The latest element added to the game changed the way Genshin is played completely. Dendro is an element that greatly relies on reactions and elemental mastery. This offers dynamic playstyles with lots of unique characters on its roster. As it was released, dendro remains one of the top elements in the game.
Read along to find out the best dendro characters in the game so far (Patch 4.1). Take note that by “best”, we mean to evaluate the unit as a whole. This includes any effects or buffs that may come with using the character, as units in the game have their own unique quirks.
9. Kirara
Bringing packages safely to your door.
Speed and efficiency are the key qualities of a courier. This feline assures her clients that she always delivers 5-star service.
Combat
Kirara is a sword user who specializes in shields and mobility. She is a good unit to have on an exploration team but is lacking when it comes to combat prowess compared to other similar units.
Her skill allows her to create a dendro shield when pressed. The held version allows her to transform into a box cat that has improved running, jumping, and climbing speed. Her burst has her smashing down a parcel to damage enemies, which then explodes to scatter cardamoms that deal dendro damage when stepped on.
As a unit that is highly reliant on HP, she works plainly best with a combination of the Tenacity of the Millelith set and the Vourukasha's Glow set. The Dockhand's Assistant provides her with another great boost to HP which subsequently enhances her most valuable abilities.
She provides the most value when she is placed in bloom or hyperbloom teams. This fully utilizes her dendro application while also serving as a capable shielder for her team.
Analysis
Overall, Kirara is a handy unit to have when traveling the open-world. Enjoy strolling around in cat form and say goodbye to the difficulty of climbing rocks. When faced with enemies in your exploration, she is always ready to bring out her claws.
What Makes Kirara Great for Dendro:
- Great for exploration due to her transformation.
- Capable shielder with her skill.
- Applies a decent amount of dendro with her skill.
- Can fit in well with most teams that need a shielder.
8. Kaveh
Never criticize his work.
An architect from Sumeru who values a lot of the little things. He is almost never seen without his briefcase, even while fighting!
Combat
Kaveh is a claymore user who focuses on on-field dendro damage. He is a highly capable unit that thrives in bloom teams. He is also generally easy to build due to the many available sets for him.
His skill allows him to damage all those around him while also instantly popping any blooms around. His burst allows him to convert his normal attacks into wide AoE dendro attacks. He would also gain increased resistance to interruption while buffing the damage of all blooms in the area.
Kaveh enjoys the full benefits of the Flower of Paradise Lost set as it significantly boosts bloom and hyperbloom damage. The best free weapon for him is the Mailed Flower which is essential in boosting his EM.
As you can see from hus build, he is a superstar when it comes to bloom and hyperbloom teams. Surround him with capable hydro and electro characters to get the most out of his kit.
Analysis
You can't go wrong with having Kaveh as your on-field dendro applicator. His cool animations will reel you in while his damage output will continually astound you. You don't even have to worry much about his stats, other that stacking up as much EM as you can!
What Makes Kaveh Great for Dendro:
- Takes no damage from blooms when in his burst mode.
- Great on-field dendro application as he can infuse his weapon with the element.
- Can heal himself with blooms.
- Greatly buffs bloom damage.
7. Collei
The best company to have in the forest.
A trainee ranger in the Sumeru Forest. She is still working on her skills, but her hardworking attitude makes up for whatever she lacks.
Combat
Collei is a bow user who is good with dendro application. She is a great example of all the capabilities of a dendro unit, and you can even get her for free through spiral abyss. If you don’t have any other options, Collei works just as well if you want to feature dendro reactions on your team.
Her skill throws a boomerang, which deals dendro damage throughout its course. Her burst summons a doll in an AoE, which would then deal continuous off-field dendro damage.
The Deepwood Memories set is ideal for Collei as it not only enhances her own damage, but also any dendro related damage dealt by her team. The Favonius Warbow allows her to regain energy quicker and cast her burst more often which gives more time for her teammates to operate on the field.
Analysis
The release of Collei was a great way of also introducing the dendro element. She nails the fundamentals and is sufficiently capable of keeping up with many other existing supports. It also helps that you can get her for free through the spiral abyss so make sure to get her as soon as you can.
What Makes Collei Great for Dendro:
- Decent off-field dendro application.
- Can function well with free-to-play options available.
- Simple and straightforward kit.
- Can be obtained through the spiral abyss.
6. Yaoyao
The archons are kind to cheerful spirits.
Our next combatant is a peaceful disciple of one of the adepti. Her great capabilities are masked behind her adorable smile.
Combat
Yaoyao is a polearm user who excels at off-field dendro application and healing. She is consistent when it comes to her roles and is someone you would want on your team if you're taking a lot of bloom damage.
Her skill summons an entity, which then throws radishes at enemies to damage them or at allies to heal them. This stays on the field even when Yaoyao is not. Her burst serves like an emergency button as she runs around throwing multiple entities that all throw radishes. This would then almost instantly heal all the members of your team.
Similar to Collei, Yaoyao also functions best with the Deepwood Memories set. She gets a lot of benefits from the Favonius Lance as it generates energy for her and the entire team.
Teammates with generally lower HP or DEF are lucky to have her around. Her consistent heals provide you with the confidence that your team won't be wiped out and you can always pop her burst in crucial moments.
Analysis
Yaoyao is a very straightforward unit who gives a lot of value off-field. Take her on elemental teams that make use of her dendro application to maximize her kit or pair her with units that rely on fluctuating HP.
What Makes Yaoyao Great for Dendro:
- She can heal very effectively through her skill and burst.
- Great at applying off-field dendro.
- Easy to build her as a healer or as an off-field dendro applicator.
5. Traveler
Solving the mystery one step at a time.
The main character of our quest hardly gets any recognition when it comes to tier lists. Their dendro version, however, is one of the best so far and is worth discussing on our list.
Combat
The Traveler is a sword user who excels at off-field dendro application. Their skill throws out dendro damage in a cone in front of them. This is generally good for gaining energy.
Their elemental burst is the core of their kit, where they summon a lotus lamp that attacks enemies even off-field. This lamp can then absorb electro, hydro, or pyro to amplify itself with various buffs.
Yet again, the Deepwood Memories set proves to be highly beneficial for dendro units as the Traveler also makes full use of the benefits. For their weapon, you can't go wrong with the Favonius Sword as it helps you recharge you burst faster.
Basically any elemental team can appreciate the dendro application of the Traveler. This value can be best seen when applied in bloom or hyperbloom teams.
Analysis
They are definitely a force to go up against especially when compared to other elemental version of the Traveler.
What Makes Traveler Great for Dendro:
- Great off-field dendro application through their burst
- Free constellations are gained throughout the story.
- Can buff EM through their passive.
- You may already have them built as their level carries over from each element.
4. Tighnari
What more secrets could nature hold?
This researcher is also a famed forest watcher. With his brains and skills, he is definitely someone you would want on your team when braving the forest.
Combat
Tighnari is a bow user who is great at quickly applying dendro on-field. He is mostly used in quick swap teams where he deals tons of damage in a short amount of time.
His skill throws a sort of grenade that deals dendro damage while taunting enemies in its AoE. This would also allow Tighnari to shoot out three of his special charged attacks in rapid succession. His burst allows him to shoot out multiple arrows, similar to how his charged attack works.
He can utilize either the full Gilded Dreams set or the Deepwood Memories set. If you're good at aiming headshots then perhaps the Prototype Crescent is is the best craftable weapon for you.
Tighnari simply needs a capable off-field electro enabler and a good shielder. These allies will drastically improve his damage and prevent enemies from taking him out while he's on the field.
Analysis
Tighnari is the best example of great efficiency. He does the work really quickly, so you can focus your attention on your other units.
What Makes Tighnari Great for Dendro:
- Charged attacks and burst both home in on enemies.
- Skill can confuse enemies.
- Burst is low-cost and can be cast many times in a rotation.
- Can be obtained from the standard banner.
3. Baizhu
Don't mind the reptile.
The doctor is in the building. Baizhu is a famed healer in Liyue whose practices may seem strange but always end up delivering great results.
Combat
Baizhu is a catalyst user who can both shield and heal his allies. He is a great all-around support unit. He instantly fills three roles for your team, so you can focus on damage with your other team members.
His skill throws out a snake that jumps towards up to three enemies before coming back to heal all his allies. His burst periodically creates a shield that when destroyed, can heal the on-field unit.
Baizhu is another unit who reaps the benefits from the Deepwood Memories set. As for his weapon, the Prototype Amber is a great craftable option that gives a big bump to his HP.
He is a highly flexible unit that provides everything you would need on the defensive side. With him onboard, you can focus on filling your team with heavy hitters.
Analysis
The first 5-star dendro healer does not disappoint. He is a character that we've seen from the beginning of the story and he lives up to the hype. He has a kit fairly similar to Diono, but the edge he has is that he can apply dendro greatly which opens up a lot of opportunities for different reactions.
What Makes Baizhu Great for Dendro:
- Easy to build as he mainly focuses on HP.
- Can provide healing and shields.
- Provides resistance to interruption.
- Applies decent off-field dendro.
- Can increase reaction damage based on his HP.
2. Alhaitham
In a world of his own.
The scribe of Sumeru is a man who holds lots of knowledge. He isn't influenced by the politics of Sumeru and mainly strives to do whatever he thinks is right.
Combat
Alhaitham is a sword user who excels at doing on-field dendro damage. He is a force to be reckoned with on the field. Surround him with multiple off-field supports and watch the damage number fly.
His skill works a lot like the skill of Keqing. He dashes towards a location, which then grants him chisel-light mirrors that infuse his weapon with dendro, with the mirrors periodically attacking alongside him as well. His burst deals massive dendro damage in an AoE, which would then grant him more chisel-light mirrors depending on his current stacks. Additional Em would also buff this damage further.
He is best built with the full Gilded Dreams set as it gives him a big boost in EM. Similarly, the Iron Sting is his go-to free weapon for the very same reason.
Alhaitham will be the main damage dealer on your team so you best provide him with a great electro teammate to trigger quicken.
Analysis
He is a fast slasher that rewards you for keeping an eye on his stacks. Optimizing his stacks will allow you to deal more damage systematically throughout your rotations. Despite this, you can still have fun just going all out on your enemies.
What Makes Alhaitham Great for Dendro:
- Consistent on-field dendro application.
- Attacks are great for both single target or AoE.
- Can be built easily as he mainly focuses on EM.
- Skill can be used to traverse difficult terrain.
1. Nahida
Power comes in all shapes and sizes.
The archon of Sumeru is rightfully the top dog on our list. She is arguably the smartest person in the land, as she holds all the knowledge in Teyvat.
Combat
Nahida is a catalyst user who is the best at off-field dendro application. Nahida is a must-have unit because of the great value and ease of gameplay that she offers. She can literally be put on almost any team and would still provide amazing support.
Her skill tags enemies in the area where they would all be chained together and would be damaged with dendro every time at least one of them is hit with reactions. Her burst casts a gigantic field that greatly boosts EM, with other bonuses depending on the elemental types present in the team.
She can deal massive damage with the full Deepwood Memories set, while also increasing dendro related damage from allies. For her weapon, you can either go with the Wandering Evenstar or the Sacrificial Fragments.
Nahida is an absolute team player. Ideally you would put her in bloom or hyperbloom teams, but she can also fit in other teams as she would still be doing her own damage anyway.
Analysis
The archon of dendro does not disappoint. She can deal great damage while also providing buffs to her allies. Another benefit to her is that she can chain all enemies together with no limit then you can swap her out until you would need her again. This saves you so much time and you can redirect your focus towards dealing damage with your other units.
What Makes Nahida Great for Dendro:
- The best off-field dendro application.
- Easy to build as she mainly focuses on EM.
- Abilities come with a decent cooldown.
- Can buff the EM of her entire team.
- Can chain damage between enemies through her skill.
