Genshin Impact, the beloved open-world action RPG developed by miHoYo, continues to expand its universe in 2024. Fans have eagerly awaited new characters, abilities, and regions, and this year’s update doesn’t disappoint. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the new 5-star characters, explore their abilities, and offer tips on how to use them effectively in your team. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated fan, understanding these updates will help you make the most out of your Genshin Impact experience.

1. Kairos – The Thunderous Herald

Kairos is a highly anticipated 5-star Electro character from the new region of Tantalos. As a warrior with a strong command over the elements, his abilities revolve around dealing powerful Electro damage and crowd control.

Elemental Skill: Thunderous Charge

Kairos strikes enemies in a straight line, dealing Electro damage and stunning them momentarily. This skill is ideal for controlling groups of enemies and setting them up for powerful Elemental Reactions.

Elemental Burst: Stormcaller’s Wrath

His Elemental Burst unleashes a massive thunderstorm, continuously striking enemies within a large area for 10 seconds. This can be paired with Hydro or Pyro characters to cause devastating Electro-Charged or Overloaded reactions.

Usage Tips:

Kairos works best in team compositions where Elemental Reactions are key. Pair him with characters like Xingqiu for Hydro synergy or Bennett for Pyro synergy, maximizing his Electro damage output.

2. Lysandra – The Frostblade Dancer

Lysandra is an elegant Cryo 5-star character who wields a sword with grace and precision. Her gameplay focuses on high mobility and Cryo damage, making her a valuable addition to any team that needs a nimble DPS.

Elemental Skill: Frozen Waltz

Lysandra performs a swift dance, creating a trail of frost that deals Cryo damage to all enemies in her path. This skill is excellent for quick hit-and-run tactics, especially against large groups of enemies.

Elemental Burst: Winter’s Requiem

Her Elemental Burst is a powerful Cryo AoE attack that creates a snowstorm around her, continuously dealing Cryo damage to all enemies within its radius for 8 seconds.

Usage Tips:

Lysandra’s mobility and quick attacks make her ideal for players who prefer fast-paced combat. Pair her with Anemo characters like Sucrose to gather enemies into her AoE for maximum Cryo damage. She also works well with Hydro characters to trigger Freeze reactions, locking down enemies.

3. Tyrus – The Verdant Sentinel

Tyrus, a Dendro 5-star character, serves as both a support and sub-DPS with his mastery over nature. His abilities focus on healing and supporting teammates, while also dishing out considerable Dendro damage.

Elemental Skill: Nature’s Gift

Tyrus summons a protective shield of vines around a targeted ally, absorbing damage and healing them over time. This ability allows Tyrus to fill a support role in teams, protecting your DPS characters during intense battles.

Elemental Burst: Verdant Vortex

This Elemental Burst creates a vortex of vines that drags enemies together and deals continuous Dendro damage. When paired with Pyro characters, the Burning reaction can decimate enemy mobs quickly.

Usage Tips:

Tyrus is best used as a hybrid support/DPS character. He shines in teams that rely on Elemental Reactions. Pair him with characters like Hu Tao or Yoimiya to create Burning reactions, or with Electro characters for Catalyze damage.

4. Orlaith – The Flameborn General

Orlaith, a new Pyro 5-star character, is known for her aggressive playstyle and ability to deal large amounts of Pyro damage. Wielding a claymore, she excels at close-range combat and high-damage burst attacks.

Elemental Skill: Flame Strike

Orlaith swings her claymore in a wide arc, dealing Pyro damage and setting enemies ablaze. This skill can be charged for a more powerful attack, which deals additional damage over time.

Elemental Burst: Inferno’s Fury

Her Elemental Burst unleashes a devastating explosion of fire, dealing Pyro AoE damage to all nearby enemies. This skill is perfect for taking out large enemy mobs or bosses with high HP.

Usage Tips:

Orlaith is a frontline DPS character, and works best when paired with supports like Bennett who can heal and boost her attack. Combine her Pyro attacks with Cryo characters like Chongyun for Melt reactions, resulting in massive damage output.

5. Zephyr – The Gale Archer

Zephyr is a 5-star Anemo archer, bringing a mix of crowd control and support to the battlefield. His ranged abilities allow him to control the battlefield and create advantageous positions for his team.

Elemental Skill: Wind’s Whisper

Zephyr fires a wind-infused arrow that pulls enemies together, dealing Anemo damage. This skill is useful for crowd control, grouping enemies for AoE attacks from other teammates.

Elemental Burst: Gale Force Barrage

His Elemental Burst sends out a barrage of wind arrows that strike enemies within a wide area, dealing Anemo damage and reducing their resistance to other elements. This ability is perfect for setting up Elemental Reactions with other characters.

Usage Tips:

Zephyr’s crowd control abilities make him a great support character in almost any team. Pair him with elemental-heavy characters like Diluc or Keqing to maximize damage output through reactions.

New Updates and Features in 2024

Along with these new 5-star characters, the 2024 Genshin Impact update brings several exciting features and improvements to the game. Here are some highlights:

1. Expanded Regions

The new region of Tantalos introduces a fresh open-world experience, complete with unique environments, enemies, and treasures to discover. This tropical region features lush jungles, hidden temples, and challenging puzzles.

2. Character Balancing

Older characters have been rebalanced to make sure the meta stays fresh. Characters like Xiao and Zhongli have seen tweaks to their abilities, ensuring that both veteran and new characters have a place in the game.

3. New Artifacts and Weapons

Several new artifact sets and 5-star weapons have been added, offering new ways to optimize character builds. The “Stormbreaker” set, for example, boosts Electro damage, making it ideal for characters like Kairos.

Pros and Cons of the 2024 Update

AspectProsCons
New CharactersIntroduces exciting gameplay mechanics with unique abilitiesCan be difficult to obtain through the gacha system
Expanded RegionsOffers fresh environments and puzzlesMay be overwhelming for newer players
Character BalancingKeeps the meta diverse and interestingSome older characters may feel weaker post-rebalance
New Weapons & ArtifactsExpands build diversity and enhances combat potentialRequires significant farming to optimize builds

Tips to Succeed with the New Characters

  • Elemental Reactions Are Key: The new characters in this update excel when paired with others to trigger powerful Elemental Reactions. Experiment with different team compositions to maximize their potential.
  • Focus on Weapon Builds: Prioritize leveling up and refining the new 5-star weapons introduced in this update, as they significantly enhance the effectiveness of the new characters.
  • Use Tyrus for Support: If your team lacks healing or defensive options, Tyrus can be a game-changer. His dual support/DPS role makes him incredibly versatile.

Conclusion

The Genshin Impact 2024 update brings a host of new characters, abilities, and features that will excite both seasoned players and newcomers alike. Whether you’re summoning Kairos to unleash Electro storms, or wielding Lysandra’s Cryo sword in battle, mastering these new characters is key to staying competitive in the ever-evolving world of Teyvat.