Overview

Outline

Zhongli is a 5-Star playable Polearm Geo character in Genshin Impact.

A consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he is later revealed to be the current vessel of the Geo Archon, Morax, who has decided to experience the world from the perspective of a mortal.

Talents

• Normal Attack: Rain of Stone

• Elemental Skill: Dominus Lapidis

• Elemental Burst: Planet Befall

• 1st Ascension Passive: Resonant Waves
• 4th Ascension Passive: Dominance of Earth
• Utility Passive: Arcanum of Crystal

Personality

Zhongli is a calm, reserved, and polite man, who holds an air of nostalgia. He knows much about Liyue history and culture in part due to his time as the Geo Archon; like Venti, he has many experiences and memories, as he was a god well before The Seven even existed and one of the oldest still living in Teyvat. He holds philosophical ideas towards money and has great respect for Liyue's traditions, including those that have been forgotten or warped over time. Zhongli tends to be humble, being worried he comes off as a "bourgeois parasite."

Zhongli tends to forget about Mora in transactions, agreeing to spend large sums of it without having any Mora on hand and even taking "discounts" as granted despite being an obvious scam. He often ends up relying on his acquaintances for financial support, such as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor or Tartaglia. Although he works for Hu Tao, he does not like her childish behavior.

It is later revealed that Zhongli's "carelessness" stems from being the creator of Mora. With the Gnosis allowing him to create limitless Mora, he never had to worry about running low on his personal finances. Unfortunately, when he chose to live among mortals, he lacked the foresight to find an alternative for them to continue minting Mora in his absence, along with creating a retirement fund for himself. As a result, he shamelessly spends the Mora of others.

Being the reminiscent person he is, Zhongli enjoys Osmanthus wine as it was the drink he and his former Archon friends used to have when they met up in Liyue. He dislikes seafood as it reminds him of the promise he made to his people in the past when he fought a particularly annoying type of sea creature, although he does not mind eating them if they have been ground to a pulp.

Related illustration

Character Mentions

• Hu Tao (Genshin Impact)

Zhongli looks young, but his personality is a bit dusty. Knows everything, but doesn't fret over anything. Hmm... Couldn't be that he's a...Hehe, forget it, whatever.

• Tartaglia

Tell me, how has Mr. Zhongli been lately? Not bad, you say? Seems he's had no problem acclimating to "mortal" life. Hmph, he sure had me fooled. Such a fiasco mustn't be so easily forgiven! The only way to reconciliation is fierce combat! What do you mean I'm no match for him? Hahaha...

There's far more to that man than meets the eye. As for the extent of his power... lots to look forward to, I think.

• Keqing

The gentleman from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? Clearly, he's an extremely learned individual, and I do have a lot of respect for him. But his mindset is too traditional for me — he thinks in the same tired old terms as Rex Lapis did.. If he were more of an original thinker, I'm sure he'd be a great asset to me in reaching my objectives.

• Ningguang

Zhongli... Of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He's very versed in a great deal of affairs. Although... such excellent pawns are of no use to me until I know their weaknesses.

• Venti (Genshin Impact)

Have you seen that gentleman around? Huh? He's just a normal man by the name of Zhongli now? That must be quite the change for that old block-head. Come with me to see him, will you? I have a vintage I dug up from Windrise that I can take as a condolence gift. Oh, ahh... did he still seem strong when you saw him? How strong? Am I likely to get blown away?

• Xiangling

I've come across a lot of fussy eaters, but Mr. Zhongli is very particular and has no problem getting straight to what he has to say. The first time I served him salt and pepper tofu, he took just one bite, and then proceeded to say: "It would be better to try sea salt extracted from the shallow seas of Guyun Stone Forest, because it would bring a fresh sense of depth to the tofu." I tried it and the taste was just so different! He's just amazing, don't you think!?

• Xiao (Genshin Impact)

Can I ask... Zhongli — what does he do with his days? Huh? Birds, antiques, flowers...

Hmm... What deeper meaning do they hold?

• Beidou (Genshin Impact)

You mean the gentleman from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? My men sometimes speak of the rumors surrounding him — he sounds interesting. Yes, if I get the chance I'd like to meet him someday.

• Chongyun

That Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor seems to be quite an incredible man. Just think, common folk might gang up to commit a murder, we exorcists vanquish demons — but he alone buries the bodies of the adepti.

• Shenhe

That gentleman claims to be a mortal, yet is very familiar with my master, who is an adeptus. Master once said: "If you see him drinking on a stone stool in front of my abode, do not disturb him. Let him sit quietly for a while." And that's precisely what I did.

• Xingqiu (Genshin Impact)

My father and brother entertained that gentleman as a guest once. From the way they were acting, he must be a very high-profile figure indeed. I also heard that he directs funerals for adepti, so he must surely have some inside information. We should do some digging and see what we can find out about him!

• Traveler

(Traveler): It never stops raining on Yashiori Island. I heard it's because of the lingering evil energy.

Paimon: "Evil energy"? What's that? Sounds terrifying.

(Traveler): It's caused by the remains of an evil god somewhere on the island. Because its power hasn't fully dispersed, the remaining energy causes all sorts of misfortunes. That's what I meant when I said "evil energy."

Paimon: Oh, that makes sense. But Paimon doesn't think rain is a bad thing.

Paimon: Maybe that god has been crying all this time because they were bullied.

(Traveler): Crying? I don't think gods can cry. I mean, I've never seen Venti or Zhongli cry before.

Paimon: There are exceptions! If you pinch Paimon, you'll be able to see a crying god.

(Traveler): Hmm? Are you a god?

Paimon: Paimon sure is!

(Traveler): Okay, let me guess... The flying god of silly questions? The god of slimes? Or the god of being fished out from the water?

Paimon: Paimon's none of those! Hmph!

Paimon: As your bodyguard, (Traveler), Paimon is the god of protection! Hehe.

• Xinyan

There was this one fellow who invited me to perform at his place, back when there weren't many who would give my music the time of day. I was touched, let me tell you what. Like, hey, someone gets it! I agreed right away... But when I got there, I found out that he was the consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. What a weird guy. I mean, how was that appropriate?

• Yun Jin

The customs of the opera are very particular, and are passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes I find that I only know the hows but not the whys behind what we do. But when speaking with Zhongli, it is abundantly evident that he knows the origins behind almost everything. Who wouldn't be delighted to have such a connoisseur in their audience?

• Yanfei

Mr. Zhongli has so much in-depth knowledge on so many topics, he's like a walking library, you know what I mean? He's a total savant, though he never flaunts it. I could tell just by looking at him. People like him rarely shy away from taking on complex problems alone, so in my estimation he's certainly not a potential client.

And yet, somehow, I can't help but think I know him from somewhere, it's hard to describe the feeling... I asked my father about it, and he just said something to the effect of he didn't know either, though he seemed a little evasive. It was so strange... Anyway, makes me wonder if my father is hiding something from me. Hmph, alright then — if he won't tell me what's going on, I'll just have to find out for myself...