All Free Story Characters in Genshin Impact: Complete Guide to Story-Obtained Characters 2025
Welcome to the definitive 2025 resource for all free story characters in Genshin Impact. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a newcomer eager to build a powerful roster, this guide covers every character you can acquire through the main story, side quests, and event arcs—without spending any real money. We’ll break down each free character, explain the exact requirements, and reveal team compositions that maximize their unique talents. Let’s dive into the world of Teyvat and unlock the full potential of its narrative champions.
Complete List of All Free Story Characters in Genshin Impact
Below is a comprehensive enumeration of every character you can obtain for free via the story progression, quests, and early game events. All entries include the character’s elemental affiliation, weapon type, and the specific story milestone that unlocks them.
- Traveler (Normal Exploit) – Geo/Anemo
- Amber – Pyro, Bow
- Kaeya – Cryo, Sword
- Lisa – Electro, Catalyst
- Barbara – Hydro, Catalyst
- Xiangling – Pyro, Polearm
- Noelle – Geo, Claymore
- Ganyu – Cryo, Bow
- Hu Tao – Pyro, Polearm
- Fischl – Electro, Bow
- Keqing – Electro, Sword
- Qiqi – Cryo, Sword
- Lisa – Electro, Catalyst
- Venti – Anemo, Bow
- Jean – Anemo, Claymore
- Chongyun – Cryo, Claymore
- Albedo – Geo, Sword
- Gorou – Geo, Claymore (Event)
- Shenhe – Cryo, Polearm (Event)
- Yelan – Hydro, Bow (Event)
- Rosaria – Cryo, Sword (Event)
- Yanfei – Pyro, Sword (Event)
- Yun Jin – Pyro, Polearm (Event)
- Yanfei – Pyro, Sword (Event)
- Others…
These characters cover a wide range of elemental combos, allowing for flexible team builds that adapt to the evolving challenges of Spiral Abyss and world exploration.
Prologue Story Characters: Traveler Amber Kaeya Lisa
The prologue of Genshin Impact is where the foundational free characters first appear. After the Traveler’s arrival in Liyue, you’ll encounter the following trio, each introduced through a distinct narrative arc:
- Amber – The enthusiastic Pyro archer who helps the Traveler in Mondstadt. She is unlocked automatically after completing the “A New Star Approaches” quest.
- Kaeya – The stoic Cryo swordsman of the Knights of Favonius. He joins the Traveler after the “The First Key” story quest.
- Lisa – The eccentric Electro catalyst who assists the Traveler in Mondstadt’s library. She becomes available after the “A New Star Approaches” quest, but her story is revealed in “The Proving Grounds.”
Each character’s introduction is woven into the main storyline, ensuring that players experience their personalities before engaging in combat. These early characters are essential for early-game progression, providing elemental versatility and the ability to unlock subsequent story quests.
How to Get Free Barbara from Story Quests
Barbara, the cheerful Hydro catalyst, is a pivotal support character unlocked through a side quest in Mondstadt. The quest, titled “The Hero’s Journey”, is part of the story mode free characters progression. Follow these steps to secure Barbara without any purchase:
- Complete the main quest “A New Star Approaches” to unlock Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa.
- Proceed to Mondstadt’s Church and speak with the Priestess, who will direct you to the “Search for a Lost Friend” quest.
- Locate the missing child in the Wishing Well area. After rescuing the child, Barbara will appear as a reward.
- Accept Barbara, and she will join your party automatically.
Barbara’s inclusion offers a reliable Hydro element that synergizes with many team compositions, especially when combined with Cryo or Pyro characters. Her healing abilities also bolster survivability during the Spiral Abyss.
Obtaining Xiangling Through Spiral Abyss
Xiangling, the fiery Pyro polearm user, is not unlocked through the main story but rather through the spiral abyss free character route. To acquire Xiangling, you must progress through the Abyssal floors:
- Reach Adventure Rank 20 to unlock the first two Abyss floors.
- Complete Floor 5 and collect the “Torch of the Dawn” reward.
- Use the reward to unlock Xiangling’s character card in the “Spiral Abyss” menu.
- Equip Xiangling in your party and use her Pyro polearm to set up elemental reactions.
Although Xiangling is technically a story mode free character once unlocked, the process requires dedication to the Abyss. Her ability to generate continuous Pyro damage makes her a staple in many mid-to-high-level builds.
Noelle from Beginner Wishes and Story Connection
Noelle, the Geo claymore user, is a unique free character that can be obtained through a combination of early game wishes and the main storyline. The following steps outline the process:
- Complete the main quest “The First Key” to unlock Kaeya and the Knights of Favonius.
- Earn 20 Beginner Wishes (free wishes available during the first 90 days of account creation).
- Use the “Liyue City Overview” quest to trigger the Noelle story arc.
- Accept Noelle as a reward; she will automatically join your roster.
Noelle’s unique Defender skill provides a protective shield, making her an excellent support for any elemental team. Her Geo abilities also enable shield-based team compositions that are highly effective in the Spiral Abyss.
Story Quest Requirements for Each Free Character
Below is a detailed table of all free characters, their associated quest, and the minimum Adventure Rank required to unlock them. This guide ensures you never miss a character due to oversight.
| Character | Quest | Adventure Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Traveler | Prologue | 1 |
| Amber | A New Star Approaches | 1 |
| Kaeya | The First Key | 1 |
| Lisa | The Proving Grounds | 1 |
| Barbara | Search for a Lost Friend | 5 |
| Xiangling | Floor 5 (Spiral Abyss) | 20 |
| Noelle | Liyue City Overview | 10 |
| Ganyu | Starfall | 15 |
| Hu Tao | Tea Time | 20 |
| Fischl | Night of the Hunt | 25 |
| Keqing | Electro Spark | 30 |
| Qiqi | Ritual of the Dead | 35 |
| Venti | Wind's Blessing | 40 |
| Jean | Heroic Oath | 45 |
| Chongyun | Cold Remedy | 50 |
| Albedo | Alchemist's Secret | 55 |
| Gorou | Event Quest | 60 |
| Shenhe | Event Quest | 65 |
| Yelan | Event Quest | 70 |
| Rosaria | Event Quest | 75 |
| Yanfei | Event Quest | 80 |
| Yun Jin | Event Quest | 85 |
By referring to this table, you can plan your questing schedule and ensure that you meet all prerequisites for each free character. This approach maximizes efficiency and guarantees a diverse roster.
Best Free Story Characters to Build and Use
While all free characters offer unique strengths, certain characters stand out for their versatility, synergy, and impact in high-level content. Below are the top picks for 2025, with brief rationales and recommended usage.
- Ganyu – The Cryo bow specialist delivers high DPS and crowd control. Pair her with Pyro or Hydro characters for melt or vaporize reactions.
- Hu Tao – Her high single-target damage and Pyro synergy make her a staple for bosses and Spiral Abyss floor bosses.
- Keqing – The Electro sword user provides fast-paced elemental reactions and excellent support for Hydro teams.
- Qiqi – A reliable healer and Cryo support that can also trigger freeze reactions when paired with Pyro characters.
- Lisa – The Electro catalyst is versatile, offering both area damage and crowd control. She is essential for many team compositions.
- Noelle – Her shield and Geo abilities make her an excellent frontline support for high-damage teams.
- Venti – The Anemo bow user excels at crowd control and setting up elemental cascades, especially in the Spiral Abyss.
- Barbara – A free healer that provides consistent Hydro application, enabling freeze or vaporize reactions.
These characters can be combined into balanced teams that tackle a wide range of challenges, from world bosses to the deepest Spiral Abyss floors. Their free availability makes them ideal for players who prefer to focus on content rather than gacha spending.
Free Character Team Compositions for Story Mode
Team composition is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of free characters. Below are three proven setups that work across various content tiers:
1. Pyro + Hydro + Cryo (Melt/Freeze)
- Hu Tao (Pyro, DPS)
- Barbara (Hydro, Healer)
- Qiqi (Cryo, Support)
- Ganyu (Cryo, DPS)
This lineup focuses on melt and freeze reactions, delivering high damage and survivability. Hu Tao’s high burst damage pairs well with Barbara’s healing and Qiqi’s shield.
2. Electro + Anemo + Geo (Elemental Resonance)
- Lisa (Electro, Catalyst)
- Venti (Anemo, Bow)
- Noelle (Geo, Claymore)
- Keqing (Electro, Sword)
Elemental resonance between Geo and Electro provides increased damage, while Venti’s crowd control sets up continuous elemental reactions.
3. Hydro + Pyro + Anemo (Vaporize + Swirl)
- Barbara (Hydro, Healer)
- Hu Tao (Pyro, DPS)
- Venti (Anemo, Bow)
- Amber (Pyro, Bow)
This combination excels in area damage. Venti’s swirl spreads Hydro and Pyro, triggering vaporize reactions on enemies.
Adjust these compositions based on your available characters and the specific challenges you face. The key is to maintain elemental diversity and ensure at least one character can sustain healing or shielding.
Adventure Rank Requirements for Story Characters
Adventure Rank (AR) is a pivotal metric that unlocks new characters, quests, and content. The following chart summarizes the AR thresholds for each free character, allowing you to plan your progression strategically.
| Character | Adventure Rank Required |
|---|---|
| Traveler | 1 |
| Amber | 1 |
| Kaeya | 1 |
| Lisa | 1 |
| Barbara | 5 |
| Xiangling | 20 |
| Noelle | 10 |
| Ganyu | 15 |
| Hu Tao | 20 |
| Fischl | 25 |
| Keqing | 30 |
| Qiqi | 35 |
| Venti | 40 |
| Jean | 45 |
| Chongyun | 50 |
| Albedo | 55 |
| Gorou | 60 |
| Shenhe | 65 |
| Yelan | 70 |
| Rosaria | 75 |
| Yanfei | 80 |
| Yun Jin | 85 |
By monitoring your AR progression and aligning it with character unlocks, you can efficiently build a robust roster capable of tackling any challenge in Genshin Impact.
In summary, the list of all free story characters in Genshin Impact is extensive and varied, offering players a wealth of options without spending real money. By following this guide, you’ll ensure that you unlock every free character, build optimal teams, and conquer the Spiral Abyss while enjoying the rich narrative of Teyvat.
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