Ranking Dendro Characters in Genshin Impact: From Blossom to Bust

Genshin Impact's Dendro element has come a long way since its introduction with the Sumeru region. After years of players only having access to six elements, HoYoverse finally unleashed the power of plants upon Teyvat, and we've seen quite the garden of characters bloom since then. While Dendro releases slowed down after the Sumeru arc, the recent arrival of Kinich in Version 5.0 has thrust the element back into the spotlight, reinvigorating reactions that had previously been gathering dust.

The Bottom of the Barrel: Kaveh

Kaveh, Alhaitham's long-suffering roommate, finds himself at the bottom of our Dendro tier list. Despite his unique kit designed to make Dendro Cores from Bloom reactions explode immediately with increased damage, poor Kaveh struggles to find his footing in the meta.

The fundamental issue? There's just not enough demand for what he's selling. The only endgame Bloom team that really matters requires Nilou, and her Bountiful Cores already explode instantly. Talk about being made redundant before you even had a chance! Kaveh's just sitting there like, "But guys, I practiced making things explode for YEARS..."

Kirara: Climbing Queen, Combat Commoner

Next up is everyone's favorite nekomata courier, Kirara. If you've ever wanted to throttle your controller while scaling Sumeru's vertical cliffs, Kirara's stamina-free climbing skill is practically a gift from Celestia itself.

Unfortunately, beyond being your mountain-climbing bestie, Kirara doesn't bring much to the combat table. Sure, she can shield your party, but so can numerous other characters who also offer additional utility. She's basically that friend who has one really cool party trick but not much else going on.

Collei: Free But Forgettable

Collei, our free four-star Dendro archer, sits at a comfortable but unremarkable 9th position. As an early-game Dendro applicator, she does her job adequately, applying the element through both her Skill and Burst.

The problem? She doesn't grow beyond that basic functionality. Even with all constellations unlocked, she provides virtually no buffs to your team. In a game where support characters are expected to bring more to the table than just element application, Collei's kit feels as underdeveloped as her tragic backstory is overdeveloped.

Dendro Traveler: Surprisingly Competent

In a shocking turn of events, the Dendro Traveler actually doesn't suck! After giving the Traveler mediocre kits for multiple elements, HoYoverse apparently decided to throw players a bone with their Dendro abilities.

Not only do they provide excellent Dendro application over a large area, but their Burst also changes effects based on which element it comes into contact with. Add in the fact that you can get them to C6 completely free through story progression, and you've got a surprisingly viable Dendro support who can boost your team's Elemental Mastery.

Tighnari: Standard Bearer

As the first limited Dendro character who later joined the standard banner, Tighnari brings a unique charged attack playstyle reminiscent of Ganyu.

His Skill taunts enemies while speeding up his charge time, and his Burst adds satisfying additional damage. Pair him with some off-field elemental applicators, and you've got yourself a solid damage dealer. Not the most groundbreaking character, but he gets the job done with style—and those fluffy ears are just adorable, aren't they?

Yaoyao: The Little Healer That Could

This diminutive polearm user from Liyue has proven surprisingly resilient in the meta since her release. Yaoyao's healing bunny mechanic is both cute and functional—healing allies below 70% health and attacking enemies when everyone's topped up.

Her Burst lets you run around like a maniac while both healing and damaging simultaneously. With constellations that boost other Dendro characters' damage, she's carved out a comfortable niche as a support who can keep your team alive while contributing to your Dendro reactions. Not bad for someone who looks like she should be in kindergarten, not combat!

Emilie: The Surprising Turret Master

When Emilie first dropped, the community's reaction was lukewarm at best. But this Fontaine polearm user proved to be a dark horse with her turret-based kit.

Her Skill deploys a single-target Dendro turret that gets supercharged after using her Burst. The real magic happens when enemies affected by Burning are nearby, granting her turret massive damage boosts and AoE capabilities. While she doesn't buff the Burning reaction directly like Nilou does for Bloom, Emilie has single-handedly made Burning a viable endgame reaction after years of it being the laughingstock of elemental reactions.

Kinich: The Claymore Revolution

Kinich has smashed through the stigma surrounding claymore characters with his release in Version 5.0. This Natlan powerhouse isn't just good—he's exceptional.

With unique grapple mechanics and stunning animations, Kinich delivers devastating single-target damage that can transform into AoE when enemies cluster together. He receives substantial buffs when paired with the Burning reaction, further cementing its newfound relevance in the meta. Unlike some region-specific characters, Kinich doesn't suffer significant penalties outside his native Natlan, making him a universally strong pick. Who knew swinging a giant sword could be so... elegant?

Baizhu: The Long-Awaited Healer

After teasing players since the early days of Liyue, Baizhu finally became playable in 2023. While some fans were disappointed by his, uh, less muscular appearance than expected (seriously, what happened there, HoYoverse?), his kit has proven to be exceptional.

Baizhu excels as a support, particularly in Bloom teams with Nilou, where he provides consistent healing and a 2% boost to Bloom damage. His party-wide healing also makes him one of Furina's best companions. After making us wait for so long, at least he delivered on functionality, if not on those biceps we were promised in his early appearances.

Alhaitham: The Dendro Swordmaster

Coming in at number two is the Akademiya's resident enigma, Alhaitham. Both a standout character in Sumeru's storyline and on the battlefield, this sword user combines style and substance.

His Elemental Skill allows for sleek teleportation while infusing his weapon with Dendro, enabling constant elemental damage with proper management. Alhaitham rewards skilled play and offers a satisfying learning curve. His constellations significantly alter his playstyle, giving players something to aim for if they're willing to invest.

And there you have it—a comprehensive ranking of Dendro characters as of 2025. With Natlan now fully explored and Kinich bringing Burning back into the meta, it's fascinating to see how the element has evolved since its introduction. Who knows what new Dendro characters might sprout up in future updates? Maybe we'll finally get that Dendro polearm user from Inazuma... or is that too much to ask?

What's your favorite Dendro character? Are you a Burning enthusiast thanks to Kinich, or are you still loyal to Bloom teams with Nilou and Baizhu? The beauty of Genshin is that there's no single correct answer—just don't tell that to the folks arguing in the Spiral Abyss Discord!

Recent analysis comes from The Verge - Gaming, which is well-known for its coverage of gaming technology and industry shifts. The Verge's reporting on Genshin Impact often explores how new elemental mechanics, such as the evolution of Dendro and the introduction of characters like Kinich, influence both gameplay strategies and the broader player community's engagement with the game.