Dendro is one of the newest and strongest elements in Genshin Impact in the current meta. This tier list will help you decide which Dendro characters are the best in the game.
Dendro was introduced in Genshin Impact with the Sumeru region in the version 3.0 update and, since then, has created a lot of strong team comps in the game. As time passes, the community has shifted from traditional Cryo or Pyro team comps to Dendro-focused teams. Hence, Dendro characters are more popular than ever.
Dendro has a strong reaction with Hydro and Electro and created some immensely powerful team comps in Genshin Impact. Even after the release of Fontaine, the Dendro teams are still the most popular ones in the game.
Read More: Best Support Characters You Should Build Right Now in Genshin Impact
If you’re looking for the best Dendro characters in Genshin Impact, this tier list will help you identify the best Dendro characters in the game and help you choose the characters for your teams.
Tier List & Ranking Explained
Take a look at the following to understand my reasoning behind each tier:
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| S | The S-tier is for characters that excel in most teams and are part of the Genshin meta. But some cons hold them back from getting to the A-tier, like having a constellation requirement or High DPS and low support potential or vice versa or not being versatile enough to be effective in every type of Spiral Abyss run. |
| A | The A-tier is for characters that excel in most teams and are part of the Genshin meta. But some cons hold them back from getting to the S-tier. Like having a constellation requirement or High DPS & low support potential or vice versa or not being versatile enough to be effective in every type of Spiral Abyss run. |
| B | B-tier is a place for characters with excellent DPS or Support qualities but only excel at one role perfectly or aren’t versatile enough to be used varietally. |
| C | The S-tier is for characters that excel in most teams and are part of the Genshin meta. But some cons hold them back from getting to the A-tier, like having a constellation requirement or High DPS and low support potential or vice versa, or not being versatile enough to be effective in every type of Spiral Abyss run. |
| D | This tier is for characters that offer a standard damage and support output, which can easily be neglected as the game has better alternatives. |
Dendro Characters Tier List in Genshin Impact
| Character | Role | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Nahida | Support | S |
| Al Haitham | Main DPS | |
| Tighnari | Sub DPS | A |
| Baizhu | Support, Healer | |
| Yaoyao | Support | B |
| Collei | Support, Healer | |
| Traveler (Dendro) | Support | |
| Kirara | Support | C |
| Kaveh | Main DPS |
Top 9 Dendro Characters in Genshin Impact
Here’s a breakdown of the Dendro characters’ tier list in Genshin Impact, going from worst to best.
9. Kaveh
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Normal Attack > Elemental Skill |
| Best Supports | Nahida, Raiden Shogun, Kokomi, Yelan |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Deepwood Memories |
| Stat Priority | Elemental Mastery, Crit Rate, Crit DMG |
I am starting the tier-list with Kaveh, the first character in the C-tier of the Dendro characters tier-list. Kaveh is a 4-star Claymore character from Sumeru and the architect behind the Palace of Alcazarzaray.
Kaveh is played as a DPS in certain team comps but falls behind because of his slow playstyle, which is not uncommon for most Claymore characters in Genshin Impact. Despite that, Kaveh can be played in Bloom teams such as Hyperbloom and Burgeon-oriented teams. It should be noted that Kaveh is the only Dendro character who wields a Claymore in combat.
Kaveh’s elemental skill and burst allow him to stay on-field for Bloom teams, which boosts their damage and applies Dendro to create Bloom cores. Kaveh is also capable of tanking damage from Bloom explosions and heals himself. However, he is limited by most of the team comps in the game, which is why Kaveh is at the bottom of this tier list.
Pros
- Decent DPS output
- Free-to-play friendly
Cons
- Limited team comps
- Underwhelming damage output compared to other Dendro characters on the list
8. Kirara
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Raiden Shogun, Nilou, Nahida, Al Haitham |
| Team Role | Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith 4-piece Deepwood Memories |
| Stat Priority | HP%, Energy Recharge, Crit Rate, Crit DMG |
Joining Kaveh in the C-tier is Kirara, the 4-star Sword user from Inazuma. Besides Baizhu, Kirara is the only other Dendro character who can provide a shield, which scales off her HP.
Kirara’s elemental skill will turn her into a Yokai, a cat-like form that can roam and climb without consuming any stamina. Whenever she hits an enemy in this form, she will deal Dendro damage and provide a shield after the skill is over. Kirara’s elemental burst will create a small explosion and deal AoE Dendro damage to enemies.
However, it is best to build Kirara only as a shield provider because her shield is one of the strongest in the game if equipped with enough HP artifacts. But her Dendro application and damage-dealing ability put her in the C-tier of this list.
Pros
- Good shielding ability
- Free-to-play friendly
Cons
- Lack of Dendro application
Read More: Which Character You Should Pull in Genshin Impact Version 4.3?
7. Traveler (Dendro)
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Raiden Shogun, Xingqiu, Nilou, Fischl |
| Team Role | Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Deepwood Memories 4-piece Gilded Dreams |
| Stat Priority | Elemental Mastery, CRIT Rate/DMG, Energy Recharge |
Starting the B-tier with none other than the Traveler, the main protagonists of Genshin Impact. Dendro is the fourth element the Traveler can obtain and one of their strongest elements. The Dendro Traveler is an excellent support character and can play a great supporting role in many team comps.
The Traveler can generate a lot of energy with their elemental skill, allowing them to serve as a battery for other characters and have a low cooldown. The Traveler’s elemental burst will drop a lamp flower, creating an AoE field to apply Dendro to nearby enemies. The lamp flower will transform or change when it comes in contact with Hydro, Electro, or Pyro elements.
The Dendro Traveler is currently the strongest among the available elements and is far more useful in a lot of team comps that require a decent Dendro applicator. The Traveler is a good unit if players don’t have a Dendro character to carry them in the Sumeru region.
Pros
- They are easily obtainable since they are the main character
- Low investment in Artifacts and Weapons
Cons
- Underpowered compared to other Dendro characters
- Limited team comps
6. Collei
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Raiden Shogun, Kamisato Ayato, Nilou, Fischl |
| Team Role | Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Deepwood Memories |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge |
Collei, the first 4-star Dendro character in Genshin Impact, is joining the Traveler in the B-tier on the list. Collei is a trainee Forest Ranger in the Avidya Forest of Sumeru and was released alongside Tighnari in the version 3.0 update. Collei is a Bow character and can be obtained for free after completing the Spiral Abyss challenge Curtain of Leaves, which requires players to clear Floor 4 Chamber 3.
Collei is a versatile character and mostly played as an off-field Dendro support in various team comps. Players can use her elemental skill, burst quickly, and switch to another character to create strong Dendro reactions. Her elemental skill will make Collei throw a Floral Ring, dealing Dendro damage on contact with enemies and returning to her like a Boomerang. Her elemental burst will cause an explosion, dealing AoE Dendro damage and creating a Cuilein-Anbar Zone in which enemies will get damaged inside the zone.
Even though her Dendro abilities are good for certain team comps, Collei cannot deal much damage and only plays the role of a Dendro applicator. Besides that, she is a decent Dendro support and an easy-to-play character.
Pros
- Good Dendro applicator in early games
- Versatile and free-to-play friendly
- Can be obtained for free
Cons
- Underwhelming damage-dealing abilities
- Other Dendro characters can surpass her as a support
5. Yaoyao
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Al Haitham, Raiden Shogun, Fischl |
| Team Role | Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Deepwood Memories 4-piece Ocean-Hued Clam |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate, Elemental Mastery, HP%, Energy Recharge |
Yaoyao, the 4-star Polearm character from Qince Village in Liyue, is the final character in the B-tier of this list. Yaoyao was teased in the official Genshin Impact artwork long ago and was recently released alongside Baizhu.
Yaoyao is one of the two dedicated Dendro healer support characters in the game and became popular within the community for her exceptional Dendro abilities. Her elemental skill will make Yaoyao summon a Yuegei or a bunny, which will heal the nearby party members if they are below 70% HP, and after that, they will start dealing damage to enemies. Her elemental burst will summon three Yuegui on the field that will deal damage and heal characters based on Yaoyao’s max HP. However, all three Yuegui will disappear once you swap out Yaoyao for a different party member.
Unlike other 4-star characters, Yaoyao’s playstyle greatly changes when her constellations are unlocked. For example, her first constellation will benefit a Dendro-oriented team and be easily obtainable for a 4-star character. Yaoyao is an easy-to-build, free-to-play friendly character with many weapon options and team uses.
Pros
- Really good healing ability
- Gets better with constellations
- Can be a really good Dendro battery
Cons
- Elemental burst requires Yaoyao to be on the field
- Requires constellations to be more powerful
Read More: Genshin Impact Artifacts Guide For Beginners
4. Baizhu
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Nilou, Nahida, Kuki Shinobu, Raiden Shogun |
| Team Role | Support |
| Artifact | 4-piece Deepwood Memories 4-piece Ocean-Hued Clam |
| Stat Priority | HP%, Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge |
Starting the A-tier with Baizhu, the latest Dendro character released in Genshin Impact. Baizhu was first revealed in the Archon quest of Liyue, moreover, the first Dendro character shown in the game. Hoyoverse took their time releasing Baizhu, and the owner of Bubu Pharmacy did not disappoint.
Baizhu is a 5-star Catalyst user who can provide healing through his elemental skill and heals the active character from his Burst. His elemental burst will generate a shield that scales off his max HP, which has some resistance to interruption. Although his Dendro application is not on par with someone like Yaoyao, his shielding and healing abilities put him high on this list. Baizhu can be paired with Nahida and Nilou, which can be a really strong Bloom team comp.
Baizhu is an easy-to-build character with many free-to-play weapons to choose from and decent for your team if you need a character that can heal and shield your party.
Pros
- Heals your party and provides a strong shield
- Easy to build and free-to-play friendly
Cons
- Weak Dendro application compared to other characters
- Lacks damage-dealing abilities
Read More: Best Pyro Characters in Genshin Impact – A Complete Pyro Tier-List
3. Tighnari
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Normal Attack > Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill |
| Best Supports | Kokomi, Nahida, Raiden Shogun, Xingqiu |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Wanderer’s Troupe 4-piece Deepwood Memories |
| Stat Priority | CRIT Rate/DMG, ATK%, Elemental Mastery |
Tighnari is the first 5-star Dendro character released with the introduction of the Sumeru region. He is a Bow user and played as a main DPS in the game. He is on the top of A-tier because he can be a really good DPS and the only 5-star Dendro character featured in the Standard banner in Genshin Impact.
Tighnari’s most damage comes from his Charged bow shots, but he can be played in Quick-Swap style. His elemental skill will drop a Vijnana Stormheart, which will deal AoE Dendro damage and taunt enemies in the AoE. After casting his elemental skill, Tighnari’s charged shots will have a low cooldown, so players can use 3 shots quickly. Tighnari’s elemental burst will let him use a powerful charged shot, which will fire 6 Tanglevine Shafts that will track nearby enemies and deal Dendro damage on hit.
Even though he is not the strongest DPS character in Genshin Impact, Tighnari is still one of the most consistent damage dealers in the game. Players will obtain him eventually since he is available on the Standard banner and one of the best characters to get from the banner.
Pros
- Easy and straightforward to play with
- Good Dendro application
- High elemental burst damage
Cons
- Not good against AoE
- Single target enemies only and requires auto-targeting
2. Al Haitham
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Raiden Shogun, Nahida, Kuki Shinobu, Xingqiu |
| Team Role | Main DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Gilded Dreams 4-piece Deepwood Memories |
| Stat Priority | Elemental Mastery, CRIT Rate/DMG, Energy Recharge, ATK% |
One of the most popular characters since the release of Sumeru, Al Haitham is the first 5-star character in the S tier of this list. Al Haitham is arguably one of the coolest and most hyped characters in Genshin Impact, and he did not disappoint when he was released.
Al Haitham uses a Sword in combat and is one of the strongest DPS characters in the game. His elemental skill allows him to teleport and infuse his weapon with Dendro. After casting his skill, he can deal constant Dendro damage; however, this skill has a long cooldown. Al Haitham’s elemental burst will create a Particular Binding Field, dealing enemies inside it with massive AoE Dendro damage. Al Haitham’s playstyle is often compared with Keqing’s because his elemental skill and burst animation are similar to hers.
Even though Al Haitham is a top-tier DPS character, he is not a free-to-play friendly character and sometimes requires good artifacts and weapons to build him. However, if you can equip him with good artifacts and a decent 5-star weapon, he will carry your entire team through the hardest challenges in the game.
Pros
- Fast attack style and can deal damage quick
- Can trigger Spread reactions easily
Cons
- Playstyle is difficult to master
- Requires good team comps, especially Nahida and Raiden Shogun
1. Nahida
| Category | Details |
| Talent Priority | Elemental Skill > Elemental Burst > Normal Attack |
| Best Supports | Raiden Shogun, Furina, Kokomi, Yelan |
| Team Role | Support, Sub DPS |
| Artifact | 4-piece Deepwood Memories 4-piece Gilded Dreams |
| Stat Priority | Elemental Mastery, CRIT Rate/DMG |
Nahida is a 5-star playable character and the current Dendro Archon of Sumeru. Nahida is placed in the S-tier and at the top of this list because she is currently the best Dendro character in the game. One of the strongest characters in the game, Nahida, uses a Catalyst and can buff the party with her Dendro abilities and deal massive damage on her own.
Nahida is top-tier Dendro support in the game because she can buff the active character in the party with her elemental burst, which will share a portion of Nahida’s Elemental Mastery with the character. Nahida’s elemental skill will mark enemies and deal Dendro damage when an elemental reaction is triggered. Her elemental skill can mark almost all the enemies on the field and damage them when struck with Hydro, Electro, or Pyro.
Nahida is a universal support who can be slotted to any team comps that require a Dendro character. She can be played as a support and a sub-DPS because her skills have good scaling and deal decent damage when paired up with good Hydro and Electro supports like Yelan, Kokomi, and Raiden Shogun.
Nahida is also one of the most used characters in the Genshin Impact community and one of the best free-to-play friendly characters in the game. That’s why she is the best Dendro character in Genshin Impact.
Pros
- Top-tier Dendro support and Sub-DPS
- Can be slotted into most team comps in the game that require Dendro
- She can deal damage when she’s not on the field
- F2P friendly and can be built easily
Cons
- Low HP and small character model
- No synergy with Anemo characters
Read More: Best Electro Characters in Genshin Impact – A Complete Tier-List
Follow GameRiv for more Genshin Impact news, leaks, and guides in the future.
