Genshin Lantern Rite 2026: Best Free 4-Star Pick Guide

Understanding the Selector System

Unlock Words to a Good Friend selector at AR20 after completing Archon Quest Prologue Act III. Accumulate 1200 Festive Fever through minigames and quests. This is permanent and one-time—no changes after confirmation.

Event rewards beyond the free character:

• 1600 Primogems (login mail)
• 1000 Primogems (quests/minigames)
• 10 Intertwined Fates
• Yaoyao outfit Rainlit Bamboo Reverie

Total: ~26 wishes worth of rewards.

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Available characters by role:

• Pyro DPS/Sub-DPS: Xiangling, Yanfei, Gaming
• Hydro Support: Xingqiu
• Electro Sub-DPS: Beidou
• Geo DPS/Support: Ningguang, Yun Jin
• Cryo Support: Chongyun
• Physical Support: Xinyan
• Dendro Healer: Yaoyao
• Anemo Support: Lan Yan

60-Second Decision Tree

Step 1: Identify Account Status

New (AR 1-25): Pick universally strong C0 characters with immediate value.

Mid-Game (AR 26-45): Fill team composition gaps for Spiral Abyss progression.

Endgame (AR 45+): Target high-impact constellations over new C0 characters.

Step 2: Assess Roster Gaps

Categorize owned characters:

• DPS (Diluc, Hu Tao, Ayaka)
• Sub-DPS (Fischl, Xiangling, Beidou)
• Supports (Bennett, Kazuha, Sucrose)
• Healers (Barbara, Qiqi, Jean)
• Shielders (Zhongli, Diona, Thoma)

Missing off-field Hydro? Need Xingqiu. Weak Pyro application? Get Xiangling.

Step 3: Evaluate Team Needs

Pyro DPS (Hu Tao, Diluc): Require Xingqiu for Vaporize. His Burst lasts 15s, applies Hydro with each Normal Attack.

Electro DPS (Raiden, Keqing): Benefit from Beidou in Taser teams. C6 reduces Electro RES by 15%.

Geo DPS (Itto, Noelle): Synergize with Yun Jin (2500 DEF = 3500-4000 Normal Attack bonus).

Dendro DPS (Alhaitham, Tighnari): Pair with Yaoyao for resonance. C4 grants +50 EM when healing.

Step 4: Final Checklist

1. Does this character need C1+ to function?
2. Can I level them to 80/90 immediately? (419 Hero's Wit, 2M Mora, 46 boss materials)
3. Do I have appropriate weapons?
4. Is this character in Paimon's Bargains or upcoming banners?
5. Does this enable a complete team?

New Account Picks (AR 1-25)

Xiangling: Universal Top Pick

Why she's #1:

• 76.1% Spiral Abyss Floor 12 usage
• Pyronado applies 1U Pyro every 0.5s for consistent reactions
• Works at C0, but selector gives instant C1
• C4 extends Pyronado from 14s to 19.6s (40% increase)
• Functions in National, Vaporize, Melt teams
• Minimal field time required

You get free Xiangling from Spiral Abyss 3-3, but this selector provides C1 immediately.

Xingqiu: Premium Alternative

If you already have Xiangling:

• 80.9% Spiral Abyss Floor 12 usage (highest)
• Raincutter provides damage reduction + interruption resistance + Hydro application
• Requires 180-220% ER (achievable with Sacrificial/Favonius Sword)
• C6 grants +50% Hydro DMG Bonus
• Irreplaceable in Vaporize, Electro-Charged, Freeze teams

Avoid These as First Pick

Beidou: Demands perfect parry timing and high ER. New players lack artifact quality for 80 Energy Burst.

Ningguang: Geo DPS needs resonance partners, struggles vs shields, lower damage ceiling.

Chongyun: Cryo infusion conflicts with many DPS, requires advanced team knowledge.

Xinyan: Split DEF/ATK scaling creates building issues. Physical teams underperform.

Mid-Game Strategy (AR 26-45)

Fill Critical Gaps

Test Spiral Abyss 9-10 to identify:

Missing Off-Field Hydro: Prevents 40-50% Vaporize damage increases.

Insufficient Pyro: Melt/Vaporize teams need consistent application.

No Electro Sub-DPS: Electro-Charged/Overload require sustained Electro.

Geo Resonance: Zhongli/Albedo owners need Ningguang/Yun Jin for +15% Shield Strength and +15% DMG.

Key Constellation Breakpoints

Xiangling C4: 40% Pyronado extension. Justifies selection even at C0-C3.

Xingqiu C2: +3s duration, -15% Hydro RES. Combined with C6 = 24s rotation.

Yaoyao C4: +50 EM when radishes heal. Boosts Bloom/Hyperbloom/Burgeon.

One constellation from these breakpoints? Pick the constellation over new character.

5-Star Synergies

Raiden owners: Build Rational Team (Raiden-Xiangling-Xingqiu-Bennett).

Hu Tao owners: Absolutely need Xingqiu for Vaporize.

Ayaka/Ganyu owners: Chongyun works in Freeze (lower priority).

Itto/Noelle owners: Yun Jin provides massive Normal Attack bonus.

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Endgame Priorities (AR 45+)

High-Impact Constellations

Xingqiu C6: +50% Hydro DMG = 15-20% total damage increase. Rivals 4-star→5-star weapon upgrade.

Xiangling C4: Full rotation coverage in National Teams, eliminates downtime.

Beidou C2: Stormbreaker chains between enemies. Essential for Taser performance.

Yaoyao C6: +3s Burst duration for better Dendro application.

C6 Value Rankings

1. Xingqiu C6: Universal damage amplification
2. Xiangling C4: Rotation optimization (not C6!)
3. Beidou C2: AoE transformation (not C6!)
4. Ningguang C6: 7-star Jade Screen doubles Burst damage
5. Yanfei C4: Adds shielding (not C6!)
6. Yun Jin C6: Attack speed bonus
7. Yaoyao C6: Marginal Dendro improvement
8. Gaming C6: Plunge damage increase
9. Chongyun C6: Situational Cryo bonus
10. Xinyan C6: Niche Physical buff
11. Lan Yan C6: Shield strength (new, developing meta)

When to Pick New Over Constellations

• Missing Xingqiu or Xiangling entirely
• Building Dendro teams without Yaoyao
• Already C6 all meta characters
• Pulled signature weapons for unowned characters

Constellation Breakdowns

Xiangling (National Team Core)

• C0: Fully functional, needs 160-180% ER
• C1: -3s Guoba cooldown, +25% energy generation
• C2: +2s Guoba duration, Pyro RES reduction
• C3: Pyronado talent level +3
• C4: GAME-CHANGER - Pyronado 14s→19.6s
• C5: Guoba talent level +3
• C6: Pyro DMG bonus during Pyronado

Stop at: C0 (budget), C4 (serious), C6 (completion)

Xingqiu (Universal Hydro)

• C0: Complete kit, needs 180-220% ER
• C1: Extra sword wave, +6% hits
• C2: +3s duration, -15% Hydro RES
• C3: Raincutter talent level +3
• C4: Increased Guhua Sword damage
• C5: Guhua Sword talent level +3
• C6: MASSIVE - +50% Hydro DMG

Stop at: C0 (functional), C2 (support), C6 (damage)

Beidou (Taser Specialist)

• C0: Energy-hungry, inconsistent
• C1: Shield on perfect parry
• C2: ESSENTIAL - Stormbreaker chains to 2 enemies
• C3: Stormbreaker talent level +3
• C4: Electro damage to Normal Attacks
• C5: Tidecaller talent level +3
• C6: -15% Electro RES during Burst

Stop at: C2 minimum, C6 for optimization

Others Quick Reference

Ningguang: C0 works. C6 doubles Starshatter projectiles.

Yanfei: C4 adds shield (key breakpoint). C6 buffs Charged Attacks.

Yun Jin: C2 extends Burst duration. C6 adds Attack Speed.

Yaoyao: C4 grants +50 EM (key for reactions). C6 extends Burst.

Gaming/Lan Yan: Specialized/new, lower priority.

Common Mistakes

Picking by Appearance

Xinyan's design attracts players, but split scaling frustrates progression. Yanfei looks appealing, but Xiangling delivers superior damage with less field time.

Ignoring Paimon's Bargains

All permanent 4-stars rotate monthly for 34 Masterless Starglitter. Don't waste selector on easily obtainable characters unless targeting specific constellations.

Overlooking Team Requirements

Beidou needs Normal Attack drivers (Sucrose, Kokomi). Without enablers, performance drops dramatically. Verify complete team before selecting.

Short-Term Thinking

Yaoyao provides comfortable overworld healing, but Xiangling dominates Spiral Abyss for years. Pick for endgame, not exploration convenience.

Team Building Context

Xiangling Teams

National: Xiangling-Xingqiu-Bennett-Flex (Sucrose/Raiden/Kazuha). Pyronado snapshots Bennett buff, Vaporizes with Raincutter.

Vaporize: Pairs with Childe/Ayato for off-field Pyro.

Xingqiu Applications

• Vaporize: Hu Tao, Diluc, Yoimiya
• Electro-Charged: Fischl, Beidou Taser
• Freeze: Ayaka, Ganyu
• Bloom: Hyperbloom, Burgeon enabler

Beidou Taser

Beidou-Fischl-Xingqiu-Sucrose/Kokomi. Stormbreaker chains in AoE. C6's -15% Electro RES amplifies team damage.

DPS Comparison

Ningguang: Geo lacks reactions, needs resonance. Best with Zhongli/Albedo.

Yanfei: Pyro enables reactions. C4 provides shield. Better flexibility than Ningguang.

Neither matches Xiangling's off-field contribution.

Checking Constellations

1. Menu → Character Archive

2. Filter by Liyue
3. Click portraits for constellation screens
4. Note current levels (C0-C6)
5. Identify characters 1 constellation from breakpoints
6. Create priority list

Wish History check: Menu → Wish → History. Review 6 months to identify:

• Frequently pulled characters (lower selector priority)
• Never pulled despite extensive wishing (higher priority)
• Recent rate-ups (likely future acquisitions)

Decision Tree Application

Q1: Do I own Xiangling AND Xingqiu at C0+?

• No → Pick whichever missing
• Yes → Q2

Q2: Is either at C3 or C5?

• Yes → Pick to reach C4/C6
• No → Q3

Q3: Do I have complete 2nd Abyss team?

• No → Pick character filling biggest gap
• Yes → Q4

Q4: Which character closest to C6?

• Pick that character

Alternative Acquisition

Banner Rates

Limited banners: 50% featured 4-star, 50% random permanent character/weapon. Over 100 wishes = ~10 4-stars, 2-3 random permanents.

Standard Banner: Slightly better odds for specific permanents, but no guarantees.

Paimon's Bargains

Two 4-stars monthly for 34 Starglitter each. Rotation every ~6 months.

Starglitter sources:

• 4-star duplicate: 2 Starglitter
• 5-star duplicate: 10 Starglitter

Active players earn 30-50 monthly. Reliable but slow (6+ months per constellation).

Future Events

Lantern Rite = only annual 4-star selector. Occurs every January. New Liyue characters added to subsequent selectors.

Other regions lack equivalent events, making Liyue 4-stars uniquely accessible.

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Weapon Banner Investment

Character performance depends on weapons. While The Catch (Xiangling), Sacrificial Sword (Xingqiu), Serpent Spine (Beidou) work well, 5-stars provide 30-40% damage increases.

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Battle Pass Value

• 680 Primogems + 4 Fates
• 4-star weapon selector (Serpent Spine, Deathmatch, Solar Pearl)
• 126 Hero's Wit
• 1.6M Mora
• Talent/weapon materials

Accelerates character building by 2-3 weeks vs resin-only.

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FAQ

Which 4-star should new players pick?

Xiangling if you don't have her from Abyss 3-3, otherwise Xingqiu. Both maintain 75%+ Abyss usage and work at C0.

New character or constellation?

New character if missing Xiangling/Xingqiu. Otherwise, constellations at C3 (→C4 Xiangling) or C5 (→C6 Xingqiu). These breakpoints outvalue new C0 characters.

Best C6 upgrade?

Xingqiu C6 (+50% Hydro DMG = 15-20% team damage). Xiangling's C4 (not C6) offers comparable value with 40% Pyronado extension.

How to check constellations?

Menu → Character Archive → Filter Liyue → Click portraits. Selector interface also shows current levels.

Returning players: constellations or new?

If missing Xiangling/Xingqiu, get them at C0. Otherwise, pick whoever's closest to C4 (Xiangling) or C6 (Xingqiu). New characters (Gaming, Lan Yan) provide less value.

Most important Xiangling constellation?

C4 extends Pyronado 14s→19.6s (40%). Enables perfect National Team rotations. Prioritize above all others.

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