Some 4-star characters in Genshin Impact are so good they rival 5-stars in power. Whether you're a new player wondering who to invest in or a veteran looking to optimize your roster, these 10 units deliver the best value for your resources.
I've ranked them by overall impact — how much they improve your account, how many teams they fit into, and how future-proof they are.
💡 Quick answer: If you build ONLY three characters from this list, make them Bennett, Xingqiu, and Kuki Shinobu. They fit into more top-tier teams than almost any 5-star.
🏆 S-Tier — Game-Changing 4-Stars
#1 — Bennett
The single best 4-star in the game. Bennett provides massive ATK buffs (up to 1,200+ at high base ATK), strong healing, and Pyro resonance. His burst has virtually 100% uptime with enough ER. Fits into National, Hypercarry, Reaction, and Mono-Pyro teams. There's a reason players say he's a "6-star" character.
🛠️ Build: 4x Noblesse Oblige | ER/Pyro/Crit or ER/HP/Healing | Favonius Sword / Sapwood Blade / Aquila Favonia
#2 — Xingqiu
The best off-field Hydro applicator in the game (rivaled only by Yelan). Xingqiu provides consistent Hydro application, damage reduction, interruption resistance, and solid personal damage. He's the backbone of National, Hyperbloom, and Freeze teams. His rain swords also heal slightly at C6.
🛠️ Build: 4x Emblem of Severed Fate | ER/Hydro/Crit | Sacrificial Sword (best) / Favonius Sword
#3 — Kuki Shinobu
The queen of Hyperbloom. Kuki's E-skill follows the active character and triggers Dendro Cores from off-field — no aiming required. She also heals, making her a 2-in-1 healer+reaction trigger. Hyperbloom is the best F2P team archetype and Kuki is its best driver. Build full EM and watch 30k+ hyperbloom numbers fly.
🛠️ Build: 4x Flower of Paradise Lost / 2x Gilded + 2x Wanderer | EM/EM/EM | Iron Sting / Dark Iron Sword / Freedom-Sworn
#4 — Sucrose
The 4-star Kazuha. Sucrose provides VV shred (40% RES reduction), EM sharing to the whole team (up to 250 EM), and consistent Swirl reactions. C6 gives her an elemental damage bonus matching the swirled element. She's a staple in Reaction, Taser, and Hyperbloom teams.
🛠️ Build: 4x Viridescent Venerer | EM/EM/EM | Sacrificial Fragments / Mappa Mare / TTDS (support)
🥇 A-Tier — Excellent Value
#5 — Xiangling
Xiangling's burst snapshots Bennett's ATK buff and deals massive Pyro damage off-field. She's the Pyro half of the National team core and has been meta since launch. Requires high ER (220%+) to function smoothly. Free from Spiral Abyss floor 3 — everyone has her.
🛠️ Build: 4x Emblem of Severed Fate | ER/Pyro/Crit | The Catch (free!) / Engulfing Lightning / Favonius Lance
#6 — Fischl
Oz does the work. Fischl's E-skill summons Oz for persistent Electro application and energy generation. She's excellent in Aggravate, Taser, and Overload teams. At C6, Oz attacks alongside your on-field character for even more damage. She's also great for exploration with her charged shot range.
🛠️ Build: 4x Golden Troupe (BIS) / 2x Thundering + 2x ATK | ATK/Electro/Crit | Stringless / Alley Hunter / Skyward Harp
#7 — Lynette (C6)
Lynette flies under the radar, but at C6 she becomes an incredible Anemo driver. Her burst creates a taunting decoy and provides Anemo application. At C6, she gains an Elemental DMG bonus matching the swirled element. She's a fantastic budget option for Freeze, Taser, and Vaporize driver teams, plus she's free from the main story.
🛠️ Build: 4x Viridescent Venerer | EM/EM/EM or ATK/Anemo/Crit | Favonius Sword / Sacrificial Sword
💪 B-Tier — Solid Niche Performers
#8 — Noelle (C6)
C6 Noelle is a one-woman army — shield, healing, and AoE damage all in one. Her burst converts DEF into ATK and gives her huge AoE cleave. She's the core of the Geo Mono team with Gorou. Before C6 she's a decent shielder/healer; at C6 she becomes a main DPS capable of clearing Abyss halves solo.
🛠️ Build: 4x Husk of Opulent Dreams | DEF/Geo/Crit or DEF/DEF/Crit | Whiteblind / Redhorn Stonethresher / Serpent Spine
#9 — Dendro Traveler
The best free Dendro applicator if you don't have Nahida. Dendro MC's burst creates a large field that applies Dendro continuously. Works perfectly in Hyperbloom, Aggravate, and Burgeon teams. They're free, easy to build (ER/Dendro/Crit), and their constellations unlock automatically as you progress through Sumeru.
🛠️ Build: 4x Deepwood Memories (if no other Deepwood holder) or 2x Dendro + 2x ER | ER/Dendro/Crit or ER/EM/EM | Favonius Sword / Sapwood Blade / Sacrificial Sword
#10 — Candace
Candace provides Hydro infusion for your on-field character and increases Normal Attack damage. She's incredible in Bloom and Burgeon teams where the on-field driver needs Hydro application. C6 makes her a viable on-field Hydro DPS with coordinated attacks. She's niche but irreplaceable in the teams she fits.
🛠️ Build: 4x Noblesse Oblige / 2x Tenacity + 2x Emblem | HP/HP/HP or ER/HP/HP | Black Tassel / Favonius Lance / The Catch
📊 Honorable Mentions
These didn't make the top 10 but are still worth building for specific teams:
- Shinobu Heizou (C4+) — On-field Anemo driver with big punch damage. Fun playstyle.
- Rosaria — Cryo battery, crit rate share, Reverse Melt DPS. Good if you need Cryo.
- Kaveh — Bloom driver. Clunky but works in dedicated Bloom teams.
- Chevreuse — Excellent overload support, heals, and ATK buff. Niche but strong in her niche.
- Yanfei (C4) — Shielder + on-field Pyro DPS. C4 gives her a shield.
🎯 Priority Guide for New Players
If you're just starting out and resources are tight, here's the order I recommend:
- Bennett — Level 70/80, 1/1/8 talents, as high base ATK weapon as possible
- Xingqiu — Level 80, 1/8/8 talents, Sacrificial Sword is a must
- Kuki Shinobu — Level 90 (EM scales with level), 1/1/1 talents, full EM
- Xiangling — Level 80, 1/8/8 talents, The Catch (fish for it!)
- Dendro Traveler — Level 70+, just needs burst uptime
- Sucrose — Level 70, VV set with EM, talent levels don't matter
🎯 Key takeaway: Bennett + Xingqiu + Xiangling + Sucrose/Flex (the "National" core) has been clearing Abyss for 4+ years. If you build these characters, you will never struggle for Spiral Abyss teams. Kuki + Dendro + Hydro gives you the meta Hyperbloom core. Focus on these two team archetypes and you'll 36-star Abyss with minimal investment.