Charlotte

Charlotte

4★CryoCatalystHealer

TL;DR

Charlotte holds her Skill until the viewfinder finishes opening, which tags up to five enemies with a mark that ticks Cryo damage for 12 seconds. Her Burst drops a short healing field. Hold Skill, Burst, swap. The marks keep applying Cryo while she's off the field.

Rotation

  1. Hold Skill (E) and wait for the viewfinder to stop expanding.
  2. Release. Up to five enemies inside the frame are marked for 12 seconds.
  3. Burst (Q). The field heals everyone standing in it for 4 seconds.
  4. Swap off. The marks tick Cryo on their own.

Abilities

Skill (E) Tap for a snapshot: area Cryo damage plus a mark on up to five enemies that hits them every 1.5 seconds for 6 seconds. 12 second cooldown. Hold to open the viewfinder, which widens as you hold. She can walk and turn while it does.
The long mark Release the hold only after the viewfinder has finished and the mark lasts 12 seconds instead of 6, hitting harder each tick. The cooldown goes up to 18 seconds for it.
Burst (Q) 80 Energy, back in 20 seconds. Area Cryo damage and a field that runs 4 seconds, healing whoever is inside off her Attack while hitting enemies in it with Cryo.

The one mechanic to understand

Hold until the viewfinder stops growing.

The two marks are the same idea at very different lengths. A tap or an early release buys 6 seconds of ticks. Holding to the end buys 12, which covers a whole rotation from off the field. It also widens the frame so you can fit more enemies in. You pay for it with a cooldown of 18 seconds rather than 12. Take the long one unless something is about to kill you.

What actually matters

The two or three real decisions. Everything else is noise.

  • Attack, because her healing reads off it. Not Max HP, which is the usual healer stat and does nothing for her.
  • Energy Recharge for an 80 cost Burst. Around 160% if she's the only Cryo character in the team.
  • The marks are the Cryo, the Burst is the heal. Five enemies ticking for 12 seconds is what she does while somebody else fights.

Gear

A build that works. KeqingMains lists every other option.

Weapon Energy Recharge, then Attack. Favonius Codex carries the first and drops particles when she crits.
Artifacts 4-piece Noblesse Oblige. 20% party Attack for a Burst she casts every rotation regardless.
Main stats Attack sands, Cryo damage goblet, Healing Bonus circlet.

Works well with

HydroPyro

Hydro, since a marked enemy takes a Cryo hit every 1.5 seconds and stays frozen through it. Pyro if you would rather melt them.

Don't bother

  • Tapping the Skill when you have a second to hold it.
  • Max HP. Everything she does reads off Attack.
  • Her Normal Attacks. The camera clicks are not why she's here.
  • Rearranging the team for her passive. Fontainians give her Healing Bonus and everyone else gives her Cryo damage, so you get something either way.

Want the full theorycrafting version? Read Charlotte on KeqingMains.