Welcome to Genshin Impact, Traveler! Stepping into the magical world of Teyvat can feel both exciting and daunting. Let’s begin with a bit of lore to set the stage.
You play as “The Traveller,” a twin separated from their sibling by a mysterious god. Your quest is to reunite with your lost twin, and this journey takes you across Teyvat’s seven elemental nations. Each nation is ruled by an Archon (god) of a specific element; from Mondstadt’s Anemo (wind) Archon to Sumeru’s Dendro (nature) Archon, all the way to regions like Fontaine (hydro) and beyond. But don’t worry, you won’t have to know all the lore at once. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Starting Your Journey in Teyvat (Lore & Story Basics)
Genshin Impact’s story unfolds gradually through Archon Quests (main story quests) as you explore each nation in order. The main story is rich and emotional – many players find themselves unexpectedly moved by the narrative. The key is to enjoy the story at your own pace. Pay attention to the Archon Quests for the core plot, and remember you can always review past dialogues in the archive if you need a refresher.
As a new player, focus first on Mondstadt (the starting region) and its storyline. Mondstadt’s Archon Quest will introduce you to the game’s basic mechanics and characters. From there, you’ll naturally progress to Liyue (the Geo nation), and so on. Each region has its own self-contained storyline that also connects to the overarching plot of finding your sibling.
Don’t skip the story; it’s one of Genshin’s biggest charms. If lore is your thing, you’ll love discovering Teyvat’s secrets. And if not, you can still follow the quest navigation and enjoy the gameplay. The bottom line: Genshin Impact’s lore provides context and depth, but you can digest it gradually. The game ensures you won’t be lost – characters will often recap important points, and there’s an in-game travel log that summarizes completed quests.
Why New Players Feel Overwhelmed (and How to Overcome It)
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed as a new Genshin player, after all, the game is massive and full of possibilities. In fact, early on you might resonate with posts on the Genshin subreddit where beginners describe feeling lost due to the sheer scale of content. Common overwhelm factors include:
- A Vast World with Seven Nations: The map of Teyvat is unbelievably big and keeps expanding. As a new Adventurer, you start in one region (Mondstadt) while seeing hints of many others. It can be intimidating, but remember: you don’t have to unlock all areas immediately. The game naturally gates progression e.g., you must reach certain Adventure Ranks and complete story quests to access Inazuma or Sumeru.
Tip: Focus on one region at a time. Enjoy Mondstadt’s story and exploration first; the game will lead you to Liyue when you’re ready. Teyvat isn’t going anywhere, so explore at your own pace. Every chest and vista in those early regions will help you level up and prepare for the next.
- Too Many Quests and Activities: Opening your quest menu for the first time can be shocking – story quests, world quests, commissions, event quests, hangout quests – where to even start? The main advice here is: prioritize the Archon Quests (main story) first to unlock game features and new areas. Side quests and world quests can be tackled whenever you feel like it. It’s okay if your quest log has a dozen entries; there’s no time limit on most of them. Avoid trying to clear everything at once. A common mistake is feeling you must finish all side quests in one region before moving on; you don’t. It’s fine to leave some quests for later if you’re more interested in progressing the story or exploring. Also, events (limited-time content) can be a source of FOMO, but as a beginner you might not meet the requirements for some events right away. And that’s okay; Genshin regularly reruns event concepts or provides story summaries for what you missed. Take that to heart: you don’t need to do everything immediately to enjoy the game.
- Navigating Story Order: Genshin’s story isn’t strictly linear after the first two nations, which can confuse newcomers. You might finish Liyue’s chapter and suddenly unlock a bunch of Interlude chapters and character quests in your log. This happens because the game releases story content periodically, and now as a new player you have a backlog of 3+ years of content unlocked in chunks. Don’t worry about the exact order of optional quests. A good approach is: do all Archon Quests in the order they appear (the game labels them by Chapter/Act), and treat “Interlude” quests as side stories you can do between main chapters. Character Story Quests (e.g. Albedo’s quest or others) are optional lore-rich missions you can do when you’re invested in that character or want a break from the main story. It’s okay if you accidentally start a character quest before finishing an Archon Quest; at worst you might get some minor spoilers about who a character is. The game usually provides a brief bio when you meet new characters during events or side quests, so you won’t be totally lost. If the nonlinear progression confuses you, you can always check online community guides for the chronological order of quests, but it’s not strictly necessary.
- Resource and Level Gating: A frustration can be pulling a cool new character from a wish, only to find you “have no way to level them up”. For example, if you somehow obtain a high-level character from Inazuma (a later region) while you’re still in Mondstadt, you might not access their ascension materials until reaching Inazuma in the story. One Reddit user shared, “I had a level 20 Raiden Shogun warming the bench as I was working through Mondstadt, and I felt bad I couldn’t use her”. This is a common new player concern. The game actually provides a partial workaround: any character you pull from a limited-time banner comes with a trial and a small reward of ascension materials to get them to level 40. But beyond that, you’ll need to reach the region where their materials drop.
The solution: don’t stress. It’s usually best for beginners to focus on the characters you can ascend easily early on (like the starter characters Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, or others from Mondstadt/Liyue) while you slowly push the story forward to unlock more of Teyvat. The content is balanced such that the free characters and early-game characters are enough to carry you through until you naturally unlock the rest. So if you pull an Inazuma or Sumeru character early, just hold onto them; you’ll get to use them soon enough. In the meantime, work on your main Traveler and other available allies.
- Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) on Events: Genshin frequently runs timed events that often assume you’re caught up in the story. New players might see event notices or rewards they can’t access and feel they are “missing everything happening now.” For instance, an event quest might pop up on the far side of the world map, and you either feel pressured to rush there or feel bad skipping it. Let me reassure you: it is impossible to immediately participate in every event as a brand-new player, and that’s okay. HoYoverse designs the game knowing new players will join continuously; major story-based events get reruns or alternative ways to get important rewards.
Limited rewards (like a free character from an event) are rare and usually the character becomes available by other means later. So, don’t let FOMO ruin your fun. Early on, focus on permanent content. Events are the icing on the cake once you have the base game under control. And if you do qualify for an event, by all means give it a try (they often provide bonus primogems and goodies). Just remember you’re not “falling behind” if you can’t do an event. Genshin is mostly a PvE, single-player experience – you set your own pace.
Next, we’ll equip you with knowledge of key systems so the unknown feels less daunting.
Core Game Mechanics New Players Should Know
Understanding a few core mechanics will greatly enhance your early experience. Genshin Impact does introduce tutorials, but some things aren’t immediately obvious. Let’s break down the essentials:
Adventure Rank and Progression
Your Adventure Rank (AR) is essentially your player level, separate from your character levels. AR increases by doing almost anything – story quests, side quests, opening chests, exploring, daily commissions, domains, etc. Think of AR as the gatekeeper for content: higher AR unlocks new features (e.g., AR12 unlocks Daily Commissions, AR16 unlocks Co-Op play, AR20+ unlocks more story quests and events, etc.). A top tip is to prioritize increasing your AR to 12 early so you get the daily commission quests unlocked; those give a steady stream of primogems and rewards. However, note that every 5 or so AR levels, your World Level will increase, meaning enemies become tougher but drop better loot. If you ever feel the world becomes too hard (your characters keep dying), Genshin has a feature where you can temporarily lower your World Level by one. So don’t be afraid; the difficulty scales gradually and usually you’ll rise to meet it as you level your characters.
Focus: Follow the Archon Quests and explore your surroundings to gain AR EXP. Early on, Adventure Handbook tasks (found in the menu) are great guides; they list specific goals that reward lots of AR EXP when completed. Many new players naturally hit AR20–25 just by doing the storyline and some exploration in the first couple of weeks. There’s no race to AR60 (the current cap), in fact, taking your time can be more enjoyable.
Characters, Elements and Team Building 101
Genshin Impact is all about collecting characters and forming teams of four to battle enemies using elemental abilities. Each character has an element (Pyro, Hydro, Anemo, etc.) and a role (some are main damage dealers, others support or healers). In the early game, the characters you have are likely the Traveler (Anemo sword user) plus a few free characters given by the game (Amber – pyro archer, Kaeya – cryo swordsman, Lisa – electro mage), and maybe Noelle (geo defender, if you pulled on the beginner banner). This is enough to form a decent starter team.
Tip: It’s better to focus on building one primary damage-dealer (your “carry”) and support them with others, rather than trying to level up every single character equally. A common mistake is spreading your limited XP books and Mora across 8–10 characters and ending up with a lot of underpowered units. Instead, pick 2–4 characters you like and invest in them first. For example, many players choose the Traveler or Kaeya as an early main DPS, with Amber for ranged attacks and puzzles, Noelle or Barbara (if you get her) for healing/shielding, etc. This way you’ll have a functional team to clear content. As you get new characters, you can slowly integrate them.
Elemental reactions are a core combat mechanic: combining elements (e.g. using Hydro then Electro causes Electro-Charged damage over time, Pyro + Cryo causes Melt for big damage, etc.). Experiment with the elements you have; the game’s early domains will actually tutorialize some combos. You don’t need to memorize all reaction details immediately, but be aware that using two of the same element in your team can give you a beneficial team resonance (for example, two Pyro characters boost your attack, two Anemo help with stamina, etc.). For starters, just ensure your team has a mix of elements so you can deal with various enemy elemental shields. Team building depth comes later; early game is about leveling what you have and learning each character’s playstyle.
Weapons, Artifacts, and Leveling Up Wisely
Apart from character level, two main ways to strengthen your characters are through Weapons and Artifacts. Each character has a weapon type (sword, bow, etc.) and you’ll find many weapons as loot or via wishes. You should equip your characters with the best weapon available and upgrade those weapons using enhancement ore or other weapon fodder. Upgrading a weapon (enhancing its level) drastically boosts your damage output. Early on, you might find a 3★ or 4★ weapon that suits your main character; invest in it. Don’t worry about “wasting” resources; you can later refine or recycle weapons if needed, but the boost now is worth it. Similarly, Artifacts are gear that give bonus stats. You unlock artifact slots as your character ascends. In the beginning, just equip whatever artifacts you pick up (they have set bonuses if you use 2 or 4 of the same set, but at low level it’s fine to mix). Focus on artifacts that boost Attack for your damage dealer, or HP/Defense for your tank/healer.
Do not spend too many resources to max out low-rarity artifacts in the early game – you’ll get higher-rarity ones later. A good rule: use +0 or +4 level 1★/2★ artifacts in the first few AR levels, then around AR20+ you’ll start getting 3★ artifacts – you can invest a bit in those to +8 or so if you need. Save your big artifact leveling for AR45, when 5★ artifacts become farmable; that’s when min-maxing starts (way down the road). The game’s early enemies are balanced around minimal artifact stats, so it’s more important to level your character and weapon. Speaking of leveling: as you raise a character to their level cap (e.g. 20/40/50 etc.), you’ll need to Ascend them using materials. Always ascend your main damage characters when you can, because this not only raises their level cap but also often unlocks new talents or boosts. Try to ascend at least one main character to level 40 ASAP, as that makes combat much easier. For supports, you can ascend them a bit later if materials are scarce.
And a quick note: Mora (in-game gold) and Hero’s Wit (XP books) are limited early, so don’t dump them into a character you’re not sure you’ll use. Focus your investment on a core team; you can level others later when resources are more plentiful.
With these basics, you’re already ahead of the curve. Following the above advice will help you avoid those common beginner mistakes (like farming high-level artifacts too soon or ignoring weapon upgrades).
Gacha System and In-Game Currency Explained
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play game supported by a gacha system for obtaining new characters and weapons. This aspect can be confusing for newcomers, so let’s demystify it:
Primogems, Fates & Banners (What to Wish On)
Primogems are the primary currency you earn through gameplay (quest rewards, chests, daily commissions, events, etc.) and use to “Wish” on banners. Banners are the gacha pools that can grant new characters or weapons. There are usually a couple of Limited Character Banners running (featuring rate-ups for 5★ limited characters and some 4★ characters) and a Weapon Banner, plus the always-available Standard Banner.
As a new player, you’ll also have a special Beginners’ Wish banner that costs less for the first 20 wishes and guarantees you a 4★ character (Noelle). General advice from experienced players: use the discounted Beginner banner until it’s gone, then focus your primogems on the limited Character banner for a chance at characters you like, rather than spending on the Standard banner (since you’ll get free Standard wishes over time anyway).
Genshin has a pity system: 10 wishes guarantees a 4★ item, and 90 wishes guarantees a 5★ (with some nuances). It sounds complex, but practically, just know that saving your primogems to do 10-pulls on a banner you really want is wiser than single pulling impulsively. A common beginner mistake is blowing all primogems as soon as they get them on random banners. Try to avoid that. It can be helpful to set a goal like “I really want Character X, I’ll save for their banner” and discipline yourself to skip others. Also, take advantage of any free Acquaint Fates (used on Standard banner) and Intertwined Fates (used on limited banners) the game hands out; they’re basically free wishes.
Lastly, Genshin is generous to new players in the early Adventure Ranks: you will accumulate quite a lot of primogems from clearing content. It’s true the initial primogem influx slows down later, so it’s smart to bank some of those early primos for when you really need them. The Standard Banner will tempt you (because it has no time limit), but remember its pool is diluted and contains things you’ll eventually get anyway. Many players wish they had saved more for limited banners, so that’s a tip to consider.
Genesis Crystals and Making Safe Purchases
Genesis Crystals are the premium currency you get by spending real money. As a beginner, there’s absolutely no requirement to spend: Genshin is very free-to-play friendly for the storyline and overworld. However, if you choose to spend a bit (perhaps to speed up progress or try for a favorite character), it’s important to do it wisely and safely.
The best value purchase in the game is the Blessing of the Welkin Moon, a ~$5 USD option that gives you 90 primogems per day for 30 days plus some Genesis Crystals upfront. Many casual spenders opt for that. Larger bundles of Genesis Crystals can be bought and then converted 1:1 into primogems. For South African players, you might want an easy payment method; the Carry1st Shop is an authorized platform where you can buy Genesis Crystals with local payment options. You can top-up directly through the Genshin Impact store page. This allows you to pay in Rand (or Naira for Nigerian players, etc.) and the crystals will be delivered to your account.
Always ensure you’re using official channels and avoid any sketchy “cheap primogem” offers out there, as account security is crucial.
One more currency note: you’ll encounter Stardust and Starglitter, currencies given for duplicate pulls. Check the in-game Shop > Paimon’s Bargains – you can spend Stardust on extra Fates each month (a great deal for f2p), and Starglitter on rare resources or characters. As a beginner, using Stardust to buy those extra Intertwined Fates every month is highly recommended (it’s basically turning your pity pulls into more pulls). Starglitter is rarer; many save it to buy a good 4★ character from the shop rotation if one of their favorites appears.
In summary, be smart with your wishes. The gacha can be a fun aspect as long as you manage expectations. The odds of a 5★ from any single pull are low (0.6%), so it’s normal to not get one for a while. Don’t let that discourage you. Eventually, you will accumulate enough wishes for a guaranteed 5★ via pity. Plenty of players complete all content with mainly 4★ characters (who are easier to obtain).
Embrace the Adventure Ahead
Starting Genshin Impact can feel like being dropped into the middle of a gigantic, unfamiliar world; because you are! But that’s the beauty of it. Every corner of Teyvat holds a story, a treasure, or a challenge waiting for you. Yes, there’s a lot to learn, but hopefully this guide has shown that each seemingly complex system (be it elemental combat, artifact farming, or the gacha) can be approached step by step. Remember, even the most seasoned player once stood where you are now, wondering what an Adventure Rank was or how to cook a Sweet Madame dish. They made it through, and so will you.
As your guide and fellow Traveler, I encourage you to savor the journey ahead. The beginning of Genshin Impact is just the prologue to what could be hundreds of hours of enjoyment. Enjoy your adventure in Genshin Impact!
FAQ (Genshin Impact New Player Questions):
- Q: Is Genshin Impact still worth starting in 2025, or am I too far behind?
A: Absolutely worth starting! Genshin Impact is a primarily single-player experience, so you’re never “behind.” New story content is added regularly, and new players get to enjoy years’ worth of content at their own pace. The community is very welcoming to fresh Travelers. Even though many players are at high Adventure Ranks, that doesn’t impact your journey. In fact, you’ll benefit from quality-of-life improvements added over time. Take it slow and enjoy the ride – it’s not too late to start at all.
- Q: What should I do first when I start playing Genshin Impact?
A: Focus on the Archon Quests (main story) and explore the world around you. Early on, follow the story through Mondstadt and Liyue – this will raise your Adventure Rank and unlock essential features. Activate teleport waypoints and Statues of The Seven as you find them to reveal the map and aid travel. Also, do the beginner tutorial domains; they teach combat basics. Basically, let the game’s story guide you initially. By AR12, unlock daily commissions and start doing those for steady rewards. In short: main story quests, exploration, and a bit of level-up on your characters/weapons.
- Q: I feel overwhelmed by the map and number of quests. How do I not get lost?
A: It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Use the tools at your disposal: open your map often and mark points of interest with pins. Tackle one region at a time. For quests, prioritize Archon Quests (they’re marked with a gold symbol) to progress the story. You can ignore side quests until you’re ready – they aren’t going anywhere. The Adventurer’s Handbook also gives you a guided list of tasks which serve as a nice checklist. And don’t be afraid to take things slow. You don’t need to clear every icon on the map immediately. Think of Genshin as a marathon, not a sprint.
- Q: What characters are best for beginners? Do I need rare 5★ characters to succeed?
A: The free characters and a few early pulls are more than enough to clear all beginner content. The Traveler (your main character) is actually very capable and can adapt to different elements. Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa (free characters) each fulfill roles (ranged DPS, sub-DPS, and elemental support respectively). Noelle (from the beginner banner) is a great shielder/healer for starting out. You do not need any 5★ character to enjoy or complete the story. 4★ characters can carry you a long way; many of them are top-tier when built well.
That said, if you get a 5★ early, congrats! You can certainly use them, but remember the ascension material caveat: you might not fully level them until reaching their region. Overall, focus on building a balanced team rather than chasing specific “OP” characters at the start. As you learn the game, you’ll figure out which playstyles or characters you love and can wish for them accordingly.
- Q: How can I get more primogems as a free player?
A: Primogems come from many sources: opening chests, completing quests and achievements, daily commissions (key source; 60 primos per day when you do all 4 tasks), events, Spiral Abyss floors (a more advanced challenge mode), and redeeming promo codes that HoYoverse releases occasionally. Make sure to explore thoroughly, even common chests give a few primos, and they add up. Always do your Daily Commissions once you unlock them at AR12. Participate in limited-time events if you can, as those often shower players with primos.
Lastly, check the mail in-game; the developers often send compensation primogems during updates or issues. Over time, if you’re diligent, you can save thousands of primogems for the characters you want. It just requires patience and doing a bit of everything the game offers.
- Q: What’s the deal with Resin, and how should a new player use it?
A: Original Resin is an energy resource (with a max of 160) that replenishes over time and gates how often you can collect rewards from bosses and domains. In the early game, don’t worry too much about optimizing Resin usage. Just make sure you spend it – i.e., don’t let it sit at 160/160 for too long, because then it stops regenerating (you’d be wasting potential rewards). Use resin on world bosses to get ascension materials for characters you’re leveling, and on ley line blossoms for extra XP books or Mora if you need them. Artifact domains aren’t worth spending resin on until AR45+, so avoid dumping resin there early; the drops will be low rarity. Also, you’ll earn Fragile Resin items (which restore 60 resin each) from AR rewards and events; save those for later rather than using them at low AR. In summary, as a new player: use resin casually to strengthen your team, and don’t sweat min-maxing it until you reach higher AR and more challenging content.
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