Should You Level All Characters to 20 in Genshin Impact?
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The short, direct, and comprehensive answer is yes, absolutely. You should level all of your characters in Genshin Impact to level 20 and Ascend them, regardless of your playstyle or resource constraints. The reason for this is simple: it rewards you with a free Acquaint Fate upon their first Ascension. Acquaint Fates are used on the standard banner, offering you a chance to pull new characters and weapons that can significantly enhance your gameplay. This makes it a low-investment, high-reward task that should be prioritized early on. Beyond that, understanding how character leveling works is fundamental to progressing in the game, and this article will guide you through it.
Why Leveling to 20 is Crucial
Genshin Impact features a diverse roster of characters, each with unique abilities and combat styles. It can be tempting to focus solely on your preferred team, but ignoring the rest can cost you valuable resources. Here’s a breakdown of why leveling every character to 20 and Ascending them is a smart move:
Free Acquaint Fates
As previously stated, this is the primary reason. Each character Ascended for the first time grants you an Acquaint Fate. These are invaluable, especially for new players, as they provide additional opportunities to expand your roster. Early on, having a variety of characters can significantly impact your experience and team-building options. These free fates translate to more opportunities for powerful pulls!
Character Progression Basics
Leveling to 20 introduces you to the fundamental mechanics of character progression. You’ll learn about experience books, ascension materials, and the basics of team building. This knowledge will prove vital as you venture further into the game. It’s good practice to understand the core loop of leveling and ascension.
Exploring Character Kits
While you might have your main team, leveling every character to 20 allows you to briefly experiment with different playstyles. You may discover a hidden gem or a character that synergizes exceptionally well with your existing lineup. This allows you to grow your knowledge of all the character kits in the game.
Minimal Resource Investment
Reaching level 20 and completing the first ascension does not require a significant amount of resources. It’s a quick and easy task compared to leveling characters to higher levels, making it an efficient use of your time and materials. The resources needed are easily obtainable even in the early game.
Understanding the Leveling System
Before we move on to more advanced leveling discussions, let’s briefly recap how character leveling works in Genshin Impact.
Soft Level Cap
Characters have a soft level cap at 20. Once they reach this point, they cannot gain further levels until they are Ascended.
Ascending Characters
Ascension requires specific materials gathered from the open world or from defeating bosses. Completing an ascension quest not only removes the level cap but also grants a stat boost and unlocks new talent levels. This is essential for increasing character power!
Levels beyond 20
After the first ascension, characters can be leveled up to 40, then ascended again to reach the next level cap, and so on. The resources required for leveling and ascending grow increasingly complex, meaning it’s important to plan which characters you dedicate your most precious resources to.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should I level every character to level 90?
No, leveling every character to 90 is generally not recommended early on, especially if you are free-to-play (F2P). The benefits from level 80 to 90 are minimal for most characters (around 15 points of base ATK, but the resource cost is high. Focus on building 1-2 DPS characters first to 80/90 and focus on Talents and Artifacts. The exception might be certain characters like Bennett, whose buff scales off base attack.
2. At what AR should I start farming artifacts?
You should start farming artifacts properly at Adventure Rank (AR) 45, when you are guaranteed at least one five-star artifact from domains. Prior to this, it’s best to use what you find in the overworld. Focus on getting main stats that match your character’s scaling. Conserve your Fragile Resin before AR 45 to maximize your domain runs later.
3. Is it worth leveling talents?
Yes, absolutely. Talents are crucial for improving your character’s abilities. Prioritize leveling the talents most often used by the character first. For example, a DPS character should have their main attack talent prioritized. A Support may have their Burst Talent prioritized. Leveling up to level 8 for Talents is a key goal for increasing character potential.
4. Does lowering my World Level affect Boss drops?
Yes, it does. Lowering your World Level also reduces the level of bosses and the rewards they drop. Therefore, while lowering your World Level can make the game easier, you are also getting less rewards. This means that once your team power increases, increasing your World Level increases your reward potential.
5. How long does it take to reach AR 20?
An experienced player can reach AR 20 in about a day, while new players might take 2-3 days playing for about 4 hours per day. However, how long it takes depends on your approach to the game and the content you prioritize.
6. What should I do before AR 45?
Before reaching AR 45, you should focus on: Understanding team roles, Focusing on character stats when building, Conserving Fragile Resin, Gathering resources, paying attention to the story, never capping Original Resin, and remembering to use the Daily HoYoLAB check-in. These are good habits to get into for efficiency!
7. What Adventure Ranks have ascension quests?
Ascension quests are required at AR 25, 35, 45, and 50 to advance to the next World Level and your maximum AR. These quests will unlock the full potential of your characters and increase the difficulty and reward of your adventures.
8. Can I get to Sumeru before AR 30?
While you can reach Sumeru by accessing the teleport waypoint in the west of The Chasm at AR 20, it is recommended that you have at least Adventure Rank 20 due to the stronger enemies and some quests requiring certain AR.
9. Is it worth raising my main character?
While your main character has their benefits, it’s generally recommended to focus on building a main team of 4 first, then work on other characters. This is because early on, your resources are limited, and your main team can carry you through most content. After the initial progression, you can start working on other characters.
10. What is the oldest character in Genshin Impact?
The oldest character in Genshin Impact is Zhongli, also known as the Geo Archon.
11. What character height affects gameplay?
Taller characters, such as Diluc and Zhongli, have advantages with longer strides and vertical reach, allowing them to move and climb faster. This can provide a minor advantage in exploring the world.
12. What should I prioritize talents or artifact levels early game?
Early game, prioritize talents. Talents provide consistent gains and it doesn’t require farming for rng based stats that artifacts do. As you get to AR 45 focus on artifacts more!
13. What happens when a character dies in Genshin?
When a character dies, they lose all their Energy and cannot be sent on Expeditions or added to new parties. You can revive them by using specific dishes, constellations, or visiting a Statue of the Seven.
14. Can I lower my world level?
Yes, you can lower your World Level after reaching World Level 5 through Paimon’s menu. However, doing so will reduce boss and enemy level, and will decrease the rewards. Use this option as a safety net if you are struggling.
15. Is world level 3 hard?
World Level 3 can be challenging, especially for new players. Focus on leveling up your characters and obtaining simple artifact sets from the overworld to overcome this difficulty. Remember that all characters are great!
Conclusion
Leveling all characters to level 20 in Genshin Impact is a simple yet incredibly valuable task that benefits all players, new and experienced alike. The free Acquaint Fates are an enticing reward, and it provides a basic understanding of the game’s progression mechanics. While it may be tempting to focus solely on your main team, taking the time to level every character to 20 and Ascend them is a worthwhile investment that will set you up for success in the long run.