Genshin Impact offers a diverse range of characters. Among these, 5-star units are the rarest and most sought-after. They are statistically stronger than 4-star units, and they almost always come with their own unique combat mechanics or other added value.
Read along to find out the best 5-star characters in the game so far (Patch 4.0). Take note that by “best”, we mean to evaluate the character as a whole, not just combat and utility but also when it comes to characterization, style, and impact in the game. Also keep in mind that these characters are judged at C0 to measure combat prowess fairly.
11. Sangonomiya Kokomi (DPS/Sub-DPS/Support)
Walking on water has never been so elegant
Up first on our list is a character that didn’t get much love when first released. She was undervalued due to healing being her only value added to a team. This all changed with the introduction of bleed, dendro, and her go-to set.
Kokomi is one of the best hydro applicators in the game. She can provide it off-field through her skill, which also provides healing, and on-field with her normal attacks. Pair this with her burst, and you have a hard-hitting unit that keeps your team alive, even in the most dire of domains.
When equipped with the Ocean-Hued Clam, Kokomi turns into the most reliable, self-sustaining DPS. Despite not being able to CRIT, she clams opponents with physical damage every time the artifact set is triggered, and with her incredible healing powers, she can literally take on bosses by herself given enough time.
What Makes Kokomi A Great 5-Star:
- Incredible healing abilities.
- Can apply hydro consistently.
- One of the most reliable units for hyperbloom teams.
- Can do really well even with just craftable weapons.
10. Wanderer (DPS)
He will never lose his attitude
Harbingers are the most notorious bad guys in the game. They are overpowered individuals who bring their own uniqueness and curiosities to the table. This one in particular chose a different path due to recent events and is now a reliable ally.
Wanderer is an anemo unit that soars through the skies, slicing through enemies with gigantic wind blades. His elemental skill allows him to levitate and empower his normal attacks. This can also absorb different elements that provide him with various buffs.
His burst summons a violent torrent of wind that blasts enemies in the AoE. With all of this, he makes for one of the best exploration units that can swiftly take care of mobs along the way. A fun bonus to getting Wanderer is that you get to name him as you get him.
What Makes Wanderer A Great 5-Star:
- All his attacks are imbued with anemo, thus making him a consistent on-field enabler.
- Can shred enemy resistances with the Viridescent Venerer Set.
- Can literally fly around the open world, traversing even the most difficult terrain.
- Works great in reaction-based teams.
- The only unit in the game that you can personally name.
9. Arataki Itto (DPS)
Behold, the Arataki Gang
Arguably one of the most colorful personalities in the game. This guy may seem intimidating at first glance, but he’s really one of the nicest oni’s you’ll ever meet.
Itto is a geo claymore user that stands atop all other geo DPS units. His elemental skill hurls a bull at enemies, dealing damage while taunting them with his silly dance afterwards. He has a special charged attack that let’s him do consistent slashes depending on how many stacks he has.
The core of his kit is his burst. Itto summons the power of the oni to convert his DEF into ATK, making him one of the most overpowered units in the game during this state. He greatly enhances all his damage dealt to the point where he can even take down bosses in just a single barrage of his charged attacks.
The only downside to him is that he is reliant on other geo allies to buff him up and aid him with energy. Nonetheless, he still takes a spot on our list due to the sheer power that he can summon.
What Makes Arataki Itto A Great 5-Star:
- He has the most adorable companion to fight with him.
- Can dish out unbelievable damage without the need for any reactions whatsoever.
- Can work really well even with just the Whiteblind as his weapon.
- Has one of the coolest charged attacks in the game.
8. Hu Tao (DPS)
She burns all your worries away
The most energetic Funeral Parlor Director you’ll ever see. This character walks a thin line between the living and the dead.
Hu Tao brings with her a fast-paced and explosive playstyle. Her elemental skill gives a big buff to ATK (similar to Itto) and this makes her charged attack spammable and way deadly because of her passive talent. Her burst is a large AoE sweep that causes unbelievable damage when paired with the buff of her skill and elemental reactions.
She takes a spot on our list because of the speed at which she takes down enemies, especially with melt or vaporize. The drawback to using her, however, is that she consumes HP everytime she casts her skill, and it is almost crucial to have a cryo or hydro unit as a sub-DPS to maximize her attacks.
What Makes Hu Tao A Great 5-Star:
- High-risk, high-reward playstyle adds thrill to the game.
- Can buff herself significantly with only a small window for downtime.
- Can heal herself with her burst with the more enemies she hits.
7. Yelan (Sub-DPS)
Moving swiftly in the darkness
Deemed a must-have by most experts. This next character doesn’t need much time on the field to wreak havoc. She stays in the shadows and provides value to her team when needed.
Yelan swoops into the battlefield with her elemental skill. This can cause massive damage to multiple enemies at once.
Her burst brings about one of the best off-field hydro-application in the game. She summons dice that accompany any character and coordinate hydro attacks that can CRIT with every normal attack. Her value is in her high damage and great coordination with nearly any team.
What Makes Yelan A Great 5-Star:
- Arguably provides the best off-field hydro application.
- Elemental skill deals massive damage to multiple enemies.
- Her skill can also be great for sprinting around the open world.
- Special charged attacks are great for opening fights.
6. Ganyu(DPS/Sub-DPS)
She definitely has ice in her veins
This qilin is one of the pillars of Liyue Harbor. The people and its leaders have been relying on her for many generations, and she never fails to deliver. Despite her heavy workload, she is still one of the most formidable fighters that Liyue has to offer.
Ganyu is one of the best bow users in the game. When it comes to gameplay, she truly brings the first-person shooter experience with her special AoE charged attacks which is the core of her kit.
Her elemental skill can leave behind a decoy that taunts enemies. Her burst sends down a large AoE of hail that applies cryo to enemies on the field.
As a DPS, she can take down enemies from afar quite easily. Pairing her with a pyro unit for melt and a shielder turns her into an unstoppable tank.
What Makes Ganyu A Great 5-Star:
- Her charged attack is arguably the best in the game.
- Has multiple ways of applying cryo to enemies.
- Unique gameplay is definitely something any player should try at least once.
- Can do decently well even with just the Prototype Crescent.
5. Venti(Sub-DPS/Support)
Time to play
We’re starting off the top 5 with one of the Archons. This god is known for his playfulness and childish demeanor. Despite this, we all know that, as one of the seven, he can summon winds that could even send islands flying.
Venti is the god of anemo, and he backs it up with his in-game prowess. The highlight of his kit is his burst, which summons a large vacuum that sucks up any unlucky enemies in the area while also applying any element absorbed along the way. This is one of the best crowd control abilities in the game, and it is unreal how he can cast it so often with the short cooldown and low energy cost.
His elemental skill summons a torrent of wind; the held version of it creates a continuous current that players can ride on to fly up. Overall, Venti embodies the best properties of anemo, and he won’t be dropping on our list any time soon.
What Makes Venti A Great 5-Star:
- Skill can create winds that players can ride on. Perfect for traversing difficult terrain.
- Has one of the best crowd control bursts in the game.
- Can shred enemy resistances with the Viridescent Venerer Set.
- Is easy to build as he mainly focuses on EM.
4. Kaedahara Kazuha (Sub-DPS/Support)
A ronin fears no enemy
This next character is just a cut above Venti when it comes to anemo. He isn’t a god, and he is nowhere near as strong as Ventie when it comes to lore. He does, however, provide more in-game value and has a much smoother playstyle, which makes him rank higher on our list.
Kazuha is one of the most sought-after units in the game. He can pull in multiple enemies with his amazing crowd control skill, which can even be used to jump up to traverse terrain. This also has a decent cooldown, so you can almost guarantee that it will be ready every time you switch back to him.
His burst summons a pulsing cycle of wind, absorbing any element it comes into contact with.
What Makes Kazuha A Great 5-Star:
- Has one of the most satisfying skill animations in the game.
- Can shred enemy resistances with the Viridescent Venerer Set.
- Is great for exploration, with his skill acting like a double jump.
- Burst can cause multiple swirls even when he’s off-field.
3. Nahida (Sub-DPS/Support)
Wisdom is all
A little lady that holds so much power, this next one is quite arguably the best dendo unit in the game. She is the god of wisdom, and she holds all knowledge in Teyvat. She says that she’s not much of a fighter, but she is still quite formidable as one of the seven.
Nahida is the queen of chain reactions. Her elemental skill tags multiple enemies that can all be damaged by dendro if even just one gets hurt. This can lead to all sorts of different reactions and serve as a catalyst for a potential chain reaction. This in itself is enough for her to garner this spot on the list.
She does, however, still have a burst. She creates a gigantic dome that enhances the EM of her party and can even have different bonuses depending on their elemental composition. When it comes to teamwork, Nahida outshines all other archons.
What Makes Nahida A Great 5-Star:
- Can greatly buff the EM of her party.
- Skill can be used to read the minds of NPC’s in Sumeru.
- Is the best when it comes to dendro application.
- Has the largest burst animation in the game.
2. Raiden Shogun (DPS/Sub-DPS)
Fear her in her deadliest form
She is a master of combat that even other archons acknowledge her battle prowess. As the god of electro, she is swift and precise, which plays well into her bladework. Despite living inside a puppet, her true form is truly to be feared.
Raiden is an amazing warrior, but she also provides huge value to her teammates. Her skill summons an entity from her plane that blasts any damaged enemy with a burst of electro damage. This also enhances the burst damage of any on-field unit.
Her elemental burst unleashes the true warrior inside. She brings out her blade to do a massive slash that obliterates enemies. She also remains in her swordsman state for a few more seconds with enhanced damage, just so she can mop up anybody that’s left.
What Makes Shogun A Great 5-Star:
- Instantly regenerates energy for your entire team.
- Can fight with her polearm and a blade.
- Can one shot enemies with her burst.
- Can apply consistent electro with her skill.
- Can be easy to build as she mainly focuses on ER.
1. Zhongli (Sub-DPS/Support)
Mora and meteors
Taking the top spot is the oldest of the archons. The god of geo is calm and always prepared, as he holds so much power that he need not be scared.
Zhongli dominates any battlefield that he is on. His elemental skill creates the most powerful shield in the game, making your on-field character almost invincible. This also summons a pillar that pulses geo damage and can even be climbed up on for elevation.
His burst satisfyingly drops a meteor on opponents in a large AoE. This not only deals massive geo damage, but also petrifies whoever is left, giving them time to prepare for the next rotation.
He is the highest-value unit that you can get in the game right now, and it would be long before we find anyone to take his top spot.
What Makes Zhongli A Great 5-Star:
- Has the best shield in the game.
- His burst literally drops a meteor on your opponents.
- Can sync well with almost any team.
- Just having him on your team makes the game so much easier.
