Genshin Impact Tier List (Best Characters Version 4.6)

Genshin Impact Tier List

Welcome to our Genshin Impact Tier List for those that are curious about the best characters in the current state of the game! 

Tier lists can be a great resource but you should keep in mind that they are not universal to every individuals’ account and the content of the game is constantly changing. It is best to think of them as general guidelines and suggestions for those that are performance minded!

A typical disclaimer at this point is that you should not be discouraged from pursuing your favorite characters based on their personality, design, or playstyle – just because something may be considered to be often better, does not mean other options are not viable.

The goal is to keep it regularly updated for every patch as the meta is a constantly changing landscape. With every new Spiral Abyss different characters and teams may have their time to shine. 🙂

Genshin Impact Best Characters Tier List

Updated for Version 4.6

S+	Neuveillette, Furina, Kaedehara Kazuha, Zhongli
S	Yelan, Nahida, Bennett, Xingqiu, Baizhu, Chiori, Navia
A	Xianyun, Hu Tao, Alhaitham, Xiao, Wriothesley, Tartaglia, Kuki Shinobu, Xiangling, Yae Miko, Faruzan, Sangonomiya Kokomi
B	Lyney, Arataki Itto, Kamisato Ayato, Wanderer, Yoimiya, Kamisato Ayaka, Cyno, Eula, Nilou, Albedo, Jean, Shenhe, Venti, Fischl, Charlotte, Keqing, Noelle, Mona, Kujou Sara, Gorou, Chevreuse, Layla, Diona, Yaoyao

Methodology

Spiral Abyss

Rankings provided and statistics used are based on the current/recent Spiral Abyss. Current opponent lineups and Blessings of the Abyssal Moon may greatly impact favored teams and characters.

Elements and their involved Reactions often make the difference in what may be favored or unfavored in each separate Phase or Floor or even a specific Chamber and Half.

A team being meta or popular does not necessarily mean they can be used as an universal “best” option.

Ratings

This tier list aims to be inclusive and relatable and take into account factors that many different types of players can appreciate. Investment is considered from many different angles including Artifacts, Weapons, Constellations, and innate character design that would affect performance floors, ceilings, and ease of use. Statistics are also looked at to see what players are really using in practice instead of simply what looks good on paper. What you play your team into matters.

• S+: Extremely standout or highly universal.
• S: Strong and versatile.
• A: Still potentially strong but with some more potential downsides or inflexibilities.
• B: Viable like A but may start to be increasingly niche.

Characters within a tier are not written with a specific order that implies rankings within the tier.

Roles

Roles are also considered because you cannot compare characters of different roles equally – they fulfill different purposes, and different parts come together to function greater than without. Different characters have different roles they excel at, and sometimes they may even be able to fulfill multiple roles.

On-Field DPS / Driver

Characters that demand a majority of their team’s total On-Field time to function effectively. May not always be the highest contributor of damage within a party, sometimes the On-Fielder is a “Driver” that enables the rest of the party.

Off-Field DPS / Support / Quickswap

A broad category that includes pretty much all characters that don’t require long periods of On-Field time to do their job.

Sustain

Healers and Shielders. People that keep the team alive, or enable the team to gain additional uptime through being able to tank hits and ignore mechanics.

Disclaimers

As a general standard, this tier list will assume C0 (Constellation 0) for 5 stars, and C6 for 4 stars. In certain cases, some characters that have extremely impactful but reasonably accessible Constellation may have an extra listing.

Furthermore, you will notice that many characters are missing from the tier list.

With an ever expanding roster full of viable characters able to achieve max rewards in Spiral Abyss, it could be said that half of the roster is essentially in the same tier. For this reason we’ve focused on highlighting those that have stood out in the current or recent version updates.

Genshin Impact Version 4.6 Banner Rankings

Arlecchino (Pyro On-Field DPS)

[More details pending future evaluation.]

A Polearm (scythe) user that revolves around enhancing her Normal Attacks, converting them to Pyro damage and to deal extra damage. Also introduces some new traits not seen before on other characters. 

• While in combat, she can only be healed through the use of her own Burst, Balemoon Rising.
• Bond of Life, a mechanic previously seen used by some enemies and on some weapons, Arlecchino can apply this same thing to herself, which prevents healing. However, she has the ability to increase the Bond of Life on herself and gains bonuses from it such as enhancing her Normal Attacks.

Lyney (Pyro On-Field DPS) [B]

A Bow user that focuses on using Charged Aimed Shots. His kit innately encourages him to be paired with other Pyro teammates and being able to maintain Pyro on enemies.

Teams: A popular team for Lyney includes Bennett, a slot for an Offensive Support, and a slot for a Defensive Support. Due to his focus on Charged Attacks, Interrupt Resistance or Shielding is often highly valued for safety, consistency, and uptime.

• Notable Offensive Supports: Kazuha, Xiangling
• Notable Defensive Supports: Zhongli, Layla

Wanderer (Anemo On-Field DPS) [B]

A Catalyst user that specializes in floating and attacking from the air using a mix of both Normal and Charged Attacks. He is also popular for exploration as his ability to fly for extended periods of time can sometimes aid greatly in traversing the world.

Teams: Hypercarry is perhaps Wanderer’s most popular team. A common composition includes: Faruzan (a specialized Anemo Support), Bennett for both his healing and buffing, and a flex, which can be based on the needs of the content you are challenging. It could be more support, more damage, or more defense. 

Some other variations include:

• Double Hydro (Xingqiu, Yelan)
• Double Cryo (Rosaria, Layla)
• Double Geo (Zhongli, Yun Jin)

Baizhu (Dendro Sustain) [S]

A Catalyst user that provides not just healing, but also shielding and Dendro application while either on-field or off-field. Performing all of these functions in a single character makes him a flexible unit that fits into many teams.

Teams: Some of Baizhu’s popular teams include Quicken, Hyperbloom, Burgeon, Nilou Bloom, and Neuvillette. A few notable teammates for each of these team types:

• Quicken: Alhaitham, Raiden Shogun, Kazuha
• Hyperbloom/Burgeon: Raiden Shogun, Thoma, Yelan, Nahida
• Nilou Bloom: Nilou, Kokomi, Nahida
• Neuvillette: Neuvillette, Kazuha, Furina

Genshin Impact Best Teams from 4.5 Spiral Abyss

For this last section, I’ll be covering some of the standout teams from the past Version 4.5 Spiral Abyss. Keep in mind that while these teams are strong, Spiral Abyss metas change every version, so your mileage may vary in the current patch.

Neuvillette Hypercarry

This team has both extreme damage and safe and easy gameplay together at the same time.

Neuvillette (Hydro On-Field DPS) [S+]

His charged attack is a high damage ranged water laser with a wide area of effect. Could be considered to be simple, comfy, and flexible while still having strong damage.

Kazuha (Anemo Support) [S+]

Area of effect grouping and crowd control along with buffs and debuffs.

Baizhu (Dendro Sustain) [S]

Healing, shielding, the Dendro Element for reactions, and also Neuvilette’s self buffs. 

Furina (Hydro Support + Off-Field DPS) [S+]

High quality buffs, off-field damage, and scales with HP gained or lost on the team. This synergizes with both Neuvillette’s self HP loss and Baizhu’s teamwide healing. Offers Hydro Resonance to the team too.

Hu Tao Vaporize

Hu Tao (Pyro On-Field DPS) [A]

A fast paced charged attacks user that can be considered to require high personal skill with her combo timings. However, those who excel at her execution requirements are rewarded with high damage.

Not the easiest team to play to its fullest potential (not a strict requirement to get the job done) but those who excel at this team’s execution requirements are rewarded with even higher damage. 

Zhongli (Geo Sustain) [S+]

Safety through shielding and also some support through improving team damage. Don’t underestimate the value of being able to maintain uptime, avoid interruption, and ignore mechanics.

Yelan (Hydro Support + Off-Field DPS) [S]

Offensive support, off-field damage and enables Vaporize, an amplifying reaction for Hu Tao.

Xingqiu (Hydro Support + Off-Field DPS) [S]

Very similar to Yelan except with less offensive support and more defensive support instead, in the form of some damage reduction and interrupt resistance.

Tighnari Quicken Quickswap

A Catalyze (Quicken/Aggravate/Spread – Additive reactions) team. A safe team with short rotations. The nature of Quickswap gameplay makes it easily flexible and adaptable to different situations. 

Tighnari (Dendro Quickswap DPS) [A]

A flexible character that only asks for 1 Electro unit to be teamed up with. His short field time requirements allows him to be played Quickswap and adjust to situations easily due to not having long and strict rotational requirements.

Yae Miko (Electro Off-Field DPS) [A]

Off-field damage, provides Electro, and has area of effect Burst damage on command.

Zhongli (Geo Sustain) [S+]

Safety through shielding and also some support through improving team damage. Don’t underestimate the value of being able to maintain uptime, avoid interruption, and ignore mechanics.

Nahida (Dendro Support) [S]

Provides buffs, damage, Dendro application, and Energy. Almost everything a team wants!

Tartaglia Reverse Vaporize

Another classic Vaporize team, similar in some ways as the Hu Tao one. Less safe due to the lack of Zhongli’s shields but has excellent area of effect damage.

Tartaglia (Hydro On-Field DPS) [A]

Great damage all around, just have to be careful about enemy attacks.

Kazuha (Anemo Support) [S+]

Area of effect grouping and crowd control along with buffs and debuffs.

Bennett (Pyro Support) [S]

Buffs and healing in one. Helps funnel Energy to Xiangling.

Xiangling (Pyro Off-Field DPS) [A]

Big area of effect damage, with high Pyro application enabling Vaporize for the team.

Hyperbloom with Safety

Safe teams are stable and reliable teams. Hyperbloom (a Transformative reaction) is famous for having an extremely high performance floor requiring minimal investment. 

Zhongli (Geo Sustain) [S+]

Safety through shielding and also some support through improving team damage. Don’t underestimate the value of being able to maintain uptime, avoid interruption, and ignore mechanics.

Nahida (Dendro Support + Driver) [S]

Provides buffs, damage, Dendro application, and Energy. Almost everything a team wants!

Xingqiu (Hydro Support + Off-Field DPS) [S]

Offensive and defensive support, off-field damage and enables Hyperbloom for this team.

Kuki Shinobu (Electro Support + Sustain) [A]

Healing sustain that also enables Hyperbloom.

Navia Double Geo/Pyro

This team has damage, safety, and ease of use. In this case, Geo was an Element that excelled in Phase 2 of 4.5 Spiral Abyss.

Navia (Geo On-Field DPS) [A]

The front loaded damage that her Skill (shotgun) produces is intense. Being an Attack scaling Geo she can benefit from Bennett’s buff and other sources of Attack such as from Artifacts.

Zhongli (Geo Sustain) [S+]

Safety through shielding and also some support through improving team damage. Don’t underestimate the value of being able to maintain uptime, avoid interruption, and ignore mechanics.

Bennett (Pyro Support) [S]

Buffs and healing in one. Helps funnel Energy to Xiangling.

Xiangling (Pyro Off-Field DPS) [A]

Big area of effect damage, with high Pyro application. This helps to constantly generate Elemental Shards through the Crystallize reaction to empower Navia.

Itto Mono Geo

Much like the other Navia team, it accomplishes similar things. Geo was a high performer in the previous Spiral Abyss Phase 2. Gorou here is perfect for buffing this Defense scaling team.

Arakati Itto (Geo On-Field DPS) [B]

A straightforward damage dealer that scales with Defense and uses a mix of Normal and Charged Attacks.

Chiori (Geo Off-Field DPS) [S]

Solid off-field damage with her summoned Constructs and Coordinated Attacks. Also scales with Defense.

Zhongli (Geo Sustain) [S+]

Safety through shielding and also some support through improving team damage. Don’t underestimate the value of being able to maintain uptime, avoid interruption, and ignore mechanics.

Gorou (Geo Support) [B]

A Defense buffer that gains additional buffs based on the amount of Geo teammates he has.

This wraps up our Genshin Impact Tier List on the current best characters and teams. Be sure to check back for future updates!