Genshin Impact is an open-world action role-playing game built around exploration, elemental combat, and a diverse roster of playable characters. Each character is aligned with one of seven elements and wields a Vision, a magical device that lets its bearer channel elemental energy in combat. As of August 2026, there are 118 playable characters in the game, each offering distinct playstyles, backstories and ties to Teyvat's culture.
Genshin Impact uses a gacha system as its core business model. This means that most of the game's revenue comes from sales on time-limited character "banners" during which players can spend in-game currency for the chance to acquire characters. Through this, some characters such as Zhongli and the Raiden Shogun have earned massive amounts of money for developer HoYoverse. However, some characters faced criticism from players for issues including poor combant performance and cultural appropriation.
Creation and design
Genshin Impact producer Cai Haoyu said that characters are one of the most important components of the game. The characters have unique gameplay based on different elements, which represent the cultural characteristics of their respective regions. The multi-character design of the game is derived from Japanese card games. New characters are continuously introduced; at the same time, contrary to mainstream and past designs that used characters to serve the plot, the production team designed a narrative centered on characters, carrying out multi-plotline parallel narratives under the same worldview. In addition, the characters of Genshin Impact are the main source of profit for the game, with most characters obtained through a wishing mechanic, while other content in the game is provided to players for free.
Each character is designed by a team rather than an individual and there are no "art director" or "creative director" positions in miHoYo. The production team first establishes the character's background story and place of residence, then conducts internal discussions and brainstorming. Afterwards, they evaluate the character's art style, background design, and gameplay mechanics based on player preferences. Once a concept design is finalized, the character design process enters the modeling stage. The production team continuously reviews the character's 3D model to ensure that it is consistent with the concept drawing. In terms of character rendering, the in-game character model and the scene are rendered independently. The scene uses deferred shading, while the characters use forward rendering, allowing the production team to control all lighting effects to ensure that the effect of the character presentation always meets the artist's expectations. To maintain the display effect of the character's face, a system that will automatically adjust according to the direction of the main light source was designed. In terms of the overall shadow effect of the character, the production team depicts the character in a cartoonish art style through cel shading, while also allowing the character to be affected by real-time light sources.
In terms of character artificial intelligence (AI) design, the production team has been developing the game's character AI system since 2017. AI is mainly divided into three categories: humans, wildlife, and non-player characters (NPCs) in combat. There were more than 200 types of AI in the early stages of the game. With the increase in AI brought about by game updates, the production team designed an AI framework and established an independent AI pipeline, breaking the inference modules into different categories according to each function to facilitate subsequent updates and maintenance. The character's behavior is based on a decision tree system to determine the character's skills or movements, and the data will be imported into the animation system for execution. The entire system facilitates giving NPCs different personalities and special abilities, also allowing boss-type characters to have unique actions.
For a character's background, the production team creates their image by building interpersonal relationship networks for the character and refining the regional cultural background of the character's origin. Before the character is officially launched in the game, miHoYo promotes them by releasing relevant videos through its official social media accounts for promotion. Initially, a character teaser in Live2D is released to provide a first impression of their design, identity and personality to players. The day before the character's release, a character trailer (formerly termed "character demo") is released, showing their detailed 3D model, combat animations, skill effects, and some exclusive story and interaction clips. Finally, "Collected Miscellany" videos explain how to use the character's skills and their unique mechanics, with the narrator also describing and commenting on the character's personality based on their respective worldviews.
Many characters are derived from legends of certain nations: for instance, the adepti of Liyue are based on the Xian of Taoism. The idea of the Vision is derived from Taoism: in the game, the concept of a third eye manifests itself in humans in the form of their Vision. Some characters are named after historical or literary figures; for example, Alhaitham is named after the real-life figure Ibn al-Haytham.
Outlanders Outlanders are characters that are not originally from the world of Teyvat.
Traveler () (Aether) Voiced by: Luyin (Chinese); Zach Aguilar (English); Shun Horie (Japanese); (Korean) (Lumine) Voiced by: Yanning (Chinese); Sarah Miller-Crews (English); Aoi Yūki (Japanese); (Korean) The main protagonist of the game. Players can choose either Aether or Lumine as their Traveler, with the other becoming the non-playable lost sibling, the Prince/ss of the Abyss Order. After being separated from their twin, they embark on a journey to meet the gods of Teyvat and reunite with their lost sibling. Players can name the Traveler at the beginning of the game. The name chosen by the player will be the name used to refer to the Traveler in-game, and only both the Traveler and their Sibling call each other by their real names. Aloy () Voiced by: Li Mufei (Chinese); Giselle Fernandez (English); Ayahi Takagaki (Japanese); Jo Hyeon-jeong (Korean) The protagonist of Horizon Zero Dawn. She was obtainable to claim as a free gift for limited time as part of a collaboration between miHoYo and Guerrilla Games. Skirk () Voiced by: Xie Ying (Chinese); Cat Protano (English); Mamiko Noto (Japanese); Seo Dahye (Korean) An otherworldly swordswoman who took Tartaglia as an apprentice after he fell into the Abyss. Being the only survivor of her civilization's genocide, she was rescued and trained by Surtalogi and sent to Teyvat to learn about his past. She uses the Seven-Shifting Serpent, an ancient Khaenri'ahn technique he imparted to her, to mimic Cryo while traveling Teyvat.
Major nations Mondstadt
Mondstadt was released in September 2020.
Astrologist Mona Megistus () Voiced by: Chen Tingting (Chinese); Felecia Angelle (English); Konomi Kohara (Japanese); (Korean) A stern astrologist who often finds herself strapped for money. She is a disciple of Barbeloth, a member of the Hexenzirkel, whom she frequently calls "old hag". Bennett () Voiced by: Mu Xueting (Chinese); Cristina Vee (English); Ryōta Ōsaka (Japanese); (Korean) A Natlan-born member of the Mondstadt branch of the Adventurers' Guild, who is well known for his almost supernaturally bad luck due to being disconnected from Natlan's Ley Lines since infancy though he experiences good luck only in Natlan. Diluc Ragnvindr () Voiced by: Ma Yang (Chinese); Sean Chiplock (English); Kensho Ono (Japanese); (Korean) The head of the Ragnvindr Clan which is well known for running the Dawn Winery, Mondstadt's premier winery. A solitary businessman and vintner who was formerly the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius. He and Kaeya grew up as adopted brothers, but are no longer on friendly terms. At night, he secretly operates as a vigilante nicknamed the "Darknight Hero". Diona () Voiced by: Nuoya (Chinese); Dina Sherman (English); Shiori Izawa (Japanese); (Korean) A descendant of the Kätzlein bloodline and alcohol-hating bartender of the Cat's Tail tavern, whose goal is to destroy Mondstadt's wine industry. Unbeknownst to her, she was blessed by her childhood friend to always make delicious drinks regardless of the ingredients. Durin () (Dragon form) Voiced by: Hualing (Chinese); Laura K. Welsh (English); Aya Hisakawa (Japanese); Unknown (Korean) (Human form) Voiced by: Tao Dian (Chinese); Laurie Kynaston (English); Chiaki Kobayashi (Japanese); Kim Ji-yul (Korean) A dragon from the fairy-tale world of Simulanka, created by Andersdotter of the Hexenzirkel. He was based on Teyvat's real dragon of the same name, created by Rhinedottir, one of Five Sinners of Khaenri'ah and the Hexenzirkel member. With Albedo's help, he is transformed into a synthetic human after merging with the original Durin's life force and replaces him as the new Durin. Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort () (Fischl) Voiced by: Mace (Chinese); Brittany Cox (English); Maaya Uchida (Japanese); (Korean) (Oz) Voiced by: Zhao Yuecheng (Chinese); Ben Pronsky (English); Yasunori Masutani (Japanese); Lee Hyun (Korean) An eccentric investigator from the Adventurers' Guild whose real name is Amy (). After reading many fantasy books as a child, she started to roleplay as a princess from another world. She speaks in a formal manner, and her night raven companion Ozvaldo "Oz" von Hrafnavins often helps interprets her words into plain speech. Prune () Voiced by: Yanning (Chinese); Alice Himora (English); Aoi Nagatsuki (Japanese); Jang Ye-na (Korean) A self-proclaimed "Witch Hunter" from Nod-Krai who travels to Mondstadt to hunt down Alice, leader of the Hexenzirkel, after she "kidnapped" her imaginary friend Descartes. Razor () Voiced by: Zhou Shuai (Chinese); Todd Haberkorn (English); Koki Uchiyama (Japanese); Kim Seo-yeong (Korean) A mysterious boy who was raised by wolves in Wolvendom. He has slowly begun interacting with humans and learning their language, guided by his teacher Lisa Minci. Venti () Voiced by: Miaojiang (Chinese); Erika Harlacher (English); Ayumu Murase (Japanese); (Korean) A carefree bard fond of drinking, and the Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
Knights of Favonius The Knights of Favonius is the order of knights that protect Mondstadt. Albedo () Voiced by: Mace (Chinese); Khoi Dao (English); Kenji Nojima (Japanese); (Korean) The Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius and the Captain of its Investigation Team. Albedo is not human, but rather a homunculus created by the Khaenri'ahn alchemist and Hexenzirkel member, Rhinedottir. He is regarded as the Kreideprinz. Amber () Voiced by: Cai Shujin (Chinese); Kelly Baskin (English); Manaka Iwami (Japanese); (Korean) An outgoing, gregarious Knight of Favonius and the only member of its Outrider unit; she is widely regarded as the gliding champion of Mondstadt. She is regarded as the Crimson Knight. Eula Lawrence () Voiced by: Ziyin (Chinese); Suzie Yeung (English); Rina Satō (Japanese); (Korean) A descendant of the Lawrence Clan, whose tyrannical rule of Mondstadt eventually resulted in its overthrow and exile. She currently works for the Knights of Favonius as the Captain of its Reconnaissance Company. She is regarded as the Spindrift Knight. Jean Gunnhildr () Voiced by: Lin Su (Chinese); Stephanie Southerland (English); Chiwa Saitō (Japanese); (Korean) An heir of the Gunnhildr Clan who is the Acting Grand Master during Varka's absence and deputy Master of the Knights of Favonius, and Barbara's older sister. She is regarded as the Dandelion Knight. Kaeya Alberich ()