In Genshin Impact, many characters are unlocked through wishes that can be purchased with real money or in-game currencies. However, some characters can be obtained for free. Here you will find an overview of which characters they are, what element they control, and how to obtain them.
A large portion of the characters in Genshin Impact can be obtained through a gacha system, where you use wishes and hope to pull one of your favorites. However, the game also equips you with several free characters. With these, you can initially form a solid starting team and successfully complete the early missions in the game world of “Teyvat”.
In total, you can unlock eight characters for free without needing to use wishes on them. You can check our list for which ones they are.
Additionally, one character is introduced that is not completely free to obtain, but can be easily acquired – without the need to hope for numerous wishes.
1. Traveler: Aether or Lumine
- Rarity: 5 Stars
- Element: Depending on the selected alignment: Anemo (Wind), Geo (Earth), Electro (Lightning), Dendro (Plant), Hydro (Water)
- Weapon: Sword
How to obtain the Traveler? Right at the beginning of the game, you automatically receive one of the two characters in Genshin Impact. You can choose whether you prefer to play as a female character (Lumine) or a male character (Aether).
You will find statues of the various deities (Archons) in the game world, each associated with a certain element. The main character can align themselves with them to have access to attacks of the corresponding element.
If you want to change the elemental alignment, all you need to do is align with the statue of another Archon. Currently, you have access to five of the seven total different elements (as of May 16, 2024).
2. Amber
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Pyro (Fire)
- Weapon: Bow
How to obtain Amber? You receive the archer early in the game during the Archon quests. Play the mission “A Knight Swept by the Wind” in the “Prologue Act 1: The Stranger Who Caught the Wind”.
3. Kaeya
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Cryo (Ice)
- Weapon: Sword
How to obtain Kaeya? You also receive Kaeya in the Archon quest series. Play the quest “A Course in Knighthood” in “Prologue Act 1: The Stranger Who Caught the Wind”.
4. Lisa
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Electro (Lightning)
- Weapon: Catalyst
How to obtain Lisa? Lisa is the third character that you unlock during “Prologue Act 1: The Stranger Who Caught the Wind”. Complete the quest “The Spark Between the Pages”.
5. Barbara
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Hydro (Water)
- Weapon: Catalyst
How to obtain Barbara? You must first reach Adventure Rank 18 and complete the quest “For a Dark Shadow” in the Prologue, Act 3 “The Song of the Dragon and Freedom”. After that, you have unlocked the event “Devout Song”. Play this and receive Barbara as a reward.
6. Xiangling
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Pyro (Fire)
- Weapon: Spear
How to obtain Xiangling? You need Adventure Rank 20 to unlock the “Twisted Abyss”. Here you will play through various rooms of increasing difficulty. If you complete Level 3 in Room 3, you will receive Xiangling as a reward.
7. Collei
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Dendro
- Weapon: Bow
How to obtain Collei? Just like Xiangling, you obtain Collei by completing a certain room in the Twisted Abyss. You must complete Level 4 and Room 3 for this.
8. Lynette
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Anemo
- Weapon: Sword
How to obtain Lynette? To obtain Lynette, you need to reach Adventure Rank 25. After that, you can get her through the action page “The Curtain of the Magic Show Never Falls”.
Not completely free, but guaranteed: Noelle
- Rarity: 4 Stars
- Element: Geo (Earth)
- Weapon: Claymore
How to obtain Noelle? Strictly speaking, Noelle is not a “free” character, but is unlocked through a wish. However, you will receive her as part of the “Beginner’s Wish” banner and will be guaranteed to get the character within the first ten pulls.
Therefore, it is advisable to invest your first wishes in the beginner banner. Especially since, within the total of 20 pulls available to you, you will also be guaranteed another character with at least four stars.
Besides Noelle, there are four other characters that are often underestimated in Genshin Impact.
Here you can see the trailer for Version 4.6 in Genshin Impact:
How to pull characters and what does it cost?
How to obtain characters in Genshin Impact? A large portion of the characters in the game can be obtained through wishes. You have two different types available:
- Fate Intertwined
- Fate Preserved
How to use the fates? You use the Fate Intertwined for standard wishes, where you can obtain characters that are permanently available.
With the Fate Preserved, you take part in one of the two available banners with the so-called “Character Action Wishes,” where you have a higher chance of pulling specific characters. These special banners are available for a certain time, with changing characters.
Both types of fates can be purchased either with real money or using the following in-game currency:
- 5x Star Glitter
- 75x Star Dust (only five of both types of fates are available for purchase with star dust each month)
- 160x Primogem
A little tip: Always keep an eye out for events in the game. You can sometimes unlock characters for free here as well.
In an event from Version 3.2 titled “Competition of Intelligent Mushrooms,” for example, you could obtain “Dori” without wishes. However, such special events usually only last for a limited time. Here you can find an overview of all Genshin Impact guides on MeinMMO with numerous tips and builds.
