best character to pick for a no-wish account?

hey guys! i just created a new account, and on this account, i plan to not spend a single fate or primogem. i will only have access to free characters given to the player throughout the game, and non-banner weapons. given this information, which character should i choose from this event? this may be my only chance to get a 5 star character, so i want to choose wisely. im looking for whoever is most powerful or useful, with my future character catalogue in mind.
just from the top of my head, i believe these are the only free characters: traveler, amber, kaeya, lisa, barbara, xinyan, aino, collei, + other selectables from events (lmk if im missing any)
any advice or ideas?

Commentaires

HelaPuff20202026-01-23 23:45

Google.com

phaideibackshots2026-01-23 23:45

mona, she's much stronger than everyone else because of the hexerei buffs. jean won't be as good because one of her biggest strengths is her fanfare generation, and the rest just aren't that great, especially without limited characters

[deleted]2026-01-24 00:18

[deleted]

phaideibackshots2026-01-24 00:21

i mean her synergy with furina, who buffs more based on hp changes. since jean has a party wide heal she can max it out really quickly

k3tak4t2026-01-24 01:16

but the person won't be getting furina since they won't be wishing 😭

phaideibackshots2026-01-24 08:17

thats... that's why i said she won't be as good

kifune892026-01-24 03:17

Remember this player might be has less character, it's either big chance the person who post it don't have Durin or don't have constellation for Mona, you can't recommended Mona for new player.

Mona only function with Durin (Hexenzirkel) and if you pull commit to certain group of unit.

Yeah Jean is best option here but Barbara is Free in Story. Lynette is also free in AR level.

SecyaDenali2026-01-23 23:46

I wouldnt recommend it tbh i tried your acctually harming the account rather than benefitting. Your missing out on free pink fates/blue fates. Character cons on 4 stars etc. It is theoritically and practically possible to do spiral without primogems but requires wishing. Got a Furina out of it which is obvuously amazing.

I did whereby not spending primos but any wishes in quests/levels up its much better. It kind of self replicates because you get 5/5 from the shop each reset.

Honestly all of them dont really matter pick who you like because the time it takes to get relevancy on cons is a long time. Like lowkey Mizuki is very nice just for her exploration perk

Silver-Forever-85182026-01-23 23:47

i am just doing it for fun, i dont really care ablut that stuff :)

SecyaDenali2026-01-24 00:17

Mizuki is great for exploring

ceton_2026-01-24 00:39

erm yeah no shit does this make the game harder , thats the point

ChChChillian2026-01-23 23:47

Offering Qiqi as a free character has got to be a troll on Hoyo's part.

LibraProtocol2026-01-24 00:02

Qiqi is actually a pretty comfy pick and can carry a new player through most of the game content on her own. She is incredibly easy to build too.

ChChChillian2026-01-24 00:09

It's kind of a standard joke how often she seems to show up when you lose your 50/50. Hell, I've even got C6 Qiqi and I've never once pulled for her.

LibraProtocol2026-01-24 01:16

Weirdly I never lost my 50/50 to her. I had to actively pick Qiqi during selector. Instead all my 50/50s have been lost to Tighnari

lulaneklulanos2026-01-23 23:47

mona

TrialByFyah2026-01-23 23:48

At some point you'll come across a quest that will give you a choice of a free Sucrose, Fischl, or Razor. Which one of those are you picking? Because that makes a difference.

LightOfTeyvat2026-01-24 00:41

Ooh that’s a good point

SectorApprehensive582026-01-23 23:49

if you care about exploration, mizuki. She lets you bs your way through a lot of puzzles and oculus

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH_H2026-01-23 23:51

Mona because she is the strongest Support and Most versatile of These but Jean is a good Second Pick since she heals, can hold vv and allows cheesing

YurxDoug2026-01-24 00:03

Mona > Jean > Maybe Tighnari for DPS.

dnzgn2026-01-24 00:29

Since you won't get a main DPS, Keqing is probably the best option, Diluc and Tighnari are also okay.

kifune892026-01-24 03:13

True, for me much better to pick Main DPS for now

ceton_2026-01-24 00:37

i would say tighnari bc he has alright dps potential and there are some other very good supports you can get without wishing but idk about dps characters

ceton_2026-01-24 00:40

lowkey a lot of ppl recommending mona and yeah shes a god support but id first figure out what you need more support or dps character. and i have a hunch its dps

kifune892026-01-24 03:14

Mona is only good if you have Constellation and Durin, unlike other options.

RiceIsTwice2026-01-24 00:39

mona is the strongest pick

LightOfTeyvat2026-01-24 00:41

Diluc was my first 5 star and he carried me until I got Navia so I vote Diluc! Both out of loyalty and bc I just love the guy!

MasatoManatee2026-01-24 00:43

Assuming every 4* char from 1.0 onwards. The decision hedges on what your lantern rite picks were. In general Mona and Tighnari are the most valuable due to slim pickings for Hydro and Dendro in the no wish roster (if only you could get two C0 Xingqius instead of constellations lol) but otherwise you need whatever solves the boss mechanics you blindspot from LRite picks.

LightOfTeyvat2026-01-24 00:43

Wait does that mean you can’t get Noelle bc technically you have to wish for her?

Ke5_Jun2026-01-24 00:50

This won’t be your only chance because you get this very same selector once a year; if you plan on keeping this account for the long term that is.

But anyways. Your list of free characters is a bit off; the free wishless characters are as follows:

Traveler, Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, Barbara, Collei, Xiangling, Lynette, Kachina, and Aino.

You will additionally get a selector for one of these characters: Fischl, Sucrose, or Razor.

Finally, once a year you can get a Liyue 4-star from Lantern Rite.

As a side note, technically the two Manekins are also free characters, but they cannot be used in endgame. Still, they can be useful in overworld content, and due to how they are levelled up, they can be extremely cost effective material wise (you don’t need any materials to max them out). Only one can be used at a time (can’t be together in the same team).

Imo, Jean and Mona are the best two choices for this selector. Jean is a great healer and VV support, and Mona can pair with one of the Hexerei selector characters for buffs.

Now as for that Hex character… normally Sucrose would be the better pick, but I’n actually going to recommend Fischl for a few reasons. One is that a wishless account is woefully inadequate in the DPS department. Sure, you could choose Keqing or Tighnari for a decent DPS, but both would really like Fischl as a teammate to begin with. Fischl + Mona is a great core as well. Fischl also helps Lisa become a consideration for an aggravate/quickbloom DPS with Dendro Traveler + Lynette or Barbara/Xingqiu. Lisa has access to the craftable Fruit of Fulfillment or Blackmarrow Lantern and so is a solid choice given your available characters.

Still, Sucrose is a fine choice and so it’s really a toss up between the two; neither would be a bad choice. Just don’t pick Razor lol. Just know that without wishes your only options for weapons are the above mentioned Fruit of Fulfillment and Blackmarrow Lantern, or Mappa Mare. Magic Guide is wish only.

As for Lantern Rite, Xingqiu is the highest priority. Hydro is just too valuable of an element and you want as much of it as possible. My next pick would be Lan Yan (especially if you picked Fischl). Favonius and Sacrificial Swords are unavailable to you. However you can obtain Fleuve Cendre Ferryman R5 for him (Fontaine fishing weapon). Amenoma Kageuchi is also a viable option if you play well, as is Sapwood Blade.

Also keep in mind that you will eventually get access to Pyro Traveler, who is likely going to be your strongest DPS. Xiangling at C0 is arguably worse as a dmg dealer, especially since you lack Bennett and TTDS is a wish only weapon; meaning you have no good pyro battery and no good ATK buffer. XL isn’t useless ofc; you can still get The Catch R5 and Emblem on her, but she will be significantly less powerful than on an account with wishes available. In the meantime, some variant of a dendro team is probably going to carry you through early game.

refance2026-01-24 02:05

Tignari

No-Piano-9872026-01-24 02:22

I genuinely don't understand people who create separate accounts to specifically do a no-wish run but seemingly lack the game knowledge to do so. If you don't know enough about the game why even do this type of challenge? Literally none of them will be game-breaking so just get whoever you want.

Silver-Forever-85182026-01-24 02:27

because i have free will and there are absolutely zero stakes. im just playing the game how i want to, and wanted community input. what is the problem with that?

kifune892026-01-24 03:08

If you want to experience genshin is much easy way or being starter pick Diluc is best choice (You will learn a lot from game if you pick him) meanwhile Tighnari and Jean is more long term benefits for your account (Both tighnari and Jean can be use at Endgame content) and if you pick Mona, she is also great addition if you have Hexenzirkel character but I recommended Mona for player who has a lot of character (+ Mona is only good if you have Constellation).

• Pick Diluc for beginners experience.
• Pick Tighnari or Jean for Endgame content.
• Pick Mona if you have Hexenzirkel character (Mostly Durin), it's hard to recommend Mona for new player if you don't have Durin or don't have plan to get Constellation for Mona.

DamienYoimiya2026-01-24 04:55

Jean or Mona for support. Tighnari is also a good choice if you want a DPS.

Axheron2026-01-24 06:04

Mona's versatility is absolutely busted, even more so with the recent Hexerei buffs. Jean is a great healer with a unique skill that so many of us have fun with. Tighnari is the best Standard DPS.

vampzireael2026-01-24 10:24

Tighnari and Mona