Genshin Impact Tier List

What Is a Tier List in Genshin Impact?

If you’re not sure which characters to build or pull for in Genshin Impact, don’t worry, that’s exactly what a tier list is here to help with.

A Genshin Impact tier list ranks all the playable characters based on how strong and useful they are in different situations, like Spiral Abyss, world bosses, or general exploration. It’s basically a quick guide to show you which characters are worth your investment right now.

When building your best team comp, a tier list helps you figure out who fits where, whether you need a powerful main DPS, a supportive healer, or a sub-DPS that can trigger key reactions.

Characters are ranked based on a few important things:

• Spiral Abyss performance.
  This looks at how well they handle late-game content, especially tough floors in Spiral Abyss.
• Role efficiency.
  Some characters shine as heavy damage dealers, while others are incredible supports or reaction enablers. Their rank reflects how well they perform in their assigned role.
• F2P-friendly.
  Some characters don’t need fancy 5-star weapons or high constellations to shine. For example, characters like Xingqiu, Xiangling, or Bennett can perform exceptionally well even with basic gear, making them perfect for free-to-play players.
• Team synergy.
  Great characters aren’t just strong on their own; they also boost the performance of others. Characters with strong synergy, like Fischl with Electro reactions or Sucrose with Elemental Mastery buffs, add massive value to your overall team strategy.

Whether you’re just getting started or planning your next pull, checking a Genshin Impact character tier list helps you make smarter choices and build a stronger, more balanced team.

Full Genshin Impact Tier List Breakdown

Now that you know how the tier list works and what factors matter most, let’s dive into the actual rankings. Below is a complete breakdown of Genshin Impact characters from S-tier to C-tier, based on their performance, versatility, and value in today’s meta. Whether you’re a casual explorer or a Spiral Abyss grinder, this guide will help you figure out who deserves a spot on your team. For the most up-to-date insights, check out our full Genshin Impact Tier List and start building your dream squad.

S-Tier Characters

These are the top-tier characters in Genshin Impact, the ones that consistently dominate the meta and perform well across all game modes, from Spiral Abyss to weekly boss fights. Their kits are powerful, flexible, and often enhance team synergy. Characters like Raiden Shogun, Hu Tao, and Zhongli are considered essential picks for many players. They offer incredible burst damage, game-changing support abilities, and strong elemental reactions that make them irreplaceable in high-level team comps.

A-Tier Characters

A-tier characters are still excellent, and in many cases, just as powerful as S-tier units, they just tend to require a bit more setup. Characters like Kazuha, Yae Miko, and Nahida can carry teams with the right weapons and artifacts. Their strength often depends on having good team synergy or complementary support units. With proper builds, these characters can easily hold their own in the hardest parts of Genshin, including high-floor Spiral Abyss runs.

B-Tier Characters

These characters can still perform well, especially in overworld exploration, daily commissions, and casual play. However, they may struggle in late-game content without specific team setups or heavy investment. Yanfei, Cyno, and Yoimiya can dish out good damage, but they’re more niche or rely on consistent rotation management to shine. If you’re a free-to-play (F2P) player, these characters can still be worth building just make sure you support them with the right team. In most Genshin Impact Tier List rankings, they tend to fall in the mid-tier range, performing well with the right strategy.

C-Tier Characters

C-tier units often suffer from outdated skills, poor scaling, or lack of synergy in the current Genshin Impact meta. Characters like Lisa, Qiqi, and Amber may still be useful in very specific elemental comps or during early gameplay, but they’re rarely optimal for serious endgame content. That said, any character can be fun to use if you enjoy their playstyle, but from a tier list perspective, they’re not top picks for efficient progression.

D-Tier Characters

D-tier characters are the ones who currently struggle the most in Genshin Impact’s meta. Their kits are either outdated, too situational, or simply outclassed by others who perform the same role more efficiently. While they might still be useful for early-game exploration or niche team comps, they generally lack the power, flexibility, or synergy needed to compete in tougher content like the Spiral Abyss.

Characters like Aloy, Amber, or Traveler (Electro) fall into this category. They can still be fun to use, especially if you enjoy their design or playstyle, but from a pure performance standpoint, they’re not recommended if you’re looking to optimize your team for endgame challenges.

That said, Genshin is a game where any character can shine with enough investment and creativity, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Just be mindful that D-tier units often require a lot more effort to make them viable in high-pressure scenarios.

Best Main DPs

Choosing the best main DPS is one of the most important steps in building a strong Genshin Impact team. Xiao stands out with powerful plunge attacks and mobility, while Ayaka’s Cryo burst offers exceptional crowd control. Hu Tao remains a top-tier Pyro unit for single-target damage, and Arlecchino has quickly earned a spot in the Genshin Impact tier list due to her recent Spiral Abyss impact. Even older characters like Diluc can still perform reliably with the right Genshin Impact weapons and artifact setup.

Whether you’re reviewing the Genshin Impact map or using a tier list maker to plan your team, finding a balanced and flexible DPS is key to long-term success.

Sub-DPS Tier

A common question from new players is: What exactly does a sub-DPS do? These are the characters who don’t stay on-field, but make your team stronger by applying elements and triggering reactions.

Xingqiu is often considered the best sub-DPS for Hydro support, thanks to his consistent damage and synergy with Pyro units like Hu Tao or Xiangling. Yelan plays a similar role but offers better scaling for advanced players. Fischl provides steady Electro damage off-field, and Mona can increase burst damage with her Hydro debuff.

If you’re just starting out, Lisa might surprise you, her burst deals wide-area Electro damage and can help activate Overload or Electro-Charged reactions even with basic teams.

Support Tier

Venti is the king of crowd control, pulling in enemies and making room for AoE damage. Zhongli protects your entire team with the strongest shield in the game. Kazuha boosts your elemental damage just by swirling the right element. And of course, Bennett, who somehow heals, buffs, and fits into nearly every team you can think of.

Even 4-stars like Sucrose do wonders, especially for players running reaction-based teams or without a 5-star Anemo support.

Healers Tier

In harder content like Spiral Abyss, healing becomes essential. So naturally, many players ask: Which healers are worth building early on?

Kokomi stands out with her consistent AoE healing and Hydro application. Jean heals and clears debuffs in one quick burst. Bennett, once again, doubles as a healer and buffer, making him one of the most efficient characters in the entire game. For free players, Barbara is easy to access and gets the job done in early-game content.

Sayu and Yaoyao also add flexibility for Anemo or Dendro team comps while quietly keeping your squad healthy behind the scenes.

Best 4-star Characters Genshin Impact

Best 4 star Characters Genshin Impact aren’t just good, they’re essential, especially for free-to-play and new players starting out. You don’t need a full roster of 5 star units to clear tough content. Xiangling, earned by progressing through early Spiral Abyss floors, is still one of the strongest Pyro sub-DPS characters in the game.

Xingqiu remains a core Hydro support in many top-tier teams, offering incredible synergy with both 4 star and 5 star main DPS units. Noelle brings versatility with her ability to heal and deal damage, making her a solid choice for early-game survivability. And while Kaeya, Lisa, and Amber may not top every Genshin Impact tier list, they provide enough elemental coverage and utility to help new players comfortably explore regions on the Genshin Impact map and complete quests with ease. Even the Traveler, with access to multiple elements like Anemo, Geo, Electro, and Dendro, serves as a flexible option that fits into almost any beginner team.

What Else Should You Consider?

As you go deeper into Genshin, the real question becomes: What team feels good for the way I like to play? Tier lists can guide you, but fun is personal. Some players prefer high-burst comps; others enjoy reaction setups like Bloom or Aggravate. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Also, don’t stress about pulling every 5-star. Sometimes the most satisfying teams are the ones you build slowly over time, mixing favorites like Jean, Lisa, and Paimon-themed comps with the latest banner picks.

Conclusion

Every player’s journey in Genshin Impact is different. Some focus on clearing Spiral Abyss, while others simply enjoy exploring Teyvat with their favorite characters. This Genshin Impact Tier List is meant to help you make better choices when building your team, whether you’re aiming for top performance or just looking for characters that fit your style.

Remember, tier rankings are useful, but they aren’t everything. A well-built 4-star character with good synergy can outperform even the strongest 5-stars in the right setup. Focus on what works for you, and enjoy the game at your own pace.

We’ll continue updating this list with each new patch to keep things fresh and accurate. Until then, keep experimenting, building, and most of all, have fun out there.