One of the best feelings ever in Genshin Impact is finally getting that coveted 5-star character that you’ve always wanted but happiness is in short supply these days so we usually don’t get them. That purple wish meteor suddenly remaining as such is still a nice consolation, however, as it rewards 4-star characters and that’s what most players usually get in bulk.

The result is that most of us will have to make do with what’s given. After all, virtually all characters in Genshin Impact are viable, no matter where they land in certain tier lists. It just so happens that some 4-star characters are better at filling in for the stronger 5-star characters so they make for good alternatives. Hence, if you lack these top dogs in Genshin Impact, then some affordable and accessible substitutes are in order.

Updated May 20th, 2021 by Sid Natividad: Updates have come and gone and also introduced some neat new characters who have upset the game’s balance. That’s why we have shiny new characters that many players probably haven’t obtained yet. However, have no fear as there are also alternatives to them which, while they don’t live up to the damage potential, are still decent placeholders.

New updates have introduced even more 5-star characters Genshin Impact and alongside them, some lovely alternatives for those on a budget. As the Genshin Impact 5-star character roster keeps increasing, so too will this list; we’ll also be adding in their closest 4-star equivalents.

18 5-Star: Eula

As the latest among the most esteemed and powerful top-tier DPS characters, Eula came in quite hot despite the cryo disposition. She currently holds the record for the highest damage dealt in the game at around 4 million, dethroning Hu Tao and Tartaglia.

Of course, that’s the C6 version of her with an R5 claymore but regular Eula users will still manage to hit six digits of physical damage effortlessly and frequently. Combined with her elegant attack moves and fast swings, Eula has proven herself to be the queen of physical damage. Getting her should be a no-brainer especially if you have the Primogems to spare.

17 4-Star Alternative: Fischl

Then again, not everyone has the time and patience to build Eula and her specific support team. Before she came along, the certified physical damage queen was a C6 Fischl that uses her bows to turn her arrows into a machine gun with a little help from the Superconduct elemental reaction.

Don’t expect her to reach the same damage output as Eula though, a C6 Fischl deals it in quick but small increments though it’s still powerful. Oddly enough, Fischl is also the perfect support character for Eula thanks to her reliable Electro application.

16 5-Star: Klee

Klee had already dethroned Diluc long before Hu Tao came into the picture. However, her combos and rotations are a bit complicated, and people who had both her and Diluc still preferred the latter for simpler and effortless damage output.

Still, that doesn’t mean Klee is less desirable. She deals higher damage though don’t expect big single-instance numbers. Klee dishes out those explosions in numerous increments thanks to all her mines and bombs. For most builds, it’s Klee’s Charged Attacks that do most of the heavy lifting. Giver her support like Mona, Bennett, and Zhongli and she can rip any enemy to shreds.

15 4-Star Alternative: Yanfei

Yanfei is one of the latest additions to the game and she’s a pyro catalyst user which is rare enough. Hence, she’s the closest and only alternative to Klee if you’re looking for a similar catalyst playstyle. Like Klee, Yanfei also uses the same setup with the same support characters.

The difference is that Yanfei is more precise in her pyro damage dealings while Klee focuses more on covering the whole map with her bombs. Of course, if you don’t have Klee, then Yanfei is the closest thing to that pyromaniac in terms of playstyle.

14 5-Star: Tartaglia (Childe)

Childe or Tartaglia is currently the best hydro DPS in the game right now, being able to deal millions of damage in a single burst. That burst has a high cooldown, however, and ought to be used wisely so that players can fully maximize their damage.

Despite the drawbacks for this character, namely the long cooldown on his Elemental Skill and complex playstyle, Vaporize reactions have ensured that he remains on top. Just pair him with a cheap and consistent pyro applicator like Xiangling and let him turn enemies into steaming piles of goo.

13 4-Star Alternative: Xingqiu

Then again, not many players have had the luxury of gambling their monthly salary in obtaining the recently re-released Tartaglia. Thankfully, Xingqiu is a competitive alternative to Tartaglia, especially in the hydro DPS department.

Xingqiu also has long cooldowns but his hydro application is second to none. His rain swords keep the enemies who come close wet or Vaporized. Apart from being a decent DPS on his own, Xingqiu is also considered as the best support for pyro characters which can also go vice versa.

12 5-Star: Hu Tao

Hu Tao is the current crown holder for the highest possible damage numbers in Genshin Impact. Too bad her banner is long over and it might be a while before she returns. Still, those lucky enough to have gotten her are probably burning through the game right now like a dying star.

Even without the right support, Hu Tao herself can rip through any of the game’s current content. She also holds the record for the fastest Spiral Abyss Floor 12 Chamber 1 clear. It’s all thanks to that overpowered godly staff she was released with, it was personally made for her.

11 4-Star Alternative: Xiangling

Xiangling might not hold a candle to Hu Tao’s pyro supremacy but she remains a respectable DPS on her own. She’s also a polearm user so they have similar move sets. Being a pyro character herself, she can get those lovely Vaporize or Melt reactions, which are the strongest in the game right now.

When it comes to her abilities, the Pyronado is one of the most consistent and wide-sweeping pyro attacks in the game that lasts for a significant amount of time. When used with similar skills such as Xingqiu’s Rain Swords, it can clear up the battlefield fast.

10 5-Star: Diluc

There’s one of everyone’s most wanted character, Diluc. Despite the increased number of new additions to the roster, Diluc remains a top DPS and has always been the best pyro character in the game. Unlike Klee, he’s not entirely useless against pyro enemies either.

Diluc can also focus on growing his physical damage through his claymore. Of course, his bread and butter will always be the Elemental Skill and Burst, both of which can sweep large areas with fire damage in the shortest amount of time.

9 4-Star Alternative: Bennett

Still, if Diluc is too unavailable, then players can simply try their hand at another character named Bennett, who is much easier to get. Bennett uses a sword and his Elemental Skill is quite similar to Diluc’s where both of them unleash a flaming sword slash.

Bennett’s Burst, however, is where the difference is felt as it functions more like a pyro area attack on the spot and provides continuous fire damage to normal attacks until the effect runs out. Not as destructive as Diluc, but Bennett does the job well enough.

8 5-Star: Venti

Currently, there’s no character that can match Venti when it comes to utility as the guy can literally launch others or himself into the air without the need for updrafts. That alone makes Venti worth any money spend for some pity wishes as the Elemental Skill can also affect and target enemies.

When it comes to ensuring maximum damage for DPS characters, however, Venti’s Burst is just monstrous. It’s pretty much a vacuum that clumps up enemies together and deals wind damage to them for a long enough duration that other characters can set up some Swirl combos. This can easily clear Domains in the blink of an eye.

7 4-Star Alternative: Sucrose

Of course, there’s no way to obtain Venti right now and he might not be available until after a few more months. That’s why Sucrose might be a better fit for those looking for some easy Domain runs or fast clears.

Sucrose doesn’t have Venti’s gliding utility and wide-area anemo damage but she comes with her own vacuum skill that pulls groups of enemies. At times, she can even combo with Swirl better than Venti due to the flexible nature of her Elemental Burst.

6 5-Star: Qiqi

There’s no better healer than Qiqi in Genshin Impact especially for players who love to have dedicated DPS characters. This cryo mage zombie can also fit in for both crowd control and healer roles, making her a 2-for-1 and a precious addition to any party.

All of Qiqi’s abilities can heal and one of them, the Elemental Skill, can even deal damage while periodically healing. Since it also rains often in Genshin Impact, Qiqi can turn any enemies into popsicles that also heal back when attacked.

5 4-Star Alternative: Barbara

Qiqi can be a rare flower to obtain so it can’t hurt to settle for the second-best healer in the game, Barbara. Besides, the game readily hands out Barbara for free so any party will have a dedicated healer eventually. In terms of elemental support, Barbara’s not bad since she utilizes hydro which makes her a perfect pairing for cryo characters.

As for her healing capabilities, Barbara is a reliable panic button that can instantly restore big chunks of HP with her Elemental Burst. Meanwhile, her Elemental Skill provides substantial healing benefits too, much like Qiqi’s but less effective for crowd control.

4 5-Star: Zhongli

Zhongli might not be as impactful as other 5-star DPS characters but he still remains an A-tier addition according to the official tier list. He’s also getting buffed so he’s about to be even more impressive. As he is, he’s already cheesing some bosses with his Elemental Skill pillars that somehow make the A.I. dumb due to their limited cone of vision.

The real ace in Zhongli’s arsenal, however, is his Burst which is a huge meteor that deals tons of geo damage so he’s practically just throwing rocks at his enemies. Those, on top of Zhongli’s abilities to generate shields, makes him quite a unique DPS.

3 4-Star Alternative: Ningguang

Zhongli is literally a God so obtaining him is naturally difficult which is why another geo heavy hitter like Ningguang can easily step into the role. Much like Zhongli, her Elemental Skill gives her a bit of defense against enemies though more against ranged than melee.

Ningguang’s ranged geo attacks can also easily generate shields without the need for abilities. Her Elemental Burst can be underwhelming if you already have a more hands-on DPS character but it still gets the job done.

2 5-Star: Keqing

Keqing is considered by many as the reining electro-queen and her attacks, as well as her abilities, reflect this heavily. Keqing blinks or teleports from target to target generously, making her one of the most fun characters to use with how fast she moves and zips through enemies.

Her Elemental Skill allows her to easily close the gap between enemies and even control where she will teleport. The Burst, on the other hand, is a jacked-up version of the Elemental Skill and auto targets several enemies, each of which gets struck by Keqing’s lightning melee attacks in the blink of an eye.

1 4-Star Alternative: Razor

As for an alternative to Keqing, this one’s rather debatable since lots of Razor enthusiasts out there swear by him and how he can match or even surpass Keqing. That’s because Razor’s physical damage capability is quite unparalleled.

Razor can stack up tons of physical damage thanks to his Elemental Burst that has as much as a 90 percent up-time. Coupled with his bonus electro damage, he might actually give Keqing a run for her Mora.

NEXT: Genshin Impact: 11 Liyue Quests Every Player Needs To Complete