If you are saving your primogems to grab the best DPS character in Genshin Impact, then this guide is for you.
DPS characters are your primary damage dealers who will remain in the field the most. You will need a good amount of time & investment on your main DPS, so finding the right one is quite important. miHoYo has made sure to offer unique DPS characters, and more are on their way soon.
However, finding the best DPS characters in a game like Genshin Impact can be difficult, as different playstyles, constellation effects, and support requirements change the perspective from one player to another.
Read More: Genshin Impact: Standard Banner Characters Tier-List (2023)
That being said, by analyzing the spiral abyss data and the overall popularity, I have put together the Genshin Impact best DPS characters tier list based on my opinion.
Remember, this list is based on my own experience with the characters and the spiral abyss pick of most players of the game.
Every character in the game is unique and is able to dish out an insane amount of damage with the proper investment. So, if you don’t find your preferred main here, don’t question their effectiveness if they are enabling you to obtain 9 stars on floor 12.
Tier List & Ranking Explained
Take a look at the following to understand my reasoning behind each tier:
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| S | The S-tier is for characters that excel in most teams and are part of the Genshin meta. But some cons hold them back from getting to the A-tier, like having a constellation requirement or High DPS and low support potential or vice versa or not being versatile enough to be effective in every type of Spiral Abyss run. |
| A | The A-tier is for characters that excel in most teams and are part of the Genshin meta. But some cons hold them back from getting to the S-tier. Like having a constellation requirement or High DPS & low support potential or vice versa or not being versatile enough to be effective in every type of Spiral Abyss run. |
| B | B-tier is a place for characters with excellent DPS or Support qualities but only excel at one role perfectly or aren’t versatile enough to be used varietally. |
| C | Characters in the C-tier don’t have the best mechanics and do not have many team synergies. Their damage and support output is decent but nothing meta-defining, with heavy investments and specific team comps, they can hold out a decent performance. |
| D | This tier is for characters that offer a standard damage and support output, which can easily be neglected as the game has better alternatives. |
Best DPS Characters in Genshin Impact
Here are our picks for the top DPS characters in Genshin Impact, going from worst to best:
| Character Name | Role | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Neuvillette | Main DPS, Driver | SS |
| Yelan | Main DPS, Sub-DPS, Driver, Support | |
| Raiden | Main DPS, Burst DPS | S |
| Navia | Main DPS | |
| Alaitham | Main DPS | A |
| Wanderer | Main DPS | |
| Hu Tao | Main DPS | |
| Wriothesley | Main DPS | |
| Yae Miko | Burst DPS, Driver | B |
| Nilou | Main DPS | |
| Ayato | Main DPS | C |
| Childe | Main DPS, Burst DPS, Driver | |
| Ayaka | Main DPS |
Top DPS Characters in Genshin Impact
13. Ayaka
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 7.7%
One of the best cryo DPS in the game; everything about Ayaka screams freeze teams. This is a pro and con for her at the same time as she fails to shine outside of freeze comps.
Recent abyss rotations haven’t been in the favor of freeze teams which is showcased in the lower pick rate of Ayaka.
While her burst damage is one of the best in the game, you can unlock her full potential through constellations and 5-star weapon investment. She is completely usable with F2P builds and 4-star weapons, but the damage is significantly lower.
Also, if you truly want to utilize Ayaka’s kit, then you will need the ideal supports to do so, and all of her best supports are 5-star limited characters, which makes building a team around her quite costly.
And I believe that cost (both resource & Primogems) isn’t necessary for a team that is only viable during certain matchups. That’s why she ranks 10th on this list.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Shenha, Kazuha, Kokomi, Xingqiu, Rozaria, Bennett, Yelan, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Burst DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Blizzard Slayer |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, Energy Recharge |
Pros
- The best Cryo infuser in the game
- Offers one of the strongest bursts in Genshin
- Best option for a freeze comp
- Has good f2p 4 star weapon option
- Gets better with constellations
Cons
- A selfish DPS that requires most on field time
- True damage potential is hidden behind constellations
- Best in-slot team isn’t f2p friendly
12. Ayato
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 13.7%
On his initial release, Ayato was regarded as a driver for his team. However, that story changed after the Sumeru update and the inclusion of Dendro reactions in the game.
If you want to have fast-paced hyperbloom-based damage, then Ayato is your pick. His elemental skill allows him to apply fast hydro and inflict very good damage, and his ult is an AoE hydro attack that marks enemies with hydro. This easy status effect implementation makes him the perfect choice for hyperbloom and electro teams.
Moreover, building him is not as resource-hungry as Ayaka. And he has good artifact options and F2P-friendly team comps and weapons. His true potential is locked behind his constellations, but even at C0, he is a good driver and DPS, which makes him rank 12th on the list.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Fischl, Xiangling, Xingqiu, Kazuha, Bennett, Yelan, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Support, Driver |
| Artifact | 4-piece Echoes of an Offering |
| Stat Priority | CR/CD, HP%, Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery |
Pros
- Easy to use character with great damage potential
- A great option for the national team comp
- Can be slotted into most team comps in the game
- F2P friendly and can be built easily
- Don’t requires too much field time
Cons
- Needs good amount of artifact farming
- The playstyle can get boring
- Support potential is very low
11. Tartaglia
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 22.4%
Tartaglia is the first 5-star DPS banner character in the limited wish banner. He offers a unique playstyle that allows him to switch from range to melee with the help of his elemental skill. As his attacks apply hydro to your opponents, he resonates perfectly with any hydro-based elemental reactions.
You can do fine without unlocking his constellations if you can get the right weapons and artifacts. He isn’t that hard to build and has some of the best easy-to-obtain 4-star supports.
That’s why he is often used in the national team as a DPS driver. But Tartaglia best shines in Vape-Nuke teams due to the high multiplier on his burst. Due to this versatility, he is ranked 11th on the list.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Xiangling, Xingqiu, Kazuha, Bennett, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Support, Driver |
| Artifact | 4-piece Heart of Depth, 2-piece Heart of Depth + 2-piece Nymph’s Dream |
| Stat Priority | Energy Recharge, ATK%, CRIT Rate/DMG |
Pros
- Simple to build
- Offers unique playstyle with the melee and range switch
- Good option for 4 star comps
- Damage potential isn’t hidden by constellations
- Good 4 star weapon options
- One of the best nuke options in the game
Cons
- Elemental skill recovery time can become too long at times
10. Nilou
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 17.6%
The character, Nilou, was created based on the bloom and hyperbloom mechanic of Genshin Impact. If you want to use her optimally, you will need good Dendro support, preferably the Dendro archon, Nahida, in your squad, as it will help apply Dendro faster.
She requires quite a commitment, but with Dendro teams being the meta right now, you can dish out massive amounts of damage with Nilou if you can play your cards right.
Her hyperbloom damage scaling is almost unappareled in Genshin at the moment; that’s why she easily takes the 10th spot on the list. The community data also agrees with this claim, as she is featured heavily in the latest Spiral Abyss teams.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Kazuha, Nahida, Collei, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Flower of Paradise Lost |
| Stat Priority | Elemental Mastery, HP%, CRIT Rate/DMG |
Pros
- Best Hyperbloom based DPS in the game
- Offers playstyle variations with the elemental skill switch mechanics
Cons
- Only effective in Hyperbloom team comps
- Best supports aren’t f2p friendly
9. Yae Miko
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 34.7%
Next on the list at number 6 is Yae Miko. While many disapproved of her on her initial release, with the help of Dendro & quicken reactions, she has now become one of the strongest DPS characters in Genshin.
Put her in a team with a good Dendro applicator and see her tomes dealing massive amount of DoT. Pair that up with good timing of her burst, and you will be able to obliterate everything.
Moreover, she has good 4-star weapon options like the Widsith, which at times can outperform 5-star weapons as well. Furthermore, farming for her artifacts isn’t that much of a hassle either, as you can opt for Strongbox for those and farm for the artifacts for your support.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Xiangling, Xingqiu, Kazuha, Bennett, Yelan, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Burst DPS, Driver, Support |
| Artifact | 2 piece Thundering Fury+ 2-Piece Noblesse Oblige, 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate |
| Stat Priority | Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge, ATK%, CRIT Rate/DMG |
Pros
- Fast quicken applicator with high burst damage potential
- One of the best option for Dendro & Electro comps
- F2P friendly and can be built easily
Cons
- Can run into energy issues
- Not a good pair with all 4 star options in the game
8. Wriothesley
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 22.8%
Wriothesley is the next character on the list. He is a relatively new unit and the first Cryo catalyst in the game. Fast-paced attacks and a powerful burst made Wriothesley a top pick for many Genshin players (myself included). He offers a much more versatile option, unlike Ayaka & Ganyu. You can go for Freeze or reverse Melt with Wriothesley and won’t face any diminishing returns as long as you build him. His elemental skill buffs him normal and charged attack which is the main source of Wriothesley’s damage.
He is also quite easy to build and uses the Marechaussee Hunter set which allows you to accumulate crit rate faster, now pair him up with another Cryo unit and you can just ignore putting any more crit rate on him. Wriothesley isn’t that constellation dependant either which makes him the perfect candidate for the no 8 on this list
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Normal Attack > Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst |
| Best Supports | Shenha, Kazuha, Kokomi, Xingqiu, Rozaria, Bennett, Yelan, Xiangling, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Burst DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Marechaussee Hunter, 4-piece Blizzard Slayer |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, Energy Recharge |
Pros
- One of the best Cryo infuser in the game
- Normal attack focused DPS
- Good for both melt and freeze comp
- Has good f2p 4 star weapon option
Cons
- Playstyle can seem a bit boring
- A selfish DPS that requires most on field time
7. Hu Tao
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 22.2%
Considered the strongest of the Liyue big three, Hu Tao is still blazing the DPS charts even when the current DPS meta revolves around Dendro reactions.
Reaction-based damage is what Hu-Tao is known best for. Her burst can generate an insane amount of damage, and with the ‘Crimson Witch’ set, her elemental skill-powered charge attacks can create astonishing vape damage.
Hu Tao’s C1 is arguably one of the best C1’s in the game and is something that I personally would recommend you to invest in. Her best in-slot weapon is the ‘Staff of Homa’, but you have some decent 4-star and 5-star options that bring more out of your Hu-Tao.
This is why I have placed her in the 7th position in this tier list.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Normal Attack > Elemental Burst |
| Best Supports | Xingqiu, Yelan, Zhongli, Albedo, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Crimson Witch of Flames, 4-piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence, 2-piece Crimson Witch of Flames + 2-piece Wanderer’s Troupe |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, HP%, Elemental Mastery |
Pros
- Comes with a massive damage potential
- Has some of the best 4 star supports in the game
- Gets better with constellation
Cons
- Not F2P friendly
- Forces players to play with low HP
- Requires stamina for charged attacks
- Needs C1 for maximum damage potential
6. Wanderer
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 8.8%
For single-target and multiple-target DPS, Wanderer is a great choice. Building him doesn’t require much investment and is pretty straightforward. High crit rate ascension status is a plus in this case.
Just level up his ult and elemental skill, and you are ready. Understanding his elemental skill and proper team rotation will make you bring the most out of Wanderer. What’s more, he has a completely viable 4-star team that doesn’t require any 5-star help, which is why he is ranked at 6 in this list.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Normal Attacks > Elemental Burst |
| Best Supports | Faruzan, Bennet, Zhongli, Thoma, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifacts | 4-piece Desert Pavilion Chronicle |
| 2-piece Viridescent Venerer + 2-piece Desert Pavilion Chronicle | |
| 2-piece Vermillion Hereafter + 2-piece Gladiator’s Finale | |
| 2-piece Viridescent Venerer + 2-piece Vermillion Hereafter | |
| Stat Priority | Crit-Rate, Crit Damage, ATK |
Pros
- Highly effective main DPS
- Fast-paced attacks
- Excellent damage multipliers in normal, charged, elemental Skill & burst
- Good constellations
- Various 4 star & 5 star weapon options
Cons
- Easily interrupted without a shield
- Needs good artifact stats
5. Alhaitham
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 47.8%
Alhaitham is the poster child for Dendro. You can pair him up with different Dendro-based teams and see the damage numbers popping off. His unique mechanic, the Dendro mirrors, makes him extremely versatile.
You will have multiple artifact options and playstyles to choose from when selecting Alhaitham as your main DPS. He is viable for the burst DPS role and the on-field DPS role.
I personally prefer the on-field DPS role much better. He doesn’t need much strong support investment to pull out the big numbers.
Moreover, his burst ensures a huge Dendro damage output and recharges very fast. Along with the elemental skill, he is a force to reckon with. Through his fast-paced gameplay & high damage multipliers with Dendro reactions, he has easily become a fan favorited and took 5th place on this best DPS tier list.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Nahida, Kokomi, Collei, Yelan, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Gilded Dreams |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge |
Pros
- One of the best Dendro DPS in the game
- Very high damage potential
- Easy to build character with simple playstyle
Cons
- Requires 5 star supports for the best damage output
- Don’t offer any support capabilities
4. Navia
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: Unknown
Geo has been ignored by Hoyoverse for too long and they heard the community loud and clear. Their reply was Navia. The current president of Spina di Rosula is arguably the most fun character I have played in Genshin in the past few updates. She offers incredibly high damage multipliers that will leave you in awe.
Her elemental skill is the primary source of her damage and unlike most of the latest 5-star releases, unless you are comparing her with her C6 she will put up a hell of a competition at C0. Keep in mind she still doesn’t have any dedicated support yet, so once those characters are released she’ll just be more broken.
But you will have to invest a bit of time to learn her mechanics. That being said, the learning curve is quite steep if you are just used to pressing your burst and seeing damage unleash.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Bennett, Furina, Zhongli, Albedo |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Nighttime Whispers in the Echoing Woods |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, Energy Recharge |
Pros
- One of the highest damage dealers in Genshin Impact
- Easy to build without any complications
- Comes with good 4 star supports and weapons
Cons
- Her mechanics is different from the usual style Genshin players are used to
3. Raiden
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 50.3%
For a single DPS, there is no match to Ei or Raiden. Her elemental burst is still one of the most destructive forces in Genshin Impact and won’t be dethroned that easily. The elemental skill also provides good support for her teammates, making her one of the most all-time picked characters by Genshin players.
Her constellations are a big improvement in her damage but not the most necessary upgrade you will need. Moreover, she has one of the best free 4-star weapons in the game: ‘The Catch,’ and her artifact domain offers arguably the most versatile artifact sets.
Raiden works extremely well with 4-star characters, especially in the national team. Her elemental skill is also another perk for teams that are struggling with energy recharge.
So, not only does she fill the role of a DPS, she’s also able to fill the role of a support as well. Because of that, she is ranked as the 3rd most strongest DPS in the game.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Xiangling, Xingqiu, Kazuha, Bennett, Yelan, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate |
| Stat Priority | Energy Recharge, ATK%, CRIT Rate/DMG |
Pros
- Top-tier support and DPS
- Can be slotted into most team comps in the game
- F2P friendly
- Easy to build
Cons
- Needs to be on the field most of the time
- Characters of specific elements can be a better battery than her
2. Yelan
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 66.5%
Lastly, if you are looking for a DPS, Support, or Driver for your team, Yelan fills all these roles. She’s the most versatile character Genshin has released so far.
The primary source of Yelan’s damage comes from her elemental burst. At C0, she is a decent DPS but primarily focused on a support role. But as the constellations increase, she starts to become the nightmare to your opponents.
Her normal attack, elemental skill, and burst all increase her damage as you put more constellations. A properly built Yelan can even take on Spiral Abyss all by herself. She also has easy-to-get four-star support and a wide array of 5-star & 4-star weapon options.
With all these benefits and large damage numbers, Yelan takes the 1st place in this best DPS character tierlist.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Xiangling, Xingqiu, Kazuha, Bennett, Furina |
| Team Role | Main DPS, Support, Driver |
| Artifact | 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate |
| Stat Priority | Energy Recharge, HP%, CRIT Rate/DMG |
Pros
- Offers high damage potential without needing any constellations
- Has good 4 star weapon options
- Can also fill the role of support
- Fits in with almost every team comp in the game
- Gets better with constellations
Cons
- True main DPS potential is locked behind constellations
1. Neuvillette
Spiral Abyss Usage Rate: 88.6%
The character that is currently dominating the abyss and doesn’t look like going down any time soon is Neuvillette. He was broken before but with Furina playing the support role, the hydro dragon is now ready to challenge Celestia. And this isn’t just me saying, it is what the community believes as he is picked over by 80% of players.
To see his full potential you will need the help of 5-star support but there are 4-star alternatives as well. Just buff him properly and hold his charge attack and Neuvillette will take care of everyone in a few seconds.
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Normal Attack > Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst |
| Best Supports | Kazuha, Furina, Bennett, Zhongli |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Marechaussee Hunter |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, HP%, Energy Recharge |
Pros
- Strongest DPS in the game
- Offers unique mechanic
- Comes with a wide variety of team comps
- High damage output
- Good for travel in Fontaine
Cons
- Requires 5 star supports
- Gets extremely good with constellations
Read More: Upcoming Characters in Genshin Impact Version 4.2 to 4.5
