Genshin Impact 2025 DPS Characters Tier List
Genshin Impact players know that DPS characters are the backbone of Spiral Abyss records thanks to Elemental Burst nukes, CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and ATK% stacking. My heart races watching vaporize and melt reactions hit six-figure damage, while buffs like Bennett’s ATK boost and Kazuha’s elemental shred push numbers even higher. This tier list includes every officially released main DPS, ranked from absolute gods to niche picks. I use real stats—like 70% CRIT Rate targets and 200% CRIT DMG builds—to explain why some heroes top charts and others lag. Whether you like charged attacks, plunge combos or rapid-fire bow volley, this guide shows which carries dominate Teyvat in 2025.
Building a top-tier DPS team requires farming artifacts, honing weapons and mastering rotations—rituals that test patience. Players stuck on Abyss-clearing benchmarks may seek outside help. ChaosBoost boosting services come in to solve that grind: their experts gear up your DPS characters, complete Spiral Abyss floors stuck on Floor 12 and optimize builds for the next Abyss cycle. I’ve seen friends use ChaosBoost to break through walls at 36-star runs, so they can focus on strategy instead of endless artifact domains. For those moments when time is short or frustration high, ChaosBoost provides the push needed to deliver peak damage.
SS Tier – Godlike Carries of 2025
The SS Tier houses the most dominant damage dealers, whose Elemental Skills, Bursts, and multipliers redefine what “overpowered” means. These heroes deliver sustained DPS or sky-high nukes, often surpassing 1 million total damage in a single combo. At C0 and with a standard 5★ weapon, they remain top of damage meters due to intrinsic kit strength and reaction synergy. Their rotation simplicity suits both speedrunners and theorycrafters chasing leaderboard glory. For anyone seeking a no-compromise carry, these units stand unchallenged as the best DPS characters in Genshin Impact.
| Character | Element | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Neuvillette | Hydro | Sustained charged-beam DPS, self-heal via passive, high energy regen, great for vaporize teams. |
| Mavuika | Pyro | Explosive Melt/Vaporize support, huge AoE Elemental Burst, effortless six-figure crits on single targets. |
| Arlecchino | Pyro | Rapid wide-slice attacks that shred HP bars, high Pyro application, excels even without reaction reliance. |
These SS-Tier carries obliterate both mobs and bosses with little setup beyond basic artifact farming. Neuvillette’s continuous Hydro beam clips off multiple targets per tick, making him ideal for constant damage output without swap-heavy rotations. Mavuika’s Burst alone spells imminent meltdown, while Arlecchino slices through shields and health pools alike. Investing in these characters guarantees record-breaking damage and near-flawless Spiral Abyss clears at 36 stars.
S Tier – Meta-Defining Main DPS
The S Tier comprises heroes that dominate just below godhood, starring in most top-level team comps. They offer exceptional scaling with ATK%, Elemental Mastery, or Energy Recharge, and often introduce unique playstyles like plunge-focused DPS or mobile burst rotations. Although these carries might require precise supports or higher constellations to unlock maximum potential, they still outshine almost every other DPS option. Seasoned players consistently pick these units for Abyss speedruns, world bosses, and high-level domains, trusting their reliable output and versatility.
| Character | Element | Standout Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Varesa | Electro | Plunge-focused catalyst DPS, simple build, high AoE Electro, excels in national team comps. |
| Mualani | Pyro | “Shark’s Bite” Burst nukes crowds, strong Vaporize synergy, lava surfing for extra utility. |
| Kinich | Pyro | Grappling hook for constant Pyro application, bursts in burning/Burgeon comps, high single-target damage. |
| Navia | Geo | Massive Geo strike Burst, one-shot potential, flexible beyond mono-Geo, strong against shields. |
| Alhaitham | Dendro | Continuous Spread procs via Mirror blades, low investment, surprising AoE and boss DPS. |
| Hu Tao | Pyro | High-risk HP trade for massive charged hits, unmatched single-target burst in vaporize teams. |
| Lyney | Pyro | Ranged DPS with summoned props, steady on-field damage, passive Pyro buff for on-swap bursts. |
| Chasca | Versatile | Converts damage to multiple elements, lets teams switch reactions dynamically, strong single-target. |
| Raiden Shogun | Electro | Burst mode hits ignore DEF at C2, supplies team energy, insane multi-hit DPS, great national team. |
| Wriothesley | Cryo | Melee Cryo brawler, high-speed punches, shines in melt comps, enhanced by C1 healing sustain. |
| Clorinde | Electro | Quick-swap sword DPS, self-heal on skill, thrives with buffs, fluid rotation with high uptime. |
S-Tier heroes show up in every theorycraft guide for a reason: their numbers never dip below meta requirements. Varesa deletes mobs with his plunge, Mualani vaporizes entire rooms with his Pyro blasts. Alhaitham trades few investment points for constant Dendro Spread damage, and Raiden is an energy battery and burst carry. With good supports like Bennett, Kazuha, or Shenhe, these characters are DSR-worthy in any content.
A Tier – Solid Picks With Specific Needs
A-Tier DPS heroes deal great damage but usually require one or two specific things—like team buffs, higher constellations, or niche reaction setups—to reach their full potential. They’re solid carries once built but need more effort than S-Tier to match the same output. That makes them perfect for players who love their playstyle or don’t have the latest limited banners. Here’s a quick list of A-Tier damage dealers that shine with the right investment:
- Xiao – Anemo polearm DPS that melts via plunging Elemental Burst, but loses HP constantly during use; needs healers/buffers for uptime.
- Kamisato Ayaka – Cryo sword whirls that melt bosses in Freeze comps; requires Crown talent levels and 4-piece Blizzard Strayer for optimal results.
- Tartaglia (Childe) – Hydro melee phases spread Riptide for massive vaporize bursts; must time melee stance cooldowns carefully to maintain uptime.
- Diluc – Classic Pyro claymore carry with simple Elemental Skill and Burst weaving; outpaced by newer Pyro DPS but remains beginner-friendly.
- Kamisato Ayato – Rapid-attack Hydro sword driver; excels in electro-charged and Freeze teams, offers consistent on-field DPS.
- Tighnari – Dendro bow sharpshooter; high Spread damage via Wreath Arrows, needs setup with Dendro applicators to maximize.
Each A-Tier hero has a niche in team compositions. Xiao clears trash mobs with aerial plunges, Ayaka locks down single targets with Cryo shreds. Childe offers both Hydro application and bursts in one kit, and Diluc is a solid entry point for Pyro carries. If you like these characters’ animations and playstyles, investing in them is rewarding.
B Tier – Situational or High-Investment Carries
B-Tier DPS heroes are viable but often involve higher risks, more team coordination, or require maxed constellations to reach mid-tier performance. They might shine under specific reactions—like Aggravate, Burgeon, or Superconduct—or demand rare artifacts and perfect rotations. Casual players may not find their clear speeds satisfying, but die-hard fans will appreciate their unique mechanics. Here’s a table of these situational heroes with their toughest caveats:
| Character | Element | Primary Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Yoimiya | Pyro | Single-target focus, vulnerable when firing charged shots, needs shields for uninterrupted aiming. |
| Sethos | Hydro | 4★ stats limit peak DPS, heavy reliance on constellations and Burst uptime for decent output. |
| Arataki Itto | Geo | Mono-Geo lock for best buffs, high energy cost for Burst, swaps cancel Burst early if off-field. |
| Cyno | Electro | Burst drop if swapped, vulnerable to interruption, best in Aggravate comps with Dendro allies. |
| Keqing | Electro | Moderate damage ceiling, old kit, thrives in Aggravate teams but outclassed by newer sword DPS. |
| Mizuki | Anemo | Low personal damage despite anomalous swirl buffs, suffers from skill-only DPS windows, high C6 need. |
Even with perfect gear, these B-Tier DPS heroes have tough competition. Yoimiya shines against single bosses but falters with multiple targets. Sethos and Mizuki have 4★ flexibility but can’t match 5★ output. Cyno’s hypercarry stance requires perfect play, and Itto needs a dedicated mono-Geo team to work. If you like their mechanics, these characters offer depth—just expect to invest more time or constellations.
C & D Tier – Niche Carry Options
At the bottom are the C & D Tiers, characters designed for support, healing, or utility, but sometimes played as main DPS by enthusiasts. Their personal damage often relies on reaction damage or outdated kits, making them the least competitive carries. That said, creative comps or specialist runs have proven they’re not useless—just highly niche. Here are the low-tier main DPS picks and why they struggle:
- Yanfei & Klee (Pyro Catalysts) – Clunky charged attacks, poor range, stamina drains fast; outpaced by modern Pyro DPS.
- Heizou – Burst-driven melee catalyst; decent damage windows but minimal sustained DPS and no strong reaction synergies.
- Kaveh – Dendro claymore that triggers Bloom for reaction damage; personal multipliers are low, reaction is the real DPS.
- Kokomi – Hydro catalyst healer with no crit scaling; Ocean-Hued Clam makes bubble-pops, pure DPS is capped by passive restrictions.
- Freminet – 4★ Cryo claymore with split builds; physical or Cryo options dilute scaling, suffers compared to Razor or Eula.
- Ningguang – Single-target Geo bursts; high investment needed, no reaction boosts, overshadowed by Itto and Albedo.
- Razor – Physical claymore classic; spam normals under Burst Wolf, limited by Superconduct’s small resistance debuff.
- Dehya – Pyro bruiser with defensive toolkit; disappointing Burst damage, long cooldowns, heavily under-scaled.
- Xinyan – Pyro claymore/shielder hybrid; shield scale splits stats, weak burst, niche at best.
- Aloy – Free Cryo bow with no constellations; fixed DPS ceiling, underwhelming coils and cooldowns.
These bottom-tier heroes show that even the worst kits have their moments, but rarely compete with the top carries. Ningguang’s Star Jade bursts were once top-tier but now lag behind new Geo, and Heizou’s melee catalyst actives rarely outdamage dedicated DPS. Brave players have solo-carried Spiral Abyss with some of these heroes, but that requires extreme build focus and flawless execution – true specialist territory.
Every Genshin Impact DPS hero has their charm, but in 2025 the difference between SS and D is huge. Whether you’re chasing top times or just like your kit, this tier list shows the best damage dealers and their caveats. Invest in SS and S tiers for record-breaking performance, A and B tiers for thematic fun, or C and D tiers for a true test of skill. Whichever path you choose, may your crit hits be high and your rotations sharp as you storm the Spiral Abyss in Teyvat!
