Which characters to level up first in Genshin Impact
There's no single best character for everyone, because the meta changes with each update and depends on who you've pulled. The reliable rule is to level one strong main damage dealer first, then the supports that make many teams better. Four-star supports such as Bennett, Xingqiu, Xiangling and Sucrose are cheap to build and stay useful for a long time.
A smart order for leveling
- Your strongest main DPS. Pick a five-star or four-star damage dealer you enjoy and build them fully: level, weapon, talents and artifacts.
- A healer or shielder. Bennett heals and buffs attack; Zhongli or Diona offer shields.
- Off-field sub-DPS. Xingqiu and Xiangling deal damage while not on the field and enable elemental reactions.
- A battery or crowd-control character. Sucrose and Kazuha group enemies and boost elemental damage.
- A second team. The Spiral Abyss needs two full teams, so expand gradually.
Tips that save resources
- Level talents carefully. Normal attacks often matter less than skills and bursts.
- Don't spread resources thin. Five well-built characters beat twenty half-built ones.
- Free characters are good. Several story and event characters are strong enough for most content.
- Check community guides for the current version before spending rare materials on a newly released character.
FAQ
Which characters are worth pulling for?
Characters that fit teams you already have, or flexible supports usable in many teams. Avoid pulling only for the current hype if you have no team for them.
Who are the most useless characters?
No character is truly useless, but some are niche and need specific teams. Your own favorites are always worth building if you enjoy them.
Who should I build first as a new player?
The Traveler and the free story characters early on, then a main DPS and Bennett or another healer.
Who is Paimon?
The Traveler's guide and companion. Her true nature is one of the game's lingering mysteries.