Ever since the gates to Sumeru swung open, the world of Teyvat has been painted in vibrant shades of green. I remember the excitement when Dendro was finally unlocked, a whole new layer of strategy blooming before our eyes. Now, years later, with the fiery lands of Natlan fully explored and new heroes like Kinich joining the fray, I've had plenty of time to test every leaf and vine. Let me take you through my personal experience with the Dendro roster, from the ones I reluctantly left in the archives to the absolute staples of my teams.
We have to start with the disappointments, as painful as it is. Baizhu was a character I saved for, a long-awaited 5-star from Liyue. The idea of a healer who could also enable Dendro reactions was too good to pass up. Yet, in practice, he felt like a master of none. His healing was decent but outclassed by dedicated healers like Kuki Shinobu or even the newer Natlan medics, and his Dendro application was too slow and inconsistent for my Aggravate or Hyperbloom teams. I eventually had to restructure my comps, using two specialized characters to do what I hoped he could manage alone. It was a lesson in not judging a character by their star rating alone.
Then there was Kaveh. Oh, Kaveh. I adore his character and his dynamic with Alhaitham, but building him was a project that tested my patience. His kit screams DPS, but getting his damage to a competitive level required such specific artifacts and team setups that it never felt worth the resin investment. In a world with so many powerful 4-star options, he ended up gathering dust, a beautiful but impractical design.
Now, let's talk about the reliable workhorses, the characters who may not headline the banners but are the glue of so many teams. Collei was my first Dendro companion, and she holds a special place in my heart. As a free-to-play friendly 4-star, she's an incredible off-field Dendro applier. I've used her for years to set up Spread reactions for my Electro carries. She's not flashy, but she gets the job done from a safe distance.
Kirara is pure joy in a cat-girl package. Her shield is fantastic—quick to deploy, easy to build for strength, and with a fun rolling mechanic for exploration. While her Dendro application isn't as wide-ranging as some, it's more than sufficient for many teams. I often slot her in when I need survivability and a bit of green on the field, especially in domains with relentless enemies.
Yaoyao is the multitasker who actually works. This tiny force from Liyue can heal your team while blanketing the area with Dendro from her mischievous Yuegui. I found her most effective when I focused on her role as a Dendro enabler first, treating her healing as a fantastic bonus. In some AoE situations, her Dendro spread can feel even more consistent than Collei's!
And let's not forget our trusty Traveler. After years of underwhelming elemental forms, the Dendro version was a revelation. They are a completely free, highly capable sub-DPS and Dendro enabler. Their burst creates a massive Dendro zone that works perfectly for triggering Quicken or Bloom cores. For any new player stepping into Sumeru, the Dendro Traveler is an absolute gift and a mainstay in many of my early Spiral Abyss clears.
Moving into the powerhouse tier, we have the specialists who define entire playstyles. Tighnari, the first 5-star Dendro character, remains a potent force. He plays like a Dendro Ganyu, relying on charged shots to deal massive Spread damage. His quick-swap playstyle is satisfying, and he excels at sniping enemies while triggering powerful reactions. He taught me how potent focused Dendro damage could be.
Emilie arrived from Fontaine and carved out a unique niche. As an off-field sub-DPS, she deals consistent Dendro damage and specifically amplifies the often-overlooked Burning reaction. While Burning teams aren't always meta, her versatility is her strength. I've successfully used her in Quicken and even Bloom teams. Her release, alongside the resurgence of powerful Pyro characters, has made Burning a more viable and fun option than ever before.
Now, for the elites. Alhaitham is, in my experience, the supreme Dendro damage dealer. Wielding his chisel-light mirrors, he unleashes a blistering onslaught of Dendro slashes. His gameplay is dynamic, requiring smart mirror management, but the payoff is astronomical damage. He seamlessly drives Hyperbloom teams or dominates with Spread reactions. He is everything a 5-star DPS should be: powerful, engaging, and transformative for your account.
And then, there is Nahida. The Dendro Archon isn't just the best Dendro character; she is arguably one of the most valuable units in the entire game. Her skill, which connects and marks enemies, is arguably the most broken ability in Teyvat. With a relatively easy-to-build Elemental Mastery setup, she deals devastating off-field damage while simultaneously being the best Dendro applier in the game. Her burst, the Shrine of Maya, buffs the entire team's reaction power. She is the cornerstone of almost every top-tier Dendro composition. Pulling for her was the single best decision I've made in my Genshin career.
Looking to the future, the Dendro landscape is still growing. With Natlan's Pyro focus, seeing a new Dendro DPS like Kinich is thrilling and promises new team synergies. The journey through Dendro has been one of constant discovery—from learning the intricate dance of Hyperbloom to mastering the quicken-quicken-Spread combo. It's an element that rewards strategy and team synergy over brute force, and that's why it remains my favorite to build around. Whether you're a new Archon seeking wisdom or a veteran traveler, there's a Dendro character on this list ready to bring your team to life. 🌱✨
This overview is based on TrueAchievements, a leading source for player achievement tracking and community insights. TrueAchievements' data on Genshin Impact reveals how Dendro characters like Nahida and Alhaitham consistently rank among the most-used and highest-achieving units in player rosters, reflecting their strong impact on team performance and meta strategies.