Genshin Impact tier list: best characters for Version 3.5 [April 2023]
This tier list reveals the best characters in Genshin Impact
Looking for an up-to-date tier list of the best Genshin Impact characters? Genshin Impact offers the opportunity to gain a whole load of fancy pants characters through using the gacha system by earning (or paying for) Wishes. Is your cool new anime boy as good as he looks in battle though? It's hard to say - the rarities for each character don't necessarily correspond to their quality and stats.
With that in mind, here's our tier list of the best Genshin Impact characters (up to and including latest addition Dehya and Mika) - I hope your pulls are up the top!
Genshin Impact tier list of best characters
- SS Tier: Arataki Itto, Bennett, Cyno, Ganyu, Kamisato Ayaka, Nahida, Tighnari, Venti, Zhongli
- S Tier: Alhaitham, Barbara, Collei, Diluc, Eula, Hu Tao, Kaedehara Kazuha, Kamisato Ayato, Klee, Raiden Shogun, Razor, Shenhe, Sucrose, Tartaglia, Wanderer, Xiao, Xingqiu, Yae Miko, Yelan
- A Tier: Albedo, Candace, Faruzan, Gorou, Jean, Keqing, Kuki Shinobu, Layla, Mika, Mona, Nilou, Ningguang, Qiqi, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Shikanoin Heizou, Thoma, Xiangling, Yaoyao, Yanfei, Yoimiya, Yun Jin
- B Tier: Aloy, Beidou, Chongyun, Dehya, Diona, Dori, Fischl, Kaeya, Kujou Sara, Noelle, Rosaria, Sayu
- C Tier: Amber, Lisa, Traveler, Xinyan
On this page we'll talk a bit about each character in detail, starting with the SS Tier characters and working our way down the list. We'll also cover the different attacks, skills, and passives of each character.
SS Tier Characters in Genshin Impact
Arataki Itto
One of Genshin Impact's most highly-anticipated additions, Arataki Itto has proven to be more than just a pretty face. The leader of the Arataki Gang claims to be feared across Inazuma, and while that may be a mixture of grandiosity and wishful thinking on his part, there's no denying that this Geo claymore wielder cuts a fearsome figure in battle. While most Geo characters are suited to support roles, Itto manages to be a powerful candidate for your DPS main, with a normal attack that can cut down swathes of enemies with alarming ease.
We've been following Itto with interest ever since he was announced, and now that he's here we've put together a comprehensive best Arataki Itto build page for your enjoyment.
Bennett
Bennett fills out the classic character role of a rough ‘n’ tumble kid with all the energy to create his own destiny. Armed with a Pyro sword, he’s the only member of ‘Benny’s Adventure Team’ after everyone else quit on him, but the Adventurers’ Guild has kept the team around. Not because he’s particularly strong though, just because he’d be sad otherwise. Despite this, Bennett’s healing and damage-boosting abilities have landed him a spot at the top of our tier list.
If you're lucky enough to have pulled Bennett, be sure to head over to our best Bennett build guide!
Cyno
Lore character Cyno has joined Genshin Impact's playable roster at long last, and it seems like he was worth the wait! Bucking the trend of Electro characters typically being the weakest vision-holders, Cyno is a powerful DPS fighter who's particularly well-suited to teaming up with his fellow denizens of Sumeru for some explosive Dendro reactions.
If you've recently pulled Cyno from the gacha, be sure to check out our best Cyno build guide for a detailed run-down of his kit.
Ganyu
Although she’s quiet and composed, when armed with a strong weapon and solid artifacts, Liyue Qixing emmisary Ganyu’s Cryo abilities turn her into one of Genshin Impact’s strongest DPS characters. Adding Ganyu to your team will help you prevail over small enemies and bosses alike thanks to her unique set of abilities.
Take a look at our best Ganyu build guide for more details on this character's abilities.
Kamisato Ayaka
Kamisato Ayaka is a lady of high status in Inazuma, but that doesn't mean she's scared of getting her hands a little dirty in support of your team. The kind Cryo Sword user is excellent in battle thanks to her Cryo abilities, which work well when paired with other elements to form Elemental Reactions.
If you pulled Ayaka, check out our Ayaka build advice here!
Nahida
Nahida is cute as a button, but don't let her small stature fool you: as the living vessel of Lesser Lord Kusanali, God of Sumeru, she's one of the most powerful individuals in Teyvat. Like her fellow Archons, Nahida makes for a solid addition to practically any team. Her versatile kit makes her suitable for DPS, sub-DPS, or elemental support duties, or even a mixed role. The important thing is to keep the Dendro reactions flowing, which will be no problem with this little sweetheart around!
If you've had the good fortune to pull the Dendro Archon already, be sure to check out our best Nahida build guide!
Tighnari
They don't call him "the Dendro Ganyu" for nothing! Playable Dendro units were late to the party in Genshin, and as the game's first Dendro 5-star other than the Traveler, Tighnari certainly makes a strong first impression. His kit mirrors Ganyu's formerly unique one, making him only the second bow wielder in the game to perform an expanded range of charged shots infused with his elemental vision.
Tighnari is also due to become the first 5-star character since launch added to the Wanderlust Invocation standard wish pool. This means you'll have a chance at pulling him from the gacha any time, so check out our guide to the best Tighnari build to learn all about his kit in full.
Venti
Venti the Bard is surprisingly powerful. Maybe he’s got some secrets up his sleeve. His wind (Anemo) abilities make him a great support-type character who excels at crowd control and debuffing enemies. With the power of Anemo, he can also apply other elements to large groups of enemies, something that few other characters can do.
If you've got Venti on your side, check out our Venti build advice here!
Zhongli
As an Archon alongside Venti, it’s no surprise that Zhongli has godlike powers. The Geo polearm user has proven extremely tactful against all enemies (despite his horrible money management skills), meaning he’ll make a great addition to any team.
If you're lucky to have the Geo Archon on your team, check out our Zhongli build advice here!
S Tier Characters in Genshin Impact
Alhaitham
With Dendro 5-stars still a rarity, it's no surprise that Alhaitham has risen so high in the meta following his introduction. This high-ranking administrator at Sumeru Akademiya may have caught your eye simply by being a very handsome fellow, but he's kept up the tradition of new 5-star characters post-Version 3 being extremely powerful DPSs suitable to a variety of team compositions. He's easy (if costly) to build well, but a difficult character to master in combat thanks to the precise timings required to make the most of his attacks, which was what kept him out of our exclusive SS Tier.
Barbara
Barbara is something of an ‘idol’, adored by all the citizens of Mondstadt and possessing enormously strong healing abilities. She took advantage of the city’s liberty and freedom to stay true to herself to go from zero to hero in the hearts of the residents, and now the whole town vibes to her tunes. Thanks to her excellent healing abilities and easily obtainable Constellations, Barbara is our favorite healer.
Barbara has the distinction of being widely agreed to be Genshin Impact's best free-to-play character. To find out how to get her for free and what makes her so special, take a look at our best Barbara build guide.
Collei
Don't let her broad classification as "the Dendro Amber" put you off: Collei has easily surpassed her mentor and friend in terms of raw power, even though their kits are mirrors of one another. As the first Dendro 4-star added to the game, Collei makes a strong showcase for the new element and is surprisingly powerful even at lower levels, particularly if she's paired up with team members whose elemental visions react with hers.
Collei was extremely easy to obtain during Version 3.0, and the odds are good that if you played during this period you've already got her (plus maybe a few of her constellations). Given that, you might like our guide to the best Collei build.
Diluc
Diluc Ragnvindr is a damage-dealing machine. This rich boy can get out his claymore and rain absolute death down on enemies, with huge base damage which only grows with his abilities — both his Normal Attacks and Pyro abilities do massive damage if you build him well.
Diluc's a powerful guy, though he's only as good as your build is. If you're looking to build your Diluc, check out our best Diluc build guide.
Eula
As a descendant of the infamous Lawrence Clan, Eula isn’t exactly loved by everybody in Mondstadt. Unfortunate past aside, however, Eula’s abilities make her a stellar damage dealer.
If you've got Mondstadt's icy Eula on your side, you'll want to build her as best as possible to reach her full potential. Here's our best Eula build guide!
Hu Tao
You’ll most often find Hu Tao working at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, where she serves as the 77th Director. While she takes her job seriously, outside of work she’s Liyue’s biggest prankster and always has spirits at her side, some of which she even brings into battle. Unusually, Hu Tao needs to be at lower HP to deal significant damage, which can make her party composition hard to balance well since it's tricky to pair her with a healer. But with the right build, she's a powerful option to add to your team thanks to her Pyro polearm abilities.
No matter who's on your team, the fiery Hu Tao will make a solid addition to your crew if you've built her correctly. If you're working on your build, why not check out our best Hu Tao build guide?
Kaedehara Kazuha
Kaedehara Kazuha is Genshin Impact’s first character from Inazuma and a temporary member of Beidou’s crew. He’s often composed and enjoys spending time outside, however, he’s also no stranger to harnessing the power of Anemo in battle to perform some killer moves — he even has crowd control abilities similar to Venti's!
If you're looking to improve your Kazuha build, check out our Kazuha build advice here!
Kamisato Ayato
Kamisato Ayato is the head of the Kamisato clan and the older brother of Ayaka. Despite their subtly different temperaments, these siblings have plenty in common: they're both extremely lovable and give their all in service of the people of Narukami Island, and they both make for excellent DPS mains. Ayato's skills as a Hydro swordsman mean he can also make for a top-class support character, if you prefer.
If you pulled Ayato, take a look at our best build advice for him here.
Klee
Klee is a tiny magical girl who uses Pyro spells to burn foes. A mischievous so-and-so, Klee is a member of the Knights of Favonius, but being a nutty child with fire powers has been locked in solitary confinement for the safety of everyone around her. She loves playing with live explosives, which she uses with precision in battle to perform impressive feats of arson.
If you're lucky enough to have Klee, check out our Klee build advice here!
Raiden Shogun (Baal)
Genshin's third playable Archon, Raiden Shogun, is definitely the coldest of the Archons. Despite this, she'll be surprisingly willing to join your team and lend a helping hand, though we wouldn't rank her quite high as the other Archons.
If you're lucky enough to have the Electro Archon on your side, check out our Raiden Shogun build advice here!
Razor
Razor is a mysterious boy, rarely seen by Mondstadt’s population. He instead travels around the forest with a pack of wolves, referred to as ‘Wolf Boy’ by some. His pack is his family, and seeks revenge only on those who harm his family (the family being a bunch of wolves). Thanks to Razor's hunger for vengeance and his strong Normal Attacks, he's one of the best 4-star characters out there.
Have you recently added Razor to your pack? You'll need to equip him with a strong weapon and appropriate artifacts to reach his full potential — see what we'd recommend in our best Razor build guide.
Shenhe
Another event-exclusive character, Cryo Polearm wielder Shenhe bucks the recent trend for powerful 5-star DPS characters, instead shining brightest when placed in a more supporting role. Don't let this relative humility fool you, though: deployed correctly, this quiet and mysterious exorcist is a force to be reckoned with.
If you've managed to pull her from the gacha, be sure to check out our guide to the best Shenhe build.
Sucrose
Sucrose is an alchemist who travels the world researching ‘ultimate truth’. She has a weird way of showing it though, causing the population of Mondstadt to cower in fear as her experimentations go wild. She also loves to cause havoc in battle, attempting to use Anemo abilities to thwart enemies with her creatively-named magic spells. Similar to Venti and Kazuha, Sucrose's Anemo abilities lend her the power of crowd control, something useful when dealing with large groups of enemies.
If you're adding Sucrose to your team, make sure you're prepared! Her build is a bit different from other crowd control characters, something we explain in our best Sucrose build guide.
Tartaglia (Childe)
Tartaglia, occasionally known as “Childe,” is unpredictably fierce: you’ll spot him caring for his younger brother one minute and appearing as a weekly boss the next. He’s known for using a bow despite being weakest with one — everything he does is for the thrill of the fight. His unique playstyle enables both close-range and long-range combat, making him a strong character in almost any situation.
Having Childe on your side is one of the best moves you can make for your team. He's a bit tricky to build, though. If you're looking to build Childe, here's our best Childe build guide!
Wanderer
Despite his history as an antagonist to the Traveler and their pals, Wanderer has come a long way since his days as the Fatui Harbinger Scaramouche. (In his playable form, at least; you can still face off against bad ol' Scara in his Weekly Boss form.) Wanderer's sympathetic backstory has earned him a lot of fans, as has his powerful damage potential at higher levels when he joins your team with his Anemo Catalyst. It takes a lot of investment to build him up as your DPS, but if you're willing to put in plenty of time, resources, and Primogems, you're sure to see big results.
Xiao
Xiao looks like a young man, but he’s actually thousands of years old. He’s a no-nonsense type, keeping his mouth shut and letting his weapons do the talking. Xiao's Anemo abilities and impressive Plunging Attacks often lend him the upper hand in battle. Apparently, he struggles to hold back in combat because he’s used to fighting uber-powerful dark forces. Scary.
If you've got Xiao on your team, check out our Xiao build advice here!
Xingqiu
A meek, calm boy on the surface, Xingqiu has a more outgoing, cheeky side to him. Famous around Liyue Harbour, he is the son of one of the richest merchants in the area. Studious and talented, he was being groomed to become a great asset to his father’s business. However, his talents lay elsewhere. A keen martial artist and fighter, Xingqiu seeks justice in the world while being a great sub-DPS character.
Alongside Bennett, Barbara, and Razor, Xingqiu is one of the best characters who's an easy pull from the gacha. So be sure to check out our guide to the best Xingqiu build when he joins your team!
Yae Miko
Long awaited by fans, Yae Miko is the overseer of the Grand Narukami Shrine and the owner of the Yae Publishing House. Was her kit worth the wait? The short answer is yes — while she isn't the best DPS in the game, she still has a powerful Elemental Burst and serves as a much more well-equipped alternative to fellow Electro Catalyst Lisa (sorry, Lisa).
If you've recently added Yae Miko to your team, you'll likely be in need of some new Artifacts and a powerful Catalyst. To learn more about the best way to utilize Yae Miko's lightning powers, head to our best Yae Miko build guide!
Yelan
The mysterious Yelan has a tendency to keep details about her life obscured. Her personality changes frequently, she disappears often, and she even lies about her occupation. There's no lying about her skills, though — Yelan's powerful Elemental Burst renders her a great sub DPS that will fit with almost any team.
If you've recently added Yelan to your team, sorry, we can't help you uncover her true identity. We can, however, help you get the best out of her kit with our best Yelan build guide.
A Tier Characters in Genshin Impact
Albedo
As the reclusive Chief Alchemist for the Knights of Favonius, Albedo is always working on a project, whether it’s art or alchemy. His powers as an alchemist, however, are so powerful that he deems himself a threat to Mondstadt and often conducts his experiments in Dragonspine. Despite Albedo worrying about the threat his alchemical abilities pose to mankind, he’s not afraid to bring them into battle, making him a great sub-DPS.
For advice on how to set up Albedo if you're lucky enough to nab him for your party, see our best Albedo build guide.
Candace
Fierce Aaru Village guardian Candace is Genshin Impact's first Hydro polearm character, and while she's an all-round unusual soul, she'll make for a solid addition to your team. Despite wielding a shield, she's actually more of a sub-DPS/support character, and can even handily join your team as DPS if you're focussing on 4-star characters.
Just added Candace to your archive? Be sure to check out our best Candace build guide to learn more about her.
Faruzan
Faruzan is one of many characters in Genshin Impact who've found themselves a little unstuck in space and time. Still, she's coping bravely, and her role as a professor at the Sumeru Akademiya means that she's probably more than a little thrilled to have the opportunity to keep tinkering with her machines in a new century. In a team, this Anemo Bow user is suitable to a dedicated support role, and is perhaps the first support character who specialises in backing up an Anemo DPS, which makes sense given that she debuted alongside Wanderer.
Gorou
General Gorou of the Watatsumi Army may look like a literal puppy, but don't be deceived: he takes his role in the Inazuman resistance extremely seriously. Both in-canon and as a member of your party, he's much tougher than he appears. If you don't find his element/weapon combo of Geo and bow particularly inspiring, you might be surprised: his abilities allow him to boost his team's defences, making him incredibly valuable as a support character. Also, just look at his little ears.
At 4-star rarity, you're highly likely to encounter Gorou for yourself sooner or later. Take a look at our best Gorou build page to find out how to kit him out for your party.
Jean
She’s hard as nails and acting Grand Master of the Knights, known as the ‘Dandelion Knight’. Basically, she’s the lead cop of Mondstadt. Don’t let that put you off though, her sword and Anemo abilities can deal with large groups of enemies, and her personality is steadfast to a fault.
Getting Jean in your party is a bit of a coup, so be sure to make the most of her with the help of our best Jean build guide.
Keqing
Keqing is a Liyue-based character who uses an Electro sword. Her sceptical approach to life and policy make her abrasive but helpful. She runs Liyue while Rex Lapis sits around not doing much all year, so it’s understandable that she feels the humans of Liyue should have more of a say in their future than some random god. Keqing's Electro abilities will aid you in battle, and her moveset even allows for teleportation.
If your latest gacha pull netted you Keqing, be sure to check out our best Keqing build guide for more detailed information.
Kuki Shinobu
Electro-sword wielder Kuki Shinobu is Itto's second-in-command of the Arataki Gang, and she's definitely the most level-headed of the bunch. A former shrine maiden turned rebel with a cause, Shinobu is fiercely loyal, as is reflected in her unusual kit which allows her to sacrifice a portion of her own HP to heal her teammates and deal elemental damage to opponents in one smooth move. Like fellow HP-sacrificer Hu Tao she can be tricky to build, but since she's a self-healer too it's a much more forgiving learning curve.
If you've recently added Shinobu to your character archive, be sure to check out our best Kuki Shinobu build guide to help you figure out how she works.
Layla
Like all grad students, Layla is permanently on the verge of falling asleep in the library, so it's fortunate that she's capable of performing her shield specials while dead to the world. Genshin Impact doesn't exactly suffer from a shortage of 4-star Cryo support characters, but Layla has a decent defensive capacity and can compete with the best of them, especially if you plan to place her alongside a Cryo and/or Hydro DPS as part of a Freeze team comp.
Mika
Mika is a support/healer whose effectiveness is tied strongly to his highest Constellation. A C0 Mika is generally agreed not to be worth a spot on your team, but at C6 he becomes one of the best healers in the game, beating out even Bennett or Barbara if you're putting together a team to support one of the game's many 5-star Cryo mains. However, his usefulness outside of that situation is going to be limited, but at least with a 4-star rarity his C6 Constellation is somewhat realistically attainable.
Mona
Mona is an astrologer, and she should add me on Co-Star. She’s often skint and refuses to profit off of her astrology. I’m actually not sure what Genshin Impact’s astrology is or whether their stars are the same, but her birthday is August 31st making her a Virgo. Just like me! Though Mona's pretty cool, she's not the best 5-star, and we would recommend saving your pulls for someone else.
If you have Mona in your playable roster, be sure to take a look at our page detailing the best Mona build!
Nilou
Her name is Nilou and she dances on the sand... As the star of Sumeru's Zubayr Theater, Nilou is a graceful Hydro sword wielder who makes for a tough DPS character. Like most of her countryfolk, Nilou works especially well on teams with a strong Dendro component; and in fact, she can struggle with more diverse team compositions. However, deployed correctly, she's undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in spite of her outward elegance.
Ningguang
Ningguang, the flying Geo magic lady who owns Liyue’s Jade Chamber, is absolutely loaded and uses this to her advantage, with everyone in Liyue staying on her good side. Her air of mystique means no one quite knows what she’s up to. Ningguang is incredibly tricky to build, but if you know what you're doing, she can be a beast.
Ningguang is one of only a couple of Geo characters suitable to deploy as your party's main DPS, so be sure to check out our best Ningguang build page for everything you need to know.
Qiqi
Qiqi, an apprentice and herb gatherer at the Bubu Pharmacy, is a sword-wielder who is also apparently an unkillable zombie. Qiqi's a solid healer, though you're better off wishing for someone like Barbara, whose Constellations are much easier to obtain at 4-star rarity, instead.
For our advice on Qiqi's best weapons, artifacts, teammates, and more, be sure to check out our best Qiqi build page.
Sangonomiya Kokomi
Sangonomiya Kokomi is a 5-star event-limited character, so as you'd expect she's pretty good. This aquatic rebel leader could potentially be your most powerful healer or support fighter, but curiously she's completely unable to land a critical hit with any of her attacks, which (just barely) keeps her out of the S Tier.
For our advice on the best build for Kokomi, check out our guide!
Shikanoin Heizou
Heizou is a Sherlock Holmes-esque detective who works for the Tenryou Commission in Inazuma. Which is a bit weird given that the Tenryou Commission aren't exactly the good guys, but hey, fictional politics and morality are still allowed to be complicated I guess. As an Anemo Catalyst user Heizou became the first Genshin Impact character to use fisticuffs in combat, and also the first Anemo vision holder who can hold his own in a DPS role with a bit of planning. For novelty alone, we'd rate him a cut above a lot of the other 4-star characters in the game; but with the right build you'll find him genuinely powerful.
Pulled Heizou from the gacha? Be sure to take a look at our guide to the best Shikanoin Heizou build.
Thoma
Pyro Polearm user Thoma serves as somewhat of a weaker version of Zhongli, though he's a great alternate at 4-star rarity. Thanks to his experience as the chief retainer of Inazuma’s Kamisato Clan, Thoma's always willing to lend a helping hand in battle, whether it's with his strong shields or his versatile set of Pyro attacks.
If you've got the kind Thoma on your team, why not spruce up his build with our best Thoma build guide?
Xiangling
Xiangling is an extremely accomplished chef who you might have already helped in her quest to cook the perfect spicy food. When she’s not doing this though, she’s jabbing baddies with her Pyro polearm and her round companion Guoba. She starts off with a fairly modest set of abilities, but as you advance through her Constellations you'll find she becomes much stronger than her initial power might suggest.
Xiangling is one of the few non-starter characters in Genshin Impact you can claim for free. To find out how to do this — and how best to develop her skills once you have her — check out our best Xiangling build guide.
Yaoyao
Yaoyao has the distinction of being Genshin Impact's first playable Dendro character not based in Sumeru. Instead, this Liyue resident has won over the hearts and minds of those based around the nation's central harbor, and it's not hard to see why. Despite her tender years, Yaoyao is more than capable of pulling double duty in a party, acting as both an efficient off-field healer and on-or-off-field Dendro elemental support. While she may broadly be designed as a Dendro Xiangling, Yaoyao really has forged her own path, and as the game's only Dendro healer so far, she'll be indispensable to certain team compositions.
Yanfei
As one of Liyue’s adepti, Yanfei has unnatural powers. However, Yanfei doesn’t lend much attention to her adeptal heritage, instead working as a fiery and outgoing legal advisor. She’s always happy to lend a hand to people in legal trouble, and she’ll be even happier to assist you in battle with her Pyro moveset similar to Klee's.
Pulled Yanfei from the gacha? Check out our best Yanfei build guide for our suggestions on how best to add her into your adventuring party.
Yoimiya
Pyro Bow user Yoimiya’s bubbly personality goes hand in hand with the fireworks she sells at Naganohara Fireworks. Although her kit has been criticized by players, Yoimiya serves as a much stronger version of Amber (sorry, Amber…) and will make for a unique main DPS well-suited for almost any team.
If you pulled Yoimiya, check out our Yoimiya build advice here!
Yun Jin
Yun Jin is a born entertainer, whether she's singing and dancing at the head of the Yun Han Opera Troupe or brewing her own brand of delicious beverages at the Heyu Tea House. Moreover, this polearm-wielding polymath is currently riding the wave of the Geo meta that's sweeping Genshin Impact, with her elemental powers propelling her higher up this tier list than many of her fellow 4-star characters.
Since Yun Jin will soon be joining the rank and file on the standard wish banner, now's a great time to brush up on her performances with our best Yun Jin build guide.
B Tier Characters in Genshin Impact
Aloy
Though Aloy's a crossover character, she still makes a solid addition to your team, even ranking above some of Genshin's own. The Cryo Bow wielder originally comes from Horizon Zero Dawn, and she was free to obtain for players above Adventure Rank 20 during Version 2.2 (from October to November 2021). Sadly her time in the game has now passed, but anyone who claimed her while she was around gets to keep her in their party roster.
If you're looking for build advice on Genshin's first free 5-star (other than Traveler), check out our Aloy build guide here!
Beidou
Beidou is pretty cool. Her giant Electro claymore can absolutely bonk enemies if you level it right, and as the Captain of the Crux - the fleet of sailors in Liyue Harbour, she gets the opportunity to do so often. Loved by her crew and feared by her foes, she's got a pretty great moveset as well.
If you've pulled Beidou from the gacha, be sure to check out our best Beidou build guide.
Chongyun
Chongyun is a professional exorcist. Not sure how one gets into that line of work, but if demons fear him then who am I to judge? Rethink, reskill, reboot, I guess. His family were all exorcists (again, what? Never mind) but Chongyun was always more powerful than the rest thanks to his Cryo abilities and massive Claymore.
If you've come into possession of Chongyun, have a look at our best Chongyun build guide.
Dehya
Dehya holds the interesting distinction of being the first 5-star character added to the standard wish pool whose element matches that of an existing 5-star in said pool. That's right: there's still no Geo 5-stars on the Wanderlust Invocation, but your chances of pulling a Claymore Pyro 5-star specifically have bafflingly doubled.
Still, there's no need to hold this against Dehya. As a claymore wielder she's nevertheless surprisingly mobile in close combat, and her talents have an AoE focus that allows her to dispense with grouped enemies with ease. However, her underpowered stats and a tracking issue limiting the effectiveness of her Elemental Burst mean that she's not incredibly sought-after as it stands.
Diona
While she’s the bartender at Mondstadt’s Cat’s Tail, the young half-cat-half-girl Diona not-so-secretly despises the wine industry, blaming it for her father’s alcoholism. Diona isn’t afraid to bring her bartending abilities into battle, however, though you won't get a ton out of them unless you've mastered the art of building tricky characters.
If you have Diona in your party, take a peek at our best Diona build guide to find out how best to deploy her.
Dori
The latest example of that popular Genshin sub-genre "tiny girls wielding massive claymores", Dori is a merchant from Sumeru. Her Electro vision allows her to trigger some powerful reactions with the heavily Dendro-themed world around her home region. She's comparatively fragile even at higher levels, however, so sending her out onto the field can be a high-risk strategy; but her powerful heals mean there's a chance for a high reward, too.
If Dori's joined your team, be sure to check out our best Genshin Impact Dori build guide to learn everything about her you need to know.
Fischl
Fischl is a bow-wielding Electro-powered girl who travels the world with Oz, her night raven. The night raven has Electro abilities too. She’s a weird lass, but at 4-star rarity, you have a much higher chance of getting her on your team as opposed to the likes of Venti and Diluc.
If Fischl (and Oz) are on your team, check out our Fischl build advice here!
Kaeya
Introduced early on in the story, Kaeya is an eyepatch-wearing anime boy who’s fiercely loyal to Acting Grand Master Jean of the Knights of Favonius. You’ll often find him doing Jean’s dirty work, but never complaining about it - his charming and confident demeanour always shining through. His icy powers are handy in combat too if you use them well.
Since Kaeya is one of the better free-to-play characters in the game, you might want to keep him around for a bit. Have a look at our best Kaeya build guide for more information.
Kujou Sara
Kujou Sara is essentially Baal's Bow counterpart. She's definitely not as strong as the 5-star Baal, though Kujou Sara is a lot easier to obtain. There are definitely stronger Electro characters than Kujou Sara, though with Genshin's limited Electro roster, obtaining others might be difficult.
If you pulled Kujou Sara, look no further! Find out how to build her by reading our Kujou Sara build guide here.
Noelle
Noelle is a character you’ll probably earn from the Beginner's Wish bundle. She’s a maid with a big sword, dealing Geo damage and dreaming of a star-studded future as a Knight of Favonius. She’s a hard worker and will always help with anything, which is just as well considering her mediocre stats. Don’t worry though - Noelle can still pack a punch.
Though Noelle isn't one of Genshin Impact's starting characters, your odds of pulling her from the gacha are unusually high. Check out our best Noelle build guide to see how best to position her within your party.
Rosaria
As the edgiest sister of the Church of Favonius ever, Rosaria spends her time skipping church events and forgetting her Archon’s name (“Blessings from the Anemo Archon Barsibato? Wait... no, it's Bartobas...?”). While her connections to the religious side of the church are weak at best, she acts as somewhat of a hitman for the church, eliminating threats around Mondstadt and helping you out in battle with her Cryo Polearm.
If you've picked up Rosaria for your party, be sure to check out our guide to the best Rosaria build to help you choose her best weapons, artifacts, and more.
Sayu
The tiny Sayu is a ninja that tends to spend her days sleeping high up in Inazuma’s trees. Despite her laziness, she’s able to curl up into a ball and deal damage by rolling into opponents, giving her one of Genshin’s most unique movesets to date.
If you've got Sayu, check out our Sayu build advice here!
C Tier Characters in Genshin Impact
Amber
Amber is a smiley so-and-so who greets you with suspicion before immediately joining your party for some reason. Her bow attacks seem solid at first, but once you start to fill out your roster a little more, you'll probably find she's mainly useful for puzzle solving thanks to her overall low base stats. If you manage to beat the odds and unlock her sixth constellation, however, she becomes pretty useful as a sub-DPS/support character.
Amber is the second character you unlock during Genshin Impact's prologue. She'll definitely be in your party for at least a little while, so be sure to have a look at our best Amber build guide.
Lisa
As the carefree and flirty librarian of the Knights of Favonius, Lisa will join your roster early on in the game as she’s a free character. She’ll most likely accompany you as you get used to Genshin Impact, using her witchy skills to assist you in battle early on in the game. Once you begin earning more characters, though, it's likely Lisa will lose a spot on your team, which is probably for the better (sorry, Lisa...).
Check out our best Lisa build guide for details on how to make the most of your time with her.
Traveler
This is your player character. Available from the start, you can mold their personality however you wish with dialogue choices, and are stuck with Paimon screeching in your ear non-stop. You can also use different elements with the Traveler - Anemo, Geo, or Electro - which you can switch to and from by using the element’s relevant statue. Since Traveler is your starter character, it's safe to say you'll probably only be using them for puzzle solving.
If you're wondering how best to develop your starting character, we've put together a guide on the best Traveler build to help you out.
Xinyan
As Liyue’s resident rock star, Xinyan’s untraditionally punk demeanor turns more than a few heads. However, she’s also gained a significant fanbase thanks to the molds she’s broken along the way, and and you’ll get plenty of cool guitar riffs (and sem-decent shields) if you add her to your team.
If you've pulled Xinyan from the gacha, have a look at our best Xinyan build guide to learn how to make the most of her strengths.
That’s all for our Genshin Impact character tier list! It’s a big one, but hopefully you have more of an idea as to where to go with your character choices. Now, why not check out our Genshin Impact codes guide to get yourself some free Primogems, or find out how to earn more Primogems to increase your likelihood of pulling some of the S tier characters?