Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG with a growing roster of unique and exciting playable characters. Unlocking new characters is essential for building effective party compositions, trying new playstyles, and keeping the gameplay experience fresh. Here are the main methods for unlocking characters in Genshin Impact:
Table of Contents
Progress Through the Main Story and Quests
The main story quests and certain side quests reward the player with free characters for reaching certain milestones. Here are some notable free characters unlocked this way:
- Amber, Kaeya, Lisa: Unlocked automatically through the main story prologue. They make up the starting party.
- Barbara: Unlocked by completing the “Shining Debut” quest during the “A Song of the Sea” event (permanent).
- Xiangling: Unlocked by clearing Floor 3, Chamber 3 of the Spiral Abyss at Adventure Rank 20. A top-tier damage dealer.
- Collei: Unlocked by clearing Floor 4, Chamber 3 in the Spiral Abyss. Introduces the Dendro element.
So be sure to keep up with the main story and explore side content to expand your roster for free.
Wish on Event Banners Using Primogems
Primogems are the main currency used to make Wishes on limited-time event banners that feature special 5-star characters and 4-star characters. There are a few ways to obtain Primogems for free:
- Completing quests, events, daily commissions
- Opening treasure chests
- Leveling up characters, the Adventurer’s Handbook, the Sacred Sakura Tree, etc.
- Compensation gifts from the developer
Save up your Primogems for event banners featuring characters you really want. The pity system also guarantees a 5-star character every 90 pulls on event banners.
Redeem Characters from the Starglitter Exchange
Use Masterless Starglitter obtained from making Wishes to redeem select characters from the shop. The roster rotates periodically. Characters like Bennett, Xingqiu, Ningguang, etc. have been featured.
Unlock the Traveler’s Elements
The main character Traveler can attune to different elements based on the region. Anemo is unlocked by default, while Geo, Electro, and Dendro are unlocked by finding Statues of The Seven in Liyue, Inazuma, and Sumeru respectively.
Team Composition and Synergies
To maximize your characters, build effective team compositions that synergize well. Here are some examples:
- Vaporize Team: Xiangling + Xingqiu + Bennett + Anemo character
- Freeze Team: Kaeya + Chongyun+ Xingqiu + Anemo character
- Geo Resonance Team: Noelle + Ningguang + Geo Traveler + Bennett
Combine elements and abilities that react well together. Pay attention to elemental resonances between party members for added bonuses.
Character Builds and Progression
To strengthen your characters, you need to invest in them properly:
Weapons
Equip each character with a suitable 4-star or 5-star weapon that enhances their abilities and playstyle. Refer to character build guides.
Artifacts
Farm and equip artifacts that boost their damage, mastery, or support capabilities. Target certain artifact sets and main stats.
Ascension
Ascend your characters at certain levels by spending materials to increase their level caps. Maxing levels and ascensions increases base stats significantly.
Talents
Level up your characters’ talents, which are their abilities, by spending materials. This greatly boosts effectiveness.
Spiral Abyss Progression
The Spiral Abyss provides very difficult combat challenges across multiple floors that require two fully built team compositions. By clearing specific floors, you can unlock the free characters Xiangling and Collei.
Progression relies on skill, combat strategy, and having enough well-invested characters to make multiple viable teams. It encourages building a large and diverse character roster.
Final Tips
Here are some final tips for unlocking characters:
- Wish strategically on banners with valuable characters you lack
- Maintain a balance of elements and weapons in your roster
- Prioritize key support characters like Bennett, Xingqiu, Sucrose etc.
- Level up lesser-used characters for Spiral Abyss versatility
- Craft weapons that synergize with character talents and ascensions
By combining free characters from quests, carefully spending your Primogems, redeeming characters from the shop, ascending the Traveler, building effective teams, fully investing in individuals, and progressing through content like the Spiral Abyss, you will gradually unlock new exciting characters to use in Genshin Impact.
