Shenhe is an upcoming playable Cryo character coming to Genshin Impact, confirmed for the 2.4 update, and there are certain characters who pair well with her. Genshin Impact’s version 2.4, "Fleeting Colors in Flight", was announced during the Genshin Impact 2.4 livestream and will be released to players on January 5th 2022. Shenhe is one of two new polearm-wielding playable characters in Genshin Impact's 2.4 update, along with 4-star Geo character Yun Jin. Shenhe’s banner will be featured alongside a rerun of Xiao’s banner, and Yun Jin will have an increased drop rate during this time.
Like Yun Jin, Shenhe hails from the Liyue region of Teyvat. Although she is a mortal, Shenhe lived among the adepti as a disciple of Cloud Retainer. According to Genshin Impact lore, of all the students Cloud Retainer has taken under her wing, she would choose Shenhe to stay by her side if she weren’t a human. Shenhe’s lore provides a rare insight into Cloud Retainer’s personality and highlights how truly exceptional Shenhe is, to be revered so highly by the adeptus. It was previously theorized in Genshin Impact leaks about Shenhe that she and the Cloud Retainer were the same person, but this has since been disproven.
While Shenhe has yet to be released, it is known that her Elemental Burst will deal excellent Cryo damage, and her Elemental Skill Effect "Icy Quills" will boost the party's damage. For this reason, she is well suited to the Sub DPS role. As Shenhe is attuned with Cryo, it makes sense to use a Hydro character alongside her to freeze characters, such as one of Genshin Impact’s many healers that are attuned with Hydro. Kokomi, Jean, and Barbara are all strong Hydro healers. Genshin Impact's Ayaka, who is also attuned with Cryo so can resonate with Shenhe, can be used as the party's Main DPS character to deal powerful damage to enemies while boosted by Shenhe’s Elemental Skill Effect. To round off the party, Kazuha is an excellent sub DPS option, as he can trigger Swirl Elemental Reactions, boosting damage.
Genshin Impact's Best Free To Play Characters To Use With Shenhe
Free-to-play Genshin Impact players can opt to use Shenhe alongside Xiangling, the strongest free DPS character, to cause the Melt Elemental Reaction, dealing significant damage. Amber or Bennet can then be used for the Support role, as they have elemental resonance with Xiangling and will also trigger Melt. Having two characters of the same type in the party, such as the main and secondary damage dealers, will increase energy regeneration and damage dealt. Barbara is the most viable F2P Genshin Impact healer for this party, over Geo-wielding Noelle, as her attunement with Hydro can be alongside Shenhe’s Cryo to freeze enemies and manage crowd control.
Genshin Impact fans have long awaited Shenhe’s arrival, ever since the first Genshin Impact leaks that revealed Shenhe as an upcoming playable character. Shenhe’s banner, “The Transcendent One Returns”, will be available from January 5th 2022 during phase one of Genshin Impact's version 2.4. A rerun of Xiao’s banner, “Invitation to Mundane Life” will also be available during the first phase of the 2.4 update. Both Xiao and Shenhe’s banners will offer an increased drop rate for Yun Jin, another new playable character being added to Genshin Impact on January 5.