Best Free to Play Characters to Level in Genshin Impact 6.7

Genshin Impact Version 6.7 Luna VIII Tier List Criteria

Welcome, Travelers, to the definitive methodology behind our Version 6.7 Luna VIII tier list. In a meta constantly reshaped by new characters and mechanics, a clear, consistent set of criteria is essential to separate the temporary trends from the truly transformative. This isn't about declaring characters "bad"; it's about understanding who excels in the current environment and why. Our rankings are built on a foundation of five core pillars, all viewed through the lens of the game-changing Stellar-Conduct reaction.

The Five Pillars of Our Tier List

1. Role-Specific Performance: We categorize every character into one of three primary roles—Main DPS, Sub DPS, or Support—and judge them solely within that context. A Main DPS is evaluated on their on-field damage output and sustainability, a Sub DPS on their off-field damage and elemental application, and a Support on their buffing, healing, shielding, or energy generation capabilities. Comparing a top-tier Support like Bennett to a top-tier Main DPS like Sandrone is an apples-to-oranges comparison; each is the best at their specific job.

2. Damage Output & Scalability: Raw power matters. We assess a character's damage potential at Constellation 0 (C0) with widely accessible 4-star weapons, as this represents the experience for the vast majority of players. However, we also note their scalability with vertical investment (5-star weapons, higher Constellations), as this indicates long-term value and ceiling.

3. Ease of Play & Team Synergy: A character's theoretical damage is meaningless if their rotation is impossibly strict or their team requires three other limited 5-stars. We value characters who slot easily into multiple team archetypes and have forgiving, intuitive playstyles. Flexibility and low execution barriers are hallmarks of a truly meta-defining unit.

4. Elemental Application & Reaction Utility: Consistent and powerful elemental application is the engine of Genshin Impact's combat. A character's value is heavily influenced by how well they enable or capitalize on elemental reactions, both old and new. This criterion has become the single most important factor in Version 6.7.

5. Meta Relevance & Future-Proofing: We analyze a character's performance in the most challenging content, primarily the Spiral Abyss, and their prevalence in top-tier team compositions. A character who defines a new archetype or elevates an existing one receives high marks. We also consider a character's likely longevity based on upcoming mechanics and announced characters.

The Stellar-Conduct Meta Shift: Why Everything Changed

The introduction of Stellar-Conduct in Luna VIII isn't just a new reaction; it's a fundamental recalibration of the Cryo and Electro elements. This reaction, triggered by applying Cryo to an Electro-affected target (or vice-versa), has two key effects:

1. It creates a Polestar Field that grants all characters within it a significant Cryo and Electro DMG Bonus.
2. It completely replaces the old Superconduct reaction (which reduced Physical RES), shifting the focus squarely onto elemental damage.

This single change has seismic implications:

• It Creates a New Archetype: "Stellar Teams" are now a premier meta category, demanding characters who can consistently apply Cryo and Electro to maintain the Polestar Field and maximize damage.
• It Re-evaluates Existing Rosters: Characters like Wriothesley and Cyno, who received direct buffs this patch, are now judged not on their standalone power, but on their ability to partner with Stellar enablers. Their rankings are inherently tied to the availability of strong Electro or Cryo supports.
• It Resurrects Forgotten Units: The most dramatic example is Qiqi. Previously a byword for underwhelming performance, her buffs to provide consistent Cryo application, particle generation, and a direct buff to Stellar-Conduct DMG have catapulted her into the top tier of Supports—but only within Stellar teams. She is the ultimate example of a meta-specific specialist.
• It Rewards Synergy Over Solo Power: A character's rank is now inextricably linked to their best teammates. Sandrone is ranked S+ not just because of her high personal damage, but because she is the premier driver of the Stellar-Conduct reaction. Her value proposition is her ability to hyper-charge this new team dynamic.

How to Use This Tier List

Remember: A tier list is a guide, not a gospel. A character in a lower tier can still clear all content with proper investment, and playing a character you enjoy is always more important than chasing the meta. Our tiers (S+, S, A, B, C, D) represent a spectrum of effectiveness within the Version 6.7 environment. Characters within the same tier are considered to have roughly comparable impact in their role, though their functions may differ.

The takeaway for Luna VIII is clear: the meta is no longer just about raw multipliers or universal supports. It's about constructing efficient engines for the Stellar-Conduct reaction. The rankings that follow reflect which characters are the best pistons, cogs, and fuel for that new engine.

Sandrone: The Premier Stellar-Conduct Main DPS

Official Genshin Impact artwork.

Sandrone: The Premier Stellar-Conduct Main DPS

Why she’s here: Sandrone isn't just another powerful Cryo DPS; she is the foundational cornerstone of the new Stellar-Conduct meta in Version 6.7 Luna VIII. As the first character explicitly designed to enable and amplify this reaction, she occupies a unique and dominant position as an S+ tier Main DPS. While her constellations offer growth, her power at C0 with accessible gear makes her the premier choice for players looking to capitalize on the latest elemental system.

Playstyle: The Architect of Stellar-Conduct

Sandrone's gameplay is a sophisticated dance of calculation and controlled destruction. Unlike traditional Cryo DPS units like Kamisato Ayaka or Ganyu who focus on raw Cryo damage, Sandrone's entire kit is engineered to deal Stellar-Conduct DMG, a transformative reaction triggered when Superconduct is activated in her presence.

Her on-field sequence revolves around her unique Charged Attack, which summons her automaton, Fagio. Fagio enters a "Decoding" mode, firing a continuous beam that deals Cryo damage, with its most powerful "condensed" hits being converted to direct Stellar-Conduct DMG when Sandrone is within a Polestar Field (typically provided by a teammate like Qiqi). Her Elemental Skill serves a dual purpose: it deals damage (with the second hit also converting to Stellar-Conduct DMG) and, crucially, it rapidly "repairs" Fagio, resetting its state to allow for another full-power Charged Attack sequence. This creates a rhythmic rotation of Charged Attack -> Skill -> repeat, culminating in her high-damage Elemental Burst for a powerful AoE finish. The playstyle is methodical, rewarding precise timing to maintain optimal Decoding Power and maximize Stellar-Conduct uptime.

Build Requirements: Prioritizing the New Meta

Sandrone’s build philosophy departs from standard Cryo DPS conventions because Stellar-Conduct DMG does not scale with Cryo DMG Bonus. This fundamentally changes her gear priorities.

• Weapons:
  • Best-in-Slot: A Teaspoon of Transcendence (R1+). Her signature weapon is tailor-made for her, providing ATK% and a significant Stellar-Conduct DMG bonus on her Charged Attacks.
  • Premium Alternatives: A Thousand Blazing Suns (massive CRIT DMG buff) and Redhorn Stonethresher (pure CRIT DMG stat stick) are excellent 5-star options.
  • Top F2P/4-Star Choice: R5 Tidal Shadow. This craftable Fontaine claymore provides a massive ATK% buff when Sandrone is healed, which is easy to trigger with her common support teammates like Qiqi or Diona. R5 Mailed Flower (a past event weapon) is a close competitor, offering both ATK% and Elemental Mastery.
• Artifacts:
  • Best-in-Slot: 4pc Disenchantment in Deep Shadow. This set is irreplaceable for a Stellar-Conduct specialist, providing an 80% boost to Superconduct/Stellar-Conduct Reaction DMG and 16% CRIT Rate against enemies affected by Superconduct.
  • Strong Alternative: 4pc Gilded Dreams. This is a great transitional set, as it provides the ATK% and Elemental Mastery that Stellar-Conduct scales with.
  • Early Game/Stopgap: Any combination of 2pc ATK% sets (like Gladiator's Finale or A Day Carved From Rising Winds) is serviceable while farming her BiS.
• Stat Priorities:
  • Sands: ATK% (generally outperforms Elemental Mastery due to her A4 passive conversion).
  • Goblet: ATK% (Cryo DMG Goblets are not recommended).
  • Circlet: CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG.
  • Substat Priority: Meet ER needs (120-140% in double Cryo/Electro teams) > CRIT > ATK% > Elemental Mastery.
  • Goal Stats: Aim for 2000+ ATK, a 1:2 CRIT Ratio (e.g., 70/140+), and 150-200 EM.

Pros & Cons: The Marionette's Strings

Pros:

• Meta-Defining Role: She is the premier driver for the new Stellar-Conduct reaction, offering top-tier damage potential.
• Strong at C0: Unlike some past DPS releases, Sandrone performs excellently at C0 with accessible 4-star weapon options like Tidal Shadow.
• Straightforward Playstyle: Her rotation is intuitive and rhythmic, avoiding overly complex combo strings.
• Future-Proof Core: As the first Stellar-Conduct enabler, she is poised to synergize with future characters designed for this reaction.

Cons:

• Teammate Reliance: Her peak performance is currently locked behind specific 5-star supports, most notably Yae Miko, whose own buffs in 6.7 make her Sandrone's best partner.
• Limited F2P Support Roster: The most effective 4-star supports for her (C6 Diona, C6 Beidou) require high investment and specific constellations, narrowing team-building options for newer players.
• Rigid Build Path: She cannot utilize traditional DPS goblets (Cryo DMG) and is heavily dependent on the new artifact set, Disenchantment in Deep Shadow, to reach her full potential.

The Verdict: Sandrone is a powerhouse unit whose value extends beyond her impressive personal damage. She unlocks and dominates a new sector of the elemental reaction meta. While she demands investment in a specific artifact set and thrives with premium teammates, her performance as the centerpiece of Stellar-Conduct teams is currently unmatched, solidifying her S+ ranking and making her a compelling pull for any player looking to stay at the forefront of Genshin Impact's evolving combat.

Qiqi: The F2P Stellar Support Success Story

Qiqi: The F2P Stellar Support Success Story

Why she’s here: Once a meme-tier character synonymous with losing 50/50s, Qiqi has undergone a complete renaissance in Version 6.7. Her new "Witch's Revelation" passive talent has transformed her from a simple, albeit potent, healer into a premier enabler for the Stellar-Conduct meta. She is now an S-tier Support (as per the Icy Veins tier list) and a shining example of how targeted buffs can revitalize a character, making her an accessible and powerful cornerstone for Free-to-Play (F2P) players building new elemental teams.

The Metamorphosis: From Healer to Stellar Enabler

The core of Qiqi’s transformation lies in her new passive talent, "Seven Sacred Treasures." This talent does three critical things:

1. Reduces her Elemental Skill cooldown from 30s to 15s. This alone fixes her biggest historical flaw—atrocious Cryo application uptime.
2. Grants a massive 50% DMG Bonus to Superconduct and Stellar-Conduct reactions for the entire party while her Skill, Adeptus Art: Herald of Frost, is active.
3. Allows her to enter the "Radiance: Stellar-Conduct" state when inside a Polestar Field, which enhances her Elemental Burst.

Suddenly, Qiqi isn't just healing; she's providing near-constant off-field Cryo application to trigger reactions, generating particles to fuel the team, and buffing the damage of the new meta-defining reaction by a staggering 50%. This makes her not just viable but optimal in teams built around Sandrone, Wriothesley, Cyno, or Yae Miko. Her value is so pronounced that she is explicitly called out in the Icy Veins tier list as having received "significant buffs, transforming her from a low-tier character into a great one for Stellar teams."

Specific Use Cases & Team Roles

Qiqi’s buffs have carved out two primary, powerful niches:

• The Premier F2P Support for Sandrone: As the new S+ Cryo DPS, Sandrone’s damage skyrockets with Stellar-Conduct. Qiqi is her perfect partner. Her constant Cryo from Herald of Frost ensures Sandrone (or an Electro teammate) can effortlessly create Polestar Fields. Once the field is up, Qiqi’s 50% reaction DMG bonus directly amplifies Sandrone's own Stellar-Conduct damage. For F2P players who may not have premium 5-star supports like Shenhe, Qiqi is now the most accessible and effective Cryo support for Sandrone’s teams.
• A Universal Stellar-Conduct Battery & Buffer: Beyond Sandrone, Qiqi supercharges any team focusing on the reaction. In a team with Wriothesley and an Electro unit like Fischl or Yae Miko, she provides healing, reaction buffs, and consistent Cryo to maintain the Polestar Field's secondary buffs (Cryo/Electro DMG Bonus). For Cyno teams, she offers a unique blend of survivability and damage amplification that other healers can't match. Her role is clear: enable the reaction, buff its damage, and keep the team alive through massive, ATK-scaling heals.

F2P-Friendly Equipment: Building on a Budget

One of Qiqi's greatest strengths is how effectively she operates with accessible gear. Her healing and buffs scale with ATK, simplifying stat priorities.

Weapons (Prioritize Energy Recharge):

• Best 4-Star Option: Favonius Sword. This is her premier F2P weapon. Its high Energy Recharge (61.3% at Lv. 90) helps meet her demanding 80-cost Burst, and its passive generates clear particles for the whole team. To use it effectively, aim for 40-50% CRIT Rate from artifacts to reliably trigger the passive.
• Strong Alternative: Sacrificial Sword. Another excellent ER weapon. Resetting her Elemental Skill cooldown can provide even more Cryo application and healing, though it’s less beneficial for team energy than Favonius.
• Craftable/Copium Option: Amenoma Kageuchi (Inazuma Craftable). Helps with her Burst energy needs through its passive and provides a useful ATK% secondary stat.

Artifacts:

• Best-in-Slot (Damage/Utility): Disenchantment in Deep Shadows (4-Piece). This set is tailor-made for her new role. The 2-piece gives +18% ATK, and the 4-piece buffs Stellar-Conduct DMG by 40% and provides 16% CRIT Rate against affected enemies. It’s the perfect offensive support set.
• Best-in-Slot (Healing/Damage Hybrid): Ocean-Hued Clam (4-Piece). If your team lacks survivability, this set is fantastic. It converts Qiqi's massive overhealing into consistent AoE physical damage (up to 30k per bubble), adding meaningful off-field DPS.
• Early Game/F2P Standby: The Exile (4-Piece) or a combination of The Exile (2-Piece) and Scholar (2-Piece). These 4-star sets maximize Energy Recharge and help battery the team, ensuring smooth rotations before you farm 5-star sets.

Stat Priorities: Sands: Energy Recharge (until ~180-200%) or ATK%. Goblet: ATK%. Circlet: Healing Bonus (for max heal), ATK% (for balanced buff/heal), or CRIT Rate (if using Favonius Sword). Substats: Energy Recharge > ATK% > CRIT Rate.

Investment Priority: Is C6 Worth It?

Qiqi’s constellations, much like the character herself, have been re-evaluated.

• C0 is Perfectly Functional: The entirety of her transformative support kit—the cooldown reduction, the 50% Stellar-Conduct DMG bonus, and the enhanced Burst—is unlocked at C0. A Qiqi pulled from the standard banner is immediately a top-tier Stellar support. For F2P players, investing in her artifacts and talents is far more important than chasing constellations.
• Key Constellations:
  • C1 (Ascetics of Frost): Provides a small amount of energy when her Skill hits opponents. A nice quality-of-life improvement for her own Burst uptime but not essential.
  • C4 (Divine Suppression): Reduces the ATK of enemies marked by her Burst's talisman. A decent defensive boost.
  • C6 (Rite of Resurrection) - The Game-Changer: This constellation received a major "Witch's Revelation" upgrade. Beyond the iconic team-wide revive (once every 15 mins), it now grants "Glimpse of Mystery" stacks after using her Burst. When your active character deals Stellar-Conduct DMG, these stacks are consumed to add 600% of Qiqi's ATK as bonus damage to that instance. This turns Qiqi from a pure buffer/healer into a significant source of amplified damage for your main DPS. It’s a powerful vertical investment for dedicated Stellar-Conduct teams.

The Verdict: Qiqi’s story in Version 6.7 is the ultimate F2P win. She leverages free-to-acquire weapons, has multiple viable artifact sets, and her core, meta-defining support power is unlocked at C0. While her effectiveness is currently specialized to Stellar-Conduct teams, within that niche, she competes with and often surpasses limited 5-star options. For any player building around Sandrone, Wriothesley, or the new reaction system, pulling a Qiqi is no longer a disappointment—it’s a stellar success.

Bennett and Kazuha: The Eternal SS-Tier Supports

The Luna VIII meta may revolve around the new Stellar-Conduct reaction, but two classic supports refuse to be dethroned. While characters like Citlali and Xilonen offer powerful, element-specific buffs, Bennett and Kaedehara Kazuha provide a universal, foundational power that no new mechanic has yet rendered obsolete. They are the bedrock upon which countless teams are built, and their value only increases as new, powerful DPS characters emerge. This section breaks down why these veterans remain indispensable, how to prioritize their skills, and how F2P players can leverage their incredible synergy.

Bennett: The Unbreakable Foundation

Why he's here: In a meta where Sandrone’s Stellar-Conduct teams and niche buffers are the talk of Teyvat, Bennett’s simple, overwhelming ATK buff remains the single most versatile support tool in the game. According to the Luna VIII tier lists, he is consistently ranked SS/S+ tier, and genshin.gg usage rates confirm he is still the #1 Abyss support. His power isn’t tied to a specific element or reaction; it’s pure, multiplicative damage amplification that benefits any character who scales with ATK. While newer supports like Xilonen require specific team compositions (2+ non-Geo units) to unlock their full potential, Bennett’s iconic Fantastic Voyage circle works anywhere, for anyone, with a massive buff that can exceed 1000 ATK at C1. Even as the game introduces HP-scaling and DEF-scaling carries, the majority of premier DPS units—from Mavuika and Arlecchino to Sandrone herself—still capitalize on his monumental ATK steroid. He is the definition of future-proof.

Skill Priority:

1. Elemental Burst (Fantastic Voyage): Maximize this first. The ATK buff scales directly with its talent level. Level 9 or 10 is non-negotiable for endgame play.
2. Elemental Skill (Passion Overload): Level this second. While primarily used for particle generation, its damage is respectable and contributes to his role as a Sub-DPS/Support hybrid.
3. Normal Attack: Leave at level 1. Bennett’s field time is minimal, and his NA multipliers are irrelevant to his support function.

Synergy Notes for F2P Team Building: Bennett is the great equalizer for F2P accounts. His best weapon, the 4-star Sapwood Blade (craftable) or Prototype Rancour, is easily accessible. Pair him with any 4-star DPS like Xiangling (free from Abyss) or Gaming to create a potent core. For Stellar-Conduct teams, he can seamlessly slot into a F2P Sandrone squad with Qiqi and an Electro unit like the buffed Beidou, providing the ATK boost Sandrone craves while Qiqi handles Cryo application and Stellar-Conduct buffs.

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Kaedehara Kazuha: The Elemental Conductor

Why he's here: If Bennett amplifies raw power, Kazuha amplifies elemental potential. His dual role as a Viridescent Venerer (VV) shredder and an elemental DMG% buffer is irreplaceable. The Luna VIII tier lists from Icy Veins and GameWith unanimously place him in the SS/S+ tier for Support. While Sucrose (now also SS-tier) competes in Elemental Mastery-focused teams, and Prune offers niche Swirl support, Kazuha’s combination of effortless crowd control, persistent off-field elemental absorption, and a party-wide DMG% buff that’s easy to trigger makes him the premier choice for most reaction-based teams. In the context of the new Stellar-Conduct meta, his value is twofold: he can shred Cryo RES for Sandrone and buff her Cryo DMG simultaneously, something no other Anemo character does as effectively. Furthermore, his ability to group enemies is a universal DPS increase that transcends any elemental meta shift.

Skill Priority:

1. Elemental Skill (Chihayaburu): Priority #1. Its scaling influences the Elemental DMG% bonus provided by his passive, "Poetics of Fuubutsu." Leveling it also increases its substantial crowd control and damage.
2. Elemental Burst (Kazuha Slash): Level this second. It provides significant off-field damage, continuous Swirl reactions, and further elemental absorption for additional DMG% buffs.
3. Normal Attack: Can be left at level 1. While his Plunge Attack after his Skill is important, its damage scales with his Skill talent, not his Normal Attack talent.

Synergy Notes for F2P Team Building: Kazuha’s F2P weapon options are excellent: Iron Sting (craftable) is his best 4-star option. He acts as a force multiplier for accessible teams. For example, a F2P Electro-Charged team with Fischl, Xingqiu, and Barbara becomes drastically more powerful with his RES shred and Hydro/Electro DMG buffs. For players building around the free Qiqi, Kazuha can group enemies into Qiqi’s Herald of Frost range while buffing the team's Cryo and Electro damage, making a Sandrone/Beidou/Qiqi/Kazuha team a surprisingly potent and accessible Stellar-Conduct option.

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The Supporting Cast: Skill Priorities for Key F2P Enablers

Building around Bennett and Kazuha often involves key 4-star units. Here’s how to prioritize their talents for maximum efficiency:

• Xiangling (Sub-DPS): Burst (Pyronado) > Skill (Guoba Attack) > Normal Attack. Pyronado is the entirety of her off-field value.
• Xingqiu (Sub-DPS): Burst (Guhua Sword: Raincutter) > Skill (Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen) > Normal Attack. His Burst is one of the game's most powerful abilities.
• Fischl (Sub-DPS): Skill (Nightrider) > Burst (Midnight Phantasmagoria) > Normal Attack. Oz is her primary source of damage and Electro application.
• Sucrose (Support): Burst (Forbidden Creation: Isomer 75 / Type II) > Skill (Astable Anemohypostasis Creation: 6308) > Normal Attack. Her Burst’s grouping and EM sharing are key.
• Qiqi (Support): Skill (Adeptus Art: Herald of Frost) > Burst (Adeptus Art: Preserver of Fortune) > Normal Attack. Prioritize her Skill for consistent Cryo application and the new Stellar-Conduct DMG buff.
• Beidou (Sub-DPS): Burst (Stormbreaker) > Skill (Tidecaller) > Normal Attack. Her Burst provides massive off-field Electro damage, crucial for Stellar-Conduct.

The Eternal Verdict: New mechanics and specialized supports will continue to emerge, but they build upon the foundation Bennett and Kazuha provide. Bennett offers a universal damage ceiling that is almost impossible to power-creep, while Kazuha provides the elemental control and amplification necessary to execute any reaction-based strategy. For any player, from F2P beginners to veteran spenders, investing in these two characters is the single safest, most impactful long-term decision you can make in Genshin Impact. They are not just supports; they are the pillars of the meta.