How to Get Characters for Free in Genshin Impact: Every Method That Costs Nothing

Genshin Impact is a gacha game, but it is a surprisingly generous one. Between story handouts, permanent reward tracks, and the sheer volume of free Primogems the game throws at you, a patient free player ends up with a deep roster. Here is every reliable route to new characters that does not involve your wallet.

The Story Gives You a Starting Team

Simply playing the opening chapters fills out your first party: Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa join through the Mondstadt prologue, and more characters are handed out as the story unfolds across regions. The Beginner's Wish banner — the discounted 10-pull offered to every new account — also guarantees Noelle, a dependable Geo shielder who carries many early accounts. Treat these as your foundation rather than your ceiling.

The Spiral Abyss Gives Away Two Great 4-Stars

The Spiral Abyss unlocks at Adventure Rank 20, and its early floors double as a character dispenser. Clear Floor 3, Chamber 3 and you receive Xiangling, a Pyro character who has remained one of the best 4-stars in the game for years. Clear Floor 4, Chamber 3 and Collei, a Dendro archer, joins as well. Neither costs a single wish — you just need a levelled team strong enough to beat floors tuned for early-game players.

Events Regularly Hand Out Free Characters

HoYoverse's flagship events frequently include a free 4-star character (or, in some versions, a free event weapon) as a headline reward, earned by playing the event and spending its token currency in the event shop instead of on materials. Lantern Rite is the most famous example, letting players pick a Liyue 4-star of their choice each year. If a free character is on offer, prioritise claiming them before event materials — materials can always be farmed later, characters cannot.

Paimon's Bargains: The Starglitter Shop

Every month, the Starglitter Exchange in the shop stocks two 4-star characters at 34 Masterless Starglitter each. Starglitter comes from duplicate characters and weapons pulled while wishing — duplicates of 4-stars pay out 2 Starglitter (5 once that character's constellation is maxed), and 5-star duplicates pay 10 or 25. Opinion is split on whether shop characters are worth it versus saving Starglitter for more Intertwined Fates or the shop's Blackcliff weapons, but if a favourite appears and your constellation needs them, it is the only deterministic way to buy a specific character with earned currency.

And Yes: Free Primogems Become Free 5-Stars

The biggest source of characters is still wishing — paid for entirely with earned currency. Daily commissions, exploration chests, achievements, quests, the Adventurer's Handbook, the Spiral Abyss, and code redemptions all pay Primogems, and 160 Primogems buy one Intertwined Fate. Spend those Fates on limited banners, not the standard banner: the standard pool arrives on its own through free Acquaint Fates (the monthly Stardust shop sells five of each Fate type), while limited banners are the only place to aim at a specific 5-star with the pity guarantee behind you. Save, plan around pity, and free accounts pull 5-stars on a predictable schedule.