Genshin Impact: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Teyvat

Tania Dzibuk

Have you ever dreamed of a world where adventure meets magic, friendship, and breathtaking landscapes? Welcome to Genshin Impact, a global sensation where you unlock new realms, discover mysterious secrets, and meet unforgettable characters. Whether you’ve just downloaded the game or are thinking about taking your first step into Teyvat, this guide will give you the smoothest start possible – maximizing the fun and skipping the confusion!

From choosing your starting team to learning how the world ticks, this guide is packed with clear, actionable tips. Get ready to explore, battle, and collect with confidence. Let’s begin your journey to mastery in Genshin Impact!

Getting Started: The World of Teyvat

What is Genshin Impact?

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play, action role-playing game set in the vast open world of Teyvat. You travel as the Traveler, searching for your lost sibling, while meeting a variety of companions, facing powerful enemies, and uncovering the world’s hidden stories. The game features beautiful visuals, addicting exploration, and a strategic combat system focused on switching and combining different characters with unique elemental powers.

Your First Steps: The Basics

Platform: Available on PC, PlayStation, mobile and soon Nintendo Switch. Your progress is shared on all devices except PlayStation, so choose your main platform wisely.
Login & Start: After a short cinematic, you’ll pick between the male (Aether) or female (Lumine) Traveler. The choice only affects appearance and voice.
Controls: The game controls are friendly, but it’s okay to spend a few minutes in the settings and customize them for your comfort.

Essential Early Game Tips

Focus on Adventure Rank, Not Just Your Character Level

Adventure Rank (AR) is more important than your character's level in early stages. Increasing your AR unlocks main quests, regions, and daily rewards. Complete quests, open chests, and explore to increase your AR fast!

Unlock Waypoints and Statues of The Seven

The map is huge! Prioritize activating Teleport Waypoints and Statues of The Seven. Waypoints allow instant fast travel, while Statues heal your party and offer adventure boosts as you collect Anemoculus, Geoculus, etc.

Build a Balanced Team Early

Try to create a team with different elements (like Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Cryo) for easier combat and puzzle-solving.
Collect all free early characters: Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, Noelle, Xiangling, and Barbara. Each brings a key elemental ability.
Don’t focus on just one: upgrade at least 2-3 characters evenly.

Main Quests, Side Quests, and Commissions

Main Archon and Story Quests drive the story and unlock new features. Commissions (unlocked at AR12) offer daily bonuses, including Primogems – the main currency for Wishes (pulling new characters).

Resin: Energy That Matters

Resin is a limited resource used mainly to claim rewards from bosses and domains. It refreshes slowly. Don’t stress about it in the first week—just don’t let it reach the cap (160). Use it for artifact domains or ley line flowers as you progress.

Understanding Combat and Elements

Elemental Combos: The Heart of Battle

Every character has an Element (Pyro for fire, Hydro for water, and so on). Combining left-over elemental effects on enemies creates Elemental Reactions like Vaporize, Melt, Overloaded, or Superconduct, causing extra damage and effects. Experiment!

Pyro + Hydro: Vaporize (big damage)
Cryo + Electro: Superconduct (defense reduction)
Pyro + Cryo: Melt (bonus attack)
Electro + Hydro: Electro-Charged (damage over time)

Mastering Character Swaps

Learn to cycle through your party to trigger reactions and control battles. Proper swapping and using Burst/Skill cooldowns is key to clearing hard encounters.

How to Get New Characters and Weapons

Understanding Wishes & Banners

Genshin Impact uses a “gacha” system called Wishes. Use Primogems and Acquaint/Fate intertwined Fates to roll for new characters or weapons on time-limited Banners.

Standard Banner (“Wanderlust Invocation”) is always available.
Event and Weapon Banners rotate, featuring boosted chances for certain characters or weapons.

You are guaranteed a 4-star item every 10 wishes, and a 5-star every 90 wishes – but you might get lucky sooner!

F2P (Free-to-Play) Friendly Tips

Don’t spend all your Primogems immediately; wait for banners with characters you really want.
Use the free characters to advance through the early game – they are quite powerful if played right!
Log in daily to collect free Primogems, rewards, and bonus daily login gifts!

Leveling Up: Character, Weapons, and Artifacts

Upgrade Your Characters Smartly

Focus on leveling 2-3 main characters at first to save resources.
Ascend them using materials found in the world and domains. Each ascension unlocks higher levels, new talents, and even special powers.
Don't forget to upgrade your character's talents (abilities) using adventure books and special boss drops.

How to Enhance Weapons

Weapons boost your character's stats. Feed them Enhancement Ore and unlock higher level caps by ascending them using world materials. Every character can equip any weapon of their type (Sword, Claymore, etc.), so don’t forget to mix and match!

Artifacts: The Big Difference

Artifacts are Genshin’s “gear,” with massive effects. Focus on HP and ATK stats early; later, look for 4-piece set bonuses.
Don’t waste resources leveling 1-2 star artifacts! Upgrade only 3-star and above as you get better options.

Exploration: Secrets of Teyvat

Open World Fun

Hidden chests reward primogems, weapons, and more. Keep an eye out for puzzles, glowing spots, and increasingly tricky challenges.
Collect resources (flowers, minerals, items) while exploring. You’ll need them!
Some areas unlock only after certain quests or AR levels – don’t rush, enjoy the journey.

Cooking & Crafting

Gather recipes and food items to make healing and attack-boosting meals. There’s also alchemy for making potions and leveling up materials. Try everything!

Tips for Staying Motivated (and Avoiding Burnout)

Set small daily goals: do daily commissions, use your Resin, and check in with friends or co-op partners.
Take your time with story content and exploration – there is no need to rush!
Save your resources for events, banners, and characters you’re truly interested in.
Don't compare your progress with online veterans or whales. Your adventure is unique.

Joining the Community

Genshin Impact has a friendly and huge online community. Join Discord servers, Reddit groups, and official forums for advice, fan art, and event announcements. Multiplayer co-op unlocks at AR16 – invite friends to clear domains together and double the fun!

Conclusion: Your Epic Adventure Awaits!

Genshin Impact is more than just a game – it’s a magical adventure waiting for you every day. Focus on having fun, experimenting with new characters and builds, and exploring the vast lands of Teyvat at your own pace. Use these tips to avoid rookie mistakes and don’t be afraid to ask the community for help. Good luck, Traveler – your story begins now!

Quick Highlights

Prioritize raising your Adventure Rank.
Build a team with multiple elements.
Don’t waste resources on low-level gear.
Log in daily for rewards and Primogems.
Enjoy the story, scenery, and community.

Jump into Teyvat, Traveler, and may your pulls be lucky!