Genshin Impact Character Tier List

Deciding who to spend your hard-earned Primogems on is always a hot topic in Genshin. Version Luna VIII completely upended the meta with new mechanics and power-creeping releases, so this tier list cuts straight through the noise. We rate units based on real endgame clear ability, role performance, team synergy, and how painless they are to build across various account types. If you want a deeper look at the breakdown logic, check out our tier lists.

Everything worth knowing - from top-end hypercarries to budget-friendly four-stars - is laid out below in this comprehensive Genshin Impact character tier list.

Methodology and criteria

We built these rankings around Version Luna VIII, factoring in recent balance shifts, kit tweaks, and fresh character additions. Nobody gets evaluated in a vacuum here.

Here's what goes into every placement:

• Endgame performance - How fast and reliably they clear Spiral Abyss and Imaginarium Theater.
• Role clarity - How well they handle their primary job as a main DPS, off-field sub-DPS, or support/healer.
• Team synergy - Overall impact inside practical, high-value team comps.
• F2P accessibility - Gear demands, availability, and how reliant they are on constellations.
• Account stage - Whether a unit pays off early, mid-game, or only after heavy grinding.

Tier spots aren't etched in stone. Introduced reactions like Stellar-Conduct and meta shakeups can send character values soaring or crashing overnight, much like Version 6.7 proved.

Here's how to read the tiers:

Unless noted, assume C0 for five-stars and C6 for four-stars. Signature weapons and constellations obviously turn characters into beasts, but C0/C6 gives the most realistic baseline for average accounts. Good team synergy and tight rotations will carry you way further than picking blindly off a tier list anyway.

This tier list reflects the meta as of Version Luna VIII. Rankings may shift with future updates or new character releases.

Tier table

The table below highlights units making waves right now, recent movers, and high-value pulls for most accounts. We skipped filler units to focus strictly on characters worth talking about in the current meta.

This tier list reflects the meta as of Version Luna VIII. Rankings may shift with future updates or new character releases.

Characters by role

Main DPS

Sandrone is easily the headliner of the current patch. Her kit single-handedly unlocks Stellar-Conduct - a brand-new reaction - and she's currently the sole unit capable of triggering it. That level of exclusivity instantly catapults her into a tier of her own. Partnered with Qiqi, Yae Miko, and Escoffier, her teams stand as some of the most oppressive setups in endgame content.

Zibai, Nefer, and Mavuika round out the top tier of hypercarries. Zibai hits peak potential when paired with Xilonen, Furina, and Chiori. Nefer excels alongside Nahida, Kuki Shinobu, and Xingqiu in chaotic reaction squads. Mavuika fits naturally with Bennett, Furina, and Kazuha, pumping out effortless multi-target damage across any encounter.

Skirk held the crown recently, but fresh releases have nudged her down a notch. Honestly, she's still a monster - just no longer the undisputed baseline for damage output. Meanwhile, Cyno and Wriothesley both fought their way back into relevance thanks to Witch's Revelation buffs and new Stellar interactions, landing comfortably in A tier.

On the four-star side, Gaming remains a standout main DPS for plunge-heavy setups, though mastering his rotations and team requirements takes real practice.

Sub-DPS

Columbina rules the off-field damage department right now - she's an irreplaceable piece in several top-meta teams. Yae Miko also made an impressive comeback. Her Sesshou Sakura totems feel way more reliable in Stellar-Conduct setups, and unlocking her C1 turns her into a formidable off-field asset.

For budget-friendly four-star sub-DPS options, these three remain staple investments:

• Xingqiu - unmatched Hydro application for reaction setups alongside high personal damage
• Fischl - steady off-field Electro presence with high snapshot value for team buffs
• Xiangling - the cornerstone of National teams, outputting huge off-field Pyro damage even on budget gear

Furina flexes between off-field DPS and team buffer depending on your setup, giving her unmatched value across pretty much any roster.

Support and Healer

Bennett is still the undisputed king of Genshin supports. His attack buff inflates team damage across almost every comp, and his burst healing saves you from having to run a dead-weight dedicated defensive slot. He fits anywhere, plain and simple.

Kazuha and Sucrose dominate the Anemo buffer slot for reaction setups. Kazuha offers smoother gameplay and better element-buffing flexibility, while Sucrose serves as a reliable, budget-friendly EM engine. Chevreuse acts as the core catalyst for pure Pyro-Electro Overload teams - she limits your team-building, but the damage boost is wild when you meet her conditions.

The wildcard support story of Luna VIII belongs to Qiqi. Once a benchwarmer meme pick, she surged straight into S-tier support territory for Stellar-Conduct setups by acting as a dedicated Stellar damage buffer. Meanwhile, Linnea and Furina continue to anchor the absolute strongest comps in the game. For the full official roster listing, check out the Genshin Impact Characters page.

These four-star supports deliver incredible performance without requiring high investment:

• Bennett - universal teamwide attack buffer and healer
• Kuki Shinobu - premier Electro healer and essential Hyperbloom trigger
• Sucrose - budget-friendly EM buffer and crowd controller
• Nahida - essential Dendro enabler for Hyperbloom and Spread teams

Beginners and established accounts

For beginners

If you're just starting out, prioritize characters that are easy to play, easy to grab, and don't rely on specific five-star teammates to shine. Here are the safest early picks:

• Xiangling - claimed for free in Spiral Abyss; packs huge off-field Pyro damage and fits almost anywhere
• Bennett - hands down one of the finest four-stars ever made; delivers huge buffs and heals with zero fuss
• Kaeya - free Cryo starter unit, surprisingly reliable for early reaction setups and world exploration
• Noelle - free Geo tank that covers shielding and healing, giving beginners plenty of room for error
• Barbara - free early healer who effortlessly keeps your active party healthy through early story quests

Xingqiu and Fischl are also immediate build priorities if you pull them from wishes. Both scale straight into endgame without demanding five-star weapons or god-roll artifacts.

Key tips for fresh accounts:

1. Build a functional, comfy team with a dedicated healer before grinding Spiral Abyss.
2. Invest in flexible four-star supports before chasing hyper-niche five-stars.
3. Don't stress over constellations early on until you figure out your preferred playstyle.
4. Main-stat artifacts and weapon levels matter way more than tier lists during early game progression.

For established accounts

If you already have a stacked roster, your focus should pivot toward characters that push damage ceilings or unlock entirely new playstyles:

• Sandrone - takes real resource investment, but stands as the single most impactful meta pull today
• Zibai and Nefer - scale heavily with premier supports and signature gear; top-tier long-term investments
• Furina and Nahida - drastically elevate reaction damage across existing teams
• Linnea - synergizes with several top carries and heavily rewards deep investment

For late-game accounts, it's no longer about just clearing content - it's about building optimized speedrun comps. Premium supports like Furina and Kazuha instantly supercharge hypercarries already sitting in your inventory.

F2P and accessibility

The gap between high spenders and free-to-play players exists, but honestly, it's nowhere near as wide as people claim. Some of the most dominant characters in Genshin history are humble four-stars you can pick up for free or easily pull over time.

Many 4-star characters can clear endgame content with the right investment and team synergy, making them excellent choices for F2P players.

These budget four-stars continue to compete with premier five-stars:

• Bennett - quite frankly the most valuable support pick in the game regardless of account spending
• Xingqiu - an absolute monster of a Hydro sub-DPS who refuses to drop off
• Xiangling - free from Spiral Abyss and still anchoring one of the most reliable team archetypes in Genshin
• Fischl - relentless off-field Electro damage for reaction-heavy teams
• Sucrose - accessible EM buffer that elevates reaction comps with ease
• Kuki Shinobu - clutch Electro healer and go-to Hyperbloom trigger
• Chevreuse - indispensable centerpiece for Overload setups when built right

The classic National Team (Xiangling, Bennett, Xingqiu, plus a flex Anemo slot) remains one of the most reliable budget setups in the entire game. Hyperbloom comps built around Kuki Shinobu, a Dendro enabler, and a Hydro applier are equally effortless to pilot. Similarly, Taser teams running an Anemo driver with off-field Hydro and Electro can be put together almost exclusively using four-star units.

Version Luna VIII also threw a bone to Diona and Beidou with targeted buffs that make them genuinely useful in Stellar-Conduct setups. They offer a painless entry point into the new meta - if you've already got them leveled, you don't need to spend a single wish to join in.

Mode differences

Character value heavily depends on where you're actually taking them into battle. Game context matters.

Spiral Abyss prioritizes frontloaded burst damage and strict rotation timing. Sandrone's Stellar-Conduct teams currently tear through these floors because the mechanics synergize naturally with clearing dense enemy waves under a clock.

Imaginarium Theater flips the script with draft restrictions that lock characters out of future fights. Highly specific setups like Sandrone comps - which rely heavily on specific partners like Qiqi and Yae Miko - might hit a wall if your key supports get locked out early.

Keep these mode differences in mind:

• Universal supports like Bennett, Kazuha, and Sucrose hold supreme value everywhere because they boost whatever team you throw them into.
• Niche reaction specialists might dominate Abyss floors, but feel awkward in Theater when drafting limits your team options.
• Overworld exploration operates on completely different priorities; sprint speed, climbing stamina, and vertical movement don't translate to Abyss DPS output.
• Events and daily overworld content are forgiving enough that tier lists barely matter - pretty much any properly built unit will wipe out casual mobs easily.

Bottom line: tailor your pulling strategy to the modes you actually care about. If clearing Floor 12 Spiral Abyss is your main goal, chase the strict damage meta. If you play a mix of everything, broad supports and adaptable reaction enablers offer way better long-term mileage.

What changed in the current version

Version Luna VIII brought bigger meta shakeups than most recent updates. Here's the rundown on who moved where and why:

New additions:

• Sandrone jumped straight into SS-tier Main DPS by introducing Stellar-Conduct. As the sole enabler for this reaction right now, her setups are lethal and genuinely distinct. Expect her value to climb even higher as more compatible units join the roster.

Characters moving up:

• Yae Miko - bumped to S-tier Sub-DPS; Stellar-Conduct comps unleash her full potential, especially at C1 where her totem uptime becomes buttery smooth.
• Qiqi - vaulted to S-tier Support; recent balance tweaks reworked her into a dedicated Stellar damage buffer instead of just a benchwarmer healer.
• Cyno - elevated to A-tier Main DPS; Witch's Revelation buffs and QoL tweaks make his greedy on-field rotations far less punishing.
• Wriothesley - moved up to A-tier Main DPS; slots into Stellar-Conduct setups and gained nice QoL enhancements.
• Mizuki - nudged into C-tier Main DPS; Anemo DMG buffs give her Swirl output a modest boost.
• Diona and Beidou - picked up targeted buffs for Stellar-Conduct teams, boosting their budget appeal for F2P rosters.

Characters moving down:

• Skirk - slid out of SS-tier; still hits like a truck, but recent carries have gradually overtaken her damage ceiling in high-end clears.

Stellar-Conduct is undeniably the centerpiece of this patch. Comps leveraging the new reaction now rank among the absolute deadliest setups in endgame. Anyone feeding into this system - whether triggering, buffing, or driving the damage - gained instant meta value. Older hypercarries outside this ecosystem haven't suddenly become useless, but they're no longer the automatic go-to recommendation for players putting together top-tier teams.