Genshin Impact Shenhe guide: Best build, weapons, artifacts, tips, and more

The next major update for Genshin Impact “Fleeting Colors in Flight” is now available, bringing a lot of new features into the game with the addition of the Enkanomiya region, new threatening enemies, a powerful 5-star weapon, the return of the Lantern Rite, and most importantly, two new characters and even some exclusive skins.

While you can already see some of the details revealed during the 2.4 Special Program, such as the new banners in which these will be available, and a new edition of our complete character tier lists, miHoYo has already released the full details about the first of the two new additions into the game’s roster.

So now, it’s time to introduce you to the 5-star character featured in Genshin’s 2.4 update, being a mysterious entity with a long-lasting link to the adepti and bone-chilling abilities. Presenting “Lonesome Transcendence” Shenhe.

Shenhe - Background and Origins

Although the details about Shenhe's life are vague, it’s known her past was marked by tragedy, as she was born fated to bear the curse of calamity, meaning she is prone to bring harm to the people surrounding her. This led her to exile in the mountains, and a fated encounter with the powerful adepti.

Here, the adepti guided her to bind her soul with red ropes to keep her homicidal nature to bay, allowing her to live a quiet life in the high reliefs of Liyue but living most of her life in solitude, far from other people, thus developing a distant and indifferent attitude.

However, coming from a family of exorcists, Shenhe developed certain skills that allowed her to face any threat within Liyue, becoming a master of martial arts and earning the right to be the disciple of Cloud Retainer, an adeptus who dwells in her abode on Mt. Aocang.

So while she lacks the proper manners, her impressive constitution and intelligence allow her to deal with any conflict with her style and methods, so even if she is a mere mortal, her training and preparation with the adepti allow her to be someone vital for the battle, thanks to her delicate movements and subtle skills.

Shenhe - Talents

Her normal attack, Dawnstar Piercer, allows her to make up to five consecutive spear strikes, while with her charged attack, Shenhe will consume a certain amount of stamina to lunge forward, dealing damage to all opponents along the way.

She can also use a plunging attack from mid-air, to strike the ground below and damage opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.

With her Elemental Skill, Spring Spirit Summoning, Shenhe will grant all nearby party members the Icy Quill effect, which makes all attack sources deal Cryo DMG to opponents, based on Shenhe's current ATK and on whether the skill is pressed or held.

• By pressing, she will rush forward together with a Talisman Spirit, dealing Cryo DMG to opponents along the path.
• By holding, she will command her Talisman Spirit to deal AoE Cryo DMG.

These effects will be cleared once their duration ends or after being triggered a certain number of times. Also, when held rather than pressed, the Icy Quill's effect will last longer and can be triggered more times. The effect can also be triggered multiple times based on the number of opponents hit, and each activation will be calculated independently for each party member with the Icy Quill.

Finally, with her Elemental Burst, Divine Maiden's Deliverance, Shenhe will unleash the power of her Talisman Spirit, allowing it to roam free in this plane and dealing AoE Cryo DMG around her.

The Talisman Spirit will then create a field that decreases the Cryo RES and Physical RES of opponents within it. It also deals periodic Cryo DMG to opponents within the field.

Shenhe - Best Weapons

Calamity Queller

If we talk about the right weapon for Shenhe, the best option will be the new Polearm that will be introduced with her debut, the Calamity Queller. This five-star weapon is said to be a keenly honed weapon forged from some strange crystal, decorated with a faint blue light that sees to whisper of countless matters now past.

As for its stats, it’ll have a base ATK stat of 49 - 741 and an ATK bonus of 3.6% - 16.5%. In addition, this will come with the “Extinguishing Precept” passive which increases all Elemental DMG by 12/15/18/21/24%, and after using an Elemental Skill, all your characters will obtain a Consummation effect that increases ATK by 3.2/4/4.8/5.6/6.4% per second for 20 seconds, up to six times.

Also, when the character equipped with this weapon is not on the field, the Consummation's ATK increase will be doubled.

Engulfing Lightning

If you want to focus on spamming her skills and use her energy recharge in your favour, this 5-star weapon known for being the signature option for the Raiden Shogun will be the best one to choose.

The Engulfing Lightning polearm comes with a base ATK stat of 46 - 608, an Energy Recharge bonus of 12% - 55.1%, and a special passive called Timeless Dream: Eternal Stove that increases ATK by 28/35/42/49/56%, based on your current Energy Recharge over the base 100%, up to a maximum bonus of 80/90/100/110/120% ATK.

It also grants an extra 30/35/40/45/50% Energy Recharge for 12 seconds after using an Elemental Burst.

Lithic Spear

Moving on to the 4-star weapons and as a third option, we cannot avoid mentioning the Lithic Spear, a Liyue polearm forged from the rocks of the Guyun Stone Forest said to be able to pierce even through dragon scales, with a hardness that knows no equal.

This spear comes with a base ATK of 44 - 565, while its secondary stat increases the ATK by 6% - 27.6%.

As it’s part of the Lithic Series along with the Lithic Blade, its Lithic Axiom - Unity effect increases the ATK of its wielder by 7/8/9/10/11% and the CRIT Rate by 3/4/5/6/7%, for every character in the party who hails from Liyue.

“The Catch”

Last but not least, we will find one of the latest introductions into the game available as a free reward, as part of the items available in the Inazuma Fishing Association, in exchange for the fish you collect with the Fishing System.

“The Catch” is a polearm that almost resembles a trident. Its Shanty skill can increase your Elemental Burst DMG by 16%, and your Elemental Burst CRIT Rate by 6%.

Shenhe - Best Artifacts

Blizzard Strayer

As the main choice for her artifacts, we will recommend the Blizzard Strayer set, a set introduced during the addition of the Dragonspine Mountain that increases the power of your Elemental skills by giving you a 15% Cryo DMG Bonus.

If you manage to get four pieces of this set, whenever Shenhe attacks an opponent affected by Cryo, her CRIT Rate will be increased by 20%. If the opponent is Frozen, her CRIT Rate will be increased by an additional 20%.

If you don’t have all pieces of it, you can either combine it or go for the Noblesse Oblige artifacts, as these will increase the power of her Elemental Burst by 20% with two pieces, while with four, using an Elemental Burst will increase all party members' ATK by 20% for 12 seconds.

Gladiator's Finale

As an alternative, and if you want to focus on a DPS composition, the key is to get hold of the Gladiator's Finale set, which will substantially increase her ATK by 18% with two pieces, while Shenhe's Normal Attack DMG will be powered up by 35% when having the complete set.

It can also be combined with the Shimenawa's Reminiscence set, which likewise increases your ATK by 18% with two pieces, or with Blizzard Strayer artifacts.

Artifact Stats

As for their stats, these will be focused on strengthening her offensive capabilities, with a priority on her ATK and CRITs, along with an increase on Energy Recharge to spam her skills, and better Cryo DMG for her basic and Elemental attacks.

Main stats:

• HP
• ATK
• ATK%
• Cryo DMG Bonus%
• CRIT DMG
• CRIT Rate

Sub stats:

• ATK%
• CRIT DMG
• CRIT Rate
• Energy Recharge
• Elemental Mastery

Recommended team composition and release date

Shenhe has a lot of potential waiting to be unleashed, as she can make fantastic Cryo effects with her AoE skills and boost other Cryo character attacks, making her a fantastic support character. However, her biggest chances of shining will be mostly focused on Cryo comps, or with teams that make good use of her freezing reactions.

So to complement her playstyle, we recommend choosing from these characters for your team:

• To begin, we suggest choosing a Cryo character as your main DPS, capable of dealing the highest damage possible. For this, you can go for either Kamisato Ayaka, Ganyu, or any other Cryo adventurer that fills this spot (in case you don’t have the first two).
• As the second element for your team, it’s crucial to go for a Hydro character as these can provide healings and frozen reactions. You can choose between Sangonomiya Kokomi, Mona, or Barbara.
• Finally, your last option will be quite flexible, either you want to get another powerful sub-DPS character such as Kaedehara Kazuha, or a support as Jean
• or Sucrose.

And this is all we have to share with you about Shenhe. Remember, she will be only available on 5-26th January, along with Yun Jin in the “The Transcendent One Returns” banner, so try to save as many Primogems as possible.

• Read more: Genshin Impact Yun Jin: Release date, abilities, voice actors and more
  

In the meantime, don't forget to check our dedicated Genshin Impact section, where you can find all the news, guides, and previews you desire, as well as our Genshin Impact Twitter account.

Featured image courtesy of miHoYo.