In the bustling port city of Liyue Harbor, where merchants hawk their wares and the scent of spices hangs heavy in the air, there works a peculiar apothecary. With a delicate frame and an otherworldly stillness, she moves behind the counter of Bubu Pharmacy, her movements precise yet somehow distant. This is Qiqi, and her tale is one that blurs the line between the living and the dead. Who would have thought that this quiet girl, seemingly no older than eight, was once a mortal child who perished in a tragic accident? Or that the Adepti, ancient beings of immense power, would bless her with an unending second life, turning her into a zombie with a mastery over Cryo? In Teyvat, where heroes come in all forms—animals, aliens, robots, and even the very young—Qiqi stands as a testament to the idea that age and appearance mean nothing when it comes to wielding a sword and protecting the realm.

Now, as 2026 unfolds, travelers across the world continue to explore the lands of Teyvat, and Qiqi remains a staple healer in many rosters. But to truly understand her place in a party, one must first grasp the duality of her nature. She is not merely a child with a blade; she is a DPS support whose every strike can mend wounds. Her memory is fragile, often requiring a notebook to recall even the simplest tasks, yet her combat instincts are razor-sharp. The sight of her gracefully dancing through foes, a flurry of Cryo-infused slashes leaving trails of frost and restoring vitality to her allies, prompts a curious question: How can a being so small wield such formidable power, and who are the companions best suited to stand beside her?

The Enigma of the Herbalist Zombie

Born centuries ago, Qiqi met her end in a skirmish between Adepti and demons. Rather than letting her soul dissipate, the Adepti granted her a second chance, binding her spirit to a jiangshi body. Now, she serves as the apprentice of Baizhu, gathering herbs and dispensing remedies to the people of Liyue. Her weapon of choice is a sword, and her vision is Cryo—a chilling element that freezes rivers and slows enemies. Yet, what sets her apart is her innate ability to sustain herself and her team through aggressive action. Her Elemental Skill, Adeptus Art: Herald of Frost, summons a floating orb that heals every few seconds while also dealing Cryo damage to nearby foes. Her Elemental Burst, Adeptus Art: Preserver of Fortune, marks enemies with a Fortune-Preserving Talisman. When an active character attacks a marked enemy, they recover a significant portion of HP.

Isn't it fascinating that a zombie, a creature of decay, has become one of Teyvat’s most reliable healers? Perhaps the Adepti’s blessing did more than just reanimate her—it granted her a purpose beyond the grave. In the heat of battle, Qiqi’s kit encourages a frenetic playstyle: she must constantly attack to trigger her healing, making her a hybrid of sword-swinging fury and life-giving grace. This unique role as a DPS healer means she thrives in teams that can capitalize on her persistent Cryo application and her ability to sustain the party through combat.

Building the Perfect Squad Around Qiqi

As any seasoned adventurer knows, a single warrior, no matter how skilled, can only go so far alone. Qiqi’s strengths—consistent Cryo application, on-attack healing, and respectable sword damage—suggest she needs allies who can exploit elemental reactions while also benefiting from her support. The year 2026 has seen the meta evolve, yet the fundamental principles of synergy remain unchanged. A well-rounded party for Qiqi should include a Hydro enabler for Freeze reactions, another Cryo unit for resonance and energy, and a flexible fourth slot that can trigger transformative reactions. After countless trials in the Spiral Abyss and domains across Liyue, many travelers have converged on a core trio that elevates Qiqi from niche healer to the heart of a relentless, self-sustaining engine.

Xingqiu: The Rain Sword Elegance

First among her partners is Xingqiu, the second son of the Feiyun Commerce Guild. With a book in one hand and a sword in the other, he wields Hydro with a flourish that would make any poet envious. What makes Xingqiu so indispensable is how seamlessly his kit meshes with Qiqi’s. His Elemental Skill, Fatal Rainscreen, summons a ring of rain swords that both mitigate incoming damage and apply Hydro to nearby enemies. When Qiqi activates her Herald of Frost, the resulting Cryo orb can freeze enemies on contact, effectively locking them in place. Meanwhile, Xingqiu’s swords absorb damage, reducing the strain on Qiqi’s healing abilities.

But the real magic happens during their Elemental Bursts. Xingqiu’s Raincutter triggers a series of coordinated Hydro sword attacks whenever the active character uses a normal attack. Since Qiqi’s healing is tied to attacking marked enemies, pairing her with Xingqiu allows her to keep the party alive while also maintaining near-permanent Freeze status. The rhythm becomes almost musical: Qiqi marks an enemy, switches to Xingqiu to unleash his rain swords, then returns to Qiqi to slash away, the enemies frozen solid and helpless. Isn't it poetic that a zombie and a bookworm form such a deadly duet?

Rosaria: The Thorny Benediction

A fellow Cryo user, Rosaria brings a very different flavor to the team. As a sister of the Church of Favonius—though she would scoff at the title—she wields a polearm with brutal efficiency and specializes in high critical hit rates. Including her gives Qiqi the Cryo resonance, Shattering Ice, which increases the party’s critical rate against enemies affected by Cryo or frozen. In a Qiqi team, where Freeze is almost guaranteed, this resonance transforms Rosaria into a tactical nuke.

Her Elemental Skill, Ravaging Confession, allows her to blink behind an enemy and deliver a piercing strike, while her Burst, Rites of Termination, plants an icy pike that deals continuous AoE Cryo damage. Qiqi’s role here is twofold: she applies Cryo to set up reactions, and her healing ensures Rosaria can position aggressively without fear. But the hidden synergy lies in Rosaria’s passive talent, Regina Probationum, which snaps a portion of her critical rate to the rest of the party when she casts her Burst. With high investment, Rosaria can gift her teammates up to 15% critical rate, turning Qiqi’s otherwise modest damage into a chill-inducing flurry. The question then becomes: who thought a zombie and a vengeful nun would make such excellent sisters in arms?

Beidou: The Uncrowned Lord of Thunder

Rounding out the quartet is Beidou, the fearless captain of the Crux Fleet. Her Electro vision contrasts sharply with the Cryo and Hydro already present, enabling the devastating Superconduct reaction, which reduces physical resistance. While Qiqi’s damage is mostly Cryo, her normal attacks still pack decent physical numbers, and Superconduct amplifies that side of her kit. More importantly, Beidou provides a massive defensive utility that synergizes wonderfully with Qiqi’s healing.

Beidou’s Elemental Skill, Tidecaller, is a counterattack that, if timed perfectly, absorbs all incoming damage and unleashes a mighty Electro slash. In the hands of a skilled player, this skill acts as both a shield and a nuke. Her Burst, Stormbreaker, summons a lightning arc that jumps between enemies with every normal or charged attack from the active character. Since Qiqi must constantly attack to trigger her talisman healing, Stormbreaker’s lightning bounces continuously, shredding through groups while applying Electro. Together, these two form an unyielding core: Beidou protects and punishes, Qiqi heals and freezes. The interplay creates a feedback loop where it’s almost impossible for the team to fall. After all, what’s scarier than a zombie that keeps getting up? A zombie backed by a pirate queen who commands thunder.

A Tale That Never Ends

Qiqi’s journey from a forgotten grave to the heart of Liyue’s defense is a story of loss, mercy, and enduring will. Her memory may be fleeting—she can forget why she entered a room, or even the face of a friend she met moments ago—but her loyalty to those who fight beside her never wavers. In the ever-shifting sands of Teyvat’s combat landscape, team compositions come and go, but the core philosophy of Qiqi remains: heal by harming, support by striking, and never give up, even when all seems lost.

As the sun sets over the harbor and the Geo lanterns flicker to life, one can imagine Qiqi standing on a cliff, her notebook filled with reminders of upcoming commissions and the names of the companions she trusts most. Xingqiu, with his graceful swordsmanship and constant supply of water for her herbs; Rosaria, with her cold efficiency and critical insights; Beidou, with her stormy spirit and protective arm. Together, they embody the truth that in Teyvat, anyone can be a hero—even a tiny zombie with a fading memory and a heart that, against all odds, still beats with the will to protect.

So next time you find yourself in need of a healer who refuses to let anyone fall, consider visiting Bubu Pharmacy. Qiqi will be there, quietly tending to her herbs, ready to join your adventure. Just don’t ask her where she was last week. Her notebook might be mislaid again.