In most combat-centric games, there is a clear distinction between two different types of damage dealers: agile, fast fighters, and heavy hitters. While there may be a lot of unique combat features inGenshin Impact, it also follows this general distinction.
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However, despite the general mechanics of the game, it can be surprising to many players that although some of the characters on this list are not necessarily used for main DPS, or in particular for their heavy hits, they still have a great damage potential. While there isn’t one distinct measure of combat strength inGenshin Impact,looking for the highest base attack can be a good indicator for players.
Updated on August 16th, 2023, by Elara Leclair:With the release of Fontaine region, players will be able to enjoy a grand set of new characters and explore new opportunities for gameplay mechanics. Unsurprisingly, many new strong DPS characters are expected to be added to the roster, while the specific details of how each of their kits will work or what they scale on are not highly known, except for the characters arriving in 4.0. Alongside this, there is already a change in the list with the addition ofLyney, a bow user, which also takes another bow user,Tartaglia, off the list.
All characters are listed with level 1 and level 90 base-attack stats.
15Shenhe (24/304)
A striking addition in version 2.4,Shenheoffers a nice blend of high-level support and sustained DPS. Her elemental skill applies the Icy Quill effect, which adds extra damage to Cryo attacks from teammates.
Interestingly, this makes Shenhe a heavy hitter when not on the field. Icy Quill adds more damage if more than one opponent is hit, doubling the modifier for both enemies. However, that said, Shenhe is a niche character by the fact that she is actually considered a Cryo support rather than being a DMG dealer herself.
14Klee (24/311)
Few people would think of bombs as being low damage. And quite simply, even in the hands of a child, bombs would make any character a heavy hitter; this certainly is the case for Klee.
Klee’s reason for being a DPS is straightforward. She blows enemies away with her bombs, using an elemental skill that throws tiny bombs on the ground and a burst that uses a laser cannon.
13Alhaitham (24/313)
The latest character to joinGenshin Impactwith Patch 3.4,Alhaitham, the scribe and Acting Grand Sage of Sumeru Akademiya, is one of the few Dendro DPS characters the game currently offers. With a high ATK value and scaling primarily with Elemental Mastery, Alhaitham is capable of dealing massive Dendro Damage with ease.
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Players may find him a bit challenging at first due to the need to manage Chisel-Light Mirrors, but once mastered, this character has the potential to be one of the strongest characters inGenshin Impactfor many patches to come.
12Lyney (25/318)
While not very high on the list, as a bow user, Lyney makes it into the list with a solid ATK scaling, which undoubtedly helps him deal much more damage, combined with the added ATK increase provided in his kit. While there is still much to explore regarding his and his siblings' roles and personalities in terms of lore and story, players can expect him to have even more increased attack, especially with the right teammates.
It can be said that Lyney has a relatively unique kit that greatly benefits from this ATK scaling. This is because when paired with 2 other Pyro characters, Lyney will receive an additional 40% ATK, on top of the Pyro resonance which gives 25% ATK to the team members. With that, characters like Bennett make great team members for him to reach ATK values potentially not available to any other character, while also allowing players to focus on other stat values like Crit Rate or Crit Damage more easily.
11Cyno (25/318)
Cyno, the latest playable Electro character inGenshin Impact, is the General Mahamatra who leads the Matra and instills terror in the researchers of the Sumeru Akademiya. With their powerful electro abilities, Cyno is sure to be a formidable force.
But striking fear is not the only powerful thing he can do. When his attacks are timed precisely, and during his Burst, he has tremendous damage potential. This potential is amplified even further when Elemental Reactions are utilized in his team composition, especially with Aggravate, as he is able to scale with Elemental Mastery.
10Yoimiya (25/323)
The firework maker from the Naganohara family,Yoimiyais an interesting case forGenshin Impactcharacters in general (not just amongst heavy hitters.) After all, she is the only bow-user to do her damage primarily with her normal attacks rather than her charged attacks. This makes her currently theonly characterthat truly benefits from using the Rust orThundering Pulse.
Although some players may find her a bit underwhelming compared to other Pyro main-DPS characters, such asHu Tao, Yoimiya certainly has great potential for massive damage. Furthermore, her elemental burst further increases her already high damage output by marking enemies for a damage increase.
9Keqing (25/323)
Although one of the oldest characters in Genshin Impact,Keqinghas remained a fan favorite, and her popularity has skyrocketed since the Sumeru update with the introduction ofDendro Reactions. This has made Electro a more viable option than ever before due to the strong reactions it provides, further boosting Keqing’s appeal among players.
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Keqing’s fast-paced gameplay style, coupled with her frequent critical hits, makes her an excellent choice for a DPS character. Her damage has a naturally high base-stat combination, while both her elemental skill and burst utilize quick, offensive strikes for high Electro damage.
8Wanderer (26/327)
Formerly known as Scaramouche,Wandereris one of the most beloved and distinctive characters in Genshin Impact, renowned for his captivating backstory, innovative playstyle, and the fact that he is currently the only character alongside the Traveler thatplayers can rename.
He also brings a unique and exciting playstyle to Anemo and Catalyst users, thanks to the fun gameplay mechanic he employs to deal immense damage. His impressive base ATK value gives him the potential to cause great destruction, which can be further improved with strategic team compositions based on different elements.
7Diluc (26/335)
AtGenshin Impact’srelease, Diluc was the original heavy hitter and the most popular main DPS. In fact, most fans still considered him to be at the top of DPS untilXiaoandGanyu’srelease, with hisinteresting set of Pyro talents.In fact, Diluc and Ganyu have the exact same base ATK values.
Despite falling behind many characters, the tycoon of The Dawn Winery is still a formidable force, especially once his constellations are unlocked. His constellations address his initial weaknesses, and there are only few gimmicks associated with his play style. In fact, his talents are some of the easiest to master in Genshin Impact.
6Ganyu (26/335)
The secretary of the Liyue Qixing’s placement on this list should really not come as a surprise to mostGenshin Impactfans. After all, Ganyu doesn’t place at the top of DPS characters for nothing.
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Ganyu’s charged shots are massive, hitting multiple opponents withhigh Cryo damage. And, of course, Ganyu also feeds off of her high critical hit rate and damage, often hitting critical hits half to one hundred percent of the time.
