Exploring the vast world of Teyvat in Genshin Impact is much more exciting with a diverse roster of characters. Whether you're a new player wondering how to expand your team or a veteran looking to optimize your character collection strategy, this comprehensive guide covers all the methods to get characters in Genshin Impact as of 2025.

Free Characters: Your Starting Roster

One of the most accessible ways to build your team in Genshin Impact is through the free characters that HoYoverse provides to all players. These characters can be unlocked simply by progressing through the game without spending any Primogems.

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Currently, you can obtain these free characters:

  • The Traveler (Aether/Lumine) - Your starting character with multiple elemental abilities

  • Amber (Pyro) - Complete the "Wind-Riding Knight" quest

  • Lisa (Electro) - Complete the "Sparks Amongst the Pages" quest

  • Kaeya (Cryo) - Complete the "Crash Course" quest

  • Noelle (Geo) - Guaranteed from your first 10-pull on the Beginner's Wish banner

  • Barbara (Hydro) - Complete the Mondstadt Archon Quest chapter

  • Xiangling (Pyro) - Clear Floor 3, Chamber 3 of the Spiral Abyss

  • Collei (Dendro) - Clear Floor 4, Chamber 3 of the Spiral Abyss

  • Lynette (Anemo) - Reach Adventure Rank 25

While these characters are mostly 4-star units, they provide a solid foundation for your team. Notably, Xiangling remains one of the most powerful sub-DPS characters in the game, even in 2025's meta.

The Wish System: Gacha Mechanics Explained

The primary method to obtain most characters in Genshin Impact is through the Wish system. This gacha mechanic allows you to spend Fates (an in-game currency) for a chance to obtain characters and weapons.

Types of Character Banners

  1. Standard Banner (Permanent)

  2. Uses Acquaint Fates (blue)

  3. Contains a fixed pool of 5★ characters and weapons

  4. No rate-up characters

  5. Character Event Banner (Limited-time)

  6. Uses Intertwined Fates (purple)

  7. Features a limited 5★ character and three rate-up 4★ characters

  8. Changes approximately every 3 weeks

Understanding Pity and Guarantees

The Wish system includes a pity mechanism that ensures you'll eventually get high-rarity characters:

  • 4★ Pity: Guaranteed to get a 4★ item every 10 pulls

  • 5★ Pity: Guaranteed to get a 5★ item by your 90th pull (soft pity begins around 75)

  • 50/50 System: When you get a 5★ on the Character Event Banner, there's a 50% chance it's the featured character. If you don't get the featured character, your next 5★ pull is guaranteed to be the featured character.

"The pity system has become even more generous in 2025," notes a veteran player. "With the recent updates, reaching soft pity around 75 pulls gives you a significantly increased chance of obtaining a 5-star character, making planning your Primogem spending much more predictable."

Starglitter Exchange: Strategic Character Acquisition

The Starglitter Exchange in Paimon's Bargains offers another way to obtain specific 4★ characters without relying on the randomness of Wishes.

Each month, two different 4★ characters are available for purchase with Masterless Starglitter (obtained when pulling duplicate characters). Each character costs 34 Starglitter.

The rotation includes characters like:

  • Fischl, Xiangling, Beidou, Noelle

  • Ningguang, Xingqiu, Razor, Bennett

  • Amber, Kaeya, Lisa (rare characters seldom featured on banners)

This system is particularly valuable for obtaining constellations for specific characters or acquiring the starter characters that rarely appear in Wish banners.

Rerolling: A Strategy for New Accounts

Rerolling is a technique where players create new accounts until they get desirable characters from their initial free Wishes. While time-consuming, it can be an effective way for new players to start with powerful 5★ characters without spending money.

The process involves:

  1. Creating a new account

  2. Completing the initial quests to reach Adventure Rank 5

  3. Using the free Acquaint and Intertwined Fates

  4. Repeating if the desired characters aren't obtained

"Rerolling has evolved in 2025," explains a Genshin Impact content creator. "With the increased number of starter rewards compared to the game's launch, new players now have a much better chance of securing at least one 5-star character through rerolling."

Event Rewards: Periodic Free Characters

Throughout the year, HoYoverse runs special events that sometimes reward free characters. These events typically require completing various challenges or activities during limited-time periods.

The anniversary events are particularly generous. In the recent 5th anniversary celebration, players were able to select a standard 5★ character for free, following the precedent set during the 4th anniversary.

Optimizing Your Character Acquisition Strategy

To maximize your character collection efficiently:

  1. Save Primogems for characters you truly want rather than pulling on every banner

  2. Track your pity count to know when you're approaching guaranteed pulls

  3. Prioritize the Starglitter Exchange for rare characters like Kaeya, Lisa, and Amber

  4. Complete all events that offer free characters or Primogems

  5. Focus on building strong teams rather than collecting every character

"The most successful approach in 2025's Genshin Impact is strategic patience," advises a long-time player. "With the expanded roster of over 100 characters now, it's impossible to collect everyone without significant spending. Focusing on characters that complement your playstyle and team compositions will yield the most enjoyable experience."

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get a five-star character for free in Genshin Impact?

The only reliable ways to get a free 5★ character are through anniversary events (like the recent 5th anniversary selection) or by accumulating enough free Primogems through gameplay to reach pity on the character banners.

What's the fastest way to earn Primogems for Wishes?

The fastest ways to earn Primogems include:

  • Completing daily commissions

  • Participating in events

  • Exploring the world and finding chests

  • Completing quests and achievements

  • Unlocking Statues of the Seven and Teleport Waypoints

Are the free characters worth building?

Absolutely! Several free characters remain highly competitive in the meta. Xiangling is still considered one of the best Pyro sub-DPS characters, and the Traveler's versatility with multiple elements makes them adaptable to many team compositions.

As you continue your journey through Teyvat, remember that building strong, synergistic teams is more important than simply collecting every character. With thoughtful planning and strategic use of your resources, you can create powerful teams capable of conquering even the most challenging content in Genshin Impact.

Happy adventuring, Travelers!