If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes grinding a Spiral Abyss floor only to miss the full star clear by 10 seconds, you’ve probably asked yourself who is the best DPS in Genshin Impact at some point. The truth is there’s no one universal answer, but picking the right damage dealer for your playstyle, existing team, and available resources can make your entire Teyvat experience 10x smoother. I’ve spent over 3 years testing every 5-star and 4-star DPS across every game mode, from open world boss fights to the hardest Abyss cycles, so I’m breaking down exactly what makes a great DPS, which picks perform best in different scenarios, and how to avoid wasting primogems on a character that doesn’t fit your account.
How We Rank Who Is the Best DPS in Genshin Impact
We don’t just look at raw damage numbers when ranking DPS characters, because those numbers only matter if you can actually hit them with the resources you have. A character that can deal 2 million damage per nuke doesn’t help you if you don’t have the 5-star signature weapon and limited supports required to reach that number. Our ranking criteria focuses on value for the average player, with four core factors:
- Consistent damage output: We prioritize characters that deal steady damage over long rotations, not just one big nuke that only hits once every 20 seconds.
- Team flexibility: Top DPS picks work with multiple support units, so you don’t have to pull for 3 limited 5-stars just to make them viable.
- F2P friendliness: We note which characters perform well with 4-star weapons and low constellations, so you don’t need to whale to get good value.
- Multi-target performance: Great DPS handle both single target bosses and groups of mobs equally well, so you don’t have to swap characters for every fight.
You might notice some popular niche meta picks are lower on our list if they’re too restrictive for most players. For example, a DPS that requires C6 and a 5-star signature weapon to hit their full potential isn’t helpful for 90% of the player base, so we rank them lower than more accessible options that perform well with minimal investment.
Top 5-Star DPS Picks for Meta Players
If you regularly clear Spiral Abyss and want to maximize your damage output for endgame content, these limited 5-star picks are the strongest options available right now. All of them work perfectly well at C0, so you don’t have to pull for constellations to get great value. Hu Tao is still one of the highest single-target damage dealers in the game, especially when paired with Xingqiu and Yelan for vaporize reactions. She works great even with a 4-star Dragon’s Bane, so you don’t need to pull for her signature Staff of Homa to hit competitive damage numbers. The only catch is you have to manage her HP below 50% to get her full damage bonus, which can be tricky for new players who struggle with dodging.
Arlecchino is a far more forgiving pyro alternative to Hu Tao, with high consistent damage that doesn’t require HP management. Her kit lets her heal herself mid-rotation, so you don’t have to worry about dying while you’re dishing out damage, and she works with both vaporize and overload teams. She’s also one of the few DPS that performs just as well on-field as she does off-field, so you can slot her into almost any team comp. Alhaitham is the top dendro DPS pick for reaction-focused players, with fast, consistent damage that works with quicken, hyperbloom, and spread teams. He has extremely low energy requirements, so you don’t have to run a dedicated battery for him, and he excels at both single target and multi-target fights.
If you prefer cryo damage, Wriothesley is a fantastic straightforward pick with no complex rotation requirements. You just hold his charged attack and deal steady high damage, and he works with both freeze and melt teams. He’s also great for open world exploration, since he can cross water with his ice skill and doesn’t need to stop to heal mid-fight.
Best 4-Star DPS Picks for F2P and Casual Players
You don’t need to spend a single cent on primogems to get a DPS that can clear all endgame content, and these 4-star picks often perform just as well as limited 5-stars with the right investment. Xiangling is hands down the best 4-star DPS in the game, and you get her for free after clearing Spiral Abyss Floor 3. Her Pyronado burst deals consistent off-field pyro damage for 10 seconds, and she works with almost every reaction team from vaporize to melt to overload. She’s even viable in the highest Abyss floors at C0 with a 4-star The Catch polearm, which you can get for free from fishing in a few hours.
Yanfei is a great pyro catalyst DPS for players who don’t have Xiangling built yet, with a simple playstyle that revolves around charged attacks. She has built-in shield support when she uses her elemental burst, so she’s more forgiving for players who struggle with dodging, and she works great with Xingqiu for vaporize reactions. She’s also extremely easy to get, since she appears regularly on standard banner and limited banner rate-ups. Heizou is a fun anemo DPS option for players who like fast, mobile playstyles, with high damage from swirl reactions when paired with electro or pyro supports. He’s perfect for open world exploration, since his sprint lets you cover ground fast, and he can group up mobs with his elemental skill for easier farming.
So many players sleep on 4-star DPS options because they assume 5-stars are always stronger, but that’s not the case. I’ve cleared every Abyss cycle for the past 2 years using only C0 Xiangling as my main DPS on one of my teams, so don’t write off 4-stars just because they’re not limited 5-star picks.
How to Pick the Right DPS for Your Account
Tier lists only get you so far, and the best DPS for your friend might be a terrible fit for your account. First, look at the supports you already have built. If you already have a leveled Xingqiu and Yelan, a pyro DPS like Hu Tao or Xiangling will be a perfect fit, since you already have the core of their team comp ready to go. If you have built dendro supports like Nahida or Kuki Shinobu, a dendro DPS like Alhaitham or Tighnari will give you far more value than a pyro or cryo DPS you have no supports for.
Next, think about your playstyle. If you hate complex rotations and managing HP or energy bars, don’t force yourself to play a character like Hu Tao just because she’s top of the tier list. You’ll get far more damage out of a character you enjoy playing, even if they’re slightly lower on meta rankings. I made this mistake a few years ago when I pulled for a meta anemo DPS I hated playing, and it sat in my roster unused for 6 months while I kept using my C0 Yanfei for all my content clears.
Finally, consider what content you actually play. If you only mess around in the open world, do event quests, and fight weekly bosses, you don’t need the highest damage meta DPS. You can pick whatever character you think is fun or has a story you like, because you don’t need to hit specific damage thresholds to clear that content. Save your primogems for characters you actually want to play, not just ones that tier lists say are the strongest.
At the end of the day, answering who is the best DPS in Genshin Impact depends entirely on your unique account, playstyle, and goals. The meta changes slightly with every new character release, but the picks we’ve broken down here have stood the test of time and work well for 90% of players, regardless of their spending level. Don’t be afraid to test out different characters in trial runs before you pull, and remember that the strongest DPS is always the one you enjoy playing the most.