10 Best Free Characters in Genshin Impact (2025)

Genshin Impact has been around for some four years now. And, in all that time, the game has consistently released content updates. The most significant has been free characters that cost nothing to unlock and upgrade. What’s more? These free characters are just as good, being more than enough to take you through the quests and fights against enemies with ease. However, not all the free characters are created equal. Some are simply more worthwhile to chase down and upgrade than others. Here are the best free characters in Genshin Impact  you absolutely want in your corner.

10. Noelle

Noelle is “the maid of all maids” in the Knights of Favonius. However, she herself isn’t a knight but has since her character’s inception been working toward becoming a member. In any case, she proves a useful DPS and tank combatant in battle. Her normal attack can unleash four consecutive strikes. But her breastplate is unrivaled, inflicting damage on enemies while also protecting her. Meanwhile, her elemental burst also comes in handy in inflicting a powerful AoE attack on surrounding enemies. 

9. Kaeya

Kaeya has already joined the Knights of Favonius, serving as the Cavalry Captain. Being a sword-wielder, Kaeya plays quite reliably as a sub-DPS character. He specializes in cryo energy, freezing enemies at will while also helping you explore water bodies. Further, he syncs well with hydro characters and enjoys a lower cooldown when it’s raining. With five consecutive strikes and unleashing frost on enemies, he’s a good bargain, especially when he’s completely free.

8. Fischl

Fischl may be a support character. However, she’s quite powerful enough to rank high up the tier list. She wields a powerful bow that shoots damaging arrows, which combined with her elemental ability, make her an unstoppable force. As an Electro character and a daring adventure, Fischl deals AoE attacks. She can also ramp up her speed, striking nearby enemies with lighting and inflicting electro damage. 

7. Lynette

Serving as her brother’s assistant, who’s a magician, Lynette has some unique skills you can take advantage of. Her normal attacks allow you to unleash four rapid strikes. However, her elemental skill can unleash an Enigma Thrust. This inflicts anemo damage on enemies that will restore your health concurrently. Meanwhile, her elemental burst inflicts a powerful AoE anemo attack that at the same time, conjures up a Bogglecat Box that taunts enemies. 

6. Ningguang

Ningguang is a mogul Geo character, which has received a recent boost that can take you all the way to level 90 and above. Geo has become incredibly powerful and also lets you conjure up shields for defense. However, it’s her innate abilities that make her stand out among the best free characters in Genshin Impact. She shoots gems, for instance, that inflict significant damage. She also can create a Jade Screen, which inflicts more AoE damage while also blocking any incoming enemy projectiles. Moreover, her elemental burst ability allows you to gather a lot of gems and unleash them all at once on enemies like a machine gun. These homing projectiles will take out several enemies in the thousands.

5. Collei

If you’re looking for a Dendro character, Collei is your best bet. She wields a bow that unleashes four consecutive shots. Her floral brush ability, on the other hand, unleashes a floral ring, which inflicts Dendro damage on enemies. It’s an interesting ability as you can retrieve the floral ring to use it again, inflicting double damage. Meanwhile, her elemental burst can throw a Cuilein-Anbar, which explodes on impact, inflicting AoE dendro damage.

4. Diona

Diona is a Cryo character who also excels at putting up a powerful shield. You can survive for longer as a result. With five consecutive shots using her bow, though, her attack is just as good. And with her icy paw that inflicts cryo damage, you can take out enemies with ease. The icy paw forms a shield that absorbs damage while still inflicting cyro damage on enemies who come into contact with it. Meanwhile, she can unleash a cold brew, which inflicts more AoE cyro damage on enemies for a prolonged time via a drunken mist.

3. Traveler

While most free characters are four stars, the Traveler is a five-star character who can control all seven elements. Admittedly, not all the elements are balanced. The Dendro variant, for instance, is more powerful. Still, when you combine the elements, you can get some pretty potent outcomes. Interestingly, the Traveler can be either one of the twin siblings Aether and Lumine. You have freedom of choice over which sibling you prefer, which just adds to the versatility of this character.

2. Xingqiu

Although Xingqiu is a four-star character, he can compete easily with other five-star ones. He’s fast and powerful, easily taking out several enemies. He specializes in hydro, dealing water damage to enemies. While wielding his sword, he can unleash five rapid strikes. He can also perform twin sword strikes, inflicting more hydro damage. Moreover, he can create rain swords that orbit around you, which have several benefits. They cut down damage intake while increasing your resistance. However, it’s the elemental burst that steals the show with its rainbow blade work. It creates an illusionary sword rain which deals thousands of water damage and fast.

1. Xiangling

Xiangling remains in the top spot of the best free characters in Genshin Impact. She’s simply that good, exceling in dealing pyro damage in the sub-DPS class. She marries well with other party members, boosting your overall attack and defense. Her normal attacks unleash five consecutive spear strikes. However, she can summon Guoba the Panda, who breathes fire, inflicting pyro AoE damage. Meanwhile, her elemental burst conjures up a Pyronado that spirals around her. All along, it’ll inflict pyro damage on all enemies who dare get too close.