Kirara

Kirara

4★DendroSwordShielder

TL;DR

Press Kirara's Skill for a flying kick and a shield that lasts 12 seconds, then Burst to leave a scatter of little Dendro bombs sitting around for 12 seconds. Both read off her Max HP. Skill, Burst, swap, come back when the shield runs out.

Rotation

  1. Press Skill (E). The kick deals Dendro damage and the shield goes up.
  2. Burst (Q) into the group. It explodes, then leaves bombs lying around that go off on contact.
  3. Swap to your damage dealer, who keeps the shield.
  4. Come back every 12 seconds to put the shield back up.

Abilities

Skill (E) 8 second cooldown when you press it. Area Dendro damage plus a shield scaled off her Max HP that lasts 12 seconds and soaks Dendro damage particularly well. Casting it again while one is up adds the leftovers to the new shield.
Hold Skill Same shield, but she folds into a delivery box and rolls around fast, hitting things she crashes into for Dendro damage and ending in a bigger strike. Lasts up to 10 seconds. The longer she stays in it the longer the cooldown afterwards, up to 12 seconds.
Burst (Q) 60 Energy, back in 15 seconds. Area Dendro damage, then a spread of small bombs that sit for 12 seconds and explode on contact or when their time is up.

The one mechanic to understand

Press for the shield, hold for the travel.

The two halves of the Skill hand out the same shield, so in a fight the press is what you want: it's instant and the cooldown is the shortest it gets. The box is for crossing Sumeru quickly. It does hit things on the way, but staying in it stretches the cooldown and eats seconds your carry wanted. Rolling into enemies does bank up to three small extra shields for when the state ends, which is the only combat reason to hold it.

What actually matters

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

  • Max HP. The shield's size comes off it. Every 1,000 she has adds a little to her Skill and Burst damage on top.
  • Energy Recharge for a 60 cost Burst. Around 160% if she's your only Dendro character.
  • The shield covers whoever is on the field. Put it up before you swap, not after your carry is already being hit.

Gear

A build that works. KeqingMains lists every other option.

Weapon Energy Recharge, Max HP after that. Sapwood Blade is craftable and carries the first.
Artifacts 4-piece Deepwood Memories. Cutting enemy Dendro resistance by 30% for the team is worth more than anything her own numbers do.
Main stats HP sands, HP goblet, HP circlet.

Works well with

ElectroHydro

Electro for Hyperbloom and Quicken, Hydro for Bloom. Her Dendro turns up in short bursts rather than as a constant aura, so it suits a team that needs it applied on a schedule.

Don't bother

  • Attack or Crit stats.
  • Her sword. Four rapid strikes is not the reason she's in the team.
  • Staying in the box for the full 10 seconds in a fight.
  • Placing the bombs carefully. They go where the Burst went and enemies walk into them.

Want the full theorycrafting version? Read Kirara on KeqingMains.