As a veteran Genshin Impact player who's seen the game evolve dramatically since its launch, I've spent countless hours experimenting with Lan Yan since her release. Let me tell you, she's been quite the puzzling character to optimize! The meta has shifted dramatically in 2025, but Lan Yan still suffers from the same identity crisis that plagued her upon release - caught between two scaling paths that never quite let her excel at either role.

When I first pulled Lan Yan, I was excited about having another Anemo shielder in my roster. However, after investing significant resources, I quickly realized she embodies that classic scaling dilemma: build her with ATK% for shielding support or Elemental Mastery for sub-DPS capabilities? Trust me, this split personality in her kit creates real headaches when trying to find her place in team compositions.

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The Scaling Dilemma: My Personal Experience

During my first Spiral Abyss runs with Lan Yan, I tried both builds extensively. The ATK% route strengthened her shield capabilities, while the EM build promised reasonable off-field damage through Swirl reactions. After numerous test runs, I've reluctantly concluded that her EM scaling path leads to disappointingly mediocre damage output, even with premium artifacts.

"This reminds me so much of early Xinyan problems!" I complained to my gaming buddies last week. "Remember how she also suffered from split scaling issues that made her jack of all trades but master of none?"

The truth is, in 2025's demanding meta where specialized units dominate, Lan Yan's identity crisis leaves her struggling to find a comfortable niche. I've found that focusing on her ATK% scaling for shield strength is ultimately the more practical approach, though I wish HoYoverse would address these design issues with a thoughtful buff.

After extensive testing across various domains and Spiral Abyss floors, here's what I've found works best:

Artifact Sets

  • 4pc Viridescent Venerer: This remains my go-to choice in 2025. The Elemental RES shred (40% reduction!) when she triggers Swirl provides tremendous team value, complementing her supportive role perfectly.

  • 4pc Noblesse Oblige: If someone else on your team already runs VV, this is my backup recommendation. The 20% ATK boost after burst helps compensate for Lan Yan's personal damage limitations.

Weapon Recommendations

I've tested virtually every Catalyst with Lan Yan, and these stand out as her best options:

  1. Starcaller's Watch: My personal favorite for her. The 28% damage buff to your main DPS is simply too valuable to ignore, especially in this time-trial focused meta.

  2. Hakushin Ring: This synergizes beautifully if you're running Electro teammates. I've had great success pairing Lan Yan with the latest Electro characters, where the 20% Elemental DMG bonus really shines.

  3. Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (TTDS): The old reliable! This R5 3-star weapon remains absurdly powerful in 2025, offering a massive 48% ATK buff. My rotation usually involves Lan Yan dropping her shield, then swapping to my main DPS to capitalize on this buff.

Team Composition Insights

I've found Lan Yan works particularly well in teams where:

  • You need Anemo application but don't want to sacrifice shield protection

  • Your main DPS benefits significantly from ATK% buffs (especially with TTDS)

  • You want VV shred but all your premium Anemo units are occupied on your other Abyss team

My favorite pairing lately has been:

Position Character Role Synergy with Lan Yan
Main DPS Newest Pyro carry On-field damage Benefits from VV shred + TTDS
Sub-DPS Latest Electro release Off-field damage Creates Overload reactions
Flex Any healer/buffer Sustain Complements Lan Yan's shielding
Support Lan Yan Shield + VV Enables the team

The Shield Reality Check

Let's be honest - Lan Yan's shield isn't comparable to the premier shielders like Zhongli, even in 2025. In the current time-trial focused endgame, pure shielding without additional utility isn't highly valued. This is precisely why I've optimized my Lan Yan to provide supplementary benefits through VV shred and weapon passives.

"But what about her constellations?" you might ask. Even at C6, which I managed to get during her rerun banner, the fundamental scaling issues remain. Her constellations add nice quality-of-life improvements but don't address the core design problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Lan Yan worth pulling in 2025's meta?

A: If you're a new player lacking Anemo support options, yes. Veterans with established rosters might find her redundant unless you particularly enjoy her playstyle or character design.

Q: ATK% or EM build - which is definitively better?

A: After extensive testing, ATK% consistently delivers more team value through stronger shields and support capabilities. The EM build's damage ceiling is unfortunately too low to justify.

Q: How does Lan Yan compare to the newest shielders released in 2025?

A: Unfortunately, she's been powercrept by several recent 4-star options. The newest shielders typically offer additional utility beyond just protection, such as energy generation or elemental application.

Q: Best constellations to aim for?

A: C1 provides decent shield uptime improvement, while C4 adds some respectable damage. If you're using her primarily for support, C1 offers the best value proposition.

Q: Can Lan Yan work as a main DPS?

A: I've tried making this work (really, I have!), but it's suboptimal at best. Her normal attack multipliers and overall kit design simply don't support this playstyle effectively.

While Lan Yan may not be breaking any DPS records or revolutionizing the shield meta in 2025, she remains a comfortable, accessible option for players seeking Anemo utility with a defensive edge. Sometimes, that's exactly what your team needs! 🌪️🛡️