Citlali has always been one of the most talked-about characters in Genshin Impact’s meta. But is she really as game-changing as people think? According to Zajef77’s deep-dive analysis, Citlali is a powerful but situationally optimal support who shines brightest in melt teams and brings some surprising value to other comps like Skirk and Freeze.

Here’s a full breakdown of her meta performance, team synergy, constellations, and whether she’s worth your Primogems.

What Makes Citlali Strong?

Citlali may not look impressive on paper, but her real value is hidden in the synergy between her passive mechanics and team buffs:

Cryo application: Crucial for enabling melt reactions.
Access to TTDS: One of the few supports who can hold it well.
Cinder City artifact synergy: As a Natlan character, she gains massive value from this set.
Shielding: Weak but usable; more of a bonus than a primary trait.

In melt teams, her cryo application is enough to fully enable melts for pyro carries like Maika and Arlecchino, which means she can replace the need for a second cryo unit and give you room for higher-damage flex options.

Comparing Citlali to Other Supports

Zajef compared Citlali directly to heavyweights like Chevreuse, Yelan, and Furina:

Chevreuse: Higher raw stats—attack, damage %, shred—but no element application.
Yelan and Furina: Offer more personal damage, but worse uptime in some melt setups due to energy needs.

Citlali wins in comfort and setup flexibility, but not necessarily raw team damage. Her real value is smooth gameplay, fewer resets, and allowing single-cryo melts to function properly.

Is She Necessary for Melt Teams?

No—but she’s close. Citlali isn’t required to make melt teams function, but she often makes them:

Easier to play
More consistent
Slightly higher DPS depending on rotation length and ping

According to Zajef’s calculations, she can bring a ~14% DPS gain in certain Maika teams over Rosaria. The gap narrows depending on your rotation, ping, and ability to maintain buffs like TTDS.

Where Else Does Citlali Fit?

Besides melt teams, Citlali also shows up in:

✅ Skirk Teams

Decent synergy due to shielding, cryo res uptime, and energy generation for Skirk’s sword-based combos.
Not better than Furina or Shenhe, but close enough to be viable.

✅ Freeze Teams (Conditional)

Only strong when team-building is restricted (e.g., with Escarfier).
Otherwise, worse than Diona or Shenhe due to lower buff value.

✅ Hyperbloom Variants

Some niche use in Milani Freeze or Hyperbloom teams.
Nice as a filler slot for shielding and minor cryo support.

Weapon Evaluation: Is Her Signature Worth It?

Short answer: No.
Citlali’s signature weapon (Stellar Watch) is slightly better than TTDS over multi-rotation content like Stygian Onslaught, but:

The damage gap is very small.
TTDS is free and much more flexible.
The signature is rarely better than just C2 Citlali or C1 Maika.

Constellation Breakdown

C1: Adds ~10% team DPS. Decent, but only if you already have good gear.
C2: Massive upgrade. Boosts team EM and doubles down on melt synergy.
C1R1 vs. C2R0: C2 is far more impactful than signature weapon.

Zajef’s advice: If you’re investing further, skip the weapon and go for C2 instead.

Arlecchino + Citlali Melt Combo: Ping Matters

Yes, her melt combos are ping-sensitive, especially when swapping to Arlecchino.
Higher ping delays character swaps, which delays pyro application and can cause melts to fail.

If your ping is above 60–80ms, you may need to skip charge attacks or adjust timing.

Should You Pull Citlali?

✅ Pull if:

You love playing Maika or Arlecchino
You want the easiest and cleanest melt team
You’re targeting long-term melt meta flexibility

❌ Skip if:

You don’t play melt teams
You already have a good freeze support setup
You’re saving for future Nod-Krai characters like Flynn or Infa

Final Verdict: Is Citlali Worth It?

Citlali is a powerful, flexible cryo support with elite synergy in melt teams, solid use in Skirk comps, and fringe play in other styles. She’s not required, but she’s almost always the best cryo enabler in single-cryo melt.

If you’re playing melt-heavy teams or just want smoother rotations, she’s absolutely worth the investment. But if you’re chasing raw damage in other archetypes like Electrocharge or Bloom, she’s much less impactful.

For more expert Genshin breakdowns and character synergy tips, visit AllValorant.gg

Source: Zajef77 – Citlali Ask the Jeff Full Meta Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions about Citlali in Genshin Impact

Q: Is Citlali a must-pull for melt teams?
A: Not a must, but she’s almost always the best option. She offers consistent cryo application and strong buffs.

Q: How good is her signature weapon?
A: Slightly better than TTDS in multi-rotation fights, but not worth pulling over constellations.

Q: Does she work in freeze teams?
A: Only in limited setups like Escarfier comps. Otherwise, better freeze supports exist.

Q: Should I get Citlali for Arlecchino?
A: If you’re building her best melt team—yes. Otherwise, she doesn’t help overload or vape teams much.

Q: Is Citlali good for Mualani teams?
A: Somewhat. She offers shielding and support, but isn’t a top-tier choice for Mualani.

Q: Should I get C1 or C2 Citlali?
A: Go for C2 if you’re investing. C1 is okay, but C2 offers a much more impactful boost.