Best Support Characters in Genshin Impact 2026: Complete Tier List & Rankings
Support characters make or break your Genshin Impact teams. They heal, shield, buff damage, shred resistances, and trigger reactions. Forget DPS carry hype—the real meta wins happen when your supports shine. This 2026 ranking reveals the top 10 support units dominating Luna IV (6.3) and beyond. From universal buffers to reaction kings, discover who clears Spiral Abyss fastest, fits any roster, and delivers insane value at C0.
Ready to upgrade your teams? Let’s dive into the supports reshaping Genshin Impact right now.
What Makes a Support “Best” in 2026?
Top supports excel across these metrics:
- Team Buffs: ATK, CRIT, RES shred, EM sharing.
- Utility: Healing, shielding, energy battery, grouping.
- Reaction Enable: Off-field application, reaction damage boost.
- Flexibility: Fits multiple teams, low investment.
- Abyss Performance: Floor 12 clear speed and consistency.
Luna IV’s Lunar reactions elevate Geo/Hydro supports, but Anemo shredders and Dendro appliers remain kings.
S-Tier: Meta-Defining Supports (Must-Build)
These units headline 80%+ of top Abyss clears. They boost any DPS by 50%+.
1. Furina – The Universal Queen
Furina tops every 2026 list. Her Fanfare stacks deliver 100%+ team damage amps. She heals, buffs, and deals Hydro off-field. C0 viable, C2 godlike. Fits every comp from Hyperbloom to Melt.
Strengths: Insane buffs, Hydro application, survivability.
Teams: Neuvillette, Arlecchino, Navia hypercarries.
Build: Golden Troupe, HP/ER focus.
2. Kazuha – RES Shred Legend
Kazuha’s 40% elemental RES shred multiplies team DPS. Grouping and EM sharing make him irreplaceable. C2 plunge nukes bosses.
Strengths: VV set mastery, 4‑way shred, plunge DPS.
Teams: National, Freeze, Aggravate.
Build: VV 4pc, ER/EM.
3. Xilonen – New Meta Ruler
Xilonen’s 36% multi‑element RES shred breaks enemies. She heals, buffs, and survives everything. Luna IV’s best 4‑star.
Strengths: Universal shred, healing, DEF scaling.
Teams: Melt, Vaporize, Mono‑Geo.
Build: Scroll of Hero, DEF goblet.
A-Tier: Elite Enablers (Team Staples)
These supports clear Floor 12 reliably and flex into multiple roles.
4. Nahida – Dendro Heart
Nahida shreds Dendro RES and shares 200+ EM. Hyperbloom, Aggravate, and Bloom all peak with her.
Strengths: EM shred, Dendro app, personal damage.
Teams: Nilou Bloom, Fischl Aggravate.
Build: Gilded Dreams, EM sands.
5. Bennett – F2P God
Bennett’s ATK circle hits 2000+ buffs. C1 scales healing infinitely. Every F2P account needs him.
Strengths: Massive ATK buff, healing, Pyro app.
Teams: National, Hu Tao Vape.
Build: Noblesse, ER sands.
6. Zhongli – Immortal Shield
Zhongli’s shield absorbs 30k+ damage. Petrify locks bosses. Unmatched protection.
Strengths: God‑tier shield, RES shred, utility.
Teams: Hypercarry, Mono‑element.
Build: Archaic Petra, HP focus.
A-/B+ Tier: High‑Value Specialists
Role masters who dominate specific teams.
7. Raiden Shogun – Burst Battery
Raiden restores 30 Energy to the team. Her Burst nukes while resolving energy issues.
Strengths: Team battery, Electro app, personal DPS.
Teams: National, Overvape.
Build: Emblem, ER sands.
8. Yelan – Hydro Rain Queen
Yelan’s swords provide 100% Hydro uptime. Vaporize and Freeze enabler.
Strengths: Off‑field Hydro, personal damage.
Teams: Hu Tao Vape, Ayaka Freeze.
Build: Emblem, HP/ER.
9. Fischl – Oz Electro Machine
Oz ticks 100% Electro forever. Aggravate and Hyperbloom staple.
Strengths: Free Electro app, C6 DPS.
Teams: Aggravate, Overload.
Build: Golden Troupe, ER.
10. Xianyun – Plunge Enabler
Xianyun buffs plunges by 200%+. Turns Xiao and Hu Tao into monsters.
Strengths: Plunge amps, healing, stamina.
Teams: Plunge hypercarries.
Build: VV, ER sands.
Emerging Supports (Luna IV Watchlist)
These units rise fast in 2026 meta:
- Jahoda: Anemo healer with VV shred.
- Durin: Pyro buffer with RES shred.
- Columbina: Lunar reaction queen (6.3).
Skip outdated picks like Sucrose C6 or Mika unless niche.
Support Tier List Table (January 2026)
| Tier | Characters | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| S | Furina, Kazuha, Xilonen | Universal meta |
| A | Nahida, Bennett, Zhongli | Elite staples |
| A-/B+ | Raiden, Yelan, Fischl, Xianyun | Specialists |
| B | Jean, Shenhe, Sara C6, Gorou C6 | Niche kings |
Data from Game8, Pocket Tactics, Genshin.gg.
F2P Support Priority List
Build these first—no 5‑stars needed:
- Bennett – C1 free via events.
- Xingqiu/Fischl – Standard banner staples.
- Sucrose – Budget Kazuha.
- Diona/Layla – Free shields.
- Xilonen/Jahoda – Recent 4‑stars.
Spend resources wisely. One strong support > five mediocre ones.
Build Tips for Top Supports
Universal Rules:
- ER sands on batteries (Raiden, Bennett).
- VV 4pc on Anemo (Kazuha, Sucrose).
- Noblesse/Emblem on Burst supports.
Quick Builds:
- Furina: Golden Troupe, HP goblet.
- Kazuha: VV, EM circlet.
- Xilonen: Scroll of Hero, DEF focus.
Why Supports Win Genshin Impact 2026
DPS die without buffers. Supports enable 2x damage. Luna IV’s Lunar reactions favor versatile units like Furina and Xilonen. Build smart. Clear Abyss faster.
Your turn: Who’s your favorite support? Drop below!