Genshin Impact: Updated Character Tier List for 2026

With dozens of playable characters now in Genshin Impact, figuring out who’s actually worth pulling for can feel overwhelming. This tier list breaks characters down by their overall value across combat, team support, and how well they scale in both early and end-game content.

S-Tier: Build-Around Carries

These are the characters that define team comps and consistently top damage or utility charts. They’re worth prioritizing on any banner, especially if you’re still building your account’s core roster.

• Top DPS units with strong elemental application and low field time requirements
• Universal supports that boost damage across almost any team composition, regardless of element
• Hypercarry enablers whose kits are specifically designed to maximize a single damage dealer’s output

A-Tier: Excellent, With Some Team Requirements

Characters here perform close to S-tier level but usually need a more specific team around them to shine. They’re still fantastic investments, just slightly less flexible.

• Strong sub-DPS units that pair well with elemental reactions
• Reliable healers and shielders that keep teams alive through harder content
• Off-field damage dealers that free up rotation time for your main carry

B-Tier: Solid, Situational Picks

These characters can absolutely clear content, especially in the hands of a skilled player, but they tend to need niche team comps or specific artifact investment to compete with higher tiers.

A Quick Note on Tier Lists

Tier lists shift with every new character release and combat system rework, so treat this as a general guide rather than gospel. A well-built A-tier or B-tier character with good artifacts will often outperform a poorly built S-tier one. Team synergy, rotation skill, and artifact substats matter just as much as raw character power.

Building Your Roster the Smart Way

If you’re new to the game, resist the urge to pull for every meta character you see online. Focus on building one strong team first, then expand. And if turn-based combat and character-collecting is more your speed, our complete beginner’s guide to Honkai: Star Rail covers HoYoverse’s other major gacha title, which shares a lot of the same account-building philosophy.

Whichever characters you end up pulling, remember that Genshin Impact rewards patience — a well-built four-star team will always outperform a poorly built five-star roster.