4-Star Genshin Impact Characters Who Can Beat 5-Star Characters (2024)

One of the most alluring parts of Genshin Impact is the game's gacha system. Players can collect their favorite characters by wishing for them on either the limited event banner or standard. Some characters are better for different purposes, such as for healing or dealing damage.

Some of Genshin Impact's most sought-after characters are the powerful 5-stars, which many fans are willing to whale out massive amounts of money to obtain. However, if players don't want to break the bank, plenty of 4-star characters are just as effective, if not even better, than some 5-star characters.

Updated on June 18, 2024, by Antonio Samson: Genshin Impact has a lot of high-ranking characters that can be hard to get. However, some 4-Star characters are best to use. This article was updated to include more characters and to meet CBR's editorial and formatting standards.

20 Sayu is a Healer and Swirl Specialist

Anemo Claymore User

• Excellent mobility and Swirl reactions
• Healing abilities with elemental burst

Sayu is a versatile character who can heal and support her team with Swirl reactions. Her abilities focus on mobility and healing, making her an excellent addition to many team compositions. Sayu's elemental skill, Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash, is a unique ability that allows her to curl into a ball and roll around, dealing Anemo damage to enemies she collides with.

Fuuin Dash can be held to extend the duration of the roll. Her elemental burst, Yoohoo Art: Mujina Flurry, is another unique move that deals Anemo damage to nearby opponents and heals all party members based on Sayu's attack. Sayu's passive talents also increase the healing effectiveness based on Elemental Mastery, making her a unique and valuable healer and support character.

19 Thoma is the Perfect Pyro Support Shield

Pyro Polearm User

• Strong shielding capabilities
• Consistent Pyro damage application

Thoma is a reliable shield support character who protects his team with powerful shields. His abilities focus on creating and maintaining shields while dealing Pyro damage, making him an excellent choice for defensive support. Thoma's elemental skill, Blazing Blessing, creates a shield that scales with his max HP and deals AoE Pyro damage to enemies.

This shield, with its continuous refreshment, provides a constant and reliable defense against any onslaught. His elemental burst, Crimson Ooyoroi, deals AoE Pyro damage and creates a stronger shield that refreshes with every normal attack, providing continuous protection. Thoma's shields make him a valuable asset in any team, especially when facing tough opponents and needing sustained defense.

18 Noelle Is a Versatile Geo Support and Healer

Geo Claymore User

• Versatile support and damage-dealer
• Easy to acquire from the beginner's banner

Noelle is a versatile character who can function as both a shield support and a healer. She is an excellent choice for players who need a reliable defense mechanism while still being able to deal damage.

Noelle's elemental skill, Breastplate, creates a shield that scales with her defense and heals the party when her attacks hit enemies. Her elemental burst, Sweeping Time, converts her attacks into Geo damage and increases her attack based on her defense, making her a formidable force in battle.

17 Fischl Deals Electro Damage Over Time

Electro Bow User

• Strong Electro damage over time
• Versatile in many team compositions

Fischl excels at dealing consistent Electro damage over time. She can summon Oz, a raven that continuously deals Electro damage to enemies, making her an excellent off-field DPS.

Fischl's elemental skill, Nightrider, summons Oz to deal Electro damage, while her elemental burst, Midnight Phantasmagoria, transforms her into Oz, allowing her to move quickly and deal Electro damage to enemies she passes through. Oz remains on the field after the burst, providing sustained damage.

16 Barbara is a Hydro Healer

Hydro Catalyst User

• Excellent healing abilities
• Easy to acquire as a free character

Barbara is a dedicated healer and essential to any team needing sustained healing. Her abilities revolve around healing the party and applying Hydro status to enemies.

Barbara's elemental skill, Let the Show Begin, summons a melody loop that heals the active character over time and applies Hydro status to nearby enemies. Her elemental burst, Shining Miracle, heals all party members for a significant amount, making her indispensable in difficult battles.

15 Lisa has a High AoE Potential

Electro Catalyst User

• Accessible early in the game
• Powerful AoE attack

Lisa is an excellent alternative to Yae Miko, a 5-star Electro catalyst user. Even though some argue she's one of the weakest characters in the game, with the right builds, Lisa becomes a tank. With her normal attack, she can perform four consecutive lightning strikes.

Lisa's elemental burst, Induced Aftershock, summons a giant electric rose that shoots out powerful lightning bolts. It continuously strikes opponents in its AoE. Lisa is a great off-field DPS. Luckily, she's one of the starter characters given to players when they begin the game.

14 Kaeya is a Reliable DPS Attacker

Cryo Sword User

• Starter character
• Huge damage potential

Of the three starter characters, Kaeya is used the most. Many seasoned players still use him as a main or sub-DPS in their parties. Kaeya is a Cryo sword wielder and can perform five consecutive strikes in rapid succession with his normal attack. His plunging attack is one of the game's most devastating.

Kaeya's elemental skill unleashes a blast of ice, instantly dealing Cryo DMG. His most useful attack, however, is the Glacial Waltz. This elemental burst summons three icicles that orbit around Kaeya and deal Cryo DMG to enemies in the AoE.

13 Yanfei has Powerful DPS Potential

Pyro Catalyst User

• Already functional with no constellation investment
• Able to deal tons of damage to both single targets and as an AoE

With the right build, Yanfei becomes an excellent sub-DPS. She works best in parties with Zhongli and Bennett. She's strong with zero constellations and only becomes more powerful with every constellation a player obtains.

Yanfei's normal attack shoots many fireballs that deal Pyro DMG just three times, so it's important to make every strike count. Her Elemental Burst sprays fire out at all of her opponents, causing massive AoE Pyro DMG. She's a good alternative for Klee, a 5-star Pyro catalyst user.

12 Xinyan is an Underutilized Pyro Attacker

Pyro Claymore User

• Offensive and defensive capabilities
• Huge damage potential

Xinyan is one of the most under-utilized characters in Genshin Impact. She often is overlooked in favor of Diluc, a fellow Pyro claymore user. However, Xinyan's a great alternative for fans who don't have Diluc.

Xinyan's normal attack performs up to four continuous strikes on the enemy. Her elemental skill summons a fiery guitar that deals significant Pyro DMG to all opponents in its AoE. Xinyan also brings out a shield when this move is activated. Her elemental burst is flashy and makes it seem like Xinyan is performing on a stage while she wipes out mobs of enemies.

11 Gorou is a Bow Support Specialist

Geo Bow User

• Enables other powerful characters
• Offensive and buffing capabilities

While he's strong on his own, Gorou functions best when he supports other Geo characters. Arataki Itto, for example, can't fully operate in a party without strong Geo support — and that's where Gorou comes in.

As a Geo bow wielder, Gorou can perform four consecutive shots with his bow. His plunging attack shoots off multiple arrows to rain down on his enemies. Gorou's Elemental Skill is the most useful, as it buffs three active party members within its AoE; specifically, it's based on the number of Geo characters in a team.

10 Rosaria's Polearm is Great for DPS

Cryo Polearm User

• Fantastic damage output
• Able to hit a wide AoE

Rosaria is an excellent alternative to 5-star Cryo characters like Eula or Ayaka. Wielding a polearm, Rosaria deals immense overall damage. In terms of strength, Rosaria is a step above Kaeya. Her elemental burst, Rites of Termination, summons an ice lance that deals Cryo damage to all enemies within that area.

Rosaria can perform up to five consecutive attacks with her polearm, and the damage increases with each strike. Her elemental skill, called Confession, causes her to move behind the enemy and slash them with her polearm. Overall, Rosaria is a solid addition to the player's party if they're looking for a Cryo DPS with a wide AoE.

9 Diona is a Healer and Protector

Cryo Bow User

• Able to protect allied characters
• Consistent damage output in an AoE

Diona wields a Cryo vision, and her weapon of choice is a bow. When Diona uses her elemental burst, she'll support the player's party with a cat-shaped shield that absorbs damage while healing any active character on the field.

Diona's Drunken Mist deals a constant flow of DMG to all enemies in her AoE. This also serves as a healing mechanism for members of the player's party. Diona works best in a team compilation alongside other Cryo units such as Chongyun or Shenhe.

8 Beidou is an Electro Tank

Electro Claymore User

• Able to function as damage or support
• Great defensive capabilities

Beidou is one of the most under-utilized characters in Genshin Impact. She is quite the tank, wielding both an Electro vision and a claymore. When her elemental burst is activated, Beidou unleashes a shield with 250% Electro DMG Absorption efficiency, and a massive DMG bonus is rewarded upon two triggers of this effect.

Beidou can work as both a DPS and a supporting character. She is flexible with many team compilations but works best with Pyro characters, such as Bennett or Xiangling.

7 Sucrose has Fantastic AoE Potential

Anemo Catalyst User

• Great AoE damage potential
• Synergizes with other powerful characters

Sucrose is a catalyst user with an Anemo vision. She is an excellent alternative to characters such as Jean or Kazuha. With her normal attack, Sucrose performs four consecutive attacks called Wind Spirits. Her elemental skill, Astable Anemohypostasis Creation-6308, creates a small wind spirit that swirls all the opponents and launches them away within the AoE.

Sucrose's burst allows her to create a giant wind spirit shaped like a butterfly. It pulls in the surrounding opponents, dealing with Anemo DMG. This burst also acts alongside other elements, such as Pyro, and it deals additional Elemental DMG with the corresponding element.

6 Ningguang has High Damage and Defense

Geo Catalyst User

• Well-balanced offensive and defensive abilities
• High damage output for a defensive character

Ningguang is one of the most sought-after characters in the entire game. She's even better than some 5-star Geo units, such as Zhongli or Arataki Itto. She deals immense Geo DMG to opponents, and her Jade Screen shield is an excellent defense for incoming attacks. Ningguang is easily one of the best long-ranged characters in the game, and she shoots gems that deal Geo DMG with her normal attack.

Ningguang's shield blocks all projectiles, but her HP directly influences the lifetime of this Jade Screen. Ningguang's elemental burst scatters a ton of gems all at once, dealing with immense Geo DMG. If the burst is cast while the Jade Screen is up, it will also shoot off projectiles.

5 Xingqiu is One of Genshin Impact's Strongest Fighters

Hydro Sword User

• High individual damage output
• Able to boost other characters's damage as well

Xingqiu is regarded as one of the highest damage dealers in the entire game. He works well with Cryo characters, such as Chongyun. Xingqiu also works excellently with Pyro characters, such as Diluc, Xiangling, or Bennett. He serves to boost elemental reactions, such as Frozen or Vaporize. He can also deal Hydro DMG on his own.

Xingqiu's elemental skill allows him to perform two strikes with his sword. This ability also creates an orbit of Rain Swords, which appear no matter who the active character is. Xingqiu's elemental burst summons the illusory sword rain as it increases the number of orbiting Rain Swords.

4 Razor is a Fast-Attacking Electro User

Electro Claymore User

• Rapid attack speed
• Able to deal AoE damage as well as single-target

Razor is one of the best physical damage dealers in Genshin Impact. Despite being a claymore user, his attacks are quick, so there's no need to worry about long cooldown times. Many fans say he is an excellent alternative to Xiao.

Razor's attack, Steel Fang, allows him to perform up to 4 back-to-back strikes against an enemy. When his elemental skill is activated, he summons a wolf spirit, dealing vast amounts of electro DMG to every nearby enemy. The Wolf itself attacks alongside Razor's normal attacks, and it raises his attack speed.

3 Xiangling Is Strong Enough To Carry A Team

Pyro Polearm User

• Easy to acquire
• Huge damage in a massive AoE

Xiangling becomes a free character upon completing Floor 3-3 of the Spiral Abyss. She can surpass 5-star characters like Hu Tao and carry an entire team by herself. Xiangling's elemental burst, the Pyronado, deals with massive amounts of DMG to every enemy it touches. Her elemental skill, Guoba, is a fire-breathing bear that torches all opponents in his path.

Xiangling is an essential character for players, especially when dealing with mobs or the Spiral Abyss. If players want to invest in any character as a DPS, Xiangling should be one of them.

2 Chongyun is a Support that Deals DPS

Cryo Claymore User

• Huge damage output
• Able to support allies as well as function alone

Chongyun is a potent DPS and support character. He functions well with characters such as Tartaglia or Diluc, and he applies the Cryo element excellently. He triggers elemental reactions very well, especially Melt and Frozen, which instantly deal massive amounts of damage.

Chongyun's elemental skill, Chonghua's Layered Frost, causes a colossal Cryo explosion for the AoE. It creates a frosted field, which infuses all swords, claymores, and polearms with Cryo.

1 Bennett is the Essential Pyro Healer and Buffer

Pyro Sword User

• Healing and buffing capabilities
• Decent damage output while keeping allies alive

Bennett is one of the best Genshin Impact characters overall. This character is an absolute tank. Bennett is essential to most team compilations in Genshin Impact. He buffs damage while healing the party at the same time. His elemental skill creates a series of flame strikes from his sword.

Bennet's Inspiration Field is summoned upon triggering his Elemental Burst, which causes the HP of party members to continuously regenerate if below 70% and infuses all characters in the party with Pyro. Bennett is another character who is absolutely worth the time and resources to build.

Genshin Impact

Set in the fantasy world of Teyvat, each of the seven nations is tied to a different element and ruled by a different god. Following an interstellar adventurer known as the Traveler, the character is separated from their twin sibling and sets out across Teyvat to reconnect with them.

RPG

Action

Adventure

Gacha

Platform(s)

Mobile , iOS , Android , PC , PS4 , PS5

Released

September 28, 2020

Developer(s)

HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)

Developer

Publisher(s)

HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unity

ESRB

T for Teen - Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference

Metascore

86

Platforms That Support Crossplay

Mobile, PC, PS4 &PS5

PS Plus Availability

N/A