Note 1 (on stacking multiple shields): Since I saw some comments about stacking shields, unfortunately multiple shields do NOT stack. (KeqingMains: "For Example, Casting a Shield that has 1000 BA (Base Absorption), then casting a Shield with 500 BA will not grant you a total of 1500 BA. What actually happens is that the two Shields take damage simultaneously and the Shield with 500 BA will Break before the 1000 BA one.") Note 2: For some additional math on how Shield Strength is computed via incoming DMG (I left this out in the video to avoid overcomplicating it with numbers), let's use following example: Shield has 10000 HP. 1 Hit deals 5000 DMG. Scenario 1: Character has 50% Shield Strength Bonus. DMG Taken by Shield = 5000 DMG / (1+ %Shield Strength Bonus) = 5000 / 1.5 = 3333 DMG 3 hits x 3333 DMG = 10000 DMG It takes 3 hits to break the shield. Scenario 2: Character has 0% Shield Strength Bonus. DMG Taken by Shield = 5000 DMG / (1+ %Shield Strength Bonus) = 5000 / 1.0 = 5000 DMG 2 hits x 5000 DMG = 10000 DMG It takes 2 hits to break the shield. Result: 50% Shield Strength bonus made shield take 50% more hits (3 vs 2 hits). Q: Can't you just multiply the Shield Strength bonus to the actual shield health to get the same result? e.g. 10000 x (1 + %Shield Strength Bonus) = 10000 x 1.5 Shield Health = 15000 HP 5000 DMG x 3 hits = 15000 DMG Also takes 3 hits to break, similar result to Scenario 1. A: You can technically use that method to represent how much DMG your shield will take. However, remember to maintain the assumption that it will only be true if the ACTIVE CHARACTER is the one with the Shield Strength bonus. Again, Shield Strength is dependent on the active character, not on the shield itself. So to be technically accurate, you can factor Shield Strength into DMG reduction instead.

@OlexiVR

Жыл бұрын

thank you for the video! Could you please give more info on how the crystalized shields work? Just because I have been trying to test the dependence of these shields on EM, but I didn't have enough good EM talents at the time. Could it be reasonable to have a geo shielder via EM? these shield could be not as strong, but it is so much easier to create crystals all the time

@ClownDollThatHasContemptForYou

Жыл бұрын

@@OlexiVR as far as I'm aware crystalized shields do scale from em,but building a geo character on em isn't worth it,and most times it's just a damage loss, however the strength of crystalized shields is thier abundance,my Itto mono geo team (Itto,Albedo, Bennett,and Gorou) barely takes any damage.

@cleod7439

Жыл бұрын

I think there is an exception for not stacking shields, cause thomas burst can stacks mini shields every 2 seconds no?

@Bullminator

Жыл бұрын

There is a reason to stack shields --- to make yourself look cool.

@kenny_stark

Жыл бұрын

I thought I was the only one building with Retracting bolide artifacts for layala

Hoyo really needs to add HP bars for Shields. So we can better know how much more damage the shield can take before breaking. As someone who doesn't do math, and usually just follow build tips, this will really help.

@Laure__Line

Жыл бұрын

When you get used to playing with your shielders, you can feel when the shield will break.

@TheLogicalResult

Жыл бұрын

Buff timers would be nice too. The Witcher used to have them.

@yharnamiyhill787

Жыл бұрын

@@Laure__Line with my c6r5 ZhongLi full shield build.... I cannot...

@argonaut4432

Жыл бұрын

i've besn saying this since the game released, why the fuuck they cant just add another bar when you have shield active.. like...

@riotangel4701

Жыл бұрын

And while at it, make all buffs/debuffs icons along the health bar instead of little animations around character that can't be seen amongst the hundreds of special effects and numbers.

This was SUPER informative. Even just the small tidbit and showcase of how DEF actually does reduce damage taken and help with reduce Shield HP taken. thanks for putting this together!

@Ultimateruffy

Жыл бұрын

Probably a very important info since I learned of this about 1.5 years after release of the game...

@darylewalker6862

Жыл бұрын

This is why Xiao has that out-of-nowhere DEF boost at C4.

@jadecoolness101

Жыл бұрын

Explains why Zhongli's shield is literally immortal when on Itto LOL

@r.d.6290

Жыл бұрын

​@@jadecoolness101 or when on Noelle? or other high def char

@jadecoolness101

Жыл бұрын

@@r.d.6290 bro what isthis twitter argument? Lmaoo

It is astounding and disappointing how this information is not conveyed in game and we have to rely on the work of theorycrafters and heavy, LITERAL scientific experimenting from the most dedicated part of the playerbase. Thank you for the explanation!

i always played with the "random bs go!" mantra with only very vague building. recently, i've been picking up min-maxing, team rotation optimization and looking at my stats a bit better because in end-game, it makes your life easier (looking at you, abyss). your videos really help, both guides and explanations like this! you are really a lifesaver for all the unga bunga players out there!

Mom! I just finished PhD in shielding!

I used bolide on Yoimiya with Thoma, and it worked well! And that's only because I want them to be in one party together.

@auntvivienne8669

Жыл бұрын

Yeah my bolide yoimiya is pretty much glued at the hip with zhongli

@vanthursday

Жыл бұрын

It was actually made for those two

@pach-nii3627

Жыл бұрын

And now with Layla she has another good f2p option since Layla's shield and skill cd are the same and melt can be triggered withe the stars. Diona can cleanse and heal but her elemental skill times are (imo) not the best for a Yoimiya using RB

I remember when I started the game, I used Noelle as a shield bot. I did build her full defense, but I had the same misinterpretation with Retracing Bolide. The 2-pc effect seemed enticing for me, and I was hoping that her shield would last longer. But I'm always surprised when her shield breaks prematurely. I never understood how shields work until I got Zhongli, and then I started paying attention to what their shields need and how they actually work instead of relying on my own gut. Great vid :)

@riotangel4701

Жыл бұрын

Retracing Bolide for Noelle is fine if she serves the healer role; attacking with shield up to get the incoming heals. She was my saviour against bosses for a long time.

@darylewalker6862

Жыл бұрын

Shield Strength is a client stat, not a creator stat.

@Spellbook

Жыл бұрын

Noelle is a DPS. She kinda forces you to use her shield only for herself. Her shields gets its cd shaved from your normal or charged attacks. And her shield do tremendous damage. But it works for her character, she wants to do everything.

I never given too much thought on the intricacies of shield strength. This is a video explains it all very clearly. Thanks!

I feel like Mihoyo kinda dug themselves into a corner with Zhongli's shield. It's not only the beefiest shield in the game by a significant margin, it's also a Geo shield so it has better resistances than every other shield, AND it shreds enemy resists to boot. They can't really "top" that. Even if they released a dedicated shield 5-star, it'd be difficult to justify overstepping the Geo Archon himself in his ONE and ONLY job on any team. They'd have to straight up powercreep one of the best defensive supports in the game. So they've gotta make other shields good in alternative ways. Diona gets it done because her shield is good in conjunction with the rest of her kit. But I feel like the rest of them just fall flat, because they don't do much besides shielding, and not nearly as well as Zhongli.

@luminousdelight5097

Жыл бұрын

I think thats alright, since Archons are meant to be the "best" of the thing their element is best at after all anyways. Is Zhongli way too powerful in his shield still in that case? Maybe, but I think its a justifieable reason, he doesnt have any huge other reason to exist other than to be a shield bot teambuilding-wise while other shielders can at least apply elements or be a mild healer (Noelle).

@ghotifish1838

Жыл бұрын

They don't necessarily have to make shield good in other ways. The game, as far as I can tell, was always just a casual one, meaning that there is a lack of anything truly competitive that would necessitate comparing the shielding capabilities of characters (even for something like spiral abyss, using shields aren't even necessary, and in the overworld you have food buffs). You can just choose whoever you like to use, and ultimately it doesnt matter, so long as ur having fun. I doubt zhonglis shield will be powercrept in the future, especially in consideration of how much backlash was received initially for being an archon that was so lacklustre. Another solution to the increased saturation of shielders in the game would be to have some sort of content that has restrictions on who you can and can't use. I can very well imagine a spiral abyss floor, where there is a specific restriction that certain characters are banned or that only characters of specific elements could be used,etc. This way it creates a variety and encourages people to use different characters

@somotospero9717

Жыл бұрын

They need to make more enemies that are extremely punishing against shields

@ForeverDegenerate

Жыл бұрын

@@ghotifish1838 "Another solution to the increased saturation of shielders in the game would be to have some sort of content that has restrictions on who you can and can't use. I can very well imagine a spiral abyss floor, where there is a specific restriction that certain characters are banned or that only characters of specific elements could be used,etc. This way it creates a variety and encourages people to use different characters" Unless Hoyoverse provides Trial Versions of the characters that can be used, this will never happen. Why? Because then that makes content that, currently, anybody can attempt and complete into Pay-to-Win Content and Hoyoverse won't do that. They've gone out of their way to make Genshin Impact as far away from Pay-to-Win as possible. And providing Trial Characters for Spiral Abyss is dumb and will be shooting themselves, not in the foot, but in the crotch. Why? Because it will further piss off and actually drive away the Hardcore End-Gamers by making it 100% pointless to acquire new characters and grind for gear and mats. Seriously. Why bother doing ANY work or purchase ANY Genesis Crystals if the game is just going to give you pre-built characters for the one piece of content that actually encourages you to grind or buy more characters? This will turn Genshin into a one-team game. Not that it, technically, isn't now. But this "solution" makes it even more that since all you'll need to invest in is your one 4-character team that you use for Story Content. For a non-pay-to-win Gacha Game, Character Balance and Variety is the most important aspect of design. You want your characters to be unique and useful without making an existing character obsolete. Why? Because, at the end of the day, you want your players to buy the new character you just designed. And people won't do that if you designed a far better option that they already own. And as @Giltia mentioned, Hoyoverse kinda shot themselves in the foot with Zhongli because there will never be a Shielder that surpasses him. There can't be because he kinda does everything. I mean, look at Zhongli. His Shield does it all. It's Geo so it's nigh-on unbreakable, has a 100% Uptime, deals good AoE Geo Damage, deals the highest Structure Damage in the game, makes you immune to all damage (except for Applied DoT) for its duration, Resistance Shreds all enemies around you, allows you to outright avoid all land-based attacks (just climb up on top of his Stele), grants you a physical wall (you can hide behind his Stele to block incoming attacks), and with Constellations grants Shield Application to his Burst which also applies to his entire team in Co-Op and allows said Shield to Heal the shielded target on hit. And they can't just make another 5-Star Shielder because Zhongli's value as a Shielder at C0 is already God-Tier. Unless they just make another Zhongli, any Shielder Character they make will require Constellations to even come close to Zhongli. Because Zhongli is THIS broken, Hoyoverse's only option is to make Shielders more unique by making them do things Zhongli doesn't do, but even then, there will never be another Zhongli. Zhongli IS the God-Tier Generic Shielder of Genshin Impact. Period. End of Story. And nobody else will ever fill that position. Look at every other Shielder in the game. They're all Niche and not Generic like Zhongli. And that's by design since it would be foolish to make another Zhongli. And that's not a bad thing. In fact, Hoyoverse is, actually, kinda tackling this issue in one of the smartest ways possible: Influence the Meta with Character Design. They know they can't make another Shielder as good as, or better than, Zhongli, so why even try? No, instead, they're shifting the Meta away from one where Zhongli is God. They've been moving toward a more Elemental Synergistic Meta. Their current Character Design Choices are leaning heavily into that. Which means, we've entered a Meta where Zhongli will no longer be the de facto best choice. He's still going to be a top choice, though, as that will never change. But we're moving into a Meta that requires the one thing Zhongli can't do if you want to maximize team value: Team Synergy on an Elemental Level. Being Geo, Zhongli has absolutely no Elemental Synergy with anyone aside from his fellow Geo Users. So while, say, Thoma is a far inferior Shielder to Zhongli, he becomes a far better choice than Zhongli in, say, a Burgeon Team simply because Thoma is Pyro and Zhongli is not. With the addition of Dendro as an Element, Elemental Synergy has become more important than ever before. As a result, the more generically powerful characters like Zhongli are starting to be edged out as more Elementally Synergistic options are revisited or become available. Originally I thought Dendro might be too limiting, but now that I've experienced it for a few months and seen Hoyoverse applying that philosophy across the board to other elements, I have to say that it's actually brilliant that they came up with this design philosophy to help lessen the problem of "oh crap we made the year one characters too powerful." This Design Philosophy shift has lessened how overbearingly powerful the year one characters have become without killing their viability in the Meta. It's been a great way to impose a type of balance on characters long thought unable to be balanced without tweaks and reworks. Basically, Hoyoverse has, thus far, found a way to have their metaphoric cake and eat it too. My only concern is if they take it too far. They need to a keep a balance of Elemental Synergy, Attack Type Synergy, and Generic Synergy like they have now. If they lean too far into Attribute Synergy, it could make the game far too complex and "min/max-y" for the Casual Player Base they are, obviously, targeting and it could actually end up doing what they're trying not to do: Make the Generic Top Tier Characters Obsolete because they become TOO Generic to actually be viable. Anyway, my ramblings have gone on long enough and I do apologize for the length of this comment. Not my intent. I do hope you found something useful and/or interesting in all of it.

@ghotifish1838

Жыл бұрын

@@ForeverDegenerate that was most certainly a very long comment

Imagine if bolide would apply to the on field character, would be super nice for shield supports.

@Dudelee1

Жыл бұрын

it does apply to the on field character, thats the entire "problem"

@Alexander-dw3jw

Жыл бұрын

@Dudelee1 No, the problem is that it only affects the character with the artifact set equipped. She literally explained it at 3:50 when using Barbara.

@Dudelee1

Жыл бұрын

@@Alexander-dw3jw i understand it lol i run bolide on a few of my DPS chars

@ndeyedraws

Жыл бұрын

Ikr 🥲 I used to think that Retracing Bolide was a good set for shielder, but after someone from my local Genshin community pointed out that it only works for the character equipping it, I was kinda sad. Could've been a great shielder set though...

@Alexander-dw3jw

Жыл бұрын

@Dudelee1 what was the point of the first comment than lol. What @qienriot was talking about is that the set would be better if the effects of the set carried over to the active character and not just the character that had the artifact set equipped.

What I love on your videos is, you give us visual proofs of your statements instead of some random battle footage like many other youtubers. Thank you for all the effort you put into this, it is super helpful!

This video is going to be SO helpful for new players, and honestly some old players that just don't use shields! I really love playing shield characters so it's hard to see the same misconceptions over and over.

Been watching your videos for a while and by far this is the best one. Genshin mechanics can be a bit confusing so it's nice to see someone going in depth with how certain mechanics work using examples, explaining some confusing skill verbiage, and using side by side visual comparisions. I'd definitely love to see more of this. Possibly a video on elemental and physical damage.

@Laure__Line

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I too would love to see a video about elemental damage and a comparison between different types of reactions.

While I remember hearing about the bolide set bonus working only on the holder, it's nice knowing the exact reason why it's so weird. This video also helped me understand shields a lot better, as I normally don't use shields in game.

I use Bolide on my Yoimiya and pair her with Zhong Li, it works really well and I like it better than Shimenawa because her shield never breaks and she can get off all her attack string. Good video!

I usually have a shield on and I regret when I don't. Not having to dodge, not being interrupted & not being stun locked allows me to do more consistent damage.

This was an amazing video. I don't understand why they made it so complicated but thank you for understanding and explaining it! I always use Zhongli as my shielder, except when using ayaka or ganyu as the DPS. Then it's Diona all day 😎

wonderfully informative video as usual Sevy! i love how clearly you explain things and the side-by-side practical tests are great to further illustrate your point, it was nice to see such an accessible video on a more unknown/commonly misunderstood mechanic like shield strength, and i'd love see more videos that focus in-depth on specific mechanics

Thanks for the clarification Sevy ! I hadn’t noticed the specific wording. I use Bolide on Xinyan so she can benefit from a better shield but this means I have to play her as a « selfish » character.

Having been a Noelle main pretty much since I got her, I knew most of this, but it's really informative to new players/new shield users. Layla got me excited, she seems like a good support for my Noelle.

Thank you for explaining Sevy. I already had my presumtions with some shield situations, and your video made me know for certain.

One of your best videos so far. I had a very good understanding of most of this, but your video really clarifies every single thing needed to understand the shield mechanic of the game.

Thank you for taking the time to explain these arcane concepts to us!

I've tried to gain a greater understanding of shield mechanics through various websites and discussion boards, but it never quite worked out. The information isn't always presented in a very clear and concise way. This video is now my single best source of shield information. Great work!

I was wondering why my on field Noelle was able to tank more with her shield than my zhongli was able to protect anyone else. Her giant defense not just giving her shield a big number but actually reducing how much damage it takes finally explained that for me.

Great Vid Sevy! It takes a really confusing subject that appears straight forward and explains and demonstrates. Hope you decide to do this with more of the Artifact sets and maybe the description of Elemental Mastery, since I have had friends who used to play ask for a more detailed description of EM.

I often have hard time convincing others about these mechanics. Will add this video to my recommendation list alongside KeqingMains and Fandom Wiki the next time i encounter such discussions.

@wirayapradnyadaka3227

Жыл бұрын

Yes, especially the ones insisting that Vortex Vanquisher is Zhongli’s best in slot weapon. They just see shield strength in the passive without really knowing how it works.

@salceds

Жыл бұрын

@@wirayapradnyadaka3227 It's his Signature not his BiS, it's there to justify an HP Sands on him even if most people just build full HP.

@SkillfulCurve

Жыл бұрын

@@salceds hp geo crit here😎

@envoyofrot7046

Жыл бұрын

@@wirayapradnyadaka3227 I never heard a single person in my life say that lmao. Quite the opposite people say

@wirayapradnyadaka3227

Жыл бұрын

@@envoyofrot7046 Bro, you'd be amazed. Some users on Genshin Twitter have the weirdest takes regarding meta.

THANKS for taking the time to understand and explain how the mechanics work. Im so tired of people saying that every new character is a must pull and doesn't give any kind of recommendation or explanation of the characters at all but all your videos are really informative and easy to understand, you are the best!

I learnt a lot from this video, thanks! Your content is always so complete! I always have my Noelle on my teams, can't be without her!

Omg I'm impressed with all the calculations and attention to details you provide in this video Sevy !!! You're amazing!

Really nice take on clearing out the misconceptions of shield effects, shield strength and the retracing bolide artifact

A very informative and well put together video. I wish more Genshin content creators would make videos like this instead of speculations and clickbait videos.

Thank you for making this video! Your explanations and demonstrations were clear and helpful.

I just watched this video. It was amazing. Could not be more clear. Thanks a bunch for seminar! (calling it just an "explanation" is under selling it). Liked and suscribed.

Thank you very much for creating these mechanic guides that are very helpful to every player. I knew about shield strength when i paired my Childe with ZL with Childe holding the Retracing Bolide (pre HoD) and it was very helpful to know that it is the holder that gets the stat than the shield itself. I hope you can get around explaining how poise works (even I dont know much) but i feel it will be relevant sooner or later esp with Wanderer coming out. Thank you very much and Keep up the Good Work!

OMFG! Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was trying to figure out with my party. You've saved me weeks of testing.

Thank you, your video really open my eyes about the bolides 🙏🏻

i luv your big brain, i can listen to you talk, dissect, and explain genshin all day lol, and thanks for this info😁

Thank you so much for this video!! I was trying to figure out what works best with Layla, and I have a fairly decent answer thanks to this.

Thankyou so much. This is really helping, and clear my misunderstand about shield.

Awesome video!! I usually never play with shields, and even as a long time play u cleared up some stuff for me!! Tysm!!

Thank you!!! I'm trying to plan a Layla team shield build and this was so helpful! I was curious about testing Retracing Bolide, so you saved me from wasting some resources.

I never knew i needed this guide, but i did. Tysm!!!😭

This is so informative! never thought I've been building my diona and thoma wrong all this time.

Thanks so much for this very detailed and clear explanation!

thank you SO much!!! this was so helpful

Loved this video! Thank you for the explanation!

Thank you for making this video! I feel like I spent the entirety of Genshin's first year trying to explain this concept to people.

Thanks for the info!

This is an amazing video - thank you! The intricacies of Shields has been kind of lost on me thus far in my Genshin experience, and you explain it so well. I don’t use shielding characters often so this is a great break down of how they work and the Bolide set and why it’s not as good as Millileth. Thank you so much! 🙌🏻

Thank you for another informative guide. Keep them coming :)

Thanks for clearing this up

SOLID!!! Video. Really helpful!!

Very helpful video, sevy. Thanks

Most informative video this year!

This was incredibly informative! Thank you so much Sevy! I use Zhongli's shield the most out of all the characters that have them but I am obsessed with how pretty Kaeya shield is

Thanks for the always very informative videos! 😊🖤🖤🖤

Thank you for this video ❤

When I saw the formulas on the minute 3:18, I hit the button for subscribe, this was really useful information, thanks a lot for preparing this

Thanks! This was very useful.

I hadnt had this confirmed but its was more or less what I figured it was. Good video, thanks Sevy.

Wow thankyou for the detailed information

I'm subscribing! You explained everything like a professor!

I already had to what I thought an above average understanding of shielding dynamics, but this was just simply a MIND OPENING moment! Like, I understand why is a reaction/type of ability so disregarded and misunderstood now, TY SO MUCH!!!

big thanks for this video. i played this game for so long but never looked into this/understood this

wow thank you so much for clarifying the info. was just thinking about farming 2p bolide for layla

Thanks for the information

Wow this was 120% helpful, I am fairly new to g.i and I just got Layla and I was so ready to farm the Bolide set. I would have beat myself up if I didn't see this awesome video. Thank you so much for the clear clarification. You are AWESOME!!!!!

This video is SO USEFUL OMG Thank you so much Sevy! Greetings from Italy!

@SevyPlays

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! :)

This was so helpful thank you

thanks for the refresher on shield mechanics!

Great explainer!!

Thank you sooo much ......just before i am confusing witn that but after this video u helped me.....❤❤

"Increases equipping character's shield strength by 35% (does not work when character is off field)" That isn't hard to write hoyoverse 😑

Thanks, Sevy! I was using Bolide and didn’t realize it only applied to the character using the set. I should have known better since I’ve been playing so long.

Thank you for the clarification

Very useful and clear explanation. Thanks.

Awsome video, i think is a great explanation for the new player😁

THANK YOU FOR THIS! Your efforts and hard work is greatly appreciated 🙌 You just saved me from wasting resources on farming Retracing bolide for my Diona and Thoma, and you're the first person I've come across who went so in-depth with Shields AND Def.....I guess those Defense substats aren't all that useless afterall, haha. Thank You 🙌👌💪👍

Petition to make Sevy the writer of description and explanation of every aspect of the game

Shielders are some of my favorite types of characters, thank you for clearing up some differences in mechanics!

Amazing video 💜

I was just about to farm for these artifacts, so *thank you so so much* for making this video

The second explaination about shields is very useful. I always wandered if defense can increase the duration of crystallized shields, but wiki only mentions the elemental mastery so I wasn't sure.

Well explained. Thanks

When I started playing, I mained Noelle because of her shield and, well. She’s adorable. 💛 But then I switched to freeze teams with Rosaria until Zhongli’s most recent banner when I finally pulled him. Now he pretty much always has a spot in my party. I’m currently running him on a 2pc Tenacity/Noblesse because I haven’t gotten decent Tenacity artifacts to replace the Noblesse ones yet.

This really helps! 😊

Thank you! I didn't know that!

Awesome explanation❤

3:07 This example is super helpful and gives us a very clear picture of the effect!

Great video, great demonstration, great explanation! Yeah it's annoying that Genshin has several inconsistent and confusing wording on effects.

This is so well done

Very informative, thank you. I didn’t consider that a character’s individual defense can influence how much damage a shield takes. I pretty much always structure my parties with a shielder and/or healer.

thanks for the video

Hey Sevy! Great vid (:

I remember using Noelle as a shield support/healer for my my teams back in the first third of version 1. I eventually looked up guides on how to make her stronger and found out that she was better utilized as an on-field attacker rather than a shield-bot. I farmed the bolide set for her and she performed way better than before. For a period of time she was the character I had built at that point. I eventually gave Noelle's bolide set to Yoimiya after obtaining her earlier this patch.

very well explained!! thanks for the video. i can't do any of the harder content in genshin without my trusty zhongli shield haha xD i'm forever grateful i pulled him. i'm really happy to have a new promising shielder with layla now!

SO HELPFUL

Excellent video 👍👍