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Genshin Impact

Best Characters to Level Up Early | Best Free Characters

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Genshin Impact - Best Characters to Level Early Banner

There are ten free, early game characters in Genshin Impact. Read on to know which recommended early game characters to level up, which ones have a high priority for grinding and precautions to take while raising them.

List of Contents

Early Game Characters to Level

Pre - Adventure Rank 20

Priority Character
S Noelle Image Noelle
A Traveler (Anemo) Image Traveler (Anemo) Lisa Image Lisa Kaeya Image Kaeya
B Amber Image Amber

Jump to Rating Explanation

Post - Adventure Rank 20

S Barbara Image Barbara Xiangling Image Xiangling Traveler (Dendro) Image Traveler (Dendro)
A Collei Image Collei Lynette Image Lynette
B Traveler (Geo) Image Traveler (Geo) Traveler (Electro) Image Traveler (Electro) Traveler (Hydro) Image Traveler (Hydro) Aloy Image Aloy

Jump to Rating Explanation

Ratings Explanation

Pre - Adventure Rank 20 Explanation

S Priority Characters

Character Explanation
Noelle Image Noelle • Claymore character, with huge team utility.
• Summons a shield and can heal party members.
• powerhouse that doesn't require in-depth game knowledge to play.

A Priority Characters

Character Explanation
Lisa Image Lisa • Excellent Electro character who can trigger Electro-based reactions such as Overloaded and Superconduct.
• Holding her Elemental Skill, Violet Arc, charges her attack and gives her Electro damage a larger Area of Effect.
Traveler (Anemo) Image Traveler (Anemo) • Later in the game, the Traveler can change the element they carry, depending on the Statue of the Seven they've unlocked, giving you more diverse options.
• The Traveler's constellation materials can be obtained by playing the game.
Kaeya Image Kaeya • A strong Cryo attacker from the start, with short Elemental Skill cooldown and low energy costs.
• Pairs well with the other starter characters.

B Priority Characters

Character Explanation
Amber Image Amber • Provides Pyro and long range utility.
• Can quickly be replaced with better units as you progress the game.

Post - Adventure Rank 20 Explanation

S Priority Characters

Character Explanation
Barbara Image Barbara • Upon reaching Adventure Rank 20, you can obtain Barbara via mail rewards.
• She can heal party members with both Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst
• Barbara can also provide Hydro application, making her valuable in many ways after AR20
Xiangling Image Xiangling • Players can obtain Xiangling through completing Floor 3 of Spiral Abyss.
• She's a great Pyro unit and can even be levelled further to support other characters even later in the game.
Traveler (Dendro) Image Traveler (Dendro) • Dendro Traveler is also a great support once you reach the region of Sumeru, both in terms of Dendro reactions as well as exploration.
• Similar to Anemo Traveler, the constellations can be obtained easily through progressing the main story and exploration.

A Priority Characters

Character Explanation
Collei Image Collei • After Version 3.1, players get to invite The Sprout of Rebirth, Collei after clearing Floor 4, Chamber 3 of the Spiral Abyss.
• Collei can help with plenty of ranged puzzles in Sumeru and is a good Dendro support or sub-dps as well.
Lynette Image Lynette • Players get a free copy of Lynette after reaching Adventure Rank 25!
• Lynette provides Ousia mechanic for exploration and puzzles in Fontaine.
• She can provide decent Anemo support with her Elemental Burst.

B Priority Characters

Character Explanation
Traveler (Geo) Image Traveler (Geo) • Geo constructs can be useful in exploration.
• Lower priority for players with Noelle or other Geo units built.
Traveler (Electro) Image Traveler (Electro) • High energy cost for a support.
• By the time players reach Inazuma in the main story, better Electro characters are likely available to use.
• Less useful compared to Traveler's other elements.
Traveler (Hydro) Image Traveler (Hydro) • High energy cost for a support.
• By the time players reach Fontaine in the main story, better Hydro characters are likely available to use.
• Less useful compared to other Traveler's other elements.
Aloy Image Aloy • Only available to get in October to November 2021, no longer available for new players.
• Cryo damage pales in comparison to most other characters even in the beginning.

Precautions for Leveling Up

Limited EXP Books

Genshin Impact Best Free Characters to Level Up Limited EXP Books.png

EXP books used to raise character levels are limited, since they can only be obtained from adventuring, exploration, and quest rewards. You will run out if you use them to raise character levels evenly, so we recommend using them sparingly.

Early Level Cap is Lv.20

Genshin Impact Best Free Characters to Level Up Level Cap.png

The initial level cap is only up to Lv.20. Reaching an Adventure Rank of 15 or higher allows you to use Character Ascension to increase the level cap to 40. This lets you further train the high-priority characters listed here. We recommend stocking up EXP Books as much as possible.

Character Ascension | How to Ascend

Free Characters in Genshin Impact

All Free Characters

All Free Characters
Traveler (Geo) Traveler (Geo) Traveler (Anemo) Traveler (Anemo) Amber Amber Lisa Lisa
Kaeya Kaeya Barbara Barbara Noelle Noelle Xiangling Xiangling
Traveler (Electro) Traveler (Electro) Lynette Lynette Traveler (Dendro) Traveler (Dendro) Collei Collei
Traveler (Hydro) Traveler (Hydro)

Limited-Time Free Character

Limited-Time Free Character
Aloy Image Aloy

Aloy was a collaboration character between Genshin Impact and Horizon Zero Dawn. She was available for free for PS4 and PS5 players from September 1, 2021, and on all platforms from October 13, to November 24, 2021 during Version 2.1 and 2.2!
How to Get Characters

Genshin Impact Related Guides

All Tier Lists

Genshin - All Tier Lists

All Tier Lists

List of Tier Lists

All Genshin Impact Tier Lists
Genshin Impact - Character Tier ListCharacter Tier List Genshin Impact - Best Team Composition GuideBest Team Comp
Genshin Impact - Best Weapon Tier ListWeapons Tier List Genshin - Artifact Set ListArtifact Tier List
Genshin - Reroll Tier ListReroll Tier List Genshin - Best Characters to Level EarlyBest Free Characters

Comment

30 Anonymousabout 2 months

Yes, but add Kachina to the list of free characters.

29 Anonymousabout 2 months

Opinions are like buttholes.... everybody has one.

See more comments (30 Comments)

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