For the first few years of Genshin Impact, players only had access to six of the game’s seven elemental types, as Dendro characters remained unavailable. This changed with the release of Sumeru, where HoYoverse introduced a variety of Dendro characters, including a highly-anticipated five-star character added to the Standard Banner.
As with any game that features a diverse range of abilities, not every character offers the same value. For free-to-play (F2P) or low-spending players, it’s essential to invest wisely in the right characters. Below are some of the top Dendro units that bring unique strengths and abilities to any Genshin Impact team.
1. Nahida
Who better to claim the title of best Dendro character than the Dendro Archon herself, Nahida? She boasts everything you could want from a Dendro character, with long-lasting abilities and various effects that change depending on her team composition.
Her Elemental Skill marks all nearby enemies, causing them to take Dendro damage whenever a reaction is triggered. Nahida’s Dendro application rate is currently the highest in the game, making her invaluable as both a reaction initiator and an off-field support. Her versatility and powerful kit make her a top-tier choice for any Dendro team.
2. Alhaitham
Alhaitham is one of the most engaging characters to play in Genshin Impact, whether during the storyline or in direct gameplay. His Elemental Skill allows him to teleport nearby while imbuing his weapon with Dendro, enabling consistent Dendro damage with proper management.
Alhaitham’s playstyle is both challenging and rewarding, especially for those willing to master his mechanics. His skillset evolves significantly with his constellations, offering players new ways to maximize his damage potential.
3. Baizhu
Introduced in Liyue’s Archon Quest, Baizhu’s debut was long-awaited. Although some players might have been disappointed by certain design changes, his performance as a support unit is undeniable. Baizhu excels in Bloom teams, particularly when paired with Nilou.
Not only does he keep your team sustained with his healing abilities, but he also boosts Bloom damage by a small percentage. He’s an excellent fit for players who want a healer that contributes to team damage, especially when paired with characters like Furina for party-wide healing.
4. Kinich
Despite the slower playstyle often associated with Claymore characters, Kinich manages to break the mold. He is not only a top-tier Dendro character but also one of the strongest overall characters, with intricate animations and grapple mechanics that set him apart.
Kinich excels at single-target damage, which can extend to AoE when enemies are close together. His strength skyrockets when triggering the Burning reaction, reintroducing this previously overlooked reaction into the game’s meta. Notably, Kinich’s abilities remain strong outside of Natlan, allowing for flexibility in various team compositions.
5. Emilie
Although her initial release didn’t create much buzz, Emilie quickly proved herself to be a valuable character. As an off-field Sub-DPS, her Elemental Skill summons a turret that deals periodic Dendro damage, with additional boosts after using her Elemental Burst.
This turret can deliver significant damage, especially when nearby enemies are affected by Burning. While Emilie doesn’t specifically enhance the Burning reaction the way Nilou does for Bloom, she makes Burning a viable option in endgame content when used effectively.
6. Yaoyao
As the only four-star Dendro character from Liyue, Yaoyao was released alongside Baizhu and has proven to be an exceptional healer. Using her Skill, Yaoyao throws out a bunny that heals nearby allies when their health falls below 70%, while dealing damage to enemies otherwise. Her Elemental Burst lets players move around the battlefield while both effects of her Skill are active, allowing her to support teammates effectively. Additionally, her constellations enhance the damage potential of certain Dendro characters, making her an invaluable support unit for Dendro-heavy teams.
7. Tighnari
Introduced in the first limited-time banner for Sumeru, Tighnari was later added to the Standard Banner, making him the only Dendro character in that roster. His Charged Attacks resemble Ganyu’s, featuring two stages of charge, with the second charge delivering greater damage and producing extra projectiles. Tighnari’s Skill not only taunts enemies but also accelerates his charge rate, and his Elemental Burst boosts his damage output, creating a balanced and effective character. When paired with off-field elemental applicators, Tighnari can deliver impressive damage in battle.
8. Dendro Traveler
The Genshin Impact developers usually design the Traveler’s abilities as straightforward, but the Dendro Traveler stands out with a well-designed and engaging kit. Their abilities are versatile and particularly enjoyable due to the various effects on their Elemental Burst, which change based on the element applied. As the only character with a free path to Constellation Six through exploration and quest completion in Sumeru, the Dendro Traveler offers significant Dendro application within a large area of effect (AoE) and enhances the Elemental Mastery of the entire party, enabling stronger elemental reactions.
9. Collei
As a free four-star Dendro unit obtainable through the Spiral Abyss, Collei is especially useful for teams focusing on Dendro-based reactions in the early game. Both her Skill and Burst provide extensive Dendro application to enemies. However, as a support unit, Collei lacks the capability to buff allies, even at full constellation, which limits her effectiveness compared to other support Dendro characters. Despite this, she remains a valuable choice for early Dendro-focused compositions.
10. Kirara
Traversing the rugged landscapes of Liyue and Sumeru can be challenging, but Kirara simplifies this with her Skill, which enables swift climbing without exhausting stamina. While this mobility is fantastic for exploration, her combat utility is limited. Kirara can provide shielding to protect the team, but similar abilities are found in other characters who offer more robust support options, making her situational in combat.
11. Kaveh
Kaveh, Alhaitham’s roommate, may not feature prominently in the main storyline, but his skillset introduces a unique mechanic. His Skill and Burst immediately detonate Dendro Cores produced by the Bloom reaction, significantly boosting their damage. However, Kaveh’s role is constrained by the scarcity of effective Bloom teams in the endgame; unless paired with Nilou, who already triggers Bloom reactions, his potential is largely untapped. As a result, he currently occupies a niche role that lacks widespread application in the current meta.
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