Source: HoYoverse
Natlan is almost here! With Genshin Impact version 4 coming to an end, how good were the 5 stars released in every v4 update?
Much like in our article ranking every 4-star released across Genshin Impact’s version 4 updates, how do these 5-star characters stack up against the meta? Were they worth the primogems? Will they be ideal to pull for in future reruns? Read on to find out!
11. Sigewinne
Sigewinne is the lovable nurse of the Fortress of Meropide and a Hydro catalyst healer who sadly places last on this list for one simple reason: she’s the Qiqi of 2024.
Sigewinne is another addition to Genshin Impact’s long list of healers, so you would expect that there would be something that could put her above the rest, or even make her different somehow. However, Sigewinne’s kit, which is subpar compared to even 4-star healers, leaves a lot to be desired.
10. Lyney
Lyney is a Pyro Bow character who is affiliated with the House of the Hearth. Besides being an agent for the Fatui and Arlecchino, Lyney is also a celebrated magician beloved by all of Fontaine.
As a DPS, Lyney is pretty okay, but not great enough to push himself onto the top of the Pyro meta. Compared to other Pyro DPSs, like Hu Tao or Arlecchino, Lyney’s mono-Pyro DMG is nothing to call home about, while his abilities as a bow user can’t truly compare to the likes of Ganyu or Yelan.
9. Emilie
Emilie is Fontaine’s premier perfumer and a Dendro Polearm user who focuses on the reaction “Burning”.
This immediately bumps Emilie down to 9th on our list, as even though she has brought Burning to new heights with her kit, her being locked to buffing a single reaction is also a massive blow to her usability. If you’re not keen on incorporating Burning into your team, then what’s the point of Emilie being in your composition?
8. Chiori
Chiori is a Geo Sword user and the best seamstress in all of Teyvat. As a subDPS however, Chiori performs well enough to make herself known but is underwhelming when it comes to more meta-focused team compositions.
Chiori’s element, Geo, also doesn’t provide much in the current reactions-based meta, as Geo does not react to any element save for producing shields through Crystallize. However, much like Albedo, Chiori dishes out pure DMG when the need arises.
7. Xianyun
Xianyun, or the illustrious adeptus known as Cloud Retainer, has descended from her mystic abode to mingle with humanity as an Anemo-aligned Catalyst support unit.
Xianyun has completely elevated the Anemo-meta with her massive buffs, giving DPSs like Wanderer or Xiao more leeway to generate enormous DMG numbers. Xianyun also made exploration easier thanks to her skill, which already makes her a great character in my books!
Besides breathing (pun intended!) new life to the Anemo element as an even more viable DMG option, Xianyun’s plunge buffs have brought characters like Diluc, who has big plunge DMG multipliers, into the fray once again.
6. Clorinde
Clorinde is the strongest champion duelist in all of Fontaine, and is an Electro Sword DPS who shines best in Aggravate teams. Although Electro has established itself as a powerful element not to be trifled with, if you already have characters like Raiden Shogun, Yae Miko, or even Keqing, Clorinde doesn’t seem to be a necessary addition to your character roster.
Clorinde can dish out pretty good DMG, but it doesn’t quite compare to Raiden Shogun’s Mussou no Hitotachi slash.
But Clorinde is definitely a fun character to play! We all know that guns will never be formally added as a weapon option in Genshin Impact, but seeing Clorinde duke it out like a sharpshooting cowboy is something to look forward to when you’re incorporating her into your team.
5. Wriothesley
Wriothesley is the no-nonsense administrator of the Fortress of Meropide, and is also a Cryo-aligned catalyst DPS with devastating icy punches.
Wriothesley is a very polarising character, as he relies on a team designed to support him with everything they’ve got, similar to Wanderer or Yoimiya. However, the investment is worth it as Cryo is arguably one of the best damage-dealing elements in Genshin Impact. Wriothesley already has the power of reverse-Melt at his fingertips.
Wriothesley’s attack animations are also extremely satisfying for players who just want to ora ora ora their way across the entirety of Teyvat. Who doesn’t enjoy socking some pesky Abyss Mage in the face once in a while, am I right?
4. Navia
Navia is the boss lady of Spina de Rosula, and is our self-designated investigative partner during our journey throughout Fontaine.
As a playable character, Navia is a Geo Claymore user who is also the first ATK-scaling Geo DPS who makes Crystallize somewhat relevant in Genshin Impact’s current meta. Navia is powerful and can dish out massive amounts of DMG numbers, a treat when all those juicy numbers seem to only come from Melt, or from Nuke DPSs.
Even if Navia lacks in providing colourful elemental reactions, she can compete with top DPSs with her hard-hitting Geo DMG. Navia is also very versatile and can take on the role of either DPS or subDPS in your team.
3. Arlecchino
Arlecchino is the 4th of the Fatui Harbingers, the Father of the House of the Hearth, and number two best girl of Fontaine (fight me on this). She is a Pyro polearm hyper carry DPS who’s terrifyingly strong, it makes sense how she’s even more powerful than the Traveler (who has literally defeated ancient dragons).
Having Arlecchino in your account already makes your Teyvat journey loads easier, as she’s so overpowered it will take only seconds to defeat any enemy you come across. I’d put her at number 1 if I could.
2. Neuvillette
For all intents and purposes, Neuvillete should tie with Furina (spoiler, I know!), but the Iudex of Fontaine lands at number 2 simply because he doesn’t have the meta-defining support capability that Furina has.
But don’t let that be a deterrent, Neuvillette, who is a Hydro catalyst DPS, is arguably one of the-if not the most viable damage dealer you can ever pull for. Neuvillette boasts an easy kit with insane damage capability, fitting for his position as the Hydro Sovereign. Ever since his release, fans have soloed the Spiral Abyss with no sweat, cleared challenges in seconds, and even had HoYoverse on their knees at one point due to a “bug fix” that was rolled back in less than 24 hours. If you don’t have Neuvillette in your account, you are definitely missing out.
1. Furina
Furina is the former Hydro Archon of Fontaine (to make the long complicated story short), my best girl, my number 1 girl loser, and the greatest character to ever be released in Genshin Impact’s history.
With the element Hydro and wielding a sword, Furina performs as the top support unit for every possible team composition you could think of. She can provide massive DMG buffs, heal teammates, and can even deploy some good DMG of her own thanks to her watery familiars. I mean, if you’re not screaming support for Mademoiselle Crabaletta when you’re facing off enemies, then why are you still playing Genshin Impact?
Of course, there's no truly perfect character, Furina has some downsides to her kit (like how it's imperative to have a healer tag along when she's deployed), but the pros definitely outweigh any con she has.
Furina has completely redefined Genshin Impact’s meta after her release, a feat that has only been done by the Pyro and Dendro elements, a clear testament to her power as the greatest Archon to ever exist.
Genshin Impact version 5.0 will be released on August 28 and will feature the new region of Natlan, three new characters in Mualani, Kinich, and Kachina, as well as tons of other updates. The newest version also comes with more generous rewards for players, including tons of Primogems for completing Archon Quests and a free standard 5-star character for every anniversary of the game moving forward.
Genshin Impact version 5.0 will also play host to the game's fourth anniversary on September 28, with the slate of anniversary rewards for players also including one free standard 5-star character of their choice.