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Leveling Up in Genshin Impact: A Beginner’s Guide to Early Game Prioritization

So, you’ve just started your adventure in Teyvat! The world is vast, the characters are intriguing, and the possibilities seem endless. But with so much to do, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The burning question on every new player’s mind is: Who should I level up in Genshin Impact early game?

The short answer is: Focus on your Main DPS (Damage Per Second) character. This is the character that will be on the field dealing the most damage. A good early game Main DPS can carry you through the initial stages of the game, making exploration and questing significantly easier. You’ll also want to consider leveling up one Support or Sub-DPS character that can help your main DPS shine, whether that means applying elemental reactions, healing, or buffing.

Why this strategy? Early game resources are limited. Resin, Mora, and character EXP materials are precious. Spreading your resources too thin across multiple characters will leave you with a team of underpowered individuals, struggling to tackle even basic challenges. Investing heavily in one or two key characters provides a much stronger foundation for progression.

For the very beginning of the game, you’ll have the Traveler, Amber, Lisa, and Kaeya available. Amber is generally considered the weakest of the starting characters and should not be a priority for leveling. Lisa and Kaeya can be useful for their elemental skills early on, but it’s best to focus on the Traveler initially and replace these free characters as soon as you obtain stronger options.

Prioritizing Your First Team

Here’s a breakdown of how to prioritize character leveling early on:

Main DPS: This is your primary damage dealer. They should be your top priority for leveling, talent upgrades (as available), and weapon enhancement. Examples of excellent early game DPS characters (either obtained through pulls or easily accessible) include Xiangling, Razor, or even the Traveler (depending on your playstyle and element).
Support/Sub-DPS: Choose a character whose abilities complement your Main DPS. If your DPS relies on Pyro damage, a Hydro applicator like Barbara (free through story progression) or Xingqiu (obtained through Wishes) can create Vaporize reactions, significantly boosting your damage output. Likewise, Electro characters paired with Hydro characters create Electro-Charged.
Healer: A reliable healer is crucial for surviving tough encounters, especially in the early game when you might not have optimal artifacts or team compositions. Barbara is a free and effective early-game healer. Noelle is also a great defensive character for free.
Flexible Slot: This slot can be filled by another Support character, a Sub-DPS, or even a second Healer, depending on the specific challenges you’re facing. Consider what elemental reactions would benefit your team the most.

Understanding Character Roles

It’s important to understand the fundamental roles characters play in Genshin Impact. Here’s a quick overview:

Main DPS: The primary source of damage for your team. They usually have high attack stats and skills designed to deal consistent damage over time.
Sub-DPS: Characters who can deal significant damage off-field, often through elemental bursts or skills that persist even when they’re not the active character.
Support: Characters who provide buffs, debuffs, or utility to the team. This can include increasing attack power, reducing enemy defense, or providing crowd control.
Healer: Characters who can restore health to the team, ensuring survivability in challenging encounters.
Shielder: Characters that can produce shields to absorb enemy damage, protecting party members from attacks and interruptions.

Investing in the Right Talents

Once you’ve identified your core team, start investing in their talents. Talents are character-specific skills that can be upgraded using character talent materials, Mora, and World Boss drops.

Prioritize the talents that directly impact your DPS’s main damage output. For a Main DPS, this usually means their Normal Attack talent and their Elemental Skill or Burst, depending on which one deals the most damage.
Focus on upgrading the talents of your Support characters that provide buffs or healing. For example, upgrading Barbara’s Elemental Burst will increase the amount of healing she provides.
Don’t spread your talent materials too thin. It’s better to max out one or two crucial talents on your Main DPS than to upgrade all of their talents to a low level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to provide additional guidance for new Genshin Impact players:

FAQ 1: Is the Traveler worth leveling?

Yes, the Traveler is definitely worth leveling, especially in the early game. They are free, accessible, and can adapt to different elements as you progress through the story. While not always the best option for a DPS, they can certainly fill that role until you acquire other stronger DPS options. Investing in the Traveler is a solid choice, because you are forced to use them for a long period of the main story.

FAQ 2: Should I level up all my characters equally?

No. Early game resources are limited. Focus on your Main DPS and one or two key Support characters. You can level up other characters later as your resource income increases. Leveling up all your characters equally in the early game will result in a weak team that struggles to clear content.

FAQ 3: What’s the best weapon for my Main DPS?

The best weapon depends on the character and their playstyle. As a general rule, prioritize weapons with ATK%, Crit Rate, or Crit DMG substats for Main DPS characters. Some early game options include the Prototype Rancour (craftable sword) or the Blackcliff Pole (obtained from the Starglitter Exchange).

FAQ 4: How important are Artifacts in the early game?

Artifacts are crucial for increasing your character’s stats. Focus on equipping artifacts with the correct Main Stats (ATK% for DPS characters, HP% or Healing Bonus for healers) and beneficial substats. Don’t worry too much about min-maxing artifacts in the early game; just focus on getting the right Main Stats.

FAQ 5: Is Xiangling a good early game character?

Yes! Xiangling is an excellent early game character. Her Elemental Burst, Pyronado, deals consistent Pyro damage off-field, making her a fantastic Sub-DPS or even a Main DPS if you don’t have other strong options. She is free, by clearing floor 3, chamber 3 of the Spiral Abyss.

FAQ 6: Should I pull on the Beginner’s Wish banner?

Yes! The Beginner’s Wish banner guarantees Noelle, a solid Geo character who can provide shielding and healing. It is an economical starting banner and can help you build a starting team.

FAQ 7: What are Elemental Reactions, and why are they important?

Elemental Reactions occur when two different elemental effects combine and react with each other. These reactions can deal extra damage, apply status effects, or provide other benefits. Understanding Elemental Reactions is crucial for maximizing your damage output.

FAQ 8: How do I get more characters?

You can obtain more characters through the Wish system (Gacha). You’ll need Primogems to purchase Intertwined Fate or Acquaint Fate, which are used to pull on the Wish banners. Save your Primogems and focus on banners featuring characters that complement your team.

FAQ 9: What should I do with my Resin?

Resin is a resource used to claim rewards from Domains, Ley Line Outcrops, and World Bosses. Focus on using your Resin to farm Character EXP materials, Talent materials, and Weapon Ascension materials.

FAQ 10: Is it worth leveling up Amber?

Generally, no. Amber is considered one of the weakest characters in the game, especially early on. While she can be useful for certain puzzles and exploration, she’s not a priority for leveling. Focus on other characters who can provide more consistent damage or utility.

FAQ 11: What are the best Elemental Reactions for the early game?

Some excellent Elemental Reactions for the early game include:

Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro): Increases Pyro damage.
Melt (Pyro + Cryo): Increases Pyro or Cryo damage.
Electro-Charged (Hydro + Electro): Deals continuous Electro damage to enemies.
Superconduct (Cryo + Electro): Reduces enemy physical resistance.

FAQ 12: Should I focus on completing the main story or exploring the world?

Balance both! The main story unlocks new areas and features, but exploring the world provides valuable resources, including Primogems, chests, and exploration experience.

FAQ 13: What is the best way to get Mora (in-game currency)?

You can get Mora through various activities, including completing quests, opening chests, defeating enemies, and participating in events. Ley Line Outcrops (Blossom of Wealth) also provide a significant amount of Mora in exchange for Resin.

FAQ 14: How do I unlock more talents?

Talents are unlocked by increasing your character’s Ascension level. You’ll need to defeat World Bosses and gather character-specific Ascension materials to ascend your characters.

FAQ 15: Is Genshin Impact pay-to-win?

While Genshin Impact is a gacha game, it is not strictly pay-to-win. It is possible to progress through the game and clear content without spending any money. However, spending money can accelerate your progress and allow you to acquire stronger characters and weapons more quickly. The game rewards consistent play and strategic team building.

Final Thoughts

Building a strong team in Genshin Impact takes time and effort, but by focusing on your Main DPS, understanding character roles, and strategically investing your resources, you’ll be well on your way to conquering Teyvat! Remember to have fun exploring, experimenting with different team compositions, and discovering the joy of the game.

To deepen your understanding of gaming and its broader impact, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Learning more about how games influence learning and culture can enhance your gaming experience and appreciation.

Happy adventuring!

Who should I level up in Genshin early game?