Genshin Impact Most Underrated Characters | (Hidden Gems)
In the vast and still-expanding world of Genshin Impact, it’s easy to get swept up in the hype surrounding flashy 5-star characters. But beyond the spotlight lies a roster of underrated heroes who bring unique playstyles, surprising power, and untapped potential. These characters may not dominate the meta or trend on social media, but they’re the unsung stars who make Teyvat’s battles feel fresh, fun, and deeply rewarding.
This blog celebrates those hidden gems—the characters who quietly shine despite being overlooked. we’ll explore why these underappreciated picks deserve a second look.
Table Of Contents
Tartaglia (Childe)
- Weapon: Bow
- Rarity: 5-stars
- Element: Hydro
Tartaglia (Childe) is criminally underrated in Genshin Impact, offering one of the most dynamic and exhilarating playstyles in the game. His ability to seamlessly switch between ranged and melee combat with his elemental skill, Foul Legacy: Raging Tide, keeps battles fresh and strategic, rewarding players who master his cooldown management. The Riptide mechanic—his signature passive—turns combat into a spectacle, as marked enemies explode in satisfying Hydro AoE bursts when defeated or critically hit, chaining devastation across grouped foes.
Beyond his flashy combat, Tartaglia shines with his passive talent, Master of Weaponry, which boosts the normal attack talent levels of all party members by 1—a subtle but impactful perk for teams relying on normal attackers like Yoimiya, Wanderer, or Arlecchino. His design, blending sleek Fatui elegance with a touch of battle-hardened flair, mirrors his dual nature as a warrior and a diplomat.
That said, building Tartaglia requires patience and precision. Optimizing his artifacts and balancing stats such as Critical Rate, Hydro DMG, and Crit Damage can feel daunting, especially for newer players. His playstyle also demands careful cooldown management to avoid leaving him stranded in his melee stance without an exit plan.
Yet, these challenges only deepen the reward of mastering him. Once built and understood, Tartaglia becomes a Hydro powerhouse, shredding enemies with relentless AoE damage and enabling explosive elemental reactions. While he’s often overshadowed by newer Hydro characters such as Neuvillette, Furina, and Yelan or dismissed as “too high-maintenance,” those who invest in him discover a character who’s as thrilling to play as he is effective. For players craving complexity and flair over simplicity, Tartaglia is a hidden gem worth the effort.
Chongyun
- Weapon: Claymore
- Rarity: 4-stars
- Element: Cryo
Chongyun is one of the most underrated characters, quietly offering a unique utility that many players overlook. As a Cryo claymore user, his elemental skill, Spirit Blade: Chonghua’s Layered Frost, creates a frost field that infuses melee attacks with Cryo, enabling Freeze or Melt teams—a niche that’s still viable but overshadowed by other Cryo characters like Ayaka and Ganyu. His burst, Spirit Blade: Cloud-Parting Star, delivers 3 cryo blades hit, which has high-melting potential and Cryo damage, perfect for quick-swap teams.
However, Chongyun struggles to compete with newer Cryo stars like Wriothesley or Ayaka due to their flexible and faster playstyle and better raw damage. Many players dismiss him as “just a 4-star” or outdated, forgetting his ability to enable unconventional comps (like Cryo-infused teams) or his role as a budget character for new players.
The rise of Dendro reactions and and other Cryo characters also push him further into the background. Yet Chongyun’s simplicity, accessibility, and understated versatility make him a reliable pick for players who value creativity over meta trends. His underrated status isn’t about weakness—it’s about a community fixated on flashy 5 stars and forgetting that sometimes, a humble Cryo exorcist with an elegant design and a giant sword can still do the job in Genshin Impact.
Lynette
- Weapon: Sword
- Rarity: 4-stars
- Element: Anemo
Lynette might seem like “just an ordinary four-star” but in fact she is somehow underrated, especially for a character who brings so much quirky charm and sneaky utility to the table. As a free 4-star Anemo unit from Fontaine, her kit is packed with tricks, her elemental skill, Bogglecat Box taunts enemies, giving you breathing room in chaotic fights, while her burst Magic Trick: Astonishing Shift summons a floating gadget that not only deals Anemo damage but also absorbs elements for extra swirls.
But here’s the catch—she’s stuck in the shadow of Anemo giants like Kazuha, Venti, Wanderer, and Chasca who catch the spotlight with their higher swirl reaction damage or just pure damage. Players also sleep on her exploration perks, like her passive that boosts party movement speed and cuts sprinting stamina drain, which is great for grinding through Genshin Impact’s massive map. Sure, she’s not breaking the meta like Neuvillette, Furina, Mavuika, or Yelan, and her damage isn’t that jaw-dropping, but Lynette’s flexibility makes her a perfect fit for newer players or veterans who want to experiment with off-meta comps.
The problem is that Everyone’s too busy chasing shiny 5-stars to notice how this cat-eared magician can hold her own with minimal investment. For players who value rotation, Lynette’s a low-key gem who deserves way more love than she gets.
Kamisato Ayato
- Weapon: Sword
- Rarity: 5-stars
- Element: Hydro
Kamisato Ayato is a strong and flexible Hydro character. His skill Kamisato Art: Kyouka, lets him slash enemies quickly with Hydro attacks, which works great for reactions like Hyperbloom, Vaporize, and Electrocharge, and his burst Kamisato Art: Suiyuu, creates a Hydro field that damages the enemies constantly for a while, most suitable for freeze, But despite how useful he is, Ayato often gets overlooked because of characters like Neuvillette, Yelan and Furina who are more popular currently.
These characters fit better with the current meta, also the Spiral Abyss and events recently focus more on high-damage carries or specific team styles, so Ayato’s balanced playstyle doesn’t get as much attention. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable, easy to use, and fits into many teams as a main DPS, sub-DPS, or support. The problem isn’t that Ayato is weak—it’s that players are more drawn to shiny new characters or hyper-specialized units. This leaves Ayato, a solid and versatile pick, waiting for the recognition he deserves from Genshin Impact players.
Layla
- Weapon: Sword
- Rarity: 4-stars
- Element: Cryo
In Genshin Impact, Layla is quietly excelling as a top-tier shielder and Cryo support. While Zhongli and Baizhu dominate the spotlight for their shields, Layla stands out as the best budget shielder in the game, offering impressive shield strength that scales with her HP—a stat that’s easy to build with accessible artifacts. Her elemental skill, Nights of Formal Focus, creates a durable shield that not only absorbs damage but also fires Cryo stars at enemies, generating consistent off-field Cryo application.
This makes her one of the best fits for Freeze teams, pairing seamlessly with Hydro units like Xingqiu, Ayato, Tartaglia, or Yelan… to lock enemies in place. Her burst, Dream of the Star-Stream Shimmer, adds even more Cryo AoE damage, further boosting her utility in reaction-based comps.
Despite her strengths, Layla is often overlooked in favor of “meta” picks like Diona (who offers healing) or Zhongli who has the best shield in the game till now. But for players needing a reliable, low-investment shielder who also enables Freeze reactions, Layla is your pick. She’s easy to build, requires minimal field time, and delivers underrated value—proving that sometimes the best support isn’t a 5-star, but a humble 4-star stargazer with a durable shield.
Yae Miko
- Weapon: Catalyst
- Rarity: 5-stars
- Element: Electro
Yae Miko still doesn’t get the love she deserves in Genshin Impact, even though she’s a total queen of off-field Electro damage. Her little fox totems Sesshou Sakura zap enemies automatically, making her perfect for Dendro teams like Aggravate or Hyperbloom—but because she’s not as flashy as Raiden Shogun or as easy to use as newer characters like Clorinde, players often bench her. Yeah, her burst needs some energy management, and setting up her totems needs good placement, but once they’re out They shred enemies effortlessly, especially in chaotic fights where you’re dodging attacks or dealing with waves of mobs.
The problem is, the meta’s obsessed with quick, brain-off damage dealers, and Yae’s playstyle asks you to think a little—where to drop her totems, when to burst, and how to pair her with the right teammates. Plus, with everyone hyping Fontaine or Natlan characters or even reruns like Nahida, Neuvillette, Furina, and Mavuika, Yae gets lost in the noise.
But here’s the thing, if you take the time to learn her rhythm, she’s a beast. Her totems don’t just do damage—they give her this elegant, calculated vibe that’s super satisfying once you get the hang of it. She’s not weak; she’s just misunderstood. For players tired of spamming the same meta picks, Yae Miko is that sly, Electro fox who’s waiting to prove she’s still top-tier—if you’re patient enough to let her shine.
Shikanoin Heizou
- Weapon: Catalyst
- Rarity: 4-stars
- Element: Anemo
Shikanoin Heizou is one of the most underrated characters in the recent versions of Genshin Impact, offering a uniquely fun playstyle and surprising power as a 4-star Anemo DPS. Unlike typical catalyst users, Heizou throws punches instead of spells, combining melee brawler flair with Anemo swirls. His elemental skill, Heartstopper Strike, lets him stack “Declension” to unleash a devastating punch that deals massive AoE damage—a mechanic that’s as unique as it is powerful.
His burst, Windmuster Kick, groups enemies, and triggers swirl reactions, making him valid for swirl teams. While he’s overshadowed by 5-star Anemo characters like Wanderer, Xiao, Kazuha, or recently Chasca. Heizou’s damage potential rivals many higher-rarity carries when built with crit-focused artifacts.
His kit rewards skillful play and positioning, turning combat into a dynamic, fast-paced brawl. Players often sleep on him due to his 4-star status or the meta’s obsession with Fontaine and Natlan characters, but Heizou proves you don’t need fancy gimmicks to be effective. For players craving a punchy, unconventional DPS who’s easy to build and endlessly entertaining, Heizou is your choice waiting to knock the competition out cold.
Arataki Itto
- Weapon: Claymore
- Rarity: 5-stars
- Element: Geo
Arataki Itto is still one of the most undervalued characters in Genshin Impact, even though he’s a total powerhouse as a Geo DPS. His burst, Royal Descent: Behold, Itto the Evil!, turns him into a claymore-swinging monster, dealing massive AoE Geo damage with his charged attacks. He scales with DEF, which makes him super tanky and hard-hitting when built right. But here’s the problem, the current meta is all about Dendro reactions and elemental flexibility, so Geo teams—and Itto—often get left behind.
Newer players tend to skip him because Geo doesn’t have flashy reactions, and veterans are more drawn to other DPS characters like Neuvillette or Mavuika. On top of that, the developers don’t seem to care much about Geo characters, rarely giving them buffs or updates to keep up with the meta. Despite all this, Itto is one of the best DPS characters in the game. His DEF scaling makes him tough and powerful, but some players misunderstand it, thinking it makes him weak or hard to build. The truth is, when you invest in him and pair him with a solid mono-Geo team (such as Zhongli or Gorou), he’s an absolute beast.
With his playstyle, funny personality, and hilarious voice lines, Itto is a joy to play—he just doesn’t get the love he deserves because Geo feels forgotten and people don’t always see his true potential. If you give him a chance, though, you’ll find out he’s the chaotic, claymore-swinging king of the battlefield.
Yanfei
- Weapon: Catalyst
- Rarity: 4-stars
- Element: Pyro
In the recent versions of Genshin Impact Yanfei stands out as an underappreciated character, quietly holding her ground as the best 4-star Pyro DPS while rivaling even 5-star Pyro carries like Diluc, Yoimiya, and even hu tao (if in the right hands). As a catalyst user, her playstyle is deceptively simple yet deeply satisfying, she stacks Scarlet Seals with normal attacks to unleash devastating, stamina-efficient charged attacks that deal massive Pyro damage.
Her burst, Done Deal, amplifies her damage further and grants her a shield (at C4), blending offense with survivability. What makes Yanfei shine is her flexibility—she thrives with a variety of weapons, from the F2P-friendly to Gacha weapons, and fits seamlessly into Vaporize, Overload, or Mono-Pyro teams. Despite her power, she’s often overlooked in favor of 5-stars like Hu Tao, Mavuika, or Arlecchino, with players underestimating her potential due to her 4-star status.
Yet, with proper investment in artifacts, Yanfei’s consistent damage, AoE potential, and ability to trigger reactions make her a Pyro powerhouse. For players seeking an accessible, and surprisingly strong DPS who punches far above her rarity, Yanfei is a great option.
Jean
- Weapon: Sword
- Rarity: 5-stars
- Element: Anemo
Jean remains one of the most underrated characters in Genshin Impact, despite her versatility as a 5-star Anemo healer and sub-DPS hybrid. As the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Jean’s kit offers a unique blend of healing, crowd control, and cleansing with her elemental burst, Dandelion Breeze, which instantly heals the party, deals AoE Anemo damage, and creates a healing field that also cleanses debuffs.
In a meta dominated by Dendro reactions and high-damage DPS units, Jean’s role as a “jack-of-all-trades” is often overlooked in favor of hyper-specialized healers like Bennett or Kokomi, who synergize better with Dendro teams or other elements. Her elemental skill, Gale Blade, provides underrated crowd control, launching enemies airborne—a niche utility that’s still handy in certain Abyss floors or overworld scenarios.
However, many players dismiss her as “just a standard banner character” or prioritize other Anemo —characters like Kazuha, Wanderer, or Venti for their buffs, crowd control, or raw damage. What makes Jean truly underrated is her ability to slot into almost any team as a healer, also almost any 4-star weapon might be suitable for Jean, moreover, she can be built as a reliable support character, or even a hybrid damage dealer, all while requiring minimal investment.
Her burst’s massive healing and cleanse are invaluable in high-pressure fights, but in a meta that often values raw damage over sustain, Jean’s balanced kit gets overshadowed. For players who value flexibility and reliability over chasing trends, Jean is a quiet powerhouse who deserves more appreciation.
As we wrap up this exploration of Genshin Impact’s most underrated characters, it’s clear that Teyvat is brimming with hidden potential waiting to be unlocked. These characters remind us that greatness isn’t always about rarity or hype—it’s about creativity, versatility, and the joy of discovering new ways to play. While the meta may favor other characters, there’s something deeply rewarding about giving these overlooked heroes a chance to shine.
And here is a YouTube channel where you can find many suitable builds so you can turn such underappreciated characters into absolute beasts! or simply any other character you like.
So, we turn the discussion over to you: Who’s your favorite underrated character, and why? Or maybe you’ve discovered a hidden gem that no one else seems to appreciate? Share your thoughts, builds, and stories in the comments below—because in a world as vast and diverse as Teyvat, every character has a story worth telling!
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