Enemy Shields and Armor

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An explanation as to how different type of Enemy Shields and Armor function as well as the most efficient way to deal with them.
Introduction
Currently, there are two main types of shields that players should be aware of, Elemental Shields and Elemental Armor. We'll talk about what the differences are between these two shield types, as well as how to eliminate them. An understanding of Gauge units and ICD is required.
Elemental Gauge Theory
Elemental Shields
Elemental Shields are shields that NEED to be taken down in order to deal direct damage to the enemy HP bar.
To deal with Elemental Shields, you'll need to apply a different Elemental Aura. For example, The fastest way to take down a Cryo Shield is by applying a total of 6U Pyro Aura. However, Pyro Aura is not the only Aura that can take down a Cryo Shield.
Due to the nature of how ICD works, it is recommended to use different character rotations as opposed to spamming a certain attack, like Infused Normals. That being said, Bow Users can spam their Charged Attack to apply an aura over and over because the assumption is that the charge time is longer than the ICD.
Before we get into how to deal with different types of shields, some types (whether its Elemental Shield or Armor) can be damaged through Heavy Attacks and Light Attacks. These types of attacks deal bonus damage due to their property of being Heavy or Light (and some attacks are neither Heavy nor Light). However, Light Attacks do insignificant damage, and it's advisable to avoid using Light Attacks to break Shields.
Abyss mage shields, unlike other types of shields, take any damage directly. Any type of attack reduces Abyss mage shields HP by the amount of damage it deals in addition to bonus damage due to Elemental Aura application. However, Abyss mage shields have very large HP pools and it is not advisable to rely on direct damage compared to elemental damage.
To add to that, Geo Attacks are considered Heavy Attacks and also can cause Crystallize. Meaning the GU required to break Shields that are susceptible to both Geo and Heavy Attacks is much less in practice.
The following is a table consisting of different types of Elemental Shields as well as how many Gauge units are required to take them down. ​Character Gauge Units Database​
Abyss Order
Pyro Abyss Mage
Cryo Abyss Mage
Hydro Abyss Mage
Electro Abyss Mage
Abyss Herald
Abyss Lector
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Pyro
Null
Hydro
6GU
Electro
12GU
Cryo
24GU
Anemo
24GU
Geo
24GU
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Cryo
Null
Hydro
Null
Pyro
6GU
Electro
12GU
Anemo
24GU
Geo
24GU
Note: Cryo Elemental Shields are the only shields that can be damaged with Heavy attacks such as Claymore hits. It takes ~24 Claymore hits to break a Cryo Elemental Shield.
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Hydro
Null
Cryo
12GU
Electro
15GU
Pyro
24GU
Anemo
24GU
Geo
24GU
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Electro
Null
Cryo
8GU
Hydro
8GU
Pyro
8GU
Anemo
16GU
Geo
16GU
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Hydro
Null
Cryo
36GU
Electro
45GU
Pyro
72GU
Anemo
72GU
Geo
72GU
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Electro
Null
Cryo
36GU
Pyro
36GU
Hydro
45GU
Anemo
72GU
Geo
72GU
Slimes
Cryo Slime
Geo Slime
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Pyro
4GU
Electro
8GU
Anemo
16GU
Geo
16GU
Claymore N1
14 Hits
Damage Source
Hits Required
Claymore N1
6
Ningguang N1
6~7
Overload
6~7
Important: Geo Slimes can lose their Shield through Crystallize Reaction. Claymore attacks vary in strength from character to other but the difference should be 1 Normal.
Cicin Mages
Cryo Cicin Mage
Before we get into how to take down a Cryo Cicin Mage's Elemental Shield, first we have to know that the amount of Cicin (or flies) matter. The less Cicin there are, the easier it is to take down their Shield.
C = Numbers of Cicin alive.
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Pyro
2GU × C
Electro
4GU × C
Anemo
8GU × C
Geo
8GU × C
Elemental Shield strength varies from domains, abyss, co-op, and overworld. Testing was done in overworld using level 1 Weapons and no Artifacts.
Elemental Armor
Elemental Armor is the type of shield that protects mobs such as Stonehide Lawachurl, Fatui, Geo Slimes, and Regisvine bosses.
One thing to remember is that unlike Elemental Shields, it is possible to deal direct damage to enemies protected by Elemental Armor. However, the enemy gains +100% RES to Elemental attacks and Physical attacks while armored, which comes out to a total of 110% Elemental RES and 80% Physical RES.
The Elemental Armor surrounding specifically Fatui Agents works in a unique way. Unlike other shield types, they are only damaged by the Specific Element that counters them. For instance, an Electro Fatui's Elemental Armor will only take damage if inflicted by Cryo Element. Other elements deal extremely insignificant damage that it is practically negligible.
The following are tables consisting of different types of Elemental Armor as well as how to take them down:
Fatui
Fatui Skirmishers
Untitled
Fatui Skirmisher Type
Element + Gauge Units
Cryo Fatui
4GU Pyro
Electro Fatui
4GU Cryo
Hydro Fatui
5GU Electro
Anemo Fatui
1GU Cryo\Hydro\Pyro\Electro
Pyro Gunslinger
4GU Hydro
Geochanter
5~7 Heavy Attacks OR Crystallize Reaction
Foreign auras can exist on these armor and there are some interesting interactions when trying to break said armor. See this Vault Entry for more information.
Whopperflowers
Cryo Whopperflower
Pyro Whopperflower
Cryo Whopperflower
Gauge Units Required
Cryo
Null
Hydro
Null
Pyro
1GU
Electro
2GU
Anemo
4GU
Geo
4GU
Claymore N1
4 Hits
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Pyro
Null
Hydro
1GU
Electro
2GU
Cryo
4GU
Anemo
4GU
Geo
4GU
Lawachurls
Note that both Stonehide Lawachurl, Thunderhelm Lawachurl, and Frostarm Lawachurl armor decays each second for up to 90 seconds.
Stonehide Lawachurl
Frostarm Lawachurl
Thunderhelm Lawachurl
Damage Source
Hits Required
Claymore N1 over 24 Seconds
11
Overload over 45 Seconds
~9
5 Ningguang N1
5
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Pyro
15GU
Electro
30GU
Anemo
60GU
Geo
60GU
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Hydro
16GU
Pyro
16GU
Cryo
16GU
Anemo
32GU
Geo
32GU
Regisvines
IMPORTANT: These values are for Aura applied to the Core of the Regisvine. It takes HALF the GU of each element to break the shield protecting the COROLLA. So for example, it only takes 6GU Electro to break the eye of either Regisvine.
Pyro Regisvine
Cryo Regisvine
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Hydro
6GU
Electro
12GU
Cryo
24GU
Anemo
24GU
Geo
24GU
Elemental Source
Gauge Units Required
Pyro
6GU
Electro
12GU
Anemo
24GU
Geo
24GU
Claymore N1
~24
Mitachurl Shields
Mitachurl Shields are rather different than other types of shields. For one, they only protect the Mitachurls from one direction only. There aren't any special mechanics as to how they work, and dealing with them is quite simple as well.
Wooden Mitachurl
Rockshield Mitachurl
Iceshield Mitachurl
Wooden Mitachurl's shields can be taken down by applying Pyro Aura. However, when you apply Pyro to the Wooden Mitachurl's Shield, he will attempt to extinguish it. There are two ways to deal with that:
Keep attacking him while the Pyro Aura is burning his shield so he is forced to guard.
Apply another Pyro Aura as soon as he extinguishes the first one and the shield will burn.
Rockshield Mitachurl's shield is considered a Geo Shield. Therefore, you will need Heavy attacks, Geo Attacks, or Overload.
~18 Claymore N1
~15 Overload reactions
16 Ningguang N1
Applying Cryo Aura then causing Crystallize with Geo Element is very effective in taking down the Rockshield Mitachurl's shield.
6GU Pyro
~3 Overload Reactions
While Claymore Attacks can damage the Iceshield Mitachurl's Shield, the shield has a regenerate mechanic which makes it hard for Claymore Attacks to outpace the Shield Regeneration. Therefore, its best to take down the shield using Pyro Aura.
Childe
During the Childe boss fight, he can enter into a shielded state where he takes no damage. This shield is only affected by poise damage and not normal damage. Attacks like Claymore Attacks, Blunt Attribute attacks, and Overload will be the most effective at breaking said shield.
Shield Damage
Genshin Impact does not use a generic single-variable HP system for enemy shields like other games. Instead, total Shield HP is in the form of its Shield Gauge Units (Shield GU), a value which represents the shield’s “elemental strength”. This can be decreased to 0 (thereby breaking the shield) through reactions, character damage (excluding Elemental Armor shields) and the Poise values of your talents. (Poise values are explained in the document and affect Geo / Frozen shields only)
Total Shield Damage = Reaction Cost + Damage Cost + Poise Cost
For an in-depth analysis on shield damage as of 2021-06-05, vibe checker#5502 has written An Extensive Look Into Shield Damage in Genshin Impact​
Additional notes on shield damage:
Transformative damage is also applied in the damage cost of shield damage, and is affected by elemental mastery.
Credits
Writers
3b00d_09#2235
Theorycrafters
Bobrokrot#0111
Iron IV#3832
sexyeboy69#3215
Yukarix#6534
Ayzel#7399
srl#2712
vibe checker#5502
External Links
​Bobrokrot's Shield Infographic​
​GU Database​
​An Extensive Look Into Shield Damage in Genshin Impact by vibe checker#5502
Evidence Vault:
Enemy Shields and Armor