece set enhances Normal/Charged Attack DMG while shielded, making it a strong choice for on-field damage dealers who rely on shields, such as a shielded Yanfei main DPS.
- Character Passive Talents/Constellations: Some characters have built-in shield strength bonuses.
- Weapon Substats: Some weapons may offer HP% or Shield Strength.
- Artifact Sets:
Comparative Overview
To illustrate the differences, consider their typical roles and shield properties:
| Feature | Zhongli's Shield (Jade Shield) | Yanfei's Shield (C4, Done Deal) |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger Method | Elemental Skill (Hold) | C4 Constellation, triggered by Elemental Burst |
| Base Strength | Extremely high, roughly twice that of Yanfei's C4 shield | Good, but significantly lower than Zhongli's |
| Scaling Stat | Max HP | Max HP |
| Duration | 20 seconds (with 12-second cooldown, near 100% uptime) | 15 seconds (tied to Burst duration) |
| Resistance Shred | Yes (20% to all elements and physical within AoE) | No |
| Artifact Synergy (Common) | Tenacity of the Millelith (HP, team ATK), Noblesse Oblige (Burst DMG, team ATK) | Retracing Bolide (Shield Strength, on-field DMG), Tenacity of the Millelith (HP, team ATK) |
| Typical Role | Premier Shielder, Support, Universal Buffer | Pyro Catalyst DPS (can flex into shielder at C4) |
In practical terms, a well-built Zhongli can largely trivialize incoming damage for an entire team due to his shield's immense durability and universal resistance shred. While Yanfei's C4 shield is a valuable addition to her kit, enhancing her survivability as a Pyro Catalyst user, it serves more as a personal defensive layer rather than a team-wide impenetrable barrier on par with Zhongli's.
