After the 2.4 update in Genshin Impact, two new characters were introduced. Among them is Shenhe, a five-star polearm user who wields the power of ice. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about this character.
How to Get Shenhe
Shenhe can be obtained through the new «Moment of Bloom» prayer. It was available until January 25, 2022, but the developers might add her banner again soon. Stay tuned for updates!
Shenhe Description — Title, Special Dish, Affiliation, Region, Constellation, Birthday, and Gender
- Gender: Female;
- Birthday: March 10;
- Constellation: Corvus;
- Affiliation: Adepti;
- Special Dish: Heartstring Noodles;
- Title: The Lonesome Transcendence.
Artworks Featuring Shenhe
Shenhe's Active Talents
- Piercing Stars (basic attack). Shenhe performs up to five spear strikes. The charged version of this attack is a forward thrust, dealing damage to all enemies in its path. The plunging attack deals AoE damage.
- Spring Spirit Summoning (elemental skill). A simple press of the elemental skill button lets Shenhe perform a thrust, dealing damage to all enemies in her path. Holding the button performs an AoE attack and generates a Cryo Feather effect. This effect enhances the attacks and spells of your allies in the team if enemies have taken Cryo damage.
The enhancement percentage depends on Shenhe's attack power. The Cryo Feather has a certain number of charges, which will be consumed to enhance your characters' attacks and spells. Once the charges are used up, the feather disappears. Holding the elemental skill button increases the effectiveness and number of charges of the Cryo Feather compared to a single press. - Divine Maiden's Deliverance (elemental burst). Summons the spirit of a talisman, dealing AoE Cryo damage. Additionally, it creates a field that reduces enemies' resistance to frost and physical attacks, and deals extra cold damage.
Shenhe's Passive Talents
- Precise Timing. Increases rewards from expeditions in Liyue by 25% for 20 hours.
- Divine Rule. In the area of the Elemental Burst (Divine Maiden's Deliverance), Cryo DMG Bonus is increased by 15%.
- Spirit Communion Seal. When Shenhe uses her Elemental Skill (Spring Spirit Summoning), all characters in your party receive bonuses. If you press the button quickly, the damage of Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst of characters in your party is increased by 15% for 10 seconds. If you hold the button, the damage of Normal and Charged Attacks, as well as Plunging Attacks, is increased by 15%. This effect lasts for 15 seconds.
Where to Find (How to Get) Materials for Leveling Shenhe's Talents
To level up Shenhe's talents, you will need the following resources:
- Level 2: 12,500 Mora, 3 Teachings of Prosperity, 6 Whopperflower Nectar.
- Level 3: 17,500 Mora, 2 Guides to Prosperity, 3 Shimmering Nectar.
- Level 4: 25,000 Mora, 4 Guides to Prosperity, 4 Shimmering Nectar.
- Level 5: 30,000 Mora, 6 Guides to Prosperity, 6 Shimmering Nectar.
- Level 6: 37,500 Mora, 9 Guides to Prosperity, 9 Shimmering Nectar.
- Level 7: 120,000 Mora, 4 Philosophies of Prosperity, 4 Energy Nectar, 1 Hellfire Butterfly.
- Level 8: 260,000 Mora, 6 Philosophies of Prosperity, 6 Energy Nectar, 1 Hellfire Butterfly.
- Level 9: 450,000 Mora, 12 Philosophies of Prosperity, 9 Energy Nectar, 2 Hellfire Butterflies.
- Level 10: 700,000 Mora, 16 Philosophies of Prosperity, 12 Energy Nectar, 2 Hellfire Butterflies, 1 Crown of Insight.
Teachings, Guides, and Philosophies of Prosperity can be found in the Taishan Mansion domain on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The location of this domain is indicated on the map:
In addition, Guides to Prosperity can be crafted from 3 Teachings, and Philosophies can be crafted from 3 Guides.
Whopperflower Nectar, Shimmering Nectar, and Energy Nectar are dropped by Whopperflowers. We have marked their locations on the maps:
Shimmering Nectar can be crafted from 3 units of Whopperflower Nectar, and Energy Nectar can be crafted from 3 units of Shimmering Nectar.
The Hellfire Butterfly can be obtained as a reward for completing the Narukami Island: Tenshukaku domain, where you will face La Signora.
The Crown of Insight could be obtained as a reward for various time-limited events (Invitation of Windblume, Lost Riches, Lantern Rite), which have already passed. As of today, the only way to obtain this crown is to reach level 11 of the Frostbearing Tree. We have indicated its location on the map:
Shenhe's Constellations
To unlock constellations, you will need Stella Fortuna for Shenhe. You will receive it if you obtain the character again during wishes.
- Clarity of Heart. Increases the number of charges for the Elemental Skill (Spring Spirit Summoning) by 1.
- Centered Spirit. Extends the duration of the Elemental Burst (Divine Maiden's Deliverance) by 6 seconds, and increases the Cryo DMG of the active character within the skill's area by 15%.
- Seclusion. Increases the level of the Elemental Skill (Spring Spirit Summoning) by 3, up to a maximum of 15.
- Insight. When characters gain damage bonuses from Icy Quill, Shenhe gains 1 level of Celestial Prayer. Reusing the Elemental Skill increases its damage by 5% per level of Celestial Prayer. This effect stacks up to 50 times and lasts for 60 seconds.
- Divine Attainment. Increases the level of the Elemental Burst (Divine Maiden's Deliverance) by 3, up to a maximum of 15.
- Forgotten Wisdom. When characters are under the effect of Icy Quill and perform a Normal or Charged Attack, the number of Icy Quill charges does not decrease.
Where to Find (How to Get) Materials for Ascending Shenhe. What is Needed for Ascending Shenhe
- Level 20: 20,000 Mora, 3 Qingxin flowers, 1 Shivada Jade Sliver, 3 Whopperflower Nectar.
- Level 40: 40,000 Mora, 10 Qingxin flowers, 3 Shivada Jade Fragments, 15 Whopperflower Nectar, 2 Dragonheir's False Fin.
- Level 50: 60,000 Mora, 20 Qingxin flowers, 6 Shivada Jade Fragments, 12 Shimmering Nectar, 4 Dragonheir's False Fin.
- Level 60: 80,000 Mora, 30 Qingxin flowers, 3 Shivada Jade Chunks, 18 Shimmering Nectar, 8 Dragonheir's False Fin.
- Level 70: 100,000 Mora, 45 Qingxin flowers, 6 Shivada Jade Chunks, 12 Energy Nectar, 12 Dragonheir's False Fin.
- Level 80: 120,000 Mora, 60 Qingxin flowers, 6 Shivada Jade Gemstones, 24 Energy Nectar, 20 Dragonheir's False Fin.
Qingxin flowers can be found in the open world of the game. We have indicated their locations on the map:
Shivada Jade Slivers, Fragments, Chunks, and Gemstones can be obtained from defeating the Cryo Regisvine, found in the Golden House, or after defeating the Wolf of the North. Additionally, Shivada Jade Slivers can be purchased in souvenir shops. We have marked the necessary locations on the map:
Shivada Jade Fragments can be crafted from 3 Slivers, Chunks from 3 Fragments, and Gemstones from 3 Chunks.
Whopperflower Nectar, Shimmering Nectar, and Energy Nectar can be obtained from Whopperflowers. We have marked their locations on the maps:
Shimmering Nectar can be crafted from 3 units of Whopperflower Nectar, and Energy Nectar from 3 units of Shimmering Nectar.
The False Fin can be obtained after defeating the boss known as the Bathysmal Vishap Herd. It is located in a new region called Enkanomiya. We have indicated where to find the boss on the map:
Best Weapon and Artifacts Build for Shenhe
For weapons, you can choose the five-star polearm named Calamity Queller, which was added to the game alongside the 2.4 update. It increases the attack power of all elements by 12-24%, and the use of an elemental skill applies the Refinement effect. Thanks to it, the attack increases by an additional 3.2-6.4% per second.
The effect stacks up to 6 times and is doubled if Shenhe is not on the field. This weapon can be obtained through the Divine Ingenuity event prayer.
An alternative option is the four-star polearm Prototype: Starglitter. With it, after using an elemental skill, your attack increases by 8-16%. The effect can stack up to two times. This polearm can be forged. You will need a Northlander Polearm Billet, 50 pieces of White Iron Chunk, 50 pieces of Crystal Chunk, and 500 Mora.
The Northlander Polearm Billet can be obtained as a reward for defeating Stormterror, Signora, Childe, Azhdaha, or the Wolf of the North. Additionally, it can be purchased from Xingxi. We have marked their location on the map:
For gathering White Iron Chunks, you can also use our maps:
Crystal Chunk locations are indicated on the map:
For artifacts, consider the Noblesse Oblige set. It increases elemental burst damage by 20%, and its use increases the attack power of all your characters by 20% for 12 seconds. However, the effect does not stack. Artifacts from this set can be found in the Clear Pool and Mountain Cavern domain. Its location is marked on the map:
An alternative option is the Blizzard Strayer set. It increases Cryo damage by 15%. Additionally, if the opponent is affected by Cryo, your chance to land a critical hit is increased by 20%. If the opponent is Frozen, the critical damage probability increases by another 20%. This set can be obtained in the Peak of Vindagnyr domain.
Pros and Cons of Shenhe
- High Cryo damage.
- Excellent enhancement of Cryo attacks for allies.
- Additional benefits during expeditions in Liyue.
- As a main DPS character, Shenhe is not very effective.
- As a support character, Shenhe is only useful in combination with other Cryo characters.
- The character's strengths are only fully revealed after unlocking four constellations.
- Elemental Burst consumes too much energy.
How to Play Shenhe. Which Characters Combine Well in a Team with Shenhe
Although Shenhe is a five-star character, she serves as a support character. Your team will need a main DPS Cryo character. Their attacks can be enhanced with Anemo magic. And to restore lost health, you will need a healer.
The battle tactic is as follows. Shenhe and your Anemo character use their elemental skill or burst, after which you switch to your main DPS hero. As abilities recharge, you return to Shenhe and the character wielding air magic, and use their spells again.
With this approach, the team composition will be as follows:
- Eula, Ayaka, or Ganyu (main DPS character).
- Shenhe (support and additional damage character).
- Venti, Kazuha, Sayu, or Sucrose (Anemo character).
- Qiqi, Kokomi, Jean, or Barbara (healer).
The Anemo character can be replaced with a Geo character. In this case, your team's attack will decrease, but you will be able to create elemental shields that reduce damage from enemy elements. Then, your team will be as follows:
- Ganyu, Eula, or Ayaka (main DPS character).
- Shenhe (support and additional damage character).
- Arataki Itto, Albedo, Noelle, Ningguang, or Zhongli (Geo characters for defense).
- Kokomi, Qiqi, Jean, or Barbara (healers).
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