Genshin Impact: Character Guide

Unlocking Characters#

Unlocking characters in Genshin Impact is one of the most fun and exciting parts of the game. Whether you’re aiming for your favorite hero or just trying to fill out your roster, here’s everything you need to know about getting new characters.

Get to Know the Wish System#

The main way to unlock new characters in Genshin Impact is through the Wish System. This is a gacha mechanic where you use special items called Primogems to make wishes. When you make a wish, you have a chance to get a new character or weapon.

There are different types of Wish banners, and each has its own set of characters and drop rates. Usually, there’s a standard banner, limited-time character banners, and weapon banners. The limited-time character banners are often the best way to get specific 5-star characters, so keep an eye on those!

Primogems: Your Ticket to Wishing#

Primogems are the game’s main currency for making wishes. You can earn Primogems in several ways:

Daily Commissions: Completing these daily quests gives you a steady stream of Primogems.
Adventurer’s Handbook: Completing various tasks and achieving certain milestones in the handbook can net you a tidy sum.
Events and Quests: Participate in limited-time events and go through main and side quests to get more Primogems.
Purchase with Real Money: If you’re in a hurry, you can buy Primogems with your real-world money too.

You can convert your Primogems into Acquaint Fates or Intertwined Fates, which you use to make wishes.

To make a wish, go to the Wishes menu and select the banner you want to wish on. You can wish one at a time or ten at a time. Wishing ten times usually guarantees at least one 4-star item, which is generally better than single pulls if you have enough Primogems saved up.

4-star and 5-star Characters: These are the ones you’re here for, and they’re the rarest.
Weapons: While not as exciting as characters, good weapons can improve your battle capabilities.

Pity System: Your Backup Plan#

The game has a Pity System to ensure you won’t be unlucky forever. Here’s how it works:

4-Star Guarantee: Every 10 wishes, you’re guaranteed at least one 4-star item (which can be a weapon or a character).
5-Star Guarantee: Every 90 wishes, you’re guaranteed at least one 5-star item, and if you didn’t get a 5-star character the first time, the next 5-star item will be a character.

Pity from different banners usually doesn’t carry over, so make sure to use your wishes wisely!

Free Characters#

While the Wish System is the primary way to get most characters, Genshin Impact also gives you some for free through the story or special events:

Amber: Earned early in the story, she’s your first archer.
Kaeya: You’ll unlock him as you progress through the main questline.
Lisa: She’s also unlocked through the story quests.
Barbara: Often obtainable through special events or upon reaching a certain Adventure Rank.
Xiangling: Unlocked through clearing the Spiral Abyss (Floor 3, Chamber 3).

These characters are handy to get you started and can be quite powerful when upgraded.

Events and Trials#

Keep an eye on temporary events and character trials. Sometimes, you’ll have the chance to test out limited-time characters, and there are occasions where participating in events can net you a free character.

Unlocking characters in Genshin Impact is a blend of strategy, luck, and a bit of patience. Understanding how the Wish System works, making the most of the Pity System, and grabbing those free characters when you can will help you build a stellar team. Keep adventuring, and soon you’ll have a roster full of heroes ready to explore Teyvat!

Best Characters for Each Role#

In Genshin Impact, building an effective team means understanding the different roles characters can play. Each one brings something unique to the battlefield, whether it’s dealing massive damage, healing, protecting the team, or providing support. Let’s break down the best characters for each role to help you make the most of your adventures in Teyvat.

Main DPS (Damage Dealer)#

Hu Tao - This Pyro polearm wielder is a top pick for massive damage. Her Elemental Skill, Guide to Afterlife, increases her attack while her HP is low. Coupled with her Elemental Burst, Spirit Soother, Hu Tao can dish out incredible damage and heal herself when needed.

Diluc - Another Pyro user, Diluc wields a claymore and excels in dealing continuous Pyro damage. His Elemental Skill, Searing Onslaught, can be used in quick succession, while his Burst, Dawn, unleashes a powerful fire phoenix, setting enemies ablaze.

Ganyu - As a Cryo bow user, Ganyu provides consistent high damage with her charged shots. Her Elemental Burst, Celestial Shower, rains down icicles and is excellent for crowd control. Plus, her Elemental Skill, Trail of the Qilin, lets her reposition while dealing Cryo damage.

Sub DPS (Secondary Damage Dealer)#

Xingqiu - This Hydro swordsman shines with his Elemental Skill and Burst, which provide sustained Hydro damage and create Rain Swords that offer extra protection and healing potential. Xingqiu pairs perfectly with Pyro characters for vaporize reactions.

Fischl - A versatile Electro bow user, Fischl’s Elemental Skill summons Oz, a raven that continuously deals Electro damage, making her a strong sub DPS. Her Elemental Burst allows Oz to stay on the field after dealing an initial burst of damage.

Rosaria - Rosaria’s Cryo abilities make her an excellent Sub DPS. Her Elemental Skill allows her to swiftly move behind enemies for a quick strike, while her Elemental Burst provides substantial AoE Cryo damage, assisting in crowd control.

Support Characters#

Bennett - As a Pyro sword user, Bennett offers healing, damage boosts, and decent secondary damage. His Elemental Burst, Fantastic Voyage, heals and buffs attack power. His versatility makes him a staple in many high-tier teams.

Sucrose - Ideal for grouping up enemies and boosting Elemental Mastery, Sucrose is a fantastic Anemo support. Her Elemental Skill and Burst pull enemies together, making it easier to unleash powerful elemental reactions.

Mona - This Hydro catalyst user provides invaluable utility. Her Elemental Skill taunts enemies, while her Elemental Burst creates an Omen, increasing damage taken by enemies. Mona’s unique sprint ability allows her to traverse water and reposition effortlessly.

Healers#

Qiqi - Qiqi is a Cryo sword user who excels in healing through her abilities and attacks. Her Elemental Skill places a healing talisman on enemies, healing allies when they attack that enemy. Her Burst provides substantial AoE healing.

Jean - As an Anemo sword user, Jean’s Healing abilities scale with her attack stat. Her Elemental Skill can launch enemies, while her Burst provides AoE healing and damage. Jean is versatile, able to heal and provide crowd control.

Barbara - A Hydro catalyst user, Barbara is a straightforward healer. Her Elemental Skill continuously heals party members based on her max HP, and her Elemental Burst provides a large heal. She’s great for keeping your team healthy during prolonged fights.

Shielders#

Zhongli - This Geo polearm user creates the strongest shields in the game. His shields not only protect but also reduce enemy resistance to Geo damage. Zhongli’s Elemental Burst deals massive damage and petrifies enemies, making them easy targets.

Diona - As a Cryo bow user, Diona offers both shielding and healing. Her Elemental Skill provides a shield that scales with her HP, while her Burst creates an AoE field that heals allies over time. Diona’s shields also grant increased movement speed.

Noelle - A Geo claymore wielder, Noelle’s skill scales with her defense. Her Elemental Skill creates a shield that absorbs damage and heals when she’s attacking. Her Burst increases her attack power and converts her attacks to Geo damage, providing both offense and defense.

Building the right team in Genshin Impact means knowing who shines in each role. So mix and match these top picks to dominate every challenge Teyvat throws at you!

Using Elemental Skills Effectively#

Genshin Impact’s combat is all about using Elemental Skills and Bursts to create powerful combos. But figuring out when and how to use these skills can be tricky. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Here’s how to make the most out of each character’s unique abilities.

Understand Your Elements#

First things first, know your elements. There are seven in Genshin Impact: Pyro (Fire), Hydro (Water), Electro (Electric), Cryo (Ice), Anemo (Wind), Geo (Earth), and Dendro (Nature). Each one interacts differently with others, creating reactions that can turn the tide of battle.

Pyro + Cryo creates Melt: Causes extra damage.
Electro + Hydro creates Electro-Charged: Deals continuous Electro damage.
Anemo + any element causes Swirl: Spreads elements to nearby enemies.
Geo + any element can create Crystallize: Produces a protective shield.

Experiment with different combinations to see what works best for your team!

Timing is Everything#

Using Elemental Skills at the right time is crucial. Most skills have a cooldown, so you can’t spam them endlessly. Here are some tips for perfect timing:

Combo Chains: Start with characters who apply elements easily. For example, use Lisa’s Electro ability to shock enemies, then switch to Barbara to trigger Electro-Charged with her Hydro skills.
Defense and Evasion: Save your skills for when enemies are clustered together, or you’re about to get overwhelmed. This can knock them back and give you some breathing room.
Burst When You Must: Elemental Bursts (your ultimate abilities) charge slowly but are game-changers. Use them in boss battles or when facing multiple tough enemies.

Team Synergy#

Developing a balanced team with synergistic abilities is key. Here are some basic team setups:

Elemental Resonance Bonuses: Having multiple characters of the same element can grant you bonuses. For example, a team with two Pyro characters will increase your attack by 25%.
Support Characters: Not all characters are there to deal damage. Support characters like Qiqi can heal your team while also freezing foes with Cryo, making her invaluable.
Swapping Characters: Switch between characters during combat to chain skills and reactions. Use Keqing’s Electro quick dash to gather enemies, then swap to Xiangling to unleash her Pyro abilities for powerful Overload reactions.

Practice Makes Perfect#

Try fighting regular enemies to get the hang of your skills and elemental reactions before diving into tougher content. Ley Line Outcrops and Domains are great places to practice, as they feature a variety of enemy types and elemental shields that you can counter with the right skills.

Advanced Tips#

For those looking to step up their game, here are some advanced tips:

Animation Cancelling: Some characters have long skill animations that can leave them vulnerable. Practice dodging or swapping characters mid-animation to keep the momentum going.
Elemental Mastery: Increase this stat to boost the damage of your elemental reactions. Equip artifacts that enhance this stat for characters who trigger reactions frequently.
Cooldown Management: Make sure you’re not caught with all your skills on cooldown. Rotate your abilities between characters to maintain a steady flow of damage.

By mastering your Elemental Skills and understanding how they interact, you can turn even the toughest battles in Genshin Impact into a cakewalk. Keep practicing, experiment with different combinations, and most of all, have fun!

Leveling Up Your Characters#

So, you’re diving into the vast world of Genshin Impact and want to make your characters stronger? You’re in the right place! Here’s a step-by-step guide to level up your characters efficiently, so you can take on tougher enemies and explore new regions.

Understanding Character Levels#

Your characters gain experience points (EXP) to level up. Each new level increases their stats, making them tougher and more powerful. But remember, leveling up characters gets more challenging as you progress. The EXP needed grows, and so does the effort.

EXP Materials: Your Best Friends#

To level up your characters quickly, you’ll need EXP materials. These materials come in three main types:

Wanderer’s Advice: Gives 1,000 EXP
Adventurer’s Experience: Provides 5,000 EXP
Hero’s Wit: Grants 20,000 EXP

The higher the rarity of the material, the more EXP it gives. Hero’s Wit is the most powerful of the bunch, but also the hardest to come by.

How to Get EXP Materials#

Quests: Completing story and side quests often rewards you with various EXP materials.
Domains: Certain domains, particularly the Blossom of Revelation, can yield substantial EXP materials.
Events: Keep an eye on limited-time events. They usually offer great rewards, including EXP materials.
Commissions: Daily commissions are an easy and consistent way to gather more EXP materials.
Expeditions: Send characters on expeditions to get resources with minimal effort.

Using EXP Materials Effectively#

To use your EXP materials, go to the character screen, select the character you want to level up, and click the “Level Up” button. You can then choose which materials to use.

Tip: Avoid using too many high-value materials on lower levels. Reserve Hero’s Wit for higher levels where the EXP requirements are enormous.
Tip: You can mix different types of EXP materials to hit the exact EXP requirement and avoid wastage.

Ascending Your Characters#

Once a character reaches their max level (usually at multiples of 20 like 20, 40, 60, etc.), you’ll need to Ascend them to keep leveling up. Ascending a character raises their level cap and often provides additional bonuses.

Requirements for Ascension#

Mora: The in-game currency needed for almost everything.
Character Level: Reach the required level to trigger an ascension.
Materials: Different characters need different materials. These can include:
- Local specialties (e.g., Philanemo Mushrooms, Cor Lapis)
- Enemy drops (e.g., Slime Condensate, Mask of the Wicked Lieutenant)
- Special boss drops (e.g., Hurricane Seed, Everflame Seed)

To find out which materials you need, go to the character screen and click “Ascend.”

Farming Ascension Materials#

Some materials are harder to get than others. Here are some farming tips:

Local Specialties: Check the Adventurer Handbook to find where items spawn.
Enemy Drops: Hit up the Adventurer Handbook to locate specific enemies and plan your farming routes.
Bosses: Weekly bosses or elite bosses in the world drop these. Make sure to tackle them regularly.

Adventure Rank and World Level#

As you level up your characters, remember that your Adventure Rank (AR) and World Level also play crucial roles. Higher Adventure Ranks unlock tougher enemies but also better loot. Keep these in sync with your character levels to ensure you’re not punching above your weight.

Final Tips#

Balanced Team: Don’t put all your resources into one character. Aim for a well-rounded team.
Save Primogems: Use Primogems for wishes and resin replenishment wisely to maximize your resource gathering.

Follow these steps, and you’ll have a well-leveled team ready to face whatever Teyvat throws your way. Happy adventuring!

Tips for Character Builds#

Building your characters effectively in Genshin Impact can make your journey through Teyvat much smoother. From defeating tough bosses to breezing through Spiral Abyss floors, the right build can make a world of difference. Here’s a rundown of some essential tips to get the most out of your characters.

Understand Your Character’s Role#

Each character has a specific role they excel in, whether it’s dealing damage (DPS), supporting the team with buffs or healing, or controlling the battlefield with crowd control. Identify the primary role of your character and tailor their build accordingly. For example:

DPS Characters like Diluc or Keqing need gear and stats that increase their damage output.
Support Characters like Bennett or Diona should focus on boosting team utility, whether through buffs, shields, or healing.

Prioritize the Right Stats#

Each character has specific stats that benefit their abilities the most. Understanding which stats are key for your character can significantly improve their performance.

Attack (ATK): Essential for DPS characters as it directly increases the damage of their basic attacks and abilities.
Elemental Mastery (EM): Important for characters that rely on elemental reactions, such as Sucrose or Xiangling.
Energy Recharge (ER): Useful for characters who have powerful elemental bursts and need to use them frequently, like Raiden Shogun.
Critical Rate and Critical Damage (CRIT): Boosting these stats allows for more consistent high damage. Aim for a ratio of about 1:2 for CRIT Rate to CRIT DMG.

Choose the Best Weapons#

Your character’s weapon can greatly affect their performance. Make sure you equip them with a weapon that complements their role and stat priorities.

5-Star Weapons: Usually the best choice if you have them, providing high base stats and powerful effects.
4-Star Weapons: More accessible and often have effects that can be as useful as some 5-star weapons. For example, The Widsith for catalyst users provides powerful buffs.

Optimize Artifact Sets#

Artifacts are core to maximizing your character’s potential. Focus on obtaining a set that amplifies their strengths.

Two-Piece Sets: Generally boost single stats like ATK or HP. Useful if you want balanced stat increases.
Four-Piece Sets: Provide additional effects that can significantly enhance your character’s abilities, such as increased elemental damage or improved healing.

Substats Matter#

While main stats on artifacts are crucial, don’t neglect substats. Prioritize substats that align with your character’s needs. For example:

For a DPS, look for ATK%, CRIT Rate, and CRIT DMG.
For a support, focus on Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery, or HP%, depending on their role.

Talent Level-Up Prioritization#

Talent levels are just as important as the right gear. Assess which talents are most impactful for your character and prioritize leveling them up.

For a main DPS, it’s usually best to focus on the normal attack talent first, then the elemental skill and burst.
For a support, the elemental skill and elemental burst often provide the most value.

Team Composition#

Your character’s effectiveness can heavily depend on the team around them. Synergize your team composition to maximize elemental reactions and buffs.

Elemental Resonance: Pay attention to passive bonuses from having two of the same element in your team.
Reaction Synergies: Pair characters for powerful reactions like Vaporize or Melt, which can massively boost your damage.

Experiment and Adjust#

Finally, remember that trial and error is part of the process. Experiment with different builds and adjust based on what feels best. The meta is constantly evolving, and new characters and equipment can shift what the “best” build is.

By focusing on these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating powerful builds for all your favorite characters in Genshin Impact. Happy adventuring!