Shenhe vs Citlali
Elite Cryo buffing vs. Natlan's Cryo carry power
TL;DR — Quick Pick
Pick Shenhe if…
- When you already have a strong Cryo carry and want to buff them
- When playing in traditional Liyue/Freeze shells
- When focus is on off-field RES shred
Pick Citlali if…
- When you want to play an on-field Cryo damage dealer
- When exploring and fighting in Natlan
- When you prefer a Catalyst user's consistent elemental application
Shenhe is the ultimate support for characters like Citlali, but Citlali is the better choice if you need someone to actually deal the damage. Together they form a formidable Cryo core.
At a Glance
Strengths & Weaknesses
Shenhe
- Strong Cryo damage
- Versatile team options
- Requires investment
- Best teams use limited 5-stars
Citlali
- Provides both Pyro and Hydro RES decreases.
- The 50 Nightsoul points required for Citlali's Nightsoul's Blessing is triggered easily.
- Incredibly easy to build only needing EM.
- Weaker shielding compared to many shielders due to having no shield absorption in her kit.
- Cryo application not always frequent enough to consistently create reactions on her own. Depends on the team and rotation.
Shared Team Members
With Shenhe
Kazuha shreds Cryo RES to amplify the damage of Shenhe's Burst and the characters she supports. His A4 passive provides a Cryo DMG bonus that scales with his EM, which is essential for ensuring Shenhe's Icy Quill stacks deal the maximum possible damage when triggered.
With Citlali
Kazuha provides the necessary Anemo utility to shred RES and buff Citlali's personal damage output. His grouping keeps enemies contained within Citlali's ability ranges, allowing her to maximize her impact on the field during her specific combat windows.
Best Builds (Signature)
Weapon
Calamity Queller
Artifacts
Noblesse Oblige
Sands
ATK % / Energy Recharge
Goblet
ATK %
Circlet
ATK % (CRIT Rate can contest if using Favonius Lance)
Substats
CRIT Rate/DMG > ATK% > ER%
Weapon
Starcaller's Watch
Artifacts
Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City
Sands
ER / EM
Goblet
EM
Circlet
EM
Substats
Energy Recharge > Elemental Mastery
Who Should You Pull?
- When you already have a strong Cryo carry and want to buff them
- When playing in traditional Liyue/Freeze shells
- When focus is on off-field RES shred
- When you want to play an on-field Cryo damage dealer
- When exploring and fighting in Natlan
- When you prefer a Catalyst user's consistent elemental application