Genshin Impact Tier List — Who's Meta Right Now (v6.2 & Beyond)

Hey Travelers! If you’re like me — constantly pulling, building, and re-building teams in Genshin Impact — then you know how helpful a solid tier list can be. But with each version update, new characters drop, meta shifts, and what used to be “top-tier forever” can get shoved aside by fresh waifus/husbos or balance changes.

So I wrote up this 2025 Genshin Impact tier guide — from a player’s point-of-view, casual tone, no fluff — to help you get a sense of who's really carrying the meta as of now (post-6.1 and approaching 6.2). I cover everything: how we rank, what S+ vs A vs B tiers really mean, and who stands out as top picks (DPS / Sub-DPS / Support). If you're planning your next wish or figuring out who to grind for — this should help a ton.

I. How This Tier List Works

A. Game Overview: Open-World Action RPG

Genshin Impact blends open-world exploration with elemental combat, character collection, and gear builds. Each character brings a unique element, playstyle, and potential — which means building a good roster often depends on synergy, not just raw power.

B. Character Classification System

To make sense of hundreds of characters, we split them into roles: Main DPS, Sub-DPS / Off-Field Enablers, and Support. This helps us judge what a character does best: burst-damage, reaction-triggering, buffing/shielding, crowd control, etc.

C. Tier List Purpose and Methodology

• S+ Tier: Game-defining top characters. Highest damage output or best utility; excellent performance in endgame (e.g. Spiral Abyss), and remain relevant for a long time.

• S Tier: Upper-meta powerhouses — strong, reliable, and flexible, though maybe not quite as universally dominant.

• A Tier: Solid viable options. With proper investment (weapons, artifacts, team), they perform well — but often more situationally.

• B Tier and below: Situational or niche roles; can work in the right team or for casual play, but not ideal for consistent endgame results.

We judge based on: personal damage output, survivability, energy regeneration / team synergy / reaction support, versatility across content (open world / Abyss / domains), and ease of build (artifact/weapon requirements).

D. Version 6.2 Luna III Meta Update

The meta evolves — new characters, mechanics, and reactions shift what’s powerful. My list reflects the state after the recent 6.1 changes and going into 6.2. Some faces dropped a tier; some climbed. I also consider what players actually use in high-level Spiral Abyss or challenge content.

E. Endgame Content Ranking Focus

Because high-difficulty content (like Spiral Abyss, elite world bosses, challenge domains) is where the strongest really show — this list leans toward endgame viability over casual-play simplicity. If you only care about exploring and doing commissions — all characters can work, but here’s who performs best when stakes are high.

II. Tier Classification System Explained

A. S+ Tier: Game-Defining Top Characters

Why S+?

• Highest damage or utility across many team types

• Consistent success in high-level content (Abyss, endgame bosses)

• Multiple viable builds (flexible artifacts/weapons)

• Great returns per resource invested — even if you don’t have perfect gear

These characters are meta anchors; if you get them, they’ll serve you well long-term.

B. S Tier: Upper-Tier Powerhouses

Still extremely good. They may require more investment, or be slightly more team-composition sensitive than S+, but they remain reliable and strong. Good balance between damage, utility, and flexibility.

C. A Tier: Strong Viable Options

These folk shine when built properly and placed in the right team. It might take more effort (artifacts, team synergy) — but if you commit, they’ll hold their own in most content.

D. B Tier (or lower): Situational or Casual Picks

Better for niche compositions, alternate playstyles, or fun builds. They’ll struggle in the hardest content, but may still offer value for casual play, exploration, or limited resources.

Note: Tier lists are guides — not gospel. A “lower-tier” character with good weapons, artifacts, and synergy can outperform a “top-tier” one. Always weigh your roster, resources, and goals.

III. Role-Based Character Classification & Top Picks

A. Main DPS (On-Field Damage Dealers)

These are your heavy-hitters — the characters who spend most time on-field dealing damage.

S+ Tier Main DPS

• Neuvillette (Hydro, Catalyst) — Often at the top of tier lists for 2025. Consistent, high-scaling damage and solid performance in Abyss.

• Mavuika (Pyro, Catalyst) — Great Pyro main DPS, strong AoE and single-target potential — reliable and flexible.

• Arlecchino (Pyro, Polearm) — Solid burst damage with relatively accessible setup, works across various comps.

S Tier Main DPS (Strong Picks, Slightly More Conditional)

• Hu Tao (Pyro) — Classic DPS pick; strong single-target and spread-enemy DPS, though resource-heavy build wise.

• Ayaka (Cryo) — Reliable freeze / cryo DPS, especially in freeze- or crowd-control oriented teams.

B. Sub-DPS (Off-Field Enablers / Reaction Setup / Supportive Damage)

These guys don’t always tank the limelight — but they’re vital for reactions, team buffs, or breaking enemy shields / resistances.

S+ / S Tier Sub-DPS & Off-Field Specialists

• Furina (Hydro, Sword / Off-Field Utility) — Great at boosting team damage, enabling reactions, supporting main DPS.

• Yelan (Hydro, Bow) — Strong off-field Hydro application and decent utility; good match for many team builds.

• Xiangling (Pyro, Polearm / Sub-DPS / Off-Field) — Surprisingly good as budget-friendly DPS or sub-DPS; efficient Pyro application for reactions.

C. Support (Buffers, Healers, Shields, Utility)

Support characters don’t deal the biggest numbers — but they’re often the backbone of a solid team, giving buffs, healing, shielding, or elemental support that makes DPS shine.

Top Support Picks (S+ / S Tier)

• Kazuha (Anemo, Sword / Crowd Control & Buffs) — Provides massive elemental damage buffs and crowd control, great cross-element versatility.

• Zhongli (Geo, Polearm / Shield & Utility) — If you need survivability and strong shielding, Zhongli remains reliable and flexible.

• Bennett (Pyro, Sword / Healer & Buffer) — Classic go-to support: heals, buffs, and decent synergy with many DPS units; often accessible and worth building.

IV. Spotlight: What Makes S+ Tier Characters Stand Out

A. Neuvillette — Hydro King

• His damage output scales quite high compared to many other options, making him a prime choice if you care about raw performance.

• Works broadly — versatile Hydro application and reaction potential; his flexibility gives him longevity even as meta shifts.

• Great for high-level content where survivability, damage output, and reaction triggering matter (e.g. Spiral Abyss).

B. Mavuika — Pyro Flex DPS

• Solid balance between AoE and single-target damage; reliable for many team compositions.

• Easier to build than some “holy grail” DPS — lower investment but still strong payoff; good for both newer and veteran players.

C. Arlecchino — Burst & Consistency

• Delivers consistent performance across different builds; doesn’t require overly complicated team synergy to shine.

• For players without a perfect roster, Arlecchino remains a solid pick — kind of a “safe bet” main DPS if you pull her.

D. Furina / Yelan / Xiangling — Reliable Sub-DPS & Utility

• The meta isn’t just about main DPS — these off-field / sub-DPS picks provide value: buffs, reaction enabling, team flexibility.

• Especially good for players working with limited resources or newer builds: more forgiving on gear, easier team integration.

E. Top Supports Like Kazuha, Zhongli, Bennett — The Backbone of Many Teams

• If your main DPS hits hard, supports like these ensure stability: damage buff, shields, heals, crowd control — essential for Abyss, domain clears, and even exploration.

V. Role-by-Element & Meta Tendencies

A. Pyro Meta & Its Strength

Pyro remains a heavy hitter: strong pyro DPS (Mavuika, Arlecchino), sub-DPS (Xiangling), good buff/support (Bennett). Great for vaporize/melt comps, especially paired with Hydro / Cryo / Hydro buffers.

B. Hydro Flexibility & Reaction Potential

Hydro units like Neuvillette, Furina, Yelan — still extremely valuable because Hydro enables many reaction paths (vaporize, freeze, hydro-based buffs), and Hydro support units tend to slot into many team comps.

C. Balanced Cryo / Geo / Anemo / Multi-Element Use

Cryo (Ayaka) for freeze/shatter comps, Geo (Zhongli) for shielding/defense or physical-resistant content, Anemo (Kazuha) for buffs and crowd control — these elements remain viable but often context-dependent compared to Hydro/Pyro dominance.

VI. What About the Other Characters (A / B Tier)?

Don’t sleep on them — A-tier and B-tier picks still have value. Here’s how I view them

• A-tier: Worth building if you enjoy certain playstyles, or want to build around a niche team (element combos, challenge content, fun builds).

• B-tier (lower): More for casual play, exploration, early-game or free-to-play players. Use them until you pull better, or if you want a fun side team without heavy investment.

With good weapons, decent artifacts, or clever team comps — A or even B-tier characters can still clear content, albeit less reliably than S/S+ picks.

VII. Tier List Limitations & Why Context Matters

• Team composition matters a lot — A “top-tier” DPS might suck without proper support/sub-DPS to build reactions or buffs.

• Artifacts & weapons heavy — many high-tier picks need near-optimal gear to shine; undergeared, they can underperform.

• Meta shifts constantly — new banners, characters, buffs or nerfs can shift tiers quickly. What’s top now may drop later, or vice versa.

• Player preference counts — sometimes I pick a character not because of meta, but because I like their playstyle or character design. That alone is worth it.

So use the tier list as a guide, not a rulebook.

VIII. Whom I Recommend for Different Players

Genshin’s character pool is wild and always growing. A tier list like this helps — but the real fun lies in building a team you enjoy playing.

If you’ve been saving primogems, planning pulls, or debating who to build next — use this as a compass, not a map. Your personal preferences, luck, and patience matter just as much as “meta.”

Whether you go for raw power (S+), solid reliability (S/A), or just fun builds (B+), as long as it feels good — that’s what counts.

Happy pulling, traveler. May your gacha rolls be kind, and may your Abyss clears be smooth.