Genshin Impact is a gacha game and thus its characters are where the money’s at. Genshin’s character designs are impeccable and as more updates come, they only get cooler. More than character designs, some characters have features that make them very useful in situations other than combat. Even in combat, they shine due to their unique gameplay. Players who have these characters usually never get tired of their abilities because of the fun factor.
The following article is unique and subjective. We’ve listed the characters into their various categories based on what makes them fun.
Unique Mechanics Characters in Genshin Impact
Under Unique Mechanics, we’ve listed characters who can do something generally unique and are thus great options for those looking to switch up their playstyle and experience something different. While some of these are meta units, they typically serve an excellent, convenient and consistent overworld function which makes them fun even apart from their high damage or reaction numbers.
Beidou
Beidou’s parry or “full counter” mechanic was one of a kind for a majority of the game’s run. It’s true we did get Yun Jin and Candace recently but Beidou is still considered the best user of the counter mechanic. The reasons for this are- she’s electro and she can fit into any role comfortably. Beidou can be used as a main DPS, sub DPS or even reaction support and that makes her an amazing unit.
Keqing
Keqing was always a fun unit due to her E-skill teleport ability. Her burst was also one of the coolest and flashiest bursts in the game for a long time. Her teleport ability also comes in handy during exploration as it lets you reach those difficult places with relative ease. With the introduction of Dendro, she’s finally even become powerful enough to go toe to toe with the likes of Diluc.
Kaedehara Kazuha
Kazuha’s ability to use his E skill mid-air to float up makes him an amazing unit for exploration. Even though he’s invaluable for his meta value, what makes him such a great unit is that he can also be used casually for fun. His burst is also one of the most beautiful bursts in the game.
Venti
Venti has always been a part of the meta ever since he came out. The Crowd Control (CC) ability of his burst remains unmatched but what makes him a great teammate is his ability to create air currents wherever he’s standing with his E and thus help your party reach those difficult spots.
Sayu
Sayu is underrated and even with the Dendro update and minor buff to her viability, she’s still an overlooked unit. Her rolling mechanic was the first alternate sprint mechanic in the game other than underground elemental sprints like that of Ayaka or Mona. Using Sayu with Kaeya, Xiangling and Barbara or Beidou makes her such a blast on the battlefield.
Jean
Jean’s ability to knock and stagger even giant elites makes her one of a kind. Her kit is also very powerful and versatile. Her E skill however is why most people love playing her. You can’t just resist the urge to yeet enemies off a cliff when they are just chilling around.
Albedo
Albedo’s E-skill elevator is another mechanic that lets you reach difficult spaces. Using a lift in the middle of battle is a novelty and players can’t get enough of it. It also helps he’s easy to build and play and does decent off-screen damage.
Yelan
Yelan’s E-skill lets you travel even faster and longer than Sayu’s E. It also helps that Yelan is a meta unit who does tons of damage. Using her E skill almost feels like stopping time- and after she’s done weaving her string through enemy targets, she nukes them together in one spot which is also convenient.
Yae Miko
Yae Miko’s turrets can take down most enemies in the overworld except the bosses. Regardless, having this person on your team means you don’t have to engage against every single monster or enemy you come across and you can just set up her turrets and sit back as it obliterates enemies for you.
DPS
This category is just what it sounds like. These characters are fun because of their DPS abilities and insanely high single-target damage numbers. Players pull for them not only because they are meta but also because seeing big numbers on a screen is just very satisfying.
Kamisato Ayaka
Ayaka has the highest DPS output in the game so of course, she’s a top pick for this category. She also has the underground sprint mechanic which is also very fun.
Raiden Shogun
Raiden is one of the most broken units in the game and for good reason. Firstly, her E skill, once activated, gives your active character an electro halo in their back which just looks incredibly cool. Her burst is where the beauty truly lies and when she activates it, a majority of the content in the game just dies.
Childe (Tartaglia)
Childe’s weapon changes when he’s in his E-skill form. While this is cool and unique enough, his USP is reaction and damage. His kit also requires considerable skill to master so only those who are skilled and willing enough can master him.
Ganyu
Ganyu’s 2nd Level Charged Shots were one of a kind when they were released. She was the first broken unit in the game and she’s still a solid contender for the position.
Hu Tao
Hu Tao has one of the most fun personalities in the game. Just looking at her idles and hearing her attacks are cute enough to convince players to pull for her. Her real value lies in her ability to nuke enemies which comes in really useful in the Abyss where the enemies have high HP.
Eula
Eula is also similar to Hu Tao but here she’s physical. Eula is a physical DPS and the wait before her Lightfall Sword is like a thriller movie where players are hooked to their seats in utter anticipation of her nuke damage numbers.
Brain off Beatdown Characters
Players who are casual and just want to chill, turn their brains off and still do reliable and powerful DPS will find their best character picks here. The following characters have simple easy-to-use kits and thus offer a casual but powerful DPS that can be played without much thinking involved.
Xiao
Xiao has one of the most if not the most unique playstyle in the game which just involves spamming Plunge attacks. He can also dash mid-air and it helps that he’s one of the strongest DPS in the game. Since he isn’t very reliant on reactions, his gameplay is very easy and simple even though he’s of the Anemo element.
Razor
Razor’s burst feels like a Jojo Stand and that is reason enough to play him. He’s one of the strongest 4-star DPS in the game and just like his vocabulary, he’s just that easy and simple to play. Even though Cyno has been called the 5-star Razor, Razor still has the nostalgia factor that keeps him in the game.
Arataki Itto
Itto is the strongest Geo DPS in the game and his playstyle is just bonking enemies as hard as you can. Since he’s Geo, you also don’t have to worry about reactions. His charismatic personality also helps pump up the player in battle.
Diluc
Diluc is one of the first meta characters in the game due to his powerful DPS even as a Standard Banner 5-star. His Unga Bunga playstyle has come to garner many lovers who still main him to this day even though he’s outshined by several other DPS characters.
For our honourable mentions, we have characters who have some unique abilities or cool features but they aren’t very functional and or can’t be used consistently. Though some of these are meta characters, the parts of them that make them fun are usually locked behind their elemental bursts. Zhongli for example can petrify but only after using his burst and it doesn’t last long. Kokomi can float on water but only in her burst form which has a limited duration, considerable CD and even an energy cost. As for Fischl, you can play using Oz’s POV but only for a short duration and it can’t be used for overworld travel.
These characters, though fun, are limited and thus not consistent in the enjoyment factor even though they are all powerful meta characters. We also didn’t mention any of the newer characters as they are all new and exciting now but it remains to be seen if they stand the test of time.
