Genshin Impact finally has its first Electro healer, and her name is Kuki Shinobu. The Inazuman vagabond may serve as Arataki Itto’s second-in-command within the Arataki Gang, but don’t be fooled. Having studied abroad in Liyue, Shinobu is the legal mind behind the gang’s operations and, with the best Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact has to offer, she’s pretty effective on the battlefield too.
Despite having mixed scalings within her kit which could help her fill different roles, the Kuki Shinobu build we’d recommend is as an off-field Support. The good news with this build is that you won’t have to worry too much about praying to Barbatos for crit rolls, as Shinobu scales predominantly off of HP.
Throughout this guide, you’ll learn the best artifact sets for Shinobu across different build paths, as well as her stat and talent priorities, alongside her best weapons and ideal team compositions. If you need a reminder of what Shinobu’s abilities, talents, and Constellations are, then check out her Project Amber page.
Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact – artifacts
Kuki Shinobu’s best artifact set is Tenacity of the Millelith. If you’re building her as a healing Support – her strongest build – then the HP from the set’s two-piece bonus is already a big incentive. Additionally, Millelith’s incredibly potent four-piece passive can activate even when Shinobu isn’t on the field.
| Shinobu Support | |
| Artifact | Effect |
 Tenacity of the Millelith |
Two-piece set: HP +20% Four-piece set: When an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, the ATK of all nearby party members is increased by 20% and their Shield Strength is increased by 30% for 3s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5s. This effect can still be triggered even when the character who is using this artifact set is not on the field. |
| Shinobu Burst DPS | |
| Artifact | Effect |
|
|
Two-piece set: HP +20% Two-piece set: Elemental Burst DMG +20% |
| Shinobu Physical DMG Main DPS | |
| Artifact | Effect |
 Pale Flame |
Two-piece set: Physical DMG Bonus +25% Four-piece set: When an Elemental Skill hits an opponent, ATK is increased by 9% for 7s. This effect stacks up to 2 times and can be triggered once every 0.3s. Once 2 stacks are reached, the 2-set effect is increased by 100%. |
Noblesse ObligeHowever, there are a couple of other routes you can go down if building Shinobu purely as a Support isn’t your vibe. If you want to build her as a Burst DPS to maximise her Elemental Burst output, then mix two pieces of Tenacity of the Millelith with two pieces of Noblesse Oblige, the latter of which will boost your burst damage by 20%.
As a Main DPS, Shinobu can be built either as an Electro DMG DPS, or as a Physical DPS. Right now, Shinobu’s Electro DMG scalings aren’t great, so contrary to the likes of Keqing it’s recommended to opt for a Physical DMG build.
For this more off-meta build, a four-piece set of Pale Flame is what you want. Thanks to Shinobu’s Elemental Skill, she should be able to maintain a pretty much 100% uptime on the set’s passive, making her a potent damage dealer.
Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact – stat priority
Kuki Shinobu’s stat priority is HP%, Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge, and finally Crit DMG and Crit Rate if you build her as a Support or Burst DPS.
| Slot | Main stat | Sub stats |
 Flower |
HP (default) | HP% > Elemental Mastery > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate/Crit Damage |
 Feather |
ATK (default) | HP% > Elemental Mastery > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate/Crit Damage |
 Sands |
HP% | Elemental Mastery > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate/Crit Damage |
 Goblet |
HP% | Elemental Mastery > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate/Crit Damage |
 Circlet |
HP% | Elemental Mastery > Energy Recharge > Crit Rate/Crit Damage |
Shinobu has split scaling all throughout her kit. The damage dealt by her Elemental Skill, Sanctifying Ring, scales with her ATK%, though the healing portion is based on her Max HP. Likewise, her Elemental Burst scales entirely off of Max HP. As such, HP% should be your main stat priority across her Sands, Goblet, and Circlet as it’s her main point of scaling.
Additionally, Shinobu loves Elemental Mastery, with her Heart’s Repose passive increasing healing and DMG by 75% and 25% of her Elemental Mastery respectively. If using Shinobu primarily as a Support or Burst DPS, then definitely prioritise Elemental Mastery and Energy Recharge over ATK%.
Finally, as Shinobu can output a respectable amount of damage with her burst, get some Crit DMG and Crit Rate in where you can.
If you want to build Shinobu as a Physical DMG Main DPS, then you’ll want to get yourself an ATK Sands, Physical DMG Bonus Goblet, and a Crit DMG or Crit Rate Circlet depending on your needs. For sub stats, prioritise Critical DMG and Critical rate, followed by ATK%, HP%, and finally Elemental Mastery.
Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact – talent priority
Kuki Shinobu’s talent priority is Elemental Skill, Elemental Burst, and finally Normal Attack if she is built as a support or Burst DPS.
With Shinobu’s healing coming from her Sanctifying Ring, it makes sense to prioritise investing in her Elemental Skill first. As she won’t be on-field long enough to make use of her Normal Attacks, don’t feel the need to invest in them.
However, if you are building Shinobu as a Physical DMG Main DPS, then you’ll want to upgrade her Normal Attacks first, followed by her Elemental Burst, and finally her Elemental Skill.
Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact – weapon
Kuki Shinobu’s best weapon is Freedom-Sworn. Offering a big old helping of Elemental Mastery, this five star sword can have its passive – which offers her team a huge damage boost – activated by Shinobu’s abilities, even when she’s off-field. With that said, there are also a few other weapons which she works well with.
| Shinobu best weapon | |
| Weapon | Effect |
 Freedom-Sworn |
Revolutionary Chorale A part of the Millennial Movement that wanders amidst the winds. Increases DMG by 10%. When the character wielding this weapon triggers Elemental Reactions, they gain a Sigil of Rebellion. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5s and can be triggered even if said character is not on the field. When you possess 2 Sigils of Rebellion, all of them will be consumed and all nearby party members will obtain Millennial Movement: Song of Resistance for 12s Millennial Movement: Song of Resistance increases Normal, Charged and Plunging Attack DMG by 16% and increases ATK by 20%. Once this effect is triggered, you will not gain Sigils of Rebellion for 20s. Of the many effects of the Millennial Movement, buffs of the same type will not stack |
| Shinobu alternative weapons | |
| Weapon | Effect |
 Primordial Jade Cutter |
Protector’s Virtue HP increased by 20%. Additionally, provides an ATK Bonus based on 1.2% of the wielder’s Max HP |
 Aquila Favonia (Physical DMG build) |
Falcon’s Defiance ATK is increased by 20%. Triggers on taking DMG: the soul of the Falcon of the West awakens, holding the banner of the resistance aloft, regenerating HP equal to 100% of ATK and dealing 200% of ATK as DMG to surrounding opponents. This effect can only occur once every 15s |
 Iron Sting |
Infusion Stinger Dealing Elemental DMG increases all DMG by 6% for 6s. Max 2 stacks. Can only occur once every 1s |
 Favonius Sword |
Windfall CRIT hits have a 60% chance to generate a small amount of Elemental Particles, which will regenerate 6 Energy for the character. Can only occur once every 12s |
 The Alley Flash |
Itinerant Hero Increases DMG dealt by the character equipping this weapon by 24%. Taking DMG disables this effect for 5s |
 Lion’s Roar |
Bane of Fire and Thunder Increases DMG against opponents affected by Pyro or Electro by 36% |
 Prototype Rancour (Physical DMG build) |
Smashed Stone On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks increase ATK and DEF by 4% for 6s. Max 4 stacks. Can only occur once every 0.3s |
Regardless of which build you opt for, Primordial Jade Cutter is a fantastic five star option that bolsters both Shinobu’s survivability and damage output thanks to the bonus HP% it offers. However, it truly shines in a Physical DMG build where the Crit Rate secondary stat and ATK% bonus can be fully taken advantage of.
A third five star option which is great for Physical DMG Shinobu is Aquila Favonia. The big Physical DMG bonus it offers on its secondary stat is perfect for what Shinobu requires. Additionally, the HP regeneration element of its passive will keep her nice and healthy.
The best four star weapon for Shinobu is Iron Sting thanks largely to the chunk of Elemental Mastery it gives her. Additionally, its passive is easy enough to stack while Shinobu is on the field, boosting her damage output. If you want to boost Shinobu’s damage during a quick rotation, The Alley Flash also works very well.
Favonius Sword does require Crit Rate to make use of its energy-generating passive, which is why we’d only recommend this if Shinobu is being built as a Burst DPS, or if you just so happen to have enough crit in your Support artifacts.
If you do meet the requirements, then Favonius Sword is a great option if you want Shinobu to help serve as a battery for high burst cost Main DPS characters. Just note that the Energy Recharge secondary stat won’t be particularly beneficial to Shinobu herself, as her own Elemental Burst is relatively cheap at just 60 energy required.
Lion’s Roar is another weapon which can benefit all of Shinobu’s build paths, and is especially potent in Overloaded teams. However, Shinobu can consistently apply Electro with her abilities, so Lion’s Roar can be taken into any team comp where Electro is present.
Finally, there’s Prototype Rancour, which again we’d only recommend for Physical DMG Shinobu because of its Physical DMG secondary stat, and its passive can only be activated through on hit, normal, or charged attacks. With that said, this is a great, easily-attainable free-to-play option if you don’t have any of her ideal weapons.
Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact – team comps
There are a number of Kuki Shinobu team comps that you can opt for, with Shinobu operating as either a Support or DPS.
| Character #1 | Character #2 | Character #3 | Character #4 |
 Ayato |
 Fischl |
 Kazuha |
 Shinobu |
| Ayato |
Shinobu |
 Jean |
 Bennett |
 Eula |
 Rosaria |
 Raiden |
Shinobu |
 Beidou |
Fischl |
 Sucrose |
Shinobu |
| Shinobu |
 Shenhe |
 Yun Jin |
 Zhongli |
Team one has a Hydro Main DPS like Ayato – check out our Genshin Impact Ayato build if you haven’t already – take centre stage, with Fischl serving as a battery. This Electro-Charged comp is supercharged by Kazuha thanks to his Viridescent Venerer swirls.
Next up is a variation of the popular Sunfire build, which is great for shredding through shields of pesky Abyss Lectors in the Abyss. Once again, Ayato operates as the Main DPS, though this time Shinobu will operate as a Burst DPS for a big AoE combo with Ayato.
Our third team takes advantage of Superconduct’s physical resistance shred to amp up Eula’s Physical DMG output. Here we have Rosaria as the sub-DPS, with Raiden and Shinobu operating more supportive roles – Raiden being a battery (Fischl is also fine here), and Shinobu being the healer.
Our penultimate comp is a mono Electro team – something made possible by Shinobu’s release – with Beidou as its main damage dealer.
Finally, for the Physical DMG Main DPS Shinobu enjoyers out there, mixing Superconduct with beefy shields and the bonus damage from Geo Resonance will make the most of Shinobu’s physical output. Zhongli takes on Tenacity of the Millelith duty here, so you’ll have a solid set available should you wish to switch into a different Shinobu build later on.
And that’s the best Kuki Shinobu build Genshin Impact can offer wrapped up. Now you’ll have everything you need to make the Electro healer shine when you pull her on the Genshin Impact banner. As always, we’ll be sure to keep this guide updated as new builds and compositions arise.