Genshin Impact tier list for May 2023: Baizhu, Kaveh, new characters, and updates

Baizhu has recently debuted to positive reception
Baizhu has recently debuted to positive reception (Image via HoYoverse)

Genshin Impact tier lists are fun for some players while also being educational for others. This article will highlight some recent meta changes. It is worth noting that one's perspective of the tier list is often most influenced by the characters they have and their own experimentation. Other people will inevitably have different results.

For example, this guide will focus more on C0 performances for 5-star characters, as most players won't be whales. Besides that, Baizhu and Kaveh are the most recent additions to Genshin Impact via the 3.6 update. Anybody new like Kirara won't be included here.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective.


Genshin Impact tier list of May 2023

A tier list for the meta in May 2023 (Image via HoYoverse, TierMaker)
A tier list for the meta in May 2023 (Image via HoYoverse, TierMaker)

This tier list focuses on all Genshin Impact characters' roles in the current metagame. Much of the placements here are influenced by Version 3.6 Spiral Abyss sample data, so players who wish to see a more in-depth breakdown of that information can check out the hyperlink above.

Otherwise, Baizhu appears to be pretty great upon first impressions, while Kaveh is good but less so than Baizhu in comparison.


SS-tier

The Genshin Impact characters placed in this tier are unquestionably the best in the current metagame. They're splashable, making them easy to fit in a wide variety of team comps, making them incredibly versatile in most people's accounts. Here is a list of the best characters in the Genshin Impact:

  • Nahida
  • Yelan
  • Bennett
  • Raiden Shogun
  • Kazuha

Many of these characters have overwhelmingly high Usage Rates in the Spiral Abyss. For instance, Nahida has a Usage Rate of 87% in the aforementioned data set and is used on many highly popular teams.


S-tier

Zhongli's shields are top-tier (Image via HoYoverse)
Zhongli's shields are top-tier (Image via HoYoverse)

All of these characters are very good but can lack splashability, making them not as overwhelmingly useful in most cases as the ones in the SS-tier. Here is a list of some excellent Genshin Impact units:

  • Zhongli
  • Hu Tao
  • Kokomi
  • Nilou
  • Xiangling
  • Xingqiu
  • Alhaitham
  • Kuki Shinobu
  • Ayaka
  • Shenhe
  • Childe
  • Yae Miko
  • Ganyu
  • Baizhu
  • Venti

For example, Baizhu has amazing healing and can be useful for Dendro Elemental Reaction teams. However, his personal damage can be a bit lacking at times.


A-tier

Itto has great damage but is an example of somebody with very limited team comps (Image via HoYoverse)
Itto has great damage but is an example of somebody with very limited team comps (Image via HoYoverse)

Units in A-tier tend to be very powerful in certain situations but are either outclassed by some better options in the higher tiers or are too restrictive on team-building. This May 2023 tier list includes the following characters in A-tier:

  • Ayato
  • Fischl
  • Tighnari
  • Itto
  • Albedo
  • Traveler
  • Mona
  • Cyno
  • Xiao
  • Wanderer
  • Kaveh
  • Eula
  • Keqing
  • Yoimiya
  • Barbara
  • Diona
  • Kujou Sara
  • Yaoyao
  • Jean

Kaveh might not do much damage on his own, but he's solid in a wide variety of team comps and has great self-sustain.


B-tier

Klee isn't a must-have character by any means, but she can be useful in niche scenarios (Image via HoYoverse)
Klee isn't a must-have character by any means, but she can be useful in niche scenarios (Image via HoYoverse)

The remaining Genshin Impact characters range from okay to solid while fulfilling at least one notable niche that doesn't make them garbage:

  • Thoma
  • Layla
  • Gorou
  • Sucrose
  • Faruzan
  • Collei
  • Beidou
  • Klee
  • Yun Jin
  • Diluc
  • Qiqi
  • Rosaria
  • Noelle
  • Ningguang
  • Aloy
  • Kaeya
  • Lisa
  • Yanfei
  • Dora
  • Sayu
  • Chongyun
  • Mika
  • Candace

In this example, Mika is great for supporting physical DPS, but there sadly isn't much of a need for that in the current meta.


C-tier

Some people joke that Dehya is a 3-star character (Image via HoYoverse)
Some people joke that Dehya is a 3-star character (Image via HoYoverse)

These Genshin Impact characters are horribly outclassed and would need some sort of buff to be more relevant in today's metagame:

  • Razor
  • Xinyan
  • Amber
  • Heizou
  • Dehya

Dehya's flaws should be well-known by now, as her damage is highly disappointing, and she doesn't really do anything particularly useful for the team comps in the game.

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