Zhongli or Neuvillette: Best character to get in Genshin Impact 5.2 rerun

Genshin Impact 5.2 has brought back two fan-favorite 5-star characters, Zhongli and Neuvillette, in the update's highly anticipated rerun banners. Both units are exceptional in their respective roles, with Zhongli as the ultimate sustain and support specialist, and Neuvillette as a top-tier Hydro DPS powerhouse. Deciding upon one to pull for can be challenging, especially when balancing team needs, playstyle preferences, and limited Primogem resources.

This article will break down the strengths, weaknesses, and unique roles of both Zhongli and Neuvillette, aiming to help you determine which is the best character to get in the Genshin Impact 5.2 rerun banners.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinion.

---

Why should you pull for Zhongli?

Zhongli is a 5-star Geo character (Image via HoYoverse)

Pros

Zhongli is a Polearm-using Geo character who is also hailed as the Geo Archon in Genshin Impact. His Elemental Skill generates a powerful shield that absorbs all forms of damage and provides stagger resistance for the entire team. This benefits a bunch of characters, like Ganyu, Yoimiya, Hu Tao, Arlecchino, and Tighnari.

His Elemental Burst can petrify enemies and deal significant damage, providing a window of opportunity to eliminate low-health enemies. Additionally, his shield reduces the adversaries' Physical and Elemental RES by 20%, enhancing overall team damage.

Black Tassel is a great weapon choice for Zhongli (Image via HoYoverse)

Zhongli’s versatility depends on his artifact build. That being said, Zhongli is fairly easy to build as a support or sub-DPS unit. The Tenacity of the Millelith artifact set is ideal for him, as it maximizes his shield strength by stacking HP, while also buffing the team's overall damage output.

Along with that, he can easily make the best use of the 3-star weapon, Black Tassel, additionally boosting his HP, ensuring his shield's survivability.

Zhongli best fits the role of a support/sub-DPS unit. The 20-second duration of his shield outlasts its cooldown, ensuring 100% uptime and making him ideal for Spiral Abyss or other challenging content where survivability is key.

---

Cons

Zhongli is not without flaws. His burst can lead to a DPS loss in highly optimized team compositions, and experienced players who rarely need shielding might find him less impactful. Still, Zhongli excels at niche tasks, such as countering Geo shields and assisting with mining, making him a valuable addition to many rosters.

---

Why should you pull for Neuvillette?

Neuvillette is a 5-star Hydro character (Image via HoYoverse)

Pros

Neuvillette is a Hydro Main DPS unit that uses a Catalyst during battle. He delivers unparalleled damage with his Hydro beam, a charged attack that deals consistent damage from a safe range. This ability makes him easy to use, especially for mobile players, as it requires minimal mechanical input.

He can self-heal by absorbing Sourcewater Droplets created by his Elemental Skill and Burst, allowing him to sustain himself in combat without relying on a healer or shielder.

Neuvillette’s damage scales further when paired with teammates of different elements. His Elemental Burst, when paired with his Elemental Skill, allows you to use his charged attack and cast Hydro beams in quick succession, further amplifying his damage potential.

Marechaussee Hunter is the best artifact set for Neuvillette (Image via HoYoverse)

What's more, Neuvillette is fairly easy to build as well, with the Marechaussee Hunter being the best-in-slot artifact set for him. It increases his charged attack damage while also giving him a decent Crit Rate, making it easier to get the desired stats when building him.

In addition to that, the free-to-play craftable weapon, Prototype Amber, can be a great option for him, as it gives him additional HP. This is a crucial stat in maximizing his damage potential.

---

Cons

Although he shines as a hypercarry, Neuvillette's charged attacks are prone to interruption, unless his first constellation is unlocked. This makes him reliant on either pulling his constellation or pairing with a strong shielder like Zhongli to negate this weakness.

---

Final verdict

Zhongli or Neuvillette: Who should you get in Genshin Impact (Image via HoYoverse)

As established, both Zhongli and Neuvillette are exceptional but serve fundamentally different roles. The former excels in survivability and utility with his powerful shields, making him invaluable for fragile teams or those needing sustain. On the other hand, Neuvillette focuses on raw damage as a top-tier DPS with self-sustain.

Ultimately, Neuvillette is possibly the best character to summon for among the Genshin Impact 5.2 rerun banners. As a powerful main DPS with self-sustaining abilities, he is fun to use, highly effective in combat, and easy to build and play.

That said, for early-game players struggling with dodging and survivability, Zhongli remains an excellent option due to his reliable shields and utility.

If you cannot decide yet, consider your Primogem budget and the potential of future banners, such as Mavuika, the Pyro Archon, which might offer more meta-defining options.

---

For more information and updates, follow Sportskeeda's Genshin Impact hub.