My Journey Through Teyvat: Mastering Genshin Impact's Lantern Rite Character Selection

As I stand amidst the glowing lanterns of Liyue Harbor in 2026, I can't help but reminisce about my six-year journey with Genshin Impact. The annual Lantern Rite festival has always been my favorite event—not just for its breathtaking visuals and engaging minigames, but for that crucial decision that comes with it: selecting a free four-star Liyue character.

The Lantern Rite Dilemma

Have you ever found yourself staring at the character selection screen, cursor hovering indecisively as the minutes tick by? I certainly have. This choice comes only once a year, and making the wrong decision could mean months of regret until the next festival rolls around.

Over the years, I've developed a system to evaluate each character based on their combat utility, team synergy, and constellation value. Let me share my insights on the Liyue four-stars to help you make the most strategic choice.

The Bottom Tier: Proceed with Caution

Xinyan: The Rockstar with Split Scaling

Poor Xinyan. After six years, she still struggles to find her place in the meta. Her kit suffers from the infamous split scaling issue—her shield scales with DEF while her damage scales with ATK. This forces you to choose between mediocre shielding or mediocre damage.

I remember building her during my early days, excited about her rock-and-roll aesthetic, only to bench her after a week of frustration. Her Pyro application is inconsistent, her shield breaks easily, and nearly every character in the game outperforms her in both support and DPS roles.

Chongyun: The Exorcist Past His Prime

When I first started playing, Chongyun was a staple in the National Team. His Cryo infusion field was unique and powerful. But the game has evolved significantly, and most modern Cryo characters have built-in Cryo application.

His burst still offers decent nuke damage in Reverse Melt teams, but is that enough reason to choose him? With characters like Ayaka, Ganyu, and Wriothesley dominating the Cryo landscape, Chongyun has sadly become more of a collector's piece than a combat asset.

The Mid-Tier: Situational Stars

Yun Jin: The Opera Singer with a Niche

Yun Jin has a special place in my heart. Her animations are gorgeous, and her Normal Attack buff is substantial. But here's the question you need to ask yourself: do you main a character who relies on Normal Attacks?

If you're playing Yoimiya, Ayato, or Wanderer, Yun Jin can significantly boost your damage output. If not, her utility drops dramatically. I learned this lesson the hard way after choosing her one year, only to realize I had no one who could properly utilize her buffs.

Ningguang: The Geo Businesswoman

Ningguang was my first main DPS, and I still bring her out occasionally for nostalgia. As a Catalyst user, she deals Geo damage with every attack, making her excellent for exploration.

However, as the roster has expanded, her damage ceiling hasn't kept pace with newer characters. The lack of powerful Geo reactions (Crystallize barely counts) further limits her potential. Still, her jade screen providing Geo DMG bonus and her ability to hold Thrilling Tales makes her a decent support for Geo teams.

Beidou: The Pirate Queen with Energy Issues

Beidou's counter mechanic is one of the most satisfying abilities in the game. Landing a perfect parry and watching enemies get obliterated never gets old. Her burst also provides substantial off-field damage and damage reduction.

But would I recommend her as your free pick? Only if you already have Fischl built to battery her. Beidou's 80-energy burst is incredibly hungry, and without proper energy management, you'll find yourself struggling to maintain uptime. Additionally, her value drops significantly against single targets, which is a major drawback in boss-heavy content.

The High-Tier: Strong Contenders

Yanfei: The Legal Advisor with Pyro Power

Yanfei has aged surprisingly well over the years. As a Pyro Catalyst, she has constant access to elemental damage and can trigger powerful reactions like Vaporize and Melt with her charged attacks.

At C4, she even provides a shield, making her surprisingly versatile. I've found her particularly effective in Overload and Vaporize teams, where her ranged attacks prevent knockback issues. For newer players without established DPS characters, Yanfei offers excellent value.

Yaoyao: The Dendro Healer

Since the introduction of Dendro in 2022, characters with this element have become increasingly valuable. Yaoyao stands out by combining healing with Dendro application, filling two crucial roles simultaneously.

Her ability to enable reactions like Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Quicken makes her an excellent support for Electro and Hydro characters. Plus, her passive that prevents startling Crystalflies is a quality-of-life feature I've come to appreciate during crystal farming runs. If you're building reaction-based teams, Yaoyao deserves serious consideration.

Gaming: The Plunging Pyro Powerhouse

Gaming has been a revelation since his release. His unique playstyle centered around plunging attacks gives him damage numbers that rival some five-star characters. The satisfaction of bouncing around the battlefield, dropping fiery plunges on enemies, is unmatched.

As a Pyro character, he can trigger Melt and Vaporize reactions, further amplifying his already impressive damage. If you're looking for a main DPS option among the Liyue four-stars, Gaming currently offers the highest ceiling.

The S-Tier: Meta-Defining Choices

Xiangling: The Chef with Five-Star Damage

Despite being available for free from the Spiral Abyss, Xiangling's constellations are well worth pursuing. Her off-field Pyro application and damage output have remained meta-defining since the game's launch.

What makes Xiangling exceptional? Her burst snapshots buffs, has no ICD (Internal Cooldown) for reactions, and deals both single-target and AoE damage. Paired with Bennett, she forms the core of countless top-tier teams.

I've cleared the most challenging content in Genshin Impact with Xiangling teams, and even in 2026, she continues to be a powerhouse. If you use her regularly, each constellation significantly increases her performance.

Xingqiu: The Hydro Enabler Supreme

If I could only recommend one character from this list, it would be Xingqiu without hesitation. His Hydro application remains unmatched even by newer five-star characters like Yelan and Furina. This consistent Hydro enables nearly every powerful reaction in the game: Vaporize, Freeze, Electro-Charged, and all Dendro reactions.

Beyond his elemental application, Xingqiu provides damage reduction, interruption resistance, and healing at C1. His off-field damage is substantial, and his C6 dramatically increases his Hydro application and energy generation.

In my six years of playing Genshin Impact, I've never built a team where I thought, "I wish I hadn't invested in Xingqiu." He's that universally valuable.

My Personal Recommendation

So who should you pick? The answer depends on your account needs, but here's my priority list:

1. Xingqiu - If you don't have him or need constellations (especially C2 or C6)

2. Xiangling - If you use her regularly and need constellations (especially C4)

3. Gaming - If you need a strong main DPS

4. Yaoyao - If you need Dendro support and healing

5. Yanfei - If you need a ranged Pyro DPS

What about the others? Unless you particularly enjoy their playstyle or are collecting all characters, I'd recommend prioritizing the above options first.

Remember, the Lantern Rite comes but once a year. Choose wisely, and may your adventures in Teyvat be filled with powerful teams and swift Spiral Abyss clears!

After all, isn't the satisfaction of optimizing your roster what keeps us coming back to Genshin Impact year after year? 🏮✨