Introduction

Genshin Impact Layla is primarily designed to be an off-field support character, excelling as a shielder. Her abilities allow her to provide constant Cryo application to enemies while protecting the active character. A key aspect of Genshin Impact Layla’s kit is that her shield durability, as well as the damage from her Elemental Skill and Burst, scale off her Max HP. This makes building HP a high priority for her. She can have 100% uptime on her Elemental Burst due to its low energy cost and matching duration and cooldown.

Best Artifacts for Genshin Impact Layla

Flower of AccoladesOrichalceous Time-DialCeremonial War-PlumeGeneral’s Ancient HelmNoble’s Pledging Vessel

One of the top recommended sets is the 4-Piece Tenacity of the Millelith. This set is highly suitable because it provides a 20% HP boost to Genshin Impact Layla, which directly increases her shield’s strength and scales her abilities. Furthermore, the 4-piece effect grants a 20% ATK buff to the entire party and increases Genshin Impact Layla’s shield strength by 30% for 3 seconds whenever her Elemental Skill hits an opponent. Her Night Stars from her shield can help trigger this effect consistently. This set is ideal if you want to build her primarily as a shielder.

Royal FloraRoyal Pocket WatchRoyal PlumeRoyal MasqueRoyal Silver Urn

Another strong option is the 4-Piece Noblesse Oblige. This set’s utility relies on Genshin Impact Layla’s Elemental Burst. Since her Burst has a low energy cost (40) and 100% uptime (12-second duration and cooldown), she can easily spam it. The 4-piece effect increases the Burst damage and provides a 20% ATK bonus to all party members for 12 seconds after using the Burst. This set is recommended if your main DPS characters benefit greatly from ATK buffs and if Genshin Impact Layla has sufficient Energy Recharge to ensure consistent Burst use.

For newer players with limited 5-star artifacts, or if your team composition benefits more from Elemental Mastery buffs, the 4-Piece Instructor’s Brooch is a suitable alternative.

Instructor’s BroochInstructor’s Pocket WatchInstructor’s Feather AccessoryInstructor’s CapInstructor’s Tea Cup

In terms of artifact stats, the main stats on Sands, Goblet, and Circlet should ideally be HP%. Building full HP is often sufficient for Genshin Impact Layla as it boosts her shield durability and scales her Elemental Skill and Burst damage. If you prefer a more unique build, HP% on Sands and Circlet can be paired with a Cryo DMG Bonus on the Goblet. For sub-stats, prioritize Crit Rate/DMG, followed by HP%, and then Energy Recharge.

However, one source suggests HP% > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate (especially for Favonius Sword) > Crit DMG for sub-stats on a Shield Support build. Another source suggests HP% > Crit Rate/DMG > Energy Recharge for sub-stats. A Reddit comment suggests aiming for around 160% ER, which might be easier with an ER weapon or requires significant ER sub-stats if using an offensive weapon.

Best Weapons for Layla

WeaponRarityStarsKey Stat / EffectNotes & Suitability for Layla
Key of Khaj-Nisut★★★★★⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐HP% / EM buff on E hitBest for Genshin Impact Layla – massive HP boost & EM team buff
Favonius Sword★★★★☆⭐⭐⭐⭐Energy Recharge / Particles on CritGreat F2P option – needs Crit Rate to work reliably
Sacrificial Sword★★★★☆⭐⭐⭐⭐Energy Recharge / Skill cooldown resetGood for shield uptime, passive may not work off-field
Primordial Jade Cutter★★★★★⭐⭐⭐⭐Crit Rate / Bonus HPGood for damage & shield, but less team utility
Freedom-Sworn★★★★★⭐⭐⭐⭐EM / Team DMG buff via reactionsStrong support weapon – lacks self-beneficial stats
Dockhand’s Assistant★★★★☆⭐⭐⭐⭐HP% / Buffs EM & ERSolid 4-star pick – directly benefits shield strength
Harbinger of Dawn★★★☆☆⭐⭐⭐Crit DMG / Bonus Crit if HP > 90%Budget Sub-DPS – passive can be unreliable
Mistsplitter Reforged★★★★★⭐⭐⭐⭐Crit DMG / Elemental DMG bonusGood Crit stats, but base ATK and passive mismatched
Haran Geppaku Futsu★★★★★⭐⭐⭐⭐Crit Rate / Passive boosts Normal AttacksPassive not optimal for Genshin Impact Layla’s playstyle
Iron Sting★★★★☆⭐⭐⭐⭐EM / Reaction-based DMG buffFallback for reaction comps, lacks HP stat
Toukabou Shigure★★★★☆⭐⭐⭐⭐EM / Marked enemies take extra DMGNiche, mainly for reaction-based teams
Xiphos’ Moonlight★★★★☆⭐⭐⭐⭐EM / ER based on EMNice utility if EM is built, not HP-focused

Genshin Impact Layla, being a Cryo support character wielding a sword, has several weapon options, with some being more suitable than others. The sources provide varying rankings and reasons for their recommendations.

One of the most highly recommended weapons is the Key of Khaj-Nisut. This 5-star sword is praised for its high HP secondary stat and passive skill. It provides a significant HP bonus, which directly increases Genshin Impact Layla’s shield strength. Its passive also grants an Elemental Mastery buff to the team based on Genshin Impact Layla’s Max HP, triggered when her Elemental Skill hits opponents. This weapon is seen as excellent for maximizing her shield and providing supportive buffs.

The Favonius Sword is frequently mentioned as a strong and accessible option. It is considered F2P-friendly and provides high Energy Recharge. Its passive generates Elemental Particles on Crit hits, which can help the entire team recharge their Bursts. This is particularly useful for off-field Genshin Impact Layla, though it does require some investment in Crit Rate sub-stats to reliably trigger the passive. One source ranks it first due to its utility and accessibility, while others rank it lower compared to 5-star options, noting that its passive may not work when Layla is off-field, making it mainly a “stat stick” for ER, and that a low Crit Rate from focusing on HP artifacts might hinder particle generation.

Sacrificial Sword is also considered a suitable weapon, primarily for its Energy Recharge sub-stat. Its passive allows for a chance to reset the Elemental Skill cooldown after dealing damage with the skill. This can be useful if Genshin Impact Layla’s shield breaks prematurely, allowing her to recast it. Like Favonius Sword, one source and a user comment note that the passive may not trigger when Genshin Impact Layla is off-field.

Other 5-star options include Primordial Jade Cutter, which offers an HP boost from its passive and a high Crit Rate sub-stat. The Crit Rate can aid her personal damage, though the ATK bonus is less useful. However, its HP bonus can still enhance her shield. Freedom-Sworn provides significant team buffs (Normal, Charged, Plunging DMG and ATK) triggered by Elemental Reactions, which Genshin Impact Layla can easily facilitate with her Cryo application. While good for supporting the team, it doesn’t offer self-beneficial stats like HP or Energy Recharge.

Other swords mentioned include The Dockhand’s Assistant, noted for its HP% stat and effects increasing EM and Energy. Harbinger Of Dawn and Mistsplitter Reforged are mentioned for their Crit stats, suitable for a Sub-DPS build, although Mistsplitter’s high base ATK isn’t ideal for Genshin Impact Layla, and Harbinger has an HP restriction on its passive. Haran Geppaku Futsu is decent for its Crit Rate but its passive is less useful for Genshin Impact Layla. Iron Sting is suggested as a 4-star replacement for Key of Khaj-Nisut, though it lacks the HP% main stat. Toukabou Shigure and Xiphos Moonlight are also mentioned as ER options.

Talent Priority

Here’s a table summarizing the talent leveling priorities for Genshin Impact Layla in Genshin Impact:

Talent NamePriorityDescriptionNotes
Nights of Formal Focus⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (High)Elemental Skill – Generates her shieldBoosts shield strength; top priority for support build
Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)Elemental Burst – Deals off-field Cryo DMG & triggers shield passivesUseful for Cryo application and damage support
Sword of the Radiant Path⭐ (Low)Normal Attack – Basic attack comboOnly level if using Layla as a Main DPS

You can also level Skill and Burst together if building Genshin Impact Layla for hybrid damage and utility. Let me know if you want a build guide table next!

When leveling Genshin Impact Layla’s talents, the primary focus should be on her Elemental Skill, “Nights of Formal Focus,” as this is the source of her powerful shield. Strengthening this talent increases the shield’s durability. Following the Elemental Skill, prioritize her Elemental Burst, “Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker,” which contributes to off-field Cryo damage and can generate additional “shooting stars” for her shield’s passive effect. Her Normal Attack talent, “Sword of the Radiant Path,” is the lowest priority unless you are specifically building her as a main damage dealer. Some suggest upgrading her Skill and Burst at the same time if building her for damage.

Genshin Impact Layla’s Constellations

Genshin Impact Layla has six constellations, offering various enhancements to her kit. The overall sentiment regarding Genshin Impact Layla’s constellations varies slightly across the sources, but generally agrees that she is functional and “perfectly serviceable right at C0”.

ConstellationNameEffectValue & NotesC1Fortress of Fantasy+20% shield absorption; nearby allies gain a smaller shield (35% of main) on skill cast⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Excellent QoL upgrade for team-wide protectionC2Light’s RemitGains 1 Energy when a Shooting Star hits an enemy⭐⭐ – Slightly improves Burst uptime; not impactful with Cryo resonance or high ER buildsC3Secrets of the NightIncreases Elemental Skill level by 3⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Boosts shield strength furtherC4Starry IlluminationBuffs allies’ Normal/Charged ATK DMG by 5% of Genshin Impact Layla’s Max HP when Shooting Stars fire⭐⭐⭐ – Modest but useful damage buff; synergizes in Shielder/Freeze teamsC5Stream of ConsciousnessIncreases Elemental Burst level by 3⭐⭐ – Slight Burst damage boostC6Radiant Soulfire+40% DMG to Shooting Stars and Starlight Slugs; 20% faster Night Star generation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Major personal damage increase; best for hybrid DPS-support Genshin Impact Layla

Her C1, “Fortress of Fantasy,” increases her Elemental Skill’s shield absorption by 20% and provides a smaller shield (35% of main shield’s absorption) to nearby party members when she casts her skill. This is considered a good quality of life improvement for her shielding capabilities.

C2, “Light’s Remit,” grants Genshin Impact Layla 1 Energy whenever a Shooting Star from her Elemental Skill hits an opponent. Some sources see this as helpful for Burst uptime, while others suggest it is not very impactful given her Burst’s low energy cost, especially if another Cryo character is in the party.

C3, “Secrets of the Night,” increases the level of her Elemental Skill by 3, further boosting her shield strength. This is seen as an extra perk that makes her already strong shields even stronger.

C4, “Starry Illumination,” provides a buff to nearby party members’ Normal and Charged Attack DMG based on 5% of Genshin Impact Layla’s Max HP when her Elemental Skill starts firing Shooting Stars. This constellation can synergize well with main DPS characters who rely on these attack types and can be utilized in Shielder and Freeze teams. One source notes the damage gain may be modest (1000-2000) but is still extra damage.

C5, “Stream of Consciousness,” increases the level of her Elemental Burst by 3. This provides a minor damage increase to her Burst.

C6, “Radiant Soulfire,” significantly increases the damage of the Shooting Stars from her Elemental Skill and the Starlight Slugs from her Elemental Burst by 40%. It also decreases the interval between Night Star creation from her skill by 20%. This constellation allows Genshin Impact Layla to contribute more personal damage and is considered her best constellation for this purpose.

While C6 offers the most significant damage increase, most sources agree that Genshin Impact Layla does not strictly need her constellations to fulfill her primary support and shielding roles. Some suggest that C1 and potentially C2 are good stopping points for improving her utility and ease of use, while another perspective is that most of her constellations (aside from C6) don’t provide a substantial difference. One source strongly advises against pulling specifically for her constellations, recommending saving Primogems for other characters instead, as she is fully functional at C0. Getting C6 is subject to gacha luck.

Team Compositions

YoimiyaXingqiuBennett

The “Shielder Layla” build is considered her “meta role” and allows her to act as a flexible support. In this type of team, her primary function is to protect the active character with her shield. When her C4 is unlocked, she also provides an additional Normal and Charged Attack buff based on her Max HP to the active character. A sample Shielder team might include Layla, Yoimiya, Xingqiu, and Bennett.

The rotation typically involves using Layla’s Burst and Skill for Cryo and the shield, then switching to other supports like Bennett (for ATK buff) and Xingqiu (for Hydro application), and finally switching to the main DPS like Yoimiya to utilize their infused attacks while protected by Layla’s shield. Suitable substitute DPS characters for this team include Scaramouche, Ayato, Keqing, and Arlecchino, especially those who benefit from her C4 buff. Other off-field DPS or Anemo supports (Yelan, Xiangling, Kazuha) and healers (Jean, Kokomi, Yaoyao) can also be substituted based on the main DPS’s needs.

XingqiuYelanHu Tao

Layla can also be used effectively in “Vape Melt” teams, which aim to trigger Vaporize and Melt reactions. Layla provides consistent Cryo application for Melt reactions. Including two Hydro characters (like Xingqiu and Yelan) can grant Hydro resonance, increasing the team’s Max HP and thus strengthening Layla’s shield. A common setup for this team involves a Pyro main DPS (like Hu Tao), two Hydro supports (like Yelan and Xingqiu), and Layla.

The rotation generally starts with Layla’s Burst and Skill for Cryo and shield, followed by the Hydro supports for coordinated attacks and reactions, and finally the Pyro main DPS. Substitute Pyro DPS characters like Diluc, Yanfei, or Arlecchino are viable. Adding an Anemo character (like Kazuha) for Swirl and crowd control or a Dendro character (like Nahida) for additional reactions (Bloom, Burgeon) are also strategic options.

AyakaKazuhaKokomi

For triggering Freeze reactions, Layla fits well into “Freeze teams”. These teams often utilize Hydro and Cryo characters to keep enemies immobilized. Layla provides consistent off-field Cryo application and shielding.

An Anemo support is highly recommended in Freeze teams for crowd control and reducing enemy resistance through the Viridescent Venerer artifact set. A typical Freeze team might feature a Cryo main DPS (like Ayaka), Layla, an Anemo support (like Kazuha), and a Hydro healer (like Kokomi).

The rotation often begins with Layla’s abilities, followed by the Anemo character to Swirl Cryo and group enemies, the Hydro healer to apply Hydro and trigger Freeze, and finally the Cryo main DPS to deal damage to frozen enemies. This Layla-based team can be considered a variation of the classic “Morgana” team (Ganyu, Venti, Mona, Diona). Substitute Cryo DPS characters include Ganyu and Ayato (who can also utilize Layla’s C4). Other Anemo supports like Venti or Sucrose and healers like Barbara, Jean, or Sayu can be used. Layla can also be a great member for Physical teams due to her consistent Cryo application.

ChongyunXingqiuBarbara

A free-to-play friendly team suggestion includes Layla as a potential main DPS or shield/support, paired with Chongyun, Xingqiu, and Barbara. In this setup, Chongyun can infuse Layla’s attacks with Cryo, Xingqiu and Barbara provide Hydro for Freeze reactions and healing, and Layla offers shields and Cryo application.