Genshin Impact is a game that’s constantly evolving, and the tier list can change as new characters are introduced and new strategies are discovered. However, if you’re looking for a general overview of the best characters to use in Genshin Impact 4.2, this tier list can be a helpful starting point.
Genshin Impact 4.2 Tier List: The Best Characters to Bring to Your Team
S-Tier
| Name | Role | Notes |
| Alhaitham | Main DPS | Shines in Quicken teams. |
| Baizhu | Healer | Best choice for Bloom-based teams. |
| Bennett | Support/Healer | C1 improves him drastically but is not required. |
| Fischl | Sub-DPS | C6 improves her drastically. |
| Furina | Sub-DPS/Support/Healer | Requires a healer that can top the whole party. Otherwise she’s straight-up busted. |
| Ganyu | Main DPS | Positioning is essential, but huge damage regardless. |
| Kaedehara Kazuha | Support/Sub-DPS | One of the few sources of Elemental DMG% buffs. |
| Kamisato Ayaka | Main DPS | Main damage comes from the Burst, so don’t miss it! |
| Kuki Shinobu | Support/Healer | The best Hyperbloom character while also healing the whole team. |
| Lyney | Main DPS | Requires a Mono-Pyro team to shine. |
| Nahida | Support/Sub-DPS | Best Dendro application in the game with huge personal damage/buffs. |
| Neuvillette | Main DPS | Access to Arkhe and huge damage with HP scaling. |
| Nilou | Support | Best Bloom character, but requires specific teams. |
| Raiden Shogun | Main DPS/Sub-DPS/Support | Extremely versatile and consistently great in every role she’s in. |
| Sangonomiya Kokomi | Healer/Sub-DPS | Battle healer, great Hydro application. |
| Shenhe | Support/Sub-DPS | Best support for every Cryo. |
| Sucrose | Support | Incredible for reaction-based teams. |
| Tartaglia | Main DPS | Amazing against many targets, but requires proper rotation. |
| Wanderer | Main DPS | Requires some heavy support but otherwise amazingly strong. |
| Xiangling | Sub-DPS | Best Pyro application in the game, huge damage and no ICD. |
| Xingqiu | Sub-DPS | Incredible Hydro application and damage. |
| Yelan | Sub-DPS | Similar to Xingqiu, but with HP scaling and more damage/buffs to the team. |
| Zhongli | Support | It’s the best shield in the game while debuffing enemies |
A-Tier
| Name | Role | Notes |
| Albedo | Sub-DPS | Versatile sub-DPS for almost everyone. Gets a huge value with his Event weapon. |
| Arataki Itto | Main DPS | Shines in Mono-Geo teams. |
| Cyno | Main DPS | Improves significantly with Baizhu as his healer/support. |
| Eula | Main DPS | Huge damage potential with Burst. Physical is amazing against human-like enemies, but weaker against everything else. |
| Faruzan | Support/Sub-DPS | Anemo-focused support. Improves drastically with C6. |
| Hu Tao | Main DPS | Requires heavy support, C1 and signature weapon improve her drastically but she’s great without them. |
| Jean | Healer | Ideal healer for Furina, can top the whole team. |
| Kamisato Ayato | Main DPS | Jack-of-all-trades Hydro. Rarely the best option but always one of the strongest. |
| Kaveh | Support | Driver for Bloom teams with or without Nilou. |
| Keqing | Main DPS | Requires Quicken. Consistent Electro damage and good against many targets. |
| Kujou Sara | Support/Sub-DPS | Electro-focused support. Improves drastically with C6. |
| Layla | Support | Permanent shield with good Cryo application. |
| Mona | Support | DMG% increase and huge Hydro application. |
| Traveler (Dendro) | Sub-DPS/Support | Great F2P Dendro applier if you don’t wanna build Collei. |
| Tighnari | Main DPS/Sub-DPS | Amazingly strong in quickswap teams with Electro characters like Yae. |
| Venti | Support/Sub-DPS | Gathers enemies like no one, generates tons of energy while dealing unexpectedly high damage. |
| Wriothesley | Main DPS | Amazing for Melt teams, good Burst damage. |
| Xiao | Main DPS | Requires shield, damage increases as his Burst is activated. |
| Yae Miko | Sub-DPS | Low on-field time required, improves greatly with Quicken. |
| Yoimiya | Main DPS | Great as a boss killer. |
B-Tier
| Name | Role | Notes |
| Beidou | Sub-DPS | One of the strongest Burst multipliers in the game, especially with Constellations. |
| Charlotte | Healer | Constant teamwide healing, DoT Cryo application. |
| Collei | Sub-DPS | Good alternative to Dendro Traveler. |
| Diluc | Main DPS | Great for Melt/Vaporize. Scales well with Constellations. |
| Diona | Healer | Great Cryo battery, good protection with shields and heals. |
| Freminet | Main DPS | Surprisingly strong for a 4-star, but requires investment. |
| Gorou | Support | Geo-focused support. Heals a bit on C4. Almost mandatory on Itto teams. |
| Klee | Main DPS | Clunky to use but quite powerful. |
| Mika | Support/Healer | ATK SPD/Physical DMG buffer while also healing. |
| Rosaria | Sub-DPS | Nice off-field Cryo dmg. Generates decent energy. |
| Sayu | Healer | Budget Jean, also has EM scaling. |
| Shikanoin Heizou | Main DPS | Great for reaction-based teams. Feels good to play. |
| Traveler (Geo) | Support | Team-wide Critical buffs, decent with other Geo characters. |
| Yanfei | Main DPS | Very similar to Klee and easier to play, but lower damage. |
| Yaoyao | Healer | Decent Dendro application, teamwide heal. |
| Yun Jin | Support | Normal ATK buffer, value goes up in certain teams. |
C-Tier
| Name | Role | Notes |
| Aloy | Main DPS/Sub-DPS | Decent as quickswap Burst support, but not as great as the main DPS. |
| Amber | Sub-DPS/Support | Powerful Burst, has a taunt on bunny. |
| Barbara | Healer |
Extremely powerful heals, but no significant buffs and inflicts team with Hydro, which can be detrimental at times.
|
| Candace | Support/Sub-DPS | Can make some niche teams with infusion on Burst. |
| Chongyun | Support/Main-DPS | Powerful Burst, has infusion on his skill. |
| Dehya | Support/Sub-DPS | Redirects damage to herself while dealing some decent punches. |
| Dori | Healer/Support | Energy battery with decent healing. |
| Kaeya | Support/Sub-DPS | Okay off-field Cryo application, but not a lot of damage. |
| Kirara | Support | Good shield with ok Dendro application. |
| Lisa | Sub-DPS | Requires a ton of on-field time without Constellations for maximum damage. |
| Lynette | Support | Good for Swirl with decent damage. |
| Ningguang | Main DPS | Requires some good investment, useful as Burst support. |
| Noelle | Healer/Sub-DPS | Requires a lot of field time for healing, but has some good shields. |
| Qiqi | Healer |
Huge heals, powerful C6. Unfortunately, has almost no particle generation, buffs or Cryo applications.
|
| Razor | Main DPS | Requires a lot of field time. Can be great on niche Quicken-Hyperbloom teams. |
| Thoma | Support | Ok shields, shines best as Burgeon driver. |
| Traveler (Anemo) | Support | Hard to use the skill effectively, Burst can be ok though. |
| Traveler (Hydro) | Sub-DPS | Low damage, but ok application. |
| Traveler (Electro) | Support/Sub-DPS |
Electro battery, but not the best one. Burst is similar to Xingqiu but with lower damage.
|
| Xinyan | Support/Main DPS |
Cannot be built as Shielder and Burst support at once without compromising one of the two roles. Actually decent when it focuses on one, though.
|
In Genshin Impact, choosing the right characters for your team is crucial for success. While the tier list provides a general guideline of the most powerful characters, it’s important to remember that individual playstyles and team compositions can also greatly impact your gameplay experience. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different characters and find the ones that best suit your preferred playstyle. Good luck in your adventures in Genshin Impact with your carefully crafted team!
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