Hydro Characters Tier List | Genshin 5.8

Hey Traveler! Ready to dive into the world of Hydro characters and soak up who’s making waves in Genshin right now? Whether you're a team-building pro or just here for the hype, this guide ranks Hydro units your way, but also checks the latest rankings across the community and trusted sources—so you know it’s not just your fishing buddy’s opinion. Let’s make a splash!

Tier List Overview

T0	Neuvillette
	Furina
T1	Xingqiu
	Yelan
T2	Mualani
T3	Kamisato Ayato
	Sigewinne
	Dahlia

T0

Neuvillette

Neuvillette stands unrivaled among Hydro DPS, with his Charged Attack: Equitable Judgment delivering continuous, large-area Hydro DMG over a short 3-second channel. This HP-scaling beam can be freely aimed during its duration, and rotating to adjust his firing angle maximizes target coverage, pushing his DPS ceiling even higher. By collecting Sourcewater Droplets generated by his Skill or passive effects, he heals and accelerates his charge, creating a self-sustaining damage loop.

At C1, his enhanced interruption resistance ensures that his short-rotation bursts remain uninterrupted even in heavy crowd control environments. His HP-drain mechanic synergizes perfectly with Furina’s damage-boosting buff, as her kit rewards frequent HP fluctuations—making the duo one of the most dominant pairs in the current meta.

In both Spiral Abyss and Stygian Onslaught, Neuvillette maintains top-tier usage and clear rates, excelling at both mob clearing and boss takedowns with equal ease.

 

Furina

Furina is a true all-purpose support, offering team-wide DMG buffs, off-field Hydro application, and healing within a single kit. Her Ousia/Pneuma stance system, switched via Charged Attack, allows her to adapt to various combat needs—Ousia summons DMG-dealing companions at the cost of party HP, while Pneuma provides healing support. Her Burst’s buff scales with total HP changes in the party, making her pair exceptionally well with HP-draining or self-healing allies such as Neuvillette.

While some debate her raw stats compared to newer releases, her consistently high Abyss usage rates and strong real-world performance counter those claims. She fits seamlessly into Hydro, Cryo, Electro, and even Anemo comps, and once the main DPS is set, she can push the team’s damage ceiling even further.

In high-investment teams, her scaling buffs become especially impactful, securing her place as one of the most meta-defining supports in the current version.

 

T1

Xingqiu

Xingqiu is the “budget Furina” for F2P players, offering frequent off-field Hydro application through his Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter. His Rain Swords reduce incoming DMG, grant interruption resistance, and provide small healing ticks—dramatically improving team survivability.

His Hydro application works at a near-perfect rate for reaction teams, making him a long-term staple for low- to mid-investment accounts. While his personal DPS is modest and his high Energy Cost demands careful ER management, his utility in enabling Vaporize or Freeze reactions remains unmatched for a 4★ unit.

 

Yelan

Yelan is known for her high-frequency Hydro application and respectable personal damage. Her Burst, Depth-Clarion Dice, deploys the “Exquisite Throw” to apply Hydro and deal HP-scaled damage even while she’s off-field, providing both sustained Hydro coverage and offensive pressure.

Her passive DMG bonus mechanic can significantly amplify the team’s main DPS, making her shine in quick-swap and high-mobility comps. While her pure support utility isn’t as comprehensive as Xingqiu’s or Furina’s, Yelan remains a crucial Hydro enabler and sub-DPS in content that demands fast, efficient takedowns.

 

T2

Mualani

Mualani specializes in single-target burst damage and exceptional mobility, excelling in boss fights against stationary, high-HP enemies. Her kit rewards precision—marked targets take increased damage from her charged follow-up attacks, but fully capitalizing on her stacks requires strict rotation discipline.

In multi-target or AoE content, she struggles to match the efficiency of Neuvillette or Ayato, making her more of a tactical pick than a universal mainstay.

 

T3

Kamisato Ayato

Ayato’s key strengths lie in stable AoE Hydro application and Normal Attack DMG amplification. Activating his Elemental Skill grants him high-frequency Normal Attacks that quickly apply Hydro, while his Burst provides valuable area control.

However, in both raw damage and utility, he struggles to match top Hydro carries like Neuvillette in the current meta. He often works better as a secondary DPS or in specific reaction teams rather than as a primary damage dealer.

 

Sigewinne

Sigewinne’s Elemental Burst offers a degree of AoE Hydro DMG, functioning similarly to Neuvillette’s Charged Attack but at much lower multipliers and output. Her value lies more in niche team roles, such as pairing with Skirk or Cryo carries to provide additional DMG buffs and Hydro coverage. On her own, she lacks the power to serve as a core damage dealer and relies on teammates to maximize her impact.

 

Dahlia

Dahlia provides shielding and Attack SPD buffs through his Burst, giving teams some defensive stability. However, his base shield strength is relatively low and requires specific stacking mechanics to reach full potential, while his Attack SPD bonus is locked behind C6—making him costly to build.

With a narrow utility focus and low versatility, Dahlia is rarely a priority pick outside of niche strategies or synergy with characters like Skirk.

 

Conclusion

Whether you’re aiming to master Neuvillette’s devastating beam mechanics, fully exploit Furina’s unparalleled team-wide buffs, or refine a reaction-heavy lineup with Xingqiu and Yelan, now is the perfect time to invest in Hydro powerhouses. The current meta rewards players who can combine strong off-field Hydro application with sustained damage output—making these units essential for smooth Spiral Abyss clears and high-score Stygian Onslaught runs.

With the upcoming 6.0 bringing new challenges, Lunar-Charged Reaction linked to Hydro, and event rewards, upgrading your Hydro roster early ensures you can adapt and dominate without delay. Don’t let resin limits or material shortages slow you down—top up Genesis Crystals at LDShop today, secure the weapons and constellations you need, and keep your team ahead of the curve before the meta shifts again.