The 7 Best Catalyst Class Characters in Genshin Impact

Catalyst characters provide ranged damage in Genshin Impact. Their attacks tend to hit multiple targets, offer support, and are great for creating elemental reactions. However, they tend to be frailer compared to sword and spear users, making it a bit risky to play a catalyst wielder as the main damage dealer.

Compared to other character types, Catalyst users tend to be less dependent on gear. Instead, they rely more on raw stats, skills, and leveling up. However, one should not ignore various weapons and artifacts in Genshin Impact.

7 Lisa

Lisa is a four-star rarity Electro user. She is one of the few free characters gained early in the story. In her case, a copy of her is accessible after completing the Act 1 quest, The Outlander Who Caught the Wind. She will join as a trial character during the mission, allowing players to get a feel for her. Other duplicate copies can be pulled during certain Genshin Impact‘s live service banners.

Because Lisa is recruited so early, it is very easy to build her into a strong and reliable caster. Players will want to be on the lookout for artifacts and weapons that provide an Energy Recharge rate. This includes the Emblem of the Severed Fate set. Parts of the set can be found by farming the Momiji-Dyed Court domain and defeating the final boss inside. Using two pieces of the Emblem will grant +20% Energy Recharge, and four pieces will boost damage output based on total Energy Recharge.

6 Wanderer

Wanderer is an Anemo-wielding, five-star rarity Catalyst character. Wanderer is gained from the gacha system only when his banner is running. For those lucky to earn him, Wanderer can be one of the most mobile characters in Genshin Impact. This is due to his unique form of movement – floating for short durations. This can make it very easy to traverse obstacles when out of combat and be immune to certain ground attacks.

Even in a fight, Wanderer is no slouch. His moves have an impressive long range and even seek enemy targets. However, Wanderer lacks protection and will need at least one healer on the rest of his team. Consider teaming him up with sword users like Jean or Shinobu, who can cover Wanderer’s lack of defenses.

5 Sucrose

Sucrose is a four-star rated Anemo user. It is possible to gain Sucrose from the Beginner’s Wish, a gacha pull with no time limit but can only be used 20 times total. This means some players will have access to her early on, while others will have to wait for alternate banners. Another option is the Wanderlust Invocation. But because that features a huge amount of characters and weapons, landing on Sucrose specifically is unlikely.

Players that do happen to have Sucrose can build her into a support caster for their team in Genshin Impact. She can lower the enemy’s defenses and lock them into Elemental Reactions like Swirl. Sucrose also grants 20% Elemental Mastery to most party members. As of a 2021 patch, her powers do not stack with sword user Kazuha, making them unsuitable to be on the same team.

4 Yae Miko

Yae Miko is another Electro user; this time rated five-star rarity. Yae Miko has a massive attack range and a fast cooldown rate, making it easy to destroy large groups. However, she uses energy quickly, requiring items or allies to resupply her resources. The amount of elemental Sesshou Sakura turrets Yae Miko can deploy is reduced during co-op sessions in Genshin Impact.

Yae Miko works best when grouping up with Hydro or Pyro characters. The goal is to trigger various elemental reactions of either Electro-Charged or Overload, respectively. Good candidates include bow user Tartagli or sword wielder Bennet. In most cases, Yae Miko will be more passive in a Sub-DPS slot than the main attacker.

3 Kokomi

Kokomi is a five-star rarity Hydro user, best suited at support and other passive roles. Kokomi has a reliable source of healing and decent damage with just normal attacks. However, like other Catalyst users, her energy output is really high.

Like Lisa, players may want to consider the Emblem of Severed Fate set for more energy. An alternative is also the Ocean-Hued Clam set gained from the Slumbering Court domain. This set provides high bonuses to healing. Players should consider teaming Kokomi up with other Catalyst users, including Nahida. She also does well with supportive team members like Shinobu, Xingqiu, and Jean.

2 Mona

Mona is a five-starred Hydro user, gained in the same manner as Sucrose. This means she could be one of the first Catalyst users some players earn, while others might not acquire Mona for months. Players that do acquire Mona will have one of the fastest-moving Catalyst wielders, making it easy to explore more of the world quickly.

Mona has low base defenses and hit points but has ways of avoiding hits. Her elemental skill Mirror Reflection of Doom, creates a decoy target that enemies will attempt to strike first. This keeps her safe and can be a great opening to deploy another sturdier hero in her place. Teaming Mona up with Genshin Impact’s Albedo and other Geo users can be very handy for baiting foes.

1 Nahida

Nahida is a five-star Dendro user who is highly skilled at all roles. Her attacks deal damage in a huge area of effect, cost only a fair amount of energy, and powers up a different active character that swaps in during Nahida’s elemental burst. The only downside is her really low defense, which can be problematic in certain fights.

Still, players should consider building Nahida and her team around pure damage. One should hunt down the Deep Wood Memories artifact set from the corresponding domain. Two pieces worn will grant +15% Dendro damage, and four will lower an enemy’s Dendro resistance after being hit with an Elemental Burst. This can quickly decimate large groups and even make short work of bosses. But, if Nahida runs low on health, Genshin Impact players should quickly switch her out for a different main fighter.