Catalyst characters in Genshin Impact are those who can deal Elemental DMG through their Normal Attack by default. This makes them an excellent candidate for Elemental reactions in battle, although there are some conditional downsides. For example, Klee won't be able to kill Pyro Slimes because they are immune to Pyro. This also applies to World Bosses, like the Pyro Hypostasis. Thus, to avoid this downside, it's always best to have various Elements at the party.
RELATED: Genshin Impact: Catalyst Weapon Type Tier List
Luckily, this is an easy feat considering there's a catalyst character of every Vision. Just like other weapons, some catalyst characters are better than others. To know which one is the best, read on.
Updated on January 15, 2023, by Nahda Nabiilah: Since Genshin Impact is quickly becoming one of the most popular games, HoYoverse keeps expanding its gameplay, introducing more diversity in combat and mechanics. Of course, with more patches comes more characters, which some fit right into the Meta and some fail to meet it. For catalyst users, it’s always easier for them to fit in because of their strong Elemental application. Their ability to deal Elemental DMG throughout their entire kit is still considered useful to this day. For that, this article will be updated to include the new catalyst users and change their ranking.
12 Barbara
Barbara is the second free catalyst character that Genshin Impact players can obtain. This Favonius Church Sister is a Hydro Vision holder. It is said that Barbara has an angelic voice, one with healing properties. This is likely why Barbara is a healer.
While she fully excels in this job, she, unfortunately, doesn't offer much else to a party. Her Elemental Skill solely heals, as does her Elemental Burst. The only addition she offers is a minor Hydro application. However, it's worth noting that with constellations, Barbara is a decent support for Hydro DPS. She also can revive a fallen character with full HP.
11 Lisa
Lisa's main feature as a DPS is her Hold Skill. To master this, players need good management between using her Charged attacks and Tap Skill. Timing her Hold Skill perfectly is also crucial to get the most out of it. On the other hand, Lisa is much easier to use as a support. For this role, players simply have to cast her Elemental Burst and then swap her out.
RELATED: Genshin Impact: A Complete Guide To Fischl's Constellation
Lisa is one of the free characters that players can obtain early on. Like the other first F2P characters, it is hard to get Lisa’s constellations, making the Resident Librarian a not popular pick among the player base.
10 Yanfei
Yanfei is another Pyro DPS in Genshin Impact. This Liyue character has a similar (but much smoother) playstyle to Ningguang, where players have to do a fixed rotation between her Normal and Charged Attack. Because Yanfei is a Pyro character, this means that she can be played in both Vaporize and Melt comp to amplify her DMG. While this may seem great, it also means that Yanfei needs a specific team to perform her best.
Furthermore, Yanfei is also a selfish DPS. She shines best when her Elemental Burst is active, yet her Elemental Skill is not the best battery. So, players who wish to play Yanfei have to build a team around her. This lack of flexibility puts Yanfei at the lower end of the list.
9 Shikanoin Heizou
There might be speculations about whether Shikanoin Heizou is a good DPS or not. But one thing is for sure, he has such good gameplay. Although Heizou is a catalyst user, he still operates as a melee unit, driving his team’s reaction DMG while inflicting some decent DMG himself.
RELATED: Genshin Impact: Mistakes Players Make When Using Rosaria
Shikanoin Heizou’s main DMG source comes from his Elemental Skill, where he charges its DMG by stacking up to four Declension to land some decent shots at enemies. Overall, Heizou doesn’t offer that much as a DPS and many other characters perform better than him, even someone like Wanderer who’s also an Anemo catalyst unit.
8 Klee
Klee may be young and small, but she shouldn't be underestimated. Just like Yanfei, Klee is also a selfish DPS. When her Elemental Burst is active, she can't be swapped out; or else the Burst will disappear. Klee doesn't offer much support, except for the little mines left by her Elemental Skill.
The Spark Knight's range is the shortest among the other characters, yet she has one of the highest DPS count among the catalyst users in Genshin Impact. That alone earns Klee a spot in almost the middle ranking.
7 Ningguang
The Tianquan of the Qixing may be a 4-star character, but Ningguang is actually one of the best DPS in Genshin Impact. After players get used to Ningguang's clunky Charged Attack, they will find that this unit packs a hard punch.
Not only that, but Ningguang is also highly flexible to use. With her Elemental Skill, she can deal decent DMG, battery herself, and grant a Geo DMG buff. Because she's a Geo character, players don't have to pair her with any Elemental reactions to shine. However, Ningguang is only viable as a DPS with her first constellation; after getting her full constellations, Ningguang simply enters a new level of DPS.
6 Yae Miko
Yae Miko can easily be considered one of the most popular characters in Genshin Impact. Her wit and sassy personality alongside the number of hilarious scenes she participated in are enough to make her that popular.
But during combat, Yae Miko wasn’t what fans expected. Her DMG is underwhelming, and she consumes a lot of time on the field as a Sub-DPS. The introduction of Dendro reactions in Genshin Impact improved her viability a little, but still, Yae Miko remains underperforming against other Electro Sub-DPS units.
5 Mona
Mona is a support Hydro character; however, she's not a healer. Instead, Mona's role is to taunt, battery, and amplify the team's DMG with her Omen, a debuff on enemies created by her Elemental Burst.
RELATED: Genshin Impact: Mistakes Players Make When Using Sayu
Mona can deal great DMG with her Burst while allowing her teammates to do even greater DMG. This is why Mona is often paired with Sucrose, another character that can enhance the team's overall DPS. Other than support, Mona is also viable as a DPS in her own right, making her one of the stronger catalyst characters.
4 Wanderer
Wanderer’s mechanics are such a breath of fresh air in Genshin Impact. His flying combat style and the way he moves give players the freedom any Anemo character should have. Of course, fans waited for a long time to put their hands on Scaramouche, the Sixth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, and he did not disappoint.
His personal DPS is decent, and he can drive the team's DMG, which makes him super useful as an Anemo character.
3 Sucrose
So far, Anemo is the best support Element for Hydro, Pyro, Electro, and Cryo. With Viridescent Venerer, Sucrose can lower the enemy's Elemental resistance. Considering Sucrose should have a maximum amount of Elemental Mastery to perform on a high level, her DMG shouldn't be underestimated. All her Swirls will inflict some decent DMG thanks to her high EM stat.
As if that's not enough, Sucrose also crowd controls the enemies, generates a lot of Elemental Particles, and inherits her Elemental Mastery to the team. Thanks to her long list of supportive abilities, Sucrose easily takes one of the top spots for the best catalyst.
2 Sangonomiya Kokomi
Kokomi is often called a 5-star Barbara, and there's a rational reason behind it. Just like the Church Sister, Kokomi is a Hydro healer, but of course, the Watatsumi Priestess outperforms Barbara in most ways. Kokomi's Elemental Skill has a wide Hydro application that deals decent DMG; moreover, she becomes a Sub-DPS when her Elemental Burst is active.
Once she’s equipped with 4pc Ocean-Hued Clam, Kokomi turns into a top-tier Sub-DPS, over-healing her teammates while continuously inflicting significant DMG. After multiple non-targeted buffs (like the existence of Ocean-Hued Clam, and Hydro Resonance buff), Kokomi quickly became one of the best characters in Genshin Impact.
1 Nahida
Without a doubt, an Archon would make her way into the top tier among all catalyst users in Genshin Impact. Not only that, Nahida is currently the best Dendro character as well. The Dendro Archon can offer anything a Dendro Support would offer while dealing some good off-field DMG. Nahida provides a great Elemental Mastery buff and becomes significantly stronger as both a damage dealer and support with her Constellations.
Not to mention, Nahida is a great world map companion since she can collect plants from distance using her Elemental Skill. All in all, Nahida can do everything but healing to her team, which puts her above most of Genshin Impact’s roster in terms of usefulness.
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.
MORE: Genshin Impact: Polearm Weapon Type Tier List
FAQs
Who is the best 4-star Catalyst user? ›
When it comes to characters who help buff Elemental Mastery for their team, it's hard to get better than Sucrose. Despite being a four-star, her versatility as a support can easily rival Venti. Due to Sucrose's passive, she boosts her teammates' overall Elemental Mastery whenever her Elemental Skill or Burst goes off.
Who are good Catalyst users? ›Genshin Impact's current Catalyst users include Barbara, Klee, Lisa, Mona, Ningguang, Sanganomiya Kokomi, Sucrose, Yae Miko, and Yanfei. The best Catalyst users consist of four 5-Stars and five 4-Stars, meaning most players will have at least a few units from this list on their account.
Is there a 5-star Catalyst user? ›Kokomi. Kokomi is a five-star hydro catalyst that comes from Inazuma. She is the leader of the rebellion and is said to be one of the best strategists in all of the region.
Who is the strongest healer in Genshin? ›That said, Kokomi has undeniable advantages when it comes to Hydro application. Not only was she not initially held in high regard as a healer, like Kuki Shinobu, but she has also risen to become the best healer in Genshin Impact.
Who is the fastest sword user in Genshin Impact? ›...
Genshin Impact: The Best Sword Users, Ranked
- 1 Kazuha.
- 2 Xingqiu. ...
- 3 Ayaka. ...
- 4 Bennett. ...
- 5 Albedo. ...
- 6 Kamisato Ayato. ...
- 7 Kuki Shinobu. ...
- 8 Dendro Traveler. ...
Everlasting Moonglow is a Catalyst made for healers in Genshin Impact, so it's certainly the best weapon for Barbara. Barbara's healing scales with her HP and the weapon further increases it by almost 50% plus an extra 10% Healing Bonus.
What weapon will Scaramouche use? ›Most of the 5-star weapons will work for Scaramouche because many of them focus on Crit DMG, Crit Rate, and ATK%. His signature weapon, Tulaytullah's Remembrance, stands out because of its significant bonuses on Normal Attacks and Elemental Skill DMG.
Are there any cryo catalyst users? ›At the moment there are no Cryo spear users and no Cryo catalyst users, but fans are excited to see characters with those combinations added eventually. Particularly the addition of a Cryo catalyst user would be very useful for exploration, as it would allow players to freeze and traverse over water much quicker.
Is there a male catalyst user? ›Shikanoin Heizou becomes the first male catalyst user in Genshin Impact. Congratulations to Shikanoin Heizou for being the first Male Catalyst!
What is the most useful catalyst? ›The most effective catalyst of all is the enzyme catalase, present in blood and intracellular fluids; adding a drop of blood to a solution of 30% hydrogen peroxide induces a vigorous reaction.
Who has the fastest catalyst Genshin Impact? ›
Klee is Genshin Impact's feisty powerhouse. As one of the best DPS characters in the game, Klee pushes out Pyro DMG like it is going out of style. Combined with her Elemental Burst and how well Pyro stacks, there is no denying Klee is the best catalyst user in Genshin Impact.
Who is the rarest 5 star Genshin? ›Two of the rarest characters in Genshin Impact appear to be Venti and Diluc. Both are 5-star characters, and they're more typically desired than other 5-stars like Jean and Keqing. Diluc is incredibly powerful, and he's currently available through the Wanderlust Invocation Wish.
Does Ningguang use her catalyst? ›As one of the Geo-users, Ningguang is an important get for your team. A four-star Catalyst wielding force to be reckoned with, she can pack a powerful punch when properly equipped.
Is there a universal catalyst? ›We can supply a wide range of universal catalytic converters (unicats) with both metallic and ceramic monoliths, suitable for both petrol and diesel engines. They are available in a wide range of specifications.
Does Hu Tao need a healer? ›Having a healer is crucial for Hu Tao's survivability, allowing players to continuously use her elemental skill without the fear of dying. However, players have to keep in mind that overhealing means Hu Tao can't benefit from her second passive.
Who is a better healer than Barbara? ›In terms of healing amount, Qiqi is still the best of them all. The reason is that her heals is based on ATK stat, with good multipliers, and she can heal really fast, whether by using her skill or her burst.
Who is the strongest Genshin player? ›- 1 Itto (74/959) A loud and proud descendant of the crimson oni, Itto is the leader and founder of the Arataki Gang.
- 2 Qiqi (71/922) ...
- 3 Albedo (68/876) ...
- 4 Hu Tao (68/876) ...
- 5 Cyno (66/859) ...
- 6 Shenhe (64/830) ...
- 7 Tartaglia (63/814) ...
- 8 Kaedehara Kazuha (62/806) ...
Yoma power usage low-70–100%, Yoma power control 70%, attack speed approximately 88%. Mental baseline is A+. Ilena is the fastest warrior on record.
What is the rarest sword in Genshin Impact? ›1 Dark Iron Sword
The rarest item in Genshin Impact isn't even a 5-star item, but a 3-star sword called the Dark Iron Sword. Objectively, there cannot be an item rarer than this one that exists in the game; the Dark Iron Sword has a total of one occurrence in the game.
The top spot for Polearm users is easily dominated by Zhongli. The Geo Archon is the best shielder because of his Elemental Skill. The Archon's Skill creates a Jade Shield that possesses 100% uptime, trivializing most content in the game.
What is the best free catalyst weapon Genshin? ›
Skyward Atlas is arguably the best Catalyst in Genshin Impact. Unlike Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds, Skyward Atlas is great for both main DPS and Sub-DPS. This is because the Elemental damage bonus passive is granted without any condition.
Is Barbara related to Jean? ›Jean is Barbara's older sister, who going off of some of Barbara's story, players assume is quite close to the young idol. Many fans are hoping that when Barbara's character quest is released that they will get to see interactions between the two.
How old is Barbara Genshin? ›Barbara is Jean's younger sister (approximately 16-18 years old).
Who gave Scaramouche a vision? ›We're not yet sure how Scaramouche will gain his Anemo Vision, though we can surmise that him finally finding his purpose and freedom is the reason why his Vision is Anemo and not Electro. Scaramouche and Raiden Shogun both came from Raiden Ei. Like two sides of the same coin; you can't have a storm without the wind.
Can Scaramouche fly? ›Scaramouche (AKA the Wanderer) is a 5-Star Anemo character who uses a catalyst, and is best used in a main DPS role, due to his very high normal attack damage, and his ability to hover when his Elemental Skill is activated. Yep, Scaramouche can fly!
What animal is Scaramouche? ›Scaramouche (French: [skaʁamuʃ]) or Scaramouch (English: /ˈskærəmuː(t)ʃ, -maʊtʃ/; from Italian Scaramuccia [skaraˈmuttʃa], literally "little skirmisher") is a stock clown character of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature).
Who is the best 4 star Cryo? ›Speaking of dealing cryo status in a large area, Chongyun is one of the best in the 4-star category. He's the only cryo claymore user, so he can be a decent DPS. However, his Elemental Burst, while damaging, is too small and can miss a lot.
Who is the strongest Cryo DPS? ›- 8 Chongyun.
- 7 Aloy.
- 6 Rosaria.
- 5 Qiqi.
- 4 Shenhe.
- 3 Ganyu.
- 2 Eula.
- 1 Kamisato Ayaka.
Despite being released early in version 1.3, Ganyu remains the best Cryo unit to date due to her versatility and high damage output. As for her support ability, Ganyu offers excellent Cryo application with her long-duration Elemental Burst.
How old is Heizou? ›Shikanoin Heizou. Estimated Age: 20 years old. Birthday: April 24. Height: 5'4″.
Is Heizou rare? ›
Male 4-star characters are fairly rare in Genshin Impact so it's always exciting to be receiving a new one. A combination of Heizou's gender, weapon, and Element all make him a fairly unique character. According to both official reveals and leaks, Heizou is a couple of Genshin Impact's firsts.
Is Heizhou a 4-star? ›Shikanoin Heizou is one of the rate-up banner 4-star characters featured in the first half of Genshin Impact version 2.8, which will run from 13 July to 1 August.
What is the best catalyst for DPS? ›The Widsith (Gacha)
There is no contention, the Widsith is the best 4-star DPS catalyst, even outperforming some of its 5-star counterparts at high refinements. Thanks to its passive, the Widsith increases your character's damage output by buffing either your attack, Elemental damage, or Elemental Mastery.
Platinum's success has long been attributed to its “Goldilocks” binding energy. Ideal catalysts hold on to reacting molecules neither too loosely nor too tightly, but somewhere in the middle. Bind the molecules too loosely and it's difficult to get a reaction started.
What is catalyst in real life? ›Catalysts are integral in making plastics and many other manufactured items. Even the human body runs on catalysts. Many proteins in your body are actually catalysts called enzymes, which do everything from creating signals that move your limbs to helping digest your food. They are truly a fundamental part of life.
What is Klee's Catalyst? ›Klee is a Pyro Catalyst user, so you'll want a strong weapon to go along with her fiery abilities. Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds is Klee's strongest weapon thanks to its strong buffs. Skyward Atlas is also a great 5-star pick. If you don't have any 5-star Catalysts on hand, try The Widsith or Sacrificial Fragments.
Is yaoyao a catalyst? ›A recent Genshin Impact leak reveals more information about the long-awaited Dendro catalyst user Yaoyao.
Why is Ningguang a 4-star? ›Another example is a Liyue-based character: Genshin Impact's Ningguang. She plays a central role in the Liyue Archon Quests and is also a member of the Qixing – the region's governing body. Despite this, she was designated as a 4-Star, while Keqing, who is also a member of the Qixing, was given 5-Star status.
Do you get Diluc for free? ›Genshin Impact players can unlock Diluc by wishing on the permanent banner called Wanderlust Invocation. Follow these steps to wish on the Wanderlust Invocation banner and get Diluc: Launch Genshin Impact and click on the Wish/star icon on the top-right corner of the screen.
Who is the least played Genshin characters? ›Xinyan is the least popular female character who actually debuted in Genshin Impact, and she only had 190 votes. It's quite unfortunate for Xinyan fans since the next Beidou is only ranked above her by one spot, but with nearly four times as many votes.
Who is the strongest Genshin Impact user? ›
1. Zhongli. The Geo Archon himself, Zhongli, is the most powerful figure in Genshin Impact's lore. Since no one could kill him due to his incredible strength, he pretended to be dead to escape responsibility.
Who is the strongest character in Genshin Impact? ›- 8 Kaedehara Kazuha (62/806)
- 7 Tartaglia (63/814)
- 6 Shenhe (64/830)
- 5 Cyno (66/859)
- 4 Hu Tao (68/876)
- 3 Albedo (68/876)
- 2 Qiqi (71/922)
- 1 Itto (74/959)
- The Widsith (Image via HoYoverse)
- Solar Pearl (Image via HoYoverse)
- Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (Image via HoYoverse)
- Skyward Atlas (Image via HoYoverse)
- Tulaytullah's Remembrance (Image via HoYoverse)
Plus, as per Childe, she's stronger than she looks. She's the third strongest out of the eleven Harbingers.
Who is the hardest hitting character in Genshin? ›Few characters fit into the heavy hitter category quite as well as Eula does. Her normal attacks do massive amounts of damage and her Elemental Burst is well-known as the biggest single hit up to date.
Who is the weakest Archon in Genshin Impact? ›Who is the weakest Archon in Genshin Impact? Venti or Barbatos is likely the weakest among all the seven gods or archons in Teyvat who each have their own nation. That's all thanks to Signora snatching up his gnosis, effectively making Venti less than an archon in terms of power.
Who is the Cryo Archon? ›The Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, also known as the Cryo Archon, is the main antagonist of the 2020 action role-playing fantasy video game Genshin Impact.
Who is the rarest 4 star in Genshin? ›1. Bennett (Pyro Sword) Despite being shunned by nearly every team in the game for being the unluckiest adventurer in Teyvat, Bennett is widely considered to be the best 4-star character in Genshin Impact.
Who is the strongest 5 star in Genshin? ›Venti – The first limited 5-star character stands his ground as still the strongest support character in the game. His Elemental Burst is so good, that against situations where there are multiple enemies, he completely trivializes the fight with his unparalleled utility and amazing reaction damage.
Is there a boy catalyst? ›Shikanoin Heizou becomes the first male catalyst user in Genshin Impact.
What is the best 4 * sword Genshin? ›
While the Favonius Sword is considered to be one of the best four-star swords for any sword user in Genshin Impact due to the Elemental Orbs it generates, the Blackcliff Longsword edges it out through sheer damage and stack capabilities.