Genshin Impact 6.3 introduces Lunar-Crystallize, a Geo + Hydro reaction that summons three Moondrifts after three consecutive triggers. These deal CRIT-based AoE Geo damage scaling with party Max HP and DEF, transforming Geo team building. This guide covers damage mechanics, uptime optimization, and Zhongli vs alternative Geo characters.
Understanding Lunar-Crystallize Mechanics
Version 6.3 (launched January 14, 2026) fundamentally changes Geo teams through Lunar-Crystallize. Unlike standard Crystallize that only generates shields, Lunar-Crystallize summons three Moondrifts after three Geo + Hydro triggers, creating damage-focused gameplay.
Moondrifts deal CRIT AoE Geo damage scaling with party Max HP and DEF—adding 0.2% damage per 1,000 Max HP. At 35,000 HP across your team, you gain 7% bonus multiplier. This makes HP/DEF investments on supports directly contribute to team DPS.
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Version 6.3 Meta Impact
Phase 1 (through February 3, 2026) features Columbina, the 5-star Hydro Catalyst enabling consistent triggers. Phase 2 (through February 24, 2026) introduces Zibai, whose fourth Normal Attack specifically triggers Lunar-Crystallize.
Optimized teams achieve 6-9 activations per 90-second Abyss chamber. This translates to consistent Moondrift uptime, providing damage plus defensive utility through Lunar Shields absorbing 8,000-12,000 base damage at level 90.
Why It Matters
Lunar-Crystallize rewards previously undervalued stats. Characters with HP% Sands or DEF% substats now contribute meaningfully to team damage. This lets F2P players maximize existing rosters without perfect CRIT substats on everyone.
The 15-second Moondrift persistence creates forgiving rotation windows. Unlike snapshot-dependent mechanics requiring frame-perfect execution, Lunar-Crystallize accommodates varied playstyles while maintaining competitive damage.
Damage Trigger Mechanics Breakdown
Trigger Conditions
Lunar-Crystallize requires three consecutive Geo + Hydro applications: apply Hydro, then Geo, repeating three times without interruption from other elements. Each successful trigger increments your counter, with the third summoning all three Moondrifts simultaneously.
Moondrifts persist 15 seconds once summoned. However, the trigger sequence resets if you apply Pyro, Electro, or Cryo between Geo and Hydro applications.
Zibai's fourth Normal Attack specifically triggers Lunar-Crystallize. His Gravity Ripple accumulates 20 Gravity every 2 seconds up to 60 maximum, synchronizing perfectly with the three-trigger requirement.
Elemental Application Requirements
Columbina's Hydro Catalyst provides persistent application through her Elemental Skill, maintaining aura for 12-15 seconds. This covers multiple Geo applications, simplifying execution.
Standard ICD rules apply. Most characters follow 3-hit or 2.5-second ICD. Zibai's fourth Normal Attack bypasses standard ICD specifically for Lunar-Crystallize, guaranteeing triggers every fourth hit.
Hydro application strength matters less than consistency. Even weak auras suffice since Lunar-Crystallize doesn't consume elemental gauge like Vaporize or Melt.
Damage Calculation
Moondrift damage formula: Base Damage × (1 + HP/DEF Scaling) × (1 + CRIT DMG%). HP/DEF scaling adds 0.2% per 1,000 Max HP across all party members. A team totaling 140,000 HP gains 28% additional multiplier before CRIT.
CRIT scaling applies standard formulas. Target 60-70% CRIT Rate and 120-150% CRIT DMG. At 140% CRIT DMG, damage multiplies by 2.4x.
Aubade of Morningstar and Moon 4-piece provides +20% off-field Lunar Reaction damage, applying multiplicatively with other bonuses.
Common Mistakes
Overlapping elemental applications from multiple characters disrupts trigger sequences. Running Pyro or Electro alongside Geo + Hydro cores creates unwanted reactions. Limit teams to Geo, Hydro, and Anemo characters.
Insufficient Energy Recharge causes rotation desync. Zibai requires 110-120% ER for consistent Burst uptime in optimized teams, increasing to 130-150% with alternatives.
Premature character swapping interrupts Zibai's Normal Attack sequences before the fourth hit. Maintain on-field presence for complete attack strings.
Moondrift Uptime Optimization
Stack Mechanics
Each Moondrift persists 15 seconds independently. Since all three spawn simultaneously on the third trigger, they share identical expiration timings—you either have all three active or none.
Moondrifts resonate with Geo constructs like Zhongli's Stone Stele and Albedo's Solar Isotoma, triggering additional damage instances. Teams running both achieve resonance chains that double or triple effective damage.
The 15-second duration creates natural rotation breakpoints. Optimal rotations complete within 18-20 seconds, allowing brief overlap between expiring and newly summoned Moondrifts.
Calculating Uptime
Uptime percentage = (Moondrift Active Time / Total Combat Duration) × 100. In a perfect 18-second rotation generating Moondrifts at the 3-second mark, you achieve 15 seconds uptime per 18-second cycle = 83.3%. Real scenarios typically yield 70-75% for skilled players.
Track trigger timing using Elemental Skill cooldowns. Columbina's 12-second cooldown provides consistent reference. If you summon Moondrifts every 18-20 seconds (1.5-1.67 skill cooldowns), you're maintaining optimal uptime.
Rotation Strategies for 90%+ Uptime
Optimal sequence: Zhongli Hold E → Albedo E → Columbina E → Zibai 4 Normal Attacks → Zhongli Q → Columbina Q → Zibai Q. This 18-20 second cycle triggers three instances, summoning Moondrifts at rotation midpoint.
Zhongli's Hold E establishes construct resonance and shields. Albedo's Solar Isotoma adds secondary Geo application. Columbina's Skill provides persistent Hydro. Zibai's four Normal Attacks complete the first trigger, with subsequent Bursts generating remaining triggers.
Illuga, the 4-star Geo Polearm support, grants 21 buff stacks for 20 seconds through her Burst, requiring 163% ER for 95% uptime.
Energy Management
Zibai's ER requirements vary by composition. With Zhongli and Albedo generating particles, 110-120% ER suffices. Alternative compositions require 130-150% ER.
Columbina using Prototype Amber R5 achieves 78-82% ER while providing team healing, solving both energy and sustain simultaneously.
Funnel particles strategically. Catch Geo particles on Zibai during Zhongli's Stone Stele resonance and Albedo's Solar Isotoma procs. This reduces ER requirements by 15-20%.
Real Combat Challenges
Enemy movement disrupts stationary Geo constructs. Mobile bosses reduce effective uptime by 10-15%, requiring positioning adjustments.
Multi-wave chambers create rotation reset challenges. Moondrifts expire during wave transitions, forcing fresh trigger sequences. Optimize clear speed on early waves to ensure Burst availability for priority targets.
Zhongli's Jade Shield provides 150% absorption with 20% universal RES shred, preventing interruptions that would break Zibai's fourth Normal Attack timing.
Zhongli in Lunar-Crystallize
Why Zhongli Remains Meta
Zhongli's universal RES shred amplifies all damage sources, including Moondrift CRIT damage. The 20% RES reduction functions as a 1.2x damage multiplier against standard enemy resistances, scaling with total damage output.
His Jade Shield provides unparalleled interruption resistance with 150% absorption efficiency. Shield protection ensures combo completion without dodging interruptions, translating to 15-20% effective DPS increases.
Stone Stele resonance creates additional Moondrift damage instances. Each resonance pulse triggers Moondrift attacks when active, effectively doubling damage frequency. C1 summons two Steles, tripling proc rates in optimal positioning.
Optimal Build
Tenacity of the Millelith 4-piece provides +30% shield strength and +20% ATK when Skill hits opponents. Stone Stele's continuous pulses maintain 100% uptime.
Target 25,000+ HP for shield strength while maintaining 160%+ ER for consistent Burst uptime. HP% Sands, Geo DMG% Goblet, HP% Circlet provide optimal distribution.
Staff of Homa remains best-in-slot for damage builds (608 base ATK, 66.15% CRIT DMG). Black Tassel (3-star) offers 46.9% HP% for pure support roles.
Constellation Value
C0 provides complete core functionality—shield, RES shred, single Stele resonance. This baseline suffices for all applications.
C1 doubles Stele count, creating overlapping resonance zones. This increases Moondrift proc frequency by 80-100% in optimal positioning, representing the most significant damage constellation.
C4 increases Burst AoE by 20% and extends Petrification by 2 seconds, providing quality-of-life improvements rather than raw damage.
Shield vs Damage Balance
Shield duration (20 seconds) exceeds typical rotation lengths (18-20 seconds), ensuring permanent uptime. Refresh shields during rotation endpoints using Hold E.
Personal damage contribution ranges from 15-25% of total team DPS. Combined with defensive utility and RES shred, this creates net positive value exceeding pure damage alternatives.
Geo Resonance activated by Zhongli's shield provides +15% shield strength and +15% Geo DMG while shielded. Unconditional uptime makes it one of the most reliable damage bonuses.
Unique Advantages
Stone Stele placement creates strategic positioning. Place steles near spawn points to establish resonance zones before combat, frontloading damage during critical windows.
Petrification groups enemies for AoE Moondrift damage. The 4-second base duration (6 seconds at C4) allows repositioning without enemy interference.
Universal element compatibility allows flexible team building. Zhongli functions identically regardless of teammates, future-proofing investments.
Alternative Geo Characters
Albedo: Off-Field Damage
Albedo's Solar Isotoma provides consistent off-field Geo application every 2 seconds, triggering Lunar-Crystallize without field time. His 30-second skill duration covers multiple rotation cycles.
Solar Isotoma resonance with Moondrifts creates additional damage instances. Albedo's DEF scaling (125% DEF per proc at talent 10) contributes 8-12% team DPS independently.
Cinnabar Spindle (event-exclusive 4-star) provides 69% DEF and increases Skill damage by 40-80% of DEF. Harbinger of Dawn (3-star) offers 46.9% CRIT DMG as farmable alternative.
Primary limitation: no defensive utility. Teams require alternative sustain sources, consuming slots that could boost damage.
Navia: Burst DPS Option
Navia gains Crystallized Shards from Lunar-Crystallize, fueling her Skill's shotgun mechanic. Each shard consumed increases Skill damage, creating synergy between defensive byproducts and offensive output.
Burst DPS playstyle concentrates damage into short windows, complementing Lunar-Crystallize's sustained pattern. Navia handles burst phases while Moondrifts maintain baseline DPS.
Investment requirements prove steeper than pure supports. Navia requires field time, proper artifacts (4-piece Nighttime Whispers), and weapon investment to match dedicated supports' value.
Itto: Main DPS Hybrid
Itto transforms teams into hypercarry compositions where he serves as primary damage dealer with Moondrifts providing supplementary damage. His Charged Attack spam during Burst generates rapid Geo application.
DEF scaling synergizes with Moondrift calculations. Itto naturally builds 2,500-3,000 DEF, contributing 5-6% to team-wide DEF scaling. His Burst converts DEF to ATK, benefiting from both stats.
Primary drawback: field time competition. Itto requires 8-10 seconds on-field during Burst, conflicting with Zibai's Normal Attack sequences. Rotations must carefully balance field time allocation.
Noelle: F2P Friendly
Noelle combines healing, shielding, and damage in one slot, maximizing efficiency. Her Burst converts DEF to ATK while providing AoE Normal/Charged Attacks, allowing simultaneous sustain and damage.
Guaranteed availability through beginner banner and shop ensures all players can access her. C6 transforms her into competitive DPS, though earlier constellations provide sufficient utility.
Energy requirements present challenges. Noelle's 60 Energy cost with poor particle generation demands 180-200% ER for consistent uptime, forcing artifact allocation away from CRIT and DEF.
Performance Metrics
Abyss Floor 12 clear times: Zhongli teams average 85-95 seconds per chamber. Albedo teams achieve 80-90 seconds through higher personal damage but require stronger mechanics. Navia hybrid compositions range 90-100 seconds.
Damage contribution percentages: Moondrifts contribute 35-40%, Zibai provides 30-35%, Geo slot adds 15-25%. Zhongli's RES shred amplifies all categories, creating multiplicative value exceeding direct contribution.
Investment efficiency favors Zhongli for most players. Universal applicability, permanent meta relevance, and complete C0 functionality provide superior long-term value.
Best Geo Slot Decision Framework
Account Progression
Early-game (AR 35-45): Prioritize Noelle. She provides healing, shielding, and damage in one package with guaranteed availability and low investment requirements.
Mid-game (AR 45-55): Zhongli if available. Shield quality-of-life accelerates progression by reducing healing requirements and preventing interruptions. Universal RES shred remains valuable across all content.
End-game (AR 55+): Evaluate based on existing roster and Abyss goals. Strong mechanical skills gain more from Albedo's damage. Prioritizing comfort benefits from Zhongli's defensive utility.
Investment Cost vs Return
Zhongli requires minimal investment for maximum value. Level 80/90 with 6/6/6 talents provides 90% potential. Weapon choice between Black Tassel (shields) or Staff of Homa (damage) offers flexibility.
Albedo demands moderate investment. Level 80/90 with 1/8/8 talents and DEF-focused artifacts optimize damage. Cinnabar Spindle's limited availability creates weapon challenges, though Harbinger of Dawn provides 70-80% optimal performance.
Navia requires high investment to justify team slot usage. Level 90/90 with 8/8/8 talents, proper artifacts with CRIT optimization, and 5-star weapons approach necessary thresholds.
Playstyle Matching
Aggressive players prioritizing damage prefer Albedo's off-field contribution. Set-and-forget playstyle allows focusing on DPS rotations without defensive concerns, demanding strong mechanical skills.
Defensive players valuing consistency choose Zhongli for interruption resistance and shield comfort. Accommodates learning new rotations and handling unfamiliar enemy patterns without punishment.
Hybrid players seeking balanced gameplay find Navia's burst windows engaging. Active playstyle creates decision points around Crystallize shard management and skill timing.
Team Synergy
Mono-Geo teams maximize Geo Resonance value, favoring Zhongli for shield uptime and Albedo for particle generation. Running three Geo (Zhongli, Albedo, Zibai) with one Hydro (Columbina) creates optimal resonance.
Hybrid elemental teams incorporating Anemo supports benefit from Zhongli's universal compatibility. Shield and RES shred function identically regardless of composition.
Healer-less teams require Zhongli's shield or Noelle's healing. Albedo's lack of defensive utility forces including dedicated healers, reducing team slot efficiency.
Optimal Team Compositions
Top 3 Meta Teams
Team 1: Premium Moondrift Maximizer
Zibai (On-field DPS/Driver)
Columbina (Hydro Enabler)
Zhongli (Shield/RES Shred)
Albedo (Off-field Damage)
Achieves 18-second rotation cycles with maximum uptime. Dual resonance doubles Moondrift proc frequency. Columbina's persistent Hydro ensures consistent triggers.
Team 2: F2P Accessible Core
Zibai (On-field DPS/Driver)
Columbina (Hydro Enabler)
Noelle (Sustain/Damage)
Illuga (Buffer/Support)
Noelle provides healing and shielding, eliminating sustain concerns. Illuga's 21-stack buff grants team-wide bonuses for 20 seconds. Sacrifices 10-15% damage but requires no 5-star Geo beyond Zibai.
Team 3: Hybrid Burst Composition
Navia (Burst DPS)
Columbina (Hydro Enabler)
Zhongli (Shield/RES Shred)
Zibai (Sub-DPS/Driver)
Navia serves as primary damage dealer during skill windows. Zibai maintains Moondrift uptime during Navia's cooldowns. Suits players enjoying rotation-intensive gameplay.
Rotation Sequences
Premium Team (18 seconds):
Zhongli Hold E (2s) - Shield and Stele
Albedo E (1s) - Solar Isotoma
Columbina E (1s) - Persistent Hydro
Zibai 4x Normal (3s) - First trigger
Zhongli Q (2s) - Damage and Petrification
Columbina Q (2s) - Second trigger
Zibai Q (2s) - Third trigger, summon Moondrifts
Zibai Normal spam (5s) - Damage phase
F2P Team (20 seconds):
Noelle E (1s) - Shield
Illuga Q (2s) - 21-stack buffs
Columbina E (1s) - Hydro
Zibai 4x Normal (3s) - First trigger
Noelle Q (2s) - Healing and buff
Columbina Q (2s) - Second trigger
Zibai Q (2s) - Third trigger
Zibai Normal spam (7s) - Damage
Support Selection
Columbina remains premier Hydro enabler. Off-field application, energy generation, and potential healing (Prototype Amber) provide comprehensive support. No current alternative matches her synergy.
Anemo supports like Kazuha can replace fourth slot experimentally. Viridescent Venerer's 40% RES shred applies to Hydro damage but not Geo Moondrift damage. Crowd control assists multi-target scenarios but reduces team damage by 8-12%.
Combat Scenario Flexibility
Single-target favors Zhongli + Albedo for maximum resonance damage. Construct-based mechanics concentrate damage without requiring grouping.
Multi-target benefits from AoE-focused Geo characters. Noelle's Burst provides wide-range Normal Attacks. Zhongli's Petrification groups enemies for concentrated Moondrift damage.
Mobile enemies require adaptable positioning. Zhongli's shield allows aggressive chasing. Albedo's Solar Isotoma placement near spawn points maximizes uptime.
Advanced Tips
Elemental Mastery Value
EM provides minimal value for Lunar-Crystallize damage. Unlike Vaporize or Melt, damage depends on HP/DEF scaling and CRIT stats. EM investments yield 0.5-1% increases compared to 3-5% from equivalent CRIT rolls.
Crystallize shield strength scales with EM, but Lunar Shields already absorb 8,000-12,000 base damage. Additional shield strength proves redundant with Zhongli's Jade Shield or Noelle's healing.
Exception: characters using Instructor's 4-piece to buff teammates. The 120 EM team buff requires the set holder to trigger reactions, creating niche applications.
Geo Resonance Interaction
Geo Resonance's +15% Geo DMG applies to all Geo damage including Moondrifts. Unconditional nature (only requiring shields) ensures 100% uptime, functioning as permanent 1.15x multiplier.
Shield strength bonus (+15%) stacks additively with Tenacity 4-piece (+30%). Combined bonuses reach +45% shield strength, transforming moderate shields into nearly unbreakable barriers.
Interruption resistance from shields enables consistent rotation execution. Geo Resonance's value extends beyond raw damage to include consistency improvements from uninterrupted combos.
Shield Management
Multiple enemies drain shields faster than single-target. Zhongli's Jade Shield handles 3-4 enemies comfortably, but 5+ in close proximity require mid-rotation refreshes.
Crystallize shields from Lunar-Crystallize supplement primary shields. While weaker, they provide emergency protection during refresh windows.
Optimal refresh timing occurs at 2-3 seconds remaining duration, maximizing uptime without risking gaps.
Crystallize Misconceptions
Standard Crystallize deals no damage—only generates shields. Lunar-Crystallize fundamentally differs by summoning Moondrifts that deal actual CRIT-based damage.
Moondrift damage scales independently of the triggering character. Zibai's stats don't directly affect Moondrift damage beyond his contribution to team HP/DEF totals.
Resonance damage from Geo constructs counts as separate instances from direct Moondrift attacks. Proper attribution reveals construct characters contribute 20-30% more value than initially apparent.
Future-Proofing Investment
Version 6.4+ will likely introduce additional synergy characters. Investing in core mechanics (Zibai, Columbina) provides future-proof value as new characters expand options.
Artifact sets with universal applicability maintain long-term value. Tenacity for Zhongli, Husk for DEF scalers, and Aubade for Lunar-Crystallize specialists remain relevant regardless of future releases.
Weapon investments should favor versatile options. Staff of Homa works on multiple polearm characters, while Cinnabar Spindle only optimizes Albedo.
Performance Testing
Floor 12 Clear Times
Premium teams (Zibai/Columbina/Zhongli/Albedo) achieve 80-90 second clears with proper execution. Upper-middle tier performance, competitive with established teams while offering superior defensive comfort.
F2P teams (Zibai/Columbina/Noelle/Illuga) extend to 95-105 seconds, accepting 10-15% longer clears for accessibility and sustain. Suffices for 36-star clears with proper investment.
Hybrid burst compositions (Navia/Columbina/Zhongli/Zibai) achieve 85-95 seconds depending on Navia investment. High-investment builds (C2+, signature weapon) approach premium performance.
Damage Contribution
Floor 12 damage breakdowns:
Moondrifts: 35-40% (includes resonance)
Zibai: 30-35% (Normal Attacks, Burst, Skill)
Geo Slot: 15-25% (varies by character)
Columbina: 8-12% (primarily Burst)
Moondrifts dominate as primary damage source, validating focus on maximizing uptime and scaling. Zibai's substantial contribution justifies on-field time investment.
Zhongli's RES shred amplifies all categories multiplicatively. Removing Zhongli reduces total damage by 18-22%, exceeding his personal 15-20% contribution.
DPS Calculations
Optimized teams achieve 45,000-55,000 DPS in sustained combat. Compares favorably to National variants (50,000-60,000 DPS) while providing superior defensive utility.
Burst windows during Moondrift uptime peak at 65,000-75,000 DPS when all buffs align. These windows determine clear time efficiency.
Damage floor during downtime drops to 25,000-30,000 DPS. Minimizing downtime through rotation optimization directly improves average DPS.
Practical vs Theoretical
Theoretical maximum assumes perfect execution, 100% uptime, optimal positioning. Real scenarios achieve 75-85% of theoretical maximums due to enemy movement, mechanics, and minor errors.
Mechanical skill impact proves significant. Strong fundamentals achieve 80-85% efficiency, learning players reach 70-75%. This 10-15% gap emphasizes practice value.
Enemy-specific mechanics create variance. Stationary bosses allow near-theoretical performance, mobile enemies reduce efficiency to 65-70%.
Resource Management
Primogem Allocation
Securing Zibai and Columbina takes priority. Budget 28,800 Primogems (180 pulls) for guaranteed acquisition. Existing 50/50 guarantees reduce to 14,400 Primogems (90 pulls).
Zhongli reruns occur every 6-8 months. Maintain 14,400-28,800 Primogem reserves for his next banner. Universal value justifies prioritizing him over most new releases.
Weapon banners require careful evaluation. Zibai functions effectively without Staff of Homa. F2P players should avoid weapon banners, allocating Primogems toward character acquisition instead.
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Talent Priority
Zibai: Normal Attack > Burst > Skill (8/8/8 minimum, 10/10/10 optimal)
Zhongli: Skill > Burst > Normal Attack (1/8/8 functional, 1/10/10 optimal)
Albedo: Skill >> Burst > Normal Attack (1/10/8 functional)
Noelle: Burst > Normal Attack > Skill (8/8/8 minimum for DPS builds)
Resin Optimization
Artifact farming consumes 60-70% of Resin during building phases. Prioritize Tenacity domain for Zhongli, Husk domain for DEF scalers, Aubade domain for specialists. Acceptable sets require 2-3 weeks per character.
Talent book farming requires 3-4 days per character for 8/8/8 talents. Use Condensed Resin for efficiency. Prioritize: Zibai > Geo Slot > Columbina.
Boss material farming takes 2-3 days per character. Coordinate with weekly boss resets.
Weapon ascension requires 1-2 days per weapon. Prioritize main DPS weapons before support weapons.
Pull vs Save
Pull for Zibai and Columbina immediately—they form irreplaceable core. Delaying acquisition extends period before accessing this archetype.
Zhongli reruns justify pulling if you lack him and plan long-term investment. Universal applicability provides value beyond this single archetype.
Skip Geo alternatives (Albedo, Navia) if you own Zhongli and operate on limited budgets. Performance difference rarely justifies Primogem cost when Zhongli provides 85-90% optimal performance.
Constellation pulls require cost-benefit analysis. Zibai C1 provides 35-40% damage increases but C0 offers complete functionality.
FAQ
How does Lunar-Crystallize damage trigger work?
Triggers after three consecutive Geo + Hydro applications, summoning three Moondrifts dealing CRIT AoE Geo damage scaling with party Max HP and DEF. Apply Hydro then Geo three times without other element interruption. Zibai's fourth Normal Attack specifically triggers it. Moondrifts persist 15 seconds and resonate with Geo constructs.
Is Zhongli still best Geo support in 6.3?
Yes for most players. Universal RES shred (20%), superior shield (150% absorption), and construct resonance with Moondrifts make him optimal. Complete C0 functionality, minimal investment, and quality-of-life improvements justify gold standard position. Albedo offers higher personal damage for skilled players, Noelle provides F2P accessibility.
What's optimal Moondrift uptime percentage?
80-90% in practical combat. Perfect 18-second rotations achieve 83.3% theoretical uptime (15 seconds active per 18-second cycle), with real performance reaching 75-80% after accounting for enemy mechanics. Focus on consistent 75%+ uptime through rotation practice.
How does Elemental Mastery affect damage?
Minimal impact—only 0.5-1% increases compared to equivalent CRIT investments. Moondrift damage scales with party Max HP, DEF, and CRIT stats rather than EM. EM only affects Crystallize shield strength, redundant with dedicated shielders. Prioritize CRIT Rate (60-70%), CRIT DMG (120-150%), HP%, and DEF% over EM.
Can F2P build effective teams?
Yes. Zibai, Columbina, Noelle, Illuga achieves 95-105 second Floor 12 clears, sufficient for 36-star completion. Noelle provides guaranteed availability, Illuga offers premier 4-star support. Sacrifices 10-15% damage vs premium options but requires no limited 5-star Geo beyond Zibai.
What rotation maximizes buff duration?
Zhongli Hold E → Albedo E → Columbina E → Zibai 4 Normal Attacks → Zhongli Q → Columbina Q → Zibai Q → Zibai Normal spam. This 18-20 second cycle triggers three instances, summoning Moondrifts at rotation midpoint. Zibai requires 110-120% ER with dual Geo particle generation, Columbina needs 78-82% ER using Prototype Amber R5.