Leveling Up in Genshin Impact: A No-Nonsense Guide to Maxing Your Characters (Without Losing Your Mind)
So, you’re diving deep into Teyvat? Good choice. But along with stunning landscapes and engaging stories, you face character progression. At times, Genshin Impact feels more about managing resources than adventuring. But don’t worry! This guide is your clear, concise roadmap to level up characters, talents, and weapons without needing a degree in Gacha Game Economics.
Talent Leveling: Unleashing Your Character’s True Potential (and Damage Numbers)
Talents are your character’s combat skills: Normal Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts. Leveling these is crucial for dealing damage. It’s not just about looking cool; it’s about punishing enemies for existing.
- Leveling Talents 101: Materials and Magic
- The Mythical Max Talent Level: 14 (and the Whispered 15)
- Triple Crown Glory: The Material Cost
- 9 Teachings (beginner talent books)
- 63 Guides (intermediate talent books)
- 114 Philosophies (advanced talent books)
Want stronger talents? Level them up! The best way to boost your combat talents is with Character Talent Materials. Think of them as skill-enhancing books. Higher Ascension Phases let you raise talents further, up to Level 10 usually.
But wait! Constellations come into play. You unlock constellations by getting duplicate characters. Some constellations increase a specific talent’s effective level by +3. Suddenly a Level 10 Burst can act like a Level 13 talent. Be mindful though; constellations depend on RNG, so don’t bet everything on them unless you’re a whale; then proceed.
You may hear rumors in Teyvat taverns about a maximum talent level reaching 15. While game files suggest this, currently the highest practical level for Normal Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Bursts is Level 14. You need specific constellations to exceed the Level 10 cap.
The legendary status of “Triple Crown” is achieved by maxing out all three combat talents of a character to Level 10 (or beyond with constellations). It’s a serious flex requiring significant investment. To triple crown a character, you’re looking at:
Start gathering now. Your future powerful self will appreciate it.
Talent Books: Your Gateway to Talent Ascension
Talent Books are essential for leveling talents. You need these in increasing amounts and rarities to upgrade talents meaningfully. They are like progressively harder textbooks for your character’s training.
- Talent Book Basics: Regions and Weekdays
- Types of Talent Books: A Gradual Progression
- Teachings (Brown/Green): Basic, entry-level books needed in early talent levels.
- Guides (Silver/Blue): Mid-tier books required in larger quantities as you progress.
- Philosophies (Gold/Purple): Top-tier books for maxing out talents requiring a hefty investment.
- Character-Specific Talent Book Examples: Knowing Your Needs
- Ayaka: Elegance Books Our frosty princess Ayaka needs “Elegance” series. Elegant, just like her swordplay.
- Xiao: Prosperity Books The brooding Yaksha Xiao requires “Prosperity” books for his combat prowess.
- Hu Tao: Diligence Books Hu Tao, always hard at work, uses “Diligence” books.
- Klee: Freedom Books Explosive expert Klee embodies “Freedom,” thus her book series.
- Venti: Ballad Books The Anemo Archon Venti uses “Ballad” books, fittingly poetic.
- Kaeya: Ballad Series Kaeya also chooses “Ballad” series. Maybe they share notes?
- Arlecchino: Order Books The Knave, Arlecchino, uses “Order” books. Other characters also like organizational literature (or combat manuals).
- Talent Book Math: How Many Do You Actually Need?
- Level 2 to Level 6: The Silver Book Grind Raising a single talent from Level 2 to Level 6 needs 21 silver/blue (Guide) books. For all three talents (because why not?), that means 63 silver/blue books. Start your runs now.
- Level 6 to Level 9: The Gold Book Hurdle Leveling from Level 6 to Level 9 requires 22 gold/purple (Philosophy) books. For all three talents, that’s 66 gold/purple books. The farming intensity ramps up significantly.
- Fully Leveling a Talent: The Grand Total To max one talent to Level 10, you’ll need:
- 3 brown/green (Teaching) Books
- 21 silver/blue (Guide) Books
- 38 gold/purple (Philosophy) Books
- 6 Weekly Boss Materials
- 1 Crown of Insight
And remember, this is per talent. For triple crowning? Multiply everything by three. Suddenly, those Domain runs look less tedious, right? Okay, maybe they still do, but at least you know what you’re grinding for.
To streamline farming: Talent Books are organized by region and day of the week available in Domains. Mondstadt books differ from Liyue, which differ from Inazuma, and so on. Each Domain rotates through book types depending on the day. So if you’re hunting “Teachings of Freedom,” check the Domain schedule; you can’t just show up on any day.
There are three tiers of Talent Books:
It’s like school: start with basic textbooks (Teachings), move to study guides (Guides), then tackle advanced treatises (Philosophies). In Genshin, these books help you crush Hilichurls, arguably more fun than studying.
Each character in Genshin needs specific Talent Book series. Knowing this is crucial for efficient farming. Here are some examples:
This is just a sample; always check your character’s talent page for their required books before farming. Don’t be that traveler who farms “Freedom” for Ayaka. Awkward.
Let’s talk numbers. How many books do you need for leveling talents? Here we go!
Character Leveling and Ascension: From Zero to Hero (Eventually)
Character levels are straightforward: more levels equate higher stats. However, there’s more than just raw numbers. Ascension phases unlock talent level upgrades and boost your character’s basic stats.
- Leveling from 80 to 90: Is it Worth the Hype (and Resources)?
- The 80/90 Sweet Spot: Substats and Talent Unlocks Ascending to 80/90 usually proves worthwhile. It provides that last bump to your character’s innate substat, plus it unlocks talent levels 9 and 10. Those last two levels boost damage significantly.
- 90/90: Minimal Gains, Maximum Investment Leveling from 80/90 to 90/90 gets debated often. The benefit? A mere 15 points of base attack. Seriously. That’s the only gain. For massive resource investment, returns seem minimal. Unless you’re optimizing every little detail or love seeing “90” on your screen, it’s usually inefficient resource use.
- Hero’s Wit and Mora Cost: The Painful Truth of 80-90 If you decide to tackle the 80-90 grind, be ready to spend significantly. You’ll need about 171 Hero’s Wit and a staggering 684,800 Mora. Yes, that’s correct. For what is practically insignificant in damage, the cost is high for bragging rights.
- Leveling from 1 to 90: The Full Journey
- Million XP Mountain: The XP Grind From Level 1 to 90, you need a cool million XP points. That means lots of Adventurer’s Experience, Hero’s Wit, or Wanderer’s Advice books. Start collecting!
- Mora Minefield: The Cost of Progress Leveling from 1 to 90 drains your Mora reserves by around 1.6 million Mora. Add the 684,800 Mora for the 80-90 stretch. You’re facing a serious Mora deficit. Head to those Ley Line Outcrops!
The classic debate: Level 80/90 or 90/90? Let’s discuss.
If you start fresh, leveling a character from 1 to 90 is …
A marathon, not a sprint. Here’s the resource breakdown for the entire journey:
Mora Costs and Farming: Because Nobody Likes Being Broke in Teyvat
Mora is the in-game currency. It’s vital for character progression in Genshin Impact. You need it for leveling characters, talents, weapons, artifacts… basically, existing in Teyvat costs Mora. It disappears fast.
- The Mora Black Hole: Character and Talent Costs
- Over Two Million Mora to Level 90: The Base Cost Getting a character to Level 90 costs you over two million Mora. That’s before talents, weapons, or artifacts. Ouch.
- 1.6 Million Mora per Level 10 Talent: Talent Tax And talents? They drain your Mora too. Leveling a talent to Level 10 consumes another 1.6 million Mora. Per talent. Want triple crowning? Do the math (and then cry). Talent leveling is a vast Mora sink.
- 80-90 Mora Drain: A Reminder of the Grind Just to emphasize: leveling from 80 to 90 costs 684,800 Mora. A clear pattern? Yes, leveling consumes Mora heavily. Prepare accordingly.
- Mora Farming Frenzy: How to Get Rich (Relatively) Quick
- Battle Pass Bonanza: Mora Rewards Galore Leveling your Battle Pass is effective for earning Mora. These levels often shower you with Mora rewards.
- Battle Pass Quests: Daily and Weekly Mora Boosts Don’t ignore Battle Pass Quests. Completing daily and weekly BP quests provides steady Mora income.
- Upgrading Your Battle Pass: Premium Mora Perks If you’re ready to spend a bit, upgrading your Battle Pass greatly increases your Mora rewards. Consider it an investment in your Teyvat finances.
- Gnostic Hymn Goldmine: Triple the Mora Rewards For the extremely Mora-desperate or spenders, unlocking the Gnostic Hymn tier of the Battle Pass is transformative. It triples the Mora rewards. A massive influx of currency! If you play consistently, this can alleviate your Mora struggles.
Let’s face reality: leveling is costly. Very costly.
How do you escape being broke? Here are some ways to boost your Mora income:
Weapon Leveling: Sharpening Your Arsenal
Weapons matter in Genshin Impact. A strong weapon boosts your damage output. Leveling weapons requires specific materials, and higher levels mean stronger effects.
- Mystic Enhancement Ore: Weapon XP Fuel
- 600 Mystic Enhancement Ore for 4-Star Weapons: The Mid-Range Cost Leveling a 4-star weapon from Level 1 to 90 requires about 600 Mystic Enhancement Ore. Manageable, but still significant.
- 900 Mystic Enhancement Ore for 5-Star Weapons: The Premium Price For those sought-after 5-star weapons, the cost is around 900 Mystic Enhancement Ore for Level 90. Top-tier power comes at high costs. Leveling requires investment in ore.
The primary material for leveling weapons is Mystic Enhancement Ore. You can craft these from Crystal Chunks and White Iron Chunks at the blacksmith or obtain them from various game sources.
Character-Specific Leveling Priorities: Who Gets the Level 90 Treatment?
Not all characters scale well at Level 90. Some shine with levels, while others lag behind. Here’s a brief overview of who to prioritize:
- Raiden Shogun: Level 90 is Non-Negotiable (Hyperbloom Edition)
- Kazuha: Swirl Supremacy at Level 90
- Sucrose: Level 90 for EM, Talents Optional
- Yaoyao: HP and Reaction Damage Scale with Level 90
- Chasca: Level 90 for Reaction Teams
For Raiden Shogun, especially in Hyperbloom teams, raising her to Level 90 is crucial. Hyperbloom damage scales based on character level, so every level matters. Maximize her Electro application for maximum Dendro core explosions.
Kazuha, the Anemo crowd control expert, truly benefits from Level 90. Why? Because Level 90 maximizes his Swirl damage and Elemental Reaction damage. Swirl damage increases with level; level him up for maximum potential.
Sucrose also flourishes at Level 90 for the Elemental Mastery boost. Prioritize getting Sucrose to Level 90 for effective EM sharing and reaction damage. Her Talent levels are less crucial, focus on EM support.
Yaoyao, your Dendro healer, benefits from Level 90. Level 90 maximizes her HP for healing and reaction damage. Invest in her Skill and Burst talents to boost healing and Dendro application.
If discussing a character focused on Transformative Reactions (like Overload, Electro-Charged), then Level 90 enhances their damage. If “Chasca” primarily deals damage through her Skill, leveling that Talent is key.
Crown of Insight: The Ultimate Talent Leveling Trophy
Now we reach talent leveling’s pinnacle: the Crown of Insight. This rare item is needed to upgrade a talent from Level 9 to Level 10. It’s a symbol of dedication and maxed-out potential.
- Crown of Insight Sources: Events and Regional Trees
- Limited-Time Events: Each patch features events offering Crowns of Insight rewards. Participate in these events to collect valuable items.
- Regional Trees: The Sakura Sacred Tree in Inazuma and the Frostbearing Tree in Dragonspine (Mondstadt) both grant Crowns for leveling up. These are one-time rewards; claim them once you meet required levels.
Crowns of Insight are scarce. Obtain them from:
Crowns are valuable. Use them wisely! Triple crowning is a long-term aim, not a sprint. Choose targets strategically for significant power boosts!
Leveling in Genshin Impact is a journey. It requires time, resources, and patience. With planning, efficient farming, and this guide, you’ll build a team of formidable characters ready to conquer Teyvat’s challenges. Now go farm, Traveler! Teyvat won’t save itself.