Genshin Impact TCG: Genius Invokation character card tier list

Full tier list of every character card for Genshin Impact's Genius Invokation TCG

Genius Invokation is a TCG in Genshin Impact, the free-to-play RPG that just keeps on growing. Turn away for a month or two, and the game made by HoYoverse will expand with new playable characters, quests, areas, and more.

We’ve already outlined the best Genshin TCG decks you should be using, but in this guide we’re going deeper into the character cards, three of which are the core of every deck. You can earn character cards by inviting characters to the Cat’s Tail tavern in Mondstadt and winning a duel against them, and these are the ones you should be focusing on first.

Update 3.7 is all about Genius Invokation, adding a big in-game event revolving around the TCG. Accompanying this is the most substantial update for the game yet, which added 13 additional character cards and their talent cards as well as several action, event, and support cards. These have changed deck-building quite a bit, since there is now an incentive to build thematic decks with characters from the same region.

We've updated the Genshin TCG character card tier list accordingly.

Genius Invokation Character Card Tier List

S-Tier Characters – Genshin TCG

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These cards do it all. Or, at least, several things at once. These cards aren’t just situational, they’re adaptable, and just might help you out of a tough situation. These are the strongest character cards to build your decks around in Genshin Impact’s Genius Invokation TCG.

• Kamisato Ayaka – strong passive and easy completion of Cryo reactions.
• Ganyu – superior area damage and shield penetration.
• Mona – easier character switches and constant Hydro application.
• Keqing – increased card draw and outstanding Elemental Burst.
• Xiangling – constant passive Pyro application.
• Fatui Pyro Agent – strong passive and cheap Elemental Burst.
• Noelle – reduces incoming damage and powerful Elemental Burst.
• Klee – strong Elemental Burst to set up additional reactions.
• Sangonomiya Kokomi – good healing for the entire team.
• Raiden Shogun – solid damage, has a good summon, and charges up the entire team's energy.
• Tartaglia – very high damage output.
• Nahida – can deal pierce damage to the entire enemy team, supports elemental reaction damage of the entire team.
• Wanderer – very high Anemo Damage with Swirl potential, can buff Normal Attacks.
• Yaoyao – continuous Dendro application and healing through summons as well as on character switching.
• Baizhu – similar to Yaoyao with strong Dendro application and healing as well as shields.

A-Tier Characters – Genshin TCG

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Another strong set of characters in A-Tier. These are also pretty adaptable and useful, but not quite as much as the ones listed above. Obviously.

• Xingqiu – reduces incoming damage and provides Hydro infusion for allies, though a recent nerf has made him a little less effective.
• Bennett – cheap Elemental Burst with healing and damage boost.
• Chongyun – provides Cryo infusion for allies.
• Yoimiya – powerful Elemental Burst for one-turn kill combos, though nerfed in update 3.4.
• Fischl – excellent summon for Electro reactions.
• Collei – very good summon for Dendro reactions.
• Beidou – provides protection and solid damage output.
• Eula – good physical damage, but in effect a weaker Noelle without shields.
• Kamisato Ayato – powerful Hydro infliction that can easily trigger reactions.
• Amber – quite a useful package with a strong summon.
• Venti – solid summon and interesting passive that replaces a useful support card, which broadens your deck-building options.
• Xiao – lots of Anemo damage and utilizes Plunge Attacks, which are much easier to get than Charged Attacks.
• Zhongli – flexible character that provides solid damage and shielding and that can petrify enemies, but quite energy-hungry.
• Yanfei – good single-target Pyro Damage with a mechanism to make her boosted Charged Attacks cheaper.
• Kazuha – somewhat similar to Venti with a useful summon, though requires Plunging Attacks for best damage output.
• Qiqi – contributes some Cryo Damage and heals on attacks, helping the team sustain itself.
• Lisa – stacking Electro Damage on targets can be very effective, but needs some preparation time.
• Dori – summon with low Electro Damage and Ultimate summon that restores HP and Energy.
• Nilou – requires Hydro-Dendro comps just like in the actual game, enabling strong damage output.

B-Tier Characters – Genshin TCG

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Each of the cards in B-Tier are still incredibly useful in the right circumstances, but setting up those circumstances might be more hassle than they’re worth.

• Maguu Kenki – damage heavily nerfed in update 3.4, still provides some flexibility.
• Diluc – strong Pyro damage against single targets with high cost Elemental Burst.
• Kaeya – Elemental Burst is only effective on switches, though very useful.
• Rhodeia Of Loch – summons are strong, but there is a RNG factor.
• Sucrose – useful Elemental Burst with Anemo powers.
• Ningguang – reduces incoming damage, can pierce elemental shields.
• Razor – solid, but overshadowed option in the Electro element.
• Jadeplume Terrorshroom – long build-up time for powerful strikes.
• Cyno – long build-up time and high energy cost for his powerful attacks.
• Sara – very good support unit for Electro teams, but weaker with other cards.
• Arataki Itto – strong Elemental Burst, but Skill depends on unreliable Charged Attacks.
• Tighnari – good source of Dendro, but full power only possible with Charged Attacks.
• Shenhe – really good support unit for Cryo or Physical decks, but weaker with other cards.
• Hu Tao – good damage, though she prefers to be low HP, which can be risky.
• Yae Miko – high Electro damage output, which needs a bit of preparation.
• Cryo Cicin Mage – solid package with nice damage and shielding, but not really a team player.
• Albedo – okay source of Geo Damage and can make Plunging Attacks cheaper.
• Candace – provides some shielding and Hydro imbuement.

C-Tier Characters – Genshin TCG

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And now we find ourselves at the bottom of the list. These character cards are just not as powerful as the ones listed above. If you can set up the perfect situation these cards can perform, but if your opponent has anything to change your plans around, they become close to useless. Best avoided unless you’re building a hyper-specific deck.

• Barbara – constant but low healing.
• Diona – low healing for high cost.
• Jean – fantastic, but very expensive Elemental Burst.
• Mirror Maiden – overshadowed in the Hydro element.
• Stoneskin Lawachurl – no elemental damage.
• Abyss Lector: Fathomless Flames – good damage and an extra life, but very squishy.
• Electro Hypostasis – nice debuff on its summon and solid damage, but lots of downtime due to prepare mechanic.
• Dehya – unfortunately as unrefined as her normal kit with a damage absorption mechanic that's worse than regular shields.

This tier list should help you get started with building decks and battling characters, but keep in mind that if you develop a very specific strategy or playstyle, a card’s usefulness to you might be very different to its placement on this list. There is also a vast difference between PvP and PvE to consider.

You can also check out the best Event Cards and best Support Cards to round out your decks with.