Genshin Impact’s growing roster of playable characters means an ever-growing list of 4-Stars and 5-Stars to choose from. However, some players have pointed out the pattern (or lack thereof) of how HoYoverse decides on character rarity. While some characters, particularly the Archons, definitely deserve their 5-Star status, certain 4-Star characters seem better suited to join their ranks, at least lore-wise.
HoYoverse teasing and releasing different playable characters in Genshin Impact comes as no surprise as they’re one of the game’s main selling points. To ensure that players keep pulling from Wish Banners, there needs to be a steady supply of well-designed 4-Stars and 5-Stars. That said, it may be worth rethinking the decision process when it comes to character rarity.
Genshin Impact 4-Stars That Should Be 5-Stars Based on the Lore
This habit of making characters that are powerful in the lore into 4-Stars has been present since Genshin Impact was first released. The most notable example is Lisa. Lisa was once a scholar at the Sumeru Akademiya and has been described as the institution’s “best student in two hundred years.”
Though she has since left the Akademiya, it’s strange that such a renowned individual was classed as a 4-Star character. This could be explained away by how Lisa grew disillusioned after her time in Sumeru, but it still wouldn’t fully explain why her character isn’t as powerful as her lore suggests.
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.
Additionally, Ganyu, who serves as the Qixing General Secretary, is also a 5-Star despite being of lower status than Ningguang and Keqing. Granted, Ganyu of Genshin Impact is an adeptus, which explains why she’s so powerful. Though that still doesn’t answer why Ningguang was relegated to the 4-Star roster.
There are plenty of other 4-Star characters like this. Kaeya, for instance, would fit as a 5-Star given his portrayal in the Genshin Impact manga and the fact that he hails from Khaenri'ah. Gorou and Kujou Sara from Inazuma could also be argued to have 5-Star potential because of their high-ranking status on opposite sides of the ongoing war. The same could be said about Candace from Sumeru, considering she’s a descendant of King Deshret, a powerful God-King in Sumeru.
Now, there are Genshin Impact leaks hinting that Kaveh might be a 4-Star as well. This is of course still subject to change. However, if it turned out to be the case, it would continue HoYoverse’s strange trend of making powerful characters (lore-wise) into 4-Stars. This could easily be explained if Kaveh was made specifically to have great synergy with Alhaitham (like how Gorou works well with Itto). But then, it’s still a bit strange to make one of Sumeru’s most renowned architects into a 4-Star.
The easy counterargument to all this is that HoYoverse simply doesn’t base character rarity on in-game lore. Many in the community have expressed that perhaps the criteria primarily revolve around who the developer thinks is most marketable in terms of visual design and character kit. This is certainly a strong possibility, but it wouldn’t change the fact that it’s a pattern that can be jarring for players. It’s strange to see a character that is portrayed as a powerful individual relegated to 4-Star status. Though, admittedly, perhaps this is a problem with HoYoverse’s writing rather than the character design.
Genshin Impact is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.