How to Get Characters in Genshin Impact Before You Waste Primogems

Step 1: Learn Every Character Path in Genshin Impact

Figuring out how to get characters in Genshin Impact is less about luck and more about knowing where to look. The game hands you a few characters through story quests, locks most behind the Wish gacha system, rotates a small selection through a monthly shop, and occasionally gives one away during limited events. Each path works differently, and mixing them up is the fastest way to waste Primogems on something you could have earned for free.

What Counts as Getting a Character

A character is "unlocked" the moment they appear in your roster and can be placed in a party. Trial runs during quests or test events don't count. With 114 playable characters in the game right now, only a handful are guaranteed through normal play. The rest require pulls, currency, or event participation.

The Four Main Ways to Unlock Characters

Every Genshin Impact character falls into one of four acquisition categories:

• Wishes (Gacha Banners) — The primary source. Spend Fates on limited or standard banners to pull characters at random, with a built-in pity guarantee.
• Permanent Progression Rewards — Story quests, Adventure Rank milestones, and Spiral Abyss clears grant specific characters to every player.
• Rotating Shop (Paimon's Bargains) — Two 4-star characters rotate monthly, purchasable with Masterless Starglitter earned from duplicate pulls.
• Limited-Time Events — Seasonal celebrations and version updates sometimes reward a free character, but only during the event window.

Character Availability Labels That Matter

Not all genshin impact characters stay accessible forever. Before chasing anyone, check whether their source is permanent, rotating, limited-time, or no longer available. This single habit prevents wasted effort and misplaced expectations, especially when you're wondering how many characters in genshin you can realistically collect on a given account.

CharacterAcquisition SourcePermanenceKey RequirementAvailability NotesAmberArchon Quest (Prologue Act I)PermanentComplete early storyAvailable to all playersKaeyaArchon Quest (Prologue Act I)PermanentComplete early storyAvailable to all playersLisaArchon Quest (Prologue Act I)PermanentComplete early storyAvailable to all playersNoelleBeginner's Wish BannerPermanentFirst 10-pull on beginner bannerGuaranteed for all new accountsXianglingSpiral Abyss Floor 3-3PermanentAdventure Rank 20+Available to all playersColleiSpiral Abyss Floor 4-3PermanentClear Floor 4Added post-Version 3.1BarbaraArchon Quest (Prologue Act III)PermanentComplete Prologue Act IIISent via in-game mailLynetteAdventure Rank RewardPermanentReach AR 25Claimable from event screenKachinaArchon Quest (Chapter 5 Act I)PermanentReach Natlan storylineAvailable to all playersAinoArchon QuestPermanentComplete Nod-Krai story questAvailable to all playersAloyCollaboration EventNo Longer AvailableLogin during Version 2.1–2.2Cannot be obtained anymoreMonthly Shop CharactersPaimon's BargainsRotating34 Masterless StarglitterTwo 4-star characters per monthEvent Reward CharactersLimited-Time EventsLimited-TimeComplete event objectivesVaries by version; not guaranteed to return

The core rule is simple: a small group of characters is guaranteed through gameplay alone, while the vast majority of all genshin impact characters require banner pulls, shop currency, or event participation to unlock.

Knowing these paths exist is the easy part. The real advantage comes from understanding which banners deserve your Primogems, which resources to stockpile first, and what order to tackle progression rewards so nothing slips through the cracks.

Step 2: Understand Genshin Impact Wishes and Banner Types

Banners are where Primogems actually turn into playable characters, yet the system trips up a surprising number of players. Pulling on the wrong banner, or pulling without understanding what you're eligible to receive, is one of the most common early mistakes. A few minutes of banner literacy saves weeks of regret.

How Wishes Turn Currency Into Characters

Every character pull in Genshin Impact happens through the Wish system. You spend a special item called a Fate, one Fate per Wish, and the game returns a random character or weapon from that banner's pool. There are two types of Fates, and they are not interchangeable:

• Intertwined Fate — used on limited character event banners and the weapon banner. This is the currency that matters most for chasing a specific genshin new character.
• Acquaint Fate — used on the permanent Wanderlust Invocation banner and the one-time Beginner's Wish banner.
• Primogems — the universal premium currency. Each Fate costs 160 Primogems to purchase from the in-game shop.
• Pity — a built-in safety net that guarantees a 5-star item after a set number of Wishes without one.
• 50/50 — the coin-flip mechanic on character event banners that determines whether your 5-star pull is the featured character or a standard one.
• Soft Pity — a community-observed increase in 5-star pull rates that begins before the hard pity ceiling, generally around the 75th Wish on character banners.

Limited Banners Versus the Standard Banner

This distinction is the single most important thing to understand about genshin impact wishes. Limited character event banners feature a specific 5-star character for a few weeks, and once that banner ends, that character may not return for months. New genshin characters almost always debut on a limited banner before they become available anywhere else, if they ever do.

The permanent Wanderlust Invocation banner, by contrast, contains a fixed pool of standard 5-star characters like Diluc, Jean, Mona, Qiqi, Keqing, Tighnari, Dehya, and Mizuki, alongside 5-star weapons. You can pull on it anytime, but you cannot target a specific character, and the pool includes weapons that dilute your odds of getting a character at all. New 4-star characters are typically added to the standard pool in the update after their original banner debut.

There is also a Beginner's Wish banner limited to 20 total pulls for new accounts. It guarantees Noelle within the first 10 Wishes and costs Acquaint Fates at a slight discount. Once you've used all 20, it disappears permanently.

Banner TypeCharacter AvailabilityPermanenceCurrency UsedBest ForCharacter Event WishOne featured limited 5-star plus three boosted 4-starsRotates every ~3 weeksIntertwined FateTargeting a specific new genshin characterCharacter Event Wish-2A second featured 5-star (often a rerun), shares pity with Event WishRotates every ~3 weeksIntertwined FatePicking between two featured characters in the same phaseWanderlust Invocation (Standard)Standard 5-star characters and weapons onlyPermanentAcquaint FateUsing free Acquaint Fates from level-ups and rewardsBeginner's WishStandard pool with guaranteed NoelleOne-time (20 Wishes max)Acquaint Fate (discounted)Early roster boost for brand-new accountsEpitome Invocation (Weapon)Weapons only, no charactersRotates every ~3 weeksIntertwined FateSignature weapons for invested playersChronicled WishSelect standard or past limited characters and weaponsAppears periodicallyIntertwined FateChoosing a specific older character or weapon

What the 50/50 and Guaranteed Pulls Mean

Here is where most confusion lives. When you pull a 5-star on a character event banner, there is a 50% chance it will be the featured character and a 50% chance it will be one of the standard 5-stars. If you lose that coin flip and get a standard character instead, your next 5-star on any character event banner is guaranteed to be the featured character. This guarantee carries over between banners, so losing the 50/50 today sets you up for a guaranteed win on a future banner you care about more.

The hard pity ceiling sits at 90 Wishes for character banners, meaning you will receive a 5-star within 90 pulls no matter what. In the worst-case scenario, getting a guaranteed featured character could take up to 180 Wishes total: 90 to hit pity and lose the 50/50, then another 90 to hit pity again with the guarantee active. Most players hit a 5-star well before 90 thanks to soft pity, but planning for the ceiling keeps you from running out of resources mid-banner.

Version 5.0 also introduced a Capturing Radiance mechanic that gives you an extra chance to win the 50/50 when you're not on a guarantee, slightly improving your odds of landing new genshin characters on the first 5-star pull.

Separate your Intertwined Fates from your Acquaint Fates in your head. Intertwined Fates are for targeted pulls on limited banners. Acquaint Fates go to the standard banner passively. Mixing up this distinction is one of the fastest ways to burn resources with nothing to show for it.

Understanding banner mechanics is only half the equation. The other half is walking into a banner with enough pull currency to actually reach pity, which means building your resource stockpile before you start spending.

Step 3: Build Pull Resources Before You Spend

Knowing which banner to pull on means nothing if you show up with 12 Primogems and a prayer. The difference between players who steadily grow their roster and those who feel permanently stuck usually comes down to resource discipline, not luck. Genshin Impact front-loads a massive amount of pull currency into new accounts, but only if you collect it in the right order.

Build Pull Resources Before You Spend

Early accounts are sitting on a goldmine of one-time rewards. The temptation to pull the moment you have 160 Primogems is real, but scattering single Wishes across random banners is one of the least efficient ways to get more characters in Genshin Impact. A better approach: stockpile first, then spend in a focused burst when a banner actually matters to your account.

Where New Accounts Get More Pull Currency

Primogems and free Fates flow from dozens of sources during the first few weeks. The trick is knowing which ones to prioritize so you're not leaving easy currency on the table while grinding something slower.

1. Finish the Beginner's Wish banner first. It costs only 8 Acquaint Fates per 10-pull instead of 10, guarantees Noelle, and disappears after 20 Wishes. Knock it out early.
2. Push Archon Quests and story content. Main story quests hand out large Primogem rewards at each milestone, and they unlock regions full of chests, puzzles, and Oculi that all convert into more currency.
3. Open every chest you find while exploring. Common chests give small amounts, but Precious and Luxurious chests add up fast. New regions like Natlan and Nod-Krai are especially dense with exploration rewards.
4. Complete daily commissions consistently. Four commissions plus the daily bonus from the Adventurer's Guild yield 60 Primogems per day, which adds up to roughly one free Wish every three days.
5. Claim active event rewards. Limited-time events frequently offer Primogems, Fates, and other pull-related resources. These are time-gated, so check the event tab each time you log in.
6. Level characters to ascension thresholds. Ascending characters at levels 20, 50, and 70 rewards free Acquaint Fates through the character screen, feeding your standard banner pity over time.
7. Redeem active codes. HoYoverse regularly releases redemption codes during livestreams and promotions that grant free Primogems, Mora, and materials. These expire quickly, so redeem them as soon as they drop.

How Starglitter and Redeem Rewards Help

Masterless Starglitter is a secondary currency you earn from duplicate character pulls and weapon pulls. It accumulates slowly, but it serves two useful purposes for genshin impact free characters planning: buying Fates and purchasing specific 4-star characters from Paimon's Bargains. Each Intertwined or Acquaint Fate costs 5 Starglitter in the shop, and the rotating character selection costs 34 Starglitter per character. Starglitter is a supplement, not a primary income stream. Treat it as a bonus that occasionally tips the scales rather than something to build a whole strategy around.

Redemption codes work similarly. They're free and worth grabbing every time, but the amounts are modest, usually 60 to 100 Primogems per code. Think of them as small deposits that compound over time rather than a shortcut to your next 5-star.

Resource efficiency is ultimately what separates players who feel like genshin free characters are impossible to collect from those who steadily fill out their roster. Avoid these common habits that drain your stockpile for nothing:

• Splitting Wishes across multiple banners instead of committing to one target
• Pulling impulsively the moment you hit 160 Primogems
• Converting Primogems into Acquaint Fates to chase the standard banner when Intertwined Fates are more valuable
• Ignoring time-limited events because the rewards "look small"
• Spending Starglitter on weapons or ascension materials when you still need characters

A healthy resource pipeline turns every banner cycle into a real decision instead of a desperate gamble. With currency in hand, the next question becomes practical: which characters can you unlock without spending a single Fate?

Step 4: Unlock Guaranteed Genshin Impact Characters Through Progression

The answer is more than you'd expect. Genshin Impact starter characters are just the beginning of a surprisingly deep free roster, and the game keeps handing out permanent unlocks well past the opening hours. The catch? Some of these characters are tied to content milestones rather than simple login bonuses, so you actually have to play through specific quests and challenges to claim them.

Your First Guaranteed Characters

Every new account starts with the Traveler, who gains a new elemental form each time you interact with a Statue of the Seven in a different nation. Within the first hour or two of the Mondstadt prologue, three more characters join permanently: Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa. These genshin impact start characters arrive through short individual quests during Prologue Act I, and there's no way to miss them if you follow the main storyline.

Noelle rounds out the early lineup. She's guaranteed within your first 10-pull on the Beginner's Wish banner, which uses free Acquaint Fates the game provides during onboarding. Technically a Wish pull, but every account gets her, so she functions as a de facto starter.

Story and Adventure Rank Unlock Order

Beyond the prologue, free genshin characters continue to appear at specific progression checkpoints. Here's the order a new account should follow to collect them as efficiently as possible:

1. Complete Prologue Act I — Unlocks Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa through story quests in Mondstadt.
2. Pull on Beginner's Wish — Guarantees Noelle within the first 10-pull. Use the free Acquaint Fates you've already earned.
3. Finish Prologue Act III and reach Adventure Rank 18 — Barbara's invite appears automatically in the Events menu. No currency needed.
4. Reach Adventure Rank 20 and clear Spiral Abyss Floor 3 — Xiangling becomes available through the People's Choice event. She's widely considered the strongest free character in the game.
5. Clear Spiral Abyss Floor 4 — Collei joins your roster via the Curtain of Leaves event, giving you accessible Dendro coverage.
6. Reach Adventure Rank 25 — Lynette can be claimed from her permanent event page regardless of story progress. She fills the Anemo support slot many early teams lack.
7. Complete the Natlan story arc (Chapter 5 Act I) — Kachina joins the party. Natlan is accessible after finishing the Liyue storyline, so you can reach her earlier than the nation order might suggest.
8. Complete the Nod-Krai prologue — Aino, a Hydro claymore user, becomes available. During the Song of the Welkin Moon update, she's also claimable through a quick-start option in the Event log.

The Traveler also picks up new elements along the way: Geo in Liyue, Electro in Inazuma, Dendro in Sumeru, Hydro in Fontaine, and Pyro after completing Chapter 5 Act 5. Each form is a separate kit, so one character effectively gives you six different toolsets.

Permanent Gameplay Rewards Worth Prioritizing

Not every free character carries equal weight for your account. Some 4 star characters in Genshin Impact that you earn through progression outperform many gacha pulls, while others serve a narrower purpose. This table breaks down every permanent unlock so you can prioritize what to chase first.

CharacterSourceRequirementAvailable to All PlayersAmber (Pyro, Bow)Prologue Act I QuestComplete story questYesKaeya (Cryo, Sword)Prologue Act I QuestComplete story questYesLisa (Electro, Catalyst)Prologue Act I QuestComplete story questYesNoelle (Geo, Claymore)Beginner's Wish BannerFirst 10-pullYesBarbara (Hydro, Catalyst)Prologue Act III + AR 18Finish prologue, reach AR 18YesXiangling (Pyro, Polearm)Spiral Abyss Floor 3AR 20, clear Floor 3YesCollei (Dendro, Bow)Spiral Abyss Floor 4AR 20, clear Floor 4YesLynette (Anemo, Sword)Permanent Event PageReach AR 25YesKachina (Geo, Polearm)Natlan Story ArcComplete Chapter 5 Act IYesAino (Hydro, Claymore)Nod-Krai PrologueComplete Nod-Krai story questYesTraveler (Multi-Element)Statues of the SevenVisit each nation's statueYes

If you're short on time, prioritize Xiangling and Collei from the Spiral Abyss. Xiangling's off-field Pyro application remains top-tier for reaction teams years after release, and Collei gives you Dendro access without needing to pull on any banner. Barbara is worth grabbing early too since she's your only guaranteed healer until you get lucky with Wishes.

These permanent unlocks form the skeleton of a functional roster. The gaps they leave, particularly in elemental coverage and team flexibility, are exactly where rotating shop offers and limited event rewards come in.

Step 5: Use Rotating and Limited Character Sources Wisely

Permanent progression rewards give you a solid foundation, but they stop growing once you've claimed them all. The two sources that keep feeding your roster over time, Paimon's Bargains shop and limited-time event giveaways, are also the two that confuse players the most. One rotates on a fixed schedule. The other appears without warning and vanishes just as fast. Treating them the same way is a recipe for missed opportunities.

How Starglitter Exchange Characters Work

Paimon's Bargains is a shop tab inside the main menu that sells two 4-star characters each month for 34 Masterless Starglitter apiece. The roster follows a fixed six-month rotation that repeats every half year:

• January / July — Fischl and Xiangling
• February / August — Beidou and Noelle
• March / September — Ningguang and Xingqiu
• April / October — Razor and Amber
• May / November — Bennett and Lisa
• June / December — Barbara and Kaeya

Because the schedule is predictable, you can plan months ahead. If you want Bennett but it's currently April, you know he'll appear in May. That gives you time to accumulate the 34 Starglitter you need instead of panic-spending on something less useful. These starglitter exchange characters are especially valuable for picking up constellations on units you already own, since each duplicate purchased this way adds a constellation level just like pulling one from a banner.

One important detail: Starglitter only comes from Wish pulls. You earn 2 Starglitter per 4-star duplicate or weapon and 10 per 5-star duplicate. If you haven't been pulling much, you probably don't have enough to buy a character yet, and that's fine. The shop resets monthly, and the same characters return on schedule. There's no urgency to buy a star glitter exchange character you don't actually need.

Which Free Event Characters Are Temporary

Limited-time events are where the newest genshin characters and older 4-stars occasionally show up as free rewards. The catch is that these giveaways are tied to a specific version update and disappear when the event ends. If you miss the window, there's no guarantee the same character will be offered again.

Recent examples illustrate the pattern well. Version 6.5's flagship event, Where Waves Meet the Reef, rewards a free copy of Jahoda to players who complete its objectives. Earlier updates have given away characters during festivals like Lantern Rite and Windblume, and starting with Version 5.0, HoYoverse began offering free standard banner 5-star constellations during anniversary celebrations. The ongoing To Temper Thyself event even lets players choose a 5-star constellation from a selection pool by completing training goals.

Past giveaways that are no longer available include characters like Aloy from the Horizon Zero Dawn collaboration (Version 2.1-2.2) and various 4-star picks from older festival selectors. Guides that list these alongside current options without flagging them as expired create false expectations, which is exactly the mistake you want to avoid.

To keep things clear, here's how each category breaks down:

• Permanent free characters — Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, Noelle, Barbara, Xiangling, Collei, Lynette, Kachina, Aino. Always available through gameplay.
• Rotating shop characters — Twelve 4-stars on a fixed monthly cycle in Paimon's Bargains. Requires Starglitter from pulls.
• Limited-time event characters — Offered during specific version events. Must complete event tasks before the deadline.
• No-longer-available giveaways — Past collaboration or one-time rewards like Aloy. Cannot be obtained on current accounts.

How to Track What Is Available Right Now

Availability shifts every patch cycle, so checking two places before you make any decisions saves a lot of confusion. First, open Paimon's Bargains in-game and look at the current month's character lineup. Second, check the Events tab for any active or upcoming events that reward new characters in Genshin. Bookmark a reliable event calendar if you want advance notice of what's coming in the next version.

MethodPermanenceRequirementFrequencyBest Use CasePaimon's Bargains (Starglitter)Rotating (fixed schedule)34 Masterless StarglitterTwo characters per month, repeats every 6 monthsTargeting a specific 4-star or constellationLimited-Time Event RewardLimited-timeComplete event objectivesRoughly once per major version updateFree character without spending any pull currencyAnniversary / Festival SelectorLimited-timeParticipate during event windowOnce or twice per yearChoosing a 4-star or 5-star constellation you need mostCollaboration GiveawayNo longer availableWas login-based during specific versionsOne-time onlyHistorical only; cannot be obtained nowStarglitter Fate PurchasePermanent (always in shop)5 Masterless Starglitter per FateUnlimited, buy anytimeConverting surplus Starglitter into extra Wishes

Rotating and limited sources fill the gaps that permanent rewards can't cover, but they reward patience more than impulse. The real payoff comes when you combine this knowledge with a deliberate pull plan, choosing which banners deserve your saved resources and which ones you can safely skip.

Step 6: Plan Pulls Around Your Account Goals

Saving resources is pointless if you spend them on the first shiny banner that shows up. The players who build the strongest rosters aren't necessarily the luckiest. They're the ones who decide before a banner drops whether it's worth their Primogems. That shift from reactive pulling to deliberate planning is what turns a scattered collection into a functional team.

When to Save for New Characters

Every version cycle introduces genshin new characters or reruns older ones, sometimes both in the same patch. With versions 6.4 through 6.8 expected to feature a mix of fresh debuts and fan-favorite returns, the temptation to pull on everything is constant. Resist it. Saving makes more sense than spending when:

• Save — A confirmed or leaked new genshin impact character interests you more than the current banner. Pity carries over, so every unused Wish today is a head start tomorrow.
• Save — You're within 30-40 Wishes of soft pity and the current featured character doesn't excite you. Pulling now risks an accidental 5-star you didn't want, resetting your pity counter.
• Save — You already have strong coverage in the featured character's element or role. Redundancy feels good for a moment but costs you a future unit that could actually fill a gap.

The standard Wanderlust Invocation banner deserves even lower expectations. It's fine to spend free Acquaint Fates there as you earn them, but converting Primogems into Acquaint Fates is almost never worth it. You can't target anyone specific, and weapons dilute the pool. Let standard banner 5-stars come to you passively.

Why Limited Characters Need a Plan

Limited banners are where the real decisions happen. The newest character in genshin might look incredible in a trailer, but trailers are designed to sell. A more reliable approach: check trial events to feel the character's gameplay firsthand, watch how dedicated players use them in realistic content, and look at their flaws honestly. If you can see the downsides and still want them, that's a pull worth making.

Genshin impact characters new to the roster also tend to rerun within a few patches. If you're unsure, skipping a debut banner and waiting for the rerun gives you more time to save and more community feedback to evaluate. The only exception is when a character fills a role your account desperately needs right now, like a healer when you have none, or a second Pyro applicator for Spiral Abyss.

Not every banner is equally valuable for your account. A character that looks meta-defining on paper might overlap with units you already own, while a less hyped rerun could be the exact piece your team is missing. Match the banner to your roster, not to community hype.

Simple Pull Planning for Small Rosters

If your account is still young, prioritize flexibility over raw power. A roster that covers multiple elements and roles will carry you further than one stacked damage dealer with no support. Here's a quick decision framework for each banner you encounter:

• Pull now — The character fills an element or role you completely lack (no healer, no Anemo grouper, no off-field applicator for reactions).
• Pull now — You genuinely enjoy the character's playstyle after trying them in a trial event and you have enough Fates to reach at least soft pity.
• Skip — You already own a character who does the same job well enough for your current content.
• Skip — You're pulling only because the community says the character is strong, but you haven't tested them yourself.
• Wait — You like the character but don't have enough resources to reach pity. Pulling with 20 Fates and hoping for a miracle usually just burns currency and builds pity toward a banner you care less about.

This kind of intentional decision-making compounds over time. Each smart skip funds a future guaranteed pull, and each well-chosen banner strengthens your account where it actually matters. The roster grows steadily instead of randomly, and you stop feeling like the gacha is working against you.

Of course, even the best free-to-play plan has a ceiling. For players who've already mastered the strategic side and want to accelerate their collection further, there are optional ways to add pull resources without abandoning the plan you've built.

Step 7: Add Paid Options Only If They Fit Your Plan

Strategic pulling and free resources can carry an account a long way, but they do have a speed limit. If you've already built a pull plan, understand banner value, and still find yourself short on Fates when a must-have genshin character drops, paid options exist to close that gap without throwing your strategy out the window.

When Paid Currency Can Speed Up Character Collection

Paid acceleration makes the most sense after you've exhausted the easy free sources: story Primogems, exploration chests, event rewards, and daily commissions. At that point, the rate of free currency slows down considerably, and the question shifts from "can I earn enough?" to "can I earn enough before this banner ends?" That's the scenario where spending becomes a practical choice rather than an impulsive one.

Two low-cost options stand out for players figuring out how to get new characters in Genshin Impact without overspending. The Blessing of the Welkin Moon costs roughly $5 and delivers around 3,000 Primogems over 30 days, making it the highest-value purchase in the game by a wide margin. The Gnostic Hymn Battle Pass adds Intertwined Fates, materials, and a 4-star weapon for about $10 per patch cycle. Together, they run under $15 per month and add roughly 46 extra Wishes per six-week version, enough to meaningfully shift your odds on a target banner.

How to Add Pull Resources Without Disrupting Your Plan

The key is treating paid currency the same way you treat free currency: it goes toward the banner you've already decided to pull on, not whatever happens to be live when the crystals land. Genesis Crystals convert 1:1 into Primogems, so they slot directly into your existing savings without changing how you make decisions. Buy them when you have a target, not when you're bored between patches.

Resource PathCostApproximate YieldBest ForDaily Commissions + EventsFree~60 Primogems/day + event bonusesBaseline income for every playerExploration + QuestsFreeThousands of one-time PrimogemsNew accounts with untouched regionsBlessing of the Welkin Moon~$5/month~3,000 Primogems (about 19 Wishes)Consistent daily income at the best rateGnostic Hymn Battle Pass~$10/patch4 Intertwined Fates + materials + weaponAccount-wide progression alongside pullsGenesis Crystal Packs$1–$10060–8,080 Crystals (first-time bonus doubles it)Closing the gap when a banner deadline is near

Choosing a Convenient Top-Up Path

If you decide Genesis Crystals or a Welkin Moon subscription fits your plan, the purchase itself should be painless. The official in-game shop works, but mobile platform fees can inflate the price. Many active players use UID-based top-up services instead, which skip the login process entirely and deliver crystals directly to your account using just your public User ID. VeloxGame's Genshin Impact Top Up is one such option, supporting fast delivery without requiring account credentials, which keeps things simple when you just want to top off before a banner featuring new genshin impact characters closes.

Whatever route you choose, the principle stays the same: paid resources are fuel for a plan you've already made, not a replacement for having one. The players who get the most value from spending are the ones who already know exactly which new characters genshin impact is offering next and whether those characters belong on their roster.

Step 8: Follow a Simple Character Collection Roadmap

Every method covered in this guide works best when you run them together as a repeating cycle rather than treating each one as a standalone tip. Here's the full routine distilled into something you can actually follow patch after patch.

Your Simple Character Collection Roadmap

1. Claim every permanent character unlock you haven't grabbed yet: story rewards, Spiral Abyss clears, and Adventure Rank milestones.
2. Complete daily commissions and active events before anything else each session. These are your baseline Primogem income.
3. Check Paimon's Bargains at the start of each month. If a character you need is in the rotation and you have 34 Starglitter, buy them.
4. Bank Primogems and Intertwined Fates between banners. Don't convert them into Acquaint Fates.
5. Evaluate each new banner against your roster gaps. Pull only when the featured character fills a role or element you're missing and you can reach soft pity.
6. If a limited event offers a free character, prioritize finishing it before the deadline.
7. Optionally, supplement with Welkin Moon or Genesis Crystals through a convenient service like VeloxGame's Genshin Impact Top Up when a high-priority banner lines up with your plan.

Mistakes That Slow Down Roster Growth

Knowing what to do matters less if you keep tripping over the same avoidable habits. These are the ones that cost players the most over time:

• Pulling on every banner instead of saving for characters that actually improve your teams
• Ignoring Spiral Abyss floors that reward free characters like Xiangling and Collei
• Spending Starglitter on materials or weapons when you still have roster gaps
• Skipping limited events because the free character "doesn't look meta"
• Expecting to collect all characters in Genshin Impact without any long-term planning

The Fastest Sustainable Way to Get More Characters

Progression rewards plus planned Wishes is the most reliable path to a growing roster. Gameplay-only methods give you a strong foundation, but the full breadth of all characters in Genshin Impact only opens up when you combine free resources with disciplined banner spending.

If you've been wondering how to get characters in Genshin Impact without wishes alone, the honest answer is that free unlocks cover roughly a dozen units. That's enough to clear most content comfortably. Beyond that, the gacha system is the primary expansion tool, and the entire guide you just read exists to make sure every pull counts. Stick to the roadmap, stay patient between banners, and your roster will grow steadily without a single wasted Primogem.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Characters in Genshin Impact

1. How many free characters can you get in Genshin Impact without spending Primogems?

New accounts can unlock roughly a dozen characters entirely through gameplay. This includes the Traveler, Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, Noelle (guaranteed from the Beginner's Wish banner), Barbara, Xiangling, Collei, Lynette, Kachina, and Aino. Each one comes from a specific milestone such as story quests, Adventure Rank thresholds, or Spiral Abyss clears. The Traveler alone provides six different elemental kits by visiting each nation's Statue of the Seven, effectively expanding your roster options further without any gacha involvement.

2. What is the fastest way to get more characters in Genshin Impact as a beginner?

The fastest approach combines three things in order: first, push through the main Archon Quests to unlock permanent free characters and open new regions full of Primogem-rich chests and puzzles. Second, clear Spiral Abyss Floors 3 and 4 as soon as you hit Adventure Rank 20 to grab Xiangling and Collei. Third, bank every Primogem and Intertwined Fate you earn until a limited banner features a character that fills a genuine gap in your team. Pulling in focused bursts on a single banner is far more efficient than scattering Wishes across multiple banners.

3. How does the pity system work for character banners in Genshin Impact?

The pity system guarantees a 5-star character within 90 Wishes on a character event banner, though most players hit one earlier thanks to soft pity kicking in around the 75th pull. When you do land a 5-star, there is a 50/50 chance it will be the featured character. If you lose that coin flip and receive a standard 5-star instead, your next 5-star on any character event banner is guaranteed to be the featured unit. This guarantee carries over between banners, so losing the 50/50 today sets up a guaranteed win on a future banner you care about more.

4. Can you buy specific characters from the Genshin Impact shop?

Yes, but only certain 4-star characters. Paimon's Bargains rotates two 4-star characters each month on a fixed six-month cycle, costing 34 Masterless Starglitter each. The lineup includes units like Bennett, Xingqiu, Fischl, and others. Starglitter is earned from duplicate pulls, so you need to be actively Wishing to accumulate it. The schedule is predictable, which means you can plan months ahead and save Starglitter for the exact character or constellation you want rather than buying impulsively.

5. Is it worth spending real money to get characters in Genshin Impact?

It depends on how far your free resources stretch and whether a specific banner aligns with your goals. The Blessing of the Welkin Moon at roughly $5 per month offers the best value, adding about 19 extra Wishes over 30 days. The Battle Pass Gnostic Hymn adds a few more Fates plus materials for around $10 per patch. For Genesis Crystal purchases, UID-based top-up services like VELOX allow fast delivery without logging into your account, which is convenient when a banner deadline is approaching. Paid options work best as supplements to an existing pull plan rather than replacements for strategic saving.