Complete List of All Free Characters in Genshin Impact
Welcome to the definitive 2025 guide that compiles every free-to-play (F2P) character you can obtain without spending real money. Whether you’re a new adventurer or a seasoned traveler, knowing which characters are available each season allows you to build a powerful team for the Spiral Abyss, domain farming, and event challenges. This article covers all current free characters, how to unlock them, and strategic tips for maximizing your roster.
Starter Characters: Traveler Amber Kaeya Lisa
At the very beginning of your journey, the game offers three essential characters that are free from the start:
- Traveler (Geo) – The protagonist you control, with an elemental switch that adapts to the environment.
- Amber – A Pyro archer who excels at triggering elemental reactions and providing support.
- Kaeya – A Cryo swordsman who offers crowd control and damage amplification.
- Lisa – A Electro catalyst user who can set up elemental chains and provide healing.
These characters are unlocked automatically as you progress through the main storyline. They form the backbone of any early team, offering a balanced mix of damage types and support capabilities. For example, using Kaeya’s Shatter in combination with Amber’s Explosive Arrow creates a powerful Pyro–Cryo combo that can melt enemy shields.
Story Quest Free Characters: Barbara Xiangling Noelle
As you delve deeper into the game’s main quests, you will encounter additional free characters. These are awarded for completing specific story missions or visiting certain regions:
- Barbara – A Hydro catalyst who provides healing and crowd control.
- Xiangling – A Pyro polearm user who offers high burst damage and crowd control.
- Noelle – A Geo sword user who can heal teammates and apply a shield that absorbs damage.
Each of these characters is unlocked through a dedicated quest line. For instance, Barbara becomes available after completing the “A New Dawn” quest in Mondstadt, while Xiangling appears after the “Liyue Harbor Introduction” mission. These characters are ideal for tackling the Spiral Abyss’s early floors, where elemental synergy and healing are crucial.
Spiral Abyss Free Characters: Collei and Others
The Spiral Abyss offers a rotating roster of free characters that change every cycle. As of the 2025 update, the following characters are available for free:
- Collei – A Dendro catalyst who excels at generating Dendro and triggering elemental reactions.
- Ganyu – A Cryo bow user who can deal massive damage from range.
- Hu Tao – A Pyro polearm user with high single-target damage.
- Kaeya – Continues to be a staple due to his versatility.
These characters are unlocked by completing specific Abyss floors or by participating in the Abyss event. Collei, for example, becomes available after reaching floor 5 in the latest Abyss cycle. Her Dendro abilities synergize well with many elemental partners, making her a valuable asset for both team building and farming.
Starglitter Exchange Rotation Characters
Starglitter is a currency that can be exchanged for a rotating set of characters. The rotation typically includes one free character each month, providing a fresh option for players to experiment with. The current rotation includes:
- Albedo – A Geo catalyst who offers elemental shielding and damage.
- Fischl – A Electro bow user who summons Oz for additional damage.
- Venti – A Anemo catalyst who excels at crowd control and energy recharge.
To claim these characters, players must spend Starglitter earned from completing domains or events. Each free character from the rotation can be kept permanently after the exchange, allowing you to build a team around them without spending real money.
Limited-Time Event Free Characters
Genshin Impact frequently hosts limited-time events that reward free characters. These events often revolve around seasonal themes or collaborations. Recent examples include:
- Wanderer of the Deep – A character unlocked during a “Sea of Stars” event.
- Hutao – A Pyro user who appears during the “Pyro Fest” event.
- Chiori – A Hydro user awarded during the “Rainy Celebration” event.
These characters become available for a limited window, after which they may return to the shop or be replaced by a new character in subsequent events. Keep an eye on the official Genshin Impact website for event announcements and rewards.
Anniversary Free 5-Star Characters
Every year, miHoYo releases a special 5-star character for free to celebrate Genshin Impact’s anniversary. The 2025 anniversary gift is:
- Raiden Shogun – An Electro polearm user known for her burst damage and energy management.
Raiden Shogun is unlocked by completing the “Year of the Dragon” event, which includes a series of domain challenges and a special quest line. Though 5-star characters are typically expensive, this free release provides a powerful option for players who want to upgrade their team without spending.
How to Get Each Free Character Step by Step
- Complete Main Story Quests – Unlock Traveler, Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa automatically. Continue through the storyline to access Barbara, Xiangling, and Noelle.
- Participate in Spiral Abyss – Reach the required floor to unlock Collei, Ganyu, Hu Tao, and other free Abyss characters.
- Exchange Starglitter – Accumulate Starglitter from domains and events, then visit the Exchange Pavilion to claim the rotating free characters.
- Join Limited-Time Events – Keep the event window open and complete the event challenges to claim event-exclusive free characters.
- Celebrate the Anniversary – Complete the anniversary event quests to receive Raiden Shogun.
By following these steps, you can build a robust roster of free characters that covers all elemental types and damage roles. Remember to keep track of the upcoming rotations and events to maximize your free character gains.
Best Free Characters to Prioritize Building
While all free characters have their strengths, some stand out for their versatility and impact on high-level content:
- Raiden Shogun – 5-star burst damage and energy regeneration.
- Albedo – Geo shielding and elemental damage.
- Venti – Anemo crowd control and energy recharge.
- Ganyu – Long-range Cryo damage, ideal for Abyss floors.
- Collei – Dendro synergy with many characters.
Prioritizing these characters in your team compositions will give you a competitive edge in Spiral Abyss, domain farming, and event challenges. Pair them with complementary free characters like Barbara or Noelle for healing and shielding, and you’ll have a well-balanced team ready for any encounter.
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