Quick Answer: Version 6.0 throws the meta into a blender with new Dendro support Lauma absolutely dominating SS-tier, while our tried-and-true powerhouses like Neuvillette and Arlecchino keep their crowns. The Luna I update drops Nod-Krai region mechanics that basically say hey, invest in these new characters or get left behind – which honestly reshapes everything about team building and where you should dump your resources for endgame content.
How We Actually Rank These Characters (No BS Methodology)
What Makes a Character Good? Let's Break It Down
Look, after covering Genshin for three years, I've learned that tier lists mean nothing without solid criteria. Version 6.0 rankings come from real performance data across Spiral Abyss, Imaginarium Theater, and that brutal new Stygian Onslaught mode.
We're looking at five core factors: raw damage output, how well they play with others, elemental utility (because reactions still rule this game), how much you need to invest to make them work, and flexibility across different team comps. Characters get preliminary rankings when they drop, but we wait a full week before their banner ends to give final verdicts – because let's be honest, day-one impressions can be wildly off.
Major shake-ups happen when HoYoverse introduces game-changers like this new Lunar reaction system. And boy, did that change everything.
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DPS vs Support vs Sub-DPS – The Holy Trinity
Main DPS characters are your bread and butter damage dealers who hog field time and anchor your rotations. Think Arlecchino, Neuvillette, and newcomer Flins. Sub-DPS units work their magic off-field, perfect for quick-swap teams – Furina, Yelan, and Xingqiu are the gold standard here.
Support characters? They're the unsung heroes making everyone else shine through buffs, shields, healing, or crowd control. You've got universal powerhouses like Bennett and niche specialists like Gorou who transform specific team archetypes.
F2P Reality Check vs Whale Dreams
Here's where most tier lists get it wrong – they don't separate the haves from the have-nots.
F2P rankings focus on accessible 4-stars and 5-stars at C0 with craftable weapons. Whale rankings? That's where characters like Raiden Shogun jump from A-tier at C0 straight to SS-tier at C2 thanks to that ridiculous DEF ignore buff.
Version 6.0 throws in this Masterless Stella Fortuna system letting characters break level 90 and hit 100. If you've already maxed constellations on 5-stars, you get retroactive materials. Nice touch, HoYoverse.
S-Tier Characters: The Undisputed Champions
DPS Kings and Queens
Neuvillette still reigns supreme as the premier Hydro DPS. His HP-scaling charged attacks are just... chef's kiss. Optimal build runs Tome of the Eternal Flow with Marechaussee Hunter artifacts – stack HP%, CRIT Rate, and CRIT DMG like your life depends on it.
Best team comp? Kazuha for that sweet elemental damage bonus, Furina for damage buffs that scale into the stratosphere, and Xilonen for resistance shred. It's expensive but devastating.
Arlecchino dominates Pyro DPS through her unique Bond of Life mechanic. Yeah, she can't heal, but who needs healing when everything's dead? That damage scaling is absolutely bonkers. Crimson Moon's Semblance pairs perfectly with Fragment of Harmonic Whimsy artifacts.
What I love about Arlecchino is her flexibility – she works in Vaporize setups with Furina, Bennett, Xilonen, or Overloaded comps featuring Fischl, Chevreuse, Bennett. Adaptability wins games.
The Support Revolution
Lauma – oh boy, where do I even start?
This new Dendro support completely rewrites the Bloom meta playbook. Released September 10, 2025, and immediately shot to SS-tier.
Her kit lets Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Burgeon reactions actually CRIT after using her Elemental Skill. She converts regular Bloom into Lunar-Bloom while providing consistent off-field Dendro application and dual resistance shred.
That signature weapon, Nightweaver's Looking Glass? It's not just good – it's game-breaking. We're talking 120-240% damage increases for Bloom, 80-160% for Hyperbloom/Burgeon, and 40-80% for Lunar-Bloom reactions. Those numbers aren't typos.
Furina remains the universal buffer queen. HP scaling for both damage and buffs makes her incredibly versatile. Golden Troupe artifact set maximizes her off-field Elemental Skill damage – focus on HP%, Energy Recharge, and CRIT stats.
Sub-DPS Stalwarts
Xingqiu at C6 with Sacrificial Sword is still the Hydro application gold standard. That damage reduction and minor healing? Just bonus points on an already incredible kit.
Aino enters at B to A-tier as our first 4-star Hydro Claymore user. Low Energy cost, accessible off-field Hydro application, and her C6 boosts Lunar Reaction damage. Perfect for engaging with Nod-Krai mechanics without breaking the bank.
A-Tier Characters: Still Excellent, Just Not Perfect
Strong DPS Alternatives
Alhaitham holds strong A-tier positioning as Dendro DPS, excelling in Spread and Aggravate teams. The meta shift toward Bloom reactions hurts him a bit, but he's far from obsolete.
Ayaka faces some tough times. The meta evolution favoring reaction-based damage over raw Cryo DPS pushes her down, though Freeze compositions still work. Traditional DPS characters like Lyney, Clorinde, and Wriothesley experience similar pressure as the meta emphasizes specialized reaction teams.
Reliable Support Options
Nahida drops from SS-tier to S-tier post-Lauma, but she's still valuable in Aggravate and Spread teams. Bennett continues being Bennett – universal ATK buff and healing never go out of style.
Kazuha offers irreplaceable elemental damage bonuses and crowd control. Particularly valuable for Neuvillette and Arlecchino teams.
Kokomi actually gains value thanks to Lauma's Bloom team impact. Her healing and Hydro application enable sustained reaction damage. Thoma experiences a renaissance in Burgeon teams where Lauma's enhancements make his Pyro application genuinely valuable.
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B-Tier Characters: Solid Choices with Caveats
Niche DPS Characters Finding New Life
Nilou jumps to S-tier in specific Bloom compositions, especially paired with Lauma's CRIT-enabling effects. Her Bountiful Core mechanic synergizes perfectly with the new Lunar-Bloom system – it's like they were made for each other.
Kaveh finds renewed purpose as on-field driver in F2P Lunar Bloom teams. He serves as both Main DPS and Dendro Core detonator with crucial self-healing capabilities. Not glamorous, but effective.
Flins enters as our new 5-star Electro Polearm DPS centered around Lunar-Charged reactions. His kit infuses Normal and Charged Attacks with Electro through Elemental Skill, while his Burst transforms into Thunderous Symphony for AoE damage. Signature weapon Bloodsoaked Ruins enhances Lunar-Charged damage and provides CRIT DMG buffs.
Situational Supports
Baizhu gains value in Neuvillette teams where his healing enables Furina's damage buffs while providing Dendro application. Chevreuse excels in Overloaded compositions with Arlecchino, Fischl, Bennett – though that niche focus limits broader appeal.
Gorou remains highly rated within Geo teams despite limited universal appeal. Sometimes being the best at one thing beats being mediocre at everything.
Budget-Friendly Options
Barbara works effectively in F2P Hyperbloom teams, providing healing and Hydro application for Dendro core generation. Kuki Shinobu functions as Electro trigger in Hyperbloom compositions, offering healing while consistently triggering enhanced Dendro cores.
Xiangling continues providing powerful off-field Pyro damage. Those energy requirements can be challenging, but the payoff is worth it.
C-Tier Characters: They Exist
Characters here can complete content but are easily replaced by better alternatives.
Qiqi provides strong healing but lacks the utility and damage contribution of other healers like Kokomi or Baizhu. Amber remains primarily valuable for puzzle-solving with limited combat viability. Lisa provides Electro application and DEF shred but suffers from clunky mechanics and energy issues.
Kaeya offers consistent Cryo application but lacks the damage output of premium Cryo characters.
The anniversary celebration starting September 28 lets players select one of eight 5-star characters including Diluc, Mona, Jean, Qiqi, Keqing, Yumemizuki Mizuki, Dehya, and Tighnari through the Rainbow's End: Silvery Flux event. Free 5-star? Yes please.
Best Team Compositions by Tier
S-Tier Team Synergies
Premium Lunar Bloom Team: Lauma (Sub-DPS), Aino (Enabler), Nilou (Main DPS), Baizhu (Sustain) utilizes Nod-Krai Ascendant Gleam effect for maximum Lunar reaction damage.
Premium Bloom Team (CRIT): Lauma (Enabler), Nahida (Enabler), Nilou (Main DPS), Kokomi (Sustain) leverages Lauma's talent to enable Bountiful Core critical hits.
Neuvillette Hypercarry: Neuvillette (Main DPS), Kazuha (Support/Buffer), Furina (Sub-DPS/Buffer), Xilonen (Support/Debuffer) maximizes single-target damage through multiple buffs and resistance shred.
Mixed-Tier Effective Teams
Arlecchino Vaporize: Arlecchino (Main DPS), Furina (Buffer), Bennett (Buffer), Xilonen (Debuffer) provides flexible damage scaling with strong support utility.
Overloaded Synergy: Arlecchino, Fischl, Chevreuse, Bennett creates consistent reaction damage while benefiting from Chevreuse's specialized buffs.
F2P Friendly Compositions
F2P Lunar Bloom: Lauma, Aino, Kaveh (Main DPS), Xingqiu (Enabler) utilizes accessible characters while engaging with new reaction mechanics.
F2P Hyperbloom: Lauma (Enabler), Barbara (Sustain/Enabler), Kuki Shinobu (Trigger), Xingqiu (Enabler) creates consistent Dendro core generation with minimal investment.
Character Investment Priorities (Where to Spend Your Resources)
Talent Level Recommendations
Main DPS characters typically prioritize Normal Attack talents first, followed by Elemental Skill and Burst. Support characters focus on Elemental Skill and Burst talents providing buffs or utility.
Lauma requires Elemental Skill priority for reaction enhancement effects, followed by Elemental Burst. Neuvillette benefits from Normal Attack talent investment first for Charged Attack damage.
Constellation Worth Analysis
High-Value Constellations: Hu Tao C1 eliminates stamina issues (game-changer), Raiden Shogun C2 provides DEF ignore buff, Nahida C2 unlocks multiple Dendro reaction buffs, Xingqiu C6 achieves optimal Hydro application, Aino C6 boosts Lunar Reaction damage.
Moderate-Value Constellations: Arlecchino C1 improves energy generation, Neuvillette C1 enhances interruption resistance, Furina C1 increases party CRIT Rate.
Weapon Investment Guide
Signature Weapons provide optimal scaling
– Lauma's Nightweaver's Looking Glass and Flins' Bloodsoaked Ruins offer irreplaceable reaction damage bonuses.
Universal 5-Star Options like Mistsplitter Reforged, Homa, and Aqua Simulacra provide strong stats for multiple characters. 4-Star Alternatives include Sacrificial Sword for Xingqiu, Prototype Amber for catalyst healers, and The Catch for Burst-focused polearm users.
Meta Shifts and Changes in 6.0 (The Big Picture)
New Character Impact
Lauma's introduction creates immediate meta disruption by powercreeping Nahida in Bloom teams while elevating Nilou and Thoma. Her ability to enable CRIT on Dendro reactions fundamentally changes damage calculations.
Nod-Krai region introduces Lunar reaction variants locked behind new characters, following Natlan's Nightsoul pattern. Aino provides universal access to Nod-Krai mechanics through free distribution – smart move by HoYoverse.
Elemental Reaction Updates
Lunar-Bloom reactions provide enhanced damage over standard Bloom
, creating incentives for region-specific team compositions. Lunar-Charged reactions offer new Electro-based damage scaling.
Bloom reactions achieving critical hits through Lauma's kit represents a fundamental change requiring re-evaluation of Elemental Mastery versus CRIT stat priorities. The math is completely different now.
Spiral Abyss Adaptations
Stygian Onslaught content demonstrates mechanics favoring Lunar-based attacks, indicating future endgame content will reward Nod-Krai character usage. Enemy designs show increased HP pools and reaction resistance, favoring characters with sustained damage like Neuvillette and Arlecchino over burst-focused approaches.
Common Tier List Mistakes to Avoid (Learn from Others' Pain)
Overvaluing Popular Characters
Community popularity polls show Mavuika (239 votes), Arlecchino (196 votes), and Furina (129 votes) as top choices, but popularity doesn't equal meta effectiveness. Character aesthetics often influence preferences more than gameplay effectiveness – which shouldn't override practical endgame considerations.
I get it. Waifu over meta is a valid playstyle. But don't expect your favorites to clear Abyss 36-star if they're not built for it.
Ignoring Team Synergy
This is the biggest mistake I see. Evaluating characters in isolation rather than as team components misses the entire point. Nilou appears mediocre outside Hydro/Dendro teams but becomes SS-tier within optimal compositions.
Gorou exemplifies this perfectly – limited universal appeal but irreplaceable in DEF-scaling Geo teams.
Misunderstanding Role Functions
Players often expect characters to excel outside intended roles. Support characters like Bennett shouldn't be evaluated on personal damage, while DPS characters like Arlecchino shouldn't be criticized for lacking utility.
Energy requirements frequently cause undervaluation when players lack proper team building knowledge. Learn your rotations, folks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the strongest DPS characters in Genshin Impact 6.0? Neuvillette and Arlecchino dominate SS-tier, with Neuvillette excelling in HP-scaling charged attacks and Arlecchino providing flexible Pyro damage through Bond of Life. Flins offers strong Electro DPS potential with Lunar-Charged reactions.
How has Lauma's release changed the meta in Version 6.0? Lauma fundamentally reshapes Bloom teams by enabling Dendro reactions to achieve critical hits and converting Bloom into enhanced Lunar-Bloom reactions. This elevates Nilou to S-tier while demoting Nahida from SS-tier to S-tier.
What makes a character worthy of S-tier ranking? S-tier characters demonstrate peak strength with recommended investment, clearing all endgame content with ease while maintaining long-term meta relevance through high damage potential, strong elemental utility, reasonable investment costs, and synergy with top-tier characters.
Are 4-star characters still viable in the current meta? Several 4-star characters remain highly competitive: Xingqiu at C6 for Hydro application, Bennett for universal ATK buffs, and Aino for accessible Lunar reaction mechanics. These provide essential support functions that 5-star alternatives can't replicate.
How should F2P players prioritize character investments in 6.0? Focus on characters providing broad utility like Bennett, Xingqiu, and Kazuha, while targeting specific 5-star DPS like Neuvillette or Arlecchino who perform well at C0 with 4-star weapons. Free Aino ensures Nod-Krai access, while the anniversary event offers free 5-star selection starting September 28.
What team compositions work best for the new Nod-Krai characters? Premium teams feature Lauma with Aino, Nilou, and Baizhu for maximum Lunar-Bloom damage. F2P options include Lauma, Aino, Kaveh, and Xingqiu. Flins excels in Electro-focused compositions maximizing Lunar-Charged potential. Use multiple Nod-Krai characters together for region-specific bonuses.