image Credit: HoyoVerse

Citlali makes her return in version 5.8, and if you’re looking to boost your Freeze or Melt team, she’s a top contender. With high‑scaling Elemental Mastery, game changing shields, and resistance shredding for Pyro and Hydro, she feels elegant yet essential. Here’s your full breakdown.

Why Citlali Matters

Citlali excels at:

• Providing high efficiency shields based on Elemental Mastery
• Applying off‑field Cryo consistently
• Shredding Hydro and Pyro resistance on Frozen or Melt reaction triggers
• Energizing your team through Nightsoul mechanics and supportive passives

She fills roles others can’t and supports critically above her gameplay cost.

Talent Upgrade Priority

1. Elemental Skill (Dawnfrost Darkstar) – stronger shield and easier Cryo application
2. Elemental Burst (Edict of Entwined Splendor) – AoE Cryo burst that refills Nightsoul and sustains her field uptime
3. Normal Attack – optional and least impactful

Best Weapons for Citlali

Signature Weapon – Starcaller’s Watch

• Massive Elemental Mastery bonus, increasing up to +200
• Grants the Mirror of Night effect: after shielding, nearby active allies gain up to +56% damage for 15 seconds

Alternative EM Weapons

• A Thousand Floating Dreams, Wandering Evenstar, Sacrificial Fragments, Mappa Mare – all excellent stat sticks focusing on EM and team utility

F2P or Budget Picks

• Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers for flat ATK
• Favonius Codex or Instructor to help with early Energy Recharge needs

Artifact Sets & Stat Priorities

Top Artifact Sets

• Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City: Best in slot. Offers team Elemental Damage Buff and energy generation via reactions
• Tenacity of the Millelith: Excellent if someone else is using Scroll – shields and ATK buffs activate off‑field
• Gilded Dreams: Strong EM scaling in rainbow teams where Scroll isn’t available

Primary Stats

• Sands: Elemental Mastery or Energy Recharge
• Goblet: Elemental Mastery or Cryo Damage
• Circlet: Elemental Mastery or Crit Rate/Crit Damage (if doing hybrid)

Substats Priority: Energy Recharge (~150‑180%) → Elemental Mastery → Crit Rate/CD → ATK%

Best Build Stats to Shoot For

Build around these targets:

• HP: 17,000–20,000 for consistent shield uptime
• Attack: 1,000–1,200 (not her priority)
• Elemental Mastery: 1,000–1,200 for shield power, Burst damage, and RES shred
• Energy Recharge: 150–180% for rapid burst rotation

Team Setups That Work

Melt Teams

• Arlecchino / Mavuika / Rosaria (or Xilonen) with Citlali and Bennett
  She fills in Cryo when Frozen locks hit, creates Pyro and Hydro RES shred, and her Shield offers protection during aggressive engages.

Freeze or Multi‑Reaction Teams

• Arlecchino / Yelan / Bennett / Citlali
  She provides constant Cryo, shields, Nightsoul mechanics and EM to boost both Cryo and Hydro carries.

Citlali is flexible. She adapts to either role depending on your DPS roster

Gameplay Flow

1. Cast Elemental Skill to deploy Itzpapa and start gathering Nightsoul points
2. Let Itzpapa deal Cryo off‑field while your DPS triggers Frozen or Melt
3. When Nightsoul hits 50, ensure Frozen or Melt hits to enable Hydro/Pyro RES Shred
4. Use Burst when your shield expires or Nightsoul runs low – resets field uptime and grants extra Cryo burst
5. Repeat on cooldown; rotate Citrali off field as your DPS takes over

Final Thoughts

Citlali is more than just a support; she empowers entire elemental comps. With her shield, Cryo application, and teamwide utility, she defines what modern support characters should bring. Stack EM, nail ER, and slot Starcaller’s Watch if you can. She’s a must-have support for Melt, Freeze, or hybrid strategies right now.

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