Best 8 4-Star Characters in Genshin Impact 2026
Some 4-stars outperform 5-stars at the same role. This list ranks the ones that stay relevant in late-game content, not just early progression.
How We Rank These
4-stars are the backbone of most accounts because you get them for free from events, the shop, and standard wishes. The ones below remain strong in Spiral Abyss without constellations, and several are best-in-slot at what they do.
Bennett
Best ATK buffer and healer in one slot. Nothing else in the game compresses this much value into one character.
Watch out: C6 can interfere with Physical teams and some elemental infusions — many players leave it unactivated.
Xingqiu
Highest off-field Hydro application, damage reduction, and interrupt resistance — the engine behind Vaporize and Hyperbloom.
Watch out: Needs 180-200% ER and ideally Sacrificial Sword before he feels smooth.
Xiangling
Best off-field Pyro damage in the game thanks to snapshotting. Available for free from the Abyss.
Watch out: Completely dependent on Bennett for energy — she does not work without a battery.
Fischl
Best single-target Electro application via Oz, and a strong battery for any Electro team.
Watch out: Oz targeting can be unreliable against mobile enemies, and her damage is single-target only.
Kuki Shinobu
The best Hyperbloom trigger in the game — off-field Electro plus healing that follows the active character.
Watch out: Full EM builds reduce her healing, and her skill costs her own HP.
Sucrose
Best 4-star Anemo support. Shares EM team-wide and can hold Thrilling Tales for an extra ATK buff.
Watch out: Weaker crowd control than Kazuha and her buffs need EM investment to matter.
Faruzan
Mandatory for Anemo hypercarry teams — Anemo RES shred and Anemo DMG bonus in one character.
Watch out: Her ER needs are extreme (250%+) before C6, which makes her uncomfortable to build early.
Layla
Strongest 4-star shielder with near-100% uptime and off-field Cryo application.
Watch out: No healing and no meaningful personal damage outside Freeze teams.
Verdict
Priority order: Bennett → Xingqiu → Xiangling → Fischl → Kuki Shinobu. Those five cover every reaction archetype in the game. Sucrose and Faruzan are situationally best-in-slot but more team-specific.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 4-star characters clear Spiral Abyss?
Yes. National variants (Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett, Sucrose) and Hyperbloom teams using only 4-stars have been clearing Floor 12 for years, provided artifacts and talent levels are properly built.
Should I pull for 4-star constellations?
Only on banners where you also want the 5-star. The most valuable constellations are Bennett C1, Xingqiu C6, Faruzan C6, and Sucrose C6.
Which 4-star weapons are worth refining?
Sacrificial Sword, Sacrificial Fragments, The Catch (R5 from fishing), and Favonius weapons are the ones that meaningfully change how a character plays.