Which standard character should I choose as a beginner?

I just started playing Genshin 2-3 days ago and I still haven't made up my mind on who to choose on the free characters from the standard banner. I currently have 5 characters (excluding the traveller): Kaeya, Lisa, Amber, Sethos, and Candice. I would like some help and tips on who to choose from the standard banner in terms of how useful they're gonna be during my early game, and if possible, in the future as well after I've leveled up even more. Thank you

Commentaires

Elysium_Chronicle2026-01-18 10:44

Mona, followed by Jean are the most "meta" units at this current point in time. Although now that they've broached the subject of character buffs, the others may find stronger niches in due time.

Niklear2026-01-18 12:03

Jean is probably the better pick early on Just because of healing, survivability, yeeting certain pain in the ass enemies off cliffs, and SO cheese for smaller bosses. She'll be more useful to a new account. Plus she's a lot easier to play.

Powerful-Insect-48672026-01-18 11:20

Mizuki, her dmg is dogshjt but she having a great exploration abilily even compare to some top tier exploation character, consider newbie having so little stamina she is a best choose for Open World map. Other will be replaced and move to corner of you account when you get an new shiny limited 5\* but Mizuki always there with you till the end, even when you oldbie you still using her if you dont have explore character, she there till you finished your exploration team and it not even close.

_Mysto_2026-01-18 11:23

Regardless of whether you're new or not, you should always decide these things based on design and, if you're able to, characterisation. This way, you be happy with your choice regardless of how good said character is. Saying that, however, Mona is the best in combat, with Tighnari and Dehya following behind. The rest range from somewhat decent to very much bad.

fat_mothra2026-01-18 11:30

Mona and Jean are the most useful, but Standard 5 stars in general aren't very good anyways

Mizuki is the most useful for early game since she heals, has some mobility, she's easy to build and play, and she gets most of her potential without minmaxing, so I'd recommend Mizuki, all she needs is some off field characters and she can easily carry you through anything other than end game

That said, this game isn't hard at all, so I'd suggest you just pick whoever you like more in terms of design and fun of gameplay

Ke5_Jun2026-01-18 11:43

If you care more about meta: Mona or Jean.

If you care more about exploration and puzzles: Mizuki, Dehya, Tighnari, Keqing.

Mona recently got buffs so she is a decent support in a Hex team (your f2p options for partners are Fischl and Sucrose). She is be replaced if you get Furina or Columbina though; with her only meta team remaining being with Mualani.

Jean is a generalist healer and anemo support. She works well anywhere you need healing + swirl for Viridescent Venerer. She is replaceable, but still probably the best standard alongside Mona in the current meta.

Mizuki is a bad meta character, but she has great overworld utility as her skill allows you to fly around and across large gaps.

Dehya is similarly bad in the meta, but she does have a few niches as a defensive character and off field pyro applier. She also has good overworld utility, allowing you to essentially tank environmental hazards such as sheer cold, and she increases your party’s movement speed during the daytime.

Tighnari is a dendro bow user, meaning he has the longest attack range of the standard characters and can come in handy for overworld puzzles.

Keqing’s skill allows her to teleport herself up a small distance, though this is less of an advantage now that we have Aino who does a similar thing and is free.

The other two, Diluc and Qiqi, are probably the least recommended. Diluc can be an ok DPS, but he is outclassed by so many pryo DPSes at this point it’s not easy to recommend him. He’s great in early game for his simple playstyle and low burst cost, but you will see him fall off hard later on.

Qiqi is just bad. Her one good trait is she can heal. That’s just about it. Low dmg, low application, high skill cooldowns, high burst cost, and no other utility in combat or exploration. All she does is heal. And her constellations suck to so she is the worst character to lose 50/50 to.

takenusername50012026-01-18 12:50

Jean will carry your healing needs for a long time

Ellert02026-01-18 16:12

I would go with Jean. One thing to keep in mind is the characters come from different regions and if you don't want to spoil yourself on areas you haven't been to yet it can be a good idea to stay mostly with characters from the region you are playing in.

Jean is a Mondstadter so you can level her and give her upgrades from bosses and domains found in the starting area and she can heal which is always good for a new player.

LeXam922026-01-18 16:37

Jean

DaSpood2026-01-18 17:58

If you just started I'd say Tighnari is a pretty good unit overall. He's a DPS, he uses Dendro, he has a bow for open world puzzles, and his kit is pretty easy to use.

Other than him, Jean and Mona are probably the most useful of the bunch imo.

lostn2026-01-19 03:01

Tighnari is the best of them.

Jean and Mona are useful. Dehya has some situational use also.

Diluc is okay but power crept.

Mizuki is underwhelming but has some value in IT.

The worst are Qiqi and Keqing.

schrodingersdove2026-01-21 22:31

Mona or Jean. Both are great supports. I'd go with Jean personally to fill in your healing needs for a while, plus she does decenet damage at lower AR levels. If you're not a fan of Jean, Mona also does decent damage and provides good buffs to her team. In general, pick between those two based ofd your personal vibes.