Nicole (Genshin Impact): Best Build Guide, Team, Weapon, Materials & More

Nicole is poised to become a guardian angel for our teams in Genshin Impact, arriving in Version Luna VII (6.6) as a playable character. In anticipation of her release, this guide offers recommendations for her enhancement materials, ‘build,’ including her best weapon, team composition, artifact sets, and more.

How to Obtain Nicole

Nicole will headline one of the banners in Genshin Impact‘s Luna VII (6.6) update. Her availability will be through the gacha system, spending Intertwined Fates on her banner. While the chance of obtaining a 5-star character is low, the game guarantees one every 90 wishes. If the first 5-star character obtained from this banner isn’t Nicole, the next 5-star character from the same banner is guaranteed to be her. Once her banner departs, she will be added to the general pool and may return in the future.

Abilities

Normal Attack – Allegory

• Normal Attack: Performs up to 3 attacks, dealing Pyro DMG.
• Charged Attack: Consumes Stamina to deal AoE Pyro DMG in front of herself after a brief channeling period.
• Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air, striking the ground and dealing AoE Pyro DMG upon impact.

Elemental Skill – Revelation: Unmanifested Light

Grants all nearby party members the effect of Kenosis Grace, increasing their ATK, dealing AoE Pyro DMG, and creating a Blazing Shield. The shield’s damage absorption scales with Nicole’s ATK and has a 250% effectiveness against Pyro DMG.

Elemental Burst – Revelation: Stairway to Divine Ascension

Deals AoE Pyro DMG and enters the ‘Prayer of Silent Contemplation’ mode. While in this mode, when an active character in the party hits an enemy, a phantom projection will be summoned to perform a coordinated attack against the enemy, dealing AoE DMG of the element corresponding to the attacking character’s element. This damage benefits from the character’s ATK and is considered inflicted by that character. This effect can trigger once every 3s and can activate a maximum of 5 times per ‘Prayer of Silent Contemplation’ mode. Phantom projections from Theurgist characters are special.

Passive Talents

• Nepsis: When Nicole is out of combat in a region of Teyvat where the Treasure Compass is unlocked, her Charged Attack transforms into an “emissary’s guide,” summoning a nearby Seelie to show the way, activating an effect similar to the region’s Treasure Compass. This effect has a 5s cooldown and does not activate in domains, Domains of Forgery, or the Spiral Abyss.
• Methexis (Level 20): After using her Elemental Skill, Nicole will continuously “observe” your active party member (excluding herself) for 20s. When an observed character remains on the field for 3s, their Kenosis Grace will be enhanced to Deification’s Guide, additionally increasing their ATK by 300. If the observed character is a Theurgist, their Kenosis Grace effect will directly become Deification’s Guide. When observed characters other than Nicole leave combat, their Deification’s Guide reverts to Kenosis Grace.
• Philocalie (Level 60): When an active character in the party deals Elemental DMG, Nicole’s Kenosis Grace is enhanced to Deification’s Guide for 8s.
• Rite of the Witches’ Night: Light in the Darkness: After completing the “Coven Lessons: The Duty of a Guide?” quest, Nicole becomes a Theurgist. If the party has at least 2 Theurgist characters, they gain the ‘Secret Rite of Theurgy’ effect, granting them specific buffs. The DMG dealt by Theurgist character projections is increased by an amount equivalent to 150% of Nicole’s ATK.

Best Weapon for Nicole’s Build

When Nicole’s banner becomes available in Genshin Impact, her signature weapon, the Seal of Dust and Light Catalyst (5★ – ATK 3.6%), will also be available on the weapon banner. This catalyst increases ATK by 12%. When the wielder creates a shield, they gain the ‘Precursor Light’ effect for 20s, increasing their team’s on-field character’s DMG by 10% for every 1000 ATK the wielder possesses, up to a maximum of 26% DMG increase. While this effect is active, hitting an enemy or opening a chest outside of combat grants the ‘Guide’s Satiety’ effect, restoring 14 Elemental Energy to the wielder. This can occur once every 16s and can activate even when the wielder is not on the field. With ‘Secret Rite of Theurgy,’ off-field Theurgist characters also gain 50% of the DMG bonus from ‘Precursor Light.’

Other recommended weapons for Nicole include catalysts that increase Nicole’s ATK, enhance her shields, or boost the team’s DPS:

• Everlasting Peace (5★ – ATK 10.8%) – Increases Shield DMG Absorption by 20%. After hitting an enemy, ATK increases by 4% for 8s. This effect can stack up to 5 times and trigger once every 0.3s. Additionally, when protected by a shield, the ATK increase effect is amplified by 100%.
• Skyward Atlas (5★ – ATK 10.8%) – Increases Elemental Mastery by 100. Within 15s of creating a shield, the wielder obtains the ‘Night Mirror’ effect, increasing the on-field character’s DMG to nearby enemies by 28%. This effect can be triggered once every 14s.
• Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (3★ – HP 7.66%) – Upon switching characters, the new character’s ATK increases by 24% for 10s. This effect can occur once every 20s.
• Eye of Perception (4★ – ATK 12%) – Normal and Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to release a Perception Eye, dealing 240% ATK as DMG. The Perception Eye can bounce between enemies up to 4 times. This effect can occur once every 12s.
• Oathsworn Eye (4★ – ATK 6%) – After using an Elemental Skill, Energy Recharge is increased by 24% for 10s.

If you don’t have any of these weapons, use the best catalyst you have available and adjust Nicole’s build, team, and artifacts accordingly.

Best Team Composition for Nicole in Genshin Impact

Nicole is an excellent buffer for recent DPS characters like Varka and Lohen. Durin serves as a perfect sub-DPS and a Theurgist, benefiting both himself and Nicole when paired together. The new character, Prune, also greatly benefits from Nicole and complements these combinations perfectly.

As mentioned in Lohen’s guide, Nicole synergizes well with him (both being Theurgists). While Xilonen was previously recommended, Prune and Bennett are also strong alternatives.

These team compositions are based on the current meta. It’s possible that future character releases may offer even stronger team synergies.

Best Artifact Sets

The new artifact set, Celestial Bestowal, obtainable from the Flower of Paradise Lost domain in Mondstadt, is ideal for Nicole, especially if she has her Theurgist effect active.

• 2-Piece Bonus: Energy Recharge +20%.
• 4-Piece Bonus: If the wielder has completed their ‘Coven Lessons,’ after using their Elemental Skill, they gain the ‘Celestial Light Guide’ effect, granting all nearby party members a 20% Elemental DMG Bonus of the wielder’s element for 20s. This effect can activate even when the wielder is off-field. Elemental DMG Bonus from artifact sets of the same name cannot stack. When the party has the ‘Secret Rite of Theurgy’ effect, the ‘Celestial Light Guide’ is enhanced to ‘Hymn of the Mortal World,’ additionally granting all nearby party members an Elemental DMG Bonus based on their active character’s element, for a total of 40%. Elemental DMG Bonuses of the same element do not stack.

This set offers a special benefit if an Anemo DPS like Varka is in the team.

Another excellent option that buffs teammates is the Noblesse Oblige set, obtained from the Cavern of Echoes domain in Liyue.

• 2-Piece Bonus: Elemental Burst DMG +20%.
• 4-Piece Bonus: After casting an Elemental Burst, increases the ATK of all party members by 20% for 12s. This effect cannot be stacked.

Additionally, you can equip Prune with 2-piece artifact sets that boost her ATK, such as Gladiator’s Finale, Shimenawa’s Reminiscence, Veridescent Venerer, or Crimson Witch of Flames.

Constellations

If Nicole appears multiple times on her banner in Genshin Impact, you will receive Stella Fortunas to increase her constellation level (C0 to C6). These enhance her abilities and contribute to a stronger build when combined with optimal teams, weapons, and artifact sets.

• C1 – “Fear Not, Beloved Child of Humanity”: When your active party member hits an enemy, an additional special effect, “Phantom Projection: Unity,” is invoked, performing a coordinated attack that deals AoE Elemental DMG of the character’s element. This damage is equivalent to 600% of the character’s ATK and is considered inflicted by them. This effect can trigger once every 6s.
• C2 – “I Will Guide You and Show You the Path You Must Walk”: Enhances the Elemental Skill. Kenosis Grace grants an additional 240 ATK (not contributing to the ATK Bonus cap of the effect), and Deification’s Guide reduces the Elemental RES of nearby enemies by 20% based on the character’s element. Elemental RES reduction of the same element cannot stack. Additionally, when Nicole uses her Elemental Skill, Revelation: Unmanifested Light, it applies the Blazing Shield to nearby active characters.
• C3 – “A Lamp to Accompany You, a Light to Illuminate Your Path”: Increases the level of Revelation: Unmanifested Light by +3. Maximum level is 15.
• C4 – “Left or Right, Whichever Way You Go”: When a nearby party member’s Kenosis Grace is enhanced to Deification’s Guide, Nicole also grants the “Pioneer’s Blessing” effect for 20s. A character can only obtain this effect once every 17s. Characters with Pioneer’s Blessing will have their Normal Attacks, Charged Attacks, Plunging Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts DMG increased by an amount equivalent to 70% of Nicole’s ATK. This effect disappears after 8 activations or upon expiration. When hitting multiple enemies simultaneously, charges are consumed based on the number of enemies hit. Each character’s Pioneer’s Blessing is calculated independently.
• C5 – “You Will Hear My Voice Beside You”: Increases the level of Revelation: Stairway to Divine Ascension by +3. Maximum level is 15.
• C6 – “Do Not Hesitate, for This Is the Right Path”: When Nicole’s Kenosis Grace is enhanced to Deification’s Guide, the Kenosis Grace of all nearby party members is also enhanced to Deification’s Guide. Furthermore, after being enhanced, Deification’s Guide will no longer revert to Kenosis Grace. Additionally, DMG dealt by characters with Deification’s Guide ignores 40% of the enemy’s DEF.

Nicole’s Ascension and Talent Level-Up Materials Guide in Genshin Impact

Here are the materials needed to level up Nicole and her talents. Please note that this information is based on beta testing and is subject to change.

Nicole’s Ascension Materials Guide

• Agnidus Agate in its various forms can be obtained by defeating Pyro Hypostasis, Abyss Herald (Type I), Stonehide Lawachurl, Perpetual Mechanical Array, Pyro Regisvine, Geo Vishap, Guardian, Blazing Beaststrike, Candeia Dragon, Radiant Queen Mariposa, Andrius, Azhdaha, La Signora, and the Childe in various levels and by synthesizing them at the crafting bench. It can also be obtained by completing certain quests and domains.
• Worn Insignia, Distressed Insignia, and Stern Insignia are obtained by defeating Fatui Agents of various levels in the new region. They can also be synthesized at the crafting bench and exchanged for Stardust in Paimon’s Bargains.
• Pine Resin can be found in the new region.
• Shadow of the Warrior is obtained by defeating the Nightmare Whisperer of the Unfathomable Depths boss at level 30 or higher in the new region.

Nicole’s Talent Level-Up Materials Guide

The materials listed are for ascending a single talent of Nicole. To level up all of her talents, multiply each entry by 3.

• Texts of the Paradise are obtained on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in the Domain of Mastery: Legacy’s Allure in the new region, as rewards from certain quests and chests, in the Clang-Clang War event, and in the Field of Wisdom Ruins Exploration event.
• Worn Insignia, Distressed Insignia, and Stern Insignia are obtained by defeating Fatui Agents of various levels in the new region. They can also be synthesized at the crafting bench and exchanged for Stardust in Paimon’s Bargains.
• ??? items are obtained by defeating the weekly boss of Version Luna VI at level 70 or higher, or by exchanging one of its other drops at the synthesis table. More information on this item will be provided later.

Don’t forget to save some materials to upgrade her best weapon and the rest of Nicole’s team.

We wish you the best of luck in obtaining Nicole from her Genshin Impact Gacha banner and hope this guide proves useful for gathering her ascension and talent materials, her best weapon, team, and everything else you need for her build.