Genshin Impact has a wide list of characters that can easily be divided into DPS and support. The harder sorting comes when you’re trying to figure out where each DPS will truly shine. Some DPS characters can take down Tartaglia in a matter of minutes, while they are completely helpless when placed up against a Ruin Grader. Knowing the strength and weaknesses of each character is a huge part of playing the game.

It’s highly recommended that you have several different party combinations so you will be prepared no matter what situation you run into. Below we sort the DPS characters into categories to show what situations they work best in.

Shields & DPS Options

Shields are a major problem in the game that can make a quick commission take several minutes when you don’t have the proper character. The only way to deal with shield enemies is to break their shields or wait for them to attack in order to deal some damage. It’s much faster just to take out their shield, but most characters won’t be able to break them with brute strength alone unless they use a claymore.

There is also the option of burning a shield, which is honestly the fastest route you can take. The best DPS characters for burning away the shield are:

  • Hu Tao Diluc Xinyan Bennett Klee

For those who want to use a claymore DPS to break the shield, the following characters can help:

  • Razor Beidou Chongyun

If you need a shield the following DPS characters can summon one:

  • Xinyan Beidou

Elemental Shields and Weaknesses

Another major issue people run into, especially when dealing with Fatui fights in the Spiral Abyss, are elemental shields. If you do not use the proper type of elemental attack, then the shields can take several minutes to break down, which can cause you to lose stars, if not lose the characters who are now taking the brunt of the Fatui’s powerful attacks. Here is what elements and characters are best used to break down each type of elemental shield:

Pyro: Use Hydro

  • Tartaglia Mona

Hydro: Use Cryo

  • Chongyun Ganyu Ayaka Rosaria

Cryo: Use Pyro

  • Diluc Hu Tao Klee Xinyan Bennett

Electro: Use Cryo

Geo: Use Claymores

  • Diluc Razor Beidou Chongyun Xinyan

Electro can come in handy against cryo, hydro, and pyro, making the following characters a great choice:

  • Keqing Beidou Razor

Keep in mind that both geo and anemo are considered neutral elements that aren’t strong or weak against others. Dendro characters have yet to be released, but from fights with dendro slimes and samachurls, it appears that pyro will likely be used to deal with dendro shields.

Most Useful Against Special Enemies

There are four types of special enemies you will run across, and they are all part of the Emergency commission; Eye of the Storms, Ruin Guard, Ruin Graders, and Ruin Hunters. The best type of character to use against these are bow users who can target the eye of ruin enemies to stun them and hit the Eye of the Storm enough times to knock them down. While most bow users are support, there are three that are perfect DPS characters:

  • Ganyu Tartaglia Venti

Keep in mind that Venti is less effective against the Eye of the Storm since he is anemo.

Best DPS Characters For Time Trials

Time trials don’t appear too often, but when they do, a DPS character who can quickly get across the battlefield is perfect.

Some characters that can navigate a field quickly are:

  • Venti - Can fly up in the field and glide to the target. Xiao - Can use his spear dash to reach targets faster. Mona - Her sprint lets her travel over water and is a faster way to get around. Keqing - She can teleport using her elemental skill.

Field Control Pros

Field control is usually the job of a support character, but there are a few DPS characters who can dual role as a support. Using the following characters, elemental abilities will allow you to control where the enemies attention is drawn or where they are held in place:

  • Mona Venti Ganyu Jean

Mona and Ganyu have the ability to draw enemy attention with their elemental skills and create a wide AoE attack with their bursts. Venti and Jean have the ability to use anemo to push and pull enemies. If you are looking for healing, then Jeans and Bennetts bursts can help.

Best For Exploring

If you want to always be ready for a fight, then you’re going to want to have at least one DPS on your team while you’re exploring Teyvat. There are several characters who can make life easier when you’re searching for treasure chests:

  • Mona - Can glide over water with her sprint. Xiao- Takes less fall damage when using his dive attack. Keqing - Can use her elemental skill to teleport. Venti- Can fly into the air. Anemo Traveler - Activate wind puzzles. Geo Traveler - Summons a climbable geo construct.

Each of these characters can make traveling and getting a hold of collectibles much easier. In addition, you will want to have a pyro character to burn away obstacles that are in your path. You can use Diluc, Hu Tao, Klee, and Xinyan to help with this.